Now that I've discovered that my profession allows me to fight, I've decided to go into town to sign up for the mercenaries' association. Taking on requests is the quickest way to earn money and level up. So, I head towards the city located near the academy with my musket, backpack, and new cape. I need to have it examined to see if it has any special characteristics.
Once in town, I decided to stop first at the tailor's shop. The store has some customers, some of whom look like adventurers and others like nobles.
"Good morning, young man! How may I assist you this morning?" asks the clerk dressed in a nice fitted suit.
"Good morning, sir! I'd like to have my cape examined. Is that possible?" I ask, handing him my cape.
"But of course, come with me. The price to examine an object is one silver piece."
"One silver piece?" I exclaim in surprise. If I remember correctly, one hundred copper pieces (CP) equals one silver piece (SP), and one hundred silver pieces equals one gold piece (GP). After that, you have to move on to energy crystals, but I doubt I'll ever get there…
"Yes, you see, no matter the result of the examination, we charge the same price. That way, if they're poor-quality objects, I'm not wasting my time, and if they're high-quality objects, well, I don't charge extra, so it's a win-win," he explains slowly.
"That makes sense," I concede.
He returns to the counter, gesturing for me to follow, and I give him my cape. Small circles with runes inside appear in front of his eyes. About two minutes later, he hands me a sheet with the description of the object and its effects.
Brown Cape:
A brown leather cape, decorated with a castle on the back.
Effects:
Light protection against slashing attacks.
"The effect isn't too great, but it's better than nothing," I think as I read the description. I thank and pay the tailor, realizing that I will have to manage my finances well since before leaving, my parents had given me fifty silver pieces, which seems like a lot, but apparently it's not really.
The building where the mercenaries' association is located is a little further away, but I arrive in no time. The building is large and made of stone, proving that the association is far from poor since only guilds or noble families can afford such a place.
Guards stand at the entrance and look at me seriously as I enter. Inside, there are a few tables where several people are discussing loudly. In the center are counters with beautiful women behind them. I approach one of them to ask how to register and she tells me that I have to take a test to determine my mercenary rank. After that, I can accept missions of the same rank. She further explains that I will be able to increase my rank by taking a combat test against the desired rank or by completing thirty requests of the lower rank. The registration fee is fifty copper pieces. I pay and the receptionist tells me to follow her. We head to the back of the building where there is a training ground.
A man smoking a cigar is already there. The lady talks to him a little before returning to the front. The man is small but strong. Wearing only linen pants, he stares at me like a predator looks at its prey. After finishing his remaining cigar, he gets up and walks towards me. He indicates that I can take different tests for registration.
The first way is to have a fight, and he will judge my rank based on my performance. The second is to become a mercenary with one or more unique skills. These are often protected by the association and have privileged treatments since they can help the guild in an uncommon way. Non-combat professions often use this type of registration. Lastly, I can simply accept the registration request to take the test. After explaining everything to me, he asks me which test I want, and in the event that I fail, I can always retake it by paying the registration fee of 50 copper pieces again.
I decided to go with the mission, because in a fight, I don't think I'll be able to handle it, and the second type of test doesn't appeal to me. I don't intend to reveal my ability to acquire skills as it may cause me more problems than anything else.
I tell him, and he hands me a piece of parchment, on which I can read: Admission test to the Mercenary Association. Kill a Treealtor or bring back ten Paralune flowers.