Ackster wanted to take a shower and get cleaned up before taking a walk around town to get his bearings and a better estimation of where he was and if he would have to leave at once to increase his odds of finding Karandiel. Since he was straight south of Tillo, he was at least in the right column of the country. But he didn't know whether he would have to move north or south.
However, as he was now, what with how he was covered in filth, dried blood, and dirty rags, he was too attention-grabbing. Even if most people instinctively avoided him due to the smell, they would still take note of him.
He wouldn't be able to sneak around and fish for information like that.
Unfortunately, inns reputable enough to have hot-water showers wouldn't let him inside their doors. He could settle for a trashier inn, which would be more like a place to sleep with protection from the weather than a proper inn, and use the buckets of cold water that he would likely find there.
The only problem was that even those inns charged money.
And money was something Ackster didn't have.
So, he had to rely on the one thing that all adventurers relied on, no matter their strength or affluence, the Adventurer's Guild.
Naturally, as a force established for the sake of adventurers and for the people, they offered privileges for adventures. It wasn't for free, and it wasn't without limits.
But, given Ackster's circumstances, he should be able to get a room, a shower, and a simple change of clothes in exchange for a small debt that would be repaid after one successful hunt, depending on what he brought back.
Without the adventurers, the Guild would be nothing, and without the Guild, adventurers would be nothing. It was a symbiotic relationship that continued with each new generation and had started from the very beginning, from the founding of the Adventurer's Guild, which had survived through countless Calamitous Cycles.
The organization even held enough power to influence the world and its fundamental powers and laws. After all, without the Adventurer's Guild and the influence it had over the adventurers, the profession of Adventurer wouldn't be as strong or as common and popular as it was.
Otherwise, how could a profession with no clear rules or definitions be so widespread and easily acquired? In practice, an adventurer grew through adventures. And anything could be an adventure for the right person. The reason why adventures' growth was most closely related to killing monsters was because that was an adventurer's distinct role in society.
Where else would they use their strength if not in the wild and killing the monsters, which they were specialized to do, unlike the knights and city-dwellers, who were better suited for protecting?
Also, killing and fighting monsters, especially ones stronger than oneself, was thrilling. It was an adventure.
It was thanks to the Guild and the adventures under its control that the profession was so versatile and strong. Naturally, the Guild and adventurers wanted this relationship to continue.
And, although the Guild's strength and the power it controlled, even if adventurers were free individuals, was fearsome to the point of some countries rejecting the Guild, no one could deny the usefulness of the Guild and its adventurers. Without them, monsters would be flooding villages, towns, cities, capitals, countries, and continents all over the world.
'And that's the organization whose information network I have to get my hands on….'
Ackster knew that the Guild's information network was among, if not the best, in the world. If he wanted to know everything he needed to know to stay updated about any repercussions of his transmigration, and if he wanted that information in real time, he would need the world's best network.
Fortunately, he almost had a plan to get the Guildmaster under his control or at least make a deal with him. It was just that since he needed the object of that deal, the bait, for his grand plan of saving his life, things could get a little tricky.
But he would figure out the details while deciding on and picking up the rest of his anti-Hero crew. And hopefully, he would have some time before he had to deal with the Dragon Slayer Kargas. He needed some strength of his own to deal with a guy like that.
'At least he's not as crazy as the Sword God.'
Ackster made sure to control his face while thinking about the future until he finally found the Adventurer's Guild Ilto Branch.
Although Ilto was about the same size as Degrest, maybe slightly bigger, the guild branch was significantly bigger, especially in terms of service capability at the same time.
The Degrest branch maintained a minimum level of acceptable display of the power of the Guild since the city, while close to a forest of monsters, wasn't a hotspot for adventurers.
The Degrest forest was suitable for lower-ranked adventurers, and entering the depths could pose a threat to them. But that was the limit. It could be threatening and somewhat dangerous. Only stupid and very weak adventurers would get themselves killed in the Degrest Forest.
However, the area around Ilto was a little more dangerous. It was still relatively close to the center of the continent, but it was an area where monsters had no trouble growing stronger than goblins. It was a perfect place for adventurers to break through the infamous first wall.
And since it was the afternoon, a time when a lot of adventurers came back from their expeditions, Ackster had to wait in line for a while before arriving at a desk where he could ask for the amenities offered by the Guild.
At least adventurers weren't as squeamish and blissfully unaware of the dirtiness of the world that they shied away from him at first smell. There were still a bunch of people who gave him stares, but most were out of curiosity at what had happened to him for him to end up in such a state.
Ackster looked around the place and pretended to be a country bumpkin. He didn't exaggerate, but it was still obvious to anyone with more worldly experience than a snail that he was new to the place and big cities in general.
While hoping his act as an adventurer who got lost and ended up in a big city was perfect, Ackster approached the desk with what he hoped was a pleasant innocent smile that wasn't too marred by the filth and dried blood.
"Hey, there."
He had his Nomi at the ready in case he needed it to verify his identity.
"Hello."
The bespectacled woman behind the desk looked up from the papers on her desk and at Ackster with a gentle but tired smile. She had probably worked through the afternoon rush and was getting exhausted.
She held up her hand as soon as she saw Ackster's appearance. She pointed to a swinging door next to the line of desks with receptionists and adventurers waiting in line.
"You'll find a locker room there. Standard showers with three minutes of hot water. There are towels and one set of clean clothes in the green lockers. Use your Nomi to unlock them. You can only unlock one locker every ten days, or you will have to talk to a receptionist. Any questions?"
Ackster was a little surprised at the receptionist's quick decision and the preparedness of the Guild, and he intentionally let it show on his face.
"Uh… Yeah, actually. Um, room? Just for a night or so."
"Do you have any money?"
"No…."
"Alright."
The receptionist scrawled on a piece of paper that she handed to Ackster before pointing at a door on the other side, which seemed to lead to a different building attached to the Guild's branch office.
"You'll find a bunch of single-bed rooms behind that door. Show this paper to Tilt. It's valid for one night and one night only. No visitors. Any damages will cost extra. Make sure you're as clean as possible before sleeping. Any questions?"
Ackster was beginning to admire this receptionist's efficiency.
"Um, one last thing…."
"Go ahead."
"I've got a slime with me…."
"I need to see it to appraise it."
The receptionist, Wilma, as Ackster could see her name tag when she moved her arm to push on her glasses, looked at Ackster as if she wondered why he hadn't brought it out first.
"Ah, no, it's mine. I've tamed it. Do I need to put it in a separate room?"
"I see. Slimes are usually harmless if domesticated, but I need to see it. Do you know what type it is?"
"It's grey."
Ackster answered as he showed the contents of his bag.
"Any acid, heat, or otherwise property damaging capabilities?"
"I don't think so."
"Alright."
Wilma held out her hand and gestured for Ackster to give back the note. She returned it after adding a few words to it.
"You will be held liable if there is any damage. You will be deducted half a silver on your next sale. Any questions?"
"No, no questions. Thank you very much, Wilma."
Ackster nodded his head slightly as he thanked the efficient, expedient, and helpful receptionist.
"Good. Next!"
Ackster left the desk and headed toward the showers.