Chapter 72: Morning of Departure
"Master, please wake up."
Soft touches gently pressed against me, and a somewhat youthful but gentle voice echoed in my ear.
"Mmm, just five more minutes..."
"You said that earlier, and it's almost noon now."
"This guy, you spoil him too much."
Another voice interjected, sounding somewhat familiar.
Slap, thud, crunch... Ouch!
In front of me were white panties... Lina was standing triumphantly on my face.
"Don't step on me, especially with high heels!"
She's become even less merciful.
"Are you okay, Master?"
Northe peered worriedly from the side. What a kind child. A world of difference from the juvenile delinquent middle schooler, JC.
And could it be that the soft touches are coming from these lolita-like busty maids? Marvelous. I really want to get my hands on maid outfits that can fully emphasize this charm soon.
"You, even if you say you're going to sleep in again, there's a limit, you know..."
Lina scolded me, and well, I couldn't deny it.
We had quite an eventful night, and by daybreak, I had seen everyone off to the city gates.
Afterward, I ended up dozing off again in the luxurious villa that I had used as my lodgings, and it had already become quite empty.
"It was quite intense, wasn't it? More like a beast..."
Stop it, please.
Northe had a blank expression, but it was clear she wanted to know more.
"Um, I've already confirmed the key with Lord Antibar's butler."
While I was sleeping in, Northe had taken care of the remaining procedures to return the lodgings she had borrowed. Most of it had already been handled by Sktali's soldiers yesterday, but the actual withdrawal was completed this morning.
"Oh, thank you. I'll get ready right away..."
Honestly, Northe's competence and my incompetence have been in stark contrast from the beginning.
Leaving the mansion where we had stayed for three nights with Northe, I wore the plain clothes of Sktali's soldiers that I had received as a parting gift and hung an orcish sword at my waist. Since I had an item box, there wasn't much in my backpack.
Northe had received a servant girl's outfit, but it was a bit too big for her vertically, making it difficult to walk. While I was changing, she had switched back to the worn-out servant's robe and pants she had worn when we escaped from the blacksmith. I should buy something for her today.
So, starting today, Northe and I are impressive wanderers in the royal capital, with no job, no place to stay, and no belongings.
First, we need to go to the adventurer's guild and register. In other words, get a job. Northe had grown up as a slave in a blacksmith's workshop in Doulass since she was a child and had never fought. However, when I confessed that I wanted to live as an adventurer and travel, she said, "Please take me with you."
I had a parchment signed by Carina as proof of our labyrinth subjugation achievement and a sheepskin parchment with a knight's status, which I had just obtained yesterday. With these, there should be no problem with our registration.
However, becoming an adventurer doesn't guarantee a salary. We'll need to take on requests and complete them to earn rewards, so until then, we'll have to manage with the wages I received last night and the remaining large gold coin I received from Gen.
Secondly, we need to secure a place to sleep from tonight. There are plenty of inns in the royal capital, so finding a vacant room shouldn't be too difficult. However, if we stay in decent inns every day, our money will quickly run out, so we'll need to consider renting a room if we plan to stay in the city for a long time.
We need to gather that information as well.
Furthermore, we need to get Northe some clothes and the equipment necessary for adventurers. We returned the weapons and armor to the Sktali soldiers last night, so the only weapon I have is the orcish sword I took from the orc on the first day of my reincarnation.
Of course, with my clay skill, I can create ceramic swords and armor as much as I want, but armor, in particular, is complex in shape and time-consuming to make, so I've only made it for Lina so far.
While thinking about these things, I headed to the adventurer's guild I had registered with using my map skill, and then, my stomach made a cute growling sound.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"N-No, it's me who wasn't considerate."
While I was sleeping, Northe had been cleaning and tidying up, so it's only natural that she's hungry. She seems to be in her growth spurt, too.
(Dwarves are said to be bigger eaters than humans and often have big appetites. Since girls usually don't bring this up themselves, be considerate.)
Thank you, Teacher Lina.
Many food stalls on the street were already closing down, but some were still open, either trying to sell their leftover goods or offering them at discounted prices.
I bought two portions of delicious smelling steamed buns and skewers from the stalls, and handed half to Northe.
"Thank you very much!"
She happily bit into it.
I decide to try some yakitori myself. Yeah, it's real meat, not some mysterious creature's or cheap stall like in Skutari. The sauce is good too. As expected of the capital.
Before I realize it, Nolte's share has disappeared in an instant. Even though her mouth seems small...
"Want to eat half?"
"I-Is it okay?"
In the end, I split my manju in half for Nolte. I'm not that hungry since I was sleeping, and seeing her happy expression is enough.
The Adventurer's Guild is located on the street next to the blacksmith guild that was treated coldly yesterday.
This building is mainly made of stone. It's an impressive four-story building.
The door is open, and the interior is even larger than the Douras Guild I visited the other day.
Maybe because it's daytime, there aren't that many people, but the levels of the ones I see are high. Mostly double digits. There are not only standard jobs like adventurers and warriors but also knights, magicians, and priests. There are even mages and lords.
That should be the registration counter. In front of me is a young man, a level 5 warrior, who is the lowest level among those I've seen today.
I receive a bronze-like plate similar to the one I got in Skutari and listen to the explanation as a novice adventurer.
"Next person... Are you here for a new registration?"
The staff at the counter has deep scars on his cheek, looking like a member of some antisocial group. He's labeled as an adventurer at level 18, so he seems quite powerful. Naturally, he probably has an "Intermediate" designation.
But couldn't he have the scars on his cheek treated by a high-level priest? Is he intentionally doing it to exude an intimidating aura? I don't get it.
"No, um, yeah, this one is a new registration, but I registered elsewhere and my level has gone up, so I'm here for the update procedure, I guess..."
I bring Norte closer and present my own novice adventurer card that I made with Skutari, along with the certificate from Carena.
"First of all, what about the child... and what's Skutari?"
He's suddenly rude. My apologies, it's a rural place.
"Only local registrations don't grant adventurer qualifications without passing an exam, right? So what about here?"
I spread out the parchment signed by Carena and quickly scan it.
"What? Proof of labyrinth conquest, and knighthood?"
The man raises his voice, drawing attention from the surroundings.
"Labyrinth conquest? Is that true?"
"Sir Knight?"
Murmurs spread.
"Hey, don't underestimate the guild in the capital. You beginners trying to show off right away!?"
A big man, one-eyed, grabs my shoulder from behind, making me nervous.
One eye, huh. I wonder if even a spell can't fully heal an injury this big.
"Zog, stop it. Apparently, this document is legitimate. Orbania was a topic of conversation yesterday when they recognized inheritance of a title. But still..."
Doubts remain, but the receptionist seems to have control. The man called Zog lets go of my shoulder. But this is getting troublesome.
"Hey, Balton, don't adventurers from cities other than the capital have to take an exam?"
Zog asks the receptionist instead.
"Yeah, that's the rule."
"Then, let me be the one to test him."
I feel like I'm being challenged to a fight or something.
"Fine, let him do it!"
"Oh, here we go again!"
Is the Adventurer's Guild full of hot-headed people like this?
"Zog, the entrance exam is usually conducted with someone of similar level. This guy is level 15."
"So what? A kid like that can't possibly conquer a labyrinth. Bringing such a little one along, 'I'm an adventurer,' what a joke! Even if both of you fight, it won't matter. Go back to mommy's place!"
This guy is even making fun of Nolte.
Receptionist Balton sighs and then explains to me.
"You're Shiro, right? Even though it's called the Adventurer's Guild, there are various standards. The Guild card of the capital can be used in other countries, so just saying you were an adventurer elsewhere won't be recognized here."
I finally understand. Balton continues.
"This time, you're applying to advance from a local novice adventurer to a capital intermediate adventurer in one go. To be approved, you need to have two mock battles against the opponent we designate and prove that you can fight at or above their level. What will you do? Zog is of a different level, so we can assign someone a bit lower for you."
Nolte looks worried, but this is an important first step.
"I'm okay with it. Norte, stand back."
Oh, and the rough folks cheer.