"It's hard to believe I met all of them in a single day. Could this be some sort of premonition?" Gil's earlier encounter left him uneasy. He had already disrupted the storyline by sending Sid out alone earlier.
"Surely, I won't become a part of the plot now, will I?" Gil mused silently.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought. In this world, he was merely an extra, destined to be overshadowed by the main storyline.
Shaking off his contemplation, Gil resolved to push the matter aside and pressed on toward the Guild HQ.
As Gil stepped outside the academy, he stood at the threshold of a bustling city, its vibrant pulse and lively energy reaching out to embrace him. This urban panorama stretched before him, a living canvas that vividly portrayed the essence of a medieval fantasy realm.
Market stalls lined the avenues, displaying an eclectic array of goods, from gleaming armor and intricately crafted weaponry to sumptuous fabrics in jewel-toned hues that caught the sunlight in a dazzling dance. The air was alive with the harmonious chaos of commerce as merchants haggled with patrons over the price of goods.
Amid the city's whirlwind of diversions, Gil steadfastly navigated, his sights fixed resolutely on the Guild HQ alone.
The architectural style of the adventurers' guild building was identical in appearance to the other structures, except that it was significantly larger and bore a sign denoting that it was, in fact, the adventurers' guild headquarters.
Gil wasted no time entering the building. Once inside, a dynamic scene unfolded—a bustling hub of adventurers immersed in diverse pursuits. Some engaged in lively conversations, forging connections, while others focused intently on the quest board's offerings. A few stood by the reception desk while finalizing missions with the attentive receptionist.
As he stood there, Gil was immersed and captivated by the vibrant scene unfolding before his eyes. Although reminiscent of moments he'd encountered in the game, witnessing it in person ignited a sense of awe that surpassed his expectations, leaving him utterly mesmerized.
However, Gil quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. He reminded himself that he hadn't come here to admire the view. He approached the vacant reception desk, where a free receptionist awaited.
"Uhmm, is there anything I can help you with?" inquired the young woman guild receptionist as she directed her attention towards Gil.
"I want to make an adventurer license, please."
Upon hearing Gil's request, the receptionist appeared slightly taken aback. "I apologize for asking, but are you perhaps a first-year student?"
"Yes, why?"
"You know that the academy will make you one when the time comes, right?"
Gil didn't know that, but it was kind of expected. "I know, yes... But that doesn't mean I can't create one right now, right?"
The receptionist hesitated, her response carrying a hint of unease. "Um, well, not exactly."
"What? Why?"
"I'm sorry, but the academy must approve it first, sir."
In truth, the receptionist's statement was a lie. She simply aimed to avoid potential problems because, by the look, one could say that Gil is from a noble family. If anything happened to Gil, the blame could be directed at her since she would be the one responsible for issuing his license.
"Well, luckily, I got permission here," Gil said while bringing out a piece of paper.
As the receptionist examined the paper, her dismay became evident. Much to her chagrin, the revelation left her with no room to deny Gil's request.
But luckily, someone approached them before the receptionist could make Gil's license.
Out of nowhere, a burly, middle-aged man clapped a firm hand on Gil's shoulder. Assuming that Gil might have caused some sort of disturbance at the reception desk, the man felt compelled to step in.
"What's wrong here?" he inquired sternly.
Gil was taken aback by the man's sudden appearance, his presence having gone completely unnoticed.
"N-nothing, Mr. Anderson." the receptionist quickly explained. "He just wants to make a license, but as you can see, he is still a student. So I tried to explain to him the academy regulation."
"Then he still insists?" The brawny guy called Anderson said with a blend of curiosity and concern.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it? I just want to make the license. Also, I got permission from my teacher. I don't see anything wrong in it." Gil interjected, joining the conversation to clarify his stance.
Anderson turned his gaze towards Gil, his eyes studying him. Having a clear perception of Gil's background, he held certain preconceptions about him – a privileged youth who might possess an air of entitlement.
"Kid, let me tell you this." Anderson began with a stern tone. "This isn't a game. You can get injured or even lose your life doing a quest. So be a good boy and go back to the academy, okay? Learn to become a good adventurer from there. Consider yourself fortunate to have that opportunity. It'll prepare you for your first time doing a quest, unlike some greenhorn here."
Gil felt slightly taken aback by the unexpected lecture he had received. He hadn't anticipated getting a lecture coming here.
But it seemed Gil was being underestimated here.
"Look, I'm not that stupid. I intend to go to a dungeon because I wanted to search for something, you know." Gil stated firmly. "Also, I want to hire seasoned adventurers to protect me in the dungeon raids that I want to do. So, I'm not going just out of curiosity."
Anderson and the receptionist were surprised after hearing Gil's reasoning. They didn't expect that he would come prepared.
"If you want to search for something inside the dungeon, why not make a request?" the receptionist proposed.
"Well, I just thought that it could be a learning experience for me if I could go, too," Gil responded.
"Hiring an experience one will be expensive. What's your budget?" Anderson inquired, his interest piqued.
"Uhmm... is five hundred golds enough?"
At the sum mentioned, both Anderson and the receptionist were genuinely surprised. The amount Gil was willing to invest was substantial – enough to hire three or four highly skilled adventurers.
Recognizing an opportunity, Anderson leaned in closer to Gil, adopting a more affable tone. "Why don't you say from the start, kid. Lucky you, I'm free right now. Let's go do it together. I'll give you some pointers also."
Upon learning of the substantial funds Gil was willing to expend, a wave of annoyance washed over him due to Anderson's abrupt change in demeanor. He wasn't stupid; it was clear that Anderson aimed to pocket as much of that money as possible.
"I'm planning to do a team of four, including me. And, like I said, I want to get something inside a dungeon. So, it's not going to be a random dungeon."
Anderson's mood seemed to sour as he absorbed this information. His hopes of an easy windfall from Gil were dashed. "Well, if that is what you want, then no problem from me. I can ask some of my acquaintances to join. But you said you want to search for something? What exactly what you want?"
Gil hesitated, unable to blurt it out immediately. He averted his gaze, scratching his head as he replied, "Err... It's a shooting wand."
The words that left Gil's mouth left both Anderson and the receptionist dumbfounded.