" I don't have one "
Answering truthfully, he decided that there was no need to lie, because if he just went on his way like that, maybe he would miss some important informations.
" By you don't have one.. do you mean that you're not registered yet ? "
Nodding to the words of the man in front of him, sitting behind a counter, he wasn't feeling embarassed when receiving all the stares since earlier, and there was no reason to be now either.
" ... Sir, may I ask what do you intend to do in the dungeon city ? "
Receiving such a question, it definitely seemed like he raised his suspicion, but what could he do about it besides telling truth and lies ?
" I plan to hunt for monsters inside the dungeon, wasn't that obvious ? "
Giving his response in a calm tone, while it may have seen he was treating him like an idiot, he was just getting bored of the questions and wanted to quickly get to the point.
The young man with brown hair having his face turn pale to a slight red as if he was controlling his anger deep inside, maybe for being treated that way, had to ask him another question, with this one being more useful.
" ... Sir, you do know that to enter the dungeon, you need to be registered in the adventurer's guild, right ? "
This time, as if he was trying to make him look like a fool, he asked, with a grin brought up to his lips.
" I do know, and can't I register there ? "
" Well.. I mean.. you could... ? "
Yet, all the small plans that he could've prepared were countered by Arthur's resolute answer.
Since he never intended to register himself in the first place because he didn't knew how to fight monsters, or didn't had any skills for it, he just wished to use what he could, his cards, to fight for him while he would explore.
But now, it seemed that both him and his cards needed to be registered, or at least just him while he could summon his cards once inside the structure, but for convenience, he prefered the first option.
" What's all the fuss about ? "
As Arthur planned to head out next, to not waste more of his day, a strong voice came from upstairs, and with loud footsteps heading down towards them, soon, the body of a bear, or a man, was to be seen.
Of course, there were beastfolk inside the city, and while they were rarer than the common human that could be seen everywhere, they were still there, explaining why no one was particularly putting much thoughts on Mariane which was one, but on Arthur which had such a maid following him.
And the man who came down stairs, was also such a beastfolk, though with his physique and his small round ears, it was obvious that he was a bearkin.
" Guild master, were you awake ?.. "
" What do you mean awake you lazy bum, I was doing some papers and came down because I was bored. "
With the identity of the man now revealed, Arthur sent him a curious glance.
His toned body seemed like it was stretching his clothes to their limits, and his slightly tanned skin confirmed how he was really not a man to stay idle inside an office.
Though he knew that he was strong from his appearance alone, he couldn't guess how much just from a simple glance, after all, he wasn't some kind of diviner and didn't had the special appraisal skill destined to everyone but him going to another world.
' Well, I kinda possess something similar I guess. '
His system could at least show him the effects of the items he had obtained through it, but that function wouldn't expand for the items of this world.
" Oh, that's a new face, what's up boy, came to drop a request ? "
Leaving his thoughts as he was being called, he looked up to the bear like man before shaking his head.
" No, I just came here to ask some informations, I was planning to head out of the city. "
" Oh, how boring.. Well, before going, mind telling me your adventurer's rank ? If you want, we received a new commission for an escort. "
' Were there escorts missions as well ? '
The question being asked in his own mind, it was a rethorical one, one he didn't needed an answer from as it didn't seemed too far fetched for such a fantasy settings with monsters around in the nature.
" He doesn't have one, guild master, he was planning on taking the test at Litheria. "
But his question being answered by someone else, he could see the bearkin pondering over something for a moment.
" Litheria huh.. if you're not in a hurry, that would do, but with how many people are getting there recently, you might have to wait at least a month to take the test... So how about you take it here ? "
" Does your recommendation to take it here have something to do with the escort request ? "
Answering his question with another one, now it definitely seemed like they were going somewhere with it, or at least, that the said guild master grabbed his interest.
" Quite the smartass aren't you ? Well, that's right, since you're leaving to go there, you might as well take the test and go with them, and if you're strong enough, you'll be paid for it, how's that ? "
Ignoring the first remark, it definitely seemed more interesting than going alone and walking to god know where, and the money in his pocket wasn't infinite either, so with a nod, he decided to take the test.
" Alright, what's the test about ? "
" It's nothing much, and rather close to the entrance ceremony of the mercenary guild, you just need to fight against an instructor and gain his acknowledgement, thing is, this is a small city, and the instructors aren't here at the moment, so I'll be the one giving you the test. "
' This guy.. he just wanted to get out of his office. '
Letting out a small sigh, it seemed that he wasn't the only one that came to the same conclusion as the one behind the guild's counter wanted to reprimand his employer.
" Guild master, weren't you supposed to take care of some papers upstairs ? "
" Shut it you shrimp, if you're not happy with it do it yourself, and like, I'm trying to recruit someone for a request we got, it's not like I was completely avoiding work either. "
Not knowing what to say in front of the rough demeanor of his superior, he stood there, dumbfounded and his mouth open like a dead fish.
" Now, you come with me to the basement, there's a training ground below for that kind of thing. "
And of course, that sentence was meant for Arthur as he had to follow around the building such a man that wanted to exercice.
Mariane following behind the both of them, she was still holding on tightly to the box, as it was her master belongings, she took utmost care to keep it straight at all time.
- Guild master's POV -
The guild master, not knowing that the box contained in fact, some night clothes and a book, thought that the boy would be the one to fight, while his weapon was in that small box.
As he tried to deduce what kind of weapon he would be using, he made various conclusions.
Be it a dagger, or even two of them, the boy seemed quite thin and with a somewhat weak presence, as if he was hiding his strength, so he thought about a scoot or an assassin.
The possibility of a short sword and a swordman focusing on agility wasn't omitted either, or he could even be a pugilist, someone fighting with his bare body with some gears to protect his vital points just like him.
As they reached the said training ground, which was expending below the city streets and not just below the building, he turned around to face them.
" Alright, we're here, so take out your weapons boy. "
Staring at him, this one sent a glance to his maid, which was a beautiful beastfolk, one like he had never seen before.
Of course, being a free man, he wasn't able to stay completely calm like a monk, but while he didn't had any motives towards her, he thought that it would be so bad to prove his strength and received glances from her.
But what happened next had him be the one being dumbfounded.