With beads of cold sweat forming on my face, I slowly turn around, finding Ban, the slender guy, staring at me with an expressionless face.
"T-Thank you," I stammer, offering a small bow. To my surprise, Ban simply smiles.
"Sorry for scaring you, my name is Ban, and you?" Ban asks, extending his hand for a handshake. "The name is Owen..." I quickly answer, shaking his hand.
"I am sorry for the way my teammate harassed you; he's not the smart type, so please forgive him," Ban apologizes with a small bow.
"Ban!" Nando bellows in the background, gritting his teeth while nursing the bump Ban gave him on his head.
Observing Ban, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, considering the way he helped me. Still, I shouldn't let my guard down.
"There's no need, I am the one who's wrong here. I... I hugged that woman, so I deserved what I got," I admit, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment.
"Oh, you mean the team leader?" Ban mutters, a smile blooming on his face.
"T-Team leader?" I mumble in confusion, swallowing nervously. I offended someone who could probably unalive me in seconds if she wanted.
"I came to help you because I've never seen the team leader so embarrassed and red after being harassed by a stranger. It seems odd to me and I just don't understand. The team leader probably has some weird taste in men," Ban explains, confusion etched on his face as if he can't fathom something.
"Ah, maybe I should apologize to her," I say, unsure of how to respond to Ban's peculiar explanation.
"It seems like you don't get it. But anyway... Why are you here?" Ban asks, his demeanor returning to normal.
"Ah... Well, I seem to have lost my memories and don't remember anything at all. In order to survive, I came here to join the guild," I explain, telling a half-truth. After all, I couldn't reveal that I got teleported here as some random stranger.
Hearing my words, there's a slight change in Ban's countenance. "Haa... Sorry about that. However, if you plan to join the adventurer's guild without any equipment, you'll be dead in no time. Besides, if you don't mind, what's your level because I can't detect your Mana pool?" Ban inquires.
Darkus, explain.
{Master, you can command me to turn on or off your Mana pool or simply change it at will in the future. By the way, I told you that you were ugly; that's why people were staring at you.}
"...."
"My level is Bronze Rank 1," I answer, lowering my face in embarrassment due to my low rank.
"Ah... I see. I can sense your Mana pool now for some weird reason. But if you are a beginner, you shouldn't be coming here empty-handed. You need some gear and money for registration," Ban advises.
Disappointment flashes across my face at his words. However, looking at Ban again, an idea flashes through my mind. Maybe I can suck up to him a bit and be a bit shameless, fufu.
"I don't have money with me; I guess I have to leave," I say, pretending to head towards the guild exit.
"Wait," Ban says, stopping me. "I'll take care of everything you need on one condition," he says.
Yes, this is it!
Grinning inwardly, I turn towards Ban, "Thank you very much, what's the condition?" I ask with a slight bow.
"Well, the team leader actually sent me to you," Ban reveals, ruffling his hair in embarrassment. I am also stunned, and me and Ban look at each other in silence for a few moments.
"But I harassed her, I should be apologizing instead," I say, confused.
"That's why I told you that the team leader has some fucking weird taste in men," Ban explains with a shrug.
"Ah... So, she likes me," I mutter.
"I never said that, but she seems interested in you for some reason," Ban answers.
"I see..."
"It's not the best time to meet her though, because she's still red as fuck. So, let's get you some gear and adventurer's card. By the way, what's your specialization?" Ban inquires.
"Space Magic."
{Master, no!!!!}
Fuck.
{You can't go around telling random people you don't know about your specialization.}
"S-Space magic. A-Am I dreaming?" Ban stammers with a confused expression on his face, and his jaw slack from shock.
Abruptly, his demeanor returns to normal.
"I am truly jealous of you. However, count yourself lucky that I am not a bad person. Since you're a rare Mage, people would kill to get you on their side, enslave you as a warrior, or sell you out for some cool money. Next time, you can just lie that your specialization is earth magic. Worst-case scenario, say you have double specialization. They won't find out the truth since space magic is versatile," Ban advises.
Hearing his kind reply, I give him a slight bow.
"Thank you, Ban. I'll keep to your advice," I mutter.
"It's fine... Let's get you some gear," Ban says, and I nod my head in reply.
Entering the slot where gears are being sold, I rummage through all the gears that I see, greed flashing in my eyes. However, after thinking about it thoroughly, I decide that I shouldn't take Ban's kindness for granted. So, I settled for thick shorts and a jacket made from a beast's hide with a long dagger since I am not really experienced at using melee weapons.
According to the seller, the jacket is thick enough to save me from a few claw swipes from lower beasts. He even went as far as testing it with a normal knife, and it didn't tear.
Furthermore, for some reason after taking off my eyeglasses, I realize that my vision is even ten times greater, making me shocked. But I guess it must be related to the system.
"Owen, you look much better compared to before. Let's go get your adventurer's card," Ban says, gesturing with his hand for me to follow him. Nodding my head, I follow him, and we join the queue.
{Master, don't you feel like you're changing?}
Changing... As how?
{Do you remember when you tried to use some cheap trick to make Ban pay for your adventurer's card? Although, I would say that trick was the shittiest I have ever seen, it's the effect of your unique skill kicking in. Some unique skills are active and passive. In your case, your deception is passive while your ability to use illusions is active. As for your second unique skill; hands of pleasure, it's completely passive. So, expect some slight behavioral changes.}
I see...
How can I use the illusion, though?
{It hasn't been unlocked yet.}
"Next."
The voice of the receptionist suddenly brings me back to reality, signaling that I am the next in line.
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