After the on-the-job training course was announced, Catherine, the black-haired daughter of the guild master from the adventurers' guild in Chainlink port city, didn't hesitate even a bit.
She filled out the proper forms and got approved to complete the course within the Jade City's adventurer's guild.
Catherine has been helping out in the Chainlink guild since she was seven years old and has been an active adventurer within the Jade City's guild since the beginning of the school year.
Her application was approved with barely any delay, and the training could start.
Although, in her case, she already knew everything.
She could write reports, fill out the quest submission forms, register inspiring adventurers, and so on.
She would even help out carving monsters in the facility in the back if they were short on hands.
It was clear that Catherine's only problem was her stuttering. When it came to anything involving the guild's functioning, she was up there with the experienced staff members.
It somehow ended up that after the first three days, the relatively new full-time employee—the receptionist Lena—came to Catherine with questions and doubts, as she knew that the black-haired girl would help her out without scolding her.
"H-hello…?"
At the end of her fourth day's shift, Catherine was called to the guild master's office and was surprised to see not only him but also senior receptionist Terry waiting for her in there.
"Miss Catherine, this will not take long. There's no need for you to sit down."
"...eh…?"
The girl was making her way towards the chair but was stopped by the guildmaster, which made her let out a surprised voice.
"It's nothing that you should worry about. The thing is, after hearing Terry's opinion on the matter, we decided to pay you as if you were an official employee during your time here. I've heard that you are completing some quests in your free time because you are saving up for something. This should help you out."
"!??!"
The guild master shook his hand dismissively, smiled reassuringly, and announced, causing Catherine to back off and stare between him and Terry as if both men were making fun of her.
"Don't make that face. It was either this or cutting Lena's pay."
"E-eh?!"
The receptionist grinned and pointed out while winking at the black-haired girl, making her cry out in even bigger surprise.
"And this is for the past days."
"...!"
The guildmaster stood up from behind his desk and put a small coin purse in Catherine's hands.
"It has been busy with monsters and bandits attacking folks left and right. You have been a great help. Keep up the good work."
"I-I-I will!"
He added, and the girl gasped, bowing deeply.
"That would be all."
"Y-yes, u-until tomorrow!"
The guildmaster nodded at the girl, and she called out, leaving the office with an excited smile.
She used the guild's toilet to hide in and check how much she had been paid…
"~!"
And her eyes sparkled at the sight - it was certain that it was more of an appreciation bonus than actual pay for the past few days.
She tucked the money into her clothes and then rushed back to the dormitory to retrieve her savings.
After doing that, she went over to the magic item shop in a hurry, barely able to hold herself back.
"M-mister! Th-the tamer s-skill book and the c-control c-c-collar, please!"
Catherine barged into the shop, coming face-to-face with the shopkeeper about to leave the shop to do some errand, and called out while pushing the satchel with money into his hands.
"...oho?"
The man instinctively grabbed the money and let out an amused gasp.
"Someone couldn't resist the discount I offered. I see~"
The man chuckled, turning around and returning to the counter, where he poured out the coins from the satchel and quickly counted them.
"You will k-keep your w-word, right…?"
The black-haired girl followed him and leaned to the side to intensely stare at the shopkeeper.
"But of course! Oh? Miss, you gave me a bit too much, it appears. Here, your change."
The man laughed and then raised his brows, taking a few coins away from the pile and handing them back to the girl.
"As for your purchase…"
The shopkeeper then walked around the counter and reached under it.
"Here."
What he took out and offered his customer was a thin fragile-looking book in a softcover titled ~The art of taming~ and a rather big collar with wide azure-blue belt and a heavy silver buckle.
"Just remember - although the control collar enhances the taming skill, it only does so if you defeat the monster by yourself and it submits to you. Having a monster for a pet might sound incredible, but many aspiring tamers lost their lives because they either couldn't defeat the monster or they misjudged the monster's act, mistaking an act with actual submission, and ended up torn to shreds."
"I u-understand the r-risk."
The girl grabbed the items, but before the shopkeeper let go of them, he warned her in a serious voice, to which she gulped down her saliva and nodded decisively.
"Lastly…"
But even then, the shopkeeper wasn't finished.
"Neither of those works on intelligent monsters, but intelligent monsters can trick you into believing they are submissive and listen to you. There were cases of monsters like that using an unprepared tamer to enter a settlement and wreaking devastating havoc. It's best not to risk it with creatures capable of using magic, and for the love of Perseverance, never use it on something capable of using common language, no matter how reasonable it sounds. Actually, the more reasonable it sounds, the more dangerous the monster. At that point, it's probably a demon or at least a demon-crowned beast."
The man insisted and only then handed the items to the black-haired girl.
"Before you go, sign this waiver that you are aware of the risks and all of the potential consequences and that I did everything in my might to warn you of the danger."
After doing that, the shopkeeper reached under the counter once more and took out a document already pre-marked with his personal seal, as well as a quill and bottle of ink.