"I want to register to be an official Awakened."
From a gaming perspective, at least for the esteemed users of the Cosmic Nomenclatures, the Town of Beginnings was a place where the newly created character would be spawned after the creation process. However, in this familiar and yet subtle world, this location was the starting point where a person regardless of any race must visit to become an officially registered Awakened.
After all, if the Awakener's Guild hadn't officially recognized an Awakened, the person in question would be deprived of any benefits such as being able to legally sell looted equipment, and monster corpses, and to take rewarding commissions. Apart from these, the most beneficial of all was "access" and proof of identity, which was useful in various, if not many cases.
"Okay, young man. However, I'd like to confirm first your status. Would that be all right?" The receptionist green-eyed girl, whose bun hairstyle hair was golden, asked Ryder.
"Of course," Ryder said, trying to do his best to be casual.
'I know, I know. Stop looking at me like that.' Ryder muttered inwardly; his existence seemed to receive quite a few suspicious gazes.
A moment or two later, the receptionist retrieved a spherical transparent glass object, which she put in front of the registering Awakened.
"Please put your hands atop the Qi Meter Sphere, Mister. It will project your current level, Chuuni Energy stat, and the amount of Chuuni Qi you presently possess.
"These three are enough to determine if you are an Awakener so you may proceed."
Without muttering a response, Ryder did what he was told.
Whoom…
The glass-like sphere pulsated as it emanated a cerulean aura that was serene and quiet. Then, after a few seconds, a holographic screen manifested in front of the receptionist where Ryder's current level, amount of Chuuni Energy, and Chuuni Qi were listed.
"Oh! I've confirmed that you are an Awakened, Mister! Wait, wait!" The receptionist proceeded to take an Awakener's Registration Form (ARF), which Ryder silently filled with his lousy handwriting.
'Come to think of it, since when's the last time I wrote something with a pen…' He uselessly pondered before handing the ARF to the receptionist.
"Please wait five minutes. I'll process this now." With her voice as gentle as the calm weather, she left for a moment.
***
"That will be 5,000 Kum Coins, Awakener Ryder."
When she received the payment as she handed the Awakener's Identification Card (AID), the receptionist added,
"Um, Mister Ryder, would you need me to tell you about the Awakener's Rule Book? Or would you prefer to purchase a copy of it?"
"I'll have a copy, please." Ryder formally responded before handing another hundred of the Chuuni World's currency.
"Also… can I ask for newbie commissions? I'd prefer any Goblin Hunting."
'Hmm? Goblin Hunting? He's just Level 1, though?' She thought to herself. However, as a professional, and knowing that Awakeners were responsible for their own lives, she entertained the young man's query.
"There are a few, Mister."
"Okay, I'd like to check the list of commissions. Thank you."
After some time…
Ding!
[You have taken an Awakener's Guild Commission!]
[Awakener's Guild Commission]
Commission Rank: 1 Star
Commission Category: Subjugation
Commission Details:
[A destitute village abandoned by the Venerable Sky Clan is being disturbed by a hoard of goblins. Located at the depths of the Erindem Forest, save the unnamed village that lost its identity along with its inhabitants.]
Commission Rewards: 100 Awakener's Points (AP), 10,000 Kum Coins
Commission Failure Penalty: [?]
"Good luck with your first commission, Awakener Ryder." The receptionist girl slightly lowered her head as she witnessed him turning around after a nod.
'Sigh, his voice sounds young, but why he's wearing a mask? Is he perhaps a runaway noble?' She pondered.
***
"That stresses me out, but it's not like I'm doing something wrong by wearing a mask to hide my face. Well, it's just a precaution assuming that my cursed [Title] activates when my appearance is being seen..." Even though his medically diagnosed chronic social anxiety miraculously disappeared after his transmigration, Ryder sensed as though it was returning due to different circumstances.
Taking out the mask he had acquired from one of the Lust Gacha Boxes, those that he opened pre-blessing of the Goddess of Identity, he sat on the bed's side of a newly rented room in a different tavern.
"Sigh, what's wrong with these items' names!?" He let out a self-deprecating laugh as he instinctively read the equipment's name after taking it off his countenance.
[Stripper's Mask (Rare)]
After some time, when Ryder managed to gather his thoughts after settling for the night since his fateful encounter with the royal blood, Princess Luna Valentine, he double-checked his [Affair's Space] and prepared what he could before leaving at the dawn of the morning.
'I'll have some shut-eye before the grinding starts…'
***
Around two hours before the sun revealed its warm light to the continent.
"Since you are my first customer, I'd like to bless your adventure, Awakener!" The horse carriage driver said before Ryder jumped off the horse carriage operating at this time of the morning like early birds.
Donning the [Stripper's Mask] that resembled a cat, the latter nodded, "Thank you, Mister. Take care on your way."
There was this custom in the World of Chuuni when it was still a game; it was when an Awakener was about to embark on a mission whatever it might be, an elderly would often say "Bless your adventure."
Seeing the silhouette of the horse carriage leaving through the rough forested road, Ryder began with his strides in another direction.
'This is the same commission for beginners in the game world, and if the terrains didn't change a bit, I guess there's no need for a map.' He inwardly muttered.
After an unknown amount of time of treading toward a certain direction, his ears picked up some noises.
"W–we can't do this! We are not Awakened and are powerless against these monstrosities who plagued our village!" It was a man's voice that sounded in his early thirties.
"B–but we have no choice… The Venerable Sky Clan abandoned us. However, we cannot go on like this without a fight!"
"Lihan's right! We have to fight! It's better to die while fighting than die without honor!"
The mutterings of conflict about whether they should fight the hoard of goblins continued. Ryder, on the other hand, listened from the bushes some distance away.
'Okay… this is new.' His first thought upon seeing this in darkness.
'But since I have the same business with you lads, I'll be your Goblin Slayer this time!'