A day later, in the Stolas Domain, Rumpel and his father found themselves in the Stolas Domain's Adventurer Guild Branch.
Adventurer's Guild. Even if not every fantasy Isekai novel or anime doesn't have one, It was a staple element in the world of Isekai.
The Adventurers Guild of this world is divided into several ranks. From the lowest Rank F Adventure to the highest SSS Rank, it was also known as 'Heroes'.
The protagonist of the novel Noir Hero's Wrath is an SSS-Rank adventurer known as Noir Hero.
In this world, an adventurer is a magicless mercenary who uses magic artifacts or weapons to fulfill their missions. Ranging from escorting, protection, assassinations, spying, monster hunting, stray hunting, and the very dangerous journey of exploration outside of Goetia Kingdom.
Including the main branch, the Adventurers Guild has a total of 64 branches in the Goetia Kingdom. All of the domains in the 1st Region don't have one.
' Well... The 1st Region has adjudicators, overseers, and enforcers. So I don't think they need adventurers or heroes there. '
Entering the Adventurer's Guild, Rumpel and his father found themselves in the reception hall of the guild. Looking around, Rumpel could see that the reception hall of the Adventurers Guild was spacious. It has various round tables and four chairs surrounding each table. There was a receptionist desk and a bar counter. The receptionist desks have three female staff members standing in front, while the bar counter has a male bartender serving ales and beers. Around the reception hall, there are various servers delivering food and drinks to the people occupying the tables.
' A tavern is a tavern. The Adventurer's Guild both function as a bar and mercenary recruiters and missionaries. '
The conversations and actions of the people inside temporarily stopped.
"Let's go."
Dermond Stelzehaut urged, and Rumpel followed after his father silently. Every step that they took while walking towards the reception desk echoed inside.
Upon their arrival, everyone inside the reception hall is silent. The atmosphere is tense. Everyone at the tables is giving Rumpel and his father discerning looks. Wariness, suspicions, and expressions of restrained anger and disgust.
None held a positive emotion upon Rumpel and his father's arrival.
Judging from their clothes and demeanor, the people are a bunch of ordinary people. Seeing their reactions, Rumpel can guess what's going on.
' These people don't like elites. '
It was obvious in their expressions.
Like his previous world, Goetia Kingdom has its prejudice, discrimination, and biases. The status gap of this world is worse than that of Earth in various categories.
Arriving in front of the receptionist's desk, one of the receptionists greeted them with a smile on her face. She was a woman in her late 20s. Her light purple hair is short, reaching above her shoulder. She has striking light green eyes and a beauty mark under her left eye. Her ample bosom clung to her barmaid attire. Rumpel hurriedly averted his gaze when he noticed her dissatisfied expression directed at him.
' I did what Rumpel did for 3 straight years... I didn't mean it, but it was so distracting and prominent that my gaze unconsciously wandered to her boobs. Rumpel has always stared at her boobs for the past 3 years every time he arrives here. Maybe I did it because this body has gotten used to it. '
Fat chance. He was just a pervert. That's why his gaze drifted to her big boobs.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild once again, Lord Stelzehaut. Are you here to request a mission?"
Dermond Stelzehaut nodded his head in acknowledgment. Taking out a paper and a quill under the receptionist's desk, the receptionist started asking questions.
"What kind of mission request is Sir Stelzehaut making?"
"Escort and Protection for My Son. "
The receptionist glanced at him for a moment before writing again. Holding the quill with her right hand.
"I see. So is it once again an escort mission to Phenex Academy? Would it be a C-Rank adventurer that you need, Sir Stelzehaut?"
"No."
The receptionist glances at his father with bewilderment.
"The requirement for a mission is a party of A-Rank adventurers. From Stolas to Alloces Domain until the Alloces Academy Exam ended, the reward would range from 10,000 to 30,000 gold coins."
The receptionist as well as the other people become more bewildered when they hear his father's requirements and reward. Some people were gazing at his father intensely. Others lamented their luck for not being an A-class adventurer. There are others who thinks the adventurer requirement is excessive, And there were some people interested in the news of Rumpel giving up on the entrance exam at Phenex Academy.
"Any other requirements, sir?"
"None. If you find someone, direct them to go to the Stelzehaut Manor. Tell them to arrive before sunrise."
"Much obliged, Sir Stelzehaut. We would perfectly fulfill your requirements. Rest assured that you can continuously put your trust in us."
"Very well, Miss Viola. Let's go, Rumpel."
"Yes, father."
Following his father's strides, Rumpel and Dermond left the Adventurer's Guild. Both are reassured that there will be an adventurer who will take the mission for the generous amount of gold coins as a reward.
Outside the Adventurer's Guild is a street made of paved stone, and the Stelzehaut's family carriage is in front of them. The coachman is waiting for them to walk towards the carriage and step inside. Dermond glances at Rumpel.
" I am surprised by the decision you made, Rumpel."
' You didn't expect Rumpel to grow a spine so early, didn't you? '
"Your mother is upset with the decision that you made, son."
Tilting his head down a bit and staring at the paved street, Rumpel replied.
"I know."
In Sonne Stelzehaut's eyes, Rumpel must be an ungrateful child.
"But I think that I have a better chance of passing the entrance exam at Alloces Academy, Father. Don't you think so, Father? "
The lower the region, the easier the entrance exam is for the nine academies in the Goetia Kingdom.
"And moving down to study at a lower region's academy isn't an uncommon occurrence. Elites and Ordinaries from the Upper Layers move to study at lower layers, so their chance of passing at the academies is higher."
Within time, Rumpel hoped that Sonne Stelzehaut would understand. Being a student at Phenex Academy wasn't the only way to fulfill the dream of being a successful and talented mage. There are a lot of avenues that exist. Illegal ways and paths are very numerous. But Rumpel has no interest in attracting trouble. He would do it within the rules.
' The previous Rumpel has zero potential to become a mage, which must be the reason for his continuous failure. '
But now, this body wouldn't be a continuous failure that he was occupying this vessel.
' A continuous failure passing the entrance exam of the Phenex Academy would garner attention. Moving to the lower layer and passing at the Alloces Academy wouldn't gain too much eye and attention. '
In the novel, the strays are sought after and hunted because of their mana, potential, and magic skills.
The new Rumpel is a transmigrator. Classified as a Type 3 Stray. Bodies possessed by Type 3 strays in the novel have their magic potential changed.
Among the strays of otherworldly beings, they are the strays that have the least magic potential. However, they were also the most difficult to find. Stealthy and as secretive as possible. The most cunning type of stray.
However, their chances of survival hugely depend on the memories and information that they acquired from the former occupant of the body.
Fortunately for Rumpel, he was blessed with complete memories of the former Rumpel to search for and recall whenever he wanted in his mind. Among the transmigrators, Rumpel would be the most stealthy of their kind.
Rumpel's memories and him being someone who completely read the Noir Hero's Wrath. No one would discover that he is a stray.
' Could there be others like me who have read the novel and found themselves in this world? '
Even if there was one, Rumpel wouldn't know. If they had also read the novel, they would never reveal that they were a stray. They would hide completely and pretend to be genuine citizens of the Goetia Kingdom for their survival. Like what Rumpel is planning to do.
A minute later, Rumpel and his father entered the carriage. The former were glancing at the passing scenery of the carriage window, while the latter was glancing at his son.
Rumpel smiled slightly.
Rumpel's decision isn't so far out of the blue. He has been acting as Rumpel, and his parents don't appear to see that there is something amiss with their son.
Rumpel's decision isn't so far out of the blue. With a few steps, it could be how the Original Rumpel's mind would work.
Even he was disappointed and had his dreams crushed by countless failures, the Original Rumpel wouldn't want to disappoint his mother. He would see how other failures from the upper layers would go to the lower layers to take the entrance exams. And he would see a little hope because of it.
Rumpel desires to go to a lower-layer academy for a chance to fulfill his dream.
However, Rumpel and his mother would end up in a conflict because the two of them are stubborn and desperate. That's how he presumes Rumpel would think with the memories that he inherited from him.
Eventually, Rumpel and his father arrived at the Stelzehaut Manor. Tomorrow, Rumpel will leave the Stolas Domain. He would be escorted by A-Rank Adventurers to Alloces Domain and take the entrance exam at Alloces a few days later.
Rumpel was both dreading and looking forward to that day.