For the next ten days, I was still seated in my carriage.
The good news is that we finally crossed the western borders and entered the outskirts of the South.
The bad news is that my back ached, my legs felt like jelly, and I was one awkward jolt away from developing a permanent disdain for carriages.
"I swear this carriage was designed to be uncomfortable on purpose," I muttered, shifting my position yet again.
The driver, as usual, didn't bother responding. He seemed content to sit there in stoic silence, ignoring my misery.
The only other constant company I had was my thoughts, and those weren't exactly cheerful. Ten days of silence gave a man plenty of time to think, and I hated where those thoughts kept circling back to.
My previous days went something like this.
Day Two: I tried to test my limits doing meaningless things. Counting the seconds between the sounds of the horses' hooves. Trying to memorize the patterns of the trees passing by the window.
Day Five: I began keeping a mental tally of how many butterflies passed by the window. By midday, I was at forty-two. By evening, I realized I'd gone insane.
Day Seven: I finally gave in and tried to start a conversation with the driver.
"Hey, you ever get tired of this job?"
Silence.
"Don't you ever feel like chucking this carriage into a ditch and just walking away?"
More silence.
"Right. I'll take that as a no."
By now, it should be obvious that I hated traveling.
In my previous life, the maximum I could travel for was an hour or two, or on a sleepy day, three. Anything beyond that felt like suffocation.
Of course, unlike Earth, this world was different.
In a world where magic prevailed, for someone like me, there was an easier method to get through cities and kingdoms.
Teleportation.
But there were few reasons why I couldn't do this.
For one, the teleportation spell only works for places that you've been to before.
Unfortunately for me, Eldrinn has never been to the South, where I'm currently headed.
For two, there was a teleportation ban on the western grounds for Restrict users. This was among the many other bans I had. This meant that using teleportation portals in the kingdom was also impossible.
Now that I was out of Cofrenn, I should've been able to use the spell, but it was easier said than done.
This world is so progressive that even carriages have restrictions for certain spells.
Using a teleportation spell once you've entered a carriage was impossible.
Two things happen if you choose to do it.
One, a counter that expels said teleport spell. For a high-level mage like me, this wouldn't be an issue. But for two, a travel ban will be issued on the Restrict, which would deny the user from using any available transportation services.
This law was created because of an incident in the past where mages misused their 'Teleport' skill and discriminated against carriage drivers.
So, all in all, I was stuck being uncomfortable in this carriage.
"Haa…"
Why do I feel like I sigh a lot these days?
Even though I've entered South, with the Restrict, I'm sure I wouldn't be hired as a Professor again.
The easier way out of this would be to address myself in court, but there was a reason why I didn't want to do that.
After the initialization of Phase 1, the Grant of Magus, the organization that oversees all mage-related facilities would revoke unaddressed Restricts for a short period, during which you can rehire yourself again.
If I were to address my crimes in the court right now, it would be a loss, since I'll remain restricted permanently for my deeds.
Which is why I decided to stay low for the next three months until that happens. There were other things I could get my hands on.
My current plans were simple.
Since my Instructor License wouldn't be useful until for a while, I was planning to make a living as an adventurer to pay off the Orders Court.
Being an adventurer came with both perks and cons, but with my skills, I shouldn't have much of a struggle.
At least, I hope I did.
***
Ten days blurred into twenty, and I finally reached my destination.
Only heavens know how I survived all these days confined in this carriage.
Eldrinn, you pathetic piece of—
"Hoo…"
I calmed myself down, before getting down the carriage.
"1180 locs."
The driver finally spoke, and I sighed.
Of course he can talk.
It just had to be about money.
I shuffled through my coat pocket and took out one of the three pouches I had and tossed it over to him.
It was my remaining income from teaching at Saira'Thyvar.
Without another word, the driver got back in his carriage and left.
"Sheesh…"
He could've said a goodbye, at least.
Well, it doesn't matter. I landed where I had to be thanks to him.
I turned around and took in the view.
Everyone was dressed straight out of a medieval fantasy.
I was currently in Argona, a small kingdom that had the highest ratio of mercenaries and guilds to others.
Unlike the quieter and lawful Cofrenn, Argona was a place bustling with petty crimes and people who needed a job.
It was the perfect spot for someone like me.
In front of me, was the Adventurer Guild with its title in bold-red hanging on a two-story building.
I watched as people grouped around the guild's mission board, where missions of different levels were assigned.
The only reason I ever dropped by the guild during gameplay was for extra money.
Just like today.
I took a deep breath, and made my way inside the guild building.
Unlike the outside, the inside of the building was rather empty. Aside from two people who sat at the corner discussing something, there was a receptionist at the counter for adventurers to check in with.
"How can I help you?"
The receptionist lady, who looked barely twenty, asked with a wide smile.
"I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Oh! That would be 1000 locs!"
She said gleefully, and I grimaced to myself.
I took out my other pouch, and placed it on the table.
A thousand locs for registering was a damn rip-off and I came here mentally prepared, but it still sucked to give it away without feeling salty.
She took out a glass of water and placed it in front of me.
"Since you're new here, I'll explain the formal procedures. This right here is the—"
She started, but I waved her off.
"Infusion Glass. I'm aware. Let's continue with the testing."
The Infusion Glass was a way to gouge out the strength of an adventurer and rank them according to the guild's standards. This was a common thing in fantasy RPGs.
"
I chanted and a cut was made on my forefinger.
I positioned it above the glass, and discreetly made a chant-less spell.
'
Blood dripped down my fingers and onto the glass, landing perfectly at the center of the water.
The water stayed still for a few seconds, before rippling and then rigorously splashed around the glass.
After ten seconds, it finally calmed itself down, leaving behind a purple residue.
The receptionist looked at it for a second, wrote something down on a piece of paper and then smiled.
"Congratulations! You're a B Class Adventurer! Mr…?"
"Eldrinn. Eldrinn Voh Armeliayth."
"Yes, Mr Eldrinn. Here is your token."
She took out a purple brooch and placed it on the desk.
"Please proceed to the mission board and choose your mission!"
"Thank you."
"Have a fun adventure, and stay alive!"
She waved happily as I turned around.
Must be a nice job…
I thought saltily as I made my way to the mission board.
***
Ah, shit.
That was all I could muster looking at the mission board.
Being a B rank adventurer made you above average, but it still wasn't that good as compared to an A rank or S rank.
I could've easily gotten a "Special Grade" token, but I held myself back at the Infusion testing.
I reduced the Aether in my blood so as to stay within the lesser ranks.
One question that would come up is—why?
It was simple.
Once Phase 1 preparations start in the next month, the Grant of Magus will force-hire even adventurers to take part in it due to the lack of combat mages. Specifically, S and A rank adventurers.
My plan was to stay out of the dangerous place that Cofrenn will become, and not return back to it.
Though, staying as a B rank adventurer would mean I'll have to do ten times the work than an A rank to make a living.
Of course, this was only if said B rank has any work to do.
"But…what is this?"
I stared at the empty mission board, wide-mouthed.
How can there be nothing to do?
Argona was a place surrounded by the Mythrilla Forest—the forest of divine beasts and creatures—and the Naros Sea—the trade route for merchants from the South-East.
A place like this having nothing for B rank adventurers was—
Stupid.
I internally groaned as I looked over to the other mission boards.
Aside from the A rank and S rank boards, everything else was empty.
How?
As if to answer my confusion, two older men, dressed in armor, groaned.
—"Ah, those fricking S ranks! They took all our missions!"
—"How are we supposed to survive if they keep taking it away?!"
—"Pathetic stealers! Now the A ranks have joined them to loot everything too!"
—"Why isn't the guild leader doing anything about this?!"
Ah.
So that was it.
It seems like the guild is suffering from a severe monopolizing from the higher ranks.
Though, I don't remember this detail in the game.
"...Strange."
Usually, the higher rank adventurers are paid fifty times more than the lower ranks, so the monetary value that comes out of lesser missions aren't worth much to them.
So, why?
What benefit do they get from doing this?
Poor lower ranks…must be hard to make a living.
I sighed, feeling sorry, but…
Wait.
Hold on. Hold on.
Doesn't that mean I too am royally plus officially screwed?!
All my plans to pay off the Orders Court are gone.
Does this mean I won't be able to pay them off in the upcoming three months?
Didn't the Magus Council send debted-Restricts to experimentation labs?
I can already hear my death bells ringing.
I'm so screwed.
"Those fricking S ranks!"
I half-yelled, startling the other two men.
"I-I'm sorry."
I bowed, feeling embarrassed.
How did I let myself go for a second?
"Young man."
One of the older gentlemen came forward with a sad expression.
"You don't have to apologize."
"Ah…"
"When in rage, it feels much to let everything out."
Said the other gentleman.
"Right…"
"So, say with us together—"
They both opened their arms with a warm smile.
"THOSE FRICKING S RANKS!"
I blinked for a few seconds.
Before joining them.
"THOSE FRICKINGS S RANKS!"
"RIGHT! BE LOUDER, YOUNG MAN!"
"THOSE FRICKING S RANKS!"
"LOUDER!"
"FRICKING FRICKING S RANKS!"
"YOU'RE ON POINT, MY BOY!"
"SINCE WE ALL ARE BROKE, WHY DON'T WE GET A DRINK?!"
One of them suggested it, and I had no reason to reject it.
"SOUNDS LIKE FUN!"
***
The older man with the scar introduced himself as Vark, and the other one as his younger brother, Pellus. Both of them were C rank adventurers.
Due to my resistance to alcohol, I was feeling just like the usual, but the brothers were piss drunk.
"Eldrinnnn~ This place is a shiiii holeee…"
Said Var, gulping down another glass of blue-wine.
"Younnggg peeopleee shouuuuld stayy awayy…."
Pellus cried at the side.
"Those damnn SSssss ranks takin all our jebs…waahh…"
"Haa…" I took a sip out of my glass. "Guys, you both need to stop drinking."
"Nooo Eldrinnnn~~ Wineeeee is bessstt~~"
They won't listen since they aren't listening to anything at all.
They're mindlessly talking out their frustration.
As the drunken rambling continued, I realized that Pellus had now started humming a tune that vaguely sounded like a dirge.
Vark, on the other hand, was dramatically swinging his glass around, sloshing wine onto the table and muttering something about "honor" and "those blasted S ranks."
Internally, I was despairing.
It was clear that the situation with S ranks hogging missions was a long-standing issue here.
If seasoned adventurers like these two were struggling to make ends meet, what chance did a newcomer like me have?
My plans of quickly earning enough to pay off the Orders Court were evaporating before my eyes.
Still, giving up wasn't an option.
I got up from my seat and went to the counter to pay for all our drinks.
The brothers were now passed out on the table.
"I had a good time."
I said, before leaving the tavern.
***
"Haa…"
I need to calm down.
There was no way there weren't any missions left.
All the lower rank mission boards were empty like it was during the daytime.
According to Pellus, the boards were filled weekly, and it'll take another seven days before newer missions line up.
"Damn it…"
The mornings have gone by, and the night slowly settled in.
I'll have to come back here tomorrow and ask the guild to do something.
"Haa…"
Just then, something caught my attention.
It was a small box placed at the extreme end of the F ranks mission board.
I walked up to it and crouched down.
It was a battered red box that was covered in dust and dirt.
"Those are the abandoned mission scrolls."
Said a familiar voice. I turned to face the receptionist lady I met in the morning.
"Abandoned…mission scrolls?"
"Yes, Mr Eldrinn," she smiled. "That box is filled weekly for missions that haven't been cleared for the past three-to-six months."
Oh?
"Jackpot…"
"Yes?"
"Nothing…"
I turned back to the box, my eyes brimming with fake-tears.
This was it.
Of course there are abandoned missions.
There was no way a guild ran out of missions.
"So, Miss…"
"Elissa!"
"Right, Miss Elissa…can I take on some of these?"
"Of course! We encourage adventurers to always fulfill missions brought by our fellow prospects, so that our guild may continue staying prosperous!"
"I see…I see…"
But my focus was on the box. With a swift movement, I opened it, and inside it was—
"A jackpot…"
"Yes?"
"Nothing…"
There were endless abandoned missions.
I was truly blessed.
"Why didn't you mention this before, Miss Elissa?"
It could have saved me hours of fretting.
"Well, Mr Eldrinn…" Elissa shrugged. "Abandoned missions are usually really dangerous or have certain restrictions placed upon them. In some cases, the mission scroll doesn't include the whereabouts, locs and details necessary, or the ranks of the adventurers necessary for the work, which makes it hard to discern if it's legitimate. So, generally, adventurers steer away thinking of them as shams."
"That makes sense."
I nodded, and turned to her. "Thank you for explaining. I'll go through some of these."
"Of course! Take your time, Mr Eldrinn."
She left, and I sat there, going through each of those.
The abandoned missions were interesting.
The Cursed Portrait
Description: An old woman claims that a painting in her manor moves on its own and whispers at night. She requests that it be destroyed, but everyone who has tried has fallen ill or gone insane.
Restrictions: The task must be completed without damaging the rest of the manor, as the painting is deeply embedded into the wall.
Beast Hunt: The Shardwing Drake
Description: Reports of a rare Shardwing Drake terrorizing nearby settlements. Killing or capturing it would fetch a fortune.
Restrictions: The drake is said to reside deep within the Everfall Canyon, which is inaccessible without a guide—and no guides have survived the journey recently.
The Silent Crypt
Description: A noble family seeks help to retrieve a family heirloom from an ancient crypt that emits an eerie hum. Those who enter often return mute, if they return at all.
Restrictions: Magic use is strictly prohibited within the crypt, as all spells backfire violently due to ancient wards.
In the game, I had never come across these as there was no such thing as disputes among the ranks, but it must be a small detail that I missed.
I spent the next one hour going through countless abandoned missions.
…
"None of these specify much details…"
I said out loud.
Miss Elissa was right. Most of the missions were vague beyond their descriptions.
Given how most of these didn't specify the amount of money, it made it worse.
I'm trying to make a living and not end up in some freak mage's lab.
I looked over at the remaining bundle of missions to sort through, feeling empty.
"Haa…"
I'll have to do this for another hour.
Just then.
A slightly brown mission scroll caught my attention among other cream-coloured ones.
"Look at you trying to stand out…" I joked to myself. "I'm generous, so I'll give you a chance."
I went through it's content and—
"...Huh?"
There, in slightly smudged letters.
Hiring Licensed Magic Professor
Restrictions: None
Wage: 20000 locs/monthly
Rank: Any
Mage Tier: Any
Place of Interest: Yventus Academy
Additional Notes:
Restrict Users allowed for application