Hazuki checked his Adventurer Card balance, feeling a rare sense of financial stability. "Hmm… now I've got more than 25 silver coins in my bank. Not bad. This is a good start."
He leaned on the counter, thinking for a moment before looking up. "Umm… can I ask something?"
The receptionist nodded. "Yes?"
"How much does house rental cost in this town?"
The receptionist tilted her head, a bit surprised. "Hmm? You should go to the real estate office in town. They handle that stuff."
Hazuki scratched his cheek. "Err… I was just asking, you know… since I'm new here."
The receptionist thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Well… it ranges from 10 silver coins to 5 gold coins, depending on the type of house, lawn size, courtyard, and how far it is from the town center."
Hazuki stared blankly. "10 silver to 5 gold!?"
He quickly did the mental math.
With 25 silver… I can barely afford the cheapest rental…
Haaah… looks like I need to grind more money before thinking about a house…
He sighed, accepting his fate. For now, he was still just a guy sleeping in stables.
Hazuki rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "Man… if monthly rent is already that expensive, I wonder how much it costs to own land or buy a house outright in this world…"
He grimaced. "Damn…"
Still, there had to be a cheaper option. "Does living in an inn cost less?"
The receptionist sighed, already expecting another pointless question. "Umm… anywhere from 40 copper to 2 silver per day, depending on the inn's quality and price."
Then, with an exaggerated smile, she tilted her head. "But seriously, stop asking about things that aren't related to adventurers."
She leaned on the counter, smirking. "How about asking if your level is high enough to kill a dragon instead?"
Inside Hazuki's mind:
Damn this girl… just because you're cute doesn't mean you should mock me like that!
Hey, I know what sarcasm is!
Hazuki clicked his tongue, deciding to ignore her jab. "Umm… what about skills? Where can I learn them?"
The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now that's actually a useful question."
The receptionist grinned slyly, resting her chin on her hand. "How about you check your level first before asking about skills?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hazuki clicked his tongue. "Tch. This damn girl…"
With an annoyed sigh, he pulled out his Adventurer Card and checked his status.
Adventurer Card
Name: Hazekaya Hazuki
Age: 24
Class: None
Level: 6
Skill Slots: 10 (Empty)
Skill Points: 6
Hazuki blinked. "Oh… Level 6 now."
Inside Hazuki's mind:
Huh. So that Giant Horned Rabbit actually gave me a good chunk of EXP. Not bad.
He tilted his head, mumbling to himself, "Emm… Level 6 now, and I've got 6 skill points."
Suddenly—
The receptionist covered her mouth, pretending to stammer. "L-Level… S-Six!?"
Her eyes widened in exaggerated shock, and her voice shook dramatically.
Hazuki narrowed his eyes. "Oh, here we go…"
She clasped her hands together, looking up at him with mock admiration. "W-Wow… that's so amazing, Mr. High-Level Adventurer!" she gasped.
Then, with a mischievous grin, she leaned forward. "Only 94 more levels to go before you can even THINK about killing a dragon!"
Hazuki felt his soul leave his body. "This girl is the worst."
The receptionist, still grinning, finally waved off her sarcasm and returned to the topic at hand. "Now, back to your main question." She tapped her fingers on the counter. "You can learn various types of skills, from passive to active ones."
Hazuki nodded, listening carefully.
"The ways to learn skills are pretty simple… in theory." She raised one finger. "First option: You can observe someone using the skill. If you have keen eyes, good focus, and a natural talent for learning, you might be able to pick it up just by watching."
Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "So basically… self-taught mode?"
"Pretty much."
She raised a second finger. "Second option: You can learn directly from a skill owner. This means someone teaches you step by step. This is how most adventurers learn."
Hazuki nodded again. "Okay, sounds reasonable so far."
Then the receptionist smirked and raised a third finger. "And then… there's the third option."
She leaned in slightly, eyes filled with amusement. "If you're a 'genius,' you can learn from a book."
Hazuki felt something stab at his pride. "…Why did you say 'genius' like that?"
The receptionist grinned wider. "Because only bookworms, nobles, and naturally gifted freaks can learn a skill just by reading."
Hazuki clicked his tongue, trying to keep his irritation in check.
He kept his best 'pure' smile, pretending to be the picture of innocence. "Umm… where can I read books about skills?"
The receptionist's grin widened. "Pffft—" She barely held back a laugh. "You seriously think you can?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Hazuki's smile twitched. Damn this girl…
Still smirking, she shrugged. "Well, if you wanna waste your time, go to the library or check the book section here in the Adventurer's Guild." She lazily pointed to the side. "First floor, to the left. You'll find a bookshelf and a place to sit."
Then, with an overly sweet voice, she added, "Oh, and don't forget to order something to drink or eat while you're at it…"
Her expression darkened slightly. "We don't really like… freeloaders."
Hazuki felt an invisible stab to his wallet.
Hazuki sighed, accepting his fate. "Okay… give me a big glass of coffee. Make it strong, with milk and honey."
The receptionist nodded, writing down his order. "Ermm… also something to eat?"
She smirked. "Got it. I'll tell them to send it to you."
Hazuki gave a tired nod. "Thanks…"
With that, he turned and made his way to the first floor, heading toward the book section.
( End of Chapter )