"Ah, I'm a traveler. I was told I could come here if I needed any information," Arlo explained, trying to keep his nerves in check.
Without breaking his professional smile, the receptionist glanced at Arlo's unusual clothes before nodding. "Of course, what would you like to know?"
Encouraged by the receptionist's willingness to help, Arlo didn't hold back and asked everything that had come to mind. He tried to hurry the conversation along, mindful of the line behind him and not wanting to keep others waiting for too long.
Within a few minutes of conversation, Arlo had all of his questions answered. He learned that the city they were in was called Lithra, the capital of the Kingdom of Jarha, one of the three major kingdoms on the continent.
The currency used in the Kingdom of Jarha was known as Jarha coins, with bronze being the lowest denomination and platinum the highest. One hundred bronze coins made up a silver coin, one hundred silver coins made up a gold coin, and one thousand gold coins made up a platinum coin.
The receptionist, intrigued by Arlo's lack of knowledge about the area, inquired, "To think that you knew so little about this place... not even the continent where we're at... Excuse me for asking, but are you a noble? The quality of your clothes seems very high..."
At the mention of nobility, Arlo's expression grew more serious.
'Nobility, huh? I did see a castle on the way here, and based on the medieval setting, it's not much of a surprise. However, I wonder how much being a noble affects how someone is treated here.'
'I'd like to ask more about it, but I can already feel the people behind me starting to get annoyed.'
"No, I'm not a noble," Arlo replied. "These clothes are from my home country. Thank you for answering my questions. Before I go, I was wondering if I could get a map of this city, the kingdom, and the outskirts."
Arlo knew that if he wanted to safely try out his more potent [Intermediate Class] and [Advanced Class] spells, he would need to venture outside the city. Having a map to avoid getting lost would be invaluable.
"We sell maps here, but unfortunately, we don't hand those out for free," the receptionist explained. "You should be able to get one at the Adventurer's Guild for free if you register, though. Albeit, it won't be an advanced map."
'Adventurer's Guild, huh? If it's the same type of adventurer's guild I'm thinking of, then it would be similar to the Hunter's Association. They recruit people to complete tasks for them and reward them with money,' Arlo mused.
"Alright, that's all from me. Thank you for taking the time to explain everything to me, Mr...?" Arlo trailed off.
"Ah, you can just call me Miro." The receptionist responded.
"Thank you Mr Miro."
With a grateful bow, Arlo thanked Miro for the directions to the Adventurer's Guild and made his way out of the Myrium Trading Company. As he stepped outside, he leaned against the wall and gazed up at the night sky, staring at the three moons that hung overhead.
'Adventurer's Guild... Miro mentioned a little about it. Something about there being all kinds of requests, from monster subjugation to picking herbs outside the city. I sort of want to check out what it's like.'
'They'll also give me a map if I register, which will be very useful,' Arlo mused.
Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, Arlo looked down the road ahead. There was a lot to worry about and even more to do, and the weight of it all was starting to stress him out.
Yet, somehow, it felt far better than being stuck inside his room, doing nothing.
With a determined nod, Arlo set off down the path before him, following the directions Miro had provided to reach the Adventurer's Guild. Fortunately, the guild was positioned near the city's entrance, meaning that after his visit, he could leave the city right away.
After an hour of walking across the city, Arlo finally arrived at the building. He had been worried that he might have accidentally passed it during his long trek, but upon seeing it, he realized there was no way he could have missed it.
Not only was the Adventurer's Guild one of the largest buildings in the area, but it was also one of the noisiest. Even from outside, Arlo could hear people cheering and speaking with great enthusiasm.
The passersby seemed accustomed to the lively atmosphere, not batting an eye at the commotion.
Arlo paused in front of the entrance and looked up at the large wooden sign that read "Adventurer's Guild."
As someone who had recently been living in reclusion, he wasn't particularly comfortable with such lively places. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and steeled his resolve to head inside.
After a few moments of hesitation, Arlo finally pushed open the doors and stepped into the guild.
The interior of the Adventurer's Guild was even more impressive than its exterior. The vast space was filled with tables and chairs, where people gathered to eat, drink, and socialize.
Workers navigated the crowded room, carrying trays laden with food and beverages, while adventurers of all kinds—humans, demi-humans, and other beings—sat together in groups or alone.
Clutching his book tightly as if it were a lifeline, Arlo made his way inside, his eyes darting anxiously from left to right as he took in the lively scene. 'They must all be adventurers,' he concluded, observing the diverse array of people seated throughout the guild.
Some adventurers sat in groups, their armor gleaming and weapons close at hand, while others sat alone, their figures shrouded beneath mysterious robes.
At the west end of the room, a large board dominated the wall, its surface covered in old, worn-out papers, each bearing a quest or mission.
A sizable crowd had gathered around the board, eagerly reading the details of the available tasks. Above the board, a sign proudly proclaimed "Quests" in bold letters.
On the east end of the room, the receptionist's desk stood, ready to assist adventurers with their needs. Before approaching the reception area, Arlo made his way to the "Quests" board, curious to see what challenges the guild had to offer.