As I followed the two into the building, I was greeted by a diverse crowd of people. There was the large Uncle with the hefty axe, a wizard-like figure muttering to himself beneath a deep hat, and a trio of individuals engaged in lively conversation. In the back, however, I could see a commotion brewing, as it seemed a fight was about to break out.
“See?! I delivered everything safely, didn’t I?!”
“The client was injured. That can’t be considered safe, so the reward is half.”
“It wasn’t even a serious injury! They made it here alive, didn’t they?!”
“That doesn’t mean it was safe.”
The Spearman was surrounded by onlookers, including a bespectacled man seated behind the counter. A large Uncle stepped forward, approaching the Spearman.
“Hey, hey, this is embarrassing. Read the request again. It clearly states that I need to be delivered safely to the Aganbart Kingdom along with the cargo. That means, under no circumstances should anything happen to the client.”
The Axe Uncle interjected, admonishing the Spearman.
“Safe means being alive, doesn’t it?”
The Spearman glared at the Axe Uncle, who continued without flinching.
“You’re still new to this adventurer business, aren’t you? Your armor and boots are all cheap and practically brand new. A veteran would have better gear.”
“And what of it?”
“Consider it a lesson. Complaining won’t change the reward.”
“Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?”
The Spearman readied his spear, and the crowd murmured in anticipation, while the Uncle raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“Fighting here is forbidden. If you want to talk, I’ll listen outside.”
“Fine by me.”
With that, the Axe Uncle and the Spearman stepped outside. I wondered if they were really going to fight. This wasn’t what I had imagined. Why were fellow adventurers so hostile toward each other?
Tilting my head in confusion, I decided to approach the counter to inquire about Ikana Village.
“Excuse me, where is Ikana Village?”
“Please show me your Adventurer Card. A Guild Card will do as well.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“Oh, could it be that you’re a beginner?”
I had no idea what was going on, but I nodded in response.
“To use the Adventurer’s Guild, you first need to register as an adventurer. It’s a simple process. Would you like to do it now?”
It seemed I had to fill out some information on the paper handed to me. First, my name and… wait?
I suddenly realized something significant. Yes, I…
“Is something wrong?”
The Guild staff asked, looking puzzled at my frozen expression.
“Um, I…”
“Yes?”
“Well, I can’t write.”
“What?!”
Since escaping the village, I had ventured into the dungeon without interacting with anyone. I didn’t know anything that a normal child would learn. The adventurers around me widened their eyes in disbelief and then burst into laughter.
“Seriously? How have you survived until now?”
“Unbelievable!”
“Hmm, you definitely look like you’re not the brightest.”
I could hear the derision and mockery in their voices. Not knowing what to do, I looked at the Guild staff for help.
“Then, perhaps someone else could write it for you?”
That was my only option. I scanned the room for someone who might help.
“Hey, you! Write it for her!”
“No way! I don’t want that monkey brain rubbing off on me!”
Everyone whispered among themselves, casting glances my way. They didn’t seem inclined to help at all.
“What should I do?”
“I’m afraid I can’t write it for you as a rule.”
“Can someone please help me?”
There was no response. Frustration and sadness welled up inside me, and I felt tears threatening to spill over at the coldness of the adventurers. I trembled as I clutched the pen, but I couldn’t write anything. A tear fell, staining the paper.
Just then, the entrance door swung open.
“Ah, I’m exhausted… Huh?”
A blonde girl stepped inside. She looked to be about my age, with hair slightly longer than mine, tied into two sections. Her hairstyle contrasted sharply with my short cut. She sensed the unusual atmosphere and quickly noticed me.
“Is something wrong?”
“Shaking my head.”
“Even if you shake your head…”
“Let me explain.”
The Guild staff smoothly filled in the gaps. I wondered if this girl would laugh at me for not being able to write, too.
“I see. If you’d like, I can write it for you.”
“R-Really?”
“When someone is in trouble, we help each other out.”
I rubbed my eyes, trying to wipe away the tears. I sniffled, trying to compose myself.
“First, your name and where you currently live, and then…”
I told her my information one by one as she wrote it down.
“Current address, Ikana Village?”
The Guild staff glared at the paper. Now that I had finished, I could finally get my card. According to the explanation, this card was important, as I would need to present it for anything I did at the Adventurer’s Guild. It would also rank up based on my achievements, unlocking various conveniences. There were dungeons and facilities I couldn’t enter with a low rank, and some requests I wouldn’t be able to take on. The Adventurer Card would contain all that vital information.
The Guild staff adjusted their glasses as they took the paper.
“I’m sorry, but please write your current residence.”
“Does that mean the destroyed village is not acceptable?”
“You must be living somewhere now, right? If you’re wandering, the name of the inn you’re staying at would suffice.”
“Um, I’ve been delving into a dungeon called the Abyss Cave.”
“Ah, I see…”
The conversation was going nowhere, and the blonde girl finally spoke up.
“Um, Rua-chan, it’s about where you’ve been living since the village was destroyed.”
“I’ve been living in the dungeon.”
Laughter erupted from the crowd, unrestrained. They hurled insults at me, calling me crazy and other terrible things.
“Have you ever heard of the Abyss Cave?”
“Nope. The only places around here are Bear Forest and the Strange Plains. Bear Forest has a Danger Level well over 30, you know?”
“What’s the Abyss Cave? There’s no such dungeon.”
Why did I have to be mocked for this? I felt tears welling up again.
“You seem to be in trouble, so how about my house?”
“Huh?”
“If you live there from now on, it will count as your current residence, right?”
“Well, if that’s the case, then yes.”
Perhaps tired of the back-and-forth, the Guild staff agreed readily. I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if this girl hadn’t shown up. For now, I could only feel immense gratitude toward this girl whose name I didn’t even know.
“Alright, everything is complete. Your card will be issued shortly, so please wait a moment.”
Finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, I turned to the girl and asked for her name.
“I’m Roel. I live in this town.”
“Thank you, Roel. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“It’s nothing. By the way, Rua-chan, you’re from Ikana Village, huh…”
“Yeah, I was thinking of going to see what happened to the village. Do you know where it is, Roel?”
“Huh? What do you mean, what happened?”
Roel fell silent. I wondered why she and the Guild staff seemed so hesitant to speak. Was it difficult to talk about the destroyed village?
“It’s been over ten years since Ikana Village was destroyed, right? No wonder the Guild staff is confused.”
Someone chimed in.
“Ten years?”
Huh?