Episode 14: The Adventurer’s Baptism
I left Vollen Town aiming for the Royal Capital Kranz, but until Waren in the neighboring Glensen territory, I walked through the grasslands along the Zudarin Road, being careful not to encounter anyone.
Traveling while worrying about wild beasts and people’s eyes, it took ten days to reach Waren, a journey that would have taken seven days by carriage.
From Waren, I took a carriage to the Royal Capital, but this was a huge mistake. I didn’t know a carriage journey could be so painful.
It was noisy, my butt hurt, and enjoying the scenery was out of the question.
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I went to the Adventurer’s Guild in the Royal Capital to look for Cokes and the other four members of the Fangs of the Earth, but they weren’t there. Even asking at the reception desk didn’t help.
I visited the guild every morning for about five days, searching for Cokes and the others, but I couldn’t find them. So, I decided to register as an adventurer in the Royal Capital for the time being.
Traveling without identification is troublesome in many ways, starting with proving that I’m an adult.
They’re suspicious of my journey with just a shoulder bag, and they always demand money when entering or leaving a town, and hotels charge more than the regular rate.
The adventurer registration itself involved being taught the guild’s rules, paying three copper coins, and receiving a Guild Card.
I didn’t want to use the name Fernan, so I applied with [Hugo] from my Japanese name, Kawase Yugo, and there were no problems.
The crystal ball, familiar from light novels, didn’t react, and it was written as Magical Power 73, magic unknown.
The receptionist looked into the crystal ball, couldn’t figure out the magic name, and frowned.
When she asked, “What is this?” I said that Father (Priest) told me it was God’s Mischief, and she gave me a strange look.
Beginner registration is Iron Rank, and there are five classes: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, but each class is divided into first and second grades.
I’m in Iron Rank first grade, with a horizontal line drawn under my name. When I become second grade, there will be two horizontal lines.
It’s nothing special, just a system where they increase the lines to rank up because it’s too much trouble to make a new card.
I was told to do my best since Bronze Rank is considered a full-fledged adventurer, but I don’t have to worry about food for a while, so I plan to take it easy.
I asked for directions to a store frequented by adventurers and went out to buy better clothes and equipment than what Cokes and the others had bought me.
It’s certainly a store for adventurers, with a corresponding selection, but the quality isn’t much different from what I’m already wearing.
I only bought a carrier and a herb pouch, then asked for directions to a blacksmith and left the store.
Hatarinaru Street, Kels Blacksmith, I ordered a short sword, a short spear, and a large knife.
The short sword looked like a bayonet, slightly wider with a blade length of about 50cm and a grip of about 20cm.
The spearhead of the short spear was also the same as the short sword, and I had it made to a total length of about 190cm.
The knife was similar to a hunting sword with a wide blade, but the blacksmith tilted his head, saying he had never made anything like it before.
The materials were iron, magic steel, and mithril. I had it made of magic steel, which is sturdier and slightly heavier than iron, but it cost 1.5 times as much as iron, and I paid 12 Gold Coins for the short sword, short spear, and knife.
I told them that I was staying at the Berlio Hotel on Horror Street and made an appointment to pick them up in a week.
Next are clothes and camping bedding, but since I’ll have to order what I want, I decided to return to the hotel first.
I asked the landlady of the hotel where I could order clothes, but she said that commoners buy ready-made clothes or from second-hand stores, so she didn’t know and recommended that I go to the Commerce Guild.
In Fernan’s memories, he’s just a country bumpkin who only knows the town of Hunza, and he doesn’t have the common sense of this world, so I’m worried about the future.
The Commerce Guild, located on Santeles Street, is an imposing four-story building, and I’m a little intimidated by the fact that it’s the Commerce Guild of the Royal Capital.
When I tried to enter the Commerce Guild, I was stopped by a guard, as expected.
“Hey, kid. This isn’t a place for you! Are you mistaking it for the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“I know. I came because I wanted to deposit about 200 Gold Coins and ask a few questions.”
Saying that, I grabbed some Gold Coins from the pocket I had remade into a Magic Pouch and flicked them with my finger.
The glittering Gold Coins danced in the air with a light 〈Kling〉 sound.
The guard who saw it said, “I’ll show you the way,” and opened the door for me.
It was quite crowded, but when the man who guided me told the counter staff my business, they immediately took care of me.
“I’m not a member of the Commerce Guild, but can I still deposit money?”
“If you have identification, there’s no problem. If you need it, we can also make a Commerce Guild membership card for you.”
I’m depositing 200 Gold Coins, which is roughly equivalent to 20 million yen in Japanese currency, so they smile and agree.
Along with the Adventurer’s Guild card, I placed two brand new leather bags on the counter.
I thought that the leather bag with the Honings Marquis family crest would be bad, so I switched them, and they’re checking the contents to confirm the amount.
I was told that I can withdraw money from either the Adventurer’s Guild or the Commerce Guild, but be careful because it takes several days to withdraw large amounts from the Adventurer’s Guild.
I asked for an introduction because I wanted to order adventurer’s clothes, boots, and town clothes.
I was directed to [Marinda Leather Shop] on Horsium Street for boots, and I received an explanation of the fabrics in the Commerce Guild’s negotiation room for clothes.
I was recommended a fabric for adventurer’s clothes woven from special cocoons, which is highly water-repellent and durable.
I was disheartened to hear that the fabric cost 90 to 100 Gold Coins for a set of top and bottom and a hooded robe, and the tailoring fee was 10 Gold Coins.
I can add shock resistance, cut resistance, and magic defense myself, but I resigned myself to the fact that investment is necessary for a safe and comfortable adventurer’s life.
For town clothes, I chose a high-quality fabric that wouldn’t be looked down upon, and the fabric cost 40 Gold Coins for a set of top and bottom, with a tailoring fee of 5 Gold Coins.
I took out 140 Gold Coins for the fabric from the Magic Pouch and deposited them with the Commerce Guild, and they told me to pay the tailoring fee directly to the tailor.
If the fabric is this expensive, the tailor shouldn’t have it in stock, so I guess it can’t be helped that the order goes through the Commerce Guild.
I told them that I was staying at the Berlio Hotel on Horror Street and asked them to have someone come for measurements tomorrow, then left the Commerce Guild.
Marinda Leather Shop on Horsium Street, this place also has a magnificent storefront and isn’t a place for shabby adventurers.
I showed the man who stopped me a letter of introduction from the Commerce Guild and was allowed inside.
They seem to make all kinds of leather products, and they took my measurements for boots in a corner of the store. I paid 15 Gold Coins and will pick them up in eight days.
The remaining balance is about 4.15 million Dala. After paying the tailoring fee, I’ll have 2.65 million Dala left, but since I deposited 200 Gold Coins, or 20 million Dala, with the Commerce Guild, I don’t have to worry about living expenses for a while.
After that, I’ll buy ready-made clothes and pretend to be a commoner, so this should be fine.
I told the tailor my measurements and clothing requests and agreed to pay the tailoring fee at the fitting in seven days.
I asked the hotel landlady where I could buy ready-made clothes and went to buy them, becoming a resident of the Royal Capital in appearance.
The landlady was surprised that the tailor visited the day after the adventurer’s brat, who looked like a country bumpkin, asked for directions to the Commerce Guild.
I decided to relax in the Royal Capital until all the ordered items were ready, and after that, I would start my adventurer business in earnest.
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I received all the ordered items, and the next day, I was planning to go to the Adventurer’s Guild to ask for information about the surrounding area and start with herb gathering.
I dulled the shine of the boots so they wouldn’t stand out, and the clothes were moss green. The short sword at my waist looked like a typical adventurer’s item, but I still attracted attention.
It can’t be helped if I’m mixed in with people wearing worn-out clothes for outdoor life, but I wish they would stop bothering me right away.
“Hey, young master. A shiny adventurer like you must need a bodyguard.”
“We’re veterans. Leave the Royal Capital area to us.”
“Wow, your clothes, boots, and even your carrier are all brand new.”
“I don’t know which young master you are, but you’ll have to pay us a good bodyguard fee.”
“Um, I already have a bodyguard, so please look elsewhere.”
“What? Are you going to refuse our kindness?”
“Hey, young master. You don’t want to become Goblin food right after becoming an adventurer, do you?”
“We’re being kind. We’ll even teach you how to subjugate Goblins.”
“You’re noisy. Don’t stand in front of me, you’re in the way. Goblin subjugation? Don’t talk big when you look weaker than Goblins. Judging by your appearance, you’ve been adventurers for about 2-3 years. If you become my bodyguards, you’ll die immediately.”
“Oh, you’ve got some nerve.”
“Want to try and see if we’re stronger or weaker than Goblins?”
“Kneel down and apologize before you start crying!”
“I’ll teach you the ropes of being an adventurer, so let’s head to the training grounds, kid.”
“Sounds good, but do you have money for Potions? Are you prepared to become a debt slave?”
“You little brat, you’re really asking for it!”
“Don’t worry, you’re the one who’ll need the Potions.”
“We’ll teach you how to swing a wooden sword at the training grounds. But our way of teaching is a little more practical, so it’ll hurt.”
“Oi! Get going!”
They kicked me from behind, so I’ll get serious with them. They better be ready.
“Hey, hey, you guys know that private fights are prohibited, right? If you’re going to do it, make it a mock battle with the guild present.”
“Shut up, old man. Who has time for a bothersome mock battle! We’re just teaching him how to swing a wooden sword, so leave us alone!”
“More like teaching him how to receive a wooden sword. He should be prepared to break two or three bones.”
They’re grinning, but I’ll make them cry in no time.