Alioth stared at the small, gleaming knife in his hand for quite some time. On the outside, it was just an ordinary hunting knife, but Claire insisted she wouldn't give it as a gift if it were just an ordinary knife.
"Its function is like a magic staff, though not as powerful as a staff," she had said some time ago.
A magic staff functions to strengthen a mage's Mana. If a mage distribute Mana into the staff, that Mana will be amplified several times over, and the resulting magical effect will automatically become stronger. That is why every mage needs a staff, because every spell mages use draws significantly more Mana than the basic magic used by Warriors or Assassins like him.
If this knife had the same effect as a magic staff, it meant that this knife could strengthen his Mana when he distributed it into it.
Out of curiosity, Alioth tried to distribute a little Mana.
Sure enough, the blade of the knife was enveloped in a dark blue light membrane that appeared sharper and stronger than when he used his sword.
"A good gift," Alioth smiled.
He was also impressed with his new clothes that Claire had bought for him. It was a black tunic with better material than the previous one, this time having light resistance against enemy magic. Claire truly kept her promise.
Giving the reason that she didn't want to bother him further, Claire insisted on going home alone, she even refused to be escorted out of the city. Claire simply said not to worry too much because she would go home by hitching a ride with a group of merchants or adventurers who happened to be heading in the same direction as Roven Village, her home.
So Alioth had no choice but to comply. After returning the inn key and stepping out onto the city streets, he recalled the first quest of the Aetherion Chronicle game.
The quest was simply to go to a certain point and meet a party. "As I recall, I had to go to the Adventurer's Guild first to become an official member, and this first mission was to go find an item from inside a cave, which happened to coincide with a side quest to save members of a party."
Indeed, in that game, players could create Guilds, but there was also something called the Adventurer's Guild, where the organization was tasked with overseeing all adventurers, or players, in that world.
Alioth walked down the wide, flat stone street heading west. He remembered exactly the location of the Adventurer's Guild building in this city. Shortly after, he arrived in front of a large building with thick pillars and stone steps. Upon entering, there were many long tables and chairs occupied by the adventurers. They were busy chatting, drinking, or just relaxing.
"Isekai vibe," Alioth muttered as he walked toward the reception desk.
A young receptionist lady greeted him. Her attire was quite conservative, a long, dark green dress with wide sleeves. The clothing was a little disappointing to Alioth, who had hoped it would be like in other isekai stories. Usually in those stories, the receptionist lady is depicted in clothes that clearly show off her "assets."
"Welcome, Sir."
Not wanting to waste time, Alioth immediately stated his purpose. "I want to become an official member of the guild as an adventurer."
The lady smiled sweetly while adjusting her round glasses. "In that case, please wait a moment." She plucked a quill pen from the inkwell and wrote something on a piece of paper. "What is your name, Sir?"
"Alioth."
"Ah, a wonderful name." She wrote the name on the paper. "And what is the skill you master the most, as well as your weapon?"
In the game, a player only needed to answer the name and class. It turned out that the real process had longer questions. Alioth answered, "I'm not very proficient in mastering my sword yet, but I might focus on increasing speed."
"Um... then I think you are suitable for speed-based combat or one-on-one duels."
Alioth nodded.
"Assassin Class," the lady continued.
Then she put the paper into a small box that emitted a light when closed. Afterward, a small, purplish badge was formed. That was the identification badge of an adventurer. If the badge was not worn by its owner, its color would fade and turn pale gray.
"Here you go, Sir." She handed over the badge. "Congratulations, you are now a guild member and can choose a mission over there." She pointed with five open fingers towards a large board on the right side of the room.
Alioth approached the area and looked for the mission heading to the target cave, just like the first main quest. If his assumption was correct, that things that happened in the main quest also happened here, then that request should exist.
"Ah, found it!" He reached out to take the request paper.
However, just as he touched the paper, another hand overlapped his, and that person was also surprised.
"Ah, I'm sorry." The man pulled his hand away. "I'll look for another mission."
Alioth looked at the man, who had short black hair with large pores under his eyes. He also carried a large bag on his back. Even so, he looked quite fierce with a large sword also hanging on his back. Alioth thought there was no harm in adding a friend for now.
"If you want to take this mission, we can go together."
Yes, missions at the guild could be done together if they couldn't be handled alone. Of course, the rewards were divided equally.
The man looked at Alioth in surprise. "Ah, really? But it's an easy mission."
"What's wrong with it being easy?" Alioth read the paper. "Seek fifty fire and water crystals in Lutarus Cave and deliver them to the Chief of Lark Village to collect the reward." In his heart, Alioth said, Exactly like in the game.
The young man hesitated for a moment. "A mission like that surely doesn't have a big enough reward. If it's divided between two people, you'll definitely lose out, right?"
Alioth smiled reassuringly. "Trust me, I still have enough money. I'm taking this mission because it happens to be the same as my travel destination, so don't worry about it too much. Besides, you're already carrying a large bag as if you're prepared for this."
"Ah, is it really okay for me to join?" The young man's face now looked brighter. "Then, nice to meet you, I'm Adam Reyn."
"I'm Alioth, nice to meet you too."
They took the paper to the reception desk and were served by the same lady as when Alioth got his adventurer badge.
After receiving the official stamp, they left the guild building and headed northwest according to the map provided.
They did not ride horses or hitch a ride with other merchants, both agreed to just walk to save costs. Alioth had been puzzled from the start, he should have been exhausted to the point of near death from the two-day journey from Sylvant Forest to Florin City, but he only felt ordinary fatigue.
Perhaps my body strength is adjusted to this world? Does this world involve a lot of complex adventures? Does that mean his body is now prepared to face those adventures?
Ah, if so, why doesn't my face look like the avatar I used?I'm using my original face! Alioth was slightly annoyed about that.
"Since when have you been an adventurer?" Adam started the conversation.
"Oh, just today. I just got my badge, and this is my first mission."
Adam's eyes widened, then he scratched his right cheek. "Believe it or not, but I'm also a new adventurer. I just got my badge last night, and this is also my first mission."
Why could it be such a coincidence?
The journey to Lutarus Cave took half a day on foot. When the sun was at its hottest point, the two of them arrived at the cave.
The cave was located inside a dense forest that grew along the edge of a large path. Alioth and Adam had to pass through that forest area via a small path that would lead directly to the mouth of the cave.
When they arrived, as Alioth expected, there were three human figures with a horse-drawn carriage carrying luggage.
"Sirs, are you adventurers?" one of them shouted before Alioth and Adam got close.
Adam, from where he was, replied, shouting as well. "That's right!"
Then, when they arrived close, the person from the party who had shouted earlier said with a pale face, "Sirs, please help our friends." His voice trembled slightly as he said that.
Adam was surprised. "What's wrong?"
However, Alioth looked indifferent because he already knew this would happen. This was a side quest to the first main quest that was indeed stacked. In the game Aetherion Chronicle, things like that happened often.
The person from the party then explained. "We were on a journey and knew that Lutarus Cave, which is full of elemental crystals, was here. We wanted to collect some crystals. Four of our friends went in, but after hours, they still haven't returned. We don't have the courage to go in, we don't have the ability to fight."
"Huh, then you would just wait here forever if we hadn't come?!" Adam exclaimed with wide, surprised eyes.
The people trembled even more, and the one who had spoken replied, "We truly still value our lives, please understand, Sirs."
Adam then looked at Alioth, asking for approval.
The young man nodded without hesitation. "Besides, our goal is to enter this cave anyway. Let's go look for them."
So, the two young adventurers entered the cave without hesitation.