After hastily filling his stomach with the hay piled up in the warehouse, he used his mouth and hooves to rummage through the crumpled paper Sera handed him, slowly reading each page.
Even unfolding the paper was so difficult it made him yearn for human-like abilities, but there was no other way at the moment.
He could only slowly gather information.
Thinking he needed to familiarize himself with the city first, he began reading the text on the papers filled with various contents.
The most eye-catching of all was the description of the Hero. He had been curious, but lately he had been too busy taking care of himself to ask.
It was said that the title of Hero was bestowed by Ethel, and that one possessed an unlimited supply of Ethel.
An unlimited supply of Ethel meant the ability to use infinite energy; even if one abused battle aura or magic, there would be no shortage of Ethel.
However, the paper also noted: ultimately, it was only an unlimited supply of Ethel; combat power, stamina, and concentration were separate matters, but clearly a considerable advantage.
Ethel reserves refer to the maximum amount of Ethel a body can hold. While they may gradually increase or decrease, rapid increases or decreases in the short term are almost impossible.
Therefore, non-heroes must constantly monitor their Ethel reserves, while heroes are not subject to this limitation.
It is said that no one is born a hero; through training and other processes, some people awaken at a specific point in time.
With unlimited Ethel, one can quickly become stronger, and the strength of top-tier heroes is said to be terrifying.
There are 12 such heroes in Ladia, in addition to about 20 others identified as hero candidates—those who, through further training, have the potential to become heroes.
"Hmm… this setting is a bit cheating. Are these guys reincarnated? They're called heroes? How come there are so many?" While I was complaining about how unfair it was, suffering in my horse form, I looked out the window and saw that the sunset was already appearing. It's about time to go to the guild office.
"Ah~ which guild should I choose?" I pondered my ideal conditions repeatedly, and walked out the door accompanied by the clatter of hooves. As the streets of Ladia gradually filled with people heading home, my appearance certainly stood out conspicuously.
The morning was no different; the furtive glances were like thorns.
However, after half a month of adjustment, now they just stare—I remember on the first day, some people even screamed and ran away.
I secretly hoped for reactions like, "Wow, so cute!" It seems that in this other world, my image is merely that of a grotesque monster.
While enduring the stares of those around me, I observed the passersby and discovered that there were indeed quite a few beautiful women in this other world.
As expected of another world, the women were generally younger and more beautiful than in Earth's era.
Not only were their faces attractive, but their figures were also quite… The men were rather unusual; in contrast to the strikingly beautiful women, most were of average appearance.
Not only was their average height similar to the women's (around 160-170 cm), but their physiques were, to put it kindly, ordinary; to put it bluntly, unremarkable.
How should I describe it?
It's like mass-producing the slender protagonists from light novels or Japanese manga with their appearance weakened?
Could it be because they're a different race from Earthlings? But anyway, the women are pleasing to the eye enough, so it doesn't really matter.
"Hmm... if I had to choose from the women I've seen so far, Lisbeth, Sera... and the Director, I guess?" The first woman I met was Lisbeth, but aside from being a little short, she was quite beautiful.
No, rather, her face combined with her height actually made her seem cute?
Her simple clothes seemed a waste.
As for Sera, while all the staff at the guild management office were beautiful, Sera, known as the management office's idol, was indeed a striking beauty.
Could it be that her not-too-glamorous, yet sincere face was more endearing...? And the Director... while the Director's imposing appearance was also charming, her breasts were just... ah, I can't take it anymore.
Because I've been seeing so many beautiful women, even I'm gradually being forced to react against my will by this surprisingly large clone.
Having been unable to drain the water for nearly two months, this creature has been constantly trying to reveal itself since entering the city.
It doesn't even have hands; if we let it cause trouble, we'll be truly helpless.
Thinking this, as I approached the guild management office, there were noticeably more people than in the morning, and a bustling noise could be heard at the entrance.
"Ethel, 516,000 stamina, 723!? Wow, it really is a divine beast. Should we hire it!?"
"What nonsense are you talking about now that you're late! Get in line! We've been waiting at the management office since we returned!"
"Even with its high stats, I'm still hesitant. Can that thing fight alongside us?"
"Didn't the Madel couple say we could ride on its back? It should be fine, right?"
"Even so, its appearance combined with Ethel is too creepy. Our all-female guild is a bit..."
Oh dear, looks like I won't be joining an all-female guild. My harem plan is ruined.
............
"Oh dear, I really am…"
As soon as I entered the guild, all eyes were on me. People swarmed around me, each introducing their own guild and extending invitations.
It felt like popular guilds were lining up in order, but after I explained my desired membership requirements, they all gave me a "hmm…" look, asked for time to consider, and then disappeared.
After interviewing seven guilds like this, the queue completely vanished.
1. My top priority is to acquire the Humanization skill, so please gather relevant information. Activities will focus on this information until I acquire the Humanization skill.
2. Before acquiring the Humanization skill, I hope someone can assist me.
3. In addition to salary, guild shares or performance-based bonuses must be provided.
4. The right to choose quests must be given.
After I stated these conditions, everyone's expressions became subtle.
Were they asking for too much just because they're a legendary beast?
However, thinking that since it was a rare and favored divine beast, someone would surely accept it, I boldly made the offer. But it seems I miscalculated.
And so, after the guild leaders who conducted the interviews left with subtle expressions, only a few people who had struck up conversations out of personal interest remained. No one else tried to persuade me to join the guild.
"Ah... perhaps the shareholding condition should have been removed..." I sighed, looking around. In the distance, at a place that looked like a restaurant, someone was waving at me.
It was Ars. And beside him was Lisbeth. When Ars lowered his hand, I noticed the guild crests on the backs of their hands on the table, bearing the same design. Anyway, seeing familiar faces made me walk towards them.
"Looks like things aren't going too well, Shimo. How have you been lately?"
"Oh, Ars, well, I've just been treated like a rare animal, being bossed around everywhere. It's been a while since you guys saw me either. Did you go to that new dungeon nearby?"
"Dungeon? What dungeon? I was summoned everywhere to give explanations because of you, and only finally got back at noon today. Ugh... I'm exhausted..."
Lisbeth sighed, muttering to herself.
She definitely looked more tired than when we first met.
She seemed to have been thoroughly exploited.
Although a staff member who looked like a restaurant employee took my order, I couldn't eat anything in my condition, so I said no thanks and stood in front of them.
"The major guilds that attended today didn't seem very enthusiastic... What conditions did you propose?"
"Ah, um..."
I roughly recounted the conditions I had explained to the guild leaders to Ars, who had asked the question. Ars gave a subtle smile, while Lisbeth made a speechless expression.
"What?! You actually applied for membership with those conditions?"
"Was that really a bit much? The profit-sharing ratio..."
"Profit-sharing aside, most guilds already pay bonuses based on individual performance, so that's fine. The problem is the assistants and mission selection rights." Hearing what Ars said, guilds usually want combat power that can be deployed immediately.
But requiring them to send people to assist before they acquire humanoid skills that they might not master for a long time would actually reduce their manpower.
That burden is heavy enough, let alone the unacceptable condition of mission selection rights. "If a member has a close relationship with the guild leader or has worked with them for many years, even without being given a choice, some guild leaders will consider it. However, if a member is given the choice, all members will want it. After all, everyone wants easy and rewarding work. This will lead to some neglected tasks in the guild's assignments. If these tasks cannot be handled, the guild's rating will collapse, and funding will be cut off."
"Add to that a menacing appearance and a sinister aura of Aether, and even whether he is truly a divine beast is questionable. Who would accept such conditions?"
Ah… these conditions are practically like letting employees choose their own jobs. And the adventurers seem to be half-believing me. I only proposed these conditions for the sake of convenience, and now I've ruined it.
Furthermore, Ars added that as the representative responsible for the livelihood of guild members, no guild leader would make a choice that could harm the guild's interests. "But I heard that besides the large guilds, not many people came today. Apparently, that dungeon is quite dangerous and difficult. Because it was designated an emergency mission, most of the guilds with spare capacity were forced to participate, and I heard some guilds suffered considerable losses. Everyone's in a panic since they just got back. Smaller guilds probably won't receive invitations until tomorrow or later."
Judging from this, the adventurers' condition certainly wasn't good. Some were wrapped in bandages, seemingly all suffering injuries of varying degrees.
"Wow... are there many of those dungeons? So many guilds gathered and there were still casualties." "Ordinary dungeons aren't that dangerous... but for some reason, those dungeons have been appearing one after another since a few years ago.
If left unchecked, the monsters in the dungeons will be corrupted by demons, and once those demons start surging out, it could become a land filled with Tether like the Cursed Mountains."
"Oh..." Compared to that, the recent news of dangerous dungeons reminds me of the prophecy of destruction spoken by the Wandering God.
But he said that was hundreds of years in the future, so it shouldn't be because of that, right...?
While thinking this, Ars, who had been staring at me, hummed in agreement and offered a suggestion.
"Shimo, are you... interested in joining our guild?"
"Huh!? Let this guy!? Join our guild!?"
"Oh... your guild?" Ars smiled slightly at Lisbeth's incredulous expression, then looked at me and made the suggestion.
"Our guild is called 'Light of Madel.' It's a two-person guild founded by Lisbeth and me. Madel is our birth village, where we aspired to become adventurers from a young age. Lisbeth went to a magic school, and I went to the Adventurers' Training Institute. After graduating, we founded this guild last year." I heard that these two children, renowned for their talent in the small village, had vowed to become adventurers together since childhood.
Lisbeth studied at the magic school for six years, while Ars trained for three years at the village martial arts school under a master, and then studied at the Adventurers' Training Institute for about three years before graduating and jointly founding the guild.
Lisbeth possessed innate magical talent from a young age, earning her an invitation to magic school; while Ars, through sheer willpower, awakened as a hero on the eve of founding his guild, attracting widespread attention.
Thus, the 'Light of Madel' guild, founded by these two, is a private guild established by talented but novice young people for their dreams.
It's said that the management takes good care of them, and other guilds frequently send them membership invitations, giving them positive reviews.
Watching these kids talk about their dreams and strive so hard is quite heartwarming. After all, they're still beginners, and there's no competition for quests with the larger guilds.
"Originally, we impulsively decided to leave our mark on history, but lately we feel a bit lacking in strength. We feel like we're still a bit short of breaking through the novice barrier."
Indeed, there's a novice barrier everywhere. The two seem to be stuck by that barrier lately, feeling somewhat impatient. They suddenly recalled how they caught that mad bull when it wasn't a quest. "While our choice of missions is a bit... well, we could probably manage with other conditions. Since it's three people working almost together, we can also meet the 'helpers' condition. What do you say?" Even without mission selection, the conditions are quite tempting.
However, the worrying thing is that this guild only has two young people... thinking about it, it feels like a startup run by two kids.
Can it work? "If you're hesitant about joining, why not try a few temporary contracts with us first? Although we won't share experience points, and we'll have to pay a lot of taxes at the end, leaving not much, it's a way to accumulate experience without the burden. Some easygoing people will do it a few times before officially joining the guild."
"Oh, come to think of it, Sera seems to have mentioned this before. Because the word 'contract worker' is a bit stressful, I hadn't considered it at all. But now that I think about it, being a temporary contractor before gaining humanization skills isn't bad." "Anyway, I have enough money on hand for a while. Hmm. A temporary contract should be fine. Thinking about it carefully, I know nothing about guild operations, and my knowledge in other areas is also lacking. Joining a guild rashly at the beginning is indeed a bit inappropriate." "Yeah, I think so too. If I can't even stay in my first guild for two years and am forced to leave or be dismissed, it's inevitable that suspicion will arise about whether some conflict has occurred. Adventurer cards will leave a record, and it's impossible to hide it. Once an adventurer accumulates this suspicion, their work will face many obstacles."
In contrast, a temporary contract supposedly only records the number of jobs done and doesn't leave a guild entry record.
Of course, completing major tasks will also accumulate performance points, but it's very difficult for temporary workers to accumulate such performance points.
Anyway, I don't need any performance points right now, so I think this method is quite suitable.
"Hmm, those two should be fine joining the guild on a temporary contract, right? What do you think, Miss Lisbeth?" I playfully sought the opinion of Lisbeth, who seemed a little sullen as she listened to the conversation. Lisbeth twitched slightly and sighed.
"Haa. Sigh... Well, we did consider it would be nice to have more people..." Her expression suggested she was still somewhat dissatisfied.
It's understandable; it was originally a guild exclusively for two people, but now she has to act with someone else—no, even if it's just a temporary contract with a mount—it's understandable that she might feel resentful.
Seeing her sullen expression, a mischievous thought suddenly popped into my head: why not join the guild and tease her?
"Then let's take this opportunity... meet at the guild tomorrow, choose some quests together, and explore the city, okay? You probably haven't really seen the city properly yet, have you?"
"Yeah, that's true. I heard I can move around freely after getting my citizen card today, but I'm not familiar with the roads and the surrounding gazes are always too bright."
"It's settled then. Leaving immediately tomorrow would be too rushed anyway, so let's use the whole day to choose quests and shop around to prepare."
"Okay~" After chatting for a while longer, they agreed to meet at the guild the next morning, and then parted ways.