Explorer Guild branch, second floor.
A sigh. "..."
'I realize I've been sighing unconsciously a lot lately...'
"My emotions are fading again, huh...?"
I can hardly even remember what I've been doing all this time with my hollowed emotions.
Obviously, to maintain long-term memory, you need to be impressed by something or at least react to something. And I've almost never found myself reacting after losing my emotions...
No wonder my memories from Earth—though they're the oldest memories I have—are still somewhat more complete...
"Funny..."
Nighttime while sitting on the balcony is a good choice because the city's hustle and bustle feels strangely quieter compared to daylight.
I was staring at a card in my hand.
====================
EXPLORER LICENSE
——————————————
Name: Veyr
Race: Human
Rank: Silver
Specialty: Shooter
Attribute Skill: Wind
Ability Description: None
Dualjob: Mercenary
Branch Guild: Portle, southern offshore border city.
——————————————
Explorer Branch Union
====================
The fact that I'm not bound to a single attribute alone could cause a stir in the community, which is why I registered Wind as my mastered attribute.
Obviously, the reason is practical—since I often move at supersonic speeds, I registered Wind as the explanation for my movement speed, even though wind speed isn't as fast as sound speed.
The same applies to my specialty too. Attacking from long range is more comfortable and quite enjoyable in some ways.
'All of this depends on Gimmicks...'
"Alright, now..."
Now, I'll just keep the details about Explorers brief. Because clearly the system is quite similar, and most of you probably already know about it~!
First, you fill out a registration form. Second, there are some physical and mental tests. Third, skill assessment.
The skill test covers almost everything. Not just about what strengths and abilities you've mastered, but also control in using those powers and abilities.
Even for free, the examiners will give you some practical/efficient tips for using your skills if they see deficiencies or wasted stamina in your movements.
And in this test, there's no such thing as magic energy tests or magic measurements. This is an explorer guild, not a mage tower guild that focuses on magic energy quantity and blah blah blah and ethics blah blah blah!
As long as you succeed in completing missions and return with body and soul intact, that's more than enough.
And, rank is determined by how many difficult exploration missions you've taken. Not by how powerful or strong you are.
Starting from Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Platinum ranks. And I reached Silver rank in just about 6 months.
This world's Explorer license is simpler compared to the previous world. Because back then, the ranking system they used wasn't metals, but Levels. And Level 10 was the peak for Explorers and Mercenaries.
A sigh. "Reminiscing about the past again...? How ironic..."
Looking at the license with nostalgic feelings reminds me of the past. The past when I first arrived in another world far away...
'I don't really remember when that happened...'
Registering with the Guild, fighting on various battlefields, adventuring to various places, and much more. Such typical fantasy world settings...
"Haha... What a funny coincidence."
Back on Earth, while enjoying fantasy-themed movies, I once wondered how an adventurer's guild or mercenary group could survive for centuries.
How could they keep going? Don't monsters ever run out? How many missions appear every day? Why do so many people register there?
And after experiencing it myself, I finally realized the real reason, caused by several external and internal factors.
But, among all those factors, there are two that have the biggest influence on that phenomenon. Namely: spatial distortions connecting many realms, and monster mutations during reproduction.
So, what does all that mean?
It means both this world and that one are unstable. Like when you play a newly released video game, bugs suddenly appear everywhere like flying cockroaches.
Speaking of which... "Huh? Oh Veyr! Unusual to see you staying at the guild."
I glanced from the corner of my eye as a guild colleague approached.
The man was named Leon. A Gold-ranked senior who had worked as an Explorer for over three years with a Dualjob.
His muscular build with a shiny bald head, plus several scars on his body, gave off the intimidating aura of an experienced warrior. He'd clearly be a supporting character or villain if he were in a fictional story.
"Rare to see you on the second floor. Where's Silzien?" Leon said as he placed a drink on the table, then pulled up a chair and sat at the same table as me.
Our first meeting wasn't smooth. And that was clearly caused by my disheveled appearance back then.
"Well... She has business somewhere. I'm just looking for a change of scenery while waiting for the expedition," I replied.
But one day we took and worked together on a reconnaissance mission that ended in battle—his impression of me changed 180 degrees after that final fight.
"I see... So the expedition starts in three days, right? Getting nervous about your first palace-commissioned mission?"
I smirked hearing that from him. "Heh~ no. Shouldn't you be the nervous one? Why aren't you joining?"
Leon laughed. "Ha ha ha~! I'm on temporary leave because my wife is pregnant. I don't want to take risks before my child is born."
His face beamed, though his head was the shiniest thing here.
"A wife, huh... You're lucky. I'm pretty jealous."
"Ha ha ha! You should build up those muscles. I'm sure plenty of girls would approach you directly if you did~!"
"Clearly impossible..."
I took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the small sling bag I'd placed on the table. Then offered one to Leon.
"...Alright, I've been smoking less lately too." Leon hesitated at first, but eventually accepted my offer.
"Obviously, you shouldn't smoke around a pregnant woman." I smirked as I took and placed a cigarette between my lips.
Then, I manipulated particles at my fingertip and touched the other end of the cigarette. A small spark occurred, and the tip lit up with heat.
I slowly inhaled then exhaled, smoke curling from my mouth and nose before eventually fading, swept away by the night breeze.
"..."
Speaking of Leon, despite his appearance, he's one of the truly successful men.
A great man, walking through the world with romance in his life alongside adventure and action.
Knowing his wife is pregnant... means there's a chance he might retire from his job soon.
A real shame, but that's how the world works—like a life station. Sooner or later, slowly but surely, everything passes by without us realizing when the time comes.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, I have no romantic life. Actually, closer to drama or tragedy if you consider my past experiences carefully.
'Really pathetic, huh...'
Being tied to romanticism doesn't suit me. And even if I eventually manage to give my heart away, in the end it'll all shatter sooner or later because of my own uncontrollable obsessions...
A sigh. "What a life..."
"What's wrong? Thinking about something?"
"Not at all." I shifted my gaze and looked up at the sky.
The sound of night sky frequency waves echoed like random melodies as I slightly heightened all my senses.
"..."
The planets looked like small moons scattered chaotically, but they were distant enough not to obstruct the night sky view.
'Practically speaking, they actually enhance the night atmosphere better than they should...'
"..."
Ignoring those planets, I noticed something in the gaps between them. Namely: "Fragile Wisdom."
Or what this world knows as the "Uncertainty Tree" in the starry sky's background.
'I'm not sure anymore. Even if...'
"Hey... Don't you think there's something odd about that expedition?" Leon called out in a low voice after taking a sip from his glass. Showing he was being careful with his words.
I shifted my gaze, took the cigarette from my mouth and blew out smoke, then asked with half-hearted interest.
"What do you mean?"
Leon looked up with a more serious expression than before. "Think about this carefully..."
"Hmm?" I raised one eyebrow as his expression grew serious.
"Why would the Central Guild—which has more experienced mercenaries—ask for help from a branch guild like ours?"
"Hmmm... No idea. But I've got a rough idea."
When I briefly read the procedures, there was a strange discrepancy. It referred to an Expedition mission, but above it was written—"Raid."
I'm sure whoever wrote that procedure had just woken up with drool still on their mouth...
"Rumors are circulating that the expedition ended in total failure. And on the second attempt when they almost succeeded, a horrible tragedy occurred claiming many casualties among knights and mercenaries."
Hearing that from him... "Pfft~! Hah~! Ha ha ha~! Ha ha ha~! Hah..."
"Don't laugh like an idiot!" Leon's expression turned angry as he immediately scolded me.
"Good grief~ isn't that rumor just too cliché?"
Well... It is strange. Even the explorers are talking about how vague and unclear the procedure details are. As if part of the mission is being tightly concealed.
"Just imagine that! Many mercenaries from the central guild refused the mission offer! And some even took temporary leave!"
Is there some legendary artefact there or something? What are the criminals hiding there?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah~ I get what you mean."
Leon's right. It does feel suspicious... And it's definitely weird that something initially involving only Gold and Platinum ranks now suddenly includes Silvers too. And then suddenly you have to take a mental endurance test to confirm if you're fit for the mission or not.
Aren't they just short on manpower? What kind of illusions are the enemies using there that Mental Endurance Tests have to be used to evaluate participants?
"Right? Even the payment doubled from before. Plus, they're sending several elite knights from the palace to join this expedition."
"Oh-hoh...? Really?" For some reason, I felt interest stirring within me! This might be fun?
"What?" Unlike me, Leon's reaction was strangely confused.
"Hmm?"
"Wait a minute... Did you not read the procedure details?"
I shrugged and said normally—"No."
"What? Do you do that every time you take a mission?"
"Yup. As long as the mission succeeds, what's there to worry about?"
"Bastard... No wonder during that last incident you acted like you knew nothing about the mission."
"Well... I thought it'd be more fun without spoilers. Maybe..."
"You're crazy...! Don't you value your own life?" His expression suggested he was looking at a madman.
'Value my life? I'm sure he wouldn't understand—never having lived hundreds of years floating aimlessly in space...'
"Well... What can you do?"
A sigh. "You're something else... I envy your relaxed attitude."
"Haha... I envy your normal life too."
Then, I raised my hand and looked inside. "One iced coffee with a little sugar!"
"Coming right up~" replied the waiter.
The night continued with Leon's complaints, and we spent time exchanging stories, unaware that the day had already changed.
---
TO BE CONTINUED!