The day after striking out on adventurer registration.
The Hero's Crest was incredibly effective.
The moment I showed it at the entrance, the receptionist—who'd been giving me the cold shoulder—softened right up and personally escorted me inside.
At the counter, they ignored the line entirely.
The staffer who'd offered yesterday, "Shall I write you a recommendation?" now bowed her head with a welcoming smile and said, "Please take good care of us."
"Ferio, isn't this because you're right behind me?"
Truth be told, Ferio had been sticking close to my side—or my back—ever since we arrived.
"I seem to recall hearing yesterday that meddling arbitrarily could be seen as unfair interference."
"Right now, it's perfectly reasonable. Our house needs to personally introduce its Hero to the guild."
"Isn't this enough?"
I tapped the Hero's Crest, strung on a chain like a necklace as I spoke.
Since it was made of precious metal, I didn't want to flash it around openly, so I kept it tucked inside my clothes around my neck. Of course, I pulled it out when needed.
Mithril must be why it felt so comfortable against my skin, like underwear. No wonder it's so valuable. Hell, they could make panties out of it, and it'd probably work fine.
"The lord is quite strict. There hasn't been a Hero appointed in Prosek for nearly twenty years. Showing up alone with just that might not convince them."
I could guess who the Hero from twenty years ago was, even without her saying it.
Anyway, right now Ferio was like parents walking their kid to school on the first day.
We've got a Hero here. This is our Hero. Please take good care of our Hero. Pretty much exactly that.
Honestly, getting treated like this at my age was pretty damn embarrassing. Ferio, on the other hand, looked thrilled—her face lit up with a smile that wouldn't quit.
Thanks to her, even with such high-ranking company, the entrance and counters stayed surprisingly cheerful. No one was breaking into cold sweats; they were surprised, sure, but exchanging praises and well-wishes like they'd just closed a great deal.
"Well, looks like I'm finally an adventurer."
I rolled the adventurer badge between my fingers, savoring that tutorial-complete vibe.
It was a book-shaped crest about the size of my thumb. "Prosek" was engraved in small letters, marking its origin.
"Now I can finally head back to Agnes Village with peace of mind."
"Peace of mind? Were you worried the village chief would chew you out if I didn't make adventurer?"
If she'd actually threatened that, I'd drag her back right now and pinch her all day long.
"She might. But it's not that. I just wanted to let a fellow adventurer know he has a tavern to come home to."
Ah, right. Agnes had mentioned it. Don't chase after curious adventurers—be the tavern they return to when they're worn out and weary.
That must've been why Ferio and Liard went so far to make me a Hero.
From now on, House Prosek would watch over me through my activities, becoming my backing. Our connection would endure.
"Tch... Ferio, of all people. Hitting me right in the feels. You've grown up."
"It's all because of you. So you need to get famous enough to take responsibility for days like this."
And so, I saw Ferio off as she returned to Agnes Village—her original post.
There'd been talk before about her needing to become a lady instead of a knight. Looked like that was off the table now.
Our vibe was good, but things must be tense in the family. Complicated whether to be happy or not about that.
Either way, regardless of preferences, I wanted to support Ferio's choice. Guess that means I gotta step up.
— Recruiting adventurers to scout near the northwest Gado area.
Requires at least 4 adventurers to cooperate with the military.
Inquire at the counter for details. —
Finally stepping into the adventurer guild building.
The entrance receptionist, a burly guy named Adra, no longer blocked my way. He just stepped aside politely without a word.
Inside, there were about ten tables in the center, with six counters toward the back for accepting or processing requests. Bulletin boards lined the walls, plastered with bounties and quest notices.
Not sure what to do on my first day, I decided to just observe.
First impression of the adventurer guild:
It's a job agency.
More like a labor office? In my world, it'd be like those early-morning sites recruiting day laborers for construction gigs.
Guild staff occasionally stepped out from the counters, ringing bells or blowing whistles. Then they'd shout.
"Recruiting gatherers for the northern foothills! Also need 3 combat-capable escorts!"
People waiting around would rush over first-come-first-served style, lining up in front of the staffer.
In Agnes Village, folks with free time would band together on their own. Here, they did it this way.
"Merchant company recruiting 3 porters!!"
"Need one swordsmanship instructor! Recruiting one skilled sword-user."
Stuff like that. Formally emergency requests, but mostly odd jobs. Rewards were skimpy too—often under one silver coin.
This guild really was this world's job center. Not a bad system, all things considered. These little tasks probably helped the community more than bloody monster hunts.
Second impression:
Finally felt like I was in a fantasy world.
More precisely, the guild members coming here dressed the part.
Living in the sticks and only seeing soldiers like Ferio had me thinking it was just medieval times, not fantasy.
But these adventurers? Super distinctive outfits.
Hot pants, miniskirts—I got the ventilation and practicality. Even guys wore 'em!?
But why was that mage-looking person in something bikini-adjacent? She covered up with a long robe, sure, embarrassed about the skin maybe—but every time she shifted, it peeked through the gaps. Made it way more distracting.
Bikini armor on a tanky warrior might not be a pipe dream after all.
"Whoa! Check out this old guy. Staring at Haina with pervy eyes?"
Caught off guard, I looked over to see a fit redhead youth eyeing me with interest.
A red-haired adventurer, huh. Sailing with him would probably end in shipwreck by day two.
"Isn't it weird? Fighting in clothes like that seems super dangerous."
I didn't bother denying it. Best to play it cool in situations like this.
"Ah, you're a total newbie, huh? Haina's outfit has magical protection. As long as the magic guards it, the style doesn't matter—that's why it's so bold."
Made sense. Magic swords exist, so enchanted clothes and armor had to too. Probably crazy expensive, though.
Couldn't mass-produce 'em, so only skilled or important folks wore them.
"Once the function's solid, they can indulge their tastes in the design. Hm..."
"Yeah, dunno who made that robe, but..."
"...impeccable taste."
I gave a thumbs-up. The youth nodded back.
"Old man, we're on the same wavelength."
We'd bridged generations and dimensions with perfect understanding. Felt like I'd already made a comrade.
"Hey! Rada! I said find someone useful! What're you doing? Slacking off!?"
A girl popped up, jabbing a finger at the youth. Tanned skin, brown hair—gave off a super energetic first impression.
Stable build and stance, light gear, twin daggers at her hips. Had to be agile as hell.
Man, the lord's first wife was like this too—plenty of brown-skinned folks around.
"I am working. Look at this old guy's gear. Perfect for frontline."
The girl eyed me closely.
Shouldn't she be checking my gear?? Felt like she was scoping my face more.
"Rejected! This guy's got bad vibes. Not even cute, and creeping on girls at that age."
"Yeah, I don't like him. Looks dumb."
There was another small girl behind her. Black dress, black hair, pale skin. Tiny and gloomy-looking—like she'd guard a library. Mage?
"C'mon, for this request, experience matters more than looks right now."
"I just saw him here today. Experienced?"
"First time for me too."
They were bickering about me like I was on trial.
I hadn't even applied, and they were holding interviews and judgments on their own.
"Hey, perv old man. You ever fought?"
"Sigh, what kinda talk is that to a stranger? No one's gonna sign up now."
"Heh, against monsters? Killed any?"
Chaos. Hard to keep up with these kids' chatter.
"For real! Old man, you ever hunted monsters!?"
After yapping among themselves, they suddenly grilled me like I was beneath notice. Annoying on top of the headache.
"Fine, quit nagging. Wonder if you count as monsters. Just came from fighting goblin and orc packs. Don't ask how many I killed—makes me queasy, and I don't wanna count anyway."
"Wha... for real? Like, really real?"
Why the wide-eyed stare at my face like that was the shocking part?
I waved it off and turned away, not wanting to deal.
"Hey, if he's legit, he's gonna cost a lot. Our cut'll shrink too much."
"Money now? Lives and experience matter more. I kinda like him."
"...Looks dumb."
Judging me again without asking. This was getting too hectic—I needed to bail.
People-watching was tiring anyway, eyes on me. Time to check the quest board.
[If you can read this text, come find me. I seek truth in exploration. Speak, Kenza.] – Lirisa, daughter of Piterio
Guess those three were recruiting for that one.
Ooh, and here's an oddball. Not a quest—more like a friend-finder ad using the board.
What was this clumsy ancient language? A riddle?
She wanted to gather folks who could read it for a club or social thing, but written like that, no one's showing up.
I figured I'd tweak it a bit and carefully pulled the notice off the board.
"Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing!! You brute!"
Whoa, the gloomy library-girl from my "interview" charged at me. Had to be Lirisa.
She was chest-high on me, so when I held the paper up high, she just hopped in place, reaching futilely.
Funny. Cute. Like a niece acting up—made me wanna do something nice for her.
"Looked like it was written wrong, so I was gonna fix it for you."
"Y-you think you kn-know anything!? C-can't even read it!"
"[If you can read this text, come find me. I seek truth in exploration. Speak, Kenza.] See? Should be [Sage], not [Kenza]. And the phrasing: [If you can read this text, come find me. I am a sage seeking truth.]"
Reading it aloud, it sounded like some chuuni middle-schooler's fantasy scribble. She must have a wild imagination.
"Uh...?"
Oh crap, forgot. Ancient language reading is advanced stuff.
Lirisa's face... suddenly went all holy and reverent.
Her irritated glare up at me turned instantly to one who'd beheld a god.
"Ahem... Just kidding. Saw a weird notice and checked it out. No big deal."
Meant to tease lightly over the funny text, but felt like I'd messed up big-time.
Embarrassed, I mumbled a goodbye and slipped away.
Not running, exactly. Nowhere specific to go anyway, so I spent the day reading other quests, chatting with folks, asking counter staff about stuff I didn't get.
Talking to people and scanning requests taught me one thing: Almost no solo quests.
Bounties existed, but vague stuff like "kill/capture criminal X" or "monster Y"—not doable without info, solo.
Looked like I needed party members to do anything. In other words: Get hired.
Man, Lirisa's still staring at me...
That gaze is burning holes in my back.
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