Walking along the country road, Raine could already faintly see the outline of Mill Town ahead.
To the north of Mill Town lie rolling mountains, and to the northwest stands the famous Lankote Snow Mountain, towering into the clouds. Even in the hottest summer, the upper half of the mountain remains covered in snow.
It's said there are many rare herbs on Lankote Snowfield, and it's also a gathering place for Yetis and Winter Wolves.
To the southwest of Mill Town are rich copper deposits, with the Azure Mine being the greatest copper-producing site in the Soladin Kingdom. However, after a hundred years of mining, the overly complex tunnels lead to miners disappearing every year.
It's rumored that more than one Kobold Tribe has settled deep in the Azure Mine.
This is also why Mill Town, despite being inland, still boasts a large population of adventurers.
With plenty of monsters, herbs, and minerals, adventurers naturally flock here to earn gold coins and complete quests.
Oak Village isn't far from Mill Town either; it's about two hours' walk, so Raine didn't bother with taking the ox cart.
The Adventurer's Association chapter in Mill Town is the closest branch to Raine.
As a small town located in the heart of the Kingdom, there aren't any defensive walls or similar fortifications.
Following the memories of his former self, Raine strode down the main street. He originally intended to head straight to the Adventurer's Association, but when he looked at the pitchfork in his hand, he felt it wasn't quite appropriate.
So, Raine detoured and first went to the Oak Inn.
Soon, a large three-storied building appeared in Raine's sight, and the prominent characters for 'Oak Inn' were posted above the entrance.
Stepping through the main door, Raine found himself facing a counter, and to the right was a hall that seemed to serve as a dining area, where many travelers were enjoying breakfast.
Behind the counter was a woman of about forty, wearing a white apron and bearing a kindly expression.
"Hello, I'd like to speak with Lady Lorna." Raine got straight to the point.
"Young man, nice to meet you. I'm Lorna."
"Hello, I'm Raine from Oak Village. Village Chief Kael sent me."
"You came from Oak Village? Raine… I remember you, you're Old Henry's…" Lady Lorna's eyes flashed with a look of surprise and joy.
After all, she was from Oak Village herself.
After a brief exchange, Raine secured a long-term stay in a large bed room at the Oak Inn for an extremely favorable price: only 60 copper coins a month.
On the surface, this price doesn't seem much better than the standard rate of two copper coins per night, but Raine's deal included three meals a day.
So, it was actually a pretty substantial discount.
Settling his accommodation and leaving his luggage, Raine stopped by the Blacksmith's Shop on his way to the Adventurer's Association.
While the weapons shop offered a greater selection, some even imported from elsewhere and of high quality, Raine's budget was limited.
So, after glancing at the rather upscale weapons shop, Raine instead headed to the relatively cheaper, though slightly lower-quality, Blacksmith's Shop.
This was really his best option at the moment.
Half an hour later.
Raine emerged from the Blacksmith's Shop looking renewed.
The pitchfork was now gone; in its place was a long spear, whose iron tip looked quite sharp.
At his waist hung a one-handed sword, and in his left hand was a ringed round shield.
He now looked a bit more like an adventurer.
Nevertheless, this cost Raine most of his money.
The ringed round shield was the cheapest; apart from the iron ring around its edge, it was mainly oak wood, only 70 copper. The long spear was pricier, worth 2 silver and 70 copper.
The most expensive item was the one-handed sword. The blacksmith Old White asked for 7 silver and 40 copper. Raine spent considerable time haggling before the price was rounded down.
Otherwise, he would have left the Blacksmith's Shop a quarter hour earlier.
At present, he had 7 silver and 12 copper left.
Although Raine had already mastered a zero level spell—he could almost pass as a mage apprentice outside—
the problem was, after last night's experiment, Raine knew well he could only cast the spell twice before his temples started aching.
He didn't know if other mage apprentices had the same issue.
Also, he had to deliver the killing blow to monsters to acquire their bloodlines.
If he joined an adventurer party as a mage apprentice and stood in the back, he'd likely miss out on last-hits—which meant he couldn't get monster bloodlines.
Of course, Raine needed other items, like bandages, blood-stopping powder, and so on—those could be found at the general store or herbalist.
But those weren't urgent for now.
The Adventurer's Guild was just a few hundred meters ahead. Raine planned to register as an adventurer first, then learn more about the situation.
For example, where or from whom could he learn sword skills, combat skills, or even magic?
Soon, a tall, three-story building with a white stone-clad façade came into Raine's view. Above the entrance, elegant script spelled out 'Adventurer's Association.'
It must have been written and transferred by some big shot.
Below was a line of smaller text: Mill Town Branch.
As soon as he stepped into the Association, the bustling noise reached Raine's ears:
"Goblin clearing mission, missing one archer—anyone want in?"
"Kill the Snap-jawed Turtle in the upper Mill River mission, missing a teammate with trap-setting experience…"
"Ugh, it's a headache. Finding a mage apprentice who knows Flaming Arrow is harder than climbing to the heavens."
....
The hall was packed to the brim, as lively as the vegetable markets Raine remembered from his previous life. Those shouting loudly were mostly recruiting teammates.
The ones whispering were small groups discussing something among themselves.
Most people clustered around the notice boards on either side of the hall, three layers deep—clearly choosing suitable quests.
At the far counters inside the hall, there weren't many people.
Raine went to queue at the least crowded line and looked around curiously.
On the right side of the hall, deeper in, a spiral staircase with a handrail wound its way up. Two light armor guards stood watch at the stairway—perhaps only adventurers above a certain level could go up.
Or maybe it was a special office area, Raine guessed.
The left side of the hall, further in, had a corridor that seemed to lead to an inner courtyard.
No idea what the courtyard was for.
"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" By now, Raine's turn had come. A young, attractive girl stood up and greeted him.
She was dressed in a pale green silk long sleeve, likely the standard uniform for the Adventurer's Association staff.
"Hello, I want to become an adventurer."
"A new adventurer? Alright, registration fee is one silver coin, annual membership is twenty copper coins. Is that acceptable?"
"That works."
"Okay, what's your name? It'll be engraved on your adventurer's tag."
"Raine Farrell."
"Alright. Mr. Rein, whom should we list as your contact and beneficiary? Oh, in case we can't reach you in special circumstances…"
The receptionist was discreet, but Raine understood her meaning.
It was like insurance, there was a beneficiary.
And given the high-risk nature of adventurer tasks, it made sense.
But this question made Raine pause for a moment, then answer: "Village Chief Kael from Oak Village, I suppose."
"Alright, Mr. Rein."
"By the way, I'd like to ask, where can I learn weapon usage?"
"See the corridor to the left? You can pay the fee to receive basic warrior training from Warrior Trainer Humbert Burnbeard."
"Of course, Lord Humbert only teaches you; whether you can master it depends on your talent."
"Oh, warrior trainer?" Raine keenly caught the receptionist's wording.
"Yes, a warrior trainer. If you want other training, like ranger or wanderer combat skills, you'll have to go to Dorne City."
Still, our Mill Town branch is quite good—Lord Humbert is willing to stay and teach newcomers. Many town-level branches don't even have a dedicated classes trainer," the receptionist explained.
So that's how it is…
Raine looked thoughtful.