"I just bought these gauntlets…"
"How was the last mission?"
"Want to go hunting now?"
"I just heard there was a big landslide at the eastern mountain…"
It was a spacious room filled with many people.
The whole place was bustling with chatter and lively conversations.
Many of those present carried armour and weapons.
Most of them had tall, strong bodies. Some even bore numerous scars across their skin.
It was easy to guess that their daily lives were tied to battle.
At the far end of the room was a long counter.
There, a row of girls in matching uniforms sat behind the counter, busy with their work.
They were receptionists, tasked with providing and explaining information, as well as handling procedures and paperwork.
At that moment, a figure approached one of the receptionists who was not currently busy with another guest.
Seeing someone come, the girl greeted warmly:
"Welcome to Dorn's Adventurers Guild. How can I help you?"
The visitor was a boy with black hair, black eyes, and a face more delicate and beautiful than masculine.
On the boy's back was a small backpack, a round shield, and a short wooden staff.
"I want to register as an adventurer," the boy stated.
"How old are you? Are you sure you want to register now? The guild doesn't restrict age, but in our town, there aren't many jobs suitable for children. Most are combat-related," the receptionist explained kindly.
"It's fine, I already have some combat experience. Please tell me the procedure."
"The registration fee is two silver coins. First, you need to write your registered Name and your Job on this paper.
If you can't write, I can fill it in for you."
The boy handed over the fee and received the paper.
"I can write it myself. How should I fill in the Job part?"
"Job helps the guild match adventurers with suitable tasks.
For example, if someone requests a healer, and there's an adventurer with that Job, the guild can quickly assign the task.
You can list multiple Jobs, but I suggest no more than three—focus on what you're truly skilled at.
Some adventurers list too many Jobs, and when they fail at those tasks, they receive negative evaluations. That makes it hard to get jobs later, even harder to rank up."
"If I want combat-related work, should I write Warrior or Mage?"
"Yes, but be more specific.
A warrior can be detailed by weapon proficiency.
For example, many register as Swordsman, Archer, Spearman, and so on.
Mage can be detailed by the magic attribute you specialise in."
The boy quickly filled in the paper and handed it back.
"Registered Name: Tris. Job is… Oh, you're a Mage?" – the receptionist exclaimed in surprise.
"Mage is unusual?" – the boy asked.
"Yes, Mages are always a minority in guilds.
So when forming parties, they're highly sought after.
Even if you only know a little magic, getting jobs will be much easier.
Tris, Earth Mage—are you sure about this registration? Changing later costs one silver coin."
"I'm sure."
Hearing his confirmation, the girl began processing the paperwork. The information was recorded into a magical item shaped like a crystal orb.
Soon, the registration was complete.
She handed him a small metal card marked with the letter F, and explained:
"You'll need this card whenever you accept or complete missions.
Now, drop a bit of blood on the corner to confirm ownership.
After that, only when you hold the card will your personal information appear.
This prevents others from stealing and using your identity.
The information includes your Name, Job, and a personal code to distinguish adventurers with the same name."
"What if I lose the card?"
"Replacement costs two silver coins. But unlike new registration, replacement requires strict verification to prevent impersonation.
You must provide your Name, Job, the location of your first registration, and detailed reports of your last three missions.
So please keep your card safe to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Tris took out his knife and made a small cut on his finger.
After a drop of blood touched the card, his information appeared on the side opposite the F.
When he removed his hand, the information faded away, only reappearing when he held the card again.
'A very interesting magic. Could be used for secret messages and more.' – Tris thought.
"You see the F on it? That's your current adventurer rank.
The lowest is F, the highest for now is A.
The higher the rank, the more benefits you get from guild services.
For example, selling materials, or lodging at guild-owned buildings…
Details are on that board over there.
To rank up, you must meet two conditions.
First, complete a required number of missions. The number and level vary by rank. Details are on the board.
Second, pass a strength test at the guild to prove you meet the level.
This prevents adventurers from relying on others to complete missions while lacking the strength themselves."
Hearing the first condition, Tris immediately understood its necessity.
Otherwise, anyone strong enough could rise in rank too quickly.
Since higher ranks bring more benefits, the guild would not freely give them to someone with no contributions.
Moreover, this condition reduced the risk for clients.
An adventurer with experience and a good record was more trustworthy than one with no history.
For example, if someone needed a C-rank adventurer for escort duty, without such requirements, a malicious person could register, quickly rank up, and take the job.
By requiring time and real contributions, such risks were prevented.
Even if someone wanted to bribe an adventurer to betray their client, the cost would be very high.
No one would easily throw away their livelihood and all the effort spent climbing ranks.
"Do you have any other questions? Do you want to try accepting a mission right away?" – the receptionist asked.
"To accept a mission, I just check the board and then register here, right?"
"Exactly. But for newcomers, there will be very few missions available."
"Alright, I'll go take a look."
Saying that, Tris left the counter and walked to the board to observe.