Chapter 3 [MODIFIED]

[A/N: New readers have no need to worry about the tag placed on the chapter, for those who were here since the beginning, I have removed the sections at the end for the sake of better character development.]

"Well, that's it then, remember not to do anything dangerous, alright? You might have received the Guild's standard equipment, but it doesn't mean you are invincible." Smiling, Zelena helped me put on the last piece of leather equipment.

"I... sorry for bothering you with this."

She shook her head and looked hesitantly at me.

It was obvious that she had something to say, something that was bothering her a bit. I wasn't sure what it was about but considering that she even helped me to put on the equipment I wouldn't mind helping her a bit.

"I might not be the most resourceful person out there, but I can still be of some help. If miss Zelena has something she needs help with and I can do it, please ask away."

"Ah! N-no, i-it's nothing like that, I just..." Biting her lips and fidgeting with her fingers she gave me a somewhat shy gaze filled with helplessness. "You see... we from the guild can get a type of promotion where we become advisors for adventurers, the problem is that the guild isn't the one that assigns advisors, you'd have to make the request yourself and the guild's staff would have to be willing. I was just wondering if you would make me your advisor..."

Seeing her downcast look and the mention of the word 'promotion', I could guess that her reason behind it was probably related to monetary issues... just maybe though. There are all types of people out there, I wouldn't be surprised if this is actually her first step into becoming someone more influential too. No matter her goal, I couldn't just accept something like this without making sure of some things first.

"I see... It's not like I can't ask you to become my advisor, but you must understand my caution when I say that I need to make some considerations first, right?"

Zelena nodded in understanding. "No problem. I would actually be more worried if you accepted me just because of a request, we don't know each other after all, and I have yet to make a name for myself as an advisor, so if you have any questions, please ask!"

"Alright... then..." Thinking for a bit, I considered my current situation before asking some questions.

We spoke for a whole hour during which we discussed certain topics like the monsters in the dungeons, their characteristics, known tactics to deal with them, things to look out for when exploring the first five floors, and so on. Although it was just a short conversation, the richness of details in her words made me quite surprised. It can be seen from this that she must have studied a lot and should be at least somewhat prepared.

Seeing her watery and hopeful glistening eyes, I couldn't help but remember my previous life when I had just finished High School and started looking for a job. Being turned down for a lack of experience and prevented from showing the fruits of my effort always made me depressed.

Given the responsibilities of the job, I can see how many people might have turned her down already. Otherwise, she wouldn't have this look of 'I'm about to cry' on her face.

Haaaa... I can't just let her like this. Maybe I'm just feeling like the hero saving the damsel in distress, or maybe I see myself from my previous life in her, no matter what, I can give her a chance now and if she disappoints me in the future, it shouldn't be too long to request for a change of advisors... With my Uchiha Bloodline, I should be able to afford a little bit of recklessness in this decision.

"Alright, miss Zelena, please become my advisor."

Zelena must have known I was still a little reluctant so, despite the excitement in her eyes, she still did an excellent job of suppressing that momentaneous burst of excitement. She showed an expression full of determination and seriousness.

"Don't worry, Mister Kayn! I will prove to you that I have all that it takes to become one of the best advisors!"

Hearing her words, I looked into her eyes and shook my head a little displeased.

"Just one of the best?"

I don't know if she understood the meaning of my words, but after a few seconds of interlocking gazes, she finally became a little flustered as she spoke with a low voice, almost like a mosquito. "I-I w-will become the best..."

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you."

Gritting her teeth, she gave me a powerful glance and finally spoke loudly, to the point that even the nearby guild staff could hear it.

"I... I said that will definitely become the best advisor!"

Noticing the strange gaze of the adventurers and guild staff around us, she shrunk like a shy little turtle and hid her flushed face behind her hands.

I looked calmly at her and nodded, despite the lack of expression on my face, I was smiling on the inside.

"Don't feel flustered. If you want to do something, you must be confident in yourself, otherwise, nobody will have confidence in you." I knew what I was talking about until I learned to present myself confidently in interviews, most of the answers I got were a resounding 'no', and the reason was just as I said. How can the interviewer have any confidence in you if you can't even have confidence in yourself?

Hearing my words, something in her gaze seemed to change as she looked up with a curious glint in her eyes. After digesting my words for a minute, she seemed to have understood something from them and started smiling brightly. "I see... I must have confidence in myself!"

Nodding happily, she finally turned her attention to me and said softly. "Thank you... I don't know if your advice is good, but it certainly makes me believe in myself."

"Don't take it to heart, it's just a small piece of advice."

Nodding, we bid farewell to each other and she left to complete the registration. I wouldn't have anything else to do in the guild for now, so the next course of action was to decide whether to look for resources or to look for that God...

I wasn't sure if they would accept me so I didn't feel like leaving the guild right away. Before doing that, it would be best if I could guarantee enough money to last a few days, it's just that...

"Shit, I don't really understand this world's currency..."

I looked at her departing back with a prickling sensation in the back of my mind. For a moment I felt like banging my head against the wall... I was so occupied trying to help the girl that I forgot to ask about general common sense in terms of prices!

"No worries, I can always grind like it's the last day of my life. Things are bound to turn well if I can hoard a 'few' magic crystals."

Using the bits and pieces of general knowledge Zelena gave me, I grabbed my backpack and went toward the dungeon's entrance. No matter what, I wouldn't be leaving this place till enough money had been collected.

The entrance of the dungeon was on an underground floor of Babel. Stairs spiraled down alongside the walls of the hole inside the cavern leading to the lower floors. The ceiling was a picturesque azure scene of a night sky and it made one wonder about the mysteries that lay deep beneath the earth and far from reach above the clouds.

Many other adventurers were walking down the gentle stairs. Some wore heavy armor, others had nothing more than thin pieces of clothing, while a few - especially some of the women - were wearing so little it made one think they were worried about not having their bodies exposed to the world.

The further one went, the more it felt like an invisible pressure was gathering on their shoulders. While others might not have felt it, I couldn't help but take a deep breath as I tried to get used to it.

Perhaps it was the Falna, or maybe level 1 adventurers were already far stronger than normal men, but it was really impressive how the dungeon could create something comparable to artificial gravity.

Is this how it feels in Vegeta's Gravity Chamber?

Smiling helplessly I practiced a little bit at the entrance, trying to get myself more used to the environment and the increase in weight. Of course, I didn't forget to put my Taijutsu and Chakra training into use at this moment.

It was important to make use of any and all tools I had at my disposal to guarantee absolute safety.

I kept training for some time, and before I knew it, almost half an hour had gone by.