Guild

After another night of pleasant rest, Bete and Ais leisurely trotted down the streets of Orario, watching the passing shops and teeming street-activity with interest. Riveria, acting as their chaperone and guide, followed behind them with her usual aloof expression.

Their destination was the Guild in order to get registered. As Noir suggested, Riveria also wanted to get Bete and Ais equipped with proper gear afterwards.

For once, Bete took the time to carefully look around and take in the view instead of thinking about something else.

"Pots! Come buy locally made metal pots and pans! Perfect for any kind of meat or seafood!"

"Hungry for some meat?! Come taste my meat!"

"Fresh seafood! Get your fresh seafood!"

The most common thing he saw were the street vendors shouting obnoxiously to sell all kinds of items. One shop had pots and cooking equipment of various sizes hanging from the sides. Another shop next to it sold a plethora of meat processed in many different ways such as prosciutto, jamon, cooked ham, steak, barbecue ribs, and chicken breast. One further down had a sign that said 'All Products Caught Fresh By the Njord Familia.' They sold an abundance of seafood ranging from diverse, colorful fish, crabs, conch, clams, lobsters, even sea urchins.

The strangest one Bete saw was one that said 'Imported Products From the Far East!' The seller was an old man with a beer belly and a chin scruffy with facial hair. With a suspicious grin on his ugly face, the seller introduced a surprisingly large amount of customers to foreign products Bete had never even heard of of before. There were colorful figurines, large posters of cartoon, beautiful, mature women, and even strange objects in the shape of long, shapely donuts and a few flexible rods. He also had some... exotic magazines. The Werewolf noticed that the people crowding around the stall were almost all men.

Bete pretended he hadn't seen anything, taking a quick glance back at Riveria wondering if she noticed.

Thankfully, the prim Elf seemed distracted by Ais and was telling her about the best shops around the area. She talked about Elven clothing shops, items for dungeons, information gathering areas, as well as pubs and dark dens to avoid. He was glad that she didn't notice the creepy vendor since some of the small figurines on the counter were of famous female Adventurers... namely Riveria Ljos Alf.

Speaking of the High Elf, she was clearly not an ordinary sight to see based on the whispering Adventurers and shopkeepers. He smelled anxiety, hope, wonder, envy, ecstasy? And even... fear.

He shot his amber eyes towards the source of the last scent he smelled. Between two worn-down buildings, a dark alley housed a group of four shifty-looking individuals with all kinds of bandages and bumps covering their sore bodies. They all immediately flinched and looked away from Bete's gaze.

'Ah... probably some bad guys, not that it's my place to judge. I guess Riveria did a number on them? Serve them right for pissing her off.'

Another thing Bete noticed that he didn't really care about before were the magic stone-powered lamps along the exterior walls of the sturdy buildings. There were lights of all shapes and sizes, deactivated since it was the middle of the day, but still cool to look at. There were common lamps covered in dirty glass, rectangular pure white lamps, and even stone balls that he only knew were magic lamps because he remembered seeing them attached to the Loki Familia and Dian Cecht Familia walls. At night, the ordinary-looking balls would open up like an egg to shed light around itself.

'I guess they're expensive lamps seeing that only the large houses and rich Familias have them. Some of these houses don't even have lamps.'

Eventually, though, the sight got boring for someone like Bete. He wanted to train. He wanted to fight. Honestly, he wished someone would try to rob them, despite knowing that was a stupid wish. Who in their right mind would try to steal in broad daylight from a renowned Level 5, a top Executive in the Loki Familia? Even if Riveria didn't take care of the robber or if she hypothetically wasn't even an Adventurer, her mere status as a High Elf would incite every single Elf in the world to come after that foolish robber with righteous fury and intent to rip them to shreds.

In the middle of his daydreams, Blackie offered up something that he thought might interest Bete.

'You wanna see your Status?'

Bete cocked his head to the side curiously.

'What's the point? I haven't even killed a monster yet.'

'Excelia isn't only gained through killing monsters. It can also be gained through actions such as exercise and training. It's how some people like farmers, blacksmiths, and healers can level up.'

'Huh? Then why do so many people go into the dungeon and die? Just stay home and do 100 sit-ups, push-ups, and squats and do a 10 km run! You'll be a planet-wrecking ripped beast in no time.'

'You and your active imagination,' Blackie snorted.

'That's because killing monsters, though much more dangerous, brings much more speed and success. Think of it like filling up a vat with an industrial excavator compared to doing it with your hands."

'Yeah, I guess it would be rather unfair if people could gain the same amount of excelia without going in the dungeon.'

'Regular excelia, in its essence, is power gained from actions. You're not 'taking' excelia from monsters. Your Falna is being rewarded for killing monsters, the same way you are rewarded with excelia when you train or grow crops. Of course, killing monsters is a much more rewarding task since you're literally risking your life in a high-stress environment with all kinds of dangers.'

'Regular excelia?' Bete wondered, noticing Blackie's word choice. 'As in there's also a not-so-regular excelia?'

'You won't need to know that until you're ready to level up.'

'Hmm.'

Bete's head started to roll with this new information, already making a few conjectures on how to level up. But Blackie was right, as was Loki. He shouldn't over-extend his reach beyond what he could do right now.

'So you can just update my Status like a God? Then why do I even need Loki?'

'Calm down, kiddo, I can't update your Status. All I'm doing is showing your growth. It's basically, what will be your Status once Loki updates it.'

'So... there's no point.'

'I'm offering you a favor out of the graciousness of my heart! Just take it or leave it!'

'Okay, okay. Show me.'

Blackie stopped talking for a few moments, then Bete heard the familiar blink!

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{Bete Loga}

Level: 1

Physical Status: Well Rested

Mental Status: Well Rested, Bored

Equipment: 11,620 Valis

Basic Abilities: 

 - Strength: I 0 → I 0

 - Endurance: I 0 → I 1

 - Dexterity: I 0 → I 1

 - Agility: I 0 → I 2

 - Magic: I 0 → I 0

Developmental Abilities: None

Magic:

 [Hati] - Calls forth powerful fire magic to enchant user's body that increases in strength by absorbing other magic or damage through contact. Has an incredibly long chant and its activation brings forth painful memories for the user.

* WARNING * - over-absorption can result in self-harm

Skills:

 [Úlfheðinn] - Allows user to morph into a heightened, beast-like state when affected by the power of the moon, increasing all stats and negating all abnormalities

 [Beastial Senses] - A skill granted by a mysterious power, amplifying existing senses beyond the limits to the point where the user can feel emotions, thoughts, and even intangible ideas

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'You added that second part for [Hati] now of all times?!' Bete complained.

'Well to be fair, I had as little idea as you did for the side-effects of that magic. I'm just putting down everything you felt. Like an experiment'

'Great, now I'm a lab dog. Fuck it, you did what I asked so I won't whine too much. I appreciate the valis count as well. Now I don't have to spend time in my room counting money.'

Why had his valis decreased? Well... let's just say a certain Werewolf and a blonde got a bit peckish for a fried potato snack. The fact that there was a Jagamarukun stall so close to Twilight Manor helped.

'Some people like doing that. Gives them a thrill.'

Bete squinted in skepticism.

'Counting money?'

'Hey, there's all kind of messed up people in the world. I'll tell you about them when you're older. For now, just focus on getting stronger.'

'I was already doing that. Also, do you know if this Status change is big or small? I was wondering what that 1 before each number meant.'

'It's not a 1, it's an I as in the Koine letter. The earlier the letter comes in the Koine alphabet, the stronger that ability is. 0-99 is I, 100-199 is H, 200-299 is G, yadda yadda until 800-899 is A and 900-999 is S. It's very difficult to raise all your stats to 999, and it's unrealistic as well. By the time it takes someone to raise all their stats to 999, another person of similar skill could have just taken one S or even just an A rank basic ability and dove deep into Level 2 or have already promoted to Level 3. Furthermore, most Adventurers have a soft cap on certain basic abilities depending on the person. It would be extremely inefficient to increase a basic ability one has no talent for. Do you get why it's important to recognize when you're at a realistic limit?'

Bete nodded.

As for your change, it would generally be considered small. A change of 1 or 2 out of 999 points, you probably won't feel a difference. A boost of 10 or 20 for a single basic ability, on the other hand, is definitely tangible. However, in the context of how you obtained it, even getting a total of 4 stat points out of training for not even a full day is crazy. It's common knowledge that the lower the level, the easier it is to gain excelia but it shouldn't be this easy.'

'I supposed he's right. Even if I just do this training every day without the dungeon for a year, I'd gain 1,461 stat points (365.25 x 4). And from what I've heard, the record for reaching Level 2 is around a year and a half.'

'Like I said, kid. You're a true beast in the making.'

The Werewolf smirked.

"I'm only just getting started."

The Pantheon, Orario

A short while later, the trio arrived at a neoclassical, marble building that gave off a majestic and grand feel. With wide eyes, Bete studied the thick white pillars that held up the architraves. Above them, the pediment was etched with the proud history of Orario.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Riveria said, noticing Bete.

"It's one of the oldest buildings in Orario, constructed around the time when the Gods descended. Of course, it's been renovated and changed multiple times, but it still stands strong to this day."

Ais studied the blurry shapes and forms across the triangular pediment, searching for two specific people. Unfortunately, she couldn't find either of them. Instead, what she found was... a black dragon, its maws stretched wide while fighting off a battalion of powerful heroes.

The blonde's previously disinterested eyes flared with unbridled rage, flashing a passionate golden hue.

Bete and Riveria obviously noticed her anger. It was hard not to when she gave off such an intimidating aura.

'The dragon? Does she have some kind of beef?' Bete wondered.

'The One Eyed Black Dragon... does it have something to do with her father?' Riveria guessed.

Nevertheless, they couldn't stew in front of the Guild forever.

"This over here is the main building, the Pantheon," Riveria explained, coughing for their attention.

"Most people don't go directly in there on a daily basis. Instead, there are many branch buildings surrounding the Pantheon and throughout Orario where most Adventurers go to trade magic stones and talk with their advisors. That's where we're going to visit today."

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Sitting on a tall stool behind the counters where Adventurers came to talk with their advisors, a redhead Werewolf receptionist studied the room with dull eyes and a lazy slouch.

She wore the standard Guild uniform of a black vest and pants over a white collared, long-sleeved shirt. She also wore a neat, gray bow-tie by her neck and had a pair of black gloves over her pretty hands.

'That one over there's probably going to die in a few days,' she coldly analyzed.

The Adventurer she was referring to was a tall youth with wavy blonde hair. He was laughing uproariously with a couple of people who he had recently partied with.

'A rookie in a party that doesn't match his experience. He's either going to be abandoned by his party or left in the dungeon.'

She shot her piercing, golden eyes towards the other side of the room.

'That one... I'll give him a 50/50. He's cautious, which is good, but overconfident in his knowledge. He's the type to panic when he's in a situation he's unfamiliar with. Depends on his party.'

The female Werewolf continued to study each Adventurer in the room, harshly criticizing them and predicting their likely future. A concerning large portion of her predictions ended with death.

'And lastly, that one... an Elf. How annoying. Probably older than my great-grandmother. What kind of-'

"Rose."

'Ah, whoops. I did it again.'

"Welcome, Loki Familia Vice Captain Riveria Ljos Alf. What brings you here today?"

Her voice was as bland as her eyes, 

The other receptionists, especially the newer recruits, watched with hung jaws at the ethereal High Elf who had calmly sauntered into the building with two children in tow. 

"You can stop with the formal greetings, Rose. You're not even acting like you mean it," Riveria called in an exasperated voice.

"It says in the manual that we're supposed to do that for the major Familias, so I can't help it, you know? If we don't do what we're supposed to, we get a pay cut."

"Five years ago, you were so innocent. You were 14 years of age, I believe."

"That was when I started this job. Please don't bring up things from so many years ago," Rose muttered, twirling a lock of her long red hair.

"For an Elf like me, it's akin to something that happened a month ago."

The Werewolf sighed, standing up and shifting her uniform so it slightly jiggled a part of her body that Rose knew was superior to Riveria's.

"Well? What did you come here for? Please hurry up if it's going to be a pain. You know the higher ups get concerned with every little thing whenever it's something to do with you guys or the Freya Familia."

Riveria offered a wry smile, going straight to the point.

"Ais, Bete, meet Rose Fannett. This was the Werewolf acquaintance in the Guild who I was talking about."

The Elf gestured downwards to the two short rookies who were covered by the counter.

Pushing herself to see slightly over, Rose saw the young Werewolf and the strikingly beautiful girl for the first time.

She stared at his appearance, particularly his wolfish ears, with a tilted head.

"A fellow Werewolf," she noticed in a curious tone. "Haven't seen another of our kind in some time."

Bete sniffed her scent, recognizing it to be similar to his other tribesmen.

"I haven't seen a red-haired Werewolf before either," he replied.

She smirked, liking his blunt tone.

"What can I say, I'm one of a kind," Rose said, tossing her long, curly hair.

"Rose is one of the receptionists here at the Guild. I've known her for some time and, though she can be a little cold, she's a reliable advisor. If you have any questions and you can't find any of us, you can find her."

Riveria turned back to the redhead.

"These two are new Loki Familia members who need to get registered."

"..."

A part of the Werewolf wanted to argue with Riveria for letting such young children enter the dungeon.

". . . All right," she said after a few moments of hesitation, finally acquiescing. They were in Riveria's Familia and this was her job. She didn't have a say in this relationship.

"Do you two know how to write?" Rose added, pulling out two quill pens and some registration papers.

Both Ais and Bete nodded.

They each grabbed a pen and began to scribble their information while stepping up on a stool used for Pallums. 

Only a few seconds went by before Rose interrupted Ais.

"Wait, those are hieroglyphs? Use Koine."

If she was surprised, the redhead didn't show it. She maintained her professionalism — a testament to her years of working at the Guild.

Bete looked to his side where the little blonde looked confused at what the receptionist was asking for.

"?!"

"You don't know how to write in Koine, but you know how to use hieroglyphs?"

"..."

"I can help her," Riveria intervened, taking the pen for Ais.

She removed the paper that had a bunch of words Bete couldn't read and got a new one.

"Ais Wallenstein... Age seven... human... and nothing else," Rose read off the practically empty paper.

"What about you?"

Bete's paper at least had some background. His name was Bete Loga. He was 9. He was a Werewolf. He came from the northern plains. He didn't know or he didn't want to give any other information. [Hati] aside, he didn't want to re-live any more memories than he had to.

"Okay," Rose muttered, taking the papers. She was used to Adventurers who hid most of their information. It was the Guild's rule to accept any and all who wanted to become an Adventurer.

"Advisors... The Loki Familia probably doesn't need someone like that, right?" she asked, looking towards the motherly Elf.

"Yes. We'll take care of them ourselves."

"Do you want any Guild-loaned weapons?"

Riveria shook her head.

"We'll also handle that ourselves."

Rose crossed her arms over her abundant chest.

"You're going to request personal equipment for two rookies?"

"Yes, we're heading to the Goibniu Familia after this."

The redhead's professional tone finally cracked

"Send them away. We need to talk."

". . . Ais, Bete. Why don't you go on ahead without me? Wait for me by the entrance."

After instructing them gently, she turned back to the stifled receptionist.

"What are those two? One knows only how to write in hieroglyphs while the other is a Werewolf that stinks of disaster. You're just gonna wrap them up in expensive equipment then run them into the dungeon? Don't you know what happens to those kinds of rookies? You saw their eyes."

"Do not pry."

"Are you trying to get them killed? If you have time to slaughter children, you know the Guild would prefer High Class Adventurers like you using it on the Evilus problem. And speaking of their age, I was holding back before, but I'm seriously starting to doubt your Familia's morality. Children? Really? They're not even 10 years old. It's your job as a mature adult to stop them from killing themselves. Just because they're superhuman and have a Status isn't an excuse."

The High Elf held her tongue, maintaining her aloof posture.

Rose continued to say her true thoughts that wasn't just towards Riveria, but to all Familia in Orario who sent countless clueless Adventurers to die in the dungeon. All while she helplessly watched them eagerly run into a hole that would become their final resting place.

Once the Werewolf was finished, Riveria began to say her piece.

"We won't let anything like that happen to them. Loki-sama warned them already. We told them that our policy was to train rookies for a few weeks to build their foundation before letting them enter the dungeon."

The receptionist raised a brow.

"Oh, so now you're lying to them?"

"It was for their own good. They're already good enough to breeze through the initial Upper Floors. They won't die from those-"

"You know I'm not worried about goblins or kobolds. What I'm worried about is what happens if they maintain this kind of attitude."

". . . I won't let anything happen," she repeated.

"I hope so," Rose coldly whispered. "For both your sake and mine."

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About the Guild, I was at another canon conflict because in Sword Oratoria, the main Guild building is shown to be like the Pantheon or US Capitol Building, but the anime and manga of the original Danmachi show the Guild building as a different building with a different design.

I was considering making various Guild buildings around Orario to explain why they look different, but I decided to just make one large Guild building at the center, the Pantheon, with many branch buildings surrounding it which explains the building Bell goes into.

As always, thank you for the support~