Signing Up Is Complicated
I had about a month to kill before the tournament started. So, I decided to help Fina with doing her adventurer stuff.
"I don't think this is very necessary…" [Fina]
"It's fine! I've always wanted to be an adventurer." [Solace]
We wore hoods or rather, discreet clothing as we headed out of campus. Turns out working as an adventurer isn't allowed.
"Keep your head low." [Fina]
I followed her through the busy streets of town. It was a bit annoying since it was common there for my shoulders to bump into someone.
"So how will this work? I go in, sign up, and then we take quests?" [Solace]
"That somewhat sums it up. You will start at G rank, so it will take a while to reach my quest rank." [Fina]
"Is there a fast way to rank up?" [Solace]
Fina shook her head.
"Not normally." [Fina]
"Normally, you say? So there IS a way." [Solace]
"Don't think you can do it. It's too dangerous." [Fina]
I was about to press a bit more on the matter, but she hushed me.
"We're here." [Fina]
Before I knew it, I found myself before the Adventurer's guild. It looked like an old tavern, with wooden doors like those wild west movies. It had a giant wooden sign above reading "Adventurer's Guild".
"Moment of truth." [Solace]
Is what I whispered to myself when I walked in.
("Same as the last time I visited.") [Solace]
It was busy. Maybe TOO busy. It was like half of the building was used as a restaurant with the tables, chairs, and food. The other half held the receptionists and a wall covered in yellow sheets of paper. People went in and out, while some were plenty rowdy at the tables. Fina ignored this and just pulled me along to the receptionist desk.
"Mr. Burnes!" [Fina]
She called out for a man covered in scars. So much so that it would be almost impossible to count them. I recognized him from the last time Fina visited. It was the guy who wore clothing woven out of green scales and armored himself with many bits of iron plating.
"Fina? I haven't seen you for a while. What's up?" [Burnes]
He then took a glance at me.
"Who's this? Your boyfriend?" [Burnes]
Fina's face turned red.
"No! Stop teasing me!" [Fina]
She then gave him a good slap on the shoulder.
"Oof!" [Burnes]
Burnes smiled as he suffered the blow. It clearly didn't hurt seeing that he was grinning.
"This is Alt. My friend from school." [Fina]
I nodded along.
"Yep. I'm Alt. Her friend from school." [Solace]
Burnes gave me a suspicious look.
"A friend, eh?" [Burnes]
He stroked his beard as he inspected me. It wasn't a very long beard. Pretty short actually. Its length was a few inches, matching his hair in both length and dark green hue.
"M'kay. Planning to sign up with the Adventurer's Guild are you?" [Burnes]
"Sounds about right." [Solace]
"Alrighty then. Let's get you set up." [Burnes]
Burnes reached under the… I don't know what it's called. It's like a cubicle, but in reality it's just a part of a really long desk blocked off with thin wooden borders. Anyway, he reached under the desk and pulled out a blank piece of copper, some yellow paper, an oddly modern ballpoint pen, some kind of tray, and a needle.
"...What's the needle for?" [Solace]
"To get your blood." [Burnes]
"Huh." [Solace]
I did not like the sound of that.
"First, I want you to fill this out for me." [Burnes]
He handed me the yellow paper.
("...This is like a contract.") [Solace]
There were a few pages that had some rules like actions taken against murder and a few minor details. You know, normal stuff. It wasn't until I reached the part I needed to fill in that I asked Fina for help.
"Fina, what does it mean by job?" [Solace]
"Where?" [Fina]
I pointed near the top of the paper, right below where I wrote my name. I had worried that it would be difficult to write in their language, but my worries were unfounded. I was able to write in their tongue strangely naturally.
"Ah, you're supposed to put what role you're going to play." [Fina]
"Like, my class on my status?" [Solace]
Fina smiled.
"No, silly. You put what you'd like to do." [Fina]
She poked my chest playfully.
"You can be a supporter, a damage dealer, a tank, or whatever you'd like to be." [Fina]
"...Okay, bet." [Solace]
Thinking of my fighting style, I'd say I'm suited for some kind of frontliner. Tanking I can do with |Revolving Shield Arts|. Damage can be done with my other arts. Supporting… not so much. I wasn't too sure so I inquired with Fina once more.
"I can't decide. What do you think?" [Solace]
Fina turned her eyes upwards and placed a finger on her chin.
"Hm…" [Fina]
She took quite a while. So much so that Burnes and I stole a few glances at each other from sheer awkwardness.
"How about becoming a warrior?" [Fina]
"...What's that supposed to be?" [Solace]
"It's an all rounder frontline job. You can switch from being the tank or damage dealer." [Fina]
Sounds like it would work.
"Sure." [Solace]
So I wrote it down. There were a few details I needed to place down like a summary of my skills and my stats. For that, I just lied.
("I'll put myself around level forty.") [Solace]
I didn't want to stick out as much since I knew that even the higher leveled people in Fina's grade were around level thirty.
"I think I'm finished." [Solace]
"Are you? Let me see it." [Burnes]
I slid the paper to Burnes, allowing him to read at his leisure.
"Seems like you've done it properly." [Burnes]
He then handed me the tray and needle.
"Now all you have to do is prick yourself. Make sure your blood falls into the tray." [Burnes]
I picked up the needle and inspected it.
"...Are you sure this is necessary?" [Solace]
"What? Are you a chicken?" [Burnes]
"What if I said yes?" [Solace]
Burnes gave me a questionable look.
"Just do it." [Burnes]
I then tried to prick my finger. Unfortunately, the needle bent against my skin.
"Oh." [Solace]
"Huh?" [Burnes]
Burnes stared at me with eyes widened.
"I've never seen that before." [Burnes]
He then took the needle from me and observed it.
"Lemme get you a new one." [Burnes]
Reaching under the desk, Burnes handed me another needle. I attempted to prick myself again, but the thin metal snapped.
"Woah!" [Burnes]
He flinched as a piece flew past him.
"...I think you're gonna need something a little stronger." [Burnes]
"Me too." [Solace]