Chapter 041: First Job

In their exploration of the Guild, they entered a room with the words 'Item Shop' carved above. On the inside, an assortment of weapons, shields and armour lined the walls with some bladed weapons standing in barrels. Behind the counter was a snoring man with his boots resting on the table and a hat covering his face. Behind him were several shelves, all lined with rows of odd coloured 'liquid in a bottle'. Quietly, Shelly went about examining the daggers and whips on display, while Maou on the other hand… wasn't so hushed.

"Wooooe! Shelly look!" Maou shouted. "Isn't this cool?"

He held up an iron sword twice his height, swinging it around.

"Be careful." Shelly warned, taking up one of the whips.

Paying no attention to her words, Maou took up another sword. Pretending to fight, he dual wielded both swords, prancing around the shop.

"Hey stop that!" Shelly commanded, standing clear of his path.

"Clank! Shing! Clang!"

Maou knocked over a weapon rack, sending several weapons crashing loudly to the ground. The largest of which being an executioner's axe that wedged the wooden flooring on its descent. Both Maou and Shelly looked at each other for a brief moment then to the still sleeping man. Like telepathic clockwork, they hurriedly left with silent footsteps. Returning to the front desk, they stared at each other before giggling to each other like school girls.

"Hehe! Are we in trouble?" Maou asked.

"We? You did it, not me." Shelly emphasized. "Don't drag me down with you."

"Hey, I thought we were a team." Maou replied.

"Not if you get us in trouble we're not." Shelly joked.

Returning to the front desk was Juliana with a tray. On it was a small handbook and a bronze card with Shelly's name and rank on the front as well as a chain so as to hang it around her neck. She motioned for Shelly, catching her attention.

"Well, it was already stated in the contract but I'll say it again just incase." Juliana cleared her throat. "You are now officially a licensed as an adventurer under the Agrippa Roma Guild. Meaning, you now have access to our resources, staff as well as the ability to accept jobs from our 'request board'."

Shelly put the chain around her neck while Juliana continued.

"Also, from the jobs you complete, you'll keep 55% of the earnings while the guild receives the other 45%, which is for access to our resources, time and staff members. Keep in mind, that if you cancel an accepted job, there will be a cancellation fee of 20% of the selected job reward. Finally, please note that the payout percentage is non-negotiable until you reach Rank D, B or S."

"55%? Wow! That's alot." Shelly thought to herself. "I used to only get 15% working as a thief, 20% on a lucky day."

"If there's anything else you want to know, you can check this Adventurer's Guidebook or just ask me." Juliana pulled out a small stack of paper from under her desk. "So are you ready for your first job? I'll assist you."

Scanning the available jobs, Juliana picked out one she believed was simple enough for her.

"This is a good starter." Juliana handed Shelly the paper. "A delivery job with a reward of 5 sliver coins."

"Delivery?" Shelly seconded guessed.

"Is there a problem?"

"I'm sorry. It's just that I'm new here so I don't know where's what." Shelly explained.

"Well then, this is the perfect opportunity to use your very own Adventurer's Guidebook." Juliana excitedly pointed out. "There's a map of the entire capital in there."

"Wow! This has a lot of stuff." Shelly exclaimed, flipping through the pages. "Who made this?"

"Well… I did. Heh! Heh!" Juliana giggled, covering her mouth. "I've been studying cartography for a year now."

"Car…toe…grafee?" Maou lagged in his pronunciation. "Shelly, what's… Cartoegrafee?"

"I think it means someone who makes like maps and stuff." Shelly answered.

"So, are you ready to start your first job?" Juliana asked, pulling out her pen.

"Sure, why not."

"Then please sign here."

Shelly took the pen, scribbling down her signature. Thankfully Mother Theresa taught her these formalities. Before leaving, Shelly received a piece of paper with details regarding the job with added instructions from Juliana.

"Before starting any job, always introduce yourself and have them sign this paper to prove your arrival. Next, when the job is finished with, make sure to have them sign again to prove you completed the job. If not, you won't be able to collect your rewards." Juliana warned. "Otherwise, if you have any issues while doing a job, you can always refer to your handy Adventurer's Guidebook."

With those final words, she sent them off with a wave.

"Where are we going?" Maou asked.

"Uhm…. Let's see here" Shelly looked back at the paper. "An alchemist wants us to deliver some stuff. Not sure what exactly."

"Hmmmm…." Maou rubbed his tummy. "Can we get something to eat before–"

Just then, cutting inbetween them was a bourbon haired guy. He blocked Maou while standing gallant before Shelly. Running his hand through his hair, he shot her a womanising smile.

"Oh, what beauty you possess! Your stunning essence enchained me from afar and surely it had drawn me to you." The young man spoke with flamboyant words. "Seeing you just joined this prestigious guild, wouldest thou be interested in joining my party? I guarantee you'll be most pleased."

Shelly took a step back in discomfort, drawing her hand closer to her chest

"Ahhh…. And you are?"

"Where are my manners?! My apologises. Please allow me to introduce myself." He flung his cape back, dancing it in the air and performed an elegant bow. "My name is Curtis Mayfield. It's a pleasure to be in the presence of a beauty such as yourself."

Shelly was too caught off guard to immediately respond after his flamboyant introduction.

"Please, Milady." He continued. "If a diety of beauty such as yourself would consider joining my.–"

"Sorry, but I'm not interested." Shelly interrupted, walking off. "Plus, you're kinda creeping me out with all… that."

"Wait please!" He stretched out his hand towards Shelly as she strodded away. "Hear me out, you'll see how much we have to offer–"

Curtis went to chase after Shelly as she walked through the door but his feet were somehow restricted.

"BAM!!!

Like a tower he fell face first to the wooden flooring, his cape falling on top his head.

"Hey Maou, why'd you mess with his shoelaces?" Shelly asked.

"They were loose so I fixed it for him." Maou replied. "Did I do it right?"

"Well… not this time but with a little more practice and I'm sure you'll get it right next time." Shelly answered, tapping Maou on the back.

Using the guidebook's map, she travlled up from the guild to the Outer West Wing of the city, nearer to the towering wall. Before them were multiple concrete stairs that elevated up to a smal building with multiple vents on top the wooden roofing. Halfway up the stairs, they noticed a young man walk out the door. Passing by him, they could see his dispirited demeanor as he wobbled down the stairs. Reaching the building, Shelly noticed the oddly tall door before knocking while waiting for a response.

"Bam! Bam!" Shelly knocked again. "Excuse me. I'm an adventurer from the Agrippa Roma Guild."

Just then, footsteps hurried towards the door but not before the scream of someone of slipping then hitting the wooden floors.

"Uhmm…. Are you okay in there?" Shelly questioned worriedly.

"Yes yes, I'm fine." A soft, meek voice answered. "This happens often so I'm used to it by now."

The door slowly pushed open. In the doorway stood a slender woman six feet five inches towering above them with glasses and barn red hair. Shelly was instantly caught off guard by her appearance in comparison to the voice she spoke with earlier.

"Hee-Hello. My name is Vanessa Davis. I'm an alchemist." She bowed. "Thank you for accepting my job."

Shelly lagged in her response, still stunned by her height.

"Uhmm… the pleasure is all–."

"Wow!!! You're super tall… like a tree." Maou exclaimed, cutting into Shelly's response.

Vanessa became visibly gloomy while seemingly losing strength in her legs, having to brace against the door frame for support.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to look like a tree." She whispered. "I should be hanging from one instead."

Noticing the negative effect of Maou's praise, Shelly stopped Maou from talking any further.

"Miss Vanessa, the job! Please tell us what we need to deliver for you."

Shelly's words brought Vanessa back to her senses. She apologized before hurrying inside her workshop and returning with twenty sealed packages containing either potions or cosmetics.

Ongoing Job: Twenty packages to be delivered to several stores in the City's West Wing Commercial Areas

"I've been swamped with orders lately and I couldn't get around to delivering them. So this really helps me out, thank you." Vanessa stated while placing the last package on the floor.

Seeing all the items before her, Shelly pondered how to carry all the packages at once but fortunately, Vanessa took notice of her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Uh it's nothing really. I'm just trying to figure out how to carry all this at once." Shelly replied.

Vanessa quickly hurried back inside her workshop, returning with a large bamboo box backpack. It was perfect, fitting everything inside safely but had quite the amount of weight to carry. Before leaving, Shelly was given a hand sized book containing the list of stores to visit along with instructions to make sure everyone signed for the items upon delivery.

"Hey, how much does all this cost by the way?" Shelly asked.

"Hhmmm… about 25 gold coins worth of items." Vanessa replied.

Shelly's skin crawled at the value of the items. She imagined accidentally destroying everything and spending the rest of her years having to slave away to repay. Keeping that in mind, she carefully walked down the stairs they climbed but much to Maou's annoyance. Using her handy guidebook she eventually delivered three quarter of the items within two hours.

The next building Shelly entered was this beauty and cosmetics store called "Deity's Salon". She was immediately awed by the colourfully feminine interior. Women old and young sat at different beauty stations while being serviced by other women. Everywhere in the room was filled with chatter and gossiping. Just then, Shelly was approached by a huge androgynous person.

"Hallo dere lil cutie cupcakes! What brings you two here today?"

Shelly was too stunned to speak. Never had she seen such confusing appearance.

"Oh my lordie, lordie! I haven't introduced myself. I'm so sorry. The name's Manny, but the girlies here call me Maddie. And you are?"

"Uhhh… I'm Shelly, an adventurer from Agrippa Roma. We're supposed to deliver some items here." Shelly replied.

"Delivery? Oh, did Vanessa-baby send you? What happened to her, is she okay?" Manny questioned worriedly.

"She was too busy with completing orders, so she posted a job request to the guild and I accepted." Shelly answered.

"Uh noooo! My precious little Vanessa-baby. All the preparation for the festival must be killing her." Manny sighed with a hand on cheek. "I can just imagine the dark circles under my sweet little velvet cake's eyes."

Soon after, the delivery was complete with zero issues.

"Sign here please…. Sir… Ma'am?"

Shelly held out the signature sheet towards the androgynous looking person with a tall muscular build, stubble beard, flashy make up and dressed in feminine clothing.

Abruptly, entered Maou in the conversation.

"Are you a man or woman? Because you look like a man but dress like a woman. And it's very weird."

Shelly felt her heart drop and immediately apologized.

"I'm so sorry! He's just a kid. He doesn't know what he's saying." She bowed while grabbing onto Maou's head, forcing him to bow as well.

"Oh don't get your panties in a bundle Shelly-baby. I'm not that easily offended." Manny assured Shelly while crouching down to Maou's level. "You can call me whichever one you want, okay baby-boy?"

Uping his antics Maou suddenly grabbed Manny's face and the entire room became deafeningly silent with all eyes on them. Shelly immediately noticed the change in the room and became nervous. She followed the stares and they all led to Maou.

"Why is your face so bright and full of colours?"

Maou rubbed his face, smearing his make-up and lipstick. Once again Shelly felt her heart drop, anticipating an outburst but Manny simply rubbed Maou's head with a smile.

"Hey boy… what's your name?"

"Maou." He replied.

"Maou huh? What a unique name." Manny slid his palm down Maou's face before standing up.

"Unique? What does that mean–?"

Suddenly, Shelly grabbed Maou's arm, hastening her words while inching closer to the door.

"Woah! Would you look at the time. It's getting late and we have other deliveries to make." Shelly got a foot out the doorway. "Sorry about the makeup."

And just like that she left hurriedly, dragging Maou behind her. Manny stared at the door with a mix of seriousness and wonder. He snapped his fingers and instantly he was sitting in a chair while having his make-up redid.

"Maou…. What a strange yet brave boy. Just one touch and I could tell he's stronger than he looks." Manny brooded as his girlies repaired his make-up. "I know it's an old myth but could his silver eyes have something to do with it? I sound so crazy right now… accusing an innocent boy of being a cursed child because of some tale I heard growing up. But ones thing is for sure… he's definitely piqued my interest."