Adventurer Guild

Upon returning to the inn, Kathy informed Devin that the others had already had dinner and were resting in their room. Devin ordered a delicious dinner for himself before making his way back to his room. There, he noticed Alex deep in thought.

Curious about Alex's task, Devin inquired about how it went. Alex began narrating everything that had happened, starting from finding the map to venturing into the forest and discovering Grandmaster Byron's presence. He mentioned the story involving a conspiracy around Serene City, capturing Devin's full attention.

Devin's eyes widened at these new revelations, his astonishment evident as he groaned, "Dude, I don't know whether to praise your luck or lament it."

Alex nodded in agreement, acknowledging the mixture of luck and potential difficulties in their task ahead. "This is going to be quite an arduous task for several reasons," Devin chimed in. "Firstly, we are unfamiliar with the city. Secondly, we have no contact with the city lord and thus don't know his character. And lastly, dealing with the Kramer family and the organization behind them won't be an easy feat."

Alex added his own insight, recognizing that they were likely to become further entangled with the organization and their plans. Devin couldn't help but smile bitterly, aware that this was one of the consequences of being chosen by the Seed. There would be no free rides.

Devin's thoughts shifted to Serene City, reflecting on how it wasn't destroyed in his previous life, but it also wasn't peaceful. This led him to consider the numerous possibilities. The plan might not have been successful, or something changed, causing the organization to alter its entire strategy and incite civil unrest in the city. It was also plausible that the plan had succeeded, but the organization managed to take control of the city and cover everything up.

Devin lamented his reckless gameplay in his last life; he really didn't care about the history and backstory of the places in Oasis. He didn't have the luxury to enjoy the beautiful things Oasis had to offer all he cared about was making money.

Realizing that dwelling on the past would serve no purpose, Devin resolved to focus on doing their best in the present situation. Alex and he now shared the task, and they needed to work together to complete it.

Devin decided to share some good news with Alex as well. "Don't worry, today wasn't without results either," he said. "I met potential allies—an aspiring junior apprentice pharmacist who I believe has a bright future but lacks support, and a wealthy and influential merchant. These people could be instrumental in the development of Sun Haven moving forward."

Alex stared at Devin, perplexed by his genuine concern for the development of Sun Haven village. He questioned Devin's motives, assuming that once they completed their task, they would move on to other ventures.

Devin took a moment to explain, reminding Alex about the gifts he had received from the system. He revealed that Sun Haven village was part of his Domain and would serve as his base of operations.

Alex's eyes widened in astonishment, fully aware that such privileges came with a heavy price. Knowing Devin's determination and desire for growth, he understood that seizing opportunities was paramount to their success.

With conviction in his voice, Devin replied, "I know what you're about to say, but Alex, so what? As long as we grow stronger and seize all the opportunities, I don't mind."

Alex let out a sigh, agreeing that opportunities could not be missed due to fear or uncertainty. He then asked Devin about the entity's expectations from him.

Devin paused for a moment, choosing not to disclose the existence of the Origin Seed. His intuition urged caution, as he felt it wasn't yet the appropriate time for such revelations. He simply replied, "Nothing, except to expect dangerous missions."

Understanding the weight of their future endeavors, Alex conceded their need to be prepared. He suggested they register as adventurers and find a solution for Sun Haven, as it would serve as their base of operations. Additionally, they needed to complete their given task.

Devin agreed, acknowledging that there was nothing they needed for adventurer registration and that the adventurer guild did not discriminate against any race, as long as the individual was an intelligent species.

With their plans set, they retired to bed, their minds filled with thoughts and aspirations for the days to come.

As Devin and Alex completed their registration as adventurers, the system promptly congratulated them, rewarding them

[Congratulations to player Devin and Alex for registering as Adventurers. You have gained 500 Exp]

Although they were now eligible to accept tasks from level 1 to level 4, Devin and Alex decided to hold off for now. They already had a lot of pending tasks and felt that being registered adventurers would serve as a good cover for them.

In addition to their new status, there were perks to enjoy as registered adventurers. One such benefit was a 10% discount on weapon purchases from the adventurer guild. While Devin didn't require any weapons, Alex knew that relying on an ordinary bow and arrow in the wild against powerful monsters wouldn't suffice.

Alex decided to invest in a good bow and arrow, as well as a set of short knives. It cost him 5 gold coins, an expensive purchase, but he knew the quality would last him for a while, proving to be a worthy investment.

With his new equipment in hand, Alex parted ways with Devin as he left the adventurer guild. He had a different plan in mind, he chose to gather as much information as possible from various sources, hoping to gain insights that could aid them in their upcoming tasks.

Devin made his way to the pharmacist guild to complete his own registration. Meanwhile, Alex set off on his information-gathering expedition, determined to acquire any relevant knowledge that could prove valuable to their mission.

Devin entered the grand halls of the pharmacist guild bustling with activity, and he could see pharmacists from various levels engaged in their tasks. The scent of herbs lingered in the air, creating an atmosphere that resonated with Devin's passion for the craft.

Approaching the reception counter, Devin noticed a lady attending to the eager applicants. He approached her and asked about the process for taking the pharmacist test.

The lady glanced up at Devin, her eyes scrutinizing him for a moment. "To take the test to become a pharmacist, you need to pay a fee of 50 silver coins and provide a recommendation letter," she explained coldly.

Devin's heart sank as he realized he wasn't aware of the requirement for a recommendation letter. He hesitated for a moment before asking if there were any alternative options. Perhaps there was a way he could take the test without a recommendation letter.

The lady looked at him with a mix of surprise and judgment. "Who comes to be a pharmacist without a recommendation letter?" she asked, her tone filled with disbelief.

Before the lady could offer a rebuttal, Devin heard a familiar voice behind him. "I can provide the recommendation letter," said Ethan, stepping forward.

Devin's face lit up with a mixture of relief and gratitude as he turned to face Ethan.

The lady narrowed her eyes, clearly intrigued by Ethan's involvement. "Very well, if you have a recommendation letter, you only need to pay the fee of 50 silver coins," she said, her voice holding a hint of annoyance.

Devin followed the process, paying the fee, while Ethan handed over the recommendation letter. Once the transaction was complete, the lady informed Devin to wait for his assigned examiner.

As they stepped away from the counter, Devin couldn't contain his gratitude. "Thank you for providing the recommendation letter," he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

Ethan shrugged, offering a friendly grin. "No problem," he replied.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Devin turned to Ethan and asked, "What should I expect during the test?"

Ethan paused, contemplating the question before providing some insights. "The exact format might depend on the examiner, but typically, you'll be asked to identify certain herbs and demonstrate your proficiency in herb handling. Finally, you'll be given the opportunity to create a potion," he explained.

Pleased with the information, Devin couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt. "I think I'll go with the spirit refreshing potion for the final task. It's the only one I've personally made," he admitted.

Ethan frowned, his concern apparent. "Devin, how many potions do you know and have you actually made?" he asked, his tone laced with worry.

Devin hesitated for a moment, contemplating his response. "I've only made the spirit refreshing potion," he admitted truthfully, intentionally avoiding the extent of his knowledge of various formulas.

Ethan sighed, realizing the limitations Devin faced due to the unwillingness of many pharmacists to share their expertise. "If I hadn't witnessed your talent and dedication, I would think you're here to waste time," he remarked, a mix of frustration and admiration evident in his voice.

Devin's expression turned serious as he asserted, "I take this profession and the test seriously. It's not my fault that many pharmacists are hesitant to share their knowledge. I can only make do with what I have and what I've learned."

Ethan nodded, understanding Devin's situation. He knew that many pharmacists' stagnant progress as a junior apprentice was not a reflection of their abilities but rather a consequence of not belonging to any faction or having an influential master.