Chapter 3 - Insects and Worms

We spent the whole yesterday to train and we were at it again in the early morning. Although the improvement was significant, a day was just too short. I would like to spend more time grooming her but I needed to start earning money soon or else we were going to starve after a few weeks.

After our morning training, we set out to the Tamer's Guild. I entered the hall and there were a few tamers and familiars browsing on the bulletin board beside the entrance desk.

"Hello! If it isn't the new tamer the other day! Mest, right? How may I help you?" The mature woman who was also present when I registered greeted me with a smile.

"Ms. Clerk, do you have any quests that I can take?"

"Don't be so formal! You can call me Mathi!" She then obtained two pieces of paper from under the table and placed them on the desk. "These are the only available rank F quests."

I went closer to read the documents. The one on the left stated that an additional help to carry some lumber into a construction site was needed for twenty coppers upon completion. On the other hand, the one on the right was for collecting some medicinal herbs that could be found on a steep cliff for ten coppers.

"Ms. Mathi, do F rank quests only require… menial tasks?" I hesitatingly asked.

"All F rank quests do not involve combat hence they pay low. If you want to take more difficult quests, you'll need to be promoted to a higher rank."

"How can I do that?"

"There is a promotion test every month but in order to be able to participate, you'll need to complete at least five quests of your rank. The next promotion test to be rank E is five days from now." Ms. Mathi explained.

"I see, can I take both of these quests at once?"

"You can only take one at a time since there might be other tamers who will be interested with the job."

I did not think that the road to becoming a great tamer was that laborious. On the bright side, Ovis was actually not ready for combat so I guess the situation suited us just fine.

I took the quest that involved hauling lumber. I made my way to the forest where the supplies would be from. There was a lot of lumber piled upon each other. I silently wished that we did not have to carry all of it.

"You're the tamer?" A seemingly grumpy guy asked.

"Yes sir. Mest, rank F tamer at your service."

"There are twelve pieces in total. Carry all these at the construction site near the river there. You'll know you are in the right place when you get there." The guy pointed far to the west. "Come back to me once you're done."

The guy readily turned his back on me after saying his line. I did not know if he was just busy or merely naturally unfriendly. I stopped thinking about it since his attitude was not something that will affect the job anyway.

We dropped our equipment near the pile of lumber before we started to carry one, with me and Ovis on each end.

"Ah!" Ovis screamed just when we were about to start.

"What's the matter?"

"Th-there's an i-insect!" She said as if she was about to cry.

I did not know the Beastkins were afraid of a measly harmless creature. I was aware that she was a girl but that was still a bit inconvenient.

"Let's switch ends then, there's none on my side." I said with a sigh.

I went on her end and I saw a beetle which I squashed with my foot. Ovis looked so disgusted with the act but there was no helping it. We then proceeded to lift the lumber towards the designated site.

It took us around five minutes until we arrived then another five minutes to get back to the stockpile. Although I was already used to that kind of work as a kid, I was not expecting that I'll still be doing that after becoming a tamer.

The load was not that heavy but its size was not something a single guy could easily handle, plus the distance was a bit far. After successfully hauling six pieces, we took a short rest before we did the rest.

"Here's your pay, and take this to your guild." The grumpy guy gave me twenty coppers plus a letter.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Go ask your guild, I'm busy." He walked away.

He might be a client but he absolutely got on my nerves. Not even a word of gratitude plus the rude behaviour was too much.

"Eeeeek!" Ovis screeched as she tugged the sleeve of my shirt.

"What's the matter?"

Ovis responded by pointing at the ground, it was just an earthworm. I could not get why she was afraid of it when it was practically harmless.

I went closer to the worm and grabbed it with my bare hands. Ovis' face was filled with disgust and fear out of my actions.

"You don't have to be afraid. It's cute, see?" I uttered as I came closer to Ovis with the wriggling slimy creature in my hand.

"P-please n-no!" Ovis stepped back, shaking.

"Ooooops!" I said as if I slipped my hand when I actually threw it on purpose.

"Ah!"

Ovis quickly ducked to avoid the worm which then went straight towards to the rude guy. The little thing wriggled wildly on the guy's collar.

I was glad he did not notice at all, maybe because he actually was really busy. I signalled Ovis that we must go, while I struggled to prevent my laughter from bursting out.

After we got out of the forest, we went to a nearby restaurant to eat lunch. Since we were near the city anyway and we actually earned some money, eating out was the best choice. I spent five coppers for both our meals so it was like I only earned fifteen coppers.

I just realized that the pay of F rank quests was so cheap that I really needed to be promoted to E rank soon. After eating, I went straight to the guild to take the other quest.

"Hi Mest, did you finish your job already?" Miss Mathi greeted.

"Yes, the guy said to take this letter to you."

"Thanks. This is proof that you have done your job properly."

"I see."

So that was how the guild tracked the performance of the tamers. I would need to bring back four more letters in order to be qualified for a rank up.

"Is the other quest still available?" I asked.

"Yes it is." Miss Mathi gave me the document for the herb picking job.

I took the quest from Miss Mathi and was about to leave when a girl with an intimidating presence entered the guild. With her were two familiars obediently tailing her.

The girl had a long cider hair and was wearing green robes. She was holding a fancy looking staff and was glittered with jewelries. One glance and anyone could tell that she was loaded.

Following her was a tall Dogkin with a head, arms and feet of a black dog, and a bulky Lizardkin covered in viridescent scales. Those obviously looked like familiars made for combat. If I was not mistaken, those cost not less than a gold and a half. Not only that, but their armors and weapons looked way more expensive than what I could afford.

They had this strong presence that I instinctively stepped aside to let them walk to the front desk.

"I want to take a job, anything would do," the girl said.

"I'm sorry but the last one for your rank has just been taken." Miss Mathi replied with a smile.

"Pardon? How am I supposed to rise to rank E if there is no quest to take?" The girl raised her voice and slammed the desk.

"I'm really sorry. I am sure new quests will be available by tomorrow."

She just said the she wanted to rise to rank E, that would mean that she was actually just an F rank tamer. She was just a newbie despite how she looked. If that was indeed true, I was the one who took that last job she was after.

"Ovis, let's go." I whispered before I turned to walk away.

"Hey, plebeian over there! Are you the one who took that last quest?"

Her commanding voice got my feet glued to the ground.

"I did just take one but that was just a lowly F rank quest." I said with a smile since I figured lying would make things worse.

"Hand it over." The girl extended her hand.

"What?"

"I am too great to stay as an F rank. I need the quest you just took so I can get a higher rank." She said as she flipped her long hair.

"Well, I aim to be promoted as well."

"You? Even if you do meet the requirements, you will not pass the exam with that weak familiar." The girl glared at Ovis.

"I guess I'll just have to rely on my luck!" I said with a chuckle.

"Naïve, I challenge you to a duel! If I win then you'll have to forfeit that quest to me." The girl pointed her finger at me.

"Sorry but I am not interested." I waved my hand in disapproval.

"You dare refuse a challenge? Don't you have any pride?" The girl shouted angrily.

"I lost that a long time ago. If you'll excuse me I have a quest to finish."

I was about to walk away when she said something that caught my interest.

"If I lose, you'll get three silvers." The girl declared.

"For a job that only pays ten coppers?"

"Yes."

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

Based on appearances alone, her familiars and their equipment outclassed mine. That alone suggested that I had a very low chance of winning. But taking into account that she was also just an F rank despite being well equipped would mean that she must be but a spoiled rich brat. If that was true, she must still be inexperienced in battle which would give me a chance of winning.

On another note, the reward for winning was quite a lot and the only thing that I might lose was a job worth ten coppers. Additionally, it would be nice to experience a real duel first hand. I did not count the one with Kai as an official win since I could tell that he went easy on me.

"Do you accept or not?" The frowning girl asked.

"I accept." I answered after thinking for a while.

I did not notice that there was already a crowd forming around us until I heard their murmurs. I did not understand what they were whispering to themselves but they must think I that was foolish.

"There is a place at the back for such duels. Follow me." Ms. Mathi interjected.

The girl and I followed Ms. Mathi until we reached an open space that looked like an arena stadium. As we went at the center of the arena, more people came. The spectators proceeded to the seats on the perimeter of the stadium. Those must be the ones who heard our conversation.

"I will serve as the witness for your duel." Ms. Mathi said as she stood between us.

"How about your duties at the guild?" I asked.

"This is one of my duties, plus my assistant will be there to take over." She giggled.

"Let's start already." The girl rudely said.

"Since Mest has only one familiar, I presume that it is a simple one on one battle?" Ms. Mathi asked.

"All versus all." The girl declared.

"What?" I subconsciously took a step backward.

"Don't even start with me about being disadvantaged. Real life battles will not be always adjusted to your needs."

This girl, she had it all planned. The reason why she bet three silvers was because she did not imagine that she would lose. With all the spectators and after those words, she must be expecting that I would have no choice but to go along with her.

"I refuse." I answered.

"What? Who gave you any right to do so?" The girl looked irritated.

"I don't? Then I will not proceed with the duel." I started to walk away. "Ovis, let's go.

I heard all the commotion that bore fruit due to my actions. There were those that were laughing but many were spouting words of complaint.

"I'll make it five silvers." The girl offered with her commanding tone.

Hearing the rise in amount stopped me on my tracks. Although I definitely did not think winning against her would be easy, the reward was just too charming. If by chance that I did win, I would not have to worry about my financial state for a while.

I just sighed to myself then I turned to her.

"All versus all means that the tamers are included in the battle, right?" I asked.

"Of course. But included or not, the result of the battle is already concluded."

I drew my sword then switched to my battle stance.

"We shall see then."