Chapter 19

Vivian was standing in front of the Adventurer's Guild building.

It looks respectable... 

I guess…

Doesn't look too suspicious…

The building was two stories tall and had a chimney. It was made of stone and wood. It wasn't painted, but the perfect combination of the natural colors of wood and stone still made the architecture beautiful nonetheless.

A chimney…?

So there's winter here…

The entrance was a large double door and was left open so Vivian could see the interior.

"Out of the way!"

A voice said from behind.

Vivian turned around and saw a tall and muscular man with red hair in his mid-20s wearing a cloak and underneath it was a set of metal armor and pouches around their waist. He had a large sword on his back and a dagger on his waist. There was a gold-colored pendant hanging around his neck engraved with the initials "II".

He had 3 companions with him; 2 men and 1 woman around the same age as him. They too were wearing a cloak and a set of metal armor but were lighter and had pouches around their waists and chests. Their weapons also differed from each other; one man had two swords, another man had a bow and arrow, and the woman had a staff, but all of them had a dagger around their waist.

As for the pendants around their neck, they were all gold but not everyone had the same initials engraved. The one with a bow had "II" while the other two had "I".

When the group saw the Copper I pendant around Vivian's neck partnered with her sorry look, they looked at her in disdain as if she was the lowest life form.

"Sorry," Vivian said and moved to the side.

"Rookies," the one with a bow and arrow said as he and his group entered the building.

From behind them, Vivian stared at them and a smile appeared on her face as she licked her teeth.

So it's that kind of world, huh…

She entered the building.

There were waiting chairs and tables on the side and a couple of counters. And behind every counter, there were what looked like female personnel with the same uniform tasked to entertain the customers.

As for the light, a few chandeliers were hanging on the ceiling and were all lit up. However, they weren't candles. They looked like light bulbs didn't exactly look like one, leaving Vivian quite surprised.

There's electricity…?

Vivian ignored the question for now and headed for one of the counters that didn't have any customers.

"Hello, how can I help you?" asked the woman behind the counter with a friendly tone.

The woman was around the same age as Vivian.

"Hi, can I ask for some basic or general information on how to be a proper adventurer? I'm already an adventurer, but I'm really struggling and I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things."

The woman looked at Vivian's sorry appearance and the copper-colored pendant around her neck engraved with the initials "I".

"How long has it been since you've become an adventurer?"

Vivian's heart skipped a beat.

Although she wasn't 100% sure and wanted to ask the 2 boys she met back in the forest about this topic, she believed that copper rank was the lowest.

She also wasn't sure if this was her body's first time here.

After wracking her brains, Vivian finally answered.

"Not long enough."

The woman nodded and paused for a moment before finally speaking. 

"Normally, adventurers start around the age of 15 and then retire in their mid-30s -- assuming that they survived, which, of course, is a very low number, especially if they encounter a Wave. And that's just counting the physical part. Other issues like mental and psychological are a different topic."

She looked at Vivian as if she was waiting for her words to sink in before continuing.

"At your age, from a professional standpoint, the likeliness that you're going to succeed is lower and I suggest that you go back to your husband and child or start a family if you don't have one yet and then live the rest of your life in peace."

Vivian didn't say anything and the woman assumed that her words were making Vivian contemplate about her life decisions.

What is this woman saying…?

That's not what I want to hear...

I'm not asking for life advice, I'm asking for how things work here…

Ugh…! 

"Um… Thank you so much for the advice. But what I'm asking for is the general knowledge and rules and regulations that adventurers need to follow, like how to take quests, how to get promoted, what are the dos and don'ts in being an adventurer."

The woman looked at her with a confused expression.

Vivian scratched her head and let out a wry smile on her face. 

"Sorry, but you see, I've always been a stupid person since I was a kid and I easily forget things also. And because of those things, many don't want to work with me."

The woman let out a deep sigh.

"Can you read?"

Vivian hesitated. Although she couldn't read, she wasn't sure if this was this body's first time here.

If this wasn't her body's first time here and knew a couple of people here, she didn't know how was she going to explain it if she were to say no.

After wracking her brains for a moment, she finally decided.

I have no choice...

I won't get anywhere if I don't take this risk...

"Not really. And just like I said earlier, I've always been a stupid person since I was a kid and I easily forget things."

"Okay, I understand."

"Thank you."

"Everyone is free to become an adventurer as long as they're not criminals.

"And once they become an adventurer, they have to start at the lowest rank: Copper I.

"Technically, there are 5 color ranks: Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. All colors, except Diamond, are divided into 2 sub-ranks: Copper I, Copper II, Silver I, Silver II -- you get the idea.

"And to get promoted to the next rank, in your case, that would be Copper II. You will need to complete a number of quests posted on the Quest Board.

"But please take note that the quests posted on the Quest Board also have color ranks. So given that you're a Copper I, you can only accept Copper Rank Quests.

"However, if someone wants to hire you personally for a quest, they must make an official request to the guild first for screening. And then if the guild finds no issues, the quest will be presented to you and you can decide whether you want to accept the quest or not.

"Meanwhile, if you take a quest that isn't sanctioned by the guild and something happens to you, the guild won't be held responsible. And if that quest involves something that is prohibited by the law or goes against the guild's policies, it can lead to expulsion.

"And speaking of guild policies, as an adventurer, you're forbidden to be involved in any country's politics. Once you're found out to be involved in one, it can lead to expulsion. However, although adventurers are exempted from politics, they are required to assist during Waves under the orders of the Guild Master, of course. But if the Guild Master is not available, then anyone with authority like Auditors.

"Do you have any questions?"

Vivian tried her best to absorb all the information that was given to her just now. 

She also had questions like:

What is or are Waves?

What is an Auditor?

What if I'm on a quest and I did something illegal?

What if I stole a rare loot from a faraway place without telling you and then sold it here?

What happens if I fail a quest?

What will happen if I want to cancel a quest?

And many more.

But she didn't dare to say them because she just wanted general information for now and was in a hurry because the sun was setting and she would need a place for the night.

"Is doing quests the only way to earn money? Like are there other ways like selling stuff?"

"Yes, you can sell some rare loot over there," the woman said and pointed at another counter.

"I see. By the way, does the guild offer lodging?"

"No, but I can recommend you a few. There's a tavern at the corner run by Shirley that most Copper and Silver adventurers use. Once you step outside, just head right, you won't miss it."

"I see, thank you," Vivian said and flashed a warm smile.

"No problem. I'm happy to help," the woman said and smiled. But unlike Vivian's smile, any adult could tell that hers was that universal employee smile.

Vivian was already heading to the front door when she stopped and went back to the woman.

"Hi, sorry for bothering you again. What time does this guild open?"

"The guild is open 24 hours."

"I see, thanks."

"No problem. I'm happy to help."

Vivian turned away and resumed heading outside.