Chapter 8

After my meeting with Hephaestus, the sun had fully set, and I was informed that the guild was closed, so I would have to get everything set up with them the next day. So I just followed the Goddess out of the warehouse and down the streets toward Babel. As we walked out onto the main streets of the city, she threw on a cloak to conceal her hair and face. She briefly explained as we walked alongside Thordrin and another dwarf who looked casual on the surface, but I could tell that they were ready for anything. 

"I don't like needing to do this, but I understand that I am a high-profile target for certain unsavory individuals or groups, so it is safer to go out like this," she said, gesturing to her outfit.

"I understand," I replied. "You're death would cause major instability in the city and beyond."

"Exactly, so it is our job to protect the goddess so that never happens!" Thordrin said while pretending to yawn, covering his mouth with a hand as he spoke so that nobody could read his lips. 

I nodded in understanding as we moved forward and wove through the crowds on the streets. Despite the fact that the sun had already set, the city was buzzing with activity. It took longer than I expected to make it to the plaza around the base of the tower of Babel, but I wasn't complaining since it was a nice walk. However, my eyelids were heavily drooping by that time since I had the longest day of either of my lives. I was satisfied that I had completed all my goals for today and was ready for everything that tomorrow would bring. I wasn't so much looking forward to the guild, but I was very much interested in the dungeon and exploring other notable locations in Orario.

My eyes were already feeling dry and irritating just to keep open before we even began the ungodly climb up the floors of Babel. I was practically asleep on my feet by the time we got to the correct floor. I barely noted which room number I was in when the keys were handed to me, and I was ushered inside. I didn't bother turning on any lights and found the bedroom in the dark and collapsed directly on the bed. I had never experienced the saying, 'I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow' personally until that day. One second, it was night, and I was falling into my bed. The next, I was opening my eyes to daylight streaming through the window and directly into my eyes. 

The first thing I noticed was how early it was. The sun was still golden-red and just peeking above the horizon. The second was how beautiful the view from my window was. Far below me, the city stretched out until it met the city walls, which climbed high into the sky. Then, it was nothing but grassland until the landscape either met forests or mountains. Off in the distance, the sunlight sparkled as it reflected off the surface of a large river. The city and its surroundings seemed to have a magnificent aura, thanks to the morning light. 

Instead of appreciating this beauty like I probably should of, I groaned and threw a blanket over my head. However, unlike in my previous life, sleep was elusive this early in the morning. It seemed that my new body was used to waking up at dawn and working until well past sundown. Eventually, I accepted my fate as a morning person and rose, finding that I had no change of clothes since I didn't own any other pairs. I turned to look at my sword and traveling bag, which were propped up in the corner of my room, stashing both in my inventory. Then I walked around and inspected my apartment properly, now that there was light.

"I have gone from being homeless to penthouse living in a single day," I couldn't help but exclaim out loud as I inspected my new home. 

It was clear that I was living in an apartment that cost millions of Valis. Not only was it fairly wide, there was even a loft above the center of the room, and the whole design practically screamed that it was created by a rich designer trying to be avant-garde, which I normally would have disliked, but I found it to be tasteful in this instance. I had one bedroom and one bathroom with a medium-sized kitchen area. The loft was filled with bookshelves, but I decided to turn the loft into my bedroom and move the bookcases to the current bedroom to create a study. I doubted I would be using it all that often, but I was interested in the literature and stories of this world. 

My first large-scale test with my inventory was putting the bookshelves and bed inside of it to change their locations. Not only did this work, but it worked much better than expected. Not only can I store items, but I can also determine in what orientation they come out of my inventory. So I can set up a full campsite if I want and store that in my inventory, then just take it out and use it at any time, no problem. It is like cutting and pasting objects in real life with my inventory. With it, I had my whole apartment rearranged in less than 10 minutes when it probably would have taken hours to do before. 

Once that was done, I set out for Hephaestus's main office in Babel. She had told me to come whenever I awoke so that the last few details could be sorted before I went to the guild to get everything figured out. After that, I would be heading straight into the dungeon to test my power out on the monsters there. For now, I made my way to the office and found an elf I had never met before standing there. She gave me a nod of greeting, which I returned before he opened the door, and I entered. In the room sat Hephaestus, and next to her was a beautiful woman with dark skin and an eyepatch that matched the goddess's. I knew her on sight, but Hephaestus introduced us as I entered.

"Augustus, this is Tsubaki Collbrade, the captain of the familia. She's the one you will come to most often if any trouble arises that you need help in dealing with." Hephaestus explained.

Tsubaki gave me a curious look before reaching out for a handshake, "You can just call me Tsubaki."

"Feel free to call me either Augustus or Ahriman. I don't mind either more than the other," I responded, shaking her rough and calloused hand.  

I expected a tough grip, but the handshake was surprisingly gentle, probably due to the fact that she could pulverize my hand with a simple squeeze if she weren't careful. I put that thought out of my mind as Hephaestus tossed me a bag full of coins. Tsubaki explained the purpose of the goddess once I caught the money.

"For anything you need, such as clothes," she said, clearly eyeing the dirty clothes that I wore, "We had notified the guild of your joining the familia already, but you will still need to drop by to sign some legal documents, among other things."

"Thank you!" I said with a smile as I dropped the money in my inventory. 

"No problem, all new familia members are given some things to get them on their feet. However, you are special. Lady Hephaestus herself will personally be making you a weapon in the near future, so you should sketch out a weapon that you would like and give it to her as soon as possible so that it will be done in the next few weeks." Tsubaki said, before dismissing me with a, "That's all for now. It was nice meeting you."

 My first stop was to buy a bunch of clothes, which I immediately stored in my inventory. I went back home and got changed before taking a quick bath. Then, I strapped my blade to my side and put on my armor before heading off toward the guild building to get everything set up. I was slightly annoyed that I had to walk away from Babel just to have to come back to descend into the dungeon, but I was nothing if not patient. I walked to the guild building and speedran the signing of papers and everything else. I was out again in record time after getting assigned my Dungeon Advisor, who turned out to be Rose Fannett.

It was recommended to meet with your advisor before heading into the dungeon, but I honestly didn't care. I was only planning to explore the top few floors for today. I would consult with her before doing anything big, most of the time, probably. 

For now I made my way back to Babel and strode toward the entrance of the dungeon, ready for anything.