Chapter 4: Encounter in the Adventurer’s Guild│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com
“Welcome to the Adventurers’ Guild! Please take out your ID card.”
Lysette is greeted by the receptionist’s cheerful voice.
The Adventurers’ Guild is a large and magnificent structure just outside the Dungeon.
This is the first time Lysette has set foot in the place where adventurers come and go as they explore the dungeon. The structure is large, clean, and busy.
The receptionist in a blue uniform who took her identification card over the counter smiled as she switched between the card and Lysette’s face.
“You must be new here, Lysette-san, and welcome to Norun.”
“Yes. Everything is new to me, so I’d appreciate it if you could show me around.”
“So you want to be an adventurer? Please place your hand on the board and wait a moment while we assess your current status and abilities.”
She complied by placing her hand on the silver metal plate on the reception desk. She can feel the cold metal on her skin.
—I wonder what this will tell me.
The receptionist, who is looking for something behind the counter, becomes serious in front of the excited Lysette.
“….Hmm? Huh?” What?! Have you already entered the Dungeon?”
—How did they find out?
She wonders if placing one’s hand on this board will reveal the status of the Dungeon.
—Interesting.
Lysette thought for a moment, but she was sure that common knowledge inside the dungeon was very different from common knowledge outside, so she answered the question.
“Yes—it was a fantastic experience.”
“Didn’t you go to a party right away?”
“No, I’m alone.”
The receptionist’s face turns pale.
“That’s… I’ve never heard of a beginner entering a dungeon by themselves and escaping safely. And at this level…”
She mumbles something and raises her head.
“Perhaps Lysette is gifted!”
“Thank you very much.”
She gratefully accepted the compliment.
“You should still organize a party first. There will be a recruitment fee, but you will have a much better chance of survival.”
The alchemist expressed the same sentiment.
They help each other by complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. If we can accomplish this, the efficiency of our search will skyrocket. A veteran may be able to teach you a lot if you hire one.
But there is one major issue.
—I have nothing to begin with, and gold.
“I would be happy to introduce you to some of our members if you wish.”
“Thank you very much. But I’d like to do some more exploring on my own.”
—I lack the gold to hire someone, and I lack the track record to persuade another party to hire me.
Only a good or bad guy would hire an inexperienced Lysette.
“Hehe, then you’re welcome to join our party.”
And when they approach you in this manner, it is usually not a good sign.
She turns to face the source of the voice and sees a man in his mid-twenties, who appears to be an adventurer, approach Lysette and place his arm on the counter, smiling broadly.
He must have spent a long time as an adventurer. He exudes a sense of familiarity. However, his equipment is in poor condition. His shoulder pads’ leather belt is badly damaged.
And it’s clear in his eyes. Whether he’s trying to exploit you or not.
—I’ve seen those eyes before, back when I was a nobleman.
“Thank you for your inquiry. But I don’t believe I can help your party, so I’ll have to decline.”
Life revolves around eating or being eaten.
You will be preyed upon if you accept kindness without knowing the difference between good and bad intentions.
“No, no, I can assist you.” I can assist you in repaying your debts.”
He gave a vulgar smile. His party members, three men on the other side of the room, looked at Lysette with similar eyes.
—There is no doubt that rumors of disgrace circulated. It was a dreadful baptism.
“Don’t be shy, come on.”
She was terrified when she felt a familiar hand reach out to touch her.
She was about to slap him away when
“Stop.”
A hand reaches out from the side and grabs the man’s arm.
He had a chiseled, well-shaped face and light-colored blond hair. He possessed fearless emerald green eyes, a well-trained, well-proportioned body, and immaculate armor. He carries a fine sword and a shield around his waist.
“This is not something you want to do. You shouldn’t force me.”
His tone is calm, but that is exactly what makes him so intimidating. The adventurer contorts his face and shakes off his arm.
“Chi, I’ll keep this in mind.”
He clicks his tongue and says a few words before leaving the guild. Following him were a group of men who appeared to be his party members.
“Thank you very much.”
“Be wary of people like that. You don’t want to provoke them.”
He leaves Lysette’s presence with a much calmer tone than before.
They appeared to be aware that Lysette was about to slap her hands to get rid of them, further complicating matters.
“Of course, there are people like him… What is his name?”
She inquired with the receptionist. She regains her composure and responds quietly.
“I’m not supposed to mention other adventurers, but… That’s Leonhardt-san. He is the leader of the group that is currently on the verge of conquering the dungeon.”
“Well, he’s a person who lives above the clouds.”
Leonhardt meets the members of his party.
A vanguard warrior, a knight, a pretty woman dressed as a healer, a beautiful woman with red hair who appears to be a mage, and a small man who appears to be a locksmith
It was a perfect party, and almost everyone had a well-bred atmosphere.
—Most likely aristocrats… And the locksmith was most likely a hired adventurer. What exactly are they doing in Dungeon?
—It’s all fascinating, but it’s not worth pondering.
Lysette returns her attention to the receptionist behind the counter.
—However, the fact that strange rumors are spreading is a serious matter. With this, it might be difficult to have a party.
Her gaze meets the receptionist’s.
The receptionist seems to have come to the same conclusion as Lysette.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to discuss party members another time.”
“Please do so.”
“How about we start with a simple quest?”
“Quest?”
“Yes. Quests from both inside and outside the area are posted on the bulletin board. Please notify the receptionists if you discover something you believe you can do. If you complete the quest, you will be rewarded with gold.”
A large wooden bulletin board covering the cream-yellow colored wall is covered with a large number of papers with the details of the quests. Adventurers who came to the guild scrutinized and examined them thoroughly.
The papers listed the items to be queried, as well as the deadlines and rewards. Some of them are for finding people, and some of them have portraits drawn on them.
“Yes, I see—Is this a gathering quest? I’m not sure if this is the correct item.”
She pulls an item from her item bag that resembles the one she found in the dungeon. It is a material that Lysette describes as a “blue puffy sphere” that was dropped when she killed the monster.
“Y-Yes. The delivery has been confirmed. Here is your 2,000 gold reward.”
Two thousand gold coins.
Lysette was taken aback by how quickly she had been paid. She had no idea it would be so simple to obtain gold.
—It’s a good thing I got them just in case.
“As well as this one, this one, this one, and this one.”
“Eh? Oh my God.”
She pulls out a number of items that appear to be relevant to the quests and places them on the counter.
“I-I have confirmed deliveries! These are worth 16,000 gold pieces!”