Chapter 59 - Becoming An Adventurer

Whirr~

The receptionist lady and Adam stared at the apparatus producing a peculiar hum before ejecting the card out. The dim light with which the sphere glowed faded instantly as she picked up the card.

As soon as her eyes skimmed across the first line, her body froze upon reading the name of the individual. "Adam." Her voice was weak and frail due to unknown reasons but the earthling heard it.

"Yes, my name is Adam." The 26-years old in a typical wanderer outfit confirmed his name.

A bundle of information was unfolded in the receptionist's heart.

Immediately her mind was brought back from her astonished trance as she remembered something. Her head turned to look at one of the mission boards.

"It's you." An almost inaudible exclamation exited her lips.

'What?'

Adam frowned as he followed her line of sight. Effortlessly, he spotted his sketch pinned to one of the mission board.

His brows couldn't help but intensify.

What's the meaning of this? When did I become a wanted?

On Earth, the police department would have a wall full of wanted criminals sketches. Some would be vague while a few were detailed.

Somehow, he recalled the time when he entered a police station while touring through India.

[I don't know how they got your sketch, but let's not jump to conclusions.]

Adam's brows kept furrowed while internally agreeing with Endevil. Thus, he decided to inquire what sin he had committed.

"Am I in trouble?" Turning to the lady, he asked while gesturing at his sketch.

The lady was startled by the query.

"Ah... no no!" She could understand how the young man would have felt when he is aware that his detailed sketch is pinned to a notice board inside the guild building. So she immediately waved her hand and alleviated his tension by described how that sketch ended up there.

"Oh... so that's how it is." Adam's eyes shot up after hearing the lady's account. Rubbing his chin, he felt gratitude to that squad. Even towards a stranger, they displayed brotherhood without reserve or hesitation.

'I must thank them properly.' Adam couldn't bring up the appropriate words to express his feeling but he carved his intention in his heart.

"I'm sorry for the late introduction. My name is Celestina, the chief receptionist of the guild." The lady added that she's a close friend of Tara since childhood.

After confirming that Celestina harbours no ill intent, Adam's eyes shifted to the guild card still in her grasp. Noticing his gaze, she quickly handed it over with an apology.

"It's okay." While running his eyes through the lines of information engraved on it, Adam replied casually.

"Actually, issuing an identity card costs money."

Celestina's gentle voice entered his ears and caught his attention. The mention of money made him raise his line of sight as the card disappeared into his storage ring.

Noticing Adam's slightly disapproving expression, she smiled and explained. "Fret not. The Guild is funded by the kingdom and every service of the organisation is charged a very small amount of money. The cost is only a silver coin."

After a short pause, she spoke. "Most people who come to register as adventurers are penniless. In that case, they would straightaway accept a quest and then pay the charges later. But you don't have to follow that path."

Celestina pulled opened a draw and took out four silver coins. Extending it politely to Adam, she explained. "This was the mission reward assigned by Gary and Tara. Since you turned up yourselves, the reward belongs to you." With a gentle smile, she spoke.

On the outside, Adam maintained his impassive demeanour. But on the inside, he was delighted.

With an understanding nod, he picked up three coins from her palm.

"Thank you." Celestina was pleased by his behaviour and appreciated it.

Staring at the coins for a few seconds, Adam stored them in his ring before raising his eyes to the lady. "Pardon me, but how much is a silver coin? What all can I buy with three coins?"

Adam disclosed his lack of knowledge and Celestina smiled. Without hesitating, she taught Adam about the money conversion ratio, the value of each denomination and the range of products buyable by them.

[Hmm... so we can buy a big piece of bread with three silver pieces. But I find the ratio 25:1 between silver and gold coins somehow funny.]

After learning basic economics, Endevil evaluated that the money system was created by someone lethargic.

Adam passed a nod in agreement with the armour's words and as an appreciation to Celestina's words.

Adam fell silent after that. As he was contemplating on what to do next, the lady spoke again.

"Since you're unsure of the kingdom's rules and regulations, you could take a look at our library." The kind voice put a halt to Adam's train of thoughts.

"Library?", he asked.

Nodding in agreement, Celestina turned her sight to her left. Adam followed her focus and saw a staircase leading upstairs.

"The founder of the Guild system was an old war veteran. Along with experience, he gave emphasis to knowledge. Thus every guild building across the alliance have a library on its first floor."

Adam turned his sight back to the lady. Before he could raise his doubt, she had already begun to answer.

"Apologies, but the library is only accessible in the daytime. Plus, one needs to pay fifteen silver coins to access the library for an hour. It must be paid in full prior to entering the floor, so no debt facility is available." Celestina could only convey her helplessness.

After a short moment of pondering, Adam directed his eyes to the mission board. "Then, can I take a mission?"

"Of course, you can." The lady encouraged the rookie to take on missions and fortify his mind, heart and body. "Since you're a Copper-rank, I suggest taking White-tier quests. They are easy and have a satisfiable pay. It'll help you to fortify your resolve and heart." She walked out from the behind of the desk and guided Adam to the mission boards.

"These are the White-tier quests. They are simple and can be completed with rookie resolve." As Celestina gave an introduction about the tier, Adam was skimming across the quests.

'Herb collection, pest extermination, help with menial works, collect raw materials, escort people...' The more he read, the darker his face became.

The receptionist shot a glance at Adam to see his reaction. To her astonishment, she saw displeasure with the available quests.

Are they too tough for him? Might be, she derived.

"You don't need to worry about your security. These quests are sorted by hand and double-checked to confirm the absence of any sort of fatal variable that could endanger the lives of the adventurers" Celestina assured Adam and tried to soothe his troubled heart.

Adam promptly turned to see her smiling face. At once, the reality was disclosed to him.

Ah, she thought I was afraid.

Returning a helpless smile, Adam scratched his head and was about to speak when a piece of paper at the top-right corner caught his eyes.

"Porcupine-Hog?"

Adam's face brightened a bit as he raised his hand and plucked the quest from the board.

"Ah, that. That is a Porcupine-Hog subjugation quest. These beasts roam around in packs of hundred. They are a constant headache for farmers. Their naughtiness and curiosity have tormented many merchant carriages in the past."

Is that so?

Glancing at her face, Adam asked through his facial expression. The lady promptly nodded.

[I don't think so.] Endevil declared its disagreement as soon as she concluded her words.

While skimming through the contents of the quest description, Adam gave a faint nod and accepted the armour's statement.

"Actually, this quest was initially in the Blue-tier. More than twelve adventurers have tried to subjugate the pack in the past two months. But all of them failed miserably. One adventurer even had her entire torso punctured with countless quills. She soon retired from the job.

As time went by, none were ready to take on the mission. Thus the guild head decided to demote the quest to White-tier while maintaining the reward of 17 silver coins.

Unless you prove that you're able to take down the horde, you aren't allowed to take the quest."

Celestina politely took the paper from Adam's grasp and was about to pin it back on the board when he flicked his wrist. "Is this enough to prove my eligibility?"

The lady was dumbstruck with widened eyes. The quest paper in her grasp was faintly trembling along with her forelimbs.

"That's..." Words seem to have failed to exit her throat.

The fire-red crystal of the size of an adult's thumb reclined in Adam's palm peacefully. It didn't have any particular features to mention but it somehow made her stagger.

"Yes, this is a Porcupine-Hog's crystal. I came across one when I was wandering the forests lying north of the city."

Celestina's brows knit together.

North?