Chapter 11 - Adventurers Guild Part 2

Charlotte

"H-hi..."

Seeing the small figure of Charlotte for the first time, Luna can only look at the nervous girl with wide eyes. Puzzled and confused at the little girl in her sight, Luna then gave John a suspectful gaze; indicating that she's distrustful of his words.

"Are you serious?" Luna said with a sharp gaze to John.

"I wouldn't have said anything if I was joking about it." John replied.

"E-ehh...?" Seeing how Luna wouldn't believe John's words, Charlotte grew somewhat worried. Not wanting any trouble to arise, she quickly tried explaining her intention. "U-uumm... A-actually what sir Her-.. I mean my cousin has said is the truth, miss." Charlotte explained. "I'm actually the one that have a business here."

Hearing Charlotte's words, it seems that Luna finally believe what John has said.

"I see..." Luna uttered while still puzzled as to what Charlotte's intention of being in the place. "Are you perhaps here to file a quest?" Luna asked.

"A-ahh... no..." Charlotte answered. "I'm actually here to ask some questions regarding about being an Adventurer."

"Eh?" Luna uttered. "You want to be an Adventurer, young miss?"

"A-ahhh..." Being directly asked said question, Charlotte can only dumbfoundedly stand still with a nervous look. Such question is a very critical choice for the young Charlotte, so she can't help but hesitate for a bit. "U-umm... kind o-"

But just as Charlotte was about to answer, John suddenly asked a question, which momentarily stopped Charlotte from continuing.

"Say... what's an Adventurer?" John asked.

"Excuse me?" Luna spoke.

"I'm asking what an Adventurer is?" John asked once more. "I've been hearing said word since this morning and I can't help but ponder what it means."

"I see..." Luna uttered. "So, you're uninformed about what an Adventurer is... How rare especially for people these days. But to answer your question, an Adventurer is someone whom carry out various quest and is part of the Adventurer Guild."

"Quest?" John echoed. "What's that?"

"A Quest is any form of task or request that is filed and approved in the Guild, which an Adventurer can take. Things such as monster elimination, ingredient collection and escort missions are just ones of said requests." Luna explained. "But that's just the official Guild term. People these days just labeled anything they do as a quest, from my observations."

"Hmmm..." John muttered. "Monster killing eh... sounds pretty dangerous."

"Well I won't deny that such job is dangerous." Luna said. "Death reports among Adventurers are pretty common afterall. But that's why we only allow Adventurers to take a quest that is relative to their rank or something below, to avoid such risk."

Hearing the words that are coming out of Luna's mouth, Charlotte can't help but have some second thoughts. Since she was young, she only has heard the stories of her Father's grand adventures, so the thought of death was never in her mind.

"Relative rank? There's a ranking system in being an Adventurer?" John questioned.

"There is." Luna conformed "Aside from what is mentioned earlier, the ranking system is also acts as some sort of guide for what the Adventurer is capable of."

"Makes sense, I suppose..." John said. "And I assume that for a job that dangerous, the rewards would also be hefty."

"It depends." Luna answered. "Lower ranking quest tend to only give a few sum unlike the higher-ranking ones. And most higher-ranking quest is again pretty dangerous or hard, so it has its ups and downs."

"I see..."

"Now going back on topic, your little cousin here mentioned that she has some questions regarding about being an Adventurer." Luna said. "Don't tell me that you're actually letting such a young girl join this Guild?"

"I have no concern with whatever her intentions of being in this place." John spoke. "I was just asked to follow her and so I did."

Hearing John's words, Luna can't help but gaze at John with a wide eye. The fact that his not denying of letting the young Charlotte join such a dangerous job was very concerning for Luna. "Seriously?" Luna spoke. "You know that this occupation is very dangerous as mentioned before, right?"

"I'm just her distant cousin, so what her intentions are none of my concern." John said with a straight face like before.

"That's more reason for concern, dumbass!" Luna shouted, baffled at how serious John was with his words.

"U-umm..." Seeing how their conversation is getting heated, Charlotte can't help but get more nervous. Not wanting to increase the tension, Charlotte quickly thought of something that might resolve the case. "P-please.. Forgive t-this cousin of mine..." Charlotte nervously voiced. "His a very shy person, you see..."

"Huh?" John uttered, confused at what Charlotte was saying.

"S-shy?" Luna echoed.

"A-ah Yes!" Charlotte spoke. "His really shy about saying his thoughts directly, so please take all of what he said at face value. Just think of the opposite of what ever he says, to be more precise..."

"I see.." Weirded out by Charlotte explanation, Luna can only mutter said words.

"N-now.. About the being an Adventurer part..."

"Eh? Don't tell me that you're actually serious about it, young miss?" Luna asked.

"U-umm... k-kind of..." Evee embarrassingly said.

Baffled once again with Evee's words, Luna can't help but be weirded out by the two people in front of her. A young girl who looks like her little brother's in age that wants to be an adventurer and a guardian who seems to not care, the thing she's currently seeing is clearly out of the ordinary. Wanting to be sure that she's not dreaming, Luna tried rubbing her tired looking eyes. But seeing how the people are still present, she quickly acknowledges that the situation she's currently in is not a dream.

"[Sigh...] So, you're telling that you want to be an Adventurer?" Luna asked once more.

"I think so..." Charlotte replied.

"You seem to not be sure, about your answer there, young miss." Luna said. "Speaking of which how old are you even?" What's your reason for even wanting to be part of this deadly occupation? That body of yours is also pretty skinny, are you even capable of handling the tasks that Adventurers do in a daily basis?"

"U-umm..." Bombarded with a ton of questions, Charlotte quickly got confused. Not knowing how to answer the various questions, she can only stand still in where she stands; thinking of things to answer said questions. "I-I'm 12 years old..." Charlotte spoke. "I..I-I want to be an Adventurer b-bec-caus-"

"If you're so adamant on not wanting her to join, why not just deny her request to join?" John suddenly spoke.

Hearing what John has said, Charlotte was caught surprised. "S-sir, Hero" Charlotte quietly muttered.

"As much as I would want to, I'm only a receptionist you see." Luna explained. "My job is to help people that have some questions about the Guild and do my Guild tasks."

"Is there even some sort of age restriction on joining this type of job?"

"There is." Luna replied. "But the rule only applies to kids 11 years old and younger. Anyone past those age is legally allowed to join this Guild if the documents needed for registration are present."

"Seriously?" John said while baffled at the information he received. "You know that this occupation is dangerous yet you allow 12-year old's to join?"

"For context, it's just a written rule only." Luna explained." If such cases where to happened, most of us wouldn't allow someone that young to join in normal circumstances. Plus, even if one keeps insisting on joining the Guild. They still need to pass the test, which I highly doubt that a 12-year old can handle."

"But still... you people really need to change such rule." John said. "Many people may get very confused seeing your organization allow kids to join such a dangerous occupation."

"I would agree if I have such power." Luna spoke. "But the Guild never really bothered to change their rules for a long time. Traditions they said..."

Hearing Luna's words, a hint of worry can be seen in Charlotte's face. She doesn't really have much of any ideas that can solve her debt problem, other than being an Adventurer like her Father. "Wait... does that mean that I can't join?" Charlotte worriedly asked.

"I can only suggest you to not join this Guild, young miss." Luna explained. "But if you really insist on joining then I can't stop you with whatever decision you try. But please keep in mind, that you still need to take the test. And looking at your current build, I'm one hundred percent certain that you can't pass it."

With Luna's warning echoing in Charlotte's ears, her doubts grow even larger. She already knows that she's not fit for such things, yet she still came here in hopes of some sort of miracle. Which she sadly never got.

"U-uumm..." Deep in her thoughts, Charlotte quietly stand still in where she stands. Thinking whether if it's wise to join or not, she remained quiet and be busy with her thoughts for a few minutes. After said few minutes of assessment, she softly sighs and decided came to a decision.

"Thank you, miss..." Luna quietly spoke. "I-I know that I'm not currently capable in being joining such occupation, so I'll take your suggestion for now..."

Seeing Charlotte made a logical decision, Luna was a bit glad. She personally knows how kids can be pretty stubborn, so dealing with such things is something she doesn't what to handle in the morning. "That's good to hear." Luna said. "You're still pretty young, so please don't waste such youth joining this dangerous occupation."

"I'll keep that in mind." Charlotte spoke while looking a bit sad.

"[Sigh...] So is this all that both of you came here?" Luna asked.

"That would be all..."

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With their business in the Guild now settled, they quietly said their goodbyes to Luna and went on their way. As Charlotte open the building door and step outside, she can't help but sigh as the warm sun illuminates her from outside.

[Sigh...] I guess that's a no go... Charlotte thought in her mind. What do I do now...?

As Charlotte ponder on what to do with her situation, John who's from behind can't help but noticed her sad expression.

"Hmmm.... Quite the sad look you got there." John said.

"Umm!" Hearing John's words, Charlotte quickly tried hiding her sad expression. But seeing how John seems unconvinced, she again can't help but sigh. "I guess I can't hide it huh..." Charlotte said.

"Seems so." John replied. "Then I assume that this has something to with earlier."

"Earlier?" Charlotte echoed.

"The one with the lady in glasses." John answered. "She mentioned that you were experiencing some difficult circumstances."

"Ahh... that.... I-I suppose lying here won't change anything..." Charlotte spoke. Getting exhausted from all the work she had done; she quietly looks for a place to sit down. Finding a good spot near some plants, she then sat down in a bench and began her talk. "That would be correct, sir Hero... the reason why I came here to find some sort of solution for my troubles."

"Troubles?" John echoed with worried look. "What kind of trouble would even result for a kid to try joining such a dangerous occupation?"

Seeing how John was getting confused, Charlotte quickly tried to clarify her statement before he thinks of something worse. "N-no! It's not that alarming than you might think!" Charlotte said. "It's just a simple d-debt... that's all."

"A debt... I see..." With Charlotte's problem now clarified, his earlier thoughts of what her problem would be was quickly erased in his mind. He never really thought that someone as young as Charlotte is experiencing such a problem. "How unexpected for someone as young as you."

"[Chuckle...]" Seeing the situation that she's currently in, Charlotte can't help but chuckle a little. It's been long since she has a personal discussion with someone, yet she's expressing much of her problems to someone she just knew... "S-sorry..." Charlotte apologized. "I just find it funny that people my age usually experience much childish problems, yet here I am worrying about debt..."

"I suppose... people would find someone like you to be weird." John spoke. "You don't really act childish for someone your age."

"Yeah... Mrs. Bloom says the same thing. It's probably why I can't find any friends..."

"A loner huh..." John muttered. "I know of someone whom probably wouldn't stopped annoying you, if she finds out that you don't have any friends."

Hearing John mention said friend, Charlotte can't help but laugh. With a bit of annoyance visible in John's face when he mentioned said friend, Charlotte assumed that whoever said friend must be very close to him. "That person sounds endearing." Charlotte spoke.

"A bit too endearing if I say so myself." John said. "She even has the gall to announce her declaration of friendship in top of the school building when I told her to piss off."

"That sounds pretty lovely." Charlotte smile, quite intrigue with John's story. "You mentioned that this school building of yours is pretty big and have thousands of people, so that might have been pretty embarrassing."

"Right..." John spoke somewhat depressed. "I was later called in the office along with her; for that reason and got detention for a few hours. I didn't even do anything, yet I was still called."

Hearing John's somewhat cheering story, Charlotte's sad look was quickly replaced with a smile. She never really expects for him to tell such a story, yet she's happy to hear it. "U-uumm... thank you, sir Hero." Charlotte spoke.

"Just call me John." John said. "Speaking of which we never really had a proper introduction."

"Oh right!" Charlotte spoke. "I-I'm very sorry, sir Hero."

Seeing Charlotte apologized, John quickly tried reassuring the young girl that it's okay. "No need to apologize. It's partially my fault for not even asking." John said. "And again, please stop calling me sir Hero, it's very embarrassing to hear you refer to me by that."

"I-I'm sorry..." Charlotte apologized once more.

"[Sigh...]" John sighs. "How about this... Considering that we haven't had a proper introduction, why don't we introduce ourselves again." John suggested.

"U-umm... s-sure..." Not really finding any problem with John's suggestion, Charlotte agreed to his suggestion.

"Okay... well then, I suppose it can't hurt to go first." John spoke. "A-ahem! A-aahhhh... the name's John Maverick, nice to meet you I-I guess..."

Hearing John's somewhat awkward introduction, Charlotte silently stares at him for a few seconds, which not long after she gave out a chuckle. "Pffftt...." Charlotte tried not to laugh. "I guess even sir Hero gets embarrassed."

Seeing the young Charlotte hold her laugh, John's face reddens from embarrassment.

"My name is Charlotte Lemongrass, nice to meet you sir He- I mean... sir John."

"Just call me John." John spoke once more. "Having the sir part sounds like I'm older than I look."

"Sure..." Charlotte smiles.

.

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After their little introduction, Charlotte felt that she understood John a bit more from before. Feeling warmth from inside in that moment, Charlotte became much closer to the Hero from another world...

-End

Author Note: Life update; family is currently facing some financial problems plus more school activities. So, updating this and TerraCore will be much harder than before. I really want hasten up the pace of both stories but with many things in the way, I can't help but feel somewhat depressed. Sorry for my rant and please enjoy your reading.

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