SWNOVELXO Chapter 13: adventurous
Arthur swallowed hard and realized that everything here could be dangerous. He shouldn't underestimate anything—or anyone.
"I-I'll remember that, thank you," Arthur murmured, frightened, trying to escape the strange conversation.
Suddenly, Arthur felt a hand on his arm. It was Shapira, who exclaimed:
"Come on, stop wasting time, kid!" she exclaimed in a huff.
Arthur nodded, leaving the mysterious man behind.
At the counter, a middle-aged woman with a loose bun and glasses perched on the tip of her nose was leafing through an enormous book.
"Well, look who fate brought me. It's been a while, Shapira," the woman exclaimed, smiling at the two of them.
"It really has been some time, Darla. Anyway, I want to register my companion here," Shapira said, pointing to Arthur.
"Always direct as usual, aren't you? Well, then let's skip the pleasantries."
"What's your name, kid?" she asked, looking Arthur up and down, judging him.
"I'm Morgan," he replied, calm and confident.
"Alright, Mr. Morgan, I'll explain how adventurer registration works."
"First, the bureaucratic part," she began, pointing to a parchment with the tip of her quill. "To be a registered adventurer in the Guild, you need to understand a few things. We provide the quests, which are posted on the board over there"—she gestured with her head toward the messy notice board—"and you choose the ones that fit your rank and skills."
"The quests range from collecting medicinal herbs, escorting merchants, to, of course, hunting monsters. Each quest has a different reward. The payment can vary from a few copper coins to gold coins, all depending on the difficulty of the job and who's paying. Some might even offer rare items or valuable information."
"To start, you will be a Rank E adventurer," Darla continued. "It's the lowest level, for novices. Rank E quests are the simplest, usually involving small creatures or tasks that don't require much strength or magic." She gave a small, ironic smile. "But don't be fooled; even Rank E quests can be dangerous if you're not careful."
"You improve your rank as you complete quests. The Ranks are E, D, C, B, A, and S. And as I said, you are starting at E."
Darla then pushed the registration form closer to Morgan.
"You'll have to sign here. By doing so, you agree to follow the Guild's rules, which include not attacking other adventurers, not stealing during quests, and most importantly, not lying about your deeds or the dangers you face. Reputation is everything here, and a lie can cost you your life or, worse, the lives of your companions."
She dipped the quill in the inkwell. "Now, about your skills. What is your specialty, Morgan? Do you have any affinity for magic? Are you good with a specific weapon? Or does your strength lie in brute force and endurance?"
Silence fell. Morgan exchanged a quick glance with Shapira, who maintained a neutral expression but had a glint of apprehension in her eyes. It was the moment of truth, the moment to reveal his greatest weakness.
Arthur took a deep breath. He had to be honest, but also clever.
"I… I'm good with swords," the boy said, a bit hesitant, trying to find a loophole to avoid revealing his secret.
"And… my magic… is quite humble," he continued. He really tried to be discreet and looked at Shapira, hoping Darla would believe him.
It was then that Shapira intervened.
"He's good with swords. I've witnessed it myself," Shapira affirmed confidently, trying to lend credibility to Arthur.
"He has quick reflexes and an acceptable sense of combat," she confirmed, even though she had never once seen Arthur fight.
Darla observed Shapira for a moment, a discreet smile appearing on her lips.
"If you say so, Shapira, the 'Shadow Blade'," Darla replied, using Shapira's adventurer title. The mention of this name generated a slight buzz among the nearby adventurers who overheard. Shapira was a Rank A adventurer, a legendary figure in the slums, known for her discretion and her lethal skill with blades.
"I trust your judgment," Darla continued, turning her attention back to the form. Without further questions, she noted Morgan's specialty as "Swordsman" and, for magic, simply wrote "Low affinity."
"Alright, Morgan, your registration is complete," she exclaimed, handing a registration card to Arthur.
"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild. The most basic quests are on the board to the left. Remember the rules."
Arthur nodded, a glint of determination in his eyes, and hurried towards the quest board. He glanced at the Rank E options, looking for something that fit his newly assigned "skills." He found one in the bottom corner, with a simple drawing of a green blob.
"'Eliminate five Slimes in the southern fields,'" Morgan read aloud, his finger tracing the parchment. "'Reward: 8 copper coins per slime, plus the slime jelly, which can be sold to the merchant.'"
"Good choice," Shapira's voice exclaimed beside him. "It's a good start. Don't underestimate them; even slimes can give you trouble if you're careless."
"You'd better be good with swords, you hear?" Shapira said, staring at Arthur. "I put my name on the line for you. Even though I'm not active, I have a reputation to uphold." Her tone was serious, making it clear she would not tolerate mistakes.
Morgan felt the weight of Shapira's words. He nodded, a mix of gratitude and a new pressure on his shoulders. The uchigatana that Shapira had restored for him was sharp, and he felt the balanced weight of the blade in his hand, a strange familiarity that calmed him.
"And I didn't know you were such a high-rank adventurer, Shapira," he commented, his voice full of admiration. "I guess you must be as strong as your sister."
Shapira gave a confident smile. "Well, I am. I've had many adventures in my past, but I don't go on quests anymore. And my sister is probably stronger than me now, since she works in the capital with that high-ranking position she's so proud of. But in my prime, I would have wiped the floor with her, believe me." Her voice carried a mixture of resentment and competition as she spoke of her sister.
Arthur nodded. She really did exude an air of experience. Then he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him:
"Why didn't you follow in your sister's footsteps and go to the capital? I bet you could have gotten a high-ranking position too, and you wouldn't have to live in the slums."
Shapira's expression hardened. She looked at Arthur with a judgmental gaze, but at the same time, she liked the boy's innocence.
"You don't understand, kid. My sister and I have a complicated relationship, and I hate that capital. It may not seem like it, but it's better to live in this filth than as a slave to the capital."
Arthur remembered Nyra getting slapped by Sireon. Yes, going through that humiliation surely wasn't easy. He understood Shapira's point. Freedom, even in misery, could be worth more than being humiliated by rich bastards.
"And if you don't go on quests anymore, how do you survive? How do you maintain that house where you're sheltering me?" he asked, genuinely curious about the source of income for a retired Rank A adventurer.
"I have a good amount of money saved up, of course, but my income mainly comes from security."
"My name helps a lot with that. I charge to ensure the safety of some people who need protection. Most of the time, I don't have to do anything, but every now and then, I teach a lesson to some brave souls," she exclaimed, smiling at the wind, remembering the beating she gave some miscreants who bothered her clients.
"That's probably why my sister brought you to me. She knew no one would mess with you while you were under my 'guard,' even if temporarily. You're still a weak boy, Morgan, but with you walking by my side, many will think twice before bothering you."