Ch.2323. Adventurer’s Guild

Despite expecting fewer people in the early morning, the interior was bustling with countless individuals.

Loud voices pierced my ears continuously, as if I had wandered into the middle of a marketplace.

I must have looked like a first-time visitor as I stood there blankly, looking around, because a woman waiting by the entrance approached me.

“Is this your first visit?”

“Yes.”

“Please go to that counter over there for consultation.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Rex nodded to the woman and moved along.

By his estimation, there were about twenty counters in total. People who appeared to be staff were wearing pitch-black uniforms while attending to visitors.

The counter the woman had directed him to was set apart from the others, standing alone at a distance. It seemed to be designated for newcomers.

Fortunately, there was no line. As Rex promptly approached, the waiting staff member greeted him with a friendly face.

“I’m Nelia, a Level 3 Administrator. How may I help you?”

Rex sat down in the chair placed in front of the counter and said, “I’d like to join the Adventurers’ Guild.”

At first, he had been torn between choosing the Mercenary Guild or the Adventurers’ Guild.

Until leaving the inn, he had been leaning more toward becoming a mercenary.

He hadn’t wanted to bear the risk of choosing the unfamiliar profession of an adventurer, but now that thinking had completely reversed.

You could always tell what was going on inside an organization just by looking at its exterior. The moment he saw the shabby building of the Mercenary Guild, his desire to become a mercenary instantly vanished.

“The Adventurers’ Guild always welcomes new talent. Are you aware that there’s a small fee required when first registering?”

Nelia asked with a graceful smile.

Her words reminded Rex of Wolfram asking if he had any money.

‘So that’s what he meant.’

Even so, how expensive could a registration fee possibly be?

Thinking this, he nodded.

“The registration fee is 10 silver coins.”

And then, Rex couldn’t believe his ears.

“Pardon?”

“Perhaps you don’t have the means to pay?”

“It’s… quite expensive.”

Ten silver coins wasn’t a trivial amount—it was much more expensive than he had anticipated. It certainly wasn’t what anyone would call a “small fee.”

A private room at the inn cost 15 copper coins per night.

Was being an adventurer actually a profession for nobles?

Rex mentally calculated the money he had left.

Excluding miscellaneous expenses, combining his travel funds from home and the silver coins he received from Dunstan, he had roughly 30 silver coins.

Just joining the Adventurers’ Guild would evaporate a third of that.

As for becoming an adventurer and working hard to recover the money, Rex didn’t even know exactly what adventurers did yet.

Anyway, the moment he heard “10 silver coins,” he felt his breath catch.

“Many people come to the guild hoping to become adventurers, only to turn away when they can’t pay the registration fee.”

Nelia gave Rex a sympathetic, regretful expression. She then rummaged through the mountain of documents piled on her desk and handed him a sheet of paper.

Rex looked down at the paper with puzzled eyes.

Complex words densely filled the front, with the bottom line left empty, just the right size for writing a name.

Though he couldn’t read the letters, a chill ran up his spine for some reason. An instinctive feeling flashed through his mind that signing this would lead to difficult days ahead.

“The guild recognizes that 10 silver coins can be a burden.”

Nelia suggested to Rex with a bright face that showed not even a hint of malice.

“Therefore, we offer a policy of providing loans at low interest rates for new adventurers… if you’re interested, I can explain.”

“Excuse me for a moment. I just remembered an urgent matter.”

Rex cut her off as soon as he heard the word “loan” and stood up from his seat.

Ignoring Nelia’s pitiful gaze as she let out an “Ah!” sound, he left the building. Once again, he noticed the Adventurers’ Guild and Mercenary Guild standing side by side.

“I was mistaken.”

Rex muttered to himself as he approached the Mercenary Guild.

As far as Rex knew, there were no restrictions on joining the Mercenary Guild. They accepted anyone as long as they had functioning limbs. How much better that was compared to the Adventurers’ Guild, which was openly trying to rob him of 10 silver coins.

What did it matter if the building was in poor condition, as long as the substance was good? Often, the more decorated the exterior, the more lacking the actual content.

This was certainly not self-justification. If anything, it was a strategy for spending his assets wisely.

‘The city really is frightening.’

Rex opened the door to the Mercenary Guild with a bitter smile.

“Excuse me.”

Suddenly, a strong smell of sweat hit his nostrils. It was a terrible stench, as if rotten milk and old boots had been left unattended for years.

Empty bottles rolled around on the rotting wooden floor, and dice gambling was in full swing in one corner. Rex, who was about to enter, froze momentarily at the shocking sight.

“Huh? Who are you? Haven’t seen your face before.”

Men who were heavily drunk despite the early morning glared at Rex with bloodshot eyes.

Thud!

Rex naturally closed the door and turned his back.

“Ah! You’re back. Did you resolve your matter?”

When he returned to the Adventurers’ Guild, Nelia welcomed him with a bright smile.

Rex ignored her question and replied in a nonchalant tone.

“You said 10 silver coins, right?”

“Yes. As I mentioned, you don’t have to pay it all at once. Would you like me to explain our loan policy?”

“No.”

He had absolutely no intention of taking out a loan.

Rex recalled what Gert had told him in his childhood.

-Rex.

-Yes?

-Never borrow money from others.

At that time, Rex had thought of his father as an emotionless and violent person and feared him, so he couldn’t bring himself to ask why.

-If I say don’t do it, then don’t. That’s all.

Judging by how Gert had emphasized this while repeatedly downing glasses of alcohol, Rex assumed there must have been a good reason.

‘No choice. I’ll just have to be as frugal as possible with the money I have left.’

From that day on, loans became something very frightening to Rex.

Rex sighed deeply and placed the silver coins on the counter.

“Oh, so you did have money.”

Nelia counted the silver coins one by one and put them in a drawer.

“Now I’ll proceed with your adventurer registration. Please tell me your personal information verbally, and I’ll fill out the form.”

“I’m Rex.”

“Please also tell me your hometown and age.”

“I’m from Oakbrook Village, and I’m fifteen years old.”

“Confirmed.”

The final question was whether he had any combat experience.

“I’ve faced goblins and people a few times. And I’ve also hunted magical beasts.”

Nelia, who had been filling out the form in a businesslike manner, looked up with a surprised expression before Rex finished speaking.

“Magical beasts, you say?”

“Yes. It was a wild boar…”

“Is there anyone who can vouch for this?”

Rex scratched his cheek awkwardly as he answered.

“Fe… what was it again? Ah, Fenibrook Company. The beast’s carcass should still be there.”

“Fenibrook Company. I understand.”

Nelia thought for a moment, then added a sentence in the margin of the document. She then stamped it with a rectangular seal, leaving a red torch-shaped imprint.

“Thank you for your cooperation. It will take about a week for your badge to be issued, but you can start working as an adventurer from now on.”

The procedure was simpler than expected. Almost too quick to be believable.

Rex brought up a question he had been keeping in mind.

“By the way, what exactly does an adventurer do?”

Having already completed the registration, it was rather embarrassing to ask such a basic question now. But this was a time to be thick-skinned.

Having spent a fortune to become an adventurer, he couldn’t just sit idle. He intended to at least gather proper information.

Nelia looked puzzled but began explaining in a gentle tone.

“Most adventurers enter dungeons.”

Rex had experienced a dungeon once before.

A goblin nest.

Though it was a dungeon of goblins, considered the weakest among monsters, it wasn’t exactly easy. It was also where Rex had his first real combat experience.

There were quite a few people who specialized in clearing dungeons. Mercenaries typically did this.

There was no need to worry about running out of work. The world was vast, and there were always villages troubled by dungeons.

“Typically, they make a living by defeating monsters and selling the byproducts, but this is just the common case. Many people earn money in other ways.

Mining rare minerals, drawing maps of dungeon interiors to sell to other adventurers… everyone chooses a method that suits their aptitude.”

While focusing on Nelia’s explanation, Rex suddenly looked to the side.

There were easily dozens of people bustling inside the guild, which gave him an odd feeling.

‘Are all these people adventurers?’

Including those not present at the moment, he couldn’t even begin to guess how many adventurers there were in Lindvale.

At least several hundred, probably.

And dungeons, once fully conquered, eventually lose their productivity.

No matter how many dungeons there were near the city, if so many adventurers flocked to them, they would quickly be depleted.

“I have a question.”

“Yes, I’ll answer anything.”

Nelia leaned forward and listened attentively.

“Are there enough dungeons for all these adventurers to make a living?”

When Rex pointed at the people and voiced his doubt, Nelia blinked and then let out a chuckle.

He thought it was a reasonable question, but he couldn’t understand what part of it was funny.

Nelia quickly wiped the moisture from her eyes and continued.

“You said you came from a village far from the city, right? It’s my fault for not explaining earlier. First of all, the dungeons that adventurers mainly visit aren’t outside the city.”

“What?”

Rex made a perplexed expression at this unexpected statement.

If dungeons weren’t outside the city, where were they?

As if understanding Rex’s confusion, Nelia spoke with clear pronunciation.

“The dungeons are inside the city.”

To summarize Nelia’s explanation:

There are two types of dungeons in the world.

The first is the “naturally occurring” dungeon that Rex was already familiar with.

These are nests formed by monsters that have gathered over time, like the goblin cave found near Oakbrook Village.

The second type is the “labyrinth” dungeon.

Though both are called dungeons, their essence is completely different.

Once you clear out a naturally occurring dungeon, that’s the end of it.

In contrast, “labyrinth” dungeons periodically change their internal structure, and even defeated monsters are revived anew.

Unlike naturally occurring dungeons, they are designed so that one progresses deeper using stairs, and their appearance resembles a labyrinth, hence the name.

These labyrinth dungeons are what adventurers primarily explore.

“How can such things exist?”

Though he listened to the end, it was a story Rex couldn’t comprehend with his common sense.

“Nobody knows yet. Some scholars theorize that it’s related to the gods, since dungeons are located in each city’s temple. One thing for certain is that you can become stronger the deeper you go into the dungeon. That’s actually the most important part.”

Rex’s expression changed at the mention of becoming stronger.

Right, hadn’t he left his village to gain more power? Whether the dungeon was in the city or outside, it didn’t matter as long as he could achieve his goal.

“I understand.”

Seeing that Rex seemed to accept the explanation, Nelia changed the subject.

“Are you planning to go to the dungeon today?”

“Yes.”

Originally, he had planned to go after making thorough preparations, but he changed his mind. He was already armed, and it was still early.

Just a quick visit to the entrance of the dungeon should be fine. He intended to prepare any lacking items on the way.

“The guild offers new adventurers a one-time opportunity to form a party with veteran adventurers. It’s not mandatory, of course. Many people decline.”

Nelia looked at Rex with a worried face and added:

“But, not as an administrator but as myself personally, I believe the experience of forming a party with veteran adventurers is extremely beneficial for newcomers.”

“Then I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Rex gladly accepted the suggestion.

He judged that it would be very helpful.

“Take this medal and wait in that area over there. I’m Level 3 Administrator Nelia. Thank you.”

“Thank you for your help.”

Rex took the medal Nelia handed him and walked away.

There were dozens of tables arranged at regular intervals, with various people sitting together in groups, engaged in conversation.

Judging by their fierce armament from head to toe, they seemed ready to enter a dungeon soon.

‘My party will come soon too.’

Who would it be?

As he stared blankly into space with anticipation, after what felt like about ten minutes, a rough voice suddenly came from behind.

“Number 17! Is number 17 here?”

Rex examined his medal. The number “17” was engraved on it.

‘That’s me?’

He stood up and turned around simultaneously.

The person was still looking around, unable to find Rex. Her red hair swayed from side to side, resembling a fox’s tail.

“Is number 17 not heeere?!”

Seeing her pound her chest in frustration, Rex felt that today was going to be quite exhausting.

Rex cleared his throat and said, “I’m here.”

Only then did she turn around.