26. I Don't Make These Jokes with Just Anyone
26. I Don't Make These Jokes with Just Anyone
Having agreed to help Marilyn with her activities in that way, I headed for an Adventurer's Guild located in a different district from the one I'd used before.
The work and affiliation were the same, but with so many adventurers, management had to be spread across multiple branches.
Still, my name carried a certain notoriety, so walking in blind like before would stir up a commotion even at a different branch.
"Would it be alright if I grabbed one from here?"
Just as those worries were settling in, I came across a marketplace on the way.
There, I found a suitable item. I dug a coin from my pocket, handed it to the street vendor, and smoothly concealed my face with the mask I received in exchange.
"You bought a mask?"
"Ah, yes. Well... You probably picked up on it from what happened at the tavern earlier, but I'm kind of infamous in a bad way."
"Ah, now that you mention it, there was talk of a Hero Killer..."
Marilyn tilted her head slightly, trailing off.
Then she tilted her head the other way and asked me,
"Did you really kill a hero?"
"...If I really had, I'd be in jail by now."
The authorities don't move without evidence.
No matter how much a story that's nothing more than a jinx gets passed around as fact, if I didn't actually kill anyone, there's no reason for them to come arrest me.
Yet while others might have judged me by my notoriety and eyed me with suspicion, Marilyn didn't press further and just beamed a bright smile.
"Hehe, well then, that's a relief."
Was she just not that interested, or did she trust what she saw of me with her own eyes?
Figuring it wasn't something to worry about either way, I watched as her attention soon turned to the stall where I had bought the mask.
"Now that you mention a mask... While we're at it, I think I'll buy one too."
"Huh? You too, Marilyn?"
"Memories are precious, you know. Even an item you only use briefly can help you reminisce if you hold onto it. Wouldn't it be nice to buy at least one souvenir to look back on today?"
Saying that, she offered a coin to the clerk and reached for a transparent cloth hanging beside the mask.
As I stared blankly, she chuckled softly and draped it over the front of the hood she was wearing.
A veil of tightly woven threads that shone with a white light across its surface.
With a veil added to her attire, which was already pure white, a certain outfit from my original world started flickering vaguely in my mind.
Right, the thing commonly called a 'wedding dress.'
"How is it? Does it suit me?"
Marilyn lifted the cloth slightly and showed me a clear smile.
Seeing her lips purse as she finished speaking, I felt a tickle in a corner of my heart for some reason.
Because the thought crossed my mind that this was exactly what a bride looked like at a wedding.
"Ah, yes..."
Damn it, U-hyoseong, you idiot.
No matter how charming she is, fantasizing all the way to marriage is way too much.
"It, it looks great on you."
"Hehe~ Thank you for the compliment."
Marilyn let out a laugh, whether or not she knew what was running through my head.
Feeling a strange sense of guilt, I hurriedly diverted my attention and quickly stepped toward our destination.
All while feeling an irrational unease that if I faced her any longer, I'd start picturing us together all the way to my deathbed.
***
Fortunately, no trouble broke out by the time we arrived at the Adventurer's Guild.
No matter how my ability makes memories of me hard to forget, that only applies if the person facing me properly recognizes my existence to begin with.
"So, Marilyn, you've already applied to be an adventurer, right?"
Just as we were about to meet with a receptionist who would handle our business.
At my question, Marilyn nodded and pulled something from her chest, showing it to me.
"Yes. I originally roamed the outside, but I thought having an adventurer's qualification would be helpful for operating within the Empire, so I applied. Here's the proof."
A card proving her adventurer status.
Her portrait and general personal information were roughly written inside, but several sections were still blank.
"...Your class is empty."
"Cla...ss?"
So she hadn't known about it.
Well, a class is something you can only get engraved after joining the guild, so a newcomer not knowing makes sense.
Strictly speaking, a class is engraved on the status window too, but that also requires visiting the guild and going through the related procedures.
"It just so happens I need to change my class as well, so it'd be good to switch them together."
Thinking this was a perfectly timed chance to help, I asked the receptionist to prepare the necessary forms and tools. Soon, he placed the items he brought before me.
Documents needed for the guild to record personal details, and talismans required for acquiring or changing a class.
I picked up one of the talismans, pressed it to my hand, and took a moment to concentrate on the power rising from it.
"When you attach this talisman to your body, the spell embedded in it activates, engraving a semi-permanent imprint."
"An imprint by spell... Does that mean it changes your body?"
"Well, rather than something grandiose like a transformation, it's more like a minor buff effect."
In ordinary society, a class usually means an occupation based on one's major, and in games, it determines the overall career path a character progresses along.
However, since anyone can become an adventurer in this world regardless of qualifications or origin, the guild provides applicants with several support measures so they can be deployed in the field immediately.
One of those is this semi-permanent buff effect from the 'Job Change Talisman.'
When the Adventurer's Guild authorizes you to use this talisman, you receive bonuses to abilities or adaptations related to your desired class.
"For example, in the case of the Scout class I originally had, it basically gives a slight improvement to your sixth sense and sharpens your nerves, helping with tasks like tracking or trap disarming."
If you specialize, you can even work as a treasure hunter or a reconnaissance soldier, but aside from that, it's a perfect effect for finding safe places to hide while your party fights.
Because of this, Scout is the class most often chosen by porters. But since I now aimed to be an adventurer, not a porter, I felt the need to change my class as well.
"How is it? Did the class apply properly?"
"Yeah, looks like it went through fine."
At the receptionist's words, I jumped in place as a test, and my body felt lighter than before.
Not enough to take enemy attacks on the front line, but support perfectly suited for a job class that fights up close beside them.
On top of that, when I grabbed the spear on my back and gave it a swing, it felt far more secure in my hand than when I'd swung it before.
How should I put it—a sense of familiarity, as if I'd been handling this weapon for a long time?
Even if it didn't make me highly skilled right away, it would be a huge help in getting the feel for it until I could properly train up.
Yeah, all of that is fine, but...
[Otherworlder: U-hyo-seong]
[Class: Spearman (Male).]
......Damn it.
I asked them to automatically match me with a spear-using class, so why is the status window stuck like this?
"Hey, receptionist. Doesn't this class name seem a bit weird?"
"Yes, we are aware of it as well... but since the Job Change Talismans handled by the guild are based on the records accumulated thus far, fixing the listed names is currently impossible."
"...What do records have to do with the name?"
"The Job Change Talismans we provide intrinsically remember the activities of the people who used them, universalize that information, and pass it along to subsequent users."
In short, the minor buff effect from the job change was woven from the activities of those who had used this talisman before.
Of course, since it only consists of minor buff effects, it's nothing special, but as more data accumulates, the effects are applied in a more efficient and objective direction.
The problem was that this principle applied just as much to places where display is mandatory, like the status window, as it did to the user's acquired abilities.
"And it's not a well-known fact, but in the past, when distinguishing classes, characters like 'male, female' were often appended to the class name based on gender. For example, a warrior would be called Male Warrior or Female Warrior."
"...So you're saying those outdated perceptions and customs influence this talisman too?"
"Yes, for that reason, a spear-using class has been a heavily avoided career path since ancient times, to the point that its name hasn't even been revised."
Well, they could have at least explained that beforehand.
Considering I chose it because the spear was the only weapon that felt right in my hands, getting screwed over like this... No matter how screwed up the world is, isn't this unfair enough to feel like targeted sabotage aimed specifically at me?
"That guy over there. Did he pick Spearman as his class?"
"Spearman, huh. Fits him perfectly."
"Everyone, look at that fellow! Isn't he the very picture of a Spearman?"
"Celebrate the birth of a great Spearman! Hahaha!"
The moment the other adventurers in the guild spotted me and started snickering.
The veterans among them probably knew the situation, but with personalities that rough, they didn't spare me their mockery.
Even so, if I wanted to change it, they required at least a one-month grace period before a class switch to prevent abuse of job changes... Damn, if I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have let them pick for me and just chosen a warrior-type class that gives similar effects.
"So, Hyosung, you've decided to become a Spearman."
Just as I was venting my frustration over this targeted sabotage, Marilyn smoothly approached and asked.
The way she tilted her head and rested a hand on her chin as if by habit gave off such an innocent air, like she didn't even know what that term meant.
No, wait.
Sure, she looks pure, but a full-grown adult not knowing what that means?
"Ah, yeah, well. It's a spear-using job, so they call it Spearman, apparently."
"Hmm, then shall I pick the same class as you, Hyosung?"
"Yeah, then... Huh?"
The moment my expression went blank at the words that followed my nonchalant agreement.
Wondering if I'd misheard, I stared with wide eyes, and she explained what she'd just said.
"I've heard that the efficacy of Job Change Talismans is determined based on the records of past adventurers, but from what I understand, it seems almost no one among adventurers has chosen a path like mine."
"Right, well, since you go out into the field to work, non-combat classes aren't easy to operate in."
"But coincidentally, my only interest and talent lies in lifting people's spirits... Switching to another class wouldn't be very fruitful, so if I had to pick one, I thought it'd be best to choose the same one as the person I'm going with."
Just hearing the reasoning, it made sense.
The class choice was one of the benefits granted to adventurers, and once you picked one, you just couldn't change it for a month, with no real demerits to speak of.
Right, when you look at it in that context alone, it's not a completely incomprehensible choice, but...
"So I thought it wouldn't matter if I followed Hyosung and became a Spearwoman too—would that be alright?"
"What the hell are you saying with a straight face!?"
"Aha~ It's a joke~♪"
Marilyn laughed nonchalantly at my uncharacteristic shriek.
As if to show that her oblivious continuation was just a simple prank, she started giggling while looking at my troubled expression.
"Having wandered the continent before coming here, I'm quite knowledgeable in the ways of the world, but it seems the playfulness I've built up from those experiences unintentionally troubled you, Hyosung. I'm sorry, especially when you're dealing with serious grievances..."
"Ah, yeah. It's fine. As long as it wasn't sincere."
Of course, even her apology didn't seem entirely sincere, but still, how can you stay mad at a smiling face?
So I wanted to say it was fine and move on, since it was just light wordplay.
"...No, actually, it's not fine."
"Huh?"
"Marilyn."
Gently, I placed my hand on her shoulder and turned her body toward me.
Hoping that, even with my masked face, my feelings would reach her.
"Please value yourself more."
"...Pardon?"
"You're a charming person, Marilyn. Even as a joke, if you make cheap jests like that, others might get the wrong idea."
In this harsh world, how many are there who would seize any excuse to harass a powerless woman?
When I spoke with that concern, the smile faded from her lips and she started to stare at me quietly.
As if she was slowly realizing the sincerity behind my words.
"Are you... worrying about me?"
"...It's only natural to worry."
I thought it was a relief that the meaning seemed to get across. I started to take my hand off her shoulder, but it was only brief.
Soon, with a smile re-forming on her lips, she chuckled softly and began closing the distance between us.
"I'm sorry for causing you to worry, Hyosung. But please rest assured..."
The moment she closed the distance as if nestling into my arms.
Just as I felt my body stiffen, she soon whispered quietly into my ear.
"I don't tell this kind of joke just anywhere, either. It's only for people I have an interest in."
"Huh, what?"
An interest in me.
What the hell does that mean? Could it be...
"Ah, your ears turned red~"
"...Urk!"
The moment I belatedly realized it was another joke from her follow-up words and pulled away.
Only then could I properly register her face revealed past the mask.
With her hand to her lips as she stifled a laugh, she was the very picture of a woman thoroughly enjoying herself, no matter how anyone looked at it.
"I've felt it since you apologized earlier, but you really are a fun person, Hyosung. How adorable~"
"...D-don't tease me."
So, 'having an interest' meant I was fun to tease.
No, her teasing was so close to the line that I couldn't tell how much was sincere and how much was a lie.
If I kept this up, I might actually cross a line. Thinking that, I hurriedly approached the receptionist to put some distance between us.
"...Please give Marilyn the Scout class, and could you recommend a request suitable for two newcomers to take on?"
"Yes, a task suitable for two newcomers... Ah! We actually have this one right here. Would you like to give it a try?"
Responding immediately to my words, he pulled out a single posting.
The content written inside was for one new spearman—something a non-combat class like a bard could handle without burden, too.
And the moment I saw it, my intuition hit me right away.
Maybe it was such an easy request that a thought like that occurred to me instantly—that perhaps that was why my future self wouldn't sense his death coming either, and would just readily accept this request.