Scout Guild Recruitment - Eresa Joins the Party
Dorne's party, after stopping by the forge, headed to the Scout Guild's branch in East Labyrinth City. The Scout Guild's atmosphere wasn't all that different from the Warrior Guild. If there was a difference, it was that fewer people were drinking beer and more were poring over the bulletin board? The Scout Guild seemed to designate the guild's beer tables as meeting spots when parties matched up. A few awkward groups were nursing their drinks. Scout explorers posted their info and desired compensation on the guild bulletin board, and parties looking for scouts would spot it, request a meeting at the counter, and set things up. It seemed absurd at first glance—you had to spend money to make money—but that was true back on Earth too. Anyway, platforms were gangsters. (The fact that latecomers rarely overtook first-movers really hammered home the 'untouchable' vibe of 'platform business'.)
Once you booked a meeting time at the counter, that info went back up on the bulletin board, and the scout explorer who checked it would meet the hiring party. Dorne's party first read through every posting from explorers on the board. Those who went up to Layer 3 typically demanded 2-3 gold in pay. Ones who could pull their weight in combat sometimes asked for extra settlement pay too. Not seeing anyone who fit their slightly unusual situation, Dorne made a point of asking at the counter.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Yes. Hello. What can I do for you?"
"We're looking for a scout explorer. Not someone to hire a few times for pay, but a full party member to grow together with."
Dorne didn't just ask with words—he placed a few silvers on the counter table and covered them with his hand so others couldn't see.
"Ah... People like that usually head straight to the South Labyrinth themselves... But let me check the roster for a moment."
The clerk rummaged through some papers for a bit before speaking to Dorne.
"Truth is, we can't judge potential just from what's on paper on our own. And you can't interview every explorer either..."
"Of course. You're right."
"So... how about this one? They took down their posting recently because they ran out of posting fees... Might be in a bit of a pinch. Here."
"Ah, thank you. Where are they now?"
The clerk pocketed the silvers Dorne slipped over and handed him the papers and location.
"Last I know, at Rick's Inn on the south side of the city."
In the end, there was no such thing as an 'absolute' in this world.
Dorne's party asked around and found Rick's Inn. The building looked rundown and poorly maintained, filthy even.
-Screeeeech
A squealing, half-dead hinge screamed as a beastkin with a pack slung over their shoulder—like they were heading into the labyrinth—stepped out. Dorne double-checked the papers in his hand.
【Pathfinder】 holder. Crossbow user. Not confident in combat.
The short beastkin who'd just emerged held a crossbow in hand.
"Eresa?"
"...? Yes?"
Eresa, the scout explorer who hadn't landed a gig, perked up her round ears bigger than Lilia's. Her wide eyes gazing up at Dorne—who was a bit taller than an average adult man—were utterly adorable. She was a lesser panda beastkin.
"We're a warrior party. You're a scout explorer, right, Eresa? Mind if we talk?"
"I was just about to head into the labyrinth... What about?"
"Not a conversation for standing around. How about we sit at a dessert shop nearby?"
"You buying?"
"Sure thing."
The plump-tailed lesser panda beastkin Eresa, tail swishing, followed Dorne's party to the dessert shop Lilia pointed out—her first treat in ages.
Dorne entered the shop Lilia indicated, ordered a few sweets and drinks for the group. Eresa tried to play it cool, but she was buzzing with excitement. Her plump striped tail wrapped around her waist was swishing, and the corners of her mouth crept up. So before the desserts arrived, Dorne decided to get to the point.
"So, what brings you to find me? My commission wasn't up."
"Have some dessert first, then we'll talk."
The shop owner seemed to be on Dorne's side. Right on cue, the ordered desserts hit the table: black chocolate cookies, yellowish cookies, sweet bread, cream-filled buns. Not just Eresa—Raon looked eager too. Dorne jumped in quick.
That cute lesser panda beastkin might devour it all.
"First, let's split the bread evenly."
The desserts were to win Eresa over, but with party member Raon eyeing them too, sharing was right.
No matter how vital a scout is, right now Raon—a fellow party member—takes priority.
Eresa and Raon devoured the desserts deliciously. Especially Raon. As a farmer's son, he'd never even seen such food, and compared to his usual hard, crumbly, dry preserved biscuits, the contrast was dramatic. Even Dorne, who wasn't big on sweets, felt pretty good tasting them after so long. Surprisingly, Lilia looked quite satisfied too. He'd assumed, with her merchant family wealth and nonchalant vibe, she wasn't into sweets—but apparently not.
Dorne realized he still didn't know his future-bound party members all that well. He vowed they'd grow into a veteran party that could eat like this anytime.
A small daily moment, but something inside Dorne shifted. Hard to put into words... that kind of something.
"Anyway! Time for business, Eresa."
"...?"
Eresa wiped her mouth and straightened in her chair. With her round nose, eyes, and ears, her face said, 'Go on, spit it out.'
Who buys expensive desserts just to talk business...?
'Trying to make me feel indebted, huh? Fat chance. I'm Eresa the money-grubber...!'
"We wanted to ask if you'd join us in a fixed party."
Eresa, who'd expected a bare-minimum pay-for-paths deal, went wide-eyed.
"A fixed party?"
"Yeah. Our party's in a unique spot right now. From the Warrior Guild's free beginner matching, we improbably got three solid explorers. We promised each other to stick as a fixed party, no haggling."
Eresa wrapped her plump tail around her waist, stroking it thoughtfully. She wanted—needed—to make big money. So far, she'd only spent. In the scout-specialized South Labyrinth, hiring warrior explorers to snag three Supernatural Abilities had been mostly outflows. (How much cash a combat-inept Eresa burned through for three abilities? Beyond imagination. Her parents had decent wealth.)
After losing them, she'd burned through her inheritance and now faced earning mode—dispatched to East Labyrinth. But it wasn't clicking.
"...I'm no help in combat. You sure about including me fixed?"
Short and light, taking 10 seconds to reload a crossbow—trash tier. Even then, 50/50 miss rate, miracle accuracy. Money-obsessed, so not even cheap pay. A lone beastkin in this vast, cold world. Money-grubber who knew zilch about real life. Just a cute lesser panda beastkin Eresa figured she'd hit that once-in-a-lifetime chance everyone gets.
"Wait! I'll take it!"
They say Opportunity God Kairos has a bald back—slick, you can't grab it after it passes. Dorne, refreshed by her desperate acceptance, shook firmly.
"Welcome to the party."
Three went out, four came back? Answer: Dorne's party. Back at the ultra-budget Beginner Forge Inn from crumbling Rick's, Dorne upgraded Lilia's room to one with two beds for him and Raon. Lilia and Eresa unpacked in the girls' room, then gathered in the boys' with several sheets of paper.
"We've been running on verbal promises till now, but things are different. Let's draw up a contract."
Logically sound, a bit late but essential. Also to reassure the seemingly fragile Eresa and help her mesh.
"Everyone, pull out your explorer tags. I'll write 'em down."
Dorne set paper atop his new shield—nice and smooth for writing—and listed names: 'So-and-so of such-and-such.'
The party's first contract had standard stuff: party size, leader, decision-making, loot split, communal expenses. And since they were delving East Labyrinth, a clause to hit other labyrinths for other jobs. Plus, all could amend with full consensus.
"There. Through this contract, we're truly bound as a party. But words on paper can't capture our bond fully."
The serious-faced Dorne party met eyes.
"Let's keep treating each other as true comrades. In my heart, you're family. Looking forward to it, guys."
"Me too—please take care of me!"
"Hyungnim! Same here!"
"I... thank you... sniff."
Lesser panda beastkin cast out unprepared from parents' shadow. Journey to honor their dying wish: live free. Grueling routine to grow strong. Acquired money-grubbing from circumstance. But beneath the grubby shell, soft, easily hurt heart. A tear dropped from her round lesser panda eyes.
Lilia hugged the perfectly huggable Eresa. The family vibe of Dorne's party rained spring warmth on her heart.
That evening after the contract, Dorne's party ate their usual stew and roast chicken with beer. Newbie Eresa trembled at the chicken served on the table. Lingering money-grubber instincts. Desserts were on someone else's dime, but party ops made this chicken basically free—loot not split meant communal was personal cash! Whole table maybe 6 silvers, but for Eresa—who struggled with one goblin solo—it felt huge. (For Dorne's party, Layer 1 scraps.)
After that bonding time, they hit the Labyrinth Guild next day to notarize the contract. Before, hiding the 'verbal contract' meant it never happened. Now, guild-notarized with copies? Real force. (Labyrinth Guild was royal direct—breaches gave the crown leverage.) Cost 50 silvers, but Dorne didn't mind like Eresa might. Plenty left for Layer 3 dragon potions—nice.
So where were they now?
"Everyone ready?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"Yep!"
Where else? Labyrinth entrance. Dorne handed Eresa the lantern; she lit it ahead. Hands linked, Dorne's party slipped into the labyrinth depths.