Weekend Date
A clear blue sky and refreshing breeze greeted the usual weekend morning. Normally, he'd head out for his morning workout, but today was different—he stood in front of the academy's main gate.
In the end, I learned absolutely nothing about the Lost Paradise.
He'd racked his brain back in his room last night, but came up with zilch. He'd only found out yesterday that it could even be inherited in the first place…
"Still thinking about that?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"On a date day, you should focus on your partner, you know."
"Date, huh…"
Lilia, shrunken down to her tiny form, scolded him from his side. But calling this a date felt totally off.
"When a guy and a girl go out alone together, that's a date. Right?"
"You sound like someone from the olden days. Guess you really are ancient after all."
"………Just do whatever."
She finally vanished completely at the age jab. He'd been about to apologize for teasing her when—
"Um, hi…?"
"Hey."
Belloa was approaching from afar.
Oh… First time seeing her out of uniform.
Whether in the game or reality, he'd only ever seen her at the academy, so casual clothes were new. A pure white skirt and frilly blouse that suited her elegant vibe perfectly. Even he, used to Lilia's stunning looks, was momentarily stunned.
"…You got here early?"
"I always arrive a bit before the agreed time."
"Should've come even earlier."
"No, it's fine."
In truth, Belloa had arrived plenty early—fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. He'd just shown up extra early since he had nothing else to do.
"That outfit suits you. Caught me off guard for a sec."
"Thanks."
"Suits you well, but won't it be uncomfortable later?"
He got that young people wanted to dress up, but he'd clearly told her the route in advance.
Morning for adventurer registration, afternoon for the black market…
He'd warned her it might be inconvenient if she dressed up too much.
"Ah, it snuck up on me since it's been so long since I went out. But it'll be okay, right?"
Fair enough—Belloa poured as much time into training and study as he did. Effort and talent combined into a magical genius.
"If you say so. Let's head out then."
"Sure. Adventurer's guild first, right?"
"Nothing beats mercenaries or adventurers for gaining experience. I'll get the other club members registered later too."
If asked for the jobs that piled up the most experience in this world, most would pick two: mercenary or adventurer. Iconic fantasy staples.
"But why the adventurer's guild over the mercenary one?"
"Good question."
The reason was simple. Mercenaries dealt with people for jobs; adventurers handled all sorts of quests. Unlike the no-questions-asked mercenaries, adventurers had at least a basic filter.
"Adventurers give more varied experience in the end."
Mercenaries had a crap reputation and treatment, though. Adventurers didn't. Top-tier ones raked in more gold than most knights. No wonder academy grads eyed it—around fourth on the list, he recalled.
"Whoa, first time in this neighborhood."
"Not exactly noble territory."
How long had it been since leaving the academy? They were now in the empire capital's eastern district—diametrically opposite the academy.
Dubbed Sword Street.
A hotspot packed with organizations, including mercenary and adventurer guilds. Where blade-for-hire types gathered: adventurers, mercs, assassins, info brokers.
Even in the capital, security sucked, so nobles steered clear.
These folks don't like nobles much anyway.
Blade-lifers were like that. Even on jobs, no love lost. Nobles distrusted their loyalty to coin over honor; bladesmen resented the snobbery. Still, they needed each other to survive.
"Master, those guys are glaring."
"I know."
Just walking the street drew hostile stares. Plenty already eyeing him and Belloa with malice.
Our getup screams noble, huh.
Well, they were nobles, so fair. But he had no intention of soaking up endless enmity like this.
Trait:Hierarchy Order instills intense intimidation on hostile targets.
Talent:Thousand Faces assists in leaving a powerful impression.
The blue window popped up, and the hostility aimed his way gradually faded. A few still scowled, but most vanished.
Those unable to resist Hierarchy Order just had their malice crushed.
"What? Something up?"
"Nah, just new to me too. Kinda fascinating."
"Huh, you too?"
"Yeah. No reason to come here."
Nobles sent knights or retainers for business here. Only a madman—or someone with steel nerves—would show up personally.
Not reckless; just stupid. No need to come yourself.
"This the adventurer's guild? Bigger than I thought."
"It's headquarters. Probably the largest on the continent."
Chatting idly with Belloa, he slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside. Voices buzzed immediately, thick with a rough vibe. Crude talk flew freely—stuff nobles would never utter.
Yeah. This was adventuring. This was fantasy.
"Registration over there, looks like."
The empire's biggest hub meant specialized counters.
"Here for adventurer registration?"
A ponytail-wearing, bespectacled woman greeted them. The type who screamed "efficient office worker"—the sort who'd handle tasks like clockwork.
"Yes. New registrations."
"Forms first, please?"
She handed one each to him and Belloa. Unlike mercenaries' free-for-all, adventurers had structure.
Basic info, job class, position check.
Skills tested post-registration, so just fundamentals.
"Dante. Family name here?"
"Better skip it. I will."
Admitting nobility here? Nothing good. Just more disdain.
"Done."
"Cool. I'll submit."
He took Belloa's too and headed to the counter.
"Um… Mind if I ask something?"
Submission done; just await assessment.
"Sure, go ahead."
Rare for staff to probe.
"Y-you're nobles, right?"
"…How'd you know?"
"Your faces don't scream 'industry type.' And looks like yours? Word would've spread."
True. Rumors flew fast here.
"I-I'd recommend heading back."
"Pardon?"
"Not great for nobles like you, honestly."
He got it. Spoiled noble kids sometimes played adventurer, got hurt. Fine if it ended there—but families complained. Heir loses a finger? Disaster. Why guilds avoided them.
But.
"We're good. Different case."
"Ah… If you're sure. Mr. Dante, please wait for your turn. I'll call you."
"Thanks."
He bowed politely to the kind woman and turned. Heading back to Belloa, waiting seated—
His eyes caught a disgusting scene.
"Hey, miss. You don't look industry. Sure about this?"
"Heh. Ditch the pretty boy for solid bros like us."
"Yeah. I've got a hundred times his experience."
"Jobs, right? I've done sex a hundred times more! Hahaha!"
A blond with grubby dark skin, and a burly middle-aged brute bigger than him. Obnoxious creeps hitting on Belloa.
"…No thanks. Not interested."
Belloa's firm refusal.
And then.
"C'mon, we'll treat you right~?"
They each grabbed a wrist.
These fucking bastards?