The Road to Corinth (4)
Sisyphus, Perseus, and Cassandra stepped into the streets of Olympia. "There are as many people here as there is trash," Cassandra complained, her face hidden beneath a hood. Her expression was harsh, but she was right; the marketplace was so packed with people coming and going that there wasn't a spare inch to stand.
"I see the Colosseum. I look forward to seeing which hero will shine in the next festival," Sisyphus said, turning his head to gaze at the massive structure. It was a circular arena of staggering scale, standing dozens of meters high. Come to think of it, the Olympia Festival, held every four years, took place in the Colosseum. 'Wait, wasn't that a Roman building?' Sisyphus tilted his head. Since the Roman Empire hadn't been founded yet, he figured this might be the prototype for the Colosseum, or perhaps the Roman one was built by moving this one. If one asked whether this era had the architectural prowess for such a feat, the answer was yes. Greece had already interacted with Egypt, which had built the pyramids. Perhaps technology utilizing mana had played a part as well.
"You seem interested. Are you planning to participate in the next festival, too?" Cassandra suddenly leaned in and asked. "Hehe, a festival where all the heroes of the continent gather to test their skills is quite the spectacle. I've become an adult this year, so I'm eligible to participate."
"Are you here for sightseeing? Just keep moving," Sisyphus said, pulling on Cassandra's hood to cover her eyes. Cassandra glared at him with narrowed, axe-like eyes. "Why? Are you scared you'll lose to other heroes? Hmph. Should I prophesy how well you'll do?"
"I'll make a prophecy of my own."
"What is it?"
"Your forehead is going to hurt soon."
"What does that mean..."
THUD! As Cassandra walked while staring at Sisyphus, she slammed her forehead directly into a street tree. "Ouch! You jerk." She clutched her head, huffing and glaring at Sisyphus.
"You should look where you're going."
"Ugh, so annoying."
Sisyphus walked away with a heavy stride. Cassandra scrambled to follow him.
"The Medusa Expedition! We congratulate you on your return!" Sisyphus received an enthusiastic welcome as he entered the guild. The branch manager, having heard the news, had already come out, his clothes starched to perfection, and was bowing his head.
"The Medusa Expedition? Is that Perseus?"
"To think they actually hunted down a Disaster-class..."
"Incredible."
"Are the heroes with him his companions?"
The guild also served as a tavern where heroes could rest. Heroes who had been killing time due to a lack of work looked on with envious eyes. Under a sign that read 'Eranoi,' the branch manager led the three to a premium seat.
"Please, sit comfortably. We have been waiting for you." The branch manager and a receptionist sat across from the three. The branch manager opened the conversation with a bright smile. "Congratulations on hunting the Disaster-class magical beast, Medusa! You have achieved a monumental feat. It was a bounty that had remained unsolved for years."
"Wow, baklava. Delicious." Cassandra happily munched on the honey pie served as a snack, a blissful expression on her face.
"I believed that Perseus, who is currently rising in popularity, would be able to pull it off. However, procedure is procedure, so would you mind if we verified the evidence of the hunt?" the branch manager asked politely. Perseus nodded.
"Of course. But before that, I am not the one who hunted Medusa."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
"The hero here hunted Medusa." Perseus pointed to Sisyphus. Sisyphus pulled something out of his pocket. "You said you needed evidence."
"Yes, that is correct, but... may I ask the name of the hero?"
"Me?" Perseus puffed out his chest. Finally, the great hero Sisyphus would reveal his name. Since he was surely S-Rank, the high-ranking guild officials must only know him by name. Sisyphus said, "I'm not a hero."
Silence fell. The branch manager asked again to confirm. "Um, what do you mean you aren't a hero?"
"I mean I'm not a hero."
A statement that he wasn't a hero meant he wasn't a hero. What a refreshing, delightful, and charming answer. "Are you saying you are a civilian, sir, yet you hunted Medusa...?"
"Yeah."
"By any chance, do you have proof...?"
Sisyphus clicked the crystal he had pulled out. —KREEEEEE! With a ear-piercing shriek, a flash of light erupted, and the bookshelf next to them turned into solid stone.
"I told you not to just take it out because it's dangerous!"
"You asked for proof."
"Oh, honestly. My pie turned hard too," Cassandra grumbled. The branch manager broke into a cold sweat. It was the power of petrification. The evidence of the hunt was undeniable.
"Branch Manager, we just received information," the receptionist whispered to the manager.
"He also hunted the high-level magical beast at the docks this morning?"
"There are many witnesses."
"Hoo." The branch manager clenched his fist. 'This is an opportunity.' He didn't know why such talent had been active without even registering as a hero until now. To have achieved such a feat, he was surely a demigod hero. 'Perhaps he was hiding his identity because he's royalty!' Given his black hair, he might even be a Spartan. Sparta was a closed nation. They had many heroes in their military, but many who weren't registered with the guild. What did his origin matter? The fact that he was here now was what mattered. 'If someone like this acts as a hero, it's a guaranteed profit for the guild.' Not only would the guild's public purpose of ensuring the safety of the continent's city-states be achieved by making magical beast hunting easier, but as he climbed the ranks, the branch manager himself could puff out his chest, claiming he had recruited such a hero.
"That is truly a symbol of a monumental feat. Here is the reward for hunting Medusa." The receptionist brought out a pile of coins. Gold and silver were stacked high. "That is five hundred gold coins. We've provided some in silver as well."
"Oh my, gold." Cassandra drooled at the sight of the shimmering gold. Gold was accepted as the most valuable currency of all. Sisyphus touched the gold. "Athenian coins. The purity is high."
"Oh, you are quite knowledgeable. These are coins accepted anywhere in Greece. Of course, that is not all. We have also prepared the reward for hunting the high-level magical beast." A sack was placed on the table. Silver and copper coins clinked inside.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask what you plan to do with the reward?"
"I plan to buy a ship. I need a small vessel. You can give it to me in goods."
"You need a ship. I can arrange that for you. However, there is one problem." The branch manager clasped his hands together. "Since it is the guild's principle to pay rewards to the 'hero' who achieved the feat, you must register as a hero to receive it."
Sisyphus furrowed his brows. "I told you, I'm not a hero."
"Haha, you just need to register. It's a simple procedure, so please don't feel burdened..."
"Hey, Perseus. You take it and give it to me."
"Pardon? Oh, I can't do that. You hunted it, Hyung-nim; if I did that, the Medusa hunt would be recorded as my achievement."
"I don't care."
"Oh, how could I steal your honor, Hyung-nim?"
"Me! It's fine if you receive it under my name! I'll only take a 10% commission!" Cassandra jumped in. Sisyphus shoved the remaining pie into her mouth.
"Ptooey, ptooey! It's like gravel!"
"I know."
The branch manager was perplexed. He had thought that since being a hero was an honorable profession, he would gladly accept the registration. "Hero, guild registration is really nothing. I promise not to bother you. Just try registering once. For the first year, the mileage accumulated from quest rewards is doubled. I'll even give you five tickets for free passage through the polis."
"What kind of sales tactic is this?" Was this door-to-door sales? As Cassandra said, maybe there really was a labor shortage because of the increase in magical beasts lately. Sisyphus thought.
"Ah, the ship! Are you planning to travel somewhere by ship?"
"I'm going to Corinth."
"Then you definitely need formal hero registration. If you pass through the territorial waters of other polis while sailing, having a hero registration card can help you avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Don't the number of merchant ships shot down because they were suspected of being pirate ships increase every year?"
"You're annoying."
"If you register now, the registration fee is waived! Not only the screening fee, but the rank assessment is also free, and we'll even give you a one-time temple usage voucher as a service. How about it?" Please, just fall for it. He couldn't let the hero who hunted Medusa slip away. The branch manager prayed internally.
"Tsk." Sisyphus clicked his tongue and held out his hand. "Give it here. The registration card or whatever it is."
"Haha, that is the best choice. We at Eranoi are honored to be able to protect the peace of Greece together with a hero!" The excited branch manager signaled, and the receptionist brought a small, gold-plated card.
"What is the hero's name?"
"Sisyphus."
"Sisyphus. A wonderful name. Come to think of it, I've heard rumors that the young lord of Corinth goes by that name as well."
"Is that so? Where did you hear that?"
"Don't be surprised. The S-Rank hero Penthesilea told me." The branch manager smiled and finished the work. Sisyphus accepted the registration card he handed over. Perseus took out his own card, attached it next to his, and grinned.
"Congratulations, Hyung-nim! Now you can act as a formal hero like me."
"I'm not doing it, kid."
"Is that so? That's a shame."
"I have one too." Cassandra also took out her registration card and showed it off proudly. The name written on it was 'Sandra'.
"That's a pseudonym that doesn't raise a single suspicion."
"Right?"
"Now, if you undergo the rank assessment and sign the registration card with mana, it will be complete. It serves as proof that the registration card is not a forgery."
"Mana." Hearing that, Sisyphus fell into thought for a moment.
"Sisyphus-nim?"
He finished signing and pulled out the petrification crystal again. —KREEEEEE! The registration card turned to stone. The branch manager's jaw dropped.
"This way, it can't be forged, right?"
"Uh... that is true, but..."
"Now, hand over the ship." Sisyphus stated his business. There was only one reason he had put up with the annoying sales pitch. It was to get his hands on the ship the guild would provide. The receptionist whispered to the branch manager again.
"Ah, there are no ships available right now..."
"What?"
"No, don't worry. If we search for one right now, we can find one within a few days. Just a moment, Sisyphus-nim. You aren't about to break the registration card, are you?"
CRASH! The branch manager dove over the table. He did so because it looked like Sisyphus was about to punch the registration card if left alone. 'I absolutely cannot let him go!' He had to keep this great hero in the guild somehow. Just as the branch manager was sweating profusely, —Knock, knock. There was a knock from behind them. Everyone's gaze focused.
"Hah!" The branch manager was startled. It was an unexpected figure standing there.
"I heard rumors that a great hero was here, but it seems quite noisy."
"Chiron-nim!" It was a long-haired man wearing neat leather clothes. His distinct facial features inspired trust. The unusual part was that he had four legs. His lower body was that of a horse. He was of the race called Centaurs.
"No, could it be the wise Chiron of the Chiron Academia, who has produced countless heroes? It is an honor to meet you!" Perseus greeted him briskly. The wise teacher Chiron was a celebrity among heroes.
"I stopped by while passing through. I unintentionally overheard your conversation. It seems you need a small vessel." Chiron pointed behind himself. "I have just docked after traveling on a small vessel. I plan to travel by land from here on, so I can hand it over to you."
"Ohhh!" The branch manager's face brightened. Someone who had the ship Sisyphus needed had appeared at the perfect time. It was like salvation. Meanwhile, Sisyphus, the center of the situation, looked at Chiron, who was wearing neat pants, and had one question.
'Does he have his junk in the front or the back?'