Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Newbie(?) Adventurer
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Leonian Empire's border city, Freyme.
And the Adventurer's Guild branch located in this Freyme was currently swarming with countless newbie adventurers, busier than ever.
"How about this request? It's C-rank in terms of rating, but the reward is on par with B-rank."
"Nah, even so, I'm B-rank myself—doing a C-rank feels off! Got anything else?"
It had already been several weeks since the Seven Stars subjugated the Demon King, yet why was the Adventurer's Guild still this hectic?
The ironic reason was that the tales of those Seven Stars' adventures had spread far and wide, igniting the spirit of adventure in people everywhere. They were all rushing out to become adventurers themselves.
"You've completed your D-rank goblin nest subjugation. Here's your pay."
"Hey, miss, what're you up to after work?"
"Sorry, guild policy forbids receptionists from getting personal with adventurers. Next—"
If it were just an increase in adventurers, the wave would have settled down quickly. But with the Demon King dead, monsters across the continent were going berserk, doubling the number of requests. In truth, the guild was busier than ever.
"Hoo..."
Right now, receptionist Sylvia—swamped by endless adventurers—was being swept away by the tidal wave of work, her sanity steadily eroding.
'Work just this year, then quit no matter what.'
Clinging to the dream of resignation shared by all guild staff, Sylvia somehow endured. Only after weathering the crowd did she finally get a moment's rest.
"Hoo... I can finally take a breather."
Looking out the window, the sun was already setting. That meant today's work was nearly done.
In a few hours, she'd hand over to the on-duty staff, ending the day.
"Um... ex...cuse..."
If not for that one sudden visitor.
"Wha— you scared me!"
How had she even gotten in? Sylvia nearly toppled backward at the abrupt appearance.
No door creak, nothing. When had she slipped in?
"...Um, here for a request... huh?"
Despite the bewildering situation, veteran receptionist Sylvia—ten years on the job—snapped into work mode.
Or tried to.
"Um... I... want to... register as an... adventurer..."
If the visitor had been a normal adventurer candidate.
Lustrous silver hair like a snowy field. Dark bluish eyes gleaming like the night sky.
Looking about eighteen, with a robe that had faint wrinkles but was spotlessly clean. This girl clearly wasn't from an ordinary background.
"You're here to register as an adventurer..."
Sylvia stared at the girl's face.
'Doesn't even need looking—she's some noble lady.'
It happened sometimes. With the Seven Stars' tales spreading, immature nobles would sneak out for adventure.
Those fools choosing perilous rebellion over their safe family nests always ended badly, forcing the guild to tiptoe around noble ire every time.
"Oh? You're with the Magic Tower?"
Fortunately, this girl wasn't one of those fools.
"...Y-Yes."
The Magic Tower ID she presented was genuine. Meaning she was a legitimate Magic Tower mage.
Fakes cropped up now and then, but none fooled Sylvia's veteran eyes.
"Got it. Issuing the license takes time... probably ready tomorrow morning."
"O-Okay... Then... I'll come back... tomorrow..."
With that, the girl scampered out the door on pattering feet.
...
Approximately five hours earlier, before the new Magic Tower mage arrived to register in Freyme.
Sion had left the Ortega Magic Tower and was heading to the Leonian Empire.
The reason was simple: she'd cleared nearly all achievements possible in Ortega, so it was time for a new city.
Her plan remained unchanged—group similar achievements and tackle the simpler ones first.
This time, she aimed to knock out all the Adventurer's Guild-related ones in the empire.
"It's been a while..."
Arriving via teleportation in the empire's border city, Freyme.
Known in-game as the tutorial zone, newbie central.
"S-So... many... people..."
Freyme teemed with crowds, mostly fresh adventurers drawn by the Seven Stars' journeys.
Moving into the throng, Sion felt a faint nausea rise, hurrying to her goal before discomfort worsened.
"Urp... Even... more... here..."
Of course, the guild inside was even more packed.
To avoid wasting time, she needed to handle her business quickly.
But Sion couldn't fathom wedging into that mass of people.
[What are you doing, Sion? Get in line already!]
"I... can't... No way..."
[You might wait till dawn, Sion!]
"Don't care, don't caaaare...!"
In the end, Sion became the guild's very last customer that day.
...
The very next day after applying for her license.
Sion woke earlier than usual and hurried to the guild.
Learning from yesterday's fiasco, she aimed to finish before the rush.
Not easy for her freewheeling sleep schedule, but...
[I told you to get up! Want to wait till evening again, Sion?!]
Thanks to Lily's tireless nagging, Sion arrived earlier than anyone.
"Here's your adventurer license."
"Oh..."
Sion's rank was C.
Normally starting at E, but her Magic Tower affiliation bumped her to C.
[C-rank for you, Sion? The guild brass must be blind.]
Even that felt insultingly low to her.
"Whaa... They don't know who I am..."
[General Rank: Newbie Adventurer]
[Success]
[Rare Rank: Apprentice Adventurer]
[Success]
C or E—rank meant nothing to Sion.
To clear all achievements, she'd hit S anyway, doing tons of requests.
Thinking to start ASAP, she asked the receptionist for a solo quest.
"Um... Any requests I can... do alone?"
"Uh... alone?"
"...Yes."
"As a mage?"
"......Yes."
"..."
[B-Rank Request: Apprehend the Backstreet Pickpocket]
After lengthy discussion with the receptionist, Sion secured a suitable request.
...
Freyme was one of the empire's border cities, infamous for the worst public order.
"Thief!"
"Damn, that woman again?!"
Pickpockets roamed broad daylight, turning streets chaotic, with none to stop them.
The Adventurer's Guild barely kept it a city, but hardly ideal for ordinary folk.
Locals had two choices:
Endure precarious life under criminal threats.
Or join the criminals, preying on those like their former selves.
"Idiots, finally catching on."
Pickpocketing a rich merchant's wallet in daylight, Cloe had chosen the latter.
Practicality over empty morals that failed to protect her.
"What?! Where'd she go!"
"That way! Check over there!"
Ditching pursuers with nimble moves, Cloe slipped into an inconspicuous alley to hide.
"20 gold...? Fat pig lived up to the name—nice haul."
Checking the wallet, Cloe grinned in satisfaction.
Content with the day's take, she headed to her hideout.
"Um... excuse me..."
If not for the girl's voice from behind.
"Ar-Are you... the pickpocket...?"
Shing!
At the voice, Cloe whirled, drawing her dagger from her waist.
Wary of the girl appearing in her blind spot, unnoticed till now.
"You— ...What the?"
Seeing the source, tension drained from Cloe's body.
The one making her so alert was just a kid.
Cloe was young enough to be called a girl too, but backstreet-raised, she saw herself as a full adult.
"Kid, hang here and you'll get hurt. So scram."
Click.
Sheathing the dagger, Cloe told the girl to vanish.
Her utmost courtesy—and adherence to her rule: 'Don't touch kids or elders.'
"Um... that..."
But the girl showed no sign of leaving.
"First... I have to... capture you..."
"What?"
Shing!
In the end, Cloe drew her dagger again.