01x01 - A Vacation Recommendation

[bunniefuu]

Where am I?

Beautiful luster, right?

I'll give you a discount.

I guess I do stand out.

What's a noble doing here?

Is he here in secret?

I understand what they're saying, but

Thank you.

Hello.

H-Hello.

I've never seen those coins before.

And most of all

I should recognize a nation this large.

What are we doing today?

What about that labyrinth?

I heard it's pretty tough.

Are those armed people mercenaries?

I see no signs of imminent w*r.

In any case, I need information.

But first, I need money.

Wel come?!

Hello. Do you have a spare moment?

Huh? What? Uh, yes.

What's a noble doing here?

I have something to sell.

What? Oh, okay.

Um, I'll appraise it first.

Thank you.

The sign was accurate.

I knew it. I don't recognize

this nation at all.

This is

Is there a problem?

No. The ornamentation is beautiful.

I've never seen this design before.

I-I'm terribly sorry! That was rude of me!

I'm not going to be upset

when you complimented it.

So, how much is it worth?

Oh, right. 200 gold coins.

Then I'd like to sell it to you.

Of course!

Here you are.

Would it be possible to condense

or organize these somehow?

Oh, do you not have a pouch?

In that case, we have a few for sale.

Then I'll take one.

Also, could I get that map?

Certainly.

Um, what kind of pouch would you like?

I'll leave that up to you.

Y-Yes, sir.

Amazing.

Pouches enchanted with

spatial magic are expensive.

Sorry we only carry a few varieties.

Magic

Is that a bit different from sorcery?

A mild climate. A lively town.

It's similar to the nation I'm from.

And because it's similar,

something feels terribly off.

I really need more information.

I'd like a companion, but whom?

I want to be careful about

revealing my identity,

and I want someone with their own opinions

who adheres to a minimum

standard of morality.

Someone intelligent enough

to grasp my intentions.

Also, ideally

Hey.

Can I help you?

I wouldn't go that way if I were

you. Nasty guys back there.

Someone helpful would be convenient.

Thank you. You're considerate.

If you say so.

Impressive reflexes.

Who the hell are you?

Forgive me. My name is Lizel.

That's not what I meant. What do you want?

I wish to speak with you.

Come with me.

Certainly.

I'm borrowing a table in the back.

Sure.

Nice to meet you.

Sure.

So, what do you want to know?

First, could you introduce yourself?

What?

Simply exchanging information

is a bit dull, don't you think?

Tell me anything, whether it's your

profession or history with women.

Gil. Solo adventurer. B-rank.

I don't have a special lady,

nor do I intend to find one.

An adventurer

I see.

Perhaps all those people

I saw in town were, too.

You're not looking, but that's

not a problem for you?

If it seems that way, then I'm honored.

Who is this guy?

I'm the only solo B in this nation,

but he didn't react to that.

He's either a huge deal or

a totally ignorant noble.

You seem sharp. Have I confused you?

Meanwhile, he won't let

me get a read on him.

Will you tell me if I ask?

You want to know?

Including your history with women.

I have no profession.

I have nothing to prove my social

status, so I have no status.

And my history with women is a secret.

You don't sound like you're lying, but

that's hardly a cordial introduction.

Then you asked the wrong questions.

I don't doubt him or want to pry, but

Shall we cut to the chase?

First, tell me about the

state of local affairs.

We're currently in Parteda,

the royal capital.

This is Marcade, the mercantile nation.

This is Kavana, the magic ore nation.

The mercantile and magic ore

nations fought a while ago,

but things have calmed down recently.

The mercantile nation is

probably what it sounds like.

Is the magic ore nation a resource-rich

nation facing a massive mine?

Mr. Gil, what do you think of Parteda?

That's a broad question.

A simple summary of your thoughts will do.

Well

Good lodgings, good food, and decent jobs.

I guess it's a comfortable

city for adventurers.

Then it must get a lot of traffic.

Perhaps I could expect to find

all kinds of people here.

I was only planning to ask a few questions,

but could I make a request as well?

Well, it's true that you paid more

than that information's worth.

Want me to show you around

town? Be your bodyguard?

Be your hospitable adventuring companion?

What'll it be?

All of them.

You're shameless, you know that?

You know what I'm thinking without

me saying it. It's convenient.

Because you're dropping hints.

You were steering the conversation

this way from the start.

Am I wrong?

Still, the decision is yours to make.

What are the specifics?

One month to start.

For the first few days, we'll probably

travel together as you teach me things,

but after that, we'll likely only

travel together when necessary.

How much will you pay me?

How valuable are your services?

Who do you think you're talking to?

Then we have a deal.

Then here's my first request.

I got you the room next to mine.

It's a nice room.

Thank you.

I didn't have a place to sleep yet.

So, are you going to explain yourself?

Yes. Everything I'm about

to tell you is true.

I know. You have nothing

to gain from lying.

I came to this totally unfamiliar

nation from a place that's not here.

A place that's not here?

Yes. By coincidence or deliberately

by some third party,

I was speaking with my

subordinates in my room

when I suddenly found myself standing

in an alleyway in this nation.

I took a look around, and it's not too

different from the nation I came from.

That's why it feels incredibly strange.

As though the entire

world is slightly off.

What I have to say next is based on that,

so if you don't believe me,

this conversation is over.

Continue.

You believe me?

It would be a terrible lie.

True.

And?

Introduce yourself, nobleman.

You can tell?

Why do you think I wouldn't?

Then simply put, I only inherited my

position recently, but I'm a duke.

I'm a chancellor. I worked

in the royal palace.

Wait. A chancellor is the king's

highest ranking advisor.

Yes, it is.

He's too young for that.

My king is so splendid that my youth

wouldn't make me consider resigning.

I'm proud to serve him.

You can't go back?

I don't know.

If my absence is a problem, I'm sure

they'll find a way for me to return.

You're not going to look for one?

It does concern me, but I

doubt I can do it myself.

This is probably His Majesty's specialty.

Huh.

Anyway, until then

I plan to think of this as

a vacation and enjoy it.

Good morning.

Is there somewhere you want to go?

I'd actually like to be an adventurer.

Are you serious?

Yes.

Then we'll stop by a clothing shop.

Why?

You'd stand out.

What is this place?

Adventurers are basically just people

who perform odd jobs for others.

The adventurer's guild

serves as an intermediary.

I see.

Hello.

I'm sorry, but the guildmaster

is currently out.

Could you return another day?

What?

What?

I came to register with the guild.

What?

I told you.

Did the Blade not tell you?

The Blade?

It's that tasteless man's nickname.

I didn't choose it for myself.

A nickname?

At this adventurer's guild,

we sometimes reject interference

from nations due to our standing.

Therefore, we don't register nobles,

knights, and similar individuals as adventurers here.

Okay.

We don't register nobles, knights, and

similar individuals as adventurers here.

I understand.

Please leave.

He's not.

Not what?

Not a noble.

No way.

Yes, way.

May I register as an adventurer?

One moment, please.

I'll prepare the necessary tools.

Why did he suspect me?

What is this guy saying?

Let's get you registered.

I'm Stud, the guild receptionist.

Nice to meet you.

First, I'll issue your guild ID.

Use this to prick your finger.

Hey, your finger.

Oh, was that enough?

You can be weirdly sloppy.

And you're surprisingly fastidious.

The Blade's surprising qualities

aside, your guild ID is ready.

F-rank

I'll now explain how jobs work.

The guild lends out encyclopedias on

monsters and plants you may encounter on jobs.

If anything is unclear, you can

look it up or ask reception.

Do you sell those encyclopedias?

Simply viewing them is free.

Acquiring knowledge is a hobby of mine.

A good hobby to have.

But none of the guild's documents

can be taken out of the building.

I see.

This is the location of a shop

that sells technical books on a variety

of subjects, not just monsters and plants.

Thank you.

Could I get the rest of the

explanation another time?

That's fine.

You're a kind boy.

I appreciate the map.

Farewell.

He pet his ice cold head.

I wouldn't do that if you paid me.

Crap!

Come in.

Welcome back, Mr. Gil.

How did the job go?

Decently.

You're still not sick of that?

"He was a fish who swam through oceans

of bookshelves eating knowledge."

"I thought he was beautiful,

but his surroundings were not."

You think I'm beautiful?

I think you're an idiot.

It's nearly lunchtime.

Want to get lunch?

After that, let's go to the guild.

You're finally going to accept a job?

Yes.

Stud.

Oh, it's you.

I've come for the rest of the

explanation and to take a job.

Seriously? You're actually here?

How the Blade has fallen.

I heard the famous Blade

teamed up with someone.

He looks like a real twink.

These are the guild rules.

Thank you.

You rejected my invitation

to team up with a beginner?

What's your angle?

Who the hell are you?

Are you saying you forgot me?

I don't know you.

Don't talk to me like we're friends.

He must really be your type, huh?

Better than you.

Mr. Gil, our contract was for a

month, but let's end it today.

You're immoral. The worst.

Idiots.

Anyway, I can't have anyone insulting you.

Huh?

Gil and I have a formal

deal to work together.

You think you're hot stuff because

you bought the Blade with money?

You think Gil merely works for pay?

If that's what you believe, go ahead

and buy him for more than I paid.

Though I doubt you can.

I'm a B-rank just like

that guy you bought!

That's fantastic.

However

Hearing a lowlife like you

compare himself to what's

mine displeases me greatly.

You twerp!

Guild employees aren't allowed to interfere

in disputes between adventurers.

We simply don't mediate if asked.

Our involvement is not prohibited.

I see.

I was concerned that

you might be punished.

Use this to pay for repairs.

I'll come back for a job another day.

In that moment, my body

moved instinctively.

It was made to move.

"What's mine," huh?

What am I, a knight?

Next time: "An Adventurer's Debut."