Chapter 14: Adventurer Guild
Kael then emerged from the inn.
The merchants were already setting up their shops.
He glanced down at his coin pouch—just over a silver and sixteen bronze, leftover from the exchange.
Not enough to buy a slave, that's for sure.
Hmm… My clothes are very modern by this world's standards. I should buy some clothes first.
Kael sees a clothing store nearby.
The bell jingled as he entered.
A rabbit woman greeted Kael upon entering the store.
She stood barely to his shoulder, her ears twitching as she folded a stack of linen shirts. Her fur was a soft brown, her nose pink and perpetually quivering. When she turned, her eyes—large and amber—widened at the sight of him.
"Gods below," she breathed, whiskers trembling. "What in the twelve hells are you wearing?"
Kael glanced down at his hoodie. "Uh. Clothes?"
She darted forward, fingers plucking at his sleeve. "This fabric—what is it? It's not wool, not linen, not even silk—" Her nose scrunched. "And it smells like… chemicals. Factory-made." She gasped. "Are you from the Floating Cities?"
Kael blinked. "The what?"
The rabbit woman—Lirra, according to the embroidered nametag on her apron—circled him like a predator sizing up prey. "No, no. The Cities wouldn't let their people dress like peasants." She tugged at his hoodie's drawstrings. "But this stitching! So even, so precise. Machined." Her eyes gleamed. "I'll give you two silver for the whole outfit."
Kael's brows shot up. Two silver? I bought this hoodie for $50. But the most important thing is that I came here to buy clothes. Not to sell clothes. But if she wants to buy my clothes, then I should do a little business with her here.
Kael schooled his face into neutrality. "Three."
Lirra's ears flattened. "Three? For used garments?"
"You said it yourself. The stitching's flawless. The material's unique. And—" He lowered his voice. "It's the last set of its kind in this region."
A lie. But the rabbit's nose quivered with greed.
She huffed. "Two silver, five bronze. Final offer."
Kael pretended to consider, then sighed. "Deal."
Lirra practically vibrated with excitement as she counted out the coins. "Boots too?"
Kael toed off his sneakers, wiggling his toes in the cool air. "Throw in a full set of local clothes, and they're yours."
The rabbit's grin was sharp. "Done."
Minutes later, Kael stood before a polished brass mirror, barely recognizing himself.
Lirra had dressed him in a fitted linen shirt the color of charcoal, its sleeves rolled to the elbows and laced with leather cords. Over it, a suede vest—durable, she'd insisted, for "adventuring types." His trousers were sturdy wool, tucked into knee-high boots softened with oil. A belt hung at his hips, its buckle embossed with a wolf's head.
No more outsider. Now, he looked like he belonged.
Lirra clapped her paws. "Much better. Though…" She tilted her head. "You're still missing something."
From a drawer, she produced a dagger sheath.
"Now perfect."
"Ah, thank you very much."
"No need to thank me," Lirra said. "But if you have more clothes like that hoodie, bring them here."
"Oh, I will," Kael said with a grin. "For the right price."
He stepped back out into the bustling street, his pouch heavier by 2 silver and 5 bronze, and now dressed in local fashion worth at least 1 silver, plus a sheath valued around 5 bronze.
Not bad for a quick deal.
But as he strode toward the market square, a thought nagged:
What else from Earth could he sell here?
And more importantly—
What would this world sell him in return?
Ah, I should head to the Adventurer's Guild now.
The Adventurer's Guild wasn't hard to find.
Kael followed the flow of traffic toward the heart of the market square. There, a large timber-and-stone building loomed over the stalls and side streets, its wide doors open like a welcoming maw. Above it, a faded wooden sign swung lazily in the breeze, carved with a sword crossed over a quill—oddly scholarly for a place associated with danger and blood.
This is it. The start of every fantasy protagonist's journey.
He adjusted the leather belt around his waist and stepped inside.
The interior was warmer than expected, lit by oil lanterns and sun streaming through high windows. A massive bulletin board dominated one wall, covered in parchment notices—some handwritten, others stamped with wax seals. The rest of the space was a mix of long wooden tables, armored adventurers, and the low hum of conversation.
Kael's entrance barely registered with the room.
He hesitated. Part of him had expected more… attention. Or maybe a dramatic silence as everyone turned to stare at the newcomer. But no—people were too busy counting coins, sharing stories, or comparing scars.
At the front desk stood a young woman with neat auburn hair pulled into a braid, spectacles perched on her nose. Her uniform was tidy—a vest with the guild emblem embroidered in gold thread. She looked up as he approached.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild," she said smoothly, her voice clear and practiced. "Are you here to register?"
Kael nodded. "Yeah. First time."
"Name?"
"…Kael."
The receptionist scribbled something on a parchment form. "Do you have any experience with combat? Magic? Survival skills?"
"…Uh."
He paused. Do video games count?
"I know some basic martial arts," he said instead. "Some camping, hiking, map reading. I'm good with my hands." A half-truth.
"Very well. You'll start as F rank. Complete five verified tasks to be eligible for assessment."
She reached beneath the counter, pulling out a small wooden tag on a thin cord.
"Your guild card. Registration fee is two bronze coins. It covers materials and recordkeeping. Acceptable?"
Kael blinked. "Oh—yeah. That's fine."
He handed over the coins.
The receptionist continued smoothly. "This card tracks your record and is required to receive payment. Magic-sealed—tampering destroys the tag."
Kael examined the tag. His name was etched on one side, and a painted 'F' rank insignia adorned the other.
"Do I need a party?"
"You may join one, form one, or go solo. But as a beginner, we recommend taking simple tasks alone or pairing with a registered mentor. That option is available if you're willing to split the reward."
Kael frowned. "What kind of beginner jobs are available?"
She pointed toward the board. "Left section. Green tags are available to F ranks. Delivery, pest extermination, herb collection. That sort of thing."
He thanked her and stepped over to the board. A few green-tagged notices caught his eye:
"Help Needed: Harvest Fireleaf Herbs near the Eastern Wood. 6 bronze per bundle."
"Exterminate: Giant Rats in grain storage. 12 bronze per job."
"Escort: Merchant to Riverhold. 1 silver. (Requires approval)"
Kael took the rat extermination one.
I think it's not hard.
As he turned to leave, the receptionist called out.
"Kael. Word of advice."
He looked back.
"Don't die over bronze coins. If something feels wrong, walk away. Plenty of fools rush in, thinking this job makes them heroes."
Kael gave her a half-smile. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
Time to earn my place in this world.