"They have everything from games in here..."
Monster killing, hunting wanted criminals, military enlistment (I suppose the adventurers can also work as mercenaries for the actual army? Or even formally join it?), gathering ingredients, protecting people during travels and personal requests. Amongst others...
The rewards vary for each mission, and the boards are divided in ranks, starting from the left with D, and increasing to the right until XX. They form a circle in the center of the room.
"So... Airi, which quests do you have in mind?"
"Hah---!? Who gave you permission to call me by my first name!?"
Huh…? This time she got clearly offended. It wasn`t all that clear since we were being able to communicate normally, but now that I think about it, it is very likely that being able to communicate here is actually a side effect from being summoned by the Goddess, just like our status.
It is completely possible that we came from very different places, with different cultures. So she might have been rightfully offended, and felt that I might have disrespected her or something.
It would be a good idea to speak with her about the matter first, so we could understand each other better, and perceive a more amicable relationship for both of us…
Ah, screw it.
"Sorry, grumpy. What mission do you want to choose?"
It seems she didn't like being called that either. Good. That's how I'm going to call her from now on.
"This fucker..." She says in a low voice, giving me only a short glance. Then she turns her attention back to the boards. Hehehe that's what you get for messing with me!
Is what I thought, but soon after she starts smirking as if she just thought of something, followed by a malevolent face… She wants a fight, is that it? Heh! Then come on, red! I'll squish you like a tomato!
"Very well, since we'll be spending some time together, then it might be a good idea to decide on some nicknames, in order to communicate more easily." She makes a small pause, building some suspense. "You were eating frogs yesterday, correct? Then I believe 'wart' would be appropriate, especially when taking your appearance into consideration."
!
That... Was completely out of proportion... I-I'll show her---! I-I...
…
I don't have any warts, and my face doesn't look like one... B-besides, judging someone by their looks is completely outdated, right? Right!? So what if I don`t do skin care and whatsoever?
…
B-but I can't be that bad, right…? I-I wash my face every morning, and take baths everyday…
There's a sharp pain in my chest as I look at her pretentious smile.
N-not like I'll start crying or something if she keeps calling me like that…
Now I have two options. I could either go for an all-out war, though I'm not sure if my heart could take it – especially if this is just her first move – or…
…
Therefore, this delicate situation leaves me no other choice! Immediately moving at what was probably the fastest speed I've ever achieved, I use my final special attack! And surprising even grumpy--- I mean, Ms. Akane, I get on all my fours! Hissatsu!!! Fourth form: orz style kowtow!!!
"I'm sorry Ms. Akane! Please don't call me like that!"
"Hah!? It's too late to apologize now, wart." She says, while emphasizing the 'wart' part... "Besides, this is a different world, so there's a possibility no one would even know the meaning of that word. Though it is highly unlikely, considering everything else has been translated so far."
Overkill… What kind of monster doesn't accept the apologies of someone who's shoving their face against the ground!?
I spend some more time apologizing and compromise to find her some pies in order not to be called that way... Who'd have thunk this ruthless berserker could be tamed with pies…
Later, this incident would be known as a fight between a couple that just got into the adventuring world... It seems that fighting like that at a public and crowded place ended up creating a few strange rumors... Rumors that I made sure frown face wouldn't hear. I mean, I'm too young to die, right?
…
…
…
After our exchange.
She goes directly to the A rank board... Did she learn the letters for each rank already, just from the clerk's explanation…? That`s actually kind of amazing. She could have earned some affection points right now, if she weren't already maxed down...
Even so, three ranks beyond our own and the upper limit of what we can get, the A rank. In the book, it's written that one shouldn't be too cocky in the adventurer's world. There are countless cases of adventurers who died from not knowing their own limits. It suggests, especially for beginners like us, to start from the bottom and patiently walk our way up... Thinking like that, choosing an A rank mission, with only two D rank members, is probably no different from suicide to normal people...
Even so, I follow her without any complaints. We aren't normal people.
I've already said it before, but I'm in a race against time here. If I can't get better fast, then I'm dead either way. So I better go all out from the beginning, right? Besides, our statuses are far better than those a normal beginner would have, so A rank should be more adequate to us.
I feel I should be nervous, but it's way more exciting this way, right? Odd... I feel my lips curving. I think I'm smiling again...
"I've made my choices." She says, holding a few pages.
Wow, that was fast. I've barely even read half of the missions in there.
She then takes those pages to the clerk (without even showing them to me first…), who then reads them out loud.
Wolf Hunt – A Rank
Recently, there has been an increase in the wolf population at Sherwood Forest. Find and kill some of them before they start hunting near the roads.
Reward: 500 goddo per wolf killed
Ingredient Foraging – A Rank
There is a certain type of plant called moonlight-rose, which only grows deep inside the Sherwood Forest. It is a necessary ingredient for medicine production. Please find and bring one for us.
Reward: 15000 goddo
Ingredient Foraging – A Rank
The venom of the groovie-snakes, which live in Sherwood Forest, is necessary in order to produce general antidotes. Please bring me some.
Reward: 300 goddo for each snake, the head must be undamaged
Package Delivery – A Rank
Please, take this package to Wind-Shield City ASAP!
Reward: 6000 goddo, time limit of one week (1000 Goddo fine in case of failure)
I look at a map, conveniently placed next to the booths, and see that Sherwood Forest is located in between 'Wind-Shield' city and 'Holy Land' (which has a 'you are here' mark).
'Wind-Shield', is that name a homage to some famous equipment…? And the Capital's name is also very simple and direct. Makes sense if you consider they have an actual god living in here… Even so, I would have expected a more elaborate name…
Maybe something like 'Divine Absolute Spark', or 'Heaven's Eternal Cornucopia'.
Though I must admit my own sister has always complained about my naming sense... Asking whether I've actually graduated from middle school or something... Isn't it absurd to compare my naming sense to that of a chuuni? Yeah! I think so too!
When I was little, I renamed my parents' turtle as 'the great sapphire emperor, Chartreuse'. Wasn't it the best name ever!? I bet most people just use some name they found on the internet or call them squirtl@ or something... And yet, Tsubaki would always complain: 'I bet you don't even know from which language that word comes from' or 'that's a liquor, not a pet's name', and insisted on calling it as 'Shelly' instead... Absurd... Thinking back, I don't even remember what its original name even was… Chartreuse was a great companion…
…
Anyways...
The Demon and Immortal territories are way farther ahead in 'Wind-Shield' City's direction. Waaaay farther ahead. The Goddess did mention that the weakest Demon Lord candidate was at the border with the Immortals… I need to go all the way there to take their part of the Soul.
Or maybe I should come back to negotiate with the Goddess once I am in a more favorable position. In any case, it is necessary for me to have more experience in fighting, as well as doing some work for a living. Being an adventurer should help in both cases.
What's impressive is that Akane (in the end she told me to just call her by her surname) chose quests that take place in the same location, 'Sherwood Forest', even though she hasn't even learned how to read. Did she notice those words repeating at the quests in such a short amount of time? Did she read the map before and decided 'Wind-Shield' would be a good next destination? If so, she made some good planning in no time at all. And since she brought the missions for the clerk to read its contents, she could just learn from her mistakes and try again if something went wrong.
Or so I thought. But taking a quick look back at the mural, I notice that all of the other missions have smaller rewards than the ones she took… Maybe she could just be being greedy, and the rewards for Sherwood Forest are bigger because of the difficulty degree or something...
...
Usually, I would be the first to admit that any newbie who overestimates their own abilities is heading for an early grave. Or trying to achieve a bad ending at the hands of goblins… But if you think about it, we're cheat characters! There's no way we would fall for some random mobs! This is not that kind of story!
I hope…
"A Rank!???" The clerk exclaims in surprise. But it only lasts for a moment. "Oh, no, I apologize--- I'm sure that adventurers with as much experience in travelling as you both have should not have any problems…"
And that isn't a Death Flag, I'm sure…
Let's just pretend I didn't see this bad omen…
"By these missions, can I assume you're leaving town soon…?" The clerk asks.
I'm brought back to reality, and once again realize how cute the clerk is, as she leans over the balcony to reach closer to us.
"Uh, oh yeah, we're leaving today already…"
"Oh, that's a shame…" For some reason, she looks dejected for a second.
Then she turns directly to me.
"But make sure you come by again if you're back in the city. My name is Rebecca, call for me next time and I could give you a tour through the city!" She says with a beautiful smile.
That's very kind of her… She knows our names, where we're heading and even wants to meet again if possible. Is she actually trying to keep us under surveillance, by the Goddess' orders?
Well, at least she seems like a nice person. Even if she were to be spying on us, saying that we should meet again is the same as believing that we'll make it through these quests.
Don't worry, we'll definitely survive and meet again---!
Wait! Isn't that another Death Flag!? Please, stop raising those flags, Ms. Clerk!
Whatever the case, it would be rude to decline her kindness.
"Sounds great, Rebecca!" I say with a smile to which she answers with her own. For some reason I also notice Akane turning her eyes with another annoyed look.
The clerk, Rebecca, proceeds to insert the quests into some kind of device and then places our cards over it.
…
"Ok, Kanade and Ms. Akane, you have now been registered as a party for these missions." She hands back our cards.
Her hands linger for a second while handing mine back, and she gives me a sweet smile. I should be more worried about our missions and buying our equipment right now, but for some reason it's difficult to look away…
"Do remember you may also receive your reward at the guild's different branches." She finally complements.
It makes sense. Otherwise, it would be troublesome for not only adventurers, but also everyone. Imagine placing a high ranking quest at a place with only lower ranked adventurers… Things wouldn't work well if the branches were all completely independent.
"Nice, thanks!" I thank her, with my focus recovered.
She means to say something else.
"Thank you for your quality service. We should excuse ourselves, since we have a busy schedule ahead." But Akane ends the conversation.
"Oh, of course… Have a safe travel!"
"Hmph." Akane walks away, leaving me behind. Again.
… Is she still mad with the clerk for what happened at the beginning?
I give Rebecca, the guild clerk, a quick goodbye and hurry after her. I'm still trying to figure out the reason why she seems to be so angry at all times…