Chapter 14

After completing the rental procedures by signing the contract, I first went to retrieve the carriage that had been entrusted to the stable near the outer gate, and then returned home by carriage, carrying the luggage that had been packed inside.

The luggage consisted of blankets, clothes, cooking utensils, and tableware brought from my parents' house, as well as leftover food items that I couldn't consume during the journey.

With just this, I should be able to manage cooking and sleeping for a few days at the very least.

As for large furniture items like beds, desks, and sofas, I'll take care of those another time. I can go shopping around the city with Grace.

Today, I'm going to tour the city with Rosetta, so I need to finish the things I need to do with her first.

In that case, the next thing to do is probably go to the Perezford Academy to complete the enrollment procedures. I'll ride the carriage driven by Grace to the academy, which is just a short distance from home.

The academy is an old building. The high walls surrounding the grounds are covered with ivy, giving it a charming, ancient atmosphere.

There are several buildings within the large grounds, but today I only need to visit the administrative office.

Entering a small building near the entrance, I saw a staff member doing paperwork behind the counter.

"What can I do for you?"

"I would like to complete the enrollment procedures. This is the letter of recommendation."

I handed over the letter of recommendation written by my father, and the staff member nodded after examining the wax seal and the letter.

"Could you please fill out the necessary information on this form?"

Following the staff member's instructions, I filled out and submitted the necessary information on the form. The staff member looked it over and tilted their head.

"Do you not wish to stay in the dormitory?"

"I have a house in the city, so it's not necessary. I didn't come here to receive noble education either."

"I see."

The staff member's question seemed to be just a formality, and I wasn't interrogated or investigated further. After paying the enrollment fee of 500 kirig, I officially became a student at Perezford Academy.

It was quite a straightforward process. I wasn't expecting any trouble with the administrative procedures, but it's enough for today. I can take care of other things later.

"What should we do next?"

"Probably the guild. I need to submit a request to return the horses to the earl's domain."

While answering Rosetta, who was waiting in the carriage, I headed to the next destination.

The reason for going to the guild wasn't just to submit a request. There were other tasks, such as introducing myself to the Forest Birds, getting a recommendation for an alchemist, and purchasing magic stones for the bath.

"Are you going to get permission to enter the dungeon too?"

"Well... yes."

Rosetta doesn't know about my financial situation or how I plan to maintain the house, but she seems to have some idea of my intentions.

"Could I see a little of your fighting skills?"

"...If that will satisfy you."

"I would say it's more important for you to be satisfied."

"That's not possible."

Answering immediately, Rosetta closed her eyes.

I understand. What am I supposed to be satisfied with? It's probably because I'm a child, and she expects me to be obedient.

For a normal child, that might be fine, but I'm not like that anymore.

It's not that I'm arrogant. Rather, I'm still lacking, which is why I'm seeking strength.

Actually, I didn't plan to go into the dungeon today... but it's fine.

Grace's axe is already in the carriage, and it would be a hassle to arrange another day for Rosetta to accompany me. If we stick to the shallow levels, the lack of confidence in my staff shouldn't be a problem.

"By the way, what do you usually do, Rosetta?"

"Me? How do I look to Lisa's child?"

Rosetta smiled, placing her hand on her cheek. ...Why does she look so happy?

Well, she's a classmate of my mother who has explored the dungeon, has a flexible schedule, and is financially comfortable.

And my father entrusted me to her because she has connections in various fields.

I can understand why she might have time and money if she hit a big score as an adventurer.

Possible occupations include serving at the palace, working at the adventurer's guild, teaching at Perezford Academy... and then...

"Maybe a high-ranking member of the thief guild?"

"Why would you think that...?"

"Well, you seem to have a lot of connections."

I took a wild guess, but it seems I was wrong.

"Ugh. I'm a teacher at Perezford. I teach healing magic."

"Is that so?"

Rosetta, pouting slightly, doesn't look very authoritative or intimidating... but originally, she was a renowned healer who excelled in the dungeon, eventually settling down as a teacher at Perezford, and now focuses on training the next generation.

It makes sense that she has a wide network and is wealthy. Healing magic requires a specific type of magical power, and skilled healers are quite rare.

By the way, the circulation technique of battle mages is more of a bonus, and its healing effect doesn't match that of professional healers. I can use basic healing magic, but my recovery spells are just makeshift.

While we were talking, we seemed to have arrived at our destination.

The carriage stopped, and I looked out to see the square with the guild and the temple. Grace smiled at me.

"Master Theodore, we have arrived."

"Thanks."

The square was bustling with a diverse crowd. Prominent among them were lightly armored warriors, mages, elves with bows, and hawkmen with spears. Many people came to the guild to submit requests or to the temple to pray to the goddess... in short, it was a place where people gathered. We left the carriage at the stable and headed to the adventurer's guild next to the temple.

"Welcome. What brings you to our guild today?"

A receptionist greeted us with a smile.

"Several things. Let's start with the request, shall we?"

"Please tell me more."

I explained the details of my request and provided my contact information, and the receptionist summarized the necessary information on a form.

By the way, paper is relatively common in urban areas. It's not the pristine, smooth paper you might think of, and it does require a large magic array, magic stones, and skilled magic users... but the technology to decompose and generate paper from plants using a combination of wood, water, and earth magic has been established.

Based on Kei's knowledge, paper was a luxury item on Earth until paper-making technology advanced to allow mass production. The magical civilization and technological level of this world are not to be underestimated.

"By the way, do you have any messages from the Forest Birds for Theodore Gartner?"

"Oh, them. They said they would be here around midday."

Heading to the dungeon in the afternoon, huh. That's typical of the Forest Birds, or adventurers in general, with their relaxed attitude.

"I understand. I have a message for them too. Could you give them the contact information I just provided when they arrive?"

"Is this a specific request?"

"No, it's more personal. Also, I have a letter of recommendation from someone named Berine."

"Berine?"

The receptionist's hand, which had been smoothly writing with a quill, paused.

"Do you know her?"

"Um, yes, sort of."

...The receptionist's smile seemed a bit strained when she took the letter, but I decided not to ask for details.

After reading Berine's letter, the receptionist nodded.

"An alchemist, I see. I understand. I'll check the information we have here."

"Before that, I need to register as an adventurer. For both of us."

"Both of you? Is it true that you defeated an ant swarm?"

"Yes."

Child adventurers aren't that rare, but my appearance probably makes me look like I wouldn't choose to be an adventurer. I can understand why she's skeptical...

Maybe I should have bought a mage's robe and staff first.

Still, the receptionist didn't seem to have a reason to refuse, and the procedures went smoothly. After confirming the forms, the receptionist nodded and said,

"I understand. Please fill out this form. If you need help, let me know."

"I'm fine."

"Me too."

We filled out the necessary information on the forms.

The required information wasn't too detailed: name, specialties, and current residence. That's about it. If the requirements were too strict, it would go against the nature of adventurers.

For me, my specialty is magic, and for Grace, it's close combat. That's enough information.

If you want, the guild can introduce you to parties that need your skills or suggest requests to adventurers who seem suitable. That's why this information is needed.

"I've confirmed the information. Now, let me explain the important points."

Adventurers are guaranteed by the state. You should strive to act in a way that honors the achievements of your predecessors. If you significantly tarnish the dignity and honor of adventurers, the guild may issue a request for your capture or elimination, among other things.

There's no set quota, but if you slack off too much, you might receive a warning. Your achievements are recorded, and the guild evaluates what kind of jobs you're suited for.

There's no clear ranking system, but if you stand out, you'll become well-known. If you have a good track record, the guild might write a letter of recommendation for you, and they'll help you in various ways, such as prioritizing job offers. To be respected, you need to steadily complete jobs.

However, for adventurers in the border city, there's a good way to judge their abilities: how deep they can go in the dungeon.

The deeper you can go, the more you're seen as a well-rounded adventurer.

"Based on the information you provided, I'll input it into the magic stone plate."

The receptionist took out a metal plate with a small magic stone embedded in one corner from under the counter. This plate serves as an adventurer's ID and is used for identification, similar to a dog tag in the military.

The information, such as name, specialties, and achievements, is engraved into the magic stone using the same method as magic spells.

"This magic stone plate has your names engraved on it. It serves as proof of your status as adventurers, so be careful not to lose it. If you find one of these plates in the dungeon, please try to recover it if possible."

"Understood."

We both nodded. The phrase "if you find one" is a bit euphemistic.

In essence, it makes identifying the deceased easier.

"Now that you're adventurers, you'll need to complete some training before we can grant you permission to enter the Great Dungeon. Please go to that window to complete the procedures. We should be able to provide you with the information from Berine's letter after you finish the training."

After completing the training, we'll finally be able to enter the dungeon. It's quite a momentous occasion.

I looked up from the metal plate and caught the eye of a group of young male adventurers. They seemed to be sizing me up, but when they noticed I was looking at them, they left.

Maybe they thought I looked easy to take advantage of because of my appearance. ...I hope it doesn't cause any trouble.