Chapter 41

Smiling, Heartis firmly returned the handshake.

"It is an honor to receive such a generous response."

Well, there is still some leeway regarding the party matter. When asked, it turned out that the 9th rank was like a probationary period in a company, where one would start receiving requests for basic general hunts, slightly more difficult gathering tasks, and some requests that required a bit of expertise.

"I have roughly checked the regulations of the Adventurers' Guild, but could you tell me about the general image and daily life of each rank in practical terms?"

To be honest, the regulations only listed what could be done and the requirements, making it hard to form a concrete image. The content was a list of endless clauses, like "Party A shall do this and that for Party B." I had read them while crying at work, but I never thought I would have to read them here as well. I just wanted to hear the real voices of the staff, especially the veterans, to understand at which rank one could actually live comfortably.

"Generally, it is said that one can live comfortably from the 8th rank and have a stable life from the 7th rank. The rewards increase from the 8th rank. Of course, this is proportional to the difficulty."

I see. When I glanced at the 8th rank requests, they included hunts for wolf packs that frequently appeared and bears that were useful for materials. However, I didn't think I could handle them solo. Even a single wolf might be manageable, but they usually form packs of up to 10. Being surrounded would be the end.

"The 9th rank is a preparation period. It's a time to understand what you can do, complete requests, and decide on a direction. Generally, during the 9th rank, you find trustworthy companions, form a party, and learn to help each other. The 8th rank exam can be taken as a party."

That's right. It's about the party. While it's mandatory from the 7th rank, it's not something you gather just before the exam. Building trust within a team doesn't happen overnight. Even at work, colleagues are essentially strangers. You have to confirm what each person can do and then decide if you can trust them. It takes a lot of time to establish these relationships. Building trust is incredibly difficult, but it can be destroyed in an instant. If you trigger something important to the other person, trust is lost.

"Don't be late, meet deadlines, take notes of what others say." I remember being told these things since my student days, but they really sank in after becoming a professional. These are the minimum manners for one person to trust another. If someone is late, their trust is already at zero, even if it's not obvious on the surface. Similarly, missing a deadline affects many people. You must adhere to it, and if there's a delay, you need to inform others as soon as you notice to avoid taking the blame. Taking notes is also important because the other person assumes you recognize what they said. Reconfirming it can be...

That's why Japanese people work harder than their employment contracts require. Trust is like walking on a thin line, cautiously approaching the other person.

So, a team, a party. In this world, you need to spend more time together, especially for escort requests. You can't entrust your back to someone you don't trust. In a game, you can laugh it off if someone dies, but in reality, it's not that simple. If someone dies, that's it. If you let someone die, you have to bear the responsibility.

When I saw Deed and the others, and heard that most of them were from the same village and childhood friends, I thought, "Of course, you can only trust family."

My head hurts. I don't want to continue being an adventurer. This job is like a part-time contract. The tax is deducted automatically, which is attractive, but otherwise, you have to survive on your own skills. Honestly, adventurers and game protagonists are designed for endless strengthening without a clear goal. Real-world adventurers have a tough life. I miss my life as a salaryman. At least, we could work together if we trusted each other. I need to find a stable job quickly.

I often see stories where adventurers aim to be the best, but I don't know if that's a good thing. A hero? What's that, is it delicious? I'm strong? I don't know.

I need to gather people quickly and form a trustworthy team. As someone who has been a leader in a company, I know this is urgent.

"I see. By the way, how do the members of the Adventurers' Guild form parties?"

"Most are from the same hometown. Knowing each other well is a big factor. However, such cases are rare. People can also leave, so most search in nearby villages and towns. Many are looking for people, but whether that's a good thing is debatable."

Of course, you only look for replacements if someone has died or gone missing.

"I see. Does the guild not help with matchmaking?"

"Yes, we do. We introduce people based on the trends in completed tasks. In your case, you have no flaws in your tasks, and you have this recent incident. To put it bluntly, you risked your life to complete the request and protect your companions. The guild recognizes and evaluates this information."

Great! This is trust. I'm glad I worked hard and did my job seriously.

"Can you introduce me to some people?"

"Yes, you will be in high demand. Your completion rate is perfect, and you handle tasks above your rank. There's no problem with introducing you."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Yes, please. Our guild collaborates with other countries to share information. In a bad sense, it's for dealing with irresponsible individuals, and in a good sense, it's for sharing achievements like this. Congratulations. We look forward to your future success."

The conversation ended. There's no tavern, but the guild will help me find people. And there's at least a basic blacklist.

Feeling a bit relieved, I thought I wanted to take a break.