Chapter 58

"Well then, we've finally turned fifteen and are considered adults, ready to take our first steps as adventurers."

Although I had enrolled in the adventurer preparatory school in Breichburg, I ended up going to the capital for Ehrich's wedding during the summer break and couldn't return.

Actually, I was worried about the mansion, so I had been returning to Breichburg regularly using the instant teleportation spell, but I hadn't shown my face at the preparatory school at all. Despite that, I was somehow considered a graduate, which was quite confusing.

In a way, it was lucky, but in exchange, we had to undergo much stricter training for about two and a half years.

El received sword and combat training from Warren, who was a squadron leader in the Royal Guard.

Eina also received spear and combat training from a spear expert in the Royal Guard.

As for me and Louise, we might have drawn the shortest straw. We received rigorous, combat-style training almost every day from Master Armstrong, the head palace mage, except for our weekly day off.

'But how does he manage to keep his job without showing up at the palace much?' Louise and I often thought. Despite this, we engaged in training that resembled battle scenes from manga I had seen in my previous life, using his specialty magic for enhancing physical abilities, high-speed flight, and magical armor.

Moreover, Master Armstrong was using me to improve his own magical power, which was quite devious. This was also evidence of how strong he actually was, despite his appearance and usual behavior.

We hadn't yet reached the limit of our magical power, but we decided to continue our training. For now, we were registering as adventurers.

To become an adventurer, you first need to register with the Adventurer's Guild. You can't just claim to be an adventurer, equip weapons and armor, and go hunting or exploring.

However, the management of this is somewhat lax. If you hunt in the forest near your village and sell the results at the town market, you won't be punished.

I had been doing this in Breichburg with a commercial guild permit since I was about seven years old.

During my time at the Breichburg adventurer preparatory school, we received temporary permits for hunting, but it wasn't a big problem even without them as long as we didn't enter the territory of monsters.

Probably, it's because they don't have the resources to strictly enforce it and it's just for show.

Also, due to the increase in the monster territories and population, there isn't much room for livestock farming on this continent. The prey obtained from hunting is a valuable source of protein, and they don't want to discourage people from selling it.

That's the reality of the situation.

"But, is it really okay to register at the main branch of the Adventurer's Guild in the capital?"

I asked Brantark, who had come with us. Since I was technically a graduate of the Breichburg adventurer preparatory school, I thought it might be better to register at the Breichburg branch.

"It doesn't matter where you register."

Brantark replied, but he had been caught between the border lord, Breichrader, and the nobles in the capital, and had been through a lot because of us.

Now, he had completely given up and didn't seem to feel any pressure.

"When we return to Breichburg, we'll report to the branch there. They'll realize that the monks have made Breichburg their base of operations."

"Is that how it works?"

"That's how it works. Now, let's register."

Brantark, who was guiding us, and I entered the main guild office, which looked like a government office. There were about ten reception desks, and young women were sitting at each one, explaining things to adventurers, accepting documents, and handing out other documents.

"Next, please."

After waiting in line for a while because all the desks were occupied, it was finally our turn.

"We're here to register as new adventurers and form a party."

"Understood."

The young blonde lady at the reception desk looked at the documents I had brought and seemed surprised by the content. I had become quite famous because I had previously slain two dragons.

"I've received the individual adventurer registration forms. I'll check the details immediately. Also, there are five new party members, correct?"

"Yes."

Originally, El, Eina, Louise, and I were planning to form a party of four, but for various unavoidable reasons, the party size increased to five.

"Um... Lady Elise too?"

The receptionist was clearly surprised by Elise's registration as an adventurer, known as the 'Saint of the Hoehnheim family.' It's not particularly unusual for a clergy member to register as an adventurer, but it was still surprising.

"Yes. I've decided to become an adventurer alongside Vendelin as his fiancée."

This girl is so sincere that there's no hidden agenda in her words. She really wants to be with me as my fiancée.

For the past two and a half years, Elise and I have been on at least one date per week. Other than that, I spent all my time training with Master Armstrong, so I hardly talked to any other women except for Eina and Louise.

There are many beautiful women in the capital, so it was a bit disappointing, but if I went out alone, it would cause a lot of trouble. Nobles trying to introduce me to their daughters, merchants or commoners aiming to become concubines, and other nobles trying to recruit me for their factions or as vassals.

As a result, my peace on weekends depended on Cardinal Hoehnheim, Ehrich, and the financial nobles.

In a way, it was all part of Master Armstrong's plan. He kept me busy with training to prevent other women from getting close to me.

And on the rare days off, Elise and I always saw each other. We live together, so we meet for meals and other daily chores, and I've become quite dependent on her.

The rest of the time, I spend with Eina and Louise. It's not like we're doing anything romantic, but it's practically impossible for me to have an affair.

Even other nobles, who are frustrated by the interference of the financial nobles and the master, have given up, as Ehrich once said.

'Would you like to invite the dragon-slaying hero to a garden party tonight...'

'That night, Baron Baumayster is busy! He's invited to a dinner at the Hoehnheim viscount's house, his fiancée's family!'

Master Armstrong didn't neglect the scheduling of such events. Despite his appearance, this was one of the things that made him difficult to deal with.

"Um, the party name is 'Dragon Busters,' right?"

The receptionist, after glancing at me, calmly confirmed the party name. Adventuring is a job that attracts many country bumpkins and poor people seeking quick riches or social advancement.

So, there are many who try to impress with their party names, often drawing ridicule from the receptionists and other adventurers.

But since I had already slain two dragons, the receptionist didn't find it strange. I thought this calmness was typical of a government official.

"The leader is Vendelin, correct?"

Over the past two and a half years, I've grown to about 175 centimeters, with a medium build and a face that's decent but not outstanding. Given that my family is the country bumpkin Baumayster family, I consider this a good outcome.

Incidentally, this is an average height in this world. My equipment includes expensive robes and staffs left by my master, but since my master was about ten centimeters taller than me, I had to have the armor shop adjust the robes.

I remember the shop owner being unusually persistent about buying the scraps of the robes. Apparently, they are made from various valuable materials like phoenix feathers and the first hair of a young water dragon, which can significantly reduce magical attacks.

'Even the scraps would be fine,' he said, and when I agreed, he gave me five gold plates and adjusted the robes for free. Even scraps can make a big difference when used as lining in armor.

'If you have any more scraps, I'd be happy to have them.'

'If I do...'

I was once again reminded of my master's greatness.

"Next, Elwin."

"Yes."

El, having received good training, had become a sword expert. I can't judge his level because my sword skills are limited, but Warren, who taught him, suggested, 'How about joining the regular knight order? I'll recommend you.'

Due to the system, you can't join the Royal Guard directly, so you start in the regular knight order, gain experience, and then get recommended to the Royal Guard. Warren suggested this career path.

'I'm sorry, but I'm the squire leader of the Baumayster barony.'

'I just asked out of hope. But it's a shame.'

El declined Warren's offer. Over the past two and a half years, he grew to about 180 centimeters, with a lean but muscular build, and he wields a greatsword with both hands, wearing plate mail enchanted with a weight reduction spell.

He also carries a round shield and a longsword as backups.

El can switch between a two-handed and one-handed sword depending on the situation, a skill I could never master.

"Next, Eina."

Eina, over the past two and a half years, grew into a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and a lithe, panther-like figure. She's about five centimeters shorter than me, but she exudes an aura that makes you forget the height difference.

Her main weapon is a spear, with two short swords as backups. If she loses her spear, she can fight with the two swords. She also received sword training in her free time.

Her armor is mainly a half-plate enchanted with a weight reduction spell.

"Louis."

"Here!"

Louis, who was also a victim of Master Armstrong's training, grew to about 150 centimeters but remained childlike in build. She boasts, 'I have a decent chest,' but no one would think so. It's not non-existent, but it's minimal.

However, you shouldn't say that. There are few martial artists as strong as her. If she sneaks up on me or Master Armstrong, we would be rendered combat-incapable, regardless of our magic.

She wears a gi made of good materials for magical defense, with gauntlets on her hands, looking like a martial artist.

An adventurer who tried to tease her appearance backed away when she glared at him. If he had been hit, he would have broken bones, so he was lucky.

"Finally, Elise."

The receptionist, after looking at my application, no longer found it strange that Elise was joining the party. She processed Elise's registration quickly.

Elise, over the past two years, grew to about 160 centimeters and became a beautiful woman worthy of being called a saint. Notably, her chest has grown from an estimated F-cup at age thirteen to at least a G-cup now.

Her equipment is a habit gifted by her grandfather, Cardinal Hoehnheim, which has strong magical defense, making her figure hard to discern. However, her prominent chest makes its size obvious.

Her weapons include a mace and knives. Despite appearances, Elise is quite strong and has learned weapon handling from the cathedral knights, making her much stronger than amateur adventurers.

At the very least, she can defend herself, or she wouldn't be allowed to join the party.

The cathedral knights, by the way, are a security force set up to protect the church. They are not officially a knight order since they are not part of the kingdom, but they are called knights because they protect the state religion.

It's also a popular career path for the children of nobles.

"The party has five members. Registration is complete."

The receptionist completed the paperwork surprisingly quickly. This is the main guild office, so new adventurers and parties are registered daily.

They can't afford to spend too much time on each one.

"For detailed regulations, please refer to this booklet."

Finally, we received booklets for each member, and the registration was complete.

"That was a surprisingly quick registration."

After the registration, we were drinking tea and reading the booklets at a café near the guild office. Eina looked disappointed, thinking there should be more to becoming an adventurer.

"It's better than a long explanation at the reception."

"That's true, but..."

We already understood the rules in the booklet because we had been educated beforehand. Most of them are common-sense rules for living as a human, such as not interfering with other adventurers, not killing and stealing, and not causing trouble or committing crimes in towns and villages during missions.

Adventurers tend to attract seasoned and unscrupulous people, so many of these rules are included as a precaution. Adventuring is also a way to vent the frustrations of young people in a time of peace, so there are often reckless individuals.

"Next, the ranking system."

The ranking system isn't like the S to F ranks in the web novels I read in my previous life. The personal and party adventurer cards only record the number of completed and failed quests and the total rewards earned.

"In a way, it's a scary system."

Most adventurer work involves hunting and gathering in uninhabited areas. Strong adventurers and parties enter the territories of powerful monsters for higher rewards, hunting more valuable monster materials and obtaining rare items.

Occasionally, the guild will urgently recruit materials that are running low, but generally, you hunt and gather in areas suitable for your abilities and sell the results to the guild.

The cards also record the types and numbers of animals and monsters killed, and the total rewards earned.

"Adventurers are all about hunting."

Louis is right. There are no miscellaneous quests like finding lost dogs, repairing roofs, or babysitting, as seen in games.

Such jobs can be done by many others. There are guilds for those jobs, so if you want to do them, you should register with those guilds.

For example, there's a small pet-related guild for dog walking, a carpenter's guild for roof repairs, and a babysitting department in the maid dispatch guild.

So, if adventurers take on these jobs, they would be stepping on the toes of others.

"Except for exploring sealed ruins."

The only exception is exploring ancient magical civilization structures and dungeons. Most of these are in monster territories, with traps and powerful monsters, so they are usually off-limits by royal decree.

Occasionally, new ones are discovered, but inexperienced adventurers often enter without proper preparation and never return.

"Sealed ruins are explored by parties designated by the guild, which receives requests from the kingdom and then assigns suitable adventurers or parties..."

"Does that mean the only way to get a reputation for exploring ruins is to hunt a lot of strong monsters and earn rewards?"

"El is right. However, your situation is a bit different."

Brantark, who was drinking coffee with us, handed us a piece of paper with 'Royal Mandatory Request' written in large letters.

"Royal Mandatory Request? You don't mean..."

"Exactly. The kingdom has designated a party to explore a sealed ruin."

"Isn't that usually left to veterans?"

"Usually, yes..."

The kingdom is assigning a dangerous sealed ruin exploration to a group of new adventurers who just registered and formed a party.

Logically, this is a ridiculous decision.

"Shouldn't we start with local hunting and such?"

"El is right, but..."

Brantark, who didn't make the decision, was flustered by our questions.

"Because the monk has slain two dragons."

Even so, that's not a reason to send us, who are new adventurers, to a sealed ruin. Even if my magic can kill dragons, there's no guarantee it will work in a ruin, and we need to get used to group combat, including coordination, over the next two and a half years.

"Brantark, new adventurers are usually assigned a guide, right?"

Eina asked, emphasizing the point. This system was created because new adventurers often die or get injured early in their careers. New parties go on three hunts in nearby monster territories, with a veteran party or adventurer as a guide.

After surviving the early stages, the adventurers become guides for new parties, helping to reduce the initial death rate.

However, the death rate for beginners is still high, and the most dangerous time is when they become more experienced, as in any profession.

"Of course, a guide will be assigned."

"Yes, a veteran adventurer."

"Wait, you mean...?"

"Exactly. It might not be very exciting, but..."

As Louis feared, our guide was Brantark, who had probably been caught off guard by the assignment. We quietly prepared for departure without making any comments.

"If it doesn't look good, let's run back."

"El, that's a good judgment."

"What? Is that okay?"

"Idiot! A dead adventurer can't earn a cent! If it's not going well, immediate retreat is the rule!"

Brantark shouted at El, who asked if running back was allowed. There's no reason to stick around and die when the kingdom and guild are forcing such a difficult mission on us from the start.