Chapter 3 Update.

Nord hung the wooden guild card he received at the counter around his neck (he had threaded the string himself) and moved to the location where the 'request forms' were posted, as instructed by the receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild.

The requests at the Adventurer's Guild are posted in the tavern to the left just inside the entrance. More precisely, the tavern is located at the back left of the Adventurer's Guild, where chairs and tables are set up, and the space between the entrance and the tavern seems to be where adventurers search for requests.

Nord headed to that space, where the requests were posted. The request forms were plastered all over one wall. The wall had several large cork boards installed, and many request forms were posted on them. Each request board, where the request forms were posted, had inscriptions such as 'Crystal' or 'Black Iron' along with patterns.

Seeing these, Nord recalled the ranks of adventurers. Adventurers are ranked according to their strength and contributions, and the higher the rank, the higher the rewards for the requests they can take. The ranks, which indicate the status of adventurers, are named after the materials of the guild cards of each rank, and are as follows, from highest to lowest:

10th Rank: Holy Treasure Class Adventurer

9th Rank: Holy Gold Class Adventurer

8th Rank: Holy Silver Class Adventurer

7th Rank: Gold Class Adventurer

6th Rank: Silver Class Adventurer

5th Rank: Black Iron Class Adventurer

4th Rank: Red Copper Class Adventurer

3rd Rank: Crystal Class Adventurer

2nd Rank: Jade Class Adventurer

1st Rank: Slate Class Adventurer

Exception:

Unranked: Wooden Class Adventurer

Nord is currently a Wooden Class Adventurer. According to the naming rule, he would be called 'Wood,' but in reality, the nickname for newbies has become so widespread that he is almost certainly called a 'Newbie.'

As ranks rise, adventurers receive a certain amount of preparation money, in addition to the increased rewards for the jobs they take. Moreover, to advance to ranks above Mithril, the adventurer must be recognized by the Adventurer's Guild for exceptional achievements. This recognition is determined through a meeting of the highest officials of the Adventurer's Guild, and only after being approved by the highest officials—the Guild Council—can the rank be raised.

When such a promotion is approved, instead of preparation money, the adventurer is given the material of their new rank. For example, a Holy Silver Class adventurer would receive mithril material, and a Holy Gold Class adventurer would receive orichalcum material.

Even high-ranking nobles with vast wealth can hardly obtain these legendary materials for their weapons, which would be the ultimate goal for warriors. Thinking this, Nord shook his head to return his thoughts to reality. It was more important to think about what to eat today than to dream of legendary weapons. After all, Nord is at the very bottom of the adventurer ranks.

He must advance to the next rank—the 1st Rank, Slate Class Adventurer—as soon as possible and earn as much as he can.

Nord looked back at the bulletin board.

The requests that Wooden Class adventurers can take are only the lowest level, the kind that anyone can take. These requests are posted on the bulletin board at the far end of the wall where the request boards are lined up—essentially in the corner of the Adventurer's Guild. A bulletin board labeled 'Free Bulletin Board' is posted on the wall.

The requests on the Free Bulletin Board, while offering low rewards, are perfect for newbies like Wooden Class adventurers because there is no penalty for failure. The requests posted on the Free Bulletin Board are all non-combat related, such as 'Cleaning the city's sewers,' 'Removing debris from construction sites,' and 'Cleaning the capital.' The only relatively adventurer-like request is 'Gather herbs!' This is a 'standing request' that is posted year-round because there is always a demand, and it is not withdrawn even if there are many takers. Incidentally, 'Cleaning' requests are also standing requests, but they have a limit on the number of simultaneous takers, and it was clear that today's quota was already filled.

Moreover, the requests on the Free Bulletin Board can be taken even without an adventurer's card. Nord had been taking requests for pocket money even before he became a Wooden Class adventurer. This is why Wooden Class adventurers are considered newbies and, strictly speaking, not yet true adventurers.

After looking through all the requests on the Free Bulletin Board, Nord decided to take the 'Slime Capture Request.' The request was from the Sewer Management Bureau. The request form stated, "Giant rats have overpopulated and eaten the slimes in the sewers. If this continues, there won't be enough slimes to eat the garbage, and the sewers will clog. Please bring us slimes!"

A note from the guild was attached, stating that up to 500 slimes would be accepted, and the current number collected was also listed. According to this, about half the slimes had already been collected, so Nord thought it would be best to collect them quickly. He also took the herb-gathering request. Both requests had low per-unit rewards, but if he collected enough, he could earn enough for a decent meal.

At the counter, the names of the request takers (Nord) were written in the 'Taker' section of the request forms he handed to the guild staff. After confirming that the name on the form matched the name on Nord's guild card, the guild's stamp was placed on the request form. He was warned to be careful not to lose the stamped request form, as it would be needed to receive the reward. Apparently, the guild's records and the stamp on the request form must match to prevent fraud, such as stealing rewards.

With two request forms in hand, Nord carefully stored them and left the guild building.

§

Nord prepared for the slime capture. It wasn't much. Besides the longsword he carried for self-defense, he only needed a bag for the slimes and a string to tie the herbs. He went home to prepare these items and then headed out of the capital.

The guards at the capital's gates were busy inspecting the endless stream of visitors. They checked people's belongings, verified the contents of merchants' carts, and looked for wanted criminals.

The capital was Nord's birthplace. As a noble's son, Nord had citizenship and was familiar with the guards, so they let him through with just a nod.

The main reason the guild has newbies take requests from the Free Bulletin Board is probably more for training in the procedures of taking requests rather than to clear the posted requests. Thinking this, Nord walked from the gate to the location of the slimes.

The capital is surrounded by a river, and the river water is brought into the city through the gates. The river is a source of water for the residents. Nord was at the river's downstream, where a familiar herb was growing. The leaves of the herb spread out in five directions like an open palm.

He picked the leaves from the stem with practiced hands, and a distinctive, pungent smell filled the air. It was the smell of the herb.

More precisely, it was the lowest grade of the many herbs called 'herbs.' While there are higher-grade herbs, for Nord, who had never seen them, 'herbs' referred to this low-grade, palm-shaped herb.

With practiced hands, Nord picked and collected the herbs. Suddenly, a trembling creature appeared before him. It must have crawled out from the water, moving slowly with its body shaking. Its body was a translucent liquid encased in a thin membrane, with a darker core visible in the center. It was a slime. Slimes are common creatures that mainly eat dead leaves, animal carcasses, and garbage. They also eat small insects, but are harmless to larger animals.

Nord, having taken the slime capture request, caught the slime. He grabbed it with his bare hands, and the slime tried to escape by shaking its body, but it couldn't get away from Nord's grip and was placed in the bag.

Slimes can change their body color depending on their environment. For example, slimes in the sewers absorb sewage and turn a dirty color. This slime, now transparent in the river water, would turn dirty if thrown into the sewers.

While collecting herbs and occasionally catching slimes, Nord thought about these things.

§

Nord returned to the city before sunset. The capital's gates are generally closed at night, except for emergencies like military dispatches. If he was unlucky, he might have to spend the night outside the walls. As a resident of the capital, Nord was well aware of this.

After delivering the slimes to the waterworks office, he returned to the guild with the empty bag.

On his way back, walking on the red-stained stone streets of the capital as the sun set, he saw several adventurers, likely returning from their own requests, dressed in similar gear.

When he entered the guild, long lines were already forming at each counter. Nord joined the end of the line.

In the tavern, adventurers who had already reported their requests were starting to drink. Some were toasting with their companions, some were savoring their meals alone, and some were boasting about their victories over monsters.

As the line moved forward, the number of such adventurers in the tavern increased, and the noise grew louder. By the time Nord reported his requests at the counter, the tavern had turned into a lively party of drunkards.

"Is it always like this?"

Nord, who had never visited the guild at this time, was surprised by the noise. He asked the receptionist, who was processing his two request forms and the bundle of herbs, with a smile, though she seemed a bit embarrassed.

"Yes, it's always like this. Do you not like it?"

" Nope, I don't mind," Nord replied briefly.

From the noise of the guild, Nord felt a familiar atmosphere, similar to his family's home, the Felis family. While not as noisy, his home was also lively.

For adventurers, the guild might be their home. Thinking this, Nord received his reward for the day at the counter.

It was only a few copper coins, enough for a regular meal, but it was a solid first step in his career as an adventurer.