Chapter 11

"Sir Knight, don't you have any money with you?"

"Ah, I have my reasons for not carrying any at the moment."

During their journey, Fiona and Lambert had grown strangely familiar with each other. Lloyd and Lily kept their distance and didn't talk much beyond what was necessary, but Fiona and Lambert often conversed. This was due to Lambert's interest in Fiona, who resembled a former ruler, and Fiona's unflinching and open attitude towards Lambert's full plate armor, which complemented each other well.

"In that case, it would have been fine to accept the token of gratitude from the villagers earlier... Unfortunately, I don't have much on hand either... I can't offer a substantial reward."

As she spoke, Fiona reached into her tool bag. Lambert stopped her movement.

"It's fine. I didn't lend a hand for that reason."

In fact, when they defeated the bandits, the village chief had offered a reward, but Lambert had declined.

Lambert believed that protecting the people was his duty, and the compensation was already provided by the state through taxes. Although he didn't receive a salary from the state, this idea was deeply ingrained in his mind. The thought of earning travel money by helping the people was far from his mind.

Moreover, he knew the village was struggling due to the bandit attacks. As long as Count Ouboc was alive, the village could be attacked again. In that sense, he hadn't fully accomplished his mission to save the village.

Additionally, there was another reason. Lambert, being an undead, didn't need money. For an undead who doesn't feel fatigue or hunger, money has little value.

"Without any money, what do you plan to do when we reach the city of Ainzas, Sir Knight?"

"I'll manage somehow. I can take a nap in a corner of a building and eat some animal meat."

"That's... even in Ainzas, there will be unsavory characters at night, and you won't be able to store your belongings properly. As for food, just roasting hunted game... it's not ideal..."

"It would be harsher during expeditions. Compared to the Valley of Death, the cold of the city and the obstacles like bandits are nothing."

"H-huh... I-I see..."

Fiona sometimes didn't understand what Lambert meant, but she nodded along to cover her confusion.

"However, not having money is quite inconvenient. You saved our lives, and I feel bad... I know! If you can't accept it directly, how about I introduce you to a job?"

"Job?"

"Yes. We are adventurers affiliated with a guild. Recently, the guild has partnered with a merchant guild, so we get more efficient jobs. With your strength, you should be able to earn enough money to stabilize your life for a while. With my introduction, the registration process should be quick."

A guild is a business that sells the labor of adventurers. They introduce adventurers to clients and collect a portion of the fee as a commission. Large guilds have nearly a hundred adventurers and are divided into headquarters and branches. However, the guild Fiona and her companions belong to, 'Twilight of the Spirits,' is a small guild with only ten members, including Fiona.

"H-hey, Fiona... you're acting on your own..."

Lloyd, who had been listening, interjected. Although Lambert was suppressing his undead aura, he still exuded an unsettling presence.

"However, Sir Knight seems unfamiliar with this area... it's a bit concerning to part ways like this..."

Hearing the argument between Lloyd and Fiona, Lambert, who was initially reluctant, was somewhat moved. He realized he was ignorant of the current state of the Regius Kingdom and thought that working as a citizen might help him understand the country better.

"First of all... this guy doesn't seem like the type to become an adventurer."

"Fine, I'll accept. Indeed, the current financial situation is inconvenient."

"Here you go... what!?"

Lambert made an immediate decision.

Originally, Lambert's goals were few. He aimed to watch over the kingdom that his former lord had unified and, as part of that, investigate Count Ouboc. He lacked information, and he wanted to gather basic knowledge before delving into the investigation.

"Then, when we reach the city, let's head to our guild, 'Twilight of the Spirits.'"

"There's just one thing I want to ask..."

"What is it?"

"About this... what exactly is an adventurer guild?"

"Starting from there, huh..."

Fiona was slightly suspicious of Lambert's background but didn't voice her concerns. Lloyd, however, visibly grimaced.

In Lambert's time, there were no guilds for adventurers. Most skilled fighters served royal families and prepared for war, and those who didn't settle in one place formed mercenary groups. Adventurers were rare and considered outcasts. Many were skilled but couldn't fit into groups, and their survival rate was less than 10% after a year. The idea of multiple adventurer guilds in a single town was unimaginable to Lambert.

"An adventurer guild is a place that mediates jobs and information for adventurers. Each guild has its own specific rules, policies, and types of jobs. 'Twilight of the Spirits' mainly handled the extermination of beasts and monsters that attacked villages, but recently, we've started collecting materials like meat and fur from dungeons for merchants."

"I see, I understand."

(With the spread of information about dangerous areas, the survival rate of adventurers might have improved. After the war, with excess military power, the nobles might have taken the lead in exploration...)

Lambert listened to Fiona and made various speculations about the post-war Regius Kingdom, chuckling to himself. The muffled laughter from inside his armor echoed eerily.

"There are six guilds in the city of Ainzas, but our 'Twilight of the Spirits' is small... well, we can be flexible... um, the guild master is... well, easygoing and accommodating, so the registration process shouldn't take long. People find him approachable and easy to work with..."

Fiona tried to highlight the advantages but ended up revealing some flaws. However, for Lambert, who prioritized information gathering over money, a small and lenient guild was actually a benefit.