Chapter 10

"But I refuse."

I clearly refused.

"Wh-Why not!?"

"There's nothing to it; if you're going to join, it should be a large guild."

There shouldn't be anyone who would deliberately choose a small, weak guild.

"...Our guild isn't weak... I-I'm from a well-known guild that everyone knows..."

"Then why do you look away?"

"..."

It might be a guild that's well-known, but only as a small, insignificant one.

"Damn... Even a beautiful woman like me is kneeling and begging, and you're a heartless devil! A-Are you going to demand my body next...!?"

The woman's cheeks twitched as she covered her body with her arms.

"Unfortunately, I prefer large chests."

"Of course I have small breasts, you bastard!"

The woman shouted with tears in her eyes, then said,

"Then my shoes! I'll lick your shoes!"

...Still, I've ended up dealing with a rather strange woman. Does she really need a new member that badly? She must have some desperate reason to be this persistent.

"At least hear me out!"

"Hmm."

"Will you listen!?"

"Then, since we're here, let me show you around the guild!"

"But I refuse."

"Why!?"

"I'm not interested."

"Ugh!"

No matter what state her guild is in, it has nothing to do with me. I came to this city to master the sword. Honestly, I have no interest in anything else.

"Ugh... I thought the prostration strategy would work this time..."

The woman was muttering something, but I ignored her and asked,

"By the way, which guild is the most powerful in this city?"

"...Are you asking me...? You're really thick-skinned..."

The woman told me with a look that said she didn't care anymore.

"Undoubtedly, it's the 'Black Blade'... They have eight A-rank swordsmen..."

Hmm. Black Blade, huh. I forgot the name of the guild my mother mentioned, but it does sound grand.

"They have their headquarters in the square... But lately, the entry requirements have been very strict, so it's quite difficult to join..."

"I see. Thanks."

"You're welcome..."

The woman's tone was weak, lacking the initial enthusiasm.

"Well, good luck. There are plenty of new members besides me. There might be some oddballs who will listen to your story."

"That's incredibly rude!"

"...?"

I was trying to encourage her, so why is she angry? I tilted my head in confusion and headed towards the Black Blade sword guild.

"Hmm. Is that it?"

I quickly found a building that looked like the Black Blade's headquarters.

"What do you want?"

As I approached the gate, a guard swordsman came over.

"Is this the Black Blade's headquarters?"

"Yes."

"I want to join."

"An applicant, huh? To join us, you need to pass the exam. It's held on the 10th of every month. The next one is in three days."

In three days, huh. I have to wait that long. No, maybe it's lucky that it's only three days.

"To take the exam, you need to register."

"Understood."

The guard led me inside to the reception. Many young swordsmen were lined up, probably to register for the exam. After waiting for a while, it was my turn.

"You want to register for the exam. To take our guild's exam, you must be at least a 'High-Class' profession. What is your profession?"

What? 'High-Class' profession? There's such a requirement?

"No, I'm unemployed. I'm not a 'High-Class' profession."

When I said that, the man at the reception widened his eyes for a moment and then

"Ha ha ha!"

He burst out laughing.

"S-Sorry... Unemployed, huh? As I mentioned, joining our guild requires at least a 'High-Class' profession. I'm sorry, but please leave."

The man said this while trying to suppress his laughter.

"Hey, I'm unemployed!"

"Did he really think an unemployed person could join this top guild?"

"Seriously, any guild would turn away an unemployed person!"

I could hear laughter from behind me.

Hmm. This is a problem. I'm used to being looked down on for being unemployed, but not being able to even take the exam to join a guild is a new one.

"Can't you make an exception? I'm confident I would pass the exam."

"Ha ha... I'm sorry, but rules are rules."

He burst out laughing again. More laughter from behind.

"Confident you'd pass the exam!?"

"Man, he's a real idiot!"

"The receptionist is really struggling with how to handle this!"

Then I remembered something important. Right. My mother must have written the letter for situations like this.

"Then, please give this letter to the guild leader."

"To the guild leader?"

"Yes."

"..."

The man at the reception looked at me for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

"Why not?"

At that, the man's customer service smile broke, and his face was filled with contempt.

"It's obvious. The guild leader is very busy. He doesn't have time to waste on an unemployed person. ...The line is getting long, so could you please leave?"

I nodded and left, determined to find another way.