I spent the night at an inn near the Adventurer's Guild.
The next morning, I got up early and headed to the guild to check for any available jobs.
I'd already confirmed that the guild opened at dawn.
Back in my old world, staffing agencies started recruiting at 5 a.m., and that's when the best gigs popped up—plenty of work, good pay.
I figured it might be the same here, so I came early to test the waters.
And sure enough, it was.
Inside the guild, teams were already stationed at each table, recruiting members.
It looked just like a job fair for small and mid-sized companies.
Hey, I've sent out hundreds of resumes and sat through dozens of interviews back home—I'm a veteran at this.
First things first: prioritize my targets!
Then sell my guts and skills to match!
Top choice: dungeon conquest.
I want to challenge the unknown like a true adventurer!
Second: exploration.
I've always wanted to see more of this vast world!
Third: combat role in a solid organization.
Fighting alongside them should build my rep.
That'll make it easier to land the next gig.
Let's do this!
"Uh, Mr. Kirgil, you look old enough to have kids of your own.
We're only hiring young newbies.
We want long-term companions, if possible."
I got rejected for my age.
"No experience, huh.
Exploration costs a fortune, by the way.
Got a lot of personal funds saved up?
If not, any special skills to offer?"
I couldn't reveal Happy Moment.
I pitched my hunting skills and military training, but...
No money, no special talents—they told me to try elsewhere.
"Katona the demon general has been spotted nearby lately.
We're recruiting to hunt him down, so we need seasoned warriors."
"Wait, didn't Katona die recently?"
"Haha, must've heard wrong somewhere.
If he was dead, it'd be all over the capital by now."
For some reason, info on Katona's status was being suppressed.
If I blurted out right here that I killed him, they'd think I was nuts, right?
Anyway, as a fresh registrant, I had no record as a "seasoned warrior"—another rejection.
I debated revealing I was Prosek's Hero, but... better play it safe.
In this atmosphere, claiming I caught Katona and became a Hero? Nah.
Without any fame backing it up, it'd just make life harder later.
It's like a top-uni newbie acting dumb in the army: "Hey! You went to a fancy school—why are you such a blockhead?" They'd roast me.
No connections in that group either—it'd be worse.
Screw up, and I'd end up the guild's punching bag.
Yeah... gotta save the Hero reveal for a perfect, dramatic moment, like some anime special episode.
So I went through interview after interview.
All rejections. No way...
There was one oddball, though.
"Ah! You there—you have a divine calling!
Will you not follow the voice of God with me?"
Bouncing around like a pinball, getting shot down left and right, when a blue-haired religious girl approached me for some proselytizing.
No clue which order she was from, but her outfit was active.
Short skirt to the knees, off-shoulder top—less priestess, more shrine maiden cosplay.
Who knows if it's enchanted or whatever, but it sure seemed designed to lure in guys.
Reminded me of those cult scams back home, where they'd send women to hit on men and vice versa.
Might be the same here.
"Wait! At least your name!
Just jot down your name!!
If not now, I might never see you again..."
Felt like signing up meant a lecture and a donation request.
I slipped into the crowd before she could grab me.
Then bolted to a far-off restaurant to soothe my empty, interview-weary stomach.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇I ducked into a cave to avoid wolves...
and ran into a tiger.
Here to eat, and who's plopped down in front of me? Hidiya, the pickpocket kid.
What fresh extortion scheme this time?
Mana's plentiful now—no mercy.
Morning stress was piling up anyway.
"Sorry about that time."
Whoa? Straight-up bow.
Ah, guess the coin I gave as a "navigator tip" worked wonders.
With Liard there too, it was carrot and stick.
"Forget it. I said from the start I wasn't looking for trouble.
No hard feelings."
"Still, you spared my life."
Spared? Was Liard's killing intent legit?
Hidiya pulled out a silver coin—the one I gave him yesterday.
"If Mr. Kirgil hadn't given me this silver, I'd be dead or missing an arm."
For this bold kid to act like this, Liard must've been a terror around the castle back in the day.
Mysteries about that guy just keep stacking up.
"It's already yours—keep it.
Maybe it's fate."
"Then my brothers and I will help you from now on."
Normal folks would shrug it off as "lucky break," but Hidiya seemed dead serious.
I said it was fine, but he insisted on giving me contact info: "Call anytime you need."
Seemed prideful from our first meet—guess this is his pride at work too.
Anyway.
Test run: I pulled up Hidiya's Status Window.
It appeared.
Even this kid's profile.
Status Window
Hidiya
Level: 5 | Class: Thief | Alignment: Neutral
HP: 120/120 | MP: 40/40
STR: 12 | AGI: 28 | INT: 15 | LUK: 22
Weird.
I have no special feelings for this kid, yet it showed up.
This encounter means I need to research the Status Window more.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇After eating, I scrapped my dawn strategy based on the failures.
Start small: simple quests to build a track record, then aim for top groups or get scouted.
"Hey, heard the lord named a new Hero. Who is it?"
"Pfft, if they finally picked one after ages, they'd announce it everywhere.
No way it'd be this quiet."
...Snippets like that popped up now and then.
Luckily, guild staff kept their mouths shut.
I wanted to yell, It's me!, but... embarrassing.
Need to do something cool first.
Figure out a natural reveal.
I'm an insider in Agnes Village, but here? Just some rube uncle.
Overheard yesterday I looked "rough"—claiming Hero in front of strangers? High difficulty for an introvert like me.
Honestly, scary.
If they don't buy it and mock me, I might never show my face here again.
"Ah! Found that creepy old guy from yesterday!"
The brown-haired girl who pissed me off yesterday.
Why's she sitting in front of me?
"What business do you have with this creepy old man?"
I turned away—didn't want to deal.
"What, you sulking, old man?
Creepy and timid~"
Sudden urge to school her.
Hold it in, my inner Happy Moment.
"Lirisa kept asking about you.
But you still can't find work?"
Is this how kids talk these days?
What's that got to do with my job hunt?
"Heehee~ No jobs, huh? Bored?
Wanna do something fun with me?"
Same age as Reshi, but Reshi's teasing is cute—this grates.
"Don't wanna get tangled with you."
"Aww~ I saw you hustling since dawn, zero takers.
That's why I'm talking to you.
I don't judge by looks.
It's all about ability."
"Pretty sure you pre-rejected me yesterday based on looks."
"Th-that... Hehe~ My bad."
Grinning shamelessly with a cutesy pose.
Generational gap aside, our personalities clash hard.
Time to bail.
"Hey! Ssu! What the hell?
You said you'd convince him!"
"Tried. He's not into it.
What now? I tried hard.
Am I not his type??"
"Don't talk like... who wouldn't...!"
Now I see: red-haired youth from yesterday at the next table.
Party member, probably.
Little bookish girl hiding behind too.
Arguing about me over my back.
Anyway, time to cool off and head out.
If I were a delinquent, I'd be chain-smoking by now.
Ordered a drink at the tavern out front, catching my breath.
"...Um."
Small voice beside me—turned to see tiny black-robed mage girl Lirisa.
She shyly slid a paper with ancient script in front of me.
— Ancient Language Note —[I will die.]
Pffft!!! I spat spectacularly.
Definitely a faded document where one letter had been misread as another!
Kid tried writing an apology or friendly note in ancient tongue, but botched it hilariously.
"Um... that reaction.
You can read it, right? You know it?"
"...No clue."
Damn, wanna correct it so bad!
Fix those letters!
Hold it, inner grammar Nazi.
That'd just drag me into her knowledge obsession again.
"S-sorry for calling you ignorant.
Sorry. Sorry..."
Can't catch a break anywhere.
Tried to leave the tavern, but...
"Please, help me! Take me as your disciple!
I'll call you Master!
I'll invite you to my house!!"
Grabbing my clothes, pleading.
Shook her off—she clung to my arm.
Pushed—she hugged my leg.
Seemed the shyest, but this persistence...
Are all mages this desperate for knowledge?
Anyway, small body, but... womanly curves ain't small.
Not doing it on purpose, right?
Gotta flee to the inn.
Job hunt's a bust today!
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