As Nagumo Hiroto stepped inside the building alongside Gilbert and Alice, the atmosphere immediately changed. The noise from outside faded, replaced by a steady hum of voices and movement. The interior was much larger than he expected, with high ceilings supported by wooden beams and walls covered in notice boards filled with requests and postings. People filled the space—some wearing armor, others carrying weapons, and a few simply observing. Everyone seemed to have a purpose, and it was clear that this place was more than just an ordinary building.
Hiroto paused near the entrance, taking everything in. There was an energy here that felt different from the outside world. It wasn't peaceful, but it wasn't chaotic either. It felt structured, like a system built around survival.
Gilbert noticed his hesitation and spoke casually, explaining that this was the guild—a place where hunters gathered, took on jobs, and earned their living. Alice added that hunters were responsible for dealing with monsters, collecting resources, and protecting areas outside the kingdom. It was one of the most common paths for people without noble status or special positions.
Hiroto looked around again, this time noticing the details he had missed before. The scars on some faces, the worn-out armor, the serious expressions. These weren't just ordinary people. They were survivors.
Gilbert gestured forward, telling him it was time to get registered. Hiroto nodded and followed as they approached a long wooden counter. Behind it stood a woman who looked both calm and slightly tired, as if she had been handling people all day.
Gilbert greeted her casually and explained that they had found someone new. The woman's eyes shifted to Hiroto immediately, studying him with a sharp but neutral expression. She asked for his name, and Hiroto introduced himself as Nagumo Hiroto. Without hesitation, she began writing it down.
When she asked where he was from, Hiroto hesitated. Before he could respond, Gilbert stepped in and told her to list his origin as unknown, explaining that he wasn't from around the area. The woman didn't question it and continued her work.
She asked for his age, and Hiroto answered that he was seventeen. Then came questions about combat experience, skills, and abilities. Each time, Hiroto found himself giving the same answer—none. He had no training, no special skills, and no magic.
There was a brief pause after his responses, but the woman simply nodded as if she had expected it. She finished writing and reached beneath the counter, pulling out a small metal plate. It was simple in design, dull in color, with a faint engraving on its surface.
She placed it in front of him and explained that it was his identification tag, marking him as a registered hunter in the guild. Hiroto stared at it for a moment, surprised at how simple it looked. He had expected something more, but Gilbert casually remarked that this was all he needed.
The woman continued, explaining that Hiroto would be classified as a low-class hunter. This meant he would only be allowed to take on basic tasks such as gathering materials, handling small threats, and running errands within safer areas.
The words "low class" settled heavily in his mind.
It wasn't unexpected. He knew he had no experience, no strength, and nothing to offer yet. Starting from the bottom made sense.
Even so, it still stung.
Alice noticed his reaction and gently reassured him that everyone started at that level. Gilbert added that it was better than having nothing at all. Hiroto let out a quiet breath, knowing they were right.
The woman slid the tag closer to him and told him to keep it with him at all times. It would serve as his identity within the kingdom, and without it, he would have difficulty proving who he was. Hiroto picked it up slowly, feeling the cold weight of the metal in his hand.
This small object now represented his place in this world.
The woman continued explaining the rules. Hunters were responsible for their own actions. Once a request was accepted, it had to be completed. Failure could lead to consequences depending on the situation. She also warned him not to overestimate himself, as many low-class hunters lost their lives by taking on tasks beyond their abilities.
That warning stayed with him.
Hiroto tightened his grip on the tag slightly and nodded, showing that he understood.
Gilbert then stepped back from the counter, saying that everything was settled. Alice smiled gently and told Hiroto that he was now officially part of the guild.
Hiroto looked down at the tag again.
A low-class hunter.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he had a role, a place where he belonged, even if it was at the very bottom.
He quietly thanked them, though Gilbert brushed it off and reminded him that the real challenge was just beginning. Alice added that he wasn't alone anymore, and that simple statement made Hiroto pause.
He looked at the two of them, feeling something unfamiliar.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
But a small sense of reassurance.
He closed his hand around the tag and nodded.
He would start here.
He would learn.
He would survive.
And someday—
He would become stronger.
Standing there in the middle of the guild, surrounded by people far more experienced than him, Hiroto realized that this was only the beginning of his journey in this world.