Contract

Okay, first page is a title. [Adventuring License Agreement] Pretty easy. Next is an introduction. Basically what the woman already told me, except worded in an unnecessarily complex way. Then there are a bunch of sections.

I would participate in completing tasks, or as they like to call them, "quests," offered by the Adventurer's Guild. Quests could be basically anything, from picking up trash by the streets to slaying an evil monster on a far-away world.

In return, the Guild would provide me with resources to help me accomplish those quests and reward me with a suitable amount of money afterward. Plus, for the first three months of being an adventurer, I'd be able to get a minimum monthly income to help me adjust to the jobs, as long as I complete one quest each week.

While working for the Guild, I would not be allowed to work for any other competitor guilds. Wait, there were other adventurer guilds?

The Guild holds the right to reject me from starting certain quests depending on my adventurer ranking. Well, that's probably for safety measures.

The Guild will not be responsible for any injury I suffer from carrying out a quest. Then that's probably your fault for taking such a dangerous quest.

The Guild may adjust my adventurer ranking however or whenever they see fit, or just outright terminate my position as an adventurer entirely. I guess I saw an example of that just a while ago, with those three adventurers I already met.

"So, you're applying as an adventurer too, huh?"

I turned around to face Ari, who was peeking over my shoulder at the tablet in my hands. I glanced to his side and saw that Abby and Em were here too, talking to another reception person nearby.

"I'm trying to read this, you know?" I focused back on the jumble of words, but Ari placed leaned in on my shoulder, making me jump and almost drop the tablet.

"What's wrong with you—"

"You don't really need to read all that," Ari said, pointing at the contract.

"This is my own business. I can read it if I want to."

"I've already read all of it. It's got some pretty weird stuff, but those things probably would never even matter. Plus, you're getting that ID card anyways, right?"

"Can't you just…" I pushed his arm off me and quickly swiped to the end of the document where the signature signing was. After signing my name, I turned to the counter again and handed the tablet back to the woman. Ari did have a point, and if not having to read all those words meant leaving this place earlier, then I'd just accept the contract now.

The woman smiled as she took the tablet. Shortly after, she took out a black metallic sphere and handed it over. I curiously grabbed it and was surprised at how light it felt, even though it looked like a small bowling ball.

"We'll be measuring some of your attributes with this device. They will be used to compute your ranking as an adventurer. All you need to do is hold onto it and wait."

I did as she said, which was, well, not really anything. I stood there, expecting something to happen. I did notice a small green light on the smooth surface blinking on and off, but the sphere stayed motionless with its dark black color. I looked up to the lady questionably.

"Don't worry, sir. A lot of people expect it to react like an old-fashioned magic attribute checker. It just takes a while."

Well, that's a bit boring. How long would I have to be staying in this position? A few minutes? Or longer? My mind drifted off and I unconsciously turned to Abby, Em, and Ari at the reception area just beside mine.

"I said, it doesn't violate that policy!" Abby yelled at the man behind the counter. It seemed that she had already started to get into her angered state.

"Miss. This is how our guild has been for centuries—"

"Yeah, and it's dumb! I always my neural chip on! If I take it off, then those results won't be correct!"

"Miss. It is still an enhancement device. Our policy clearly states that—"

"I need the chip! Without it, I'm… Ugh, I hate to say it, but without it, I'm nothing!"

"Yes, I can see how that is, and I am terribly sorry about that. But I cannot change the policy just for you."

"Oh, why not!? Where's your boss!? The Guild's got a leader, right? Mr. Drusus, if I recall correctly?"

"Miss, even if you aren't satisfied with your initial rank, you can always be able to raise that rank based on your performance."

Abby was going to raise her voice again when Ari stopped her. "Abby, there isn't anything we can do about it."

"Oh yeah, you just don't care since you know you'll get a high score, huh!?"

"No, it's just… then how about this. I'll request to start at your rank, too?"

Abby let out a sarcastic laugh. "You'll really do that? I don't believe it."

"Then I'll join too," Em said quickly. Her voice wavered, but she stood with determination.

"You…" Abby gazed in surprise at Em. "You don't have to do that…"

"And I'm not lying either, you know?" Ari added. "But of course, you'll have to owe me one."

"Fine, I'll sign it, but I won't be owing you anything, you dumb brute." Abby grabbed the tablet on the counter in front of her and quickly swiped her fingers across the screen, writing down her signature.

The reception man gave out a sigh of relief and as he took the tablet back. Abby reached behind her head, took a deep breath, and there was a click. When she took her hands back out from behind her ponytail, she revealed a small, long card.

That must be that neural chip she was talking about. What did it do, exactly? Did it give her brain some sort of enhancement, like the man was talking bout earlier?

Abby placed the chip onto the counter and opened her mouth to speak. "I…um…" She shook her head in frustration. "Let's just…uh…continue."

The man sighed and took out a shining black orb identical to mine and handed it to Abby. "Just hold the device again."

We all watched in silence as the green light on Abby's sphere blinked. It was then when a loud beep came rang out. I turned to my sphere and saw that the light had turned red.

"That means the measuring is finished," the lady said. I placed the sphere into her hands. "I made a search through our database, and it seems like you've already been at the reserve's border check, am I right, Damien Reyes?"

Wow, the adventurer's guild had access to that? Just how long would they be keeping that record? I slowly nodded in response.

"Okay, then that makes it easier. We already have all the information to get your card ready." She moved her arms around behind the counter, and the low hum of a machine started. After a second, she picked up a small metal card and handed it to me.

"Here is your adventurer's card. You may use it just like a regular government-issued card of identification, but it also grants you access to time-jump portals. If you ever lose it, just come back here or to another guild outpost."

I slowly grabbed the card and held it in my hand, inspecting it. It was smooth and warm, probably because it just came out of a machine. My name was inscribed on the surface. When I flipped it over, I saw an insignia with a long serpent in a starry sky.

"And that is it for the sign-up process. Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild, Day. And thank you for your patronage."

I stared at the woman. That was it? I had expected it to take at least a day or two, but it only took a few minutes to get a card and become an adventurer. Even getting a room at a hotel in my original world would have taken longer than this. I looked between the card and the receptionist.

"H–How can I know what rank I am?"

But that was immediately answered as a large holographic display appeared in front of me, coming out from the card. Behind the display, the woman continued smiling mockingly.

"It's tuned to your psychic waves, so all you need to do is think and the card will show. Of course, there is also a privacy mode, where it only displays to your mind, in case—"

"Rank A!?"

I swerved my head to see Ari peeking over my shoulder again. I studied the words on the display.

[Damien Reyes]

[Current Rank: D]

[Potential Rank: A]

"Your potential rank is from the results of our attribute measurer," the woman behind the counter explained, "though the highest rank of a newcomer is rank D since we don't know how well you would perform out in the real world. But of course, it will be easier for you to raise your rank up until rank A."

Ari nudged me firmly from behind, making me take a step forward to balance myself. "That's still pretty good, Day," he said.

I quickly told the card to hide my rank, and the display vanished. "That's none of your business," I told him.

Then, there was another loud beep. Looked over at Abby, who was handing her measurement device back. After a few seconds, the man returned her card.

"How'd it go?" Ari asked, walking back to the group.

"Heh, you really need to know?" Abby said after inserting her chip back into her head.

"Okay, then I guess I'm just going to assume I'll set my rank to—"

"F rank, okay? Yes, I'm an F-rank adventurer." Abby turned away from Ari, making her ponytail fly up and hit him in the side. "You're planning on getting your F-ranked card, too, right? Just get on with it already."