Human Occupations

Upon this world of vast technological backwardness, superstitious folks, fantastical species, and vast religious fanaticism, humanity has become a dominant race.

Creating numerous kingdoms and empires there upon they exert their dominance over all others as no other species were as plentiful and as adaptive as them.

It is upon the city of E-Rantel where two individuals were roaming around. Entering the city through paying the city's toll, they walked through the roads and paths of the city.

Many ordinary men, women, and children looked upon one of the aforementioned individuals.

The man was wearing heavy-plated armor painted black with outlines of gold on it making it seem the armor was made through gold and obsidian. On his back was a red cape of great quality.

Yet what truly made the man a sore thumb through the crowds of the city were the two large greatswords on his back.

Accompanying the heavily armored and armed man was another man who stood shoulder to shoulder with his companion yet what made him less of a sore thumb was how his entire figure was under a cloak.

No eyes could pierce the cloak's cloth and fabric as the only things one could see were the red pupils of the man.

Their first destination was the Adventurer's Guild, there they first registered and acquired their ranks.

Soon, they left the guild and wandered about the city, looking for a place to dwell for the day.

Soon, they found a bar. The armored one first went through and, immediately, all patrons' eyes were fixated on him as his armor and weaponry looked 'juicy,' and 'packed,' in some minds.

Walking to the front of the bar keeper, fully knowing they weren't there for the alcohol or drinks, the bar keep replied.

"Need a room? It will cost ya 5 bronze pieces each night. Meals are- "

He was cut off by the armored one.

"I would like one room for two. We don't need any meals."

The bar keep, already used to his life, didn't bat an eye at the disrespect and continued calmly. Looking up, the bar keep saw a small copper plate around the man's neck. Now fully knowing his occupation and rank in the guild, he asked.

"You're a copper plate, right? You won't be able to- "

"We just registered into the guild."

Quite annoyed at the sheer continuous ignorance of respect, the bar keep slammed his fist on the surface and stated.

"7 bronze pieces a night! You gotta pay up front right now!"

Wanting to acquire a reaction out of the man, the bar keep glared at his helmet, though he did not acquire any reaction. The man placed down 7 bronze coins like stated.

"That's fine"

He replied, the bar keep calming down, he sighed, pointing to the stairs next to them.

"The room is on the second floor in the back."

Now walking to the stairs, unbeknownst to him, a patron at a very close table stretched his foot in front of the man. The man saw his foot and stared at it and the patron for a moment.

The patron and his fellow drinking companions had smirks on their faces. Not giving a care to them, the man walked and bumped the patron's foot.

The patron immediately stoop up in front of the man and exclaimed.

"Ouch! Hey now! Don't you know any manners? Aren't you gonna help me or something? Huh?!"

The man had slowly giggled, which turned into a short laugh.

"Please forgive me. Your manner of speaking is just too much alike to that of a common thug."

Quite annoyed and offended, the man shouted.

"What?!"

In an instant he was taken off the floor as the man's hand picked him up by the neck, the patron quite surprised at the sudden action.

"It looks like you're too weak to even toy with."

As quickly as he was taken off the floor, he was thrown to another patron's table that which was broken along with everything on it, the sheer tension of the impact made quite a ruckus.

"So? It is stupid for all of us to waste our precious time. If you want... "

The man wanted to make a statement but he was cut off by the noise of a woman, said woman was the one who resided on the table that which the thug landed and crashed on.

Slowly walking to the man exclaiming many a time the word 'Hey,' she shouted.

"What the hell were you doing?! My potion shattered because of you! You better pay for it!"

She said whilst pointing at the scene of the shattered table, the unconscious thug, and the broken pieces of the potion and its contents.

The man, calm as he was, replied with a question.

"Potion?"

The question greatly annoyed the woman to the point that she spoke to herself.

"With the money I saved from skipping meals and quitting drinking. The money I saved little by little for that small potion! Potion!"

She then stopped looking down and stared at the man before her.

"You just broke a potion I bought today!"

"Then why not have these brigands pay for the reparations?"

She then took a step to look at the thug's drinking friends and said.

"A gold piece and ten silver pieces. Who am I kidding? You guys spend your amount on drinking all day."

Looking back at the man, she stated.

"You're wearing some fine armor there, so you probably have a potion or two, wouldn't you? I'm fine with getting the actual thing back."

"I do have some on me, though... "

He was cut off as the woman looked behind her, having felt someone nudge or touch her from behind. It was the man's companion, he had stretched his arm as a vial of a red liquid was held.

Taking the potion from the hooded man, the woman looked at it.

"A red potion?"

"Now there is no problems, yes?"

The hooded man asked, the woman now looking at his figure.

"Yeah, for now."

The tension died as the woman now took a different table with the other patrons going their ways. The two men walked to their room.

_____________________________

Inside the inn room, Ainz Ooal Gown, guild master of the legendary guild of inhuman { Players }, stood in the middle of the room as behind him stood his companion, another one of his fellow { Player }'s men.

"Thanks for that, Custodian."

Ainz said as he took of his helm through magic

"Think nothing of it, my Lord. Such things are not needed for one such as I."

The Custodian said, taking of his Robe of Illusions.

"So those were adventurers. Controlled by the organization of the guild and its rules. They acquire their wealth through quests, the majority of which deal with the killing of pests and monsters. I expected a far grander thing for it."

"Mortal humans have many a personality. Some are kind and humble but others are wrathful and greedy and most are a mix of the two, my Lord."

"Might I remind you that you are not to call me anything akin to a noble title. You are not the 'Captain-General of Custodies: Kee-Ten,' you are my, Momon's, companion, Art."

"Forgive my forgetfulness, Momon."

"Alright, firstly, we'll go through our plan in E-Rantel.

First we shall go undercover and pose ourselves as new and young adventurer's within the city's guild.

Our main objective for doing such things is to gain knowledge and connections. We shall gain both through climbing the ranks of the guild.

Once we reach the highest tier of adventurers, Adamantite, I am sure we will be given quests appropriate of our strengths, which will allow us to obtain knowledge and ties with the greatest of adventurers."

"A great a plan at least."

"Though we already pose some problems...

We are poor.

Most of the gold we have are from Yggdrasil, using them in public would be like having a death mark on our backs.

Even if there are those like me and Szrazyn here, they will not all be friends.

For now we have to solve our economic problems. Let's get to work!"

___________________

Unbeknownst to the inhuman and superhuman duo, the woman from before walked through the roads of the city, ultimately leading to a pharmacy.

Entering the establishment, a voice welcomed her. Looking up, a boy no older than fifteen was on a ladder over a shelf of items. Going down the ladder, the woman asked.

"Nphirea Balear?"

"Yes. Do you have any business with me? I'd like you to appraise something for me."

Later, the young Balear walked in haste to a room, inside was his grandmother, the owner of the establishment: Lizzie Balear.

"Grandmother!"

He said as he opened the doors in a flash, walking over to the old woman, he placed down the vial and said.

"Take a look at this!"

"Red?"

Was the first thing that came out of her mouth.

"What do you think?"

"Well let's take a look."

Looking behind him, the woman stood in silence, having some respect he introduced his grandmother.

"Lizzie Balear. My grandmother and owner of the pharmacy."

He said as his grandmother stretched her arm out to the vial.

"Appraisal Magic Item: Detect Enchant."

As knowledge of the items contents and doings went into her mind, she was agape and speechless.

"Well, grandma?"

The boy said as she took down her arm. A moment later she would start to giggle and soon laugh. The boy was quite confused as to why she was laughing until she called him.

"Nphirea. All potions turn blue in the manufacturing process, right?"

"That's right."

"This vial is a true potion that no one has been capable of making up until now!

'A true potion is a powerful vial that which contains the magics and sorceries of the heaven's themselves as it is made from the Blood of God.'

I had thought it was but a mere legend."

Now turning to the woman, she stated.

"This potion is equal to a second rate healing spell and can be summed to eight gold pieces. Though thinking of its rarity, people could kill you for this."

At the first half of it, the woman was agape and joyful yet at the last part, she was speechless and quite anxious. Seeing this, the elder Balear stroke.

"So... What about selling it to me?"

"B-But... "

Seeing this, her gaze darkened, gaining a flinch from the woman, though calming herself, she retorted.

"Well I have another offer for you."

What offer it was, would not be known as the scarab hidden in the Balear's pharmacy stopped taking note.

___________________

Inside E-Rantel's Adventurer's Guild, many of the adventurers got a sight to behold as their gazes and stares were fixated on the same figure.

One of them remarked to one of his friends.

"His armor is amazing, isn't it?"

"How much do you think it costs?"

His fellow had asked.

"Even though he's a copper plate... "

"I'm sure he's just some uptight rich kid."

Another had said.

"A present from daddy?"

One brave adventurer said, loud enough for it to be heard. The adventurers laughed at their mocking and jesting.

The superhuman and inhuman duo both stared intently at the board in front of them. Both men unable to read the contents of the papers. Out of frustration, Ainz took a random paper and slammed it on the desk of one of the Guild's staff.

"I'd like to take this job."

"W-Well I'm sorry to inform you but this is a request for a Mythril place adventurer."

"I know. That's why I brought it here."

His remark placed a confused and surprised look on the woman. Some nearby adventurers were aghast and confused.

"But, there are rules that need to be followed, Sir."

"It's a stupid rule."

Ainz remarked.

"If you fail the request, there is a chance a number of lives could be lost."

The woman stated, wanting to dissuade the adventurer in front of her of taking the quest.

"I see. Then you might not know but my companion over here is a fourth to fifth tier magic caster."

Many adventurers remarked at that, some stating their surprise and other saying their dismay and superstition at such a proclamation.

"I am a warrior equal of his level. We wish to do a quest worthy of our skills."

"Forgive me, good Sir, but my hands are tied to the rules of the guild. I cannot give you this quest under the threat of people losing their lives."

Seeing no way of persuading the woman, Ainz relented.

"I see. Then it cannot be helped with. Forgive me for sounding quite rude and disrespectful. Though if that is the case then please give us the hardest copper plate quest you may find."

"Well then I shall get to it, Sir."

As the woman stood and left to achieve Ainz's request, a voice called out to him.

"Then, would you mind helping us in a job?"

A group of adventurers stood in front of the duo. Confused, Ainz stood there for a second until agreeing to go to a private area.

___________________

"Then let me introduce ourselves. I am the leader of the Swords of Darkness, Peter Mauk.

That is the group's eyes and ears, our ranger: Lukrut Vovle."

Lukrut waved at the duo and said.

"Yo."

"The man beside me deals with healing magic and the manipulation of the earth, our druid: Dyne Woodwonder."

Dyne said a greeting in response to his introduction.

"Nice to meet you."

"And lastly, the brains of our team, our magic caster: Ninya the Spell Caster."

"Nice to meet you."

The caster said, now looking at his leader, he remarked.

"But, Peter, can you stop calling me with that embarrassing nickname?"

"Huh? Why not?"

Adding more fuel to the fire, Lukrut stated.

"This guy is a talent holder."

At that information, Ainz remarked.

"Oh... A talent holder."

"He has the talent: Magic Affinity. To explain, it'd normally take you eight years to learn magic but our Ninya needs only four, am I right, Spell Caster?"

"Y-Yes."

Ninya embarrassingly replied.

"That's amazing."

Ainz told.

"I feel very lucky to be born with this talent. It's the thing that allowed me to take the first step of realizing my dream."

"Either way, he's a famous talent holder in the city."

Peter stated but Ninya rebutted.

"Well, there is someone even more famous than me here."

"You must be talking about Master Balear."

Dyne said gaining an 'oh,' from Ainz."

"I see. Ah, yes. This is Art. I am Momon."

"About our current job, it concerns the monsters around E-Rantel."

Peter explained.

"A monster hunting expedition, then?"

"Well, it's not that kind of thing."

"What might you mean?"

"Depending on the strength of the monster, the guild will receive a reward from the city of which the guild will give us as compensation for our deeds."

"It is a necessary task in our way of life."

Dyne remarked.

"At least it puts food on our tables. As a great bonus it also lessens the danger of people. It's an absolute win-win situation!"

Lukrut replied.

"Well that's how it is. We're going to hunt around the forest south of the city. So? What will it be? Will you join us?"

Peter asked.

"Yes, we are in your care. Since we'll be working together, I should show you my face as a formality."

The group were quite surprised at Ainz's statement. Taking of his helm, the group looked at his face and were quite calm about it.

"I've heard of a country to the south where your features are common, Sir Momon."

Some words were parted between Lukrut and Ninya of which ended with Ninya stating the word 'rude,' though what it was about is unknown and unimportant.

"It could cause problems if others knew we were both foreigners, hence why I've been hiding my face till now."

"I see. Shall we go to the forest now?"

"I'll be behind you."

___________________

Going down to the first floor of the guild, the group were confronted by the same woman that Ainz was speaking with a while ago.

"Sir Momon."

"Yes?"

"You've been requested for a specific job."

"Who has requested it?"

"Nphirea Balear."

Everyone were agape as gasps were heard from everyone. From the crowd, Nphirea slowly walked to the group.

"It is good to meet you, Sir Momon. I'm the one who requested for your services."

Raising his hand, he opened his palm and stated.

"Forgive me, Sir Balear, but I have already promised my services for a different job. I am honored that you have requested for me but... "

He was cut off by Peter, trying to persuade Ainz in going another course of action.

"Momon! It's a personal request for you!"

"That may be true but finishing the job I accepted first is a courtesy."

More gasps came from the adventurers, such courtesy and respect were a rarity in their occupation.

"But a personal request is... "

"Then how about this? I will make a decision after listening to Sir Balear's request."