Chapter 5 : Officially An Adventurer
The next day.
I was now walking towards the Guild. I want to be an adventurer after all, however I just turned 12 yesterday. The guild only register those who are 12 years old and older. I, who was really excited about being one, wants to immediately register to experience what I just dreamt on my past life.
As I was thinking that, I came into the Adventurer's Guild and entered. Just like last time, there was some who was gazing at me curiously as I entered. However, there was not much people inside right now, I wondered as I stood at the reception.
After a while, the receptionist came down from the 2nd floor and hastily said, "I'm sorry for making you wait— oh? Hello, you are Zen, right? How can I help you?"
"Oh, I became 12 just yesterday, so I'm gonna register as an adventurer now, Miss uh..." I said as I wonder what's her name.
Probably feeling this, she giggled and said, "Fufu, I'm called Rigel. Nice to meet you, Zen."
"Uh... yes, nice to meet you too," I said, and I think I'm blushing now. That giggle just perfectly matched her beautiful ashen-colored gray hair and those black pupils. I would've fallen had I been my past self, but, well, I'm enjoying things as a kid right now.
"Oh, right, you're registering after you just turned 12, huh? Please fill up these informations here. Oh, and please tell me if you can't read or write, I will write it in you stead," she said as she gave me a form.
"Oh, thanks, but I can read and write," I answered as I took the form and answered it. The form contains a questions of what is your name, age, Skill, and other stuffs. After answering it, I gave to to Rigel-san.
"You've finished it quickly. Your skill sounds awesome too! Alright, this completes the form. Now then, let me ask you: how much do you know about aventurers and the guild?" Rigel-san asked me about stuffs about andventurers and how much I know.
I answered that first questions vaguely, because I don't know how much informations from light novels are correct. They're kind of my source of informations, aside from the books in my room. After answering her questions, she then began telling me other informations.
Basically speaking, I got it almost right. Adventurers accept quests from the quests board or be requested by the Guild. Unlike the novels I read though, there are only 6 ranks here, ranging from F-class to S-class. However, there are extra classes if you're strength is more than S-class.
Adventurers get assessed by how fast they did their quest and other testimonies of those who saw him/her. After assessing it, the guild can either choose to increase or decrease their rank.
After listening to her explanations, Rigel-san took me to the quest board and said, "Here is the quests. You may see them randomly placed, however, you can see their difficulty at the bottom left, also ranked F to S. Also, remember that you are atill rank F, and you can only take a quests with F rank difficulty or 1 rank higher than you."
"I see... thank you very much for explaining things, Rigel-san. Then, am I officially an adventurer now?" I asked her with enthusiasm.
Then she said, "No, not yet. You'll still take a test. It was easy though," then handing me one of the quests from the board. It was ranked F, and the quest was about getting herbs. A total newbie quest you can even read it in some mangas.
Then Rigel-san suddenly raised her voice, "Ah! I almost forgot to say! Your Guild Card that will be your identification as an adventurer are still being made, so please come back after 3 days to get it. And also, please have these."
"What's this?" I asked as I looked at the small book she handed me. She then said to me, "That book has the informations of the herbs that you could collect, where you can see them, and it also has the informations of monsters relative here, how do they look, what is the proof you slayed them, and what could be harvested out of them."
"Heh, I see, this could help me much. Thank you, Rigel-san," I thanked her for giving me this book, but she said that all adventurers are given that after they registered. I still thanked her anyway.
"Going back, I said that you would take a test, and this is it. You will gather the Finlea herbs, and take it back," Rigel-san said. Then I can just take it now after lunchtime.
Rigel-san added, "Since it's still early, you can do it today, but the deadline is also today. You can gather it outside at the Finelle Forest. Be careful though, there are monsters there."
"Thank you, Rigel-san. I will complete this today then. I will be back then," I said goodbye to Rigel-san to go to home and eat lunch. I could've eaten at the restaurants nearby, but I will also need to have their permission.
As I headed home, Mom just finished preparing lunch. We then ate, and while we're at it, I said that I will go to Finelle Forest to take herbs for my exam. They became worried because I still haven't learned fighting with swords and doesn't even know how to use my Skill. After I reassured them, they finally gave me permisson.
I equipped my suit, the Item Bag and my sword and bid farewell to them. I took a carriage to the east gate to reduce time traveling and immediately entered the forest. The Finelle Forest is the most nearby forest here. It was named after Finelle tree which was abundant here.
When I got into the forest, I could see a diverse type of animals that is unique to this world. There wasn't that many to begin with as they are wild animals. I continued to venture the forest until I found some Filnea herbs, but there wasn't enough so I put them in the Item Bag and continued to find more.
However, suddenly there was a strangeness I could feel. Maybe it was just me getting nervous...? No, it couldn't be. The forest suddenly became quite as I hear the leaves of the trees swaying.
"Guh...!" I suddenly felt an invisible pressure that I immediately paled.
I'm gonna die.
I'm seriously gonna die.
i don't want to die, I thought as I looked around nervously, unsheathing my sword. Then...
Something like a scythe swung at the place I've been before.
"Wh-what is that..." I murmured as the invisible creature becomes visible until I could see a giant mantis staring at my face, ready to pounce. I could clearly felt my heart beating so loudly it could just force itself out of my body.
Is this...
Is this this how my second life would end...?
I could only stare at the mantis as it moved leaped through me, its scythe-like hand ready to decapitate me. Then it looked like the mantis was slowly coming. I know it. The feeling of your last moments slowing down.
...I don't want to die.
Not again.
"I promised live my life again at it's fullest! So get away and die!" I screamed at the mantis who was still coming to me. I know that it was just a hopeless scream of the weak. However...
『Activating Skill. Manifesting 'Repel'』
A voice resounded from my mind. A voice I wouldn't ever forget until the end.