Chapter 14 : Looking around
After handing the sword over to Vulcan, Kain decided that since it wasn't too late and he still had some energy, he might as well check out what else the town had to offer.
He knew there was a bakery and a guild somewhere, so today seemed as good a day as any to explore. After the ordeal with the goblin earlier, he wasn't about to head back to the dungeon just yet.
Striding purposefully along the dirt paths, Kain's eyes scanned for anything that deviated from the norm. He wandered for about 20 minutes before spotting a large wooden structure that towered at least three stories high. Making his way toward it, he discovered a sign hanging outside that read 'Adventurers Guild.'
"Hmm, well at least this place doesn't look too bad," he thought aloud.
Kain entered the establishment and was immediately struck by the bustle of activity. The room was filled with adventurers, at least half of whom were armed. However, only a small proportion—about five or six individuals out of the thirty or forty present—wore any sort of protective gear. The quality of this gear was questionable at best, appearing to be little more than metal straps fastened around their abdomens.
He noticed a tavern area to one side and a reception area with a queue of people. Large boards with papers pinned to them were prominently displayed.
"This is exactly how I pictured a guild hall to be! It smells a little worse, but still, this is awesome," Kain thought, grinning.
He wandered around, taking in the sights and sounds. It felt like he was exploring a whole new world, and the best part was that no one seemed to mind his presence. It was all normal behavior to them.
Deciding to see what the guild had to offer, Kain joined the line at the reception area. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the counter.
The receptionist, a man in his 20s, greeted him. The man was neatly attired and clean-shaven, exuding a high level of personal hygiene. He had fair hair, green eyes, and a pleasant, if average, face.
"Hello there. How can I help you today?" the receptionist asked with a friendly smile.
Kain, still taking in the atmosphere of the guild hall, replied, "I'm new here and just wanted to see what the guild is all about."
The receptionist nodded. "Well, you've come to the right place. The Adventurers Guild is where you can take on quests, find companions, and improve your skills. If you're interested in joining, I can get you started with the registration process."
Kain's excitement grew. "That sounds great. Let's do it."
Kain approached the reception desk, where the neatly dressed man greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Hey, I got a few questions," Kain began.
"Sure, go ahead. It's my job to help people with what they need," the receptionist replied, ready to assist.
"First, do you take monster parts here?" Kain asked.
"Yes, we do. We take a small percentage, but you never have to worry about getting ripped off," the receptionist assured him.
"What are the requirements to register with the guild?" Kain inquired.
"You have to be level 10 to be a ranked guild member. Alternatively, we can sign you up as an unranked guild member, where most of the quests you can accept involve cleaning or running errands," the receptionist explained.
"What if I want to go to the other part of the city?" Kain asked, curious about his options.
"You can register at level 10 when you get your class. If it's good enough, you can transfer to the other guild. For living access, you'll have to go back to where you got your ID, and they will decide," the receptionist answered.
"Another question: do you have a library?" Kain asked.
"Most people here don't even know how to read, so there isn't a need for one," the receptionist replied with a shrug.
"Can you tell me about the market value of common things?" Kain asked, eager to understand the local economy.
"Well, to start, the kingdom uses copper, silver, and gold as currency. 100 copper is equivalent to 1 silver, and 100 silver is equivalent to 1 gold. The price of items varies depending on the maker and materials. For example, here at the tavern, you can get a loaf of bread for 3 copper. Cores can be sold for varying amounts," the receptionist explained.
"What about goblin cores?" Kain asked.
"A level 2-4 goblin core is worth 1 copper, a level 5-9 core is worth 2 copper, and a level 10 core is worth 10 copper," the receptionist replied.
"So they're not worth much of anything," Kain remarked.
"Your best bet is to tough it out until you get to the kobold dungeon. You can start collecting more valuable items there. Kobold weapons, their blood, and cores can be sold. Goblins only have cores. I've heard some people collect the scrap weapons, but you won't get much money for them, so don't bother," the receptionist advised.
"Thank you, mister," Kain said, appreciating the information.
"The name's Greg," the receptionist introduced himself.
"Kain," he responded in kind.
"Well, good talking to you, Kain. If you have any other questions or are looking to sell or buy something, just let me know," Greg said.
With a nod, Kain strolled out of the guild hall and made his way back to the workshop. As he walked, the sky darkened, indicating the end of another eventful day.
Kain strode into the workshop, the rhythmic sounds of hammering greeting his ears. He made his way to the closet, reflecting on what he had learned so far. Despite his progress, he knew he still had much to discover about this world. He resolved that if he could obtain a good class, he might attend one of the schools to further his education.
As he lay down, thoughts of the future filled his mind, and he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Kain woke up and emerged from the closet, the sounds of hammering still present.
"System, what's the daily for today?" he asked.
A prompt appeared before him:
**Daily Quest:**
- Kill 5 monsters of a higher level than the host.
- **Reward:** 1 Skill Point, 1 Stat Point
`
"Oh, you want me to die, huh?" Kain muttered sarcastically.
Determined to face the challenge, Kain entered the forge without knocking and took what he needed from the sack in the corner. He then left, confident that Vulcan was too busy to notice.
Kain quickly ate his bread and made his way back to the dungeon. He strode purposefully into the entrance, beginning his search for a goblin. As always, he found his quarry quickly.
The goblin wielded a wooden club, similar to the first one Kain had ever killed. He advanced towards the goblin, maintaining a safe distance until it became aware of his presence. The goblin noticed Kain when he was about 20 feet away and began to charge.
Kain stood his ground, waiting for the goblin to get close. As it neared, Kain swung his hammer down onto the goblin's head, smashing it with precision. He continued hitting the goblin repeatedly until it was dead.
**+10 EXP**
**25/150**
"I might not be stronger, but being fast makes a big difference. I just took my time and, when it got close, smacked it on its big ugly head," Kain said, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
He then stopped to take the goblin core and inspected the corpse. A window appeared, showing detailed information:
**Corpse**
- **Level:** 2
- **Species:** Goblin
- *Corpse of a goblin*
"Well, that doesn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Good to know the level, though," Kain remarked. "Too bad I can't do that when it's still alive."
"System, how is my goblin slaying mission coming along?" Kain inquired, feeling a sense of determination.
A prompt appeared before him:
**Slay Goblins I
** - **Progress:** 5/10
**Reward:** 1 Skill Point
"Alright, I'm halfway there," Kain mused, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. The thought of gaining a new skill point spurred him on, making him more determined to finish the task.