MT - 74 Adventurer
After a moment of contemplation, Rudeus finally rose to his feet, albeit unsteadily.
Was it truly not his brother who called himself Shadow?
In his memory, no one else possessed such an overwhelming reservoir of magic, except for his own brother.
With these thoughts clouding his mind, Rudeus left the hallway and returned to his room.
Meanwhile, Roy had crawled back into bed for a short nap. When he awoke, he felt considerably refreshed, his energy restored.
Though Roy's magical reserves were vast, they were not infinite. His earlier confrontation had drained nearly a third of his capacity, leaving him precariously low. Resting to "replenish his mana" seemed like the sensible choice.
By the time he got up and glanced at the sky, he estimated it was around 8 a.m. His sleep hadn't been long, but it was sufficient. After pulling on his shoes, washing up, and preparing himself for the day, he headed for the living room.
Given the recent kidnapping incident, Roy and Ghislaine had discussed the matter briefly and decided to give Eris the day off.
After all, they were considerate tutors. It wouldn't be right to force someone to attend lessons the day after such a harrowing experience.
With the day free, Roy found himself with idle time. He mulled over his options and decided to visit the Adventurers' Guild to register.
Adventurers, while not glamorous, were undeniably useful in this world of swords and magic. This profession was both ubiquitous and versatile.
What's more, becoming a recognized adventurer came with certain perks—enhanced reputation, easier access to funds, and perhaps most importantly, the foundation for building his own network of influence. If he delayed registering, he might find it harder to leverage the status when it mattered most.
Resolute in his decision, Roy set out, leaving the estate behind and heading into town.
As he walked, the streets began to stir. Vendors were setting up their stalls, and the number of pedestrians steadily grew. Morning marked the start of another busy day. Merchants bustled about, preparing their wares for sale.
The taverns and rowdy, perfumed establishments were still closed, but most restaurants had already opened their doors.
Pausing near a stable, Roy approached the stablemaster to inquire about the price of a horse.
The stablemaster was a burly man, towering over Roy by at least a head. He grinned broadly at the sight of the young man, clearly eager to make a sale. Gesturing toward a sleek, chestnut-colored horse with a glossy coat, the man exclaimed, "Look at this girl! The sheen, the build, the muscles—how could this not be worth this much?"
He held up three fingers.
Roy frowned slightly. "Three copper coins?"
The stablemaster's face fell instantly, his earlier enthusiasm replaced by indignation. "Three copper coins? Are you trying to insult me?"
Smirking, Roy pulled out three silver coins and handed them over. The burly man's mood brightened at once as he passed the reins to Roy and waved him off cheerfully.
With the reins in hand, Roy realized something crucial—he had never properly learned how to ride a horse.
Fortunately, the animal was gentle and obedient, following wherever he led. This calmed his nerves as he led the horse down the road.
Attempting to mount the horse, Roy was promptly warned by a passing soldier that riding within the city limits was strictly prohibited.
Sighing, he dismounted and resumed walking, leading the horse by the reins. He stopped a passerby to ask for directions to the Adventurers' Guild.
The pedestrian offered what he assumed was a friendly smile and pointed vaguely in one direction. Roy glanced down the street, frowning in confusion.
"Anything more specific?" Roy asked, exasperated. "Like, for example, how to actually get there?"
The passerby gave a mysterious smile and said, "Just keep walking, you'll spot it. It's quite an obvious place. Is this your first time in town, young man? How could you miss such a noticeable spot?"
Roy, still a bit dazed, followed the direction the passerby pointed and, to his surprise, ended up finding it.
The Adventurers' Guild was right next to a tavern, and not far away were the usual entertainment districts. Roy couldn't help but hold his forehead. No wonder the place was so "obvious"—the guild had chosen a prime location.
He tied the horse to a post outside the Adventurers' Guild and walked inside.
The building was spacious—over 200 square meters, enough to comfortably accommodate twenty to thirty people. It was empty at this hour, with only a young girl sitting lazily at the front, yawning. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, not particularly delicate in her features, but her face could be described as clean and pleasant. Given the time of day, there were few people here, and the hall felt eerily quiet, with just Roy standing by the door.
As he entered, the girl glanced at him indifferently, but as if sensing something, her eyes widened. She looked at him again, this time with a more focused gaze.
Roy, however, wasn't using his original appearance. He had made some subtle adjustments to his features, giving himself a more masculine look. It was amazing—just a small change, and he transformed from a handsome guy into an outright striking young man.
With sharp, defined features, a strong jawline, dark, intense eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a tall nose, all those descriptions gathered in one person could only mean one thing: he was undeniably handsome.
This was the most stunning guy the girl had ever seen. In an instant, her drowsiness vanished, and curiosity overtook her as she examined Roy with a keen eye.
His hair was casually parted, revealing his clean, youthful face. His steps were firm and steady, and his hands showed the calluses of someone accustomed to physical labor. His clothes weren't made of fine silk, but they weren't shabby either, indicating that he came from a middle-class family.
She had never seen such a handsome young man before, and as he curiously scanned the surroundings, it became clear to her that he was new—likely there to register as an adventurer.
In that instant, the girl felt like a genius. From Roy's details, she had already guessed his purpose, and she was almost certain about it.
As Roy walked toward her, a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She cleared her throat a few times, silently encouraging herself. After all, it wasn't every day that she got to see such a fine young man in a guild full of rough men and otherworldly beings.
Roy approached the counter and greeted her politely, "Hello, my name is Roy Greyrat, but you can call me Roy."
When the girl saw his face up close, her heart skipped a beat, and her pulse quickened. Her ears turned red, and despite usually being able to chat casually with everyone, she stumbled over her words: "M-Maeve Peña... You can call me Maeve."
Roy smiled warmly. "Maeve? That's a lovely name."
The girl felt like she was hearing a song in the wind. She stood frozen, smiling foolishly.
Noticing her momentary daze, Roy chuckled and said, "Ah, I'd like to register as an adventurer."
Maeve snapped out of her reverie and quickly responded, "An adventurer, huh? If you register, you'll have to start as an E-rank adventurer."
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Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
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