Chapter 12

What were the odds? That the first random person I'd run into in Mondstadt — besides the pair of knights at the gate and that bloodsucking bureaucrat — would end up being the walking embodiment of Murphy's Law? Then again, if fate was going to throw us together, the Guild or its outskirts were probably the most predictable place for it to happen.

As for the kid's appearance — he looked a whole lot better than I remembered from the game. Tall, maybe around eighteen, with sharp green eyes and a wild mess of snowy white hair. His outfit? Way too light for the weather, and up close, it was clear that it had seen better days. There were patches and stitches scattered here and there, subtle enough to miss at a glance, but obvious if you knew what to look for. A couple of pouches were strapped to his belt — one small on his left hip and a larger one on his back. And to top it all off? A pair of worn, old goggles resting on his head — more steampunk than medieval fantasy.

Bennett

Lvl 76

Fate really does have a messed-up sense of humor.

"You okay?" the boy's concerned voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry. Zoned out a bit." I gave him a default smile and, after running through a few scenarios in my head, decided to keep it simple. "Name's Mark. The little guy on my shoulder is my partner — Rimuru."

"Bennett. Nice to meet you!" he said cheerfully, shaking my hand without the slightest hesitation about the weird creature perched on me. "You're an adventurer too, right? I don't think I've seen you around the guild before."

"Sort of," I admitted. "I lean more toward monster hunting. And with my luck, treasure hunting would just be a fast track to disaster."

A few unpleasant memories from my twenty-seven-year-long biography flickered through my mind. Bennett let out a knowing laugh, brushing his fingers through his hair in a practiced motion that said been there. Guess even professional jinxes can recognize one of their own. Still, standing next to him, I looked borderline normal by comparison. At least my life didn't feel like one long obstacle course with injuries at every turn.

"As for your second question — I only got into town a few minutes ago. Just finished registering."

"First day, huh…" he muttered, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "In that case, I could show you around. Be your guide or something." He nodded to himself like it was the most logical conclusion in the world. "That is… if you don't mind," he added, scratching the back of his head and giving me a look that was equal parts hopeful, awkward, and impossible to refuse.

"No, I don't mind," I replied without much hesitation. A guide would actually be pretty useful right now — especially in a fantasy city I knew absolutely nothing about. "But let me take care of a few things first."

Bennett nodded eagerly, assuring me he wasn't in any rush. I gave a mental shrug and turned my attention back to the guild receptionist who had been politely pretending not to eavesdrop the entire time.

"Good afternoon," I greeted her with a smile I'd long since perfected.

"From the Abyss to the stars! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild," the brunette behind the counter replied cheerfully, tilting her head in a practiced gesture. Her name tag read Katheryne, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with the kind of hospitality that only came from repeating the same lines a hundred times a day. "I'm Katheryne. How can I help you today?"

Katheryne

Lvl 88

Okay, so they don't mess around with staffing in the capital. She didn't look like she could fold me in half without breaking a sweat — but judging by that level, she wasn't just some desk jockey. Technically not the strongest Vision wielder out there, but definitely the real deal.

"Not long ago, a letter addressed to me arrived in Springvale." I produced the envelope and slid it across the counter. "They told me I should bring it here."

"If I may…" Katheryne extended her hand, taking the letter with care. Her eyes scanned the contents quickly but thoroughly. "Yes, this checks out. Miss Fischl is a registered member of the Mondstadt branch and currently overseeing the recruitment of new adventurers."

"Meaning?" I raised an eyebrow, not entirely following her train of thought.

"It means you've received an offer to formally join the Guild," she explained.

What followed was your standard sales pitch. Nothing too outlandish — just the usual promotional spiel outlining the perks. Fewer taxes on monster part sales, access to high-paying commissions, permission to use the guild's training grounds, discounts from local blacksmiths and merchants, reduced lodging rates, and even a price cut on buying property. But the cherry on top — the part that really caught my attention — was the guild-issued ID badge. A bit like a military dog tag, only larger and flashier. It would serve as official proof of identity — a much-needed solution to the whole "you don't legally exist in this world" issue that had been hanging over my head since day one.

As for the obligations? Reasonable. I'd be required to complete a set number of commissions per quarter — basically, every three months — and respond to emergency assignments if needed. That could mean anything from monster outbreaks to natural disasters. In short: they bought me out fair and square, and I wasn't exactly putting up a fight.

The registration process was surprisingly painless. Katheryne handled all the paperwork like a pro. I just had to answer a few standard questions and sign my name a couple of times. The badge would take two days to prepare, so I'd need to come back to pick it up.

And right as the final form was filed away and the ink on my last signature dried, Bennett came strolling back from wherever he'd wandered off to during our initial chat.

"Found Benny?" Katheryne turned her gaze to the boy walking up to the registration desk.

"Yeah, kind of…" he replied with a nervous chuckle, avoiding eye contact like it was the plague.

"What is it this time?" she sighed, fixing the white-haired disaster in front of her with a look that could peel paint.

"Well… this." He pulled a small bundle from one of his pouches — something damp that gave off a distinct, musty odor.

"Oh, Garren… I told him…" Katheryne muttered through gritted teeth, trying to pass her frustration off as polite discontent. Then she turned to me with a sigh and bowed her head slightly. "Sorry about this. That one's on me — I should've double-checked it myself."

"It's fine. I don't think it's as bad as it looks," Bennett said with his usual easygoing shrug, scratching the back of his head like this kind of mess was just business as usual.

Honestly, I couldn't tell if he was just genuinely that good-natured… or if he'd simply accepted the fact that he was cursed with the kind of bad luck most people only read about in cautionary tales.

Shaking her head, Katheryne snatched the soggy package out of his hands and turned toward the door Bennett had come through earlier, ignoring his protests that she didn't need to go through the trouble on his account. While she was gone, the boy fidgeted in place, visibly thrown off by the unexpected display of care. He kept trying to act like he wasn't completely embarrassed, sneaking glances my way like I might judge him for it.

Not that he had to stew in his awkwardness for long. A couple of minutes later, Katheryne returned, this time holding a different package — clean, dry, and slightly bigger than the last. Before he could utter a single word, she shoved it into his hands with a stern finality that brooked no argument, pinning him with a glare that could silence a Hilichurl.

Turns out, the receptionist's got a bit of fire in her after all.