Havent stood before the blackboards for quite a while before finally finding a commission bound for the Imperial Capital on the second board.
Escort Mission
The young master of Suir Castle would be traveling to the Imperial Capital to study and required ten guards. Interested parties could register at Suir Castle.
Reading the description, Havent smacked his lips. This was perfect timing. What danger could there possibly be in escorting a child going to study in the Imperial Capital? This was the one.
"Hello, I'd like to accept Commission No. 48."
The staff member looked up at him.
"Give me your mercenary badge. I need to register you."
Havent took his badge from his pocket and handed it over.
"All right, you're registered. You probably saw this on the information board too. I only handle registration here. You'll still need to go to Suir Castle for an interview. Only if you pass will the commission be considered accepted."
Hearing that, Havent raised an eyebrow.
"May I ask why? Normally, once a commission is issued through the Adventurer's Guild, shouldn't we just follow the usual procedure?"
The staff member behind the desk did not even raise her head as she replied impatiently.
"Who knows? That's just how the commission is set up. Maybe it's those damned nobles and their ridiculous pride."
It sounded like this middle-aged woman held a deep grudge against nobles. Havent awkwardly rubbed his nose, then casually slid a silver coin across the desk toward her.
"Exactly. Those damned nobles bully the weak and dominate the market. Every one of those bloated pigs deserves to be hanged. I happen to be heading for the Imperial Capital and wanted to pick up a commission along the way. I was wondering whether there might be some hidden reason behind this, beautiful lady."
The woman swiftly reached across the desk, and the silver coin vanished in an instant. It happened so quickly that Havent almost thought he had not put it down.
Clearly delighted by the extra income, the woman immediately broke into a warm smile.
"Handsome boy, this is your first time in Boli Town, isn't it?"
Havent obediently nodded.
"Then it's no wonder you don't know about the Suir family."
At that, she spat bitterly before continuing.
Seeing the fury on the woman's face, Havent rubbed his nose again. Fortunately, he had a fairly good relationship with the residents of Baiman City.
The woman lowered her voice and looked around. Once she confirmed no one was paying attention to the two of them, she continued.
"There really is another reason why you have to interview at Suir Castle for this escort mission. I only heard it from someone else, but you seem like a decent young man, so I'll quietly tell you."
Listening to her, Havent silently complained to himself.
What do you mean, I seem decent? My silver coin is what seems decent.
Still, he put on a deeply touched expression. The survival skills from his previous life had taught Havent exactly how to talk along with women in order to get things done.
The woman was greatly pleased by Havent's expression. This handsome young man was so considerate. Maybe I'm not that old yet. I wonder if he likes mature women.
"That young master isn't actually a legitimate member of the Suir family. Baron Suir had him after sleeping with some woman, though I hear Baron Suir is very fond of this bastard.
"Then they discovered that the bastard had the talent to become a mage. Baron Suir immediately decided to send him to the Imperial Capital to study. However, the baroness refused to let the family knights escort the bastard. Left with no choice, Baron Suir posted the commission through the Adventurer's Guild. To ensure the bastard's safety, everyone who wants to take the commission has to be interviewed at Suir Castle."
After hearing the woman out, Havent nodded unconsciously. This had the unmistakable flavor of nobility—utterly melodramatic.
"Thank you for the warning, beautiful lady. May I ask how to get to Suir Castle?"
Having taken Havent's silver coin, the woman pulled out a map of Boli Town from beneath the desk, pointed out the route, and handed it to him.
"Take care, handsome boy. If things don't work out, remember to come back and see me. I'll find you a suitable commission."
Havent waved to the woman, then left the Adventurer's Guild with the map.
After getting his bearings on the street, he headed out of town. More than ten minutes later, Havent arrived before a small castle. Looking at the two guards in half-plate armor standing at the gate, he stepped forward and asked,
"Hello, is this Suir Castle? I'm an adventurer here for the interview."
One of the guards, wearing a felt cap, studied Havent from several meters away.
"Give me your adventurer badge and the letter issued by the Adventurer's Guild."
Havent pulled the items from behind his waist and handed them to the guard who approached him.
"Wait here. I'll take them in for confirmation."
As the guard entered through the gate, a bored Havent looked Suir Castle over. The walls were only seven or eight meters high, and the entire place was barely two hundred meters wide. It really was a tiny barony. Looking at the peeling plaster on the walls, he hummed to himself. It was a tiny barony, and not a very wealthy one at that.
"All right, you may enter."
Hearing the guard call to him, Havent snapped out of his daze and hurriedly followed him into the castle.
"His Lordship is currently interviewing other adventurers at the training ground. You can wait off to the side."
After leading Havent to a training ground enclosed by wooden fencing, the guard left. Havent stood nearby and watched the two people fighting in the middle of the field.
One wore a full set of leather armor and held a wooden longsword. The other was dressed like a typical mercenary, carrying a wooden shield in his left hand and holding a wooden club in his right.
The one with the longsword should be one of the baron's knights. Hmm... so beating that knight probably means passing the interview.
Watching the exchange of blows in the arena, Havent shook his head. This adventurer was probably not even a professional yet, only at the apprentice level.
Sure enough, the battle soon confirmed Havent's judgment. After testing the adventurer's attacks several times and realizing that this was the extent of his ability, the knight with the wooden sword began taking the offensive.
The knight raised his wooden sword and brought it down heavily against the adventurer's wooden shield several times. Unable to withstand the powerful blows, the adventurer staggered backward again and again. The knight pressed forward, then slashed upward, sending the wooden shield flying from the adventurer's hand. He followed up with a blow from the hilt to the adventurer's face, knocking him straight back.
"Next one, get ready!"
Before you continue