Eina looked at Lu Qiming, who seemed completely convinced he was right, and wondered if she'd run into an idiot. There was no rule saying you had to have a Blessing to register as an adventurer or enter the Dungeon.
But wouldn't an ordinary person without a Blessing be walking straight to their death if they entered the Dungeon?
"Um, Lu Qiming, I'd recommend joining a god's Kin first and getting a Blessing before registering as an adventurer. Once you've joined a Kin and received a Blessing, your strength will grow faster, and you'll have reliable teammates to adventure with. Both are much better than going alone."
Eina tried to make her advice as tactful as possible. Over the years, she'd seen too many young people come to Orario from other countries, each brimming with confidence in their abilities and heading into the Dungeon alone.
Most of them were killed by monsters on the upper floors. Of the few who survived, only a handful came to understand their own limits and joined a god's Kin. The vast majority had their confidence shattered by the Dungeon's monsters and never dared to return.
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm very confident in my abilities!"
When Lu Qiming heard the elf miss suggest that he join a Kin and form a party before going into the Dungeon, he hurriedly refused.
He couldn't join a god's Kin just yet—not even the Hestia Familia!
Once he joined a Kin, it would definitely interfere with his mercenary plan!
That was right. After careful consideration, Lu Qiming had decided this was the best way to complete his mission. As long as he kept getting stronger, his reputation would grow too. Then, once he announced that he was available for hire at the right price, he could temporarily join an Expedition Team.
By following an Expedition Team, he could reach the deeper parts of the Dungeon, where there were more and stronger monsters. That would also help him complete his mission faster.
Lu Qiming had considered going alone into the deeper parts of the Dungeon. The upper floors were fine; he could use the maps provided by the Adventurer Guild. But maps of the deeper floors were secrets kept by the various Kin.
And Lu Qiming was terrible with directions. If he got lost in the depths of the Dungeon and couldn't find his way out, he might even set a new record for the most humiliating death of a transmigrator: getting lost and starving to death because he couldn't find his way back!
That was why Lu Qiming had no plans to join a Kin for now. Otherwise, a Kin that held a grudge against the one he joined might hire him, and then he'd have to watch out for monsters and guard against his teammates stabbing him in the back.
Besides, he had the system to help him grow stronger. He could gain experience just by killing monsters, which was much faster than growing through a Blessing. Still, once he'd nearly completed his mission, he wouldn't pass up a chance to receive a Blessing.
Eina looked at Lu Qiming's resolute expression and sighed helplessly. She'd seen far too many newcomers like him. But since he wouldn't take her advice, and he seemed reasonably capable, there was still a good chance he'd make it back alive.
Once Lu Qiming returned from the Dungeon, he'd understand that having a Blessing and not having one were two completely different things. Then he'd surely look for a Kin to join.
With that in mind, Eina put Lu Qiming's form away and held out her fair little hand.
"If you're so confident in your abilities, Lu Qiming, then pay the fee and I'll register you as an adventurer!"
"Sure, thanks, miss!"
Lu Qiming grinned and reached up to take the Stainless Steel Basin off his head, then placed it in Eina's fair little hand.
"?"
Eina looked at Lu Qiming's smiling face, then at the Stainless Steel Basin in her hand. A huge question mark appeared over her head.
"What's wrong, miss?"
Lu Qiming pretended he had no idea what was going on. He opened his eyes as wide as he could and gave Eina an adorable look.
"Um, we only accept Valis here. We don't take this."
Eina pulled a Valis coin from her pocket, waved it in front of Lu Qiming, and set it beside the Stainless Steel Basin.
"What! You don't accept Stainless Steel Basins?! Back home, these are the best things around! People are always coming to our village to trade old phones and fridges for Stainless Steel Basins!"
Lu Qiming stared at Eina in shock, as if he couldn't believe they wouldn't accept a Stainless Steel Basin.
"Um, Lu Qiming, we really can't accept this basin. How about working for a few days first? A thousand Valis should only take you a few days to earn."
"Work? No way (￣_,￣)! When I left home, my elders told me that working was out of the question. I'd never work in my life! I could only get by by trading Stainless Steel Basins or killing monsters!"
Then, as if he'd thought of something, Lu Qiming looked at Eina as though she were getting a great deal.
"Miss, how about this? I'll leave my Stainless Steel Basin with you for now. Lend me a thousand Valis, and when I get back from the Dungeon, I'll pay you back ten times over!"
"Th-this..."
Eina gazed at Lu Qiming's hopeful expression and, still a little dazed, nodded and took out a thousand-Valis coin.
"All right. I'll lend you a thousand Valis, Lu Qiming. But you can take the basin back. Just pay me back when you return."
"Thank you!"
Lu Qiming gratefully took Eina's little hand. No wonder Eina was so gentle in the story. All it took was a little cute act and he'd won her over! Actually, when he'd first entered the Adventurer Guild, he hadn't recognized Eina. She'd just looked familiar.
Only later had he realized that this lovely elf miss was the one from the original story who'd always looked out for Bell. She was incredibly kind and warmhearted.
It was only after recognizing Eina that Lu Qiming decided he could temporarily pawn his basin brother for some money.
Before long, Eina had finished registering Lu Qiming as an adventurer.
"Well then, miss, I'm off to the Dungeon. Just wait a bit—I'll pay you back soon!"
Lu Qiming waved and turned toward the exit of the Adventurer Guild. Not far away, a towering gray-white tower rose into the clouds.
The entrance to the Dungeon lay beneath the tower.
"Mm, good luck, and make sure you come back alive! Oh, and my name is Eina!"
"Mm, got it, Eina!"
Lu Qiming turned back with a slight smile, then walked out of the Adventurer Guild.
At the entrance to the Dungeon.
Lu Qiming looked at the entrance beneath the towering structure. Humans, beastfolk, elves, and all kinds of demi-human races were constantly coming and going. Many of the adventurers returning from below carried their teammates' corpses on their backs, and some had lost arms or legs themselves.
The adventurers around them seemed to have grown used to such sights. They simply headed toward the Dungeon entrance with calm expressions.
"Phew! Let's go!"
Lu Qiming took a deep breath and followed the crowd toward the Dungeon entrance with firm steps. He knew he had to get used to scenes like this. Otherwise, he wouldn't even know what had killed him.
He didn't want to die in the Dungeon like this, and he didn't want to fail his mission and lose the system!
Even if he had to give it everything he had, he would complete the mission! Now that he knew there were other worlds, Lu Qiming didn't want to be trapped in this one. He wanted to see the scenery of different worlds and meet the characters he'd only ever known from behind a screen!
And every world could unlock a brand-new profession. Maybe one day, he could even achieve immortality.
Two chapters a day under normal circumstances, one in special circumstances. Readers, feel free to bookmark and invest with confidence.
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