Guild

After a rigorous screening process, and with the help of their status as members of a goddess's familia, they entered the town. The atmosphere suddenly shifted. Perhaps because it was morning, countless adventurers were heading toward the town center. Zhang Ruofeng looked up to see a massive tower, piercing the clouds and standing majestically in the heart of the city—striking and solemn.

"That is Babel Tower!" Flora said, noticing that both Zhang Ruofeng and Xin Mu were staring up at the towering structure. "Many gods live inside Babel Tower, though quite a few prefer to live in the city. After all, there are many gods who are curious about their children."

Once he finished looking at the tower, Zhang Ruofeng began to carefully observe the bustling adventurers on the street. Most carried various weapons; those with staves were few, while those carrying simple swords or axes were more common. Some wore ornate clothing, while others looked rather shabby. Many kept themselves hidden under large cloaks, making it impossible to see what they looked like, though generally, fancy attire likely meant more money and greater strength.

"Alright, alright, stop spacing out. You two will likely be seeing this scene for a long, long time to come." The goddess led them slowly to a two-story stone building in the southeast and stopped. Zhang Ruofeng looked closely and saw it was a simply decorated flower shop. It lacked elaborate ornaments, but it was clean and bright, and the various colorful flowers in the transparent display window made the shop look quite cozy.

"This... I can actually read it." Zhang Ruofeng stared at the text, which he clearly shouldn't have known, yet the name Flora Flower Shop appeared in his mind.

"I am a goddess, after all. How about it? Isn't it convenient?" Flora laughed happily.

"It is indeed very convenient." Xin Mu nodded seriously.

The group chatted as they entered the house, passed through the flower-filled lobby on the first floor, and sat down in the kitchen. Then—they ate a breakfast made by the goddess. Zhang Ruofeng felt his entire being go numb. He hadn't expected... the fried eggs made by a goddess to be served with the shells still on and charred black.

"I... I can't help it. I basically never cook. My previous children called me the 'Ingredient Destroyer'." Flora said with tears in her eyes, and Zhang Ruofeng and Xin Mu, looking at the blackened ingredients on their plates, silently agreed with the nickname.

"Well, my cooking is passable," Zhang Ruofeng said, scratching his head. "But I don't know if you're used to Chinese cuisine."

"Chinese food?" The goddess's eyes lit up. "I've never had it! I want to try it."

"Ah, I almost forgot that gods have an infinite curiosity for new things." Zhang Ruofeng reminded himself once again not to underestimate a god's curiosity.

"After breakfast, do you want to rest or go check out the guild?" Goddess Flora suggested. "Adventurers need to register, after all. I think it's better to go early. It's also a good chance for you to learn more about the Dungeon. Since gods entering the Dungeon has a high chance of provoking the Black Dragon in the depths, and a god's power in the mortal realm cannot be fully unleashed, it is strictly forbidden for gods to enter. You'll get more detailed information about the Dungeon at the guild."

"Ah, alright, let's go take a look." Zhang Ruofeng looked at Xin Mu, who always seemed indifferent to anything she deemed unimportant, and felt a headache coming on. Although they could go to the Dungeon on their own, they had to become powerful adventurers to return home. Yet, aside from her initial excitement, Xin Mu—whom Zhang Ruofeng knew well enough to know she was usually stable and even enjoyed the thrill of blood—didn't seem to worry much about the future. It was frustrating.

"Let's go, Xin Mu. Let's go take a look." As soon as Zhang Ruofeng finished, Xin Mu stood up, thanked Flora for the breakfast, and was the first to walk out the door.

"The guild is over by Babel Tower, right?" Zhang Ruofeng asked, looking back at Flora.

"It's very conspicuous; it's a huge white building," Flora said happily. Zhang Ruofeng noticed that Flora loved to laugh; she kept a smile on her face most of the time. Is she a goddess with a good personality? Zhang Ruofeng muttered to himself as he walked out.

"Is this the guild? It really is..." Zhang Ruofeng was somewhat surprised as he looked at the massive white building, which stood about five stories tall.

"A medieval cathedral," Xin Mu said flatly as she looked at the building. Zhang Ruofeng knew Xin Mu came from a wealthy family and had seen photos of her trips abroad, so he knew she wasn't particularly surprised.

"Two new faces? Is there something you need?" A mature-looking beastkin, roughly twenty-five years old, asked while holding a clipboard.

"Ah, sorry, sorry," Zhang Ruofeng said. "It's our first time in Orario, so we're just a bit curious about everything. We are the new members of the Flower Goddess Flora's familia. We just joined this morning; could you tell us how to complete the procedures to become official adventurers?"

"The Flower Goddess?" The female clerk sighed as she looked at the adventurers who were casting curious glances at Zhang Ruofeng and Xin Mu because of the name. "It's really Goddess Flora?"

"Did you hear that? It's the new familia of that 'Goddess of Misfortune'." The onlookers whispered among themselves, but they were standing close enough that it was hard for Zhang Ruofeng not to hear. He frowned, while Xin Mu, who never cared about such things, remained unfazed. She was the type who could play a game for an entire night, and even though she was a goddess, she would sometimes call Zhang Ruofeng in the middle of the night to pull an all-nighter in her slippers. She generally didn't care what others thought of things she wasn't interested in.

"It's not convenient to talk here. Come inside with me; you'll need to fill out your information anyway." Zhang Ruofeng observed the werewolf—or so he assumed—and followed her swaying white tail into the guild.

When filling out the forms, the clerk couldn't understand the script he wrote, so she had to fill them out on his behalf.

"Otherworlders... could it be because of what happened a few days ago?" The female clerk thought silently as she looked at their information. "Did that magic actually succeed in the end?"

"That?" Zhang Ruofeng asked softly, seeing the clerk lost in thought.

"Ah, it's nothing. The basic information is filled out. I have already confirmed your affiliation with the goddess through others. From today on, I will be your Dungeon guide until you reach Level 2 or until you feel you no longer need my help. I will answer all your questions." After speaking, the clerk entered a consultation room and handed each of them a dagger about fifteen centimeters long. They looked very ordinary; the iron blades were slightly dull, and the material seemed quite common.

"These are beginner weapons for new adventurers; every newcomer gets one," the female clerk explained. "Let me introduce myself properly. I am the guild receptionist, Herocrista. You can just call me Hero."

"Nice to meet you, Hero," Zhang Ruofeng and Xin Mu said, formally shaking her hand.

"I should warn you in advance: since you are members of the Flower Goddess Flora's familia—who everyone jokingly calls the 'Goddess of Misfortune'—do you know the origin of that ominous nickname?" Herocrista's ears, located on the sides of her head, twitched as she asked.

"We know, of course, but neither of us really believes in that sort of thing," Zhang Ruofeng said with a nonchalant smile.

"Very well. Since you chose her familia despite knowing the details, I have no issues with it," Herocrista said calmly. "Adventuring is an extremely dangerous profession. According to guild statistics, over the last ten years, nearly three-fifths of all registered adventurers have either died or been permanently disabled. Please be careful in everything you do. Whether you want to return to your familia or go sightseeing now, the guild welcomes you, but I hope you won't recklessly enter the Dungeon. Unprepared as you are, you could face danger even on the first floor. That said, I have prepared a map of the first five floors as per custom. You are free to go. If you enter the Dungeon, please exchange the magic stones obtained from killing monsters at the exchange counter on the left of the guild entrance, or sell them yourselves. If you have any other questions, just find me in the reception area. Now, if you'll excuse me." With that, Herocrista smoothed out her long, pure white hair and left the small consultation room.