Old Burke

"The fee for the written registration materials is 5 silver coins. If you cannot write, we can do it for you, but there is a 5 copper coin service fee. Furthermore, being an adventurer is a dangerous profession. We provide some basic training to ensure you don't lose your life too quickly, though that said, the guild takes no responsibility for your personal safety."

Ishupe looked over the plain-looking, not-so-sturdy young man before her, reciting the lines she had already repeated countless times in a mechanical tone.

She didn't even need to think about it; judging by his clothes, this young man was likely a farmer who had perhaps scavenged a weapon discarded on a battlefield somewhere and, in a fit of hot-headedness, decided he wanted to become an adventurer.

People like this weren't rare—in fact, there were many. There were always country folk who suddenly got their hands on a decent weapon and wanted to try their luck in the big city, but the end result was usually not very good. Being an adventurer wasn't that easy.

Therefore, some things had to be made clear in advance; it was a good way to scare off the timid ones.

"Please, write it for me," Hades said. He could recognize the characters through the Tongue of the Heavens, but that didn't mean he knew how to write them.

Although he found the existence of such an institution incredible, he didn't care. As long as it could provide him with a place to understand the world while keeping his identity hidden, it was enough.

If he could find a safe way to make money later, it wouldn't matter if he remained an adventurer or not, but if he could use this platform to scout for some helpers, he wouldn't necessarily have to quit.

"Your name?" Ishupe asked.

The literacy rate in the kingdom was under 50%. Based on her observation, she had already judged that this young man would require the writing service and had picked up her pen early.

"Mikiha," Hades said without hesitation. Reversing his previous fake name made it sound quite similar to the names in this world.

"Hmm." Ishupe nodded and wrote "Mikiha" on the form.

"Then, let's begin the training on adventurer knowledge now," Ishupe said.

"Now?" Hades nodded. "Then let's begin."

This was also an opportunity to learn about the world. Ishupe led him to a room on the second floor where a middle-aged man was sitting. After Ishupe nodded to the man and left, only Hades and the man remained in the room.

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. I will be providing your basic training. If you decide you don't want to be an adventurer during this time, you may apply to withdraw, but the document fee will not be refunded. Once the training is complete, Ishupe will bring you your adventurer's badge. Now, let's begin."

The man's words came out like a machine gun, both practiced and tinged with impatience. Perhaps because he had repeated these words so many times, he didn't even look at Hades while speaking, instead focusing on the booklet in his hands.

Hades didn't mind. Seeing a sofa in the room, he sat down directly and said, "Understood. I also have some questions I would like to ask."

Over the next hour, the man was interrupted by Hades several times and had to answer questions that seemed bizarre to him. However, the man didn't get angry; instead, he became quite interested, likely because he didn't have to repeat his mechanical script.

Through the man's explanations, Hades gained a basic outline of the world.

At the same time, he understood why the Adventurer's Guild could continue to operate.

Hades hadn't expected humanity in this world to be faring so poorly. Vast regions were occupied by demi-humans and alien species, with humans merely clinging to survival in the northwest corner of the continent.

He had vaguely sensed that monsters or similar creatures might exist in this world after seeing Tier Magic used by the locals, but he hadn't expected such a state of affairs. He had always taken it for granted that humans were the masters of all things.

No wonder the Adventurer's Guild only produced combatants yet managed to survive to this day; it was inseparable from the fact that humans were constantly harassed by monsters. The state even issued commissions to the Adventurer's Guild to clear out monsters in the surrounding areas.

Hades realized he had underestimated the world. Although he hadn't understood it at the time, he had read enough literature that he naturally had some expectations, but it seemed life for humans in this world was quite difficult.

"I understand. Thank you very much," Hades said as he stood up to address the man.

"It's nothing. But come to think of it, you're not a local, are you? Why do you want to become an adventurer? Looking at you..., well, the work of an adventurer isn't that easy to do. I suggest you don't rush into taking missions; find some teammates first. That will increase your chances of survival."

The man spoke incessantly. Hades felt he must be the type who was a chatterbox, but at the same time, he had become numb from repeating the same things, and Hades' constant questions had given him a chance to vent.

"Because I need money," Hades said casually. Just as he was about to leave, the man called out to him again.

"Young man, if you're short on money, I can lend you some first. You look like you're from the countryside. An adventurer's income isn't high at the start, but there are many places where you'll need to spend. Just pay me back when you've earned some money later."

As he spoke, the man opened a drawer, took out ten silver coins, walked over to Hades, and handed them to him. "This isn't much, but it's enough for a month's expenses at the inn where adventurers usually stay. You can find teammates there, too."

"This..." Hades froze. Looking at the gray-haired man, he was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

In his original world, he had never encountered such a thing. Deception and mutual exploitation were the norm in human relationships, which was why he didn't like interacting with those people—they only wanted to profit from him.

Hades dared to assert that if he were an ordinary person, those people wouldn't even look at him straight. Because of this, he had no friends, let alone such care from a stranger.

"Take it. A young man like you still has a long road ahead, and difficulties are only temporary. Besides, I'm just lending it to you." This time, the man didn't chatter on. After stuffing the money into Hades' hand, he turned and returned to his desk.

"May I know your name?" Hades asked.

"Just call me Old Burke," Old Burke said.

"Thank you, Old Burke." Hades gripped the ten silver coins and left the room.

Old Burke watched Hades' departing back, lost in thought for a moment, then continued processing the documents in his hands. He once had a son who always asked him all sorts of strange questions.

Until he passed away in an accident, and his wife, unable to bear the blow, died of depression. If his son hadn't died, he would probably be about the same age as this young man.