Adventurers' Guild, a Staple of Other Worlds

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the wooden window, casting mottled spots of light across the room.

Cui Ciyou awoke leisurely in the somewhat simple yet fairly comfortable bed at the inn.

Unlike the light, ever-vigilant sleep he had endured in the forest days ago, he slept exceptionally soundly that night.

Listening to the distant bustle of the town outside the window and feeling the softness of the bed beneath him,

the long-lost sensation known as "security" eased his tightly wound nerves considerably.

After a night of rest, most of the fatigue accumulated from several days of travel had faded.

At that moment, Cui Ciyou was filled with intense curiosity about the small town called Turan, which he had only just reached.

He eagerly wanted to see with his own eyes and personally experience the true face of this world.

So he found Dak and told him that he wanted to go out for a casual walk and have a look around.

Upon hearing that, obvious concern immediately appeared on Dak's youthful face.

"Lord Ciyou, are... are you going out alone? But... but you're completely unfamiliar with this place!"

"Besides, your attire, and your black hair and black eyes... are far too conspicuous!"

"I'm mainly worried that, if... if some blind townsperson or local thug deliberately picks a fight with you because you're an outsider, what then?!"

The young guard was full of such worries.

But beneath Cui Ciyou's firm gaze, Dak ultimately nodded, though he repeatedly stressed:

"Lord Ciyou, then... then please make sure you return to the inn before dark."

"And don't go too far. It would be best if you just wandered around the main streets near the inn."

Seeing Dak's helpless look, brought on by excessive worry,

the corners of Cui Ciyou's lips lifted ever so slightly without him realizing it.

He calmly extended an invitation to the young man who was overly concerned for him:

"Since you're so worried, come take a look around with me. Going out alone is always a little less fun."

At that, indescribable surprise and honor blossomed across Dak's face. He was as excited as a puppy summoned by its master.

"That would be wonderful, Lord Ciyou! I would be more than happy to lead the way for you!"

Thus, Cui Ciyou and Dak left the inn together.

The two strolled along the lively streets of Turan.

Deep in his heart, Cui Ciyou was filled with an irrepressible desire to explore and learn about this brand-new, mysterious other world.

There were simply too many things he wanted to know:

What level has this world's overall civilization reached?

What exactly is their power system like? For now, I only know of battle aura and magic.

Besides humans, what other intelligent races are there? What is the relationship between humans and other races?

Does this world possess some higher mysterious existence, something akin to "world laws" or a "Gaia consciousness"?

Is this a fantasy world where so-called gods... exist?

Cui Ciyou wandered aimlessly down Turan's slightly muddy streets, moving slowly like a true traveler.

He carefully observed every detail of the town:

He saw burly blacksmiths sweating profusely in their forges, plump housewives bustling about in bakeries, and drunken mercenaries and adventurers in all manner of clothing inside taverns.

He also saw children in somewhat tattered clothes chasing and playing along both sides of the street, their eyes exceptionally pure...

Everything was filled with the most vivid, most genuine warmth of everyday life.

It was a unique way of life utterly unlike the modern civilization of Earth where Cui Ciyou had once lived, brimming with vitality and primal energy.

As he walked, Cui Ciyou came to a stop.

He stopped before a particularly imposing and unusual building.

It was a standalone two-story structure, sturdier, taller, and far more impressive than the ordinary houses and shops surrounding it.

Though its overall architectural style was still a rough blend of stone and wood,

its heavy, rustic wooden doors stood open, and directly above them hung an exceptionally thick oak signboard that had been carefully polished.

A highly conspicuous emblem had been carved upon it in exquisite relief.

It was a complex, mysterious design formed by a heavy longsword standing upright with its point downward, crossed with an enormous kite shield engraved with intricate heraldry and looking incomparably sturdy.

Beneath the emblem was a line of peculiar otherworldly writing that Cui Ciyou did not recognize, radiating an indescribable sense of power.

That should be this establishment's name, right? Cui Ciyou thought.

These... should be this world's official common script, shouldn't they?

Carl isn't some noble with money to buy books and learn to read. It looks like I'll have to start learning the written language from scratch as well...

What truly drew Cui Ciyou's attention were the unusual people gathered on the steps outside the special building, as well as those constantly hurrying in and out through its enormous open oak doors:

These people were vastly different in both temperament and dress from the ordinary civilians, merchants, and town guards Cui Ciyou had seen on the streets earlier.

The overwhelming majority wore all kinds of sturdy leather armor clearly designed to facilitate fierce combat.

Others wore chainmail that gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, while a few even resembled heavily armored medieval knights.

They wore full suits of metal plate armor that tightly encased their entire bodies and flashed with dazzling silver light beneath the sun!

Almost without exception, they carried all manner of deadly weapons brimming with lethal force—sharp longswords, heavy battle-axes, vicious warhammers, massive crossbows, magic staffs set with strange gemstones...

There were countless varieties, covering nearly every cold weapon Cui Ciyou knew of, along with magic staffs.

Their overall bearing was also utterly out of place among ordinary people.

Most were tall and powerfully built, with sharp, wary eyes. Many bore savage scars, old or fresh, and even faintly exuded the smell of blood and killing intent.

They gathered in groups of two or three, speaking loudly, boasting, complaining, or arguing. From time to time, crude, boisterous laughter or curses erupted among them.

At the sight before him, a familiar term instantly flashed through Cui Ciyou's mind.

He muttered to himself, "The Adventurers' Guild?"

The name of an organization that, before his transmigration, had practically become a standard feature of other worlds in countless novels, games, and anime.