Chapter 515: Inside the Adventurer Guild of a Fantasy World
Benjamin’s POV
After slapping that enormous Common wyvern back to the last century, I forced Eric to get me registered as an adventurer as well.
He would have to oblige because he promised to pay me anything.
The memory of his desperate plea still echoed in my mind, the way his crystal green eyes had filled with tears, the way his voice had cracked with emotion.
He had offered me any amount, any price, anything I wanted in exchange for saving the city.
And I had accepted, because why wouldn’t I? Money was money.
I seriously wanted to ask for gold coins, until Heka brought to my attention that we were probably as rich as a noble, and taking money from Eric would be totally devilish.
Her logic was sound, as always.
We had resources, connections, and a level of power that also made material wealth nearly irrelevant.
Taking money from someone who clearly needed it more than we did would be cruel, even by my standards. So I had settled for registration instead, a small price for a city saved.
Currently, we were in the Adventurers Guild, and my neck hadn’t been able to stop twisting left, right, downward and upward.
The place was a feast for the eyes, a chaotic wonderland of sights and sounds that I could not get enough of.
Everywhere I looked, there was something new and fascinating, something that made me want to stare and gawk like a child visiting a carnival for the first time.
Honestly, I looked like a hyperventilating foreigner visiting the country for the first time, so I was getting a lot of stares.
The adventurers were looking at me with curiosity, their eyes tracking my every movement. I could feel their gazes on my skin, and sense their assessments and judgments, and I knew that I was the subject of much speculation.
Heka was also getting looks, but the majority of eyes rested on me; which was weird—Heka is a rare Amazon and her body is covered in unique tattoos and scars.
She was a walking work of art, a living testament to the culture and traditions of her people. Her tattoos were intricate and beautiful. Her scars were badges of honor, proof of her strength and resilience.
And yet, the adventurers were more interested in plain old me.
Well shucks, I’m flattered.
I’m just a completely normal guy looking inside the Adventurer guild of a fantasy world.
Though, I was looking at them as much as they were looking at me, so it’s a trade-off… Or stare-off.
The adventurers were a diverse bunch, representing every race and background imaginable. I saw humans and elves, dwarves and beastkin, and even a few creatures I could not identify.
They were armed and armored, their weapons gleaming in the torchlight, and they moved with the easy confidence of people who had faced death and survived.
More importantly, the size of this place is surprising: I thought it’d be smaller, but no, it’s a tall and large hall teeming with adventurers of all shapes and sizes.
The ceiling soared high above us, supported by thick wooden beams that were carved with intricate designs. Banners hung from the walls, each one representing a different guild or faction, or something like that.
The air was thick with the smell of sweat and ale and the faint tang of magic.
There was a long counter with multiple receptionists, including the cute Lena Heka and I saved a while back. She was behind the counter, her face flushed with excitement, her hands moving quickly as she processed paperwork and answered questions.
She looked up occasionally, her eyes scanning the crowd, and every time she saw me, she flinched and waved.
Look at her, all better now, when she was sure she was going to die a few hours ago.
The memory of her fear-stricken face, the way she had thrashed and screamed as the wyvern tried to swallow her whole, was still fresh in my mind. But now she was alive and well, working and living her life.
The guild had tables and seats littered at one wide side of the hall, and that was where Heka and I were seated currently. The table was worn and scarred, covered in the marks of countless meals and meetings.
The chairs were solid and comfortable, designed for long periods of sitting. We had a good view of the room, could see the comings and goings of the adventurers who filled the space.
Eric had bought us ale and went along with some Adventurers to do some business elsewhere. He swore he would return as soon as possible, but it had been an hour already.
The ale sat before me, a frothy mug of amber liquid that smelled faintly of apples and spices. I had taken a few sips, savoring the taste, but my mind was elsewhere.
Well, I did do some spying on them: he was upstairs with who seemed to be the boss—the Guild Master, I presume—and some other adventurers that fought the bigger wyvern.
My perception was elevated, tracking the conversations and movements of everyone in the building. I could see them through the floor and walls, could hear their voices as if they were standing right beside me.
Apparently, they suspect yours truly for the attack. The thought was not surprising.
I HAD appeared out of nowhere, displayed power that should have been impossible, and saved the city in a way that defied explanation. It was natural for them to be suspicious.
And I also appeared right at the same time these things started happening.
But why would the villain show themselves like this? Aren’t they just taking the easier route to solve the mystery?
The logic was seemed okay, but it was flawed. If I were behind the attacks, I would not have been so obvious about my involvement.
I would have hidden my power, kept a low profile, and let the adventurers struggle on their own.
Eric and his friends valiantly protected and defended Heka and I, saying if we weren’t on set, casualties would have been exceeding, leading them to once more question our origins—questions of which Eric had no answers for.
The elf had done his best, had vouched for us with all the sincerity he could muster. But his words only raised more questions, had only deepened the mystery of who we were and where we had come from.
It appears Eric was popular and respected here, since they seem to have dropped the case and only keep a close eye on Heka and I for now.
It was a compromise, a way to maintain order while still protecting the city from potential threats.
I could feel the eyes on us, could sense the wariness of the adventurers who watched us from across the room
“Who were these two strangers who appeared at the heat of the attack?” Was probably what they were thinking.
After a short while of some corporate discussions I didn’t care about, the majority of the adventurers began to come downstairs, leaving Eric and co. to continue discussions with the boss and his executives.
The stairs groaned under the weight of the descending adventurers, their voices rising in a chorus of conversation and laughter.
They seemed at ease, relaxed, as if the danger had passed and they could finally let their guard down a bit.
By the way, this ale was good.
It appears to have some sort of apple flavor in it. I took another sip, letting the liquid roll across my tongue.
It was smooth and refreshing, with a sweetness that balanced the bitterness of the hops.
I could see why it was so popular.
Ale was basically beer, actually, and it was shockingly safer to drink than water, which could be easily contaminated unlike processed ale.