5. A Surely Good Inn

Registration was complete, but I was still in the dark about so many things. I figured I should take this chance to get some answers while I could.

I decided to pepper the receptionist—whose name was apparently Nina—with questions. There wasn't a soul lined up behind me, so it felt like the perfect time.

First, I asked about the herbs I’d crammed into my hemp sack. I suspected some might fall under the guild's standing orders, so I asked her to take a look.

"Moon-White Grass, Calm-Mind Grass, and Wind-Vane Flowers... yes, we have active requests for all of these. The quality is excellent, so if you're willing to part with them, I can process this as a completed quest for you."

"Yes, please."

Only three varieties were accepted, but since I had gathered quite a lot, the reward came out to two Silver Coins and four Large Copper Coins. Most adventurers in Cygnil focused exclusively on the dungeon, so herb-gathering jobs tended to be neglected. Because of that, the payouts were actually a bit higher than usual.

The other plants weren't part of any official requests, so the Adventurer’s Guild couldn't take them. Nina mentioned that the Apothecary Guild might buy them, but that sounded like a hassle. I decided that from now on, I’d only gather what was listed on the request boards.

Next, I wanted to know how to advance as an adventurer. Specifically, I wanted to start improving my combat capabilities as soon as possible.

"How do I go about learning how to fight?"

"If you want to acquire skills, you should attend the lectures hosted by the guild. It would also be a good idea to receive the Divine Protection of the Job God."

The guild lectures featured retired adventurers as instructors, teaching their techniques to anyone interested. The fees varied depending on the instructor and the subject matter.

I gathered that the Divine Protection of the Job God was something like a "character class" in a game. For example, if I received the Divine Protection of the Job God: Warrior, my weapon skills would improve faster, and I’d get bonuses to my strength and stamina growth.

It seemed I could choose a protection from several candidates, though the types and number of options varied from person to person. I also heard that more options could appear as you gained experience. Is it like an advanced job? I wondered.

Apparently, you could change your protection as many times as you liked, so there was no harm in picking one casually—except for the fact that every change required an "offering" of ten Silver Coins. Setting the future aside, I definitely needed to be careful with my first choice.

By the way, it turned out that having a Divine Protection didn't mean I’d suddenly be able to use flashy special moves. When I asked about that with a look of pure excitement, Nina just laughed at me. I mean, magic exists, so why wouldn't there be special moves?

Speaking of which, I learned that receiving the Divine Protection of the Mage didn't automatically grant the ability to cast spells, either. The fastest way to learn magic was to use a Skill Scroll for the specific spell you wanted. If you had the aptitude, you’d eventually be able to cast it without the scroll after using it a few times.

Basic Skill Scrolls were sold at the Mage Guild, so as long as I kept trying, I’d eventually learn them. Assuming I had the money, of course. Yeah, the world is a cold, hard place.

Well, I’d figured out what I needed to do to get stronger. Was there anything else?

Hmm, nothing came to mind. If I thought of something later, I could always come back and ask.

Oh, right. I should ask for a recommendation for a place to stay.

"I’m looking for an inn for adventurers. Somewhere cheap, if possible."

"If you don't mind a dormitory, the guild has its own lodgings. It’s only one Large Copper Coin, so it's very affordable. If you want a private room, I recommend the Wildcat Inn. It’s not exceptionally cheap, but it’s clean and has a reputation for great food. My parents run it, actually."

Nina gave me a dazzling, beaming smile. It was a blatant bit of family promotion, but she was so bold about it that it felt almost refreshing.

Since Nina was kind, I figured an inn run by her parents couldn't be bad. I didn't think I could truly relax in a shared dormitory, so I decided to go with her suggestion.

I got some simple directions and headed out. I was a bit nervous without a map, but by asking people along the way, I eventually found the place. It was tucked away in a quiet spot off the main street. It felt like a "hidden gem" kind of place. I liked it already.

"Welcome!"

A woman greeted me as I opened the door. She definitely shared Nina's vibe. That beaming smile was identical.

"I’d like to stay here. How much is it per night?"

"One Silver Coin and five Large Copper Coins without meals. Breakfast is two Large Copper Coins, and dinner is three."

Since ten Large Copper Coins were worth one Silver Coin, the total with meals came to exactly two Silver Coins. Is that a bit steep?

But my reward for the herbs today had been two Silver Coins and four Large Copper Coins. If I really put my mind to it, I could gather even more, so paying two Silver Coins a day wasn't impossible. It would just make saving money a slow process.

Then again, I wasn't trying to sprint to the top of the adventurer ranks. If I wanted to enjoy my new life at a leisurely pace, a good living environment was worth the cost. This was within my budget.

"I'll take three nights with meals, please."

"Oh, really? You came here on Nina’s recommendation, didn't you?"

"Uh, yes. How did you know?"

"I can usually spot a novice adventurer just by their aura. Ah, by the way, I’m Reila, Nina’s mother."

"Oh, hello. I’m Tort."

For some reason, I ended up introducing myself. I wasn't sure where this conversation was going.

"The Wildcat Inn is actually a bit pricey, you see. Because of that, we provide support to the novices Nina sends our way. We usually offer them free meals and a discount on the room."

"Oh, really? Then—!"

"But it looks like you don't need any of that, Tort-kun. Nina only sends us the kids she thinks have potential, but you must be truly excellent to pay full price without blinking."

"Ah... right..."

She gave me an undeniable, high-pressure smile. She really was Nina’s mother.

I was glad she thought I was "excellent," but the only reason I could afford six Silver Coins was thanks to my former master’s stash. It was a bit too late to speak up now, though. I had no choice but to pay up with a brave face.

Wait. The Silver Coins were in my Storage Ring. I thrust my hand into my hemp sack and pulled them out from the ring secretly. That should keep the ring’s existence hidden. I still didn't know if it was rare enough to justify all this secrecy, but better safe than sorry.

I still had some time before dinner. Maybe I should go see about that Divine Protection of the Job God while I had the chance?