16 Chapter 17: Port of Atlas (2/2)
I don't want to draw too much attention, to myself
”Ariel can you wait here, while i go get the bandit leader?” I asked
”Yes! I'm fine now, i was just surprised since we didn't really get much attention in the old guild.” She replied
”I'm glad that you're fine” I said before heading back to get the bandit leader
After i got him, i dragged him to the receptionist and kindly said. ”Um, this man is the leader of one of the bandits we fought, does he have any value?”
The Receptionist gave me a puzzled look as if she didn't know what to do.
”You guys didn't steal all of this pelt from anyone, right? And i need to check to see if he has a bounty.”
”Yes. We hunted wolves during our trip here and were raided by a small group of bandits. This is their leader, he might have a bounty as he seemed experienced.”
”I see.. I'll check his identity and see if there's any bounties on him. Also i'll check how much this pelt is worth, Also where are the rest of your party members?” She asked
”It's only us 2?” I replied
”What!?” She shouted out which resulted in more attention being gathered at our backs
Darn.. Now we're standing out even more.. Come on guys it's just wolves and a bandit leader, it's nothing that ba- okay nevermind.
”That's not good! You should try to find at least a 3rd member. This guild is full of people near your age group so just find someone you can trust. Okay!?” She said before heading off to one of the rooms with the bandit and wolf pelt.
”O-Okay, we'll find someone. Thank you for your help.” I replied
The receptionist paced back and forth to pick up the remaining pelt and take it to a separate room
”Hey you, duel me.”
I turned to the source of the voice and found a young looking girl, she had moderately long silver hair and deep silver eyes, she wore a robe and a pointy hat on her hair. Sort of like the ones you see on witches.
”W- What did you sa-”
”Duel me.” She interrupted
”But why?” I asked
”I want to see if you're strong enough for me to join your party.” She said
”Who said anything about you joi-”
Before i could finish what i was going to say, one of the adventurer's in the background spoke up ”Guys! The kid who brought the bandit just got challenged to a duel!”
”What? More importantly, how did you hear that?! You're on the other side of the room!?!”
”What we're going to see a duel!? Aight Everybody let's go outside and watch!!”
The adventurers began to cheer
”Darn.. Now there's no way i can decline..Fine, i accept the duel.”
”He accepted the duel!!” Said the same adventurer who heard me from the other side of the room
The adventurers let out another cheer
”Aren't these guys a little too excited to watch kids fight?” I asked
”Kids? I'll have you know i'm already an adult! I turned 15 this year” Said the the silver haired challenger
”Oh sorry, do they always do this when there's a duel?” I asked
”Every adventurer's guild does, it's normal.” She replied
Ariel who had been quiet this whole time, decided to speak up
”Why do you want to duel john?” She said with an annoyed face
”Well i overheard you talking to receptionist, she said you should find party members so, i was planning on joining your party as a condition if i won.”
”That's the reason.. You could have just asked! I would've let you join either way!” I shouted
”R-Really!? T-Then, Thank you for allowing me to join, my name is Serena Valeriana, i'm a mage. Thanks for having me on board.” She said as she bowed
”The pleasure's all mine. My name is John and this is Ariel. We're both mages” I said as i bowed
Oi.. I got caught up in the moment.. No matter how you look at it, isn't this moving too fast!?
”Either way, I believe we should still have that duel, we'll be able to understand more about each other's abilities.” Serena Suggested
”Yeah you have a point. Besides i don't think the audience wants to wait any longer. Very well, this will also show people that i'm not weak.”
”John.. Wait a minute.. Aren't things moving too fast!?” said Ariel
So you thought so too ..
”Yeah, but we needed a third member, anyways, so i don't really mind.”
”But.. You could have at least asked me for my opinion.. We're partners after all..” She said with puffed up cheeks
”You're right.. Sorry. Um serena.. I forgot to consult with my party member, whether or not she would mind you joining so let's set up new conditions.”
”Alright, i understand.” She replied
”If you win, you join our party, or we can join your party. Whatever you want. If I win, Ariel will decide whether or not you can join us. Sorry”
”It's fine.. I was the one to rush it all, so it's my fault. Very well, i agree to the conditions. If i win, i'll join your party” She said with a slightly saddened expression
”Very well, then it's decided. Let's just wait for the receptionist to come back.”
After a few minutes, the receptionist came back with a box
”Uhm, for the wolf pelt, you were given 10 Gold coins as they were in perfect condition and there were at least enough pelt worth 20 wolves which is 50 silver each. This box also holds 55 Gold coins, the bounty on the Bandit leader you brought in. He confirmed that it was indeed you who beat him. So there are no issues.”
Both Serena and Ariel looked shocked at the amount of gold In the box. At the same time i could feel a few evil gazes fall on my back.
They never learn.. The receptionist handed me the box and i showed a confused expression
”Um receptionist, This Box is the size of a pencil case.. does it really have all those coins?” I asked
”John.. That's not a normal box..” Said Serena
”What?” I asked
”Oh my, is this your first time seeing a Magic Tool Box? While it looks small, it's only so that it can be easily transported. While it indeed is small, inside can fit anything as long as the space doesn't exceed 10 cubic meters. All your gold is in there, all you need to do is open and pull it out. If you don't believe me you could check it right now.”
”No, it's fine. You're trustworthy, and if i were to take everything out now, that would grab too much attention. Thank you very much for the reward. Also, how were you able to get information on the bandit? He wasn't willing to talk when i asked him.”
The receptionist gave me a cold smile as she said. ”The guild has it's ways.”
I'm never picking a fight with receptionists...
”Well then...” I said as i turned around to look at the people adventurers which stood before me
Some of them stood up and were waiting near the entrance for me and Serena to have our duel, while the remaining ones ignored it and looked like they were just relaxing. I could tell just by looking that these guys were strong.
Unlike the young adventurers who were excited to see a fight, these guys remained composed and diligent. I respect people like them.
But i guess that just proves that every adventurer is unique. They're not like the ones you see in fairy tails and they're not all Buff men. Some of the ones here are swordsman teens around 16-18 years of age, while others look like mages and tanks in their 20s and 30s.
Honestly, they look a lot more motivated than the adventurers of Halfaust though. I wonder how diverse the adventurers in Atlas will be.. I can't wait to find out!
”Let's head to our duel, Shall we?” I Said before heading to the entrance.
Man.. So many things that i could never expect are happening. I'm so glad i became an adventurer!