Chapter 3 (2/2)

The human-supremacist Kingdom, the Beast-person-supremacist Beast Nation, the power-supremacist Empire and the religious nation that is the Lawful Nation are the four powers that are conquering the continent . And there are a number of small countries of minority populations that exist like stitches in between these four major powers .

When moving between these nations, the Adventurers’ Guild vouches for adventurers with respectable ranks, so it’s easier to cross borders .

Also, in cities beyond a certain size, someone with no identification can’t stay in one city for long . Identification papers are needed to stay for longer than ten days, so the identification papers that can be easily obtained at the Adventurers’ Guild are convenient .

In addition, they provide exemption from the fee required to enter a city .

In a way, this is only natural . Adventurers often enter and exit cities to complete requests; it would cost too much if they had to pay money every time they do so .

And last of all, there is a great variety of people who become adventurers . For us, this is a big factor .

Fallen noblemen who were chased out of the cities they were living in .

People with guilty consciences who have washed their hands of working in the underworld .

On top of that, there are royal family members who want to conceal their identities .

People who want to hide their pasts like that change their names as they register . Because of this, it’s an unspoken rule to not ask about an adventurer’s past . In other words, it’s an occupation where many do not reveal their pasts . It’s an occupation people like us, or rather, me – someone who is being chased by the Kingdom – can easily disappear into .

A forest is the best place to hide a tree .

Considering our objective, the first and third benefits will definitely be useful . For Minnalis, the second benefit is apparently important as well .

And whatever happens, at the very least, as long as Yumis is in this city, it’s almost certain that we’re going to be in the city for more than ten days, so acquiring identification papers is of the utmost importance .

“Still, why are we going so early in the morning to arrive as soon as the Guild opens?” Minnalis asks as we walk down the main street at a time of day where the sun hasn’t even shown itself, while the stores are still making preparations to open .

“I told you, it’s because I want to avoid a ‘cliché,’” I say .

Indeed, registration as an adventurer is a treasure box of clichés .

A senior adventurer picks a fight with a newbie who has just registered . After that, dealing with the situation causes the new adventurer to become noticed by an important person in the Guild . This causes people to trouble them or argue with them, or the Guild starts to monitor them . There are various other common patterns, and none of them turn out to be beneficial .

Benevolent protagonists actually continue on and get more involved, but becoming a shitty useless slave like that during my first time through this world was more than enough for me .

“We can’t afford to draw attention so stupidly just yet,” I explain . “Anyway, for now, avoiding arguments is the number one priority . That’s why we’re going early in the morning and sorting out the registration while there aren’t many people around . ”

Minnalis sighed . “Well, I’ve heard of that before, but…” Seemingly not entirely satisfied, she tilted her head a little .

Even in this world, in heroic tales where new adventurers rise up to become great people, most of them have a stupid character charge at the protagonist when he registers as an adventurer . So Minnalis does have some knowledge regarding this, but she doesn’t seem convinced .

Well, it’s true that I can’t blame her for questioning the fact that we’re acting under the assumption that something like that is going to happen . But during my first time through this world, when I registered at the Adventurers’ Guild in the royal capital city, things played out exactly according to this cliché . I easily took care of the guy who charged at me, and as dictated by the pattern of an adventurer with potential but problems with violent behavior, I had a formal interview with the head of the Guild . I was registering to acquire an identity as someone other than being the hero, but I hadn’t imagined that such a cliché would occur and my real identity would be revealed right away .

As I reminisce about this, the wooden building that is the Adventurers’ Guild of Ermia comes into view .

At the front, there is a hanging sign bearing a crest that consists of a shield and a sword with a pair of wings, and the building itself is extraordinarily large compared to the other buildings .

As soon as we come close to the building, I search for people’s presences inside without entering .

“Alright, just as I thought, there aren’t many people,” I say .

“… Is it really necessary to go so far?” Minnalis asks in exasperation, but she doesn’t understand .

She really doesn’t understand .

“Listen, Minnalis,” I say . “This has already become a curse . Just like how I am certain to be dragged into a fight with hoodlums when I enter the slum quarters, people like me who have come from another world are certain to get involved in that kind of thing when we register as adventurers . If I can consciously avoid it, there’s no harm in doing so . ”

Minnalis sighed . “I see . That is how it is . ”

I can understand why she’s skeptical, but she doesn’t seem like she’s going to say anything more . Seeing her like this, I start to get the feeling that I’m overthinking things .

No, if I’m overthinking things, then I’m fine with that . If that’s the case, then that just means that things are going to go smoothly, without incident .

I lead Minnalis inside the Adventurers’ Guild and head straight towards the reception desk .