CHAPTER 34 – THE MONEY-GRUBBER AND THE VIRTUOUS MAN

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“I suppose I’ll have to go through some tedious procedures to become an adventurer…”

Merc felt troubled after hearing Luka’s explanation.

There had never been any such processes when she was still living as Estert.
Back then anyone could become an adventurer as long as they were an adult and paid the Guild entrance fee of a silver coin.
The annual charge of one blue silver coin, or 50 silver coins, had been out of reach for most people, but as long as they paid the first entrance fee, they could be an adventurer for a year.

Even if they were poor, as long as they had talent, they could amass the sum in a year by fulfilling requests and getting the rewards.
Estert had been able to continue being an adventurer in this manner as well.

He had worked hard to become a Grade 1 Adventurer.
His choice to give up what little he had to become an adventurer hadn’t been wrong.
However, with the current system even that wasn’t allowed.

Most individuals had never met a Grade 4 or higher adventurer, much less asked for a recommendation from one.

“Good grief.
How did it turn out like this…”
“Merc, you don’t have a recommendation?”
“That’s right.
You’re the first adventurers I’ve met, after all.
Of course I don’t have one.”
“Should I write you one?”
“What?”

Luka proposed to Merc, who appeared to be feeling under the weather, with an unusually bright smile for her.
When Luka noticed Merc’s eyes fly up to stare at her, she quickly extended her right palm towards her.

“Huh?”

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“Five silver coins.”
“You’re charging me?”
“The market price is 10.
Five because we’re acquaintances.
I’m selling it cheap.”
“I-I see…”

What a money-grubber!

It was true, however, that a person in need of a recommendation would pay five, if not ten, silver coins.
However, even if one managed to obtain a recommendation it wasn’t certain that they would pass the exam.
Merc began by inquiring about a concern she had.

“By the way, can you take the exam multiple times with one recommendation?”
“No.
One recommendation is for one exam.”
“Figures.”

If you were recommended but failed, it meant you weren’t deserving of a Grade 4 Adventurer’s recommendation.

As a result, you’d need to get a new recommendation and have your skills reassessed.
It was inconvenient, but it was also rational.

“What will you do? You can’t take the exam without one.”
“Um…”

Luka’s gaze seemed to be constantly pressuring Merc to make a choice.
Merc believed that witnessing Luka’s seductive smile was worth the money, but she also feared that she would come to regret it later.

I did receive a prize for defeating the Ghezo Velche, so it’s not like I don’t have the money, but…

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Merc slowly reached for her pouch as she pondered her options.

“What’s up? Are you talking about the exam?”

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Jonahim, who had been flirting with Elea up until this point, swooped in and inquired happily.

“Come to think of it, Merc, you’re taking the exam, aren’t you? Do you have a recommendation?”
“No, I don’t.
I’m talking with Luka abou…”
“How about I write you one.
After all, you’ve been quite helpful to us.”
“Huh? Really? How much?”
“How much? I don’t need money.”

Jonahim said casually.
Hearing him mention that, Merc instinctively shifted her gaze to Luka, only to be surprised to see her look up at Jonahim.

“Tsk…”

This woman…

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Luka turned around and began murmuring something after clicking her tongue, seemingly upset that her bargain had been spoiled.
A dark, sorrowful aura could be seen wafting above her, causing Merc to believe she had done something wrong.

W-Well Jonahim said he’d write one for me for free, so…

Merc turned to Jonahim when she had persuaded herself.

“Can you really write one for me?”
“Sure.
But it’d be hard to write it here.
I’ll write it when we get to the inn in the city.
Would you mind staying with us until then?”
“Of course not.
In any case, I was going to stay with you until we got to the guild.
By the way, the town that’s right ahead of this forest is the City of Ende inside the Lezau Duchy, correct?”
“That’s right.
Our party has its base set at the Duchy.
After being hired for an escort mission, we arrived in the City of Ende and noticed the elf village’s request for the subjugation of the Ghezo Velche.”
“I see…”

The Lezau Duchy was a small country with a long history, situated just below the continent’s center.
It had previously been a vassal state of the neighboring Kingdom of Egelmun, and was ruled by Duke Lezau, a noble from that kingdom.

However, a people’s revolution had occurred as a result of the Egelmun’s oppressive rule, and the kingdom had been reduced to ruins.
As a result, the territory had split into parts, with only the Lezau Duchy remaining.

The Lezau Duchy is still ruled by the Lezau family to this day1.

“Isn’t the Lezau Duchy an unusual country with only one Guild branch?”
“From what era is that information? A branch can be found in both the City of Ende and the Town of Gard.
A new branch recently opened in the City of Logholt, and small branches can also be found in rural areas.”
“Really?”

During Estert’s time, the Adventurers’ Guild had only one branch within the Lezau Duchy.
Back then, the Lezau Duchy2 hadn’t been very large, and there hadn’t been many adventures.
It had always been lacking something.

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Merc was astounded to learn how much it had changed in only 15 years.

I see.
This will be my first time visiting the City of Ende in over 15 years.
I guess the roads will have changed a lot as well.

Merc continued to stroll through the forest with Jonahim, while being reminded that a considerable amount of time had gone by.
Luka and Elea were whispering behind them, but their quiet voices were quickly muffled out by the sounds of the forest.

The peculiar air that lingered around the forest reminded Merc why it was called the Forest of Illusion.
It gave her the impression that Magic Beasts were about to emerge from the crevices between the thick, overgrown trees.

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As usual, this forest is quite unpleasant.
I’m amazed that Law is willing to come here.

Merc found the environment that most elves would describe as comforting to be extremely unpleasant.
Most likely due to her previous life as a human.
Regardless of the fact that she wouldn’t get lost in it due to her elven body, she couldn’t say it was a place she desired to visit.

“Oh! We can see the end.”

After talking casually with Jonahim, Merc suddenly noticed the end of the forest and hurriedly walked forward, as though forced out by it.

Finally!

It was finally time for Merc to set foot in the mysterious realm3 known as the human world after leaving the village, traversing the dreary forest, and crossing the barrier.