I slept and woke the following morning. As there was a lot we had to do, I got up early, took a bath, and got changed and then woke up Daniela.
“Come on, get up. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”
“Mmmmaa…”
“No amount of moaning will save you. You need to conquer this morning weakness of yours.”
“Ughhh…’
I pulled the sheets out from under her. She still didn’t want to get up, and so I had to take the mattress next. It reminded me of what my mother used to do to me. I had nowhere to escape, and so I had to get up.
Of course, Daniela tried to find a place to hide, but there was nothing on the bed now.
Once her eyes were open, there was nothing to do but get up.
“Damn it…”
“Come on now. It’s not so bad.”
Really…I’m not your mother.
I grumbled as I pulled Daniela out of bed and marched her towards the sink. Once her legs started moving, she was able to carry on by herself.
□ □ □ □
We left the lodging facility as soon as Daniela changed and was ready to go. Mister Hipericam looked very busy behind his desk, and so we tried to pass by him quietly, so as not to disturb his work…but then he called out to us.
“Asagi. I know you’re just being considerate, but it would help if you notified me before leaving.”
“…Ah, right. Well, we’re going to get our bracelets and visit the guild. Also, we need to sign up for the tournament.”
“You don’t have to give me your itinerary. Just let me know that you’re going out.”
“Got it. Uh, see you later then.”
“Yes, please be careful. You too, Miss Daniela.”
“Thank you.”
He did not raise his face even once during this conversation. I wondered how he had even spotted us. Perhaps it was some ability. Well, it was none of our business.
Once that was done, we decided to head for the central guard-house. There, we would exchange the priority pass for bracelets. We had a lot to do today, but we were both in agreement that this should be the first thing on our list.
Then it would be ranking up. And lastly, signing up for the tournament. It was possible that we would be separated into classes depending on our rank, and I didn’t want to look like a cheater…or be disqualified.
“I think the central guardhouse is this way.”
“We really are in the imperial capital. This building is huge…”
We looked up at the building in front of us. It was five stories tall…
But there was no point in staring at it, and we went inside. Once we pushed the doors opened and entered, we were greeted to a very familiar sight. Like many other guard-houses we had seen, there was an entrance, waiting room, chairs and a table with a counter in the back. A lot of signs were also hanging around.
“So, which one are we supposed to go to?”
“I believe it is that one?”
Daniela pointed at a sign that read, ‘Various Procedures’, which was quite vague. But it seemed likely enough, and so we walked up to the counter as a young woman greeted us.
“How can I help you?”
“I was told to come here and exchange this pass for a bracelet.”
“Ah, the imperial military priority pass. Please wait one moment.”
She got up from her chair and went over to a shelf where she pulled out two bracelets from a basket.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
I placed the pass on the counter and picked up the bracelets.
It was a plane band that was about three centimeters wide. Kind of like a watch. I gave Daniela hers and put mine on. The right wrist seemed appropriate.
“Can I help you with anything else?”
“Uh… Yes. Where should we go in order to enlist in the tournament?”
“That would be at the venue.”
“The venue?”
Now that I thought of it, we hadn’t heard where it would take place… I just knew it was within the imperial capital.
“The imperial arena is to the northwest of the city. That is where you can sign up.”
“I see. Thank you very much.”
Northwest…the troops were in the north. And the west was mainly a district for Adventurers. That’s where the guild was. In other words, it was a place where both could be managed. Northwest.
I sat down in a chair and nodded to myself while checking the map. Daniela was staring at her bracelet.
“Pretty unusual for you to have to wear any accessories, Daniela.”
“True. I do not like dangling things very much.”
She had no rings on her ears or fingers. Perhaps Daniela hated such things… This was a painful blow to me, as I had been secretly planning to have some wind dragon scales and fangs turned into matching necklaces for us…
“Hmm? Did you want to get me something?”
“Huh!? No…I mean… Uhahaha…”
“Ah, I did not think you were the type.”
“Is that an insult? When am I not thinking about you, Daniela?”
“Hehe. I was not serious. I know you do.”
She said playfully.
“I am not fond of accessories, but I would be happy with anything you wanted to give me. And so I shall look forward to it.”
“Uh…right. Some day.”
This was embarrassing. I turned away and scratched my jaw as if it actually itched.
Sometime later, we arrived at the Adventurer’s guild. There was no procedure necessary when going to the north district from the west. It was the same in the south and east. The exceptions were the nobles district and when visiting the imperial castle further on. In other words, places that had nothing to do with us. Perhaps we would have gone if it was an actual tourist attraction, but this place was actually inhabited by the upper class and the emperor. They would have us executed if we went in uninvited.
Probably.
The guild was very busy. We made our way through crowds of Adventurers from all over the empire. We finally reached the counter.
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
No one seemed to care if you accidentally bumped into them here. I guess they were better trained.
“Wait.”
But Daniela called for the man to stop. I turned around to see what was happening. She looked angry. But why?
“Return what you just stole from Asagi. Do it quickly and this can end without further trouble.”
“Daniela…?”
Stole? I didn’t have anything that could be…hmm? Hmm!?”
“Ah, my wallet!”
I kept a small leather pouch with a few silvers and golds to shop with, in my pocket. It was gone.
“Asagi. I am not impressed at your lack of caution here.”
“I really did mess up.”
“What? Why are you accusing me?”
The Adventurer said innocently and then glared at me. Perhaps it was arrogant of me, but up until that point, I was willing to let it slide as a lesson I needed to learn. Mainly, because it was such a small sum… But his attitude irked me.
And so I activated Eyes of the God Wolf. It wasn’t just an ability that let you see things far away. I could see things that were close by as well. For instance, the bulge in his back pocket.
“It’s in your back pocket.”
“Tsk…!”
He must have sensed danger then because he turned around and ran. Yes, I could see the outline of my wallet on his ass.
I had made that wallet myself. It was some folded leather stitched together with a needle and some thread. They didn’t use any paper money here, so the wallet got quite fat. Still, I had designed it using Jack of all Trades, Master of None, which resulted in a design that made it fold nicely. I did not think there were any other wallets like it in this world.
“You owe me one.”
“Sorry.”
And with that, Daniela pointed a finger at the Adventurer.
“Blast Bullet.”
“Woah–!?”
It was original magic by Daniela. It was based on my own Icicle Bullet. And it went straight into the back of the thief. The bullet was like a miniature storm and knocked him right off of his feet.
“Hey, guild worker. We got a thief.”
“Ye-yes!”
Daniela sighed as she spun around and called to a random person behind the counter. Several others were called and they promptly apprehended the fallen Adventurer. After that, my wallet was returned to me.
Damn it. This was not a good start. I thought people would start leaving me alone… As the hero protagonist, it was Matsumoto who was supposed to attract this kind of attention. I don’t get it.
I slept and woke the following morning. As there was a lot we had to do, I got up early, took a bath, and got changed and then woke up Daniela.
“Come on, get up. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”
“Mmmmaa…”
“No amount of moaning will save you. You need to conquer this morning weakness of yours.”
“Ughhh…’
I pulled the sheets out from under her. She still didn’t want to get up, and so I had to take the mattress next. It reminded me of what my mother used to do to me. I had nowhere to escape, and so I had to get up.
Of course, Daniela tried to find a place to hide, but there was nothing on the bed now.
Once her eyes were open, there was nothing to do but get up.
“Damn it…”
“Come on now. It’s not so bad.”
Really…I’m not your mother.
I grumbled as I pulled Daniela out of bed and marched her towards the sink. Once her legs started moving, she was able to carry on by herself.
□ □ □ □
We left the lodging facility as soon as Daniela changed and was ready to go. Mister Hipericam looked very busy behind his desk, and so we tried to pass by him quietly, so as not to disturb his work…but then he called out to us.
“Asagi. I know you’re just being considerate, but it would help if you notified me before leaving.”
“…Ah, right. Well, we’re going to get our bracelets and visit the guild. Also, we need to sign up for the tournament.”
“You don’t have to give me your itinerary. Just let me know that you’re going out.”
“Got it. Uh, see you later then.”
“Yes, please be careful. You too, Miss Daniela.”
“Thank you.”
He did not raise his face even once during this conversation. I wondered how he had even spotted us. Perhaps it was some ability. Well, it was none of our business.
Once that was done, we decided to head for the central guard-house. There, we would exchange the priority pass for bracelets. We had a lot to do today, but we were both in agreement that this should be the first thing on our list.
Then it would be ranking up. And lastly, signing up for the tournament. It was possible that we would be separated into classes depending on our rank, and I didn’t want to look like a cheater…or be disqualified.
“I think the central guardhouse is this way.”
“We really are in the imperial capital. This building is huge…”
We looked up at the building in front of us. It was five stories tall…
But there was no point in staring at it, and we went inside. Once we pushed the doors opened and entered, we were greeted to a very familiar sight. Like many other guard-houses we had seen, there was an entrance, waiting room, chairs and a table with a counter in the back. A lot of signs were also hanging around.
“So, which one are we supposed to go to?”
“I believe it is that one?”
Daniela pointed at a sign that read, ‘Various Procedures’, which was quite vague. But it seemed likely enough, and so we walked up to the counter as a young woman greeted us.
“How can I help you?”
“I was told to come here and exchange this pass for a bracelet.”
“Ah, the imperial military priority pass. Please wait one moment.”
She got up from her chair and went over to a shelf where she pulled out two bracelets from a basket.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
I placed the pass on the counter and picked up the bracelets.
It was a plane band that was about three centimeters wide. Kind of like a watch. I gave Daniela hers and put mine on. The right wrist seemed appropriate.
“Can I help you with anything else?”
“Uh… Yes. Where should we go in order to enlist in the tournament?”
“That would be at the venue.”
“The venue?”
Now that I thought of it, we hadn’t heard where it would take place… I just knew it was within the imperial capital.
“The imperial arena is to the northwest of the city. That is where you can sign up.”
“I see. Thank you very much.”
Northwest…the troops were in the north. And the west was mainly a district for Adventurers. That’s where the guild was. In other words, it was a place where both could be managed. Northwest.
I sat down in a chair and nodded to myself while checking the map. Daniela was staring at her bracelet.
“Pretty unusual for you to have to wear any accessories, Daniela.”
“True. I do not like dangling things very much.”
She had no rings on her ears or fingers. Perhaps Daniela hated such things… This was a painful blow to me, as I had been secretly planning to have some wind dragon scales and fangs turned into matching necklaces for us…
“Hmm? Did you want to get me something?”
“Huh!? No…I mean… Uhahaha…”
“Ah, I did not think you were the type.”
“Is that an insult? When am I not thinking about you, Daniela?”
“Hehe. I was not serious. I know you do.”
She said playfully.
“I am not fond of accessories, but I would be happy with anything you wanted to give me. And so I shall look forward to it.”
“Uh…right. Some day.”
This was embarrassing. I turned away and scratched my jaw as if it actually itched.
Sometime later, we arrived at the Adventurer’s guild. There was no procedure necessary when going to the north district from the west. It was the same in the south and east. The exceptions were the nobles district and when visiting the imperial castle further on. In other words, places that had nothing to do with us. Perhaps we would have gone if it was an actual tourist attraction, but this place was actually inhabited by the upper class and the emperor. They would have us executed if we went in uninvited.
Probably.
The guild was very busy. We made our way through crowds of Adventurers from all over the empire. We finally reached the counter.
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
No one seemed to care if you accidentally bumped into them here. I guess they were better trained.
“Wait.”
But Daniela called for the man to stop. I turned around to see what was happening. She looked angry. But why?
“Return what you just stole from Asagi. Do it quickly and this can end without further trouble.”
“Daniela…?”
Stole? I didn’t have anything that could be…hmm? Hmm!?”
“Ah, my wallet!”
I kept a small leather pouch with a few silvers and golds to shop with, in my pocket. It was gone.
“Asagi. I am not impressed at your lack of caution here.”
“I really did mess up.”
“What? Why are you accusing me?”
The Adventurer said innocently and then glared at me. Perhaps it was arrogant of me, but up until that point, I was willing to let it slide as a lesson I needed to learn. Mainly, because it was such a small sum… But his attitude irked me.
And so I activated Eyes of the God Wolf. It wasn’t just an ability that let you see things far away. I could see things that were close by as well. For instance, the bulge in his back pocket.
“It’s in your back pocket.”
“Tsk…!”
He must have sensed danger then because he turned around and ran. Yes, I could see the outline of my wallet on his ass.
I had made that wallet myself. It was some folded leather stitched together with a needle and some thread. They didn’t use any paper money here, so the wallet got quite fat. Still, I had designed it using Jack of all Trades, Master of None, which resulted in a design that made it fold nicely. I did not think there were any other wallets like it in this world.
“You owe me one.”
“Sorry.”
And with that, Daniela pointed a finger at the Adventurer.
“Blast Bullet.”
“Woah–!?”
It was original magic by Daniela. It was based on my own Icicle Bullet. And it went straight into the back of the thief. The bullet was like a miniature storm and knocked him right off of his feet.
“Hey, guild worker. We got a thief.”
“Ye-yes!”
Daniela sighed as she spun around and called to a random person behind the counter. Several others were called and they promptly apprehended the fallen Adventurer. After that, my wallet was returned to me.
Damn it. This was not a good start. I thought people would start leaving me alone… As the hero protagonist, it was Matsumoto who was supposed to attract this kind of attention. I don’t get it.
