Rick thought his soul was leaving his body for the second time that day. This was somehow worse than the goblin attack. What's worse, he prefers to get caught masturbating by one person apart from this.
Rick couldn't tell if Carmilla was trying not to laugh or if she was embarrassed for him because she was covering her mouth. Most likely both.
Miraya cleared her throat, and her cheeks were clearly pink. "Well, um, no matter how strange the profession is, the crystal has confirmed what you said."
"That's all we need to sign up." She quickly took out a blank card and started filling it out with practiced speed, clearly trying to get past the awkwardness.
"So, Rick," a smooth female voice said from a table nearby. Rick turned around and saw a woman in light armor, probably in her early forties, with a smirk on her face. "If you need help getting power, I'd be happy to help."
"I'm very grown up."
A lot of people started laughing. Rick wanted to hide in a hole and never come out.
"That's enough," Carmilla said firmly, her captain's voice cutting through the laughter. "He's a new hire. Please be respectful."
The laughter stopped, but the funny looks didn't go away completely. People didn't want to push too hard because Carmilla was in charge here.
Miraya finished making the guild card and gave it to Rick. It was a plain metal card with his name and the guild's seal on it. "Here it is."
"You are now an official adventurer. You start at F-rank, which is the same for everyone who is new. From now on, you can complete quests to move up in rank and get harder tasks."
Rick said quietly, "Thank you," and then quickly shoved the card into his pocket.
"Now," Miraya said, taking out a piece of paper, "let me go over the basics."
"Rank F is the easiest quest, and Rank S is the hardest quest, which is legendary. If you are an F-rank adventurer, you can only do F and E-rank quests."
"The guild keeps ten percent of all quest rewards. This money is used to keep the buildings in good shape and protect adventurers."
She pointed to the board of notices. "Quests that are available are posted there."
"You can take them yourself or form a party with other adventurers. The guild says that new adventurers should start with gathering or escort missions before moving on to combat tasks."
Rick nodded along, trying to take in everything. It was like the MMO games he'd played before, which was both comforting and strange.
Miraya went on to say, "There are rooms and meals on the second and third floors."
"Prices depend on the quality of the room, but basic lodging costs three silver per night and includes breakfast. The dining hall is open from dawn until midnight."
Carmilla took a small bag out of her pocket and put it on the counter. "Put him up for three nights. I'll take care of it."
Rick said, "Captain, you don't have to do that."
"Think of it as an investment in your survival," Carmilla said with a small smile. "If you die before you pay me back, I'll think of it as a loss."
Miraya took the payment and gave Rick a key to the room. "Room 214 is on the second floor, the fourth door on the right. Sheets are changed daily, and there's a communal bath at the end of each hallway."
"Thank you," Rick said, genuinely grateful. He looked at Carmilla. "I really do appreciate everything you've done for me today."
"I promise to pay you back as soon as I finish my first quest."
Carmilla's expression softened. "Just don't get yourself killed."
"Also... that is enough money for you to spend." She glanced toward the guild entrance. "I have to go back to the guard barracks before the captain's meeting tonight."
"Are you going to be okay by yourself?"
Rick said, "I'll be fine," trying to sound more sure of himself than he really was. "I'll probably just get settled in and look at the quest board."
"Good. If you need anything, Miraya and the other receptionists can help."
"They know everything about the guild and the town." Before she left, Carmilla gave him one last nod.
Rick watched her leave, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and disappointment. Having her around had made this overwhelming new world feel slightly less terrifying.
[CARMILLA CRIMSONFORD HAS LEFT THE PARTY]
[AFFECTION LEVEL: 6/10]
[STATUS: WARM REGARD + PROTECTIVE INSTINCT]
[NOTE: She considers you someone worth protecting. Don't waste it.]
"Well, isn't that sweet?" Sebastian commented. "You've managed to form an actual bond with someone. I'm almost happy..."
Rick gave him the finger in his head and then turned back to Miraya, who was behind the counter organizing papers. He noticed she was humming a cheerful tune while she worked.
Without thinking, Rick asked, "How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
The humming stopped. Miraya raised an eyebrow and smiled playfully as she looked up. "That's a pretty direct question for someone I just met."
"But I guess it's relevant since your profession seems to have something to do with maturity." She bent forward a little. "I'm twenty-nine years old. Just turned last month. Why do you want to know?"
Sebastian's voice sounded like an air horn in Rick's head before he could say anything. "TWENTY-NINE? Twenty FUCKING nine!?"
"That's not thirty! SHE DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS!"
"Leave her alone! NOW! ABORT!"
"Agh! Fuck!" Rick winced at the noise in his head. "Please don't yell right into my FUCKING head."
"She's twenty-nine years old!" Sebastian stood right in front of Rick's face, and his tiny butler body shook with what could only be called systemic rage. "The system parameters are very clear!"
"You need at least thirty-year-old mature women. THIRTY!"
"Not twenty-nine or anything that's lower than thirty! It doesn't even count as well if it's twenty-nine and eleven months!!!"
"What's wrong?" Miraya asked because she saw that Rick looked in pain. "Did you get a headache?"
Rick muttered, "Well... something like that." He looked at Miraya more closely and couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
She looks cheerful, helpful, and obviously good at what she does. It seemed like such a random limit based on age.
"Why does it have to be thirty exactly?" Rick thought about Sebastian. "She's only a year away. That rule is so fucking dumb!"
"It's not a rule! It's a basic part of the Mature Affinity System," Sebastian said angrily. "The magic is set up to work on women who have reached a certain level of emotional maturity, life experience, and spiritual growth."
"These things usually happen around the age of thirty. Someone who is twenty-nine might be close, but they haven't quite made it there yet!"
"That sounds like a lot of nonsense."
"You're a fucking idiot. It's magical law.!"
"You can argue with reality all you want, but it won't change the facts!"