Were they going to explore jungles or something? Or dive off waterfalls?
That was impossible.
"If you take requests from the guild and succeed, you get paid. Of course, if you fail there are penalties, but depending on the request, there are also ones that pay a large amount of money."
"Um, first of all, what exactly is a guild?"
"…So that's where we're starting."
He was truly sorry.
There were far too many things this former grandpa did not understand.
"To simply put, it's like a job placement office. First, clients like nobles, merchants, or craftsmen submit requests to the guild. The guild checks whether the demands are unreasonable or the reward is appropriate, and if it's approved, adventurers take on the request."
I see. So it was like an intermediary.
It prevented problems like taking a job privately and later having disputes over different reward amounts, or finding out it was an illegal request.
There was no need to wander all over town searching for work and one could find requests that matched one's abilities.
A brokerage fee was taken, but even if problems arose later, the guild would take responsibility and resolve them.
"What kinds of requests are there?"
"All kinds. There are things like gathering medicinal herbs, subjugation requests, and escort missions too, but I don't recommend the last one."
When Elias made a truly disgusted expression, Qiong Xing asked him why.
"While sucking up to arrogant, overbearing nobles and escorting them, if you so much as get slightly injured, they don't pay you and label it a failure. At worst, you're treated as nothing more than a meat shield."
That was no good.
Alright, escort requests were off the table.
"So can anyone become an adventurer?"
"Basically, anyone can. Of course, that's limited to humans. Beastmen and demons are all treated as slaves. But they can accompany requests as slaves, so Qiong Xing can take on the requests and we can cooperate."
"I'll help too!"
"Cari too!"
"Then shall we try being adventurers? If it doesn't work out, we can always look for something else."
Apparently, registering as an adventurer at the guild could also be used as identification and in some cases the entry fee when entering a country would be cheaper.
For now, he planned to stay here until he got used to things, but once they were accustomed, it sounded fun to travel around various countries together.
"By the way, Qiong Xing… judging by appearances… you don't really look like it, but can you fight?"
Hmm, could he?
In China he had been a police officer, so he could do some material arts and had some experience with cold weapon as well, but he couldn't judge whether that would be useful in the kind of combat adventurers engaged in.
Those two had also said they would attach various things so he wouldn't be attacked, but since he didn't understand what "being attacked" really meant, he had just let it go at the time.
"I don't know, so why don't we take a simple request to check?"
"…Why don't you know about yourself?"
When it was put that way, Qiong Xing couldn't say anything in response.
And so, they arrived at the Adventurers' Guild.
He had been excited about doing something for the first time, but the moment he entered the guild, the overwhelming stuffiness of being surrounded by men made him reflexively close the door he had just opened.
"Qiong Xing?"
He told the puzzled looking Leander that he was fine, then steeled himself and went inside.
"It really is all men."
"Well, there aren't many women who choose to be dangerous adventurers."
Injuries were commonplace, and depending on the request, adventurers could even lose their lives, so it was unlikely many women would gladly choose such a profession.
Still, the number wasn't zero, likely due to the high earnings, the freedom of a traveler's life, or circumstances such as poverty.
Thinking about how there were few women but still some who joined the military even in China, it didn't seem all that strange.
"If you have a request, please go to the counter next door."
"No, I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Huh?"
He headed to the reception desk, thinking he should just quickly finish his business, but for some reason, before he could even speak, he was mistaken for someone there to submit a request.
"Huh? Um, I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Huh?"
Why wasn't it getting through?
Was the way he said it wrong, or was there some kind of password adventurers were supposed to use?
Seeking help, he looked back at Leander and the others standing behind him, but they nodded as if agreeing with the receptionist as well.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"Yes. That's why I came."
To be double-checked like this… was he being seen as a child or something?
He was indeed only sixteen and having just reached adulthood, but still.
At this point, turning back would be stranger.
"…Very well. Then I'll proceed with the procedure. Please fill in the required information on these documents, and also place a few drops of blood here."
It was simple information like name, age, and date of birth, but he didn't understand why he had to drip blood onto the card.
They weren't going to use it for some suspicious ritual, were they? Or make him a joint guarantor for some stranger's debt?
He looked at the man, but the receptionist didn't seem flustered at all, if anything, he looked worried about what was wrong.
Giving up, Qiong Xing pricked his finger with the needle he was handed and let the blood that flowed out drip onto the business-card-sized card.
"Oh?"
For a moment, it seemed like the card glowed and then Qiong Xing's name was engraved on it.
Huh, when did that happen?
"And with that, you're finished. You can accept requests up to one rank above your current rank. Since you're F-rank, you may accept up to E-rank requests. If you fail a request, there will be penalties, and if that continues, your registration may be revoked, so please be careful."