Adventurer's guild merits
Masha: yeh Claudi, stop geeking and wake up, its mornin
I woke up from both the worst and best sleep I had in a while, I was actually hopeful for today and at the same time, my back and head were killing me. I already regret teaching the word "geeking" to Masha
I went to the restroom, followed my routine of wiping myself down near the bucket, brushing my teeth, and trying to fix my hair as much as I could. I became impatient and decided to put it up in a man bun. The outfit for today was pretty simple, a black hoodie and a dark brown denim jeans, seeing how the folks dress around here this was my best option not to attract attention to me.
I got out of the restroom and everyone greeted me simultaneously, I greeted them back and was caught off guard by the appearance of everyone present, they all looked better? They did not look malnourished at all, there was meat in their faces now, the day before everyone's cheekbones were visible
I was tired yesterday so maybe I was seeing things back then. Today, i wanted to visit the other side of the city after I visit the butcher to check on Viviane, it is not like the supplements will work right away anyway but I just wanted to show them that I was not a scammer who ran away. After that, I will go to the market and look for a shop that sells defensive mageia tools, and look for a map that can help me find my way to Volquis, the capital of this kingdom.
i want to check out the prices and try to look for a seller who is kind like lady Brenda who doesn't have a hate boner for me simply because I cannot use magic.
'Man I am really tired, I should have brought my instant coffee'
I thought to myself, Nola was preparing breakfast and i did not want her to feel bad by my stupid inquiries about coffee and tea. I was jolted awake when I saw a toddler playing with my backpack, He took out my reassembled handgun and put it in his mouth. I dashed towards him startling everyone and took out my handgun out his mouth, of course, it was not loaded but you never know.
Masha rushed to me to ask me what was wrong, I came up with a random excuse
Masha: Claudi?! What is wrong? Is everything okay?
Claudio: sorry about that Masha, this piece of iron is quite expensive, i cannot let it get wet or else it will lose its value
At least that is what i thought I said
Masha: oh… i am sorry about that Claudi, Nola tasked me with babysitting Irakis but I got distracted, I will watch out for him next time
Claudio: it is fine, and by the way… we are communicating just like yesterday, since when did you have that ability Masha?
Masha: WHAT?! I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU?!
This kid is really something…
Everyone around us including Nola and Sasha stared at us like we were crazy, I spoke English and Masha spoke Voratrae and we still could understand everything we were saying, but to everyone we looked like lunatics. Masha proceeded to extend his aura faintly, it was almost invisible to the naked eye, and told me "try to speak now Claudi"
Claudio: uh… hello can anyone understand me?
Everyone gasped at the same time, "we can understand you!!!" "How is this possible?!" "You don't sound funny now!" "Wow Masha is so cool!"
I was at a loss for words, so many new possibilities opened before me now that i can communicate with everyone, I could give them recipes that could help them live normally even if the gold somehow manages to disappear! I could ask questions that I refrained from asking because i did not know the right words!
Claudio: Masha, how long can you keep this up?
Masha: I don't know Claudi, it is my first time using it!
Claudio: how did you even learn how to do this in the first place?
Masha: remember when you spoke to that old goblin? I just looked at your souls when you were talking and copied the… what is it called?
Claudio: the rhythm?
Masha: no not that word
Claudio: the pattern?
Masha: no no no, I am getting tired Claudi I will stop now
Masha looked visibly fatigued, it was his first time using this ability, Sasha went to help him, and Nola went back to the kitchen to finish breakfast and called everyone when she was done preparing it
The breakfast was a simple bowl of gruel, everyone looked so sad for some reason, some said that they were not hungry. I simply gulped down the gruel and thanked Nola for the breakfast, surprised exclaims came as soon as I left the kitchen, i really couldn't taste anything so the breakfast didn't really bother me
Masha became himself again after he had breakfast, I guess food is needed to recharge mageia, when he feels up to it, i will try to teach Nola how to make ice later, but first thing first
Claudio: who wants to go to me butcher?
Sasha did not laugh at me this time, she looked really worried, and so did Nola and Ayola, the rest of the kids were excited to accompany me, but I wanted a guide not to babysit.
Sasha: I will go with you, wait for me
Claudio: good
After 10 minutes, Sasha came back from Nola's room and she had Masha with her, from the looks of their faces, they looked like they were going to war and I did not like that one bit, I want them to priorities themselves first. I told Masha to activate his mageia so that I could relay the message loud and clear for everyone in the orphanage. Masha nodded and did as I instructed him
Claudio: everyone, I want to tell you something very important, gather around quickly please.
Claudio: I do not need anyone's protection. I may be a cripple, but that does not mean I am weak. I have managed to live on my own after all. Prioritize yourselves, do not put yourselves in danger because of me. If you do, I will never step foot in this home again. Am I clear?
Everyone looked at the ground, but eventually they looked at me again and nodded their heads with visible sadness in their faces. Sasha and Masha wore their shoes and proceeded to head out with me to the butcher shop, before we left, Nola gave me some leftover tacos so that we could give it to Brenda as a thank you for the discount she gave us.
I got way less stares than yesterday, only those who were near me could tell that I couldn't use magic since they did not focus on me from far away.
After 15 minutes of walking through the city, we finally arrived at the butcher's shop. When I entered and said my hellos the butcher came dashing at me with tears in his eyes, my heart dropped to my pants. did i just fuck up? Did she die on her own and somehow he thinks my supplements were the cause? Did I misdiagnose her? I am so fucking dead, my face turned pale and I just accepted my fate.
The butcher got on his knees and hugged my stomach tightly, his tears wet my hoodie like it was raining. he started saying "im sowwy im sowwy" while crying his soul out, when he started saying "thank you" my heart rate went down for a bit, did the medicine already work? Given her state, it would take her at least 2 weeks to show any drastic improvements
Sasha and Masha were on standby and were enraged by the butchers actions yesterday, they immediately pulled him away from me and started viciously beating his ass, the scene was almost comical if not for the fact that I feared for everyone's lives. In the midst of my confusion Viviane opened the door looking like a new women, her skin was clear, face was shining, and visible muscles showing on her body.
She dashed towards me crying and repeating her dad's actions, the dad eventually pushed away the ankle biters and joined in on the action of crying and hugging me tightly. My mind went blank, it was medically possible to completely cure scurvy in under 12 hours, she recovered way too fast, how?! In the middle of my pondering Sasha and Masha pulled the dad away and started beating his ass again.
I annoyingly shouted at everyone to stop their shenanigans and to calm down, the situation was ridiculous.
Claudio: Viviane, how? Show me vial
Viviane: I know you told me to take one a day but...
Looking at the bottle, I saw that she took almost a third of the vitamin C supplements, I asked her to explain how everything happened in the first place but I knew that I wouldn't understand everything she says, this was important to me, I asked Masha to turn on his mageia silently without anyone noticing
Claudio: Viviane, the disease, tell me everything that has happened to you ever since you took the medicine
Viviane was confused about how I could communicate all of a sudden but she replied regardless
Viviane: it was when my dad left my room, I took the medicine and as I was enjoying its delicious taste that I felt that I was getting better for some reason you know? I took another one soon after that and the same thing happened. Slowly my bruises started to heal when I took the 4th tasty pill, since you said to take only one per day i decided to stop taking the medicine after my 12th pill and went to sleep. I woke up feeling like myself again, maybe even better you know?
That is actually groundbreaking information to me, the only explanation i can come up with is that the people of this world were just built different, literally and figuratively. their nutrient absorption rate and healing capabilities were honestly monstrous, I wish I could run some test to figure out the differences about me and them physically but I don't have neither the resources or the time.
Claudio: thank you for the detailed explanation Viviane, I am glad that you are feeling better
Silence, everyone was silent, suddenly Viviane and the butcher Rom started crying their eyes out again, Rom rubbed his bald head near my legs and apologized time and time again for his actions yesterday, i gently patted his bald head and told them that past was the in the past and that we should move on
Rom: I have to compensate you Claudio! Tell me how much do you need!
I know if I refused, they would not feel good about it and will try to stop me from leaving the store, but at the same time they did not feel that well off financially, Masha did not have enough energy for another round of crying so I decided to keep it short
Claudio: 25 groshen would be more than enough, and please I do not have all the time, I need to leave right now
Rom was not happy at all about my request, nor was Viviane. They must have realized that I did not want them to feel bad by asking for a ridiculous price while also not wanting to ask for a reward. Rom left the room silently to go grab my reward, i turned to Masha to see if he has energy for another conversation and he nodded confidentially
Claudio: do you know anyone who is currently sick Viviane? Or someone with the same disease as you?
Viviane: I do! Two of my friends caught the same disease when they were with me you know!
Claudio: what were you and your friends doing before you got sick?
Viviane: we were part of an adventures guild Group! The three of us went on a mission for 3 months to scout the borders and to see if there is any red goblin nesting there. There was barely any food for the journey so we survived off black bread and water you know! Maybe the disease was spread to us through the goblins?
Ah, so that must have been the cause, I need to inform her about the reason for her and her friends sudden health collapse
Claudio: listen very well Viviane, the disease that infected you did not have an external cause
Viviane: what do you mean?
Claudio: I will explain everything when your dad comes back
When Rom came back, I gave everyone a lecture on nutrition, how water and bread was not enough to sustain the body for long periods. I told them that they should take citrus fruits whenever they felt the following symptoms.
I did not see any familiar vegetables in the market that had high levels of vitamin C so I just said, "In order not to be inflicted by this disease again, make sure you eat any green vegetables occasionally"
Everyone nodded their head simultaneously as I explained the steps on how to avoid scurvy, I got up and told the siblings to wait for me at the door. Rom gave me my reward and when I opened my hands I noticed that it was doubled. I told him repeatedly that I asked for 25 groshen but he insisted that I should take it and forgive him for everything, just as I was about to leave he gave me half a pound of beef jerky.
I was tired of arguing so I accepted his kindness and waved them goodbye. I asked Sasha if she knew a shop where they sell mageia tools and she reluctantly nodded her head, seeing that she was really worried about me, I had the bright idea of hiring Viviane as a bodyguard since she said that she was an adventurer.
I headed back to the butcher to ask if I can hire his daughter as security, he nodded his shiny head enthusiastically.
Rom: rest assured Claudio! My daughter is one of the strongest people in this city, she has accumulated over 64 thousand merit points! She is a silver badge owner
He announced with his chest puffed up. Viviane popped up out of nowhere with full gear as if she was expecting me to come back and hire her.
Viviane: I would be honored to be your bodyguard my savior, also why does everyone look scared? Its funny you know
Claudio: uh… anyways I only need you to guard me for 2 hours, I still don't know if you made a full recovery yet, and about the payment…
Viviane cut me off suddenly, she turned ultra serious and said
Viviane: Claudio. I refuse to take any payment from you, even if you refuse my service I will stick by your side until you go back to the orphanage
I turned back to see her father's reaction and he had a fire burning in his eyes
Claudio: *sigh* ok thank you very much for your generosity
Masha and I went out of the shop and somehow Viviane was already out somehow. I told Sasha that I hired a something something merit point adventure to bodyguard us during our small trip. Viviane looked at me confused and asked, "You don't know how the adventurer's guild work?" i looked at Masha to check out if he can continue to hold this conversation and he nodded his head confidently, again. I turned back to Viviane and told her "No"
Viviane eyes lit up and began explaining to me, it looks like she enjoys teaching others about her work
"The guild has a system called merits, upon completing tasks and missions your merit points increase as well, for an example, gathering herbs merit points are around 25 merits and 500, 500 being if the place of harvest is a dangerous place"
I turned around to check on Masha and he gave me an ok. "You can also get merit points from monster kills or other similar activities like security and getting rid of monsters who go near the city"
I asked her "since this is a bodyguard job shouldn't we register it in the guild?"
She shook her head and said, "Claudio, most guilds refuse to do business with a cripple, I am sure working for one is going to be even more difficult, sorry"
Fucking Nazis, this world sure does not like me. The mood was pretty bad after she answered me, everyone was looking at the ground so I decided to go back to the previous subject, "merit points? Can you tell me how the adventurers benefit from it please?"
Viviane eyes lit up again and went to her previous self, she answered with a puffed up chest and said, "The more merit points you have, the better the benefits and rewards, for an example, better discounts at the guilds and guild related markets and more bonuses from the missions you know"
"For an example, beginner adventurers have a wooden badge, the guild takes 70% of their mission rewards and they have a 3% discount on inns and markets, but for bronze badge adventurer the guild takes 50% from him and he has a 10% discount on inns and market places".
I was confused on how merit points indicate the badge of the individual so I asked her about it, she answered, "beginners start at 0 merit points and if they get ten thousand merit points they get promoted to a bronze badge you know.
If they wanted to be promoted to a silver badge they have to get over 50 thousand merit points. After that a gold badge starts at 100k points, and after that, platinum starts at 500k points, and beyond that, a diamond badge is received at one million points". I asked her "how many people own a diamond badge?" her eyes lit with fire and answered "in the continent of Dysivic there are 20 diamond badge owners that are known, I really don't know about the rest of the world you know"
Finally, I knew the name of this continent, I have to get a map to understand my surroundings better, I hope it is not that expensive. A question suddenly popped in my head, "Viviane thank you for being so patient with me but I have one last inquiry".
her head snapped towards me as we were walking towards the market, her face was red at first but it turned back to normal, she regained her composure and said "Claudio, I enjoy your company so please do not be shy to ask any questions", I replied with a "thank you" and proceeded to ask my question
Claudio: I still fail to realize how someone can gather so much merit points, can you tell me how you managed to get that much merits?
Viviane looked disappointed from some reason, but she answered anyway
Viviane: At first, I was stuck to gathering herbs since my dad couldn't let me do anything else, i am pretty talented so I decided to take a goblin scouting quest for 1500 merit points since I wanted to double my points. When I scouted the goblins, I realized that I forgot to put on a scent concealing ointment so they spotted me very easily.
I ended up fighting a goblin chief and 10 other adult goblins that day, I barely survived but when I returned to the guild with the goblin ears everyone was shocked to the core. My merit points added up to ten thousand that day, making me the youngest bronze badge adventurer in the city of Canes Horos at the age of 16
Claudio: that is quite the story, thank you for sharing it with me, I can imagine the look on Rom's face when you told him what happened
Viviane: hahaha yeah I am sure that was the reason he went bald
Everyone present laughed at the bald head of Rom, two minutes before we arrived at Brenda I asked Viviane, "Viviane I know it is rude to ask a lady this question but how old are you?", she turned her head around and answered
"It is fine I do not mind at all, I turned 22 this year", I raised my eyebrows and said, "oh I didn't know we were the same age that is interesting"
Everyone turned to me and asked in unison "YOU ARE 22?!"