Chapter 53, Cashing Out and Catching Up

Translator: Barnnn

 

Today marked the second rest day since their arrival in Jasted.

 

They had three main tasks to tackle:

First, converting the spoils from their past two days of Dungeon expeditions into cash.

Second, purchasing equipment for Ize — gloves for knife handling and protective gear for their upcoming battles against Chestnut Bombers.

Third, dropping by the Crafters’ Guild to submit the specifications for the portable toilet they had designed together last night.

 

“The variety of meat we’ve gathered is growing, isn’t it? Do you think keeping it all might be overdoing it?” Ize asked.

“We’ll need to consider provisions carefully when we start traveling again,” Hal replied. “Stick with the same supplies too long, and we’ll get sick of them.”

“So, for now, maybe we should hold onto what we’ve got a bit longer?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

 

As usual, they planned to exchange Magicite and non-meat loot at the Guild.

Rainbee’s Rain Drops, a snack Ize had taken a liking to, were an exception — they always kept those. Currently, they were stored in a small box they’d bought in Bezbaro, but they wanted to transfer them to a glass jar. If time permitted, they’d shop around for one today.

 

At the Guild’s reception desk, Hal greeted the attendant. “Good morning, Miss Kikuno. You’re at the general counter today?”

“Yes,” Kikuno said, smiling politely. “I’ve been assigned here since yesterday.”

“Perfect timing for us!” Ize chimed in. “We just completed all the floors we’re allowed to explore yesterday. We’re officially out of the ‘newbie’ territory!”

“You’ve… already cleared those floors? All of them?”

Hal nodded. “We registered our completion of the fifteenth floor yesterday.”

“And you managed that with just the two of you?” Kikuno asked, her tone faltering slightly — a shift that did not go unnoticed by Hal.

“Just us,” Hal said. “Is that unusual?”

 

Kikuno’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly before she recovered.

 

“No, not at all. I see you’re here to turn in your loot — do you have any items besides Magicite?”

“We do,” Hal replied. “We’ve brought items from the sixth to the fifteenth floors, so it’s quite a haul.”

“That’s no problem. Some adventurers spend weeks in the Dungeon — we’re used to processing large quantities.”

“Glad to hear it. These are items from both me and Ize. We’ll leave it to you.”

“I’ll also update your Adventurer Cards with your floor clearance records. May I have those as well?”

“Of course.”

 

While waiting for the appraisals, a commotion erupted at a nearby counter.

 

“I’m telling you, someone stole our loot!”

“Come on, have a heart, ma’am! You’re not just gonna say you don’t believe us, right!?”

“We got ambushed right after the fight! There were three C-ranks and a D-rank in our group, and those guys were strong enough to overwhelm us! They’re dangerous — you’ve got to arrest them!”

“And now you’re penalizing US for failing the quest!? This is absurd!”

“Yeah! THEY’ve got the the Queen Arachne Silk you requested! Go find them!”

 

“!”

“!”

 

Hal and Ize exchanged quick glances at the mention of Queen Arachne Silk.

 

[Waaait… we’ve just turned in one of those…]

 

Just then, Kikuno returned from the back room, her expression visibly tense.

Hal glanced at Ize, then gestured discreetly to Kikuno, directing her attention toward the small meeting room in the back.

Kikuno gave a slight nod before walking toward the door instead of returning to the counter.

After a brief pause, Hal and Ize followed her.

 

“Thank you for your consideration,” Kikuno said, bowing deeply as they entered the room.

 

She remained standing until Hal and Ize took the seats offered to them, then settled into her own chair.

 

“It’s all right,” Hal said, his tone reassuring. “Staying out there would’ve only led to unnecessary trouble. Can you explain the situation?”

“Of course,” Kikuno replied, folding her hands neatly in front of her. “A few days ago, the Crafters’ Guild issued a request for Queen Arachne Silk. The team you saw earlier accepted the quest. According to their account, after defeating the Queen Arachne, they were ambushed, and the silk was stolen.”

“And now we show up to sell our loot at an unfortunate timing…?” Hal prompted.

“Precisely. However, after consulting with the higher-ups, it’s been decided that we can proceed with paying you for your items.”

“So, there’s no investigation against us?”

“There’s no evidence linking you to the theft,” Kikuno said smoothly. “And, in fact, there are several factors that clear you entirely.”

 

She paused, gauging Ize and Hal’s reactions. Hal gave a slight nod, inviting her to continue.

 

“The team of victims — the ones you just saw — comprised three C-ranks and four D-ranks. While the D-rank members rotate, the C-ranks remain consistent. Meanwhile, the two of you are ranked E and Apprentice. It’s highly improbable you could have ambushed and overpowered them.”

“Couldn’t someone use drugs or a similar method to weaken them?” Hal asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“They reported being attacked outright — by bladed weapons. There was no mention of drugs. Additionally, the method they described doesn’t align with your known combat style, Hal.”

“That’s true. I don’t carry any bladed weapons.”

“Moreover, you’ve been in this city for less than a week. You wouldn’t have had the time or knowledge to learn about the Queen Arachne Silk’s demand, location, or associated rewards. It’s hard to believe you orchestrated such a theft.”

“I see. So, the Guild has concluded we’re innocent based on the circumstances,” Hal said, exhaling faintly. “That’s a relief.”

“It’s in everyone’s best interest to avoid unnecessary conflict,” Kikuno said with a nod. “However, the Guild has requested some clarifications. May I ask a few questions?”

“Of course. We’ll answer what we can.”

 

Kikuno hesitated briefly, choosing her words with care before proceeding.

 

“You mentioned clearing up to the fifteenth floor yesterday. Did you stay overnight in the Dungeon?”

“No, we returned to our inn each day.”

“You completed floors eleven through fifteen in a single day?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask how long it took, approximately?”

“Including breaks?”

“Yes.”

“If you check the Dungeon’s entry and exit records, you’ll get a precise time, but… I’d estimate slightly under eight hours.”

“I see. And Ize was with you the entire time?”

“Yes.”

 

Kikuno fell silent, her gaze distant as she considered his answers. Hal and Ize exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions mirror images of confusion.

Their synchronized tilt of heads and perfectly timed reactions were so uncanny that Kikuno found herself blinking in surprise, struggling to suppress an unexpected smile.

 

“Ahem,” she cleared her throat, regaining her composure. “You might find my questions puzzling, but they’re necessary for the Guild to assess your abilities. I ask for just a little more of your patience.”

“Assessing our abilities… how?” Hal asked.

“The Guild has a system to recommend adventurers for promotion when their performance indicates readiness for higher ranks. Though you’ve been adventurers for only a short time, the leadership believes you both are capable of advancing to D-rank.”

“But I’m not even an adult yet,” Ize interjected. “Can I still become D-rank?”

“Actually, yes,” Kikuno assured her. “Until you come of age, you’ll hold a provisional rank.”

“So, once I’m an adult, I’ll automatically become a full D-rank?”

“Precisely.”

 

The system was news to them. It seemed to be a feature unique to cities with high-difficulty Dungeons like Jasted.

Children born and raised in this city often registered with the Guild as adventurers as soon as they turned twelve, diving into Dungeons as early as the Guild allowed. By the time they reached adulthood, years of experience, coupled with the skills gained during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, enabled them to grow even stronger.

Yet, in other cities, strict rank-based Dungeon access restrictions often stifled their potential, preventing them from exploring challenges befitting their true abilities.

While this policy acted as a support system for young adventurers in Jasted, it wasn’t limited to locals. Ize and Hal, too, were entitled to its benefits.

 

“I see. That clears things up.” Hal nodded. “Is there anything else we need to do to rank up?”

“You’ll need to reach the twentieth floor of the Dungeon.”

“I thought D-rank allowed access up to the thirtieth floor. Isn’t that the benchmark?”

“Yes, but reaching the twentieth floor is considered sufficiently challenging for someone of E-rank capabilities. The test for D-rank doesn’t require going beyond that.”

“Is there a time limit?”

“No, there’s nothing of the sort. The Guild prefers that you advance at a steady pace rather than risk your lives by rushing.”

“And we won’t be penalized for venturing below the current E-rank limit of the fifteenth floor to aim for promotion, right?”

“That’s correct.”

 

Hal paused, his gaze thoughtful as he absorbed the details. Meanwhile, Ize, mulling over her own concerns, turned to Kikuno.

 

“Miss Kikuno, another companion will be joining us in a few days. If we’re aiming for promotion, does that mean we’d need to go with just the two of us?”

“As long as the additional member is only one rank higher than the rank you’re aiming for, it’s permitted,” Kikuno explained.

“So, up to C-rank if we’re aiming for D-rank,” Ize said with a nod. “Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Pardon me, but if the companion you’re referring to is Mister Fieda, he’s a C-rank adventurer,” Kikuno added.

“Huh? He is?” Ize blinked in surprise.

“Yes. His promotion was processed through the Union’s mutual support system.”

“Mutual support system?” Ize parroted.

“Correct. When individuals who have been active as mercenaries or Union guards transition to becoming adventurers, their prior contributions are evaluated. The Union calculates the equivalent Guild rank based on their accumulated points, allowing them to join at the appropriate level.”

“Wow, so Fieda’s been doing so much work… I had no idea,” Ize said, impressed.

“He must’ve handled the paperwork while he was in the capital,” Hal added. “I’m glad his Union career didn’t go to waste.”

“Yeah. And now we know we’ll be able to explore together right when he gets here,” Ize said, her expression softening with relief.

“Exactly!”

 

The two exchanged a brief smile, their earlier concerns dissipating with the reassurance that they’d soon reunite with Fieda without issue.

Just then, a knock came at the door. Another receptionist entered, balancing a tray in her hands.

 

“We’ve completed the calculation for your loot, Hal and Ize,” she announced, setting the tray down. “Here’s the breakdown and your Adventurer Cards. Please confirm the details. Additionally, since you both have accounts, we can deposit today’s earnings directly if you prefer.”

“Thank you. I’ll take a look,” Hal said, reaching for the slip of paper and his Adventurer Card.

 

But as his eyes scanned the numbers, he froze.

Curious, Ize leaned forward and picked up her own items as the receptionist urged her to do the same. Her gaze flitted across the slip — and then she gasped.

 

“What in the…?”

“Is something the matter?” the receptionist asked.

“Um, this amount… it seems a bit… high?” Hal questioned cautiously, his eyes lingering on the figures.

“The items you submitted today included nine Blood Bear Magicites, one Queen Arachne Magicite, as well as its venom sac and silk,” the receptionist explained. “These are consistently high-value items. Additionally, the antlers from two Twisthorn Deer were in excellent condition, so we’ve priced them accordingly.”

“W-wow…” Ize murmured, her astonishment plain as her gaze flicked back to the slip in her hand.

“This feels like far too much to carry around in cash. Could you deposit it all into my account?” Hal requested.

“Of course. Ize, would you like the same arrangement?”

“Y-yes, please,” she replied quickly, her voice almost tripping over itself.

“Understood. Once the deposit is complete, I’ll return with the paperwork for your signatures. Please wait here a little longer,” the receptionist said, dipping into a graceful bow before exiting the room.

 

As the door clicked shut, Hal stared at it for a moment. Then, finally, he muttered,

 

“We’ve already earned nearly half of what we’ll need for our winter lodging…”