'Yes, sir. 'Yes, I have received your application for adventurer registration. In the meantime, I'll explain the basics to you. It's a rule, so even if you know it, you have to ask.

　Marida took the application form from Sakura and proceeded to the next stage of the registration application.

'Please do,'
It's fine to be honest. Well, let's start with the adventurer rank system. There are six levels of adventurer ranks, from F to A, and everyone starts with an F.

　This is the explanation everyone who has become an adventurer has heard.

'F-rank is an apprentice, so no dungeon attacks are allowed, and after a few simple requests you're promoted to E-rank. So E rank is effectively the lowest rank.
'Can't I take on dungeons even if I'm a good fighter?
''Yeah. It's just a period of time to learn the 'basics of being a guild member'. It's about learning the procedures, learning how to use the facilities, that sort of thing.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

But the guild judges the ability and accomplishments of the guild as a whole, so we can't really say this is the case.
How does it benefit me to move up in the ranks?
'Oh. Aggressive question, good one. The higher your rank, the more requests you'll get and the more dungeons you'll be able to challenge.

　Marida spread all five fingers of one hand and waved them in the air.

'The dungeons are also divided into five ranks, from E to A, and you're only allowed to go to dungeons that are equal to or lower than your adventurer rank.

　Hearing that, Sakura raised her eyebrows in wonder.

'Isn't it possible to enter a dungeon without being seen?　What does it mean to have a permit system?
They seem to keep an eye on the high ranks. I've heard that low-rated places like my neighborhood are all governed by the government.
Mmm. ......

　Apparently, Sakura is not convinced of this system.

　Marida's explanation was also inadequate, so I'll interrupt her from the side to add some supplementary information.

'If you apply to the guild before entering the dungeon, you will be compensated to a certain extent even if something happens to you. If you're not of the proper rank, your application won't go through, and if you go in without permission, you'll get no compensation. ...... That's how it works.
Oh, I see. So that's the system.
'By the way, if you're going to challenge with a party, you're supposed to be able to challenge the dungeons commensurate with the leader's rank.

　Since it's impossible to constantly monitor all dungeon entrances and exits, this is why we have this self-responsibility system.

"Brother, you know a lot about this. Are you a veteran by any chance?
''Only in years. I thought the receptionist at the guild house would know this system properly ......, but I thought this place only had an E rank.

　Remembering something fundamental, I casually looked around.

　The only dungeon closest to Green Hollow Town was the E-ranked 'Sundial Forest'.

　Most of the adventurers gathered here were E rank fledglings.

　Of course, D-rank and above can also be challenged, but based on the poor equipment, it seems that almost all of them are E-ranked.

''Ah ...... yeah, hmmm .......''

　Marida looked down at the application form Sakura had filled out, and she had a strange reaction to it.

'......?　Did I miss something?
No, I'm just saying. I was just wondering. Sylvia said that you were the one who smashed the dragon in the fifth level?
Yes, so what?

　The next moment, there was a thud in the tavern.
　The new adventurers all turned to me with surprised expressions.

''Huh?　Hey, Marida, didn't I tell you my name?
What?　Only with Sylvia and this visitor.
..........

　Apparently Sylvia hadn't given Marida the exact information about who had defeated the dragon.

　At that point, Sakura was not an adventurer and had no intention of becoming one, so not telling the Adventurer's Guild the name was not a mistake or anything.

　As far as the guild is concerned, it's enough for them to know the fact that the dragon appeared and was defeated, anything beyond that is secondary information.

　Regardless of who defeated it, if you're not an adventurer, you're not subject to the adventurer's guild's work, and if you're an adventurer, the problem is with the guy who didn't tell you who he was.

　By the way, I was planning to report on my involvement, albeit indirectly, in the defeat of the dragon, after the Sakura procedure.

''Well, that's still amazing. I don't know where the dragon flew in from, but if that kind of thing had been sitting around, the newcomers would have run away and disappeared. Well, there's a dragon! And that's the only thing that got away from me, and about 10% of it ran away.

　Marida is smiling and has a big smile on her face.

　It would be a good thing if it was only ten percent of them that escaped.

　Perhaps they stayed on in the hope that they might be able to strip the gold-eyed thing from the dragon's corpse.

　The environment of the dungeon is different from that on the ground, so the creature's corpse wouldn't remain for long.

　Just as the luminous moss was decomposing a fallen adventurer into nourishment through its magical action, the magically-charged plants would actively convert it into nourishment.

　Therefore, if you want bones, tusks and other parts of the body that aren't decomposed, you can't run away in fear, and even the parts that are easy to leave behind will be the first to go.

　By the way, I wasn't going to collect the corpse myself, at least not right now.

　I'm not in the mental state to dive into a dungeon, even if it's an open type, and if it warms the rookies' pockets, it won't be in vain.

'If you report it to the chapter, you'll definitely get a reward or something. I'll take care of the formalities.
"I am still a novice. The only reason I was able to defeat that dragon was because of the sword made by Lord Luke here.
Wow!　Then the bounty would be split 50/50 between the two of us.

　The groaning becomes even more intense, and the eyes of the adventurers fall on me.

　It's a natural reaction.
　It's not what I had planned, but it would have happened sooner or later.

　Slaying a large dragon would attract the attention of not only the person who accomplished it, but also the creator of the weapon.

　Normally, this would be something that should be taken as an honor: .......

''(I'm not sure if I'm not feeling it, or if I don't know what it is myself: ......)

　The sword that slayed the dragon was the product of an ability acquired without warning.

　It's hard to be honestly happy when it gets the attention it deserves.

''(......, but there's no reason not to put it to good use. I'm not in a fortunate position to be able to pick and choose my means.)

　While the rookies' attention was on me, I poked my hand on the counter and stepped in between Sakura and Marida.

'Do you have a minute?　I'm actually thinking of taking a leave of absence from adventuring, and I wanted to talk to you about my next job - is there any place in this town where a 'weapons store' might open up?

　A breathtaking feeling could be felt from everywhere.

　This is not information that a new adventurer who is about to equip himself with equipment would not want to miss.

　The creator of the dragon-slaying weapon has declared that he wants to open a weapon shop in this town.

　Even if dragon-slaying weapons are too expensive to buy, weapons created by the same human hands are attractive enough - everyone must be thinking that.

'I've looked all over Green Hollow and there aren't any weapon shops for adventurers yet, right? If so, it's a good idea, right?
"Hmmm, that's true, but the ...... innkeepers are just as much for hot spring guests as they are for hot spring guests, and I don't know if there's a building ...... that could be made into a weapons store. I wonder if it wasn't: ......

　Marida looked at me and the adventurers in turn, with a troubled look on her face.

　It's not a case that can be answered immediately, but looking at the expectant eyes of the newcomers, it's impossible to deny it.

　They don't wear proper equipment, and they want to buy it after raising money by gathering medicinal plants.

　That is a weapon. Weapons are the weapons they need to be able to complete a full-scale request.

　However, there is still nothing in this town that can be called a weapon shop.
　The first purchase of a weapon is left until the next town.

　It's exactly an example of what Sylvia's grandmother said 'the demand for gimmicks is aimed at'.

''If you need funds to buy a building, put up a bounty for me.
'It's not about the money. I have an idea, but it's in a horrible shambles. It's more like a ruin, or an abandoned house.
Jesus, that's okay. [Restoration] is my specialty, you know.

　I can say this with confidence.

　It's the only thing I'm good at that I can be proud of.

'What ......?　Marida, do you mean that thing on the outskirts of town, by chance?

　Against the backdrop of the new adventurers cheering and clamouring to save up their money from today, Sylvia put her face close to Marida's ear.

''Yes, that thing. I can't leave it alone forever, so I thought I'd talk to the town's mayor in the name of the guild house.
No, no, no, no, no, no, that's indeed a bad idea: ......?

　Sylvia looks truly anxious, but I'll be fine.
　Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Well, let's be prepared for a bit of that.

"Master Luke!　If so, please use my share of the bounty as well!

　Suddenly, Sakura said something like that.

'Don't worry about it. You're out of money. Save it for yourself.'
''I've decided to earn road silver by working as an adventurer. If there is a bounty to be paid, it will all be used by Lord Luke.

　This feeling, no matter what I say, it's an atmosphere that's unlikely to break.

　Maybe he thinks that earning money from adventuring activities is part of his training.

But hey: ......
Are you bothering me?　Then we'll call it 'prepayment'.
Prepayment?　What's that?
''It's the immediate [restoration] cost. Also, if possible, I would like you to make me a sword like that sword that slayed the dragon.

　I see, if it's called that, it makes sense.

　It's awkward to be handed over to a poor practitioner for no reason, but a lump sum payment of remuneration in advance is emotionally easy to accept.

Okay, we have a deal. Sakura is my first client.
Yes!　Best regards!

　This is how I left the adventurer's business and began to search for a second life as a weapons dealer.