Water droplets dripping from green leaves. Tall trees that cover part of the sky. Muddy ground dirtied my boots. The scent of freshness in the air, I can feel it. I have stepped my foot into the world of Ekolia, the Realm called the Surface.

Small animals like horned rabbits, one-winged butterflies, beetles, “Can’t help but appreciate it existing,” smiling, ‘Back in Desolated Sector, it’s rare to see these things around. And on Sky Sector, nothing but artificially made ones exists.’

I have set the teleportation coordinate to a nearby town where my party is at. Just past through the forest, it’s only a 20-minute walk after the transport. And as usual, the line where many others are passing through is long – merchants, adventurers – are all waiting for their turn to pass through. Me included.

“If it isn’t the mage April herself.” an old lady carrying two buckets full of food by a stick on her shoulders. I recognize her still.

“Old Lady Madjan?”

“W-Who are you calling old? I’m still 63…”

“That’s old though.”

“… Just look at these arms!” flexing her wrinkly biceps, “You youngers don’t even have them muscles in you, and especially, you! Just because you can use some magic, doesn’t mean you should only be relying on them. Get that body moving, get those muscles in you!”

Though I appreciate her good intentions, I just don’t like to move around much. Then I noticed something in her bucket, “Hm? Is that fish? Rare to find them around here.”

“Oh yes, they are. Heh, there's this guy, ever since his village suddenly freed of bandits, I get around for a visit often. Lots of good people there. They have quality veggies and cause they are close to the river, fish like this one are common. For how much, the small ones like these cost 6 Golds and the big ones here cost 25 Golds.”

Money in Ekolia is using numbered coins called Golds. From 1 Gold (Copper), 10 Golds (Silver), 100 Golds (Gold), and 1000 Golds (Platinum). 100 Golds can be exchanged for $1 in real-life money but here in Ekolia, its worth is not the same. What it’s supposed to be though is that Silver is the equivalent of a dollar.

“Heeh,” fish would be a nice gift after my absence from the party, “Then, I’ll take two of these small ones and one of that big one.”

“Hohoh, the adventuring stuff is going well, huh?”

“You could say that.”

She wraps them in banana leaves. And just like that 37 Golds out of my pocket. I have a few thousand saved back in my chambers, and I only brought with me 5 silver coins.

Glancing at the many people in the front, she sighs, “Look at these people. Hopefully, Hikanda Town can keep them,” she said.

“Why did you think they come here?”

“Same reason as me. Look at the color of their skin, and their style of outfit, they must be coming from Bursoli. My goodness, sooner or later, the kingdom’s capital will fall and it’s not going to be a surprise for everyone. Even the commonfolk could see it.”

Bursoli Kingdom, huh. Said to be one of the poorest countries in the entire region but possesses one of the most supreme military powers. I visited that place a few times back in my previous life, and it was nothing of a special place except it was hugely popular among players. Low tax on business, the huge traffic. Probably the reason why NPC merchants decided to migrate, was because they couldn’t compete with a stall selling legendary items. It wasn’t fun seeing people suffering out of hunger too so I just moved on to the next area.

'They're moving to the safest but not the closest option, huh.'

This place is Lorkhan's territory, there are fewer Travelers (Players) roaming around this part of the region. I wanted to know more about why all three kingdoms decided to start a war with Sonata but there weren't many details about it, and it was a boring topic at the time since there hasn't been much progress back in my previous life. Maybe this time, I can find out why.

Upon reaching the gate to the town, the guards asked me for identification, and I showed them the Rank F (Copper) guild tag – a proof that I’m a member of the Adventurers Guild.

The guard squeezed his brows in confusion, “Seriously, you haven’t moved up yet? How can you be doing goblin commissions and still haven't gotten to iron or supposedly, steel, yet?”

“Ah, ahaha, I just didn’t have time for the interview, so— b-but I will! Pretty soon.”

“No, like, today. Okay? We don’t want to do this, but we won’t be giving you a free pass again if you don’t have the iron tag. You understand?”

“Uwu… M’kay.”

“Good. And look who we got here, old lady Madjan! How’s business going?”

“Who are you calling old?!”

{{{Hikanda Town}}}

I see new stalls have been set up around town with new faces popping up. Maybe I’ll check some of them to see what they got later, “It’s getting more and more crowded each day.”

A good thing though. It makes living in this place livelier.

Upon arriving at the Adventurers Guild – this huge gathering of “Officially Licensed” Mercenaries – my party is nowhere to be found though. So, I went to the receptionist.

“Hey, Valysha. Seen any of my mates around?”

Smiling with closed eyes, “Hill Vines, isn’t it? They went out on a Quest earlier today.”

“Oh? Well, fill me in then.”

“Actually, because there are C ranks in your team now. You are no longer eligible to be their party member until you rank up.”

“Nuh?!”

Expressing her speech with a gesture, “I mean think about it, you’ve been notified about the interview for more than a month now, but you keep ignoring the Guildmaster’s request.”

“B-But that was because I was—”

“You’re busy, we get it. But rules are rules. We’ve been very lenient since you’re a newcomer, but that too has a limit you know. If you keep insisting on ignoring the interview, then you’ll have to stick with quests appropriate to your rank. Same thing with a party.”

“Ahhh wait, I’ll do it, I’ll do it! Goodness! You don't have to say that, you know.”

“Good, and I wouldn't hesitate to say it for the third time. Now head upstairs, and knock on the second door on the left.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I’ve heard of one of these interviews from my party since they went through the same thing, and at a later stage, there would be tests instead.

*Knock *Knock *Knock

“Who is it?” a woman's voice behind the door.

“Uhh, I’m here for the interview?”

After a moment, “April?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

True to the soft yet dominant voice, it is indeed a woman. Although she lacks the valuable fat assets that I often admire, her face makes up for it. Hmm, I can feel something, staring at me. From her, and also another. The flow of arcane in the air, is somewhat distorted. There’s something beside that woman.

“Have a seat.”

“Ahh, yes.”

Sitting on the opposite, the sofa was surprisingly comfortable. Almost non-fantasy-like, and eerily familiar to real life. Though, the real one is softer.

“As the vice-guildmaster of the town’s guild, I have the responsibility to oversee how the newcomers fare in the establishment. I feel blessed to have you finally accepted the request for an interview. As you might have known, you are now eligible for a rank-up.”

Gallantly bright, looking from this angle, she’s younger than I expected for someone who holds the title of a vice-guildmaster. Might even mistake her still being in her twenties had I not developed the relationship with the arcane. I can feel that she has... experience.

She’s strong.

“My name is Mirda, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Etiquette, huh.

Nervously, “P-Pleasure to make your acquaintance! Too!”

“Heheh, you can talk to me normally. Now, first I’d like to ask where you come from, your upbringing, and your motivation of becoming an adventurer.”

Fair questions for an interview, but can’t really help but think they’re being suspicious of me. For a 14-year-old mage to easily adapt into a D rank party, and even a rumor of carrying the team. Never have I tried to lay low, but I never break the boundaries.

“Ahh, I came from the south. I’m always um… like to explore, finding new things. I realize that I needed real experience instead of just studying everything.”

“Is that why you became an adventurer?”

“T-To be honest, members of Hill Vines were asking me if I wanted to be their last member, and I found it to be interesting, so I joined.”

“Hmm, since when have you become a mage?”

Bingo.

“My teacher said I’ve always been destined to be.”

I wasn’t aware much about Blessings of the Gods back then. However, I’ve looked into it a bit more now that I planned to live here long term. Vice-guildmaster Mirda, she worshipped the God of Adventurer, Mary. And her blessing is quite something.

[Blessing of Mary / Provide the ability to manage Adventurers Guild’s members, able to roughly measure a member’s power and the weight behind their words]

“Do you have the ambition to climb the ladder and become top-ranked adventurers? B Rank, A Rank, maybe even the S Rank?”

“I do have an ambition, and I think becoming top-ranked adventurers are not bad.”

“Oh? That’s surprising, already thinking ahead, I see.”

Nervously cutesy, “Ehehe.”

She starts writing some papers and took out an iron guild tag from a drawer behind a desk. She then asked, “Now, would you be interested in a Rank D promotion, April?”

Narrowing my eyes down, “Uhh… huh?”

“Just think about it. Being on the same wavelength as the other members of your party would be beneficial for you and them, would it not? I feel that you are strong enough to be on the same rank as them anyway. So, if you’re interested. There is this one quest you will have to do.”

“I don’t know… I feel like it’ll be dangerous for me to do stuff without the others. Plus, I may not be as strong as you think.”

From the information that I have, not many people can utilize the blessing all that well. But for those who can, it’s an extremely useful tool.

“It’s an investigation quest. There have been numerous appearances in the forest surrounding the capital city. Many soldiers and hunters have died in gruesome manners. Rumored to be the Ghost of Sylph itself is the one responsible.”

“I-I think I’ll pass. That sounds like a job for Rank A parties.”

“Of course, they will be participating in this investigation as well. Adding someone like you – a mage - to the list of that group will prove to be extremely useful. As soon as you finish the Quest, you will be promoted to Rank D.”

“N-No, I don’t think I can do that, I’m sorry.”

“Very well. I will not force you. The quest is long-term, presumably until it is solved. Plenty of time to consider, but I hope you can change your mind soon. And if that happens, you can ask for more details from Valysha or the receptionist in the Capital City of Sonata.”

"Sonata?"

"Yes."

"Aren't we in Lorkhan though?"

"Adventurers Guild is an independent faction. We stay neutral in the ongoing war, but we always take every quest and commission that has an impact on the common folk wherever it might be. You can find us in every capital city and many big towns in the world."

Impressive, but is it truly neutral though? That's a question I have to confirm myself.

***

Waving as Siola went out with her new guild tag. Mirda narrowed her eyes down as the person known as April left. Then suddenly, a deep male voice beside her, “She was looking directly at me,” he then uncloaked himself, appearing out of thin air in dark leather armor with a shrouded helmet, “Mages are truly troublesome.”

“No ordinary mages can be that troublesome though,” said Mirda, “Her likelihood of being a Traveler lessened each time we observe her, but the more likely she is a Gifted One. Either one will shake the guild for the better… or the worse.”

“She mentioned a teacher.”

“I believe it’s not someone from the academy. I don’t know what they teach to raise someone like that to be such a weak-willed character. For a mage even. Bravery is crucial.”

“I doubt it’s the case. Her ambition, may not be as an adventurer, but she must have a clear goal to achieve it. Shall I report this to Khan?”

“The matter of Gifted Ones must be handled carefully. Even the existence of a single one of them can shake the ongoing war tremendously if they were to be scouted. The losing war that the three kingdoms have started, might even be overturned."

"..."

"We cannot lose another Gifted One to become a tool of war."

"What're we gonna do with her then?"

"The case is closed.”

“You sure?”

Looking at Siola’s papers, she tied them up and put them in the drawer.

***