Chapter 74 Start Of The Journey

After reaching the guild and looking out for the quests for a while, I saw a quest related to traveling.

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Quest – Escorting Mission

Quest Rank –  D-Rank

Location – The meeting place is the merchant guild building in the city square.

Description – This is a quest issued by the merchant guild. Those who wish to enter the convoy should come to the meeting place. The details will be given there.

Time Limit – Today, noon.

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Seeing the quest, a smile bloomed upon my lips.

'Just as I wanted. Let's see how this goes.'

Thinking that, I reached the guild employee.

"Good morning, boy. How can I help you?"

"I will be taking this quest."

From time to time, quests like these need to be confirmed by guild employees, not by just scanning the quest you are able to take them.

"This quest is a D-rank quest. Are you sure you are qualified?"

"Yes."

"Show me the ID, boy. Let's see if you are telling the truth or not."

"Here."

"Hmm…. Callius, The Machine Boy."

"Cough, cough."

"Ho…. So you are a D-rank adventurer, huh?"

"…"

"I see. So that was the case. Here, you can take the mission."

Saying that he confirmed my identity.

Since the guild employees can track one's records from past quests, they are able to judge if an adventurer is a responsible person or not.

"Go to the merchant guild and show this stamp. They will direct you. And, sorry to judge you from your looks, boy. It is not a common thing to see such a young man to become a D-rank adventurer."

"It is not important. Have a nice day."

"Have a nice day."

After leaving the guild, I reached the merchants' one.

For those who don't know, the name 'guild' in this world basically corresponds to the word 'union' or 'industrial union' on Earth.

In any case, Merchants' guild is a guild that defends the rights of merchants and tries to make a good environment for those who wish to transact.

So, they are a group that is supported by the governing powers in the area as well, different from the adventurers' guild.

Anyway, entering there, I showed the stamp to the clerk who approached me.

"Here, the meeting has started in this room."

Pointing to the room, the clerk stated.

"I see, thank you."

"No problem."

Entering the room, I saw a bunch of people sitting at the table.

'Two sword users, one axe, one ranger, one rogue, and one magician. So those two should be our customers.'

Without my [All Seeing Eye] activated, I checked the people inside with only my normal eyes.

A man with scars on his face.

Another one with a straw hat on his head.

A woman with muscles sprouting from her body holding an axe.

A man with daggers on his belt and cloak covering his head.

And lastly, two young elves, one having a cloak and a bow, the other having a staff and almost non-existent fabric on her body.

"Whatcha lookin' at?"

Of course, there are those with good intuition polished in life-and-death situations that can feel my gaze.

The woman with muscles asked me.

"I am here for the job."

"HA! A puny kid like you, don't mess with me!"

"Wait for a second, miss Karina."

Saying that a man with good clothing turned his head towards me.

"Please show the stamp first."

"Here."

Throwing the stamp to the table, I started waiting for the response.

"This stamp is legal. There are no tricks or lies."

"What? Are you saying he is D-rank?"

"If the guild permitted the quest, he must be. And his previous records should be good, too, right?"

"Indeed."

"Humph, whatever."

"Anyway, we shouldn't be diverting from the topic anymore. Where were we?"

"You were talking about the route and the planned time, father."

"Ah, right. So, let me start briefly again now that all the members of the convoy are here."

"Firstly, we will start traveling tomorrow, and you are required to be prepared until then."

"The route we will follow is like this."

"Starting from the Fortress of Iron Mountains, we will travel to the South directly. We will pass through the Reagan Empire, but we won't be stopping by the Capital. Following the external route, we will reach the southern border of the Reagan Empire, and our final destination will be the Mirkwood Kingdom."

"What is the estimated time this route will take?"

"It will vary, but I think it will take at least six months?"

"Understood."

"Now, we will leave the Fortress from the southern door, and then we will travel at medium speed. We will take rests in the following villages at night, and we will stay in the major towns or cities for two to three days for business transactions."

"Any questions?"

"Can we take quests at that time?"

"You can, but note that we will be traveling again, so you need to be in good condition before we leave."

"Okay."

"Then, aside from that, you can leave the group if you want, but on the condition of filling the vacant space with the adventurer you have found on your own. We won't be responsible for that. If you don't fill the vacant spot but still leave the convoy on your own, you will be treated as a fugitive adventurer, and you will be punished according to the rules."

"Any questions?"

"…"

"None? Good."

"Wait. Will you be paying the accommodation prices?"

"No. You will be paying for that on your own, and you are free to choose wherever you are staying."

"As I have said, we will be resting at the inns in the villages mainly. However, note that there will be times when we need to camp in the wilderness, so everyone should have their own then with them as well."

"What about rewards?"

"Rewards will be distributed according to the day you have spent in the group. And, at the moment of danger, there will be bonuses according to your performance."

"Then, who will be the captain?"

"The captain will be selected on your own since the convoy doesn't have any party inside, you are all new to each other, so I will leave the selection of the one in command to you."

"I see."

"Then, we will finish the meeting here. Tomorrow at dawn, everyone should be at the southern gate. You can take the tram for it."

"After the meeting ends, you can go to the adventurers' guild to check your convoy members. Everyone's general information will be concluded there."

"Now, if you have any questions, you can stay there. If not, you are free to leave."

Hearing this, everyone nodded their heads and started to leave.

But before I could even leave, a hand grabbed my shoulder.

"Kid, come with me for a second."

'Sigh, again?'

Following the muscled woman, I reached the place.

"Leave this quest. It is not for the kids like you."

"Sigh…. It is not for you to decide."

"I am saying this for your own good. You are just a kid. Get a quest related to the dungeon exploring or something. This travel will be dangerous."

"I know. But, as I said, it is not for you to decide."

"You! Sigh….. Do whatever you want. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Saying that she left.

'Still mourning over the loss of someone you held dear, huh? Such a sad thing. But that still doesn't give you the right to interfere with the lives of others.'

Turning my head, I left the guild and started preparing myself.

"Time to finish my leftover money, I guess. I should get a document showing the party members as well."

Mumbling like that, I first reached the guild; grabbing a parchment with the members' information on it, I left there and started getting prepared, buying some heavy clothes that would protect me from the cold outside.

After that, there was still a lot of time left.

Seeing that, I decided to train with my skills, renting a training room at a fairly lower price.

Training for three to four hours, I went to the southern gate and rented a room at an inn nearby.

Starting to check the contents of the people inside, I laid down on the bed, finishing the day.

****

Waking up early in the morning, I reached the southern gate.

And, as expected from a place named Fortress, the gate was huge.

It was really huge.

Reaching a height of 20 Meters, it was a gate that was defended by a lot of soldiers.

And not long after, the party members slowly started coming one by one, not long after.

After waiting fifteen minutes, everyone was ready.

"Now, let's see if everyone is here."

Counting the people with his head, the merchant in my front said with a smile.

"Good, we can start moving now. Hop in."

Pointing to the convoy, which contained a bunch of horses and carriages, he said with a smile.

Marking the start of the journey.