CH 5

The Goddess had given me a universal fake ID and I used it to safely enter the town.

But I couldn't use it to hypnotize people every time, so I had to get proper identification as soon as possible.

Identity laundering was necessary.

Which is why I came to the Merchant's Guild. It was a large square building built from stone.

Once I was inside, I felt its busy atmosphere. Hmm, the hustle and bustle of business negotiations really does feel quintessential to merchants.

I approached the Receptionist-san at the area labeled the general counter.

"Excuse me, I'd like to get a guild card, but what am I supposed to do…?"

"For new members? Then please provide your identification and the twenty-five silver coin guild membership fee."

"Oh, sorry, I'll come back later then."

Although I received the identification I'd need from the Goddess, I'd just realized that I didn't have any money.

Money…

In stories, the place you'd start to earn money from nothing would be the Adventurer's Guild.

Spatial magic would let me easily hunt monsters. After all, I was able to beat the self-proclaimed Chaos God to a pulp.

Basic Knowledge-san was also telling me that the Adventurer's Guild was a place where you could earn money as long as you had the strength to do it.

It wasn't particularly unusual for peddlers to be both adventurers and merchants.

Most importantly, the Adventurer's Guild allowed you to put off payment for its registration fee.

"… I'll register with the Adventurer's Guild first and earn some money before coming back to the Merchant's Guild."

So I went over to the Adventurer's Guild this time.

The building looked something like a wooden tavern. It actually did seem to function like a tavern, even.

When I entered, I felt people's gazes on me. Mostly on my chest. Hey guys, you're being too obvious. It's even more obvious when you're taking quick looks like that.

No one bothered me, fortunately, so I just went over to the counter.

I talked to the Receptionist-san.

"Excuse me, I'd like to become an adventurer?"

"Certainly. Then please provide your identification and the registration fee of five large copper coins. You can pay in goods or on credit, but in that case it'll be five large copper coins and one medium copper coin."

"I'll defer payment, here is my identification. My name is Karina."

Even if she said I could pay in goods, taking an actual log out of my pocket would be a bit much. I knew there did exist magic bags—very expensive magic bags—that had the capacity to store a log… but I didn't have one.

I chose to pay later and showed her my all-purpose fake ID… it'd normally take a few words penned by a village mayor or some senior adventurer, but yeah.

By the way, a copper coin was about enough to buy some rye bread.

A medium copper coin was equivalent to five copper coins. A large copper coin was equivalent to ten copper coins.

Silver coins were worth a hundred copper coins, with gold coins being worth a hundred silver coins. They had similar medium and large denominations as copper coins.

(Merchants tended to be good at the calculations, so they usually didn't bother using the medium or large denomination terms.)

Following that logic, the Adventurer's Guild registration fee was somewhere in the range of 5000 yen, but 5500 yen if you paid later.

"Understood, your identification is fine. Then, Karina-san, here is your temporary guild card. It can only be used here. Once your payment has been made, we'll issue you a proper guild card. For now, you're a G-rank adventurer."

"Ah, okay."

I received a wooden tag with a number on it. I see, so that's how it works.

By the way, the ranks went: G for temporary registration, F for newbies, D for regulars, C for veterans, B for elites, A for super elites, and S as a special rank.

That sounds about right. Yep.

"It's a bit soon, but can I earn money by defeating monsters? I don't even have money to stay at an inn…"

"I wouldn't recommend going to hunt monsters without even a weapon…"

As I was talking with Receptionist-san, a red-faced man who'd been drinking at the guild's bar staggered over to me with a wooden mug in hand.

"Ooooh, Jou-chan, feeling strapped for cash? I'll buy a night with you, how's six large coppers sound!?"

"Hey! Blade-san!?"

… Right, I'm a girl now. Even if I had nothing else, I had my body.

Even with nothing else, whenever I look down, there's nothing but boobs.

I mean, I was still a man on the inside, so I'm going to go with not selling my body to a man.

"… Hmph, come back with a hundred gold if you want to buy me, drunkard."

I prepped myself to beat the crap out of him if he touched me.

The man just sputtered on the spot, though.

"Dahahah! I'd love to, but I wouldn't be an adventurer if I had that sorta money! Aaah, sorry, sorry. Here, for me bothering you. Please take it."

Saying that, the red-faced adventurer flicked a coin with a hole in it—a medium copper coin.

While puzzled, I accepted it anyway.

"Nice catch. You'll make a great adventurer."

"Umm… thanks?"

"Dahahah, hope you'll forgive me now. Hahaha!"

With that, the man headed back to the bar.

"Maaan, ya got the cold shoulder there."

"Ya hoped t'score but damn she's cool."

"Shut uuup. I was just helping the newbie out!"

His two buddies at the bar were shooting the shit with him.

"… Umm, I was thinking that I got myself into a mess, but it turns out he was just a friendly guy?"

"Well… yes. Blade-san is a very caring person."

"Blade-san? I'll remember him."

And so I'd managed to acquire money for the first time in this world.

Said money was tossed to me by a senior adventurer being a busybody.