Luke's group, Drog and Aria, came with him to Volmont City, where they drafted a contract to serve the noble house of the Volmont.
I heard rumors that from all the contracts that Luke received, House Volmont had the best offer.
What I remembered as the key point was a private house: The offer of a private house to each member of the group was a significant perk. This would provide them with a safe and secure place to live and would also give them some degree of independence from the Volmont family.
However, it was important to consider the location and quality of these houses – were they in a desirable area, and were they well-maintained? Additionally, it was worth noting that living in a private house would require the group to take care of their own cooking, cleaning, and other household tasks.
Two was the Monthly Allowance: The offer of a monthly allowance of 10,000 gil each was also very generous. This would provide the group with a steady source of income and could be used to cover expenses such as food, clothing, and entertainment.
However, it was important to consider whether this amount of money was enough to cover all of their needs – depending on the cost of living in the area, and their daily spending, it may or may not be sufficient.
And then there was this Military Practice: The requirement to attend military practice every day was a significant commitment. This would likely involve physical training, weapons practice, and other forms of preparation for potential combat situations.
While this could be a valuable opportunity for Luke and his companions to improve their skills, it could also be quite demanding and exhausting. Additionally, it was worth considering what would happen if they didn't live up to the expectation of their commander – would they still receive their allowance, or would they be at risk of losing their benefits?
Another disadvantage was the Services to the Volmont Army: The expectation that the group would only serve the Volmont's army when needed was a reasonable one, but it was important to consider the potential risks involved in military service.
Depending on the state of the Volmont's relationships with other houses or factions, the group could be called upon to fight in dangerous or even deadly battles.
It was also worth noting that serving in the Military could require the group to be away from their private houses for extended periods of time.
And then the last was, of course, heeding the Orders of the Volmont: The expectation that the group would heed the orders of the Volmont family was a standard one for any contractual arrangement.
However, it was worth considering how much autonomy the group would have in terms of their own decision-making. Would they be able to refuse orders that they disagreed with, or would they be expected to follow every command without question?
Depending on the level of freedom they would have, this could be a significant factor in their decision whether to continue their service to the Volmont Family.
But, of course, there was this thing called years of servitude in the contract, and I heard that the minimum was at least five years.
Five years of wasted time in a single area and following orders wasn't my thing.
Overall, it seemed that House Volmont was offering a very attractive contract to Luke and his companions. But, there were many factors to consider before accepting, including the location and quality of the private houses and the sufficiency of the monthly allowance.
I also received such a contract. Even nicer than the Volmont and other houses, in fact. Perks of being a BUG player.
They had offered me an exceptional contract that any player would be lucky to receive.
The contract was shorter and unrestrictive. Some even wanted to give me lands to govern. In comparison, others offered money that was more than generous, with an annual base salary of 10 million gil.
Additionally, I would receive a 20% signing bonus upfront, which amounted to 2 million gil.
In addition to this base salary and signing bonus, I would receive performance-based bonuses. These bonuses would be awarded for achieving specific milestones such as winning wars, winning fights, completing quests, doing great service to the houses, etc.
And, of course, let's not forget about my very own estate. Lots of my contracts provided a luxurious and spacious residence, fully furnished and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The residence would be located in a prime location within the city, close to the team's training facilities and other amenities. And, I would have my very own servants.
The biggest perks would probably be the Support thing: If I signed a contract, I would be one of those players who have access first to the spoils of war and all the resources that would help me become even stronger.
This was a sweet and once in a lifetime deal. I knew they were offering it because of my rare class and BUG player status. Without those, I wouldn't have received shit.
But no matter how good they were, I declined all of them. I didn't want to be tied down, and besides, I could become stronger and monopolize all the loot if I was alone.
I opt to be a hunter instead, together with the others who declined the contract or didn't get one.
I spot Luke and the other's boastful smirk before they leave with the Volmont's representatives.
I ignored him and went to the Hunter's guild.
As I approached the guild house, I noticed that it was a large and imposing structure made of sturdy stone blocks. The building's facade was decorated with intricate carvings depicting various hunting scenes and legendary beasts. Two imposing statues of armored hunters stand guard at the entrance, their weapons at the ready.
As I stepped inside, I was greeted by the sound of bustling activity. The guild house was abuzz with hunters preparing for their next quests, discussing strategies, and trading valuable information. The walls were lined with racks of weapons and gear, and tables were cluttered with maps, scrolls, and other useful tools.
In the center of the main hall, a large bulletin board hung on the wall, covered in colorful posters and notices. This was where hunters could find information about upcoming quests, bounties, and other opportunities. The guild's reception desk was nearby, where new members could register and receive their badges.
The guild house also had several specialized rooms, each dedicated to a specific aspect of hunting. The armory was a large chamber filled with racks of weapons and armor where hunters could upgrade their gear and purchase supplies.
The training hall was a vast space where hunters could hone their skills and practice combat techniques with one another. The library was a quiet sanctuary filled with ancient tomes and rare manuscripts where hunters could research and study their quarry.
As I explored the guild house, I noticed that it was not just a place to train and prepare for hunts but also a community where hunters could socialize and share stories of their exploits. A small tavern served food and drink, and a common area was filled with comfortable chairs and tables where hunters could relax and swap tales.
Overall, the guild house was an impressive and bustling hub of activity, just like what I had imagined it should be when I was playing an RPG video game.
I approached the reception desk in the guild house, where a friendly receptionist greeted me.
"Welcome to the Hunter's Guild," she said with a smile. "Are you here to register as a new hunter?"
"Yes, I am," I replied and provided no further ongoing conversation.
"Great! Let's get started," said the receptionist. "First, I'll need to ask you a few questions. What's your name?"
"Lancelot."
"Alright, Lancelot. And what type of hunter are you interested in becoming? We have several different classes to choose from, such as archer, swordsman, and mage."
"I'm a swordsman," I cut her short.
"Very well," she said, noting it down on her notes. "Now, before we can issue you a badge, you'll need to complete a few tasks to prove your worth as a hunter. These tasks will test your combat skills, knowledge of hunting, and ability to work in a team."
Lancelot nodded. "I'm ready for anything."
"Good attitude," said the receptionist, impressed. "First, you'll need to complete a simple combat trial. It's just a weak beast, but it will test your reflexes and accuracy with a sword. Follow me."
She led me to a training hall, where a Honey Beast was chained, waiting for its challenger.
ραпdα---nᴏνa| сom It wasn't the first time that I would fight a Honey Beast. They were creatures driven mad by feasting on poisoned honey. No longer in their right minds, these creatures have been known to terrorize local settlements and pose a formidable challenge for any adventurer sent to deal with them.
I didn't have to worry, though, since my ATP was high for the beast to even scratch me.
I drew my sword and charged forward, slashing and parrying without any effort. After a few seconds, I emerged victorious without breaking a sweat.
