The Water Magician

After having a light lunch, the two decided to head to the adventurers' mutual aid association.

Yes, that's right.

Just a light meal, you know.

It's not like they always overeat.

For the sake of their honor, it should be noted that they only occasionally overindulge.

Hey, not that!

Don't say that overeating, even occasionally, is bad!

Both of them are sixth rank adventurers.

During the hunting in Tiger Mountain, roles were divided between those below seventh rank and those above sixth rank, so they believe that being sixth rank means they're not beginners...

"But those seventh rank adventurers we met back then... they were young enough that I would call them 'kids'."

"Y-yeah, that's true..."

Abel grimaced at Ryo's remark.

In other words, sixth rank adventurers, being just one rank above, could still very well be inexperienced.

"Well, let's just go see for ourselves!"

"Yeah, Abel is definitely a swordsman. And I think he relates more to adventurers than to the king."

Abel abandoned his thoughts, and Ryo sighed softly, shaking his head.

After walking for a while, they arrived at the adventurers' mutual aid association, guided by the townsfolk.

The place had a grand gate.

On either side, there were long white walls stretching out.

It looked like the residence of some important person...

The gate was open, and there was a steady flow of people coming in and out.

However, many of those entering and exiting did not seem to be adventurers.

"The people coming in and out look like servants or something," Ryo noted.

"Clients? Nobles... no, the Shtaiif Layer perhaps, those types probably don't come in directly. Also, merchants and such."

"I see."

Ryo accepted Abel's reasoning.

It was indeed a reasonable conclusion.

The two passed through the gate and entered.

Inside, a square plaza was neatly paved with cut stones.

There seemed to be three larger buildings on the left, right, and front of the plaza...

All were single-story, but the structures themselves were large.

"Most of the people who look like servants are entering the building on the right," Ryo observed.

"True. And a few well-dressed folks are entering the building on the left," Abel added.

The two confirmed that the people who looked like clients were entering the buildings on either side.

And from what they could see, no one was entering the building directly in front.

"That front building looks overwhelmingly impressive..."

"It's so different from what I'm used to; I have no idea what to do here," Abel said, shaking his head lightly.

Indeed, it was entirely different from the adventurers' guild in the kingdom.

Or from Run, or even from the adventurers' mutual aid association in the Autonomous City of Kubevasa.

It was not nearly as desolate.

Abel stood there, but Ryo was looking around curiously.

Then, he seemed to find something.

"Abel, that person in the corner is staring at us intently."

Ryo pointed to a figure standing in the corner of the stone-paved plaza.

With neatly styled hair, the person was wearing eastern attire similar to what guides in the Imperial Palace would wear.

They certainly didn't look like adventurers or ordinary citizens of the imperial capital.

If anything, they looked more like an office worker.

Ryo began to walk towards the office worker.

"Hey, Ryo."

Abel hurried to follow him from behind.

"Hello!"

Ryo greeted cheerfully.

To this, the office worker replied.

"Is there something you need help with?"

Indeed, it was an office worker.

Or rather, perhaps a guide for the mutual aid association.

"Yes. We are here for the first time at the imperial capital's mutual aid association. We are sixth rank adventurers."

"Welcome to the Imperial Capital Adventurers' Mutual Aid Association."

When Ryo said this, the guide performed a darwei style bow, placing their hands together in front of their chest.

"I was surprised to find that this building is divided into three parts..."

"I see. Let me give you a brief explanation."

The guide began to explain.

They had likely provided this explanation many times to people like them before.

It was a smooth, fluid explanation.