章節 43: Hunters Guild
In the blacksmith class, it is known that while being an Apprentice blacksmith they are only allowed to use an Apprentice-level furnace. From the Apprentice-level furnace one gets promoted to become an Intermediate blacksmith.
A lot of people without talent could get stuck at the Apprentice-level their whole life, those with little talent can end their lives as an Intermediate blacksmith. The talented ones are able to reach the Advanced-level for at most thirty to forty years in their lives.
For some it might not be lack of talent that hinders advancement, but lack of materials. In any profession one can only increase in rank if they cross their limit to achieve the unachievable. So unless they use high grade materials i.e higher level furnace, can they be promoted in rank.
"...There's one problem though, an Intermediate furnace." said Mr Grant
"What about it Mr Grant?" asked Ben.
"It's too expensive."
Ben frowned for some time thinking, how much should be 'expensive' to make his teacher not able to buy one. "Like how much are we talking about?"
"Nine thousand."
"Gold?"
"What do you think?"
"At the rate we're earning we can't make it even after a year. I need to look for another way. Mr Grant do you know any other way?" Ben asks.
"I may, but... I do not want you to go towards that line, and besides you'll need to have a certain skill for this kind of job." said Mr Grant after some thought.
"Certain skill? What could that be Mr Grant?" curiosity got the better of Ben.
"Ben, you may have potential as a wizard but you aren't one yet and you can't use forgery in this job. I'm darn well sure you are not even an Elemental swordsman, because that will be crazily absurd, so I'll tell you anyway, it is to join the Hunters Guild."
Ben had seen a Hunter squad back at Carolin city, in fact he had fought with their Thieves so he actually knew their qualifications.
"Well, looks like we'll be paying the Hunters Guild a visit." Ben declared.
"Did you hear a darn word I just said?!" Mr Grant shouted at the top of his lungs angrily.
"Of I forgot to tell you sir, I'm also a Second-level elemental swordsman." as Ben's words faded the room's temperature began dropping only but for a few seconds.
"You are a monster I tell ya!" Mr Grant was in a state of utter shock, breathing out a tired breathe he said, "Wait! how then do you have Mindpower?" this question suddenly popped up in his head.
"Uhm... I don't know? maybe it's a gift." since he couldn't explain he might as well leave it that way.
"If you say so. I must say, becoming A Hunter is very dangerous especially when you're out in the wild, but, I think you can go over there tomorrow, what do you say?" proposed Mr Grant.
"Whatever you say sir."
The shop was closed early as Mr Grant went off to see a 'friend' so he said.
***
Ben currently sat at the other side of the round table meant for two with Matilda. He came home and told her about his idea in joining the Hunters guild, only it wasn't how he wanted it to go.
"Why the hell do you want to become a Hunter?" Matilda said not liking the idea at all.
"I already told you, I need it to but an intermediate furnace for my blacksmith carrier." Ben explained for the third time, He grunted.
"Ben, you came here to go to your Magic Institute not to become a blacksmith or much less, a Hunter." Matilda came closer so others wouldn't ease drop on their discussion.
"It is just for the time being, no need to be so tensed up about it Matilda." right at the start she had disagreed to his idea. It might sound weird but to Ben, Matilda was the only one Ben knew from Carolin, even though they weren't that close he felt comfortable around her. "Matilda, if you are worried about me; which I find surprising, trust me I've survived a lot much more than you know and I can pretty much take care of myself, so don't worry." Ben said in a comforting tone placing his hands on her shoulders. Seeing him putting his hands on her shoulder she gave him a death glare. "Sorry." he said before removing his hands and smiling sheepishly.
"Just know, if you get yourself killed by some demon creatures or wild beast it is definitely not my fault." she said after a while.
"You remind me of my little sister, you know that?"
"Just so you know, she's old enough to get married." she grunted.
"???"
"So when will you think is the best time to join?" after a soft sigh she found out she couldn't change his mind, yet, there was still this part of her that for worried for him.
"Later this afternoon." Ben answered.
"Well, there are bigger Hunter Guild owned by the government, try them instead of the few private. In fact, there's actually a HQ at the outskirts of Versal, there should be better... I think."
Ben stayed for some time before bidding farewell. They went their separate ways. Ben got to a government owned Hunter Guild at the outskirts of Versal. Since he wasn't a member yet he'll have to register at their headquarters and not a small branch in the city.
The ride took him three hours to reach the outskirts of Versal and another ten minutes to locate the headquarters. The HQ surprisingly had a continuous flow of people moving in and out of the giant building. He was also baffled to see so many elemental swordsmen and swordswomen, archers, and a group of people with nothing but long robes. No swords, no bow, nothing.
Ben kept watching these group of people with interest, his eyes gleamed as he saw them, Wizards. He locked his gaze on a young looking girl in a long purple robe. As though she felt his stare she shot back at him. Ben quickly turned away.
In the building numerous people were moving everywhere, Ben didn't have the slightest clue where to go to. There was a counter with people on both sides, so he guessed this should be something like a customer care service. He went to join a line with less people and waited for his turn.
"Next..."
"Hi, I want to register as a Hunter." Ben walked up and said without a care in the world.
Hearing a young man's voice the lady behind the counter raised her head to take a good look at Ben. Seeing it was a very young person she couldn't help but shake her head inwardly. She has seen way too many young people waste their live in the name of getting rich if one should become a Hunter without sufficient strength. She would feel pity for them being misled, but her stay at the HQ made her truly understand the saying 'birds die for food so also men die for money'.
She wasn't expecting anything different from the young man in front of her. At best, he must have just became an Entrance-level elemental swordsman.
"What's your profession?" she asked nonchalantly.
"I am a Second-level Ice elemental swordsman." as Ben's words dropped everyone around him gasp, it affected those even further. The whole floor was dead silent.
"What... what level again?" she asked, there was no way she will be believing her ears.
"I said the Second level, why?" Ben was confused by her question.
"Hmm, if you say you're at the Second level you'll still have to prove it." the receptionist replied simply in doubt.
"Humph! Kid, you need to know what you say, don't just spout nonsense. Do you even what a Second-level elemental manifestation looks like?" a burly looking man not far from Ben gave a cold snort and spat on the ground.
Ben realized their doubt, it was simply impossible to reach such a level at a seemingly young age to them. Without saying another word Ben unsheathed his sword on his waist, he placed both hands on the hilt of the broadsword in front of him. Channeling ice elements from his ice halo into the sword also coating his arm, showing the traits of a typical Second-level elemental swordsman. Few seconds later Ben stopped channeling the element and scheathed back his sword.
Silence, total silence. Everybody got struck by the silence like it was some kind of plague. That was then followed by a loud volume of murmuring. Within seconds people broke the line and swarmed towards Ben in troves.
"Hey kid, why not join our Hunter squad? We have pretty strong people too." the man who spat on the floor earlier rushed to propose to Ben.
"Don't listen to him, brother, join ours instead, it's better than theirs." a man with a bow hung at his back pushed forward and offered.
'Brother?' Ben questioned inwardly.
"You are all talking trash! This brother here was first spotted by our team so no one should even think of taking him away from us!" A woman holding a battleaxe declared loudly.
"Excuse me?" Ben voiced.
"What!?"
"That is absurd!"
Many Hunters exclaimed, they were not happy with what the female Huntress said. Even though she belonged to a strong group they should not use their strength to intimidate others. Ben on the other side, being surrounded by so many people just stood there awkwardly, it felt like he was a live stock and many were bantering with the salesman, arguing on who will get the livestock (him). But the problem is there was no salesman!
Hearing the woman's declaration Ben had the urge to puke out his breakfast, he couldn't believe such a beautiful woman to be so shameless. Is this what becoming a Hunter does to people? thought Ben.
"Let the boy be!" a loud clear voice overshadowed all the voices around him.
Ben just now noticed he was having a headache. Although they didn't see who it was that spoke, they all knew the owner of the voice. Reluctantly they all left Ben, yet they didn't forget to urge him one more time to join their team.
As the crowd all dispersed his back was facing the lady behind the counter which was surprisingly a bit farther than he expected. Maybe because of all the pushing.
"Here, you should fill up this form and pay the registration money, if you are unable to pay for now you shouldn't worry, once you accept missions the guild will subtract it from your reward." the receptionist handed Ben a piece of paper explaining what he has to do.
"How much is the registration fee?" Ben smiled since this means he is one more step to his goal.
"It's five thousand pieces of silver." she replied frowning a little.
"Isn't that like fifty gold coins?" Ben asked surprised.
"Yes, that's correct." the woman couldn't understand why he was asking.
"Really? when can I pay?"
"Uhm, once you fill in the form. You should take your time and for the payment, hope you remember what I've said?"
"Yes, I do remember. Thank you." Ben took the parchment and left the line.
Taking an empty seat, he sat and read through the details. Finding no problems with it he directly signed it. The main topic in the agreement was that the guild will not be held accountable for his death, he signed.
Looking around so no one would see him magically remove fifty gold coins out of thin air, he did notice a lot of eyes on him, honestly they gave him the creeps. Five minutes later he returned.
"Here," dropping the parchment and a pouch of money before the lady.
Surprised from the sudden intrusion she said, "That was fast. But you still have to hold on so we could get your badge ready. You can look around if you want.
"Thanks." Ben answered.
When Ben left her front she opened the pouch to see fine gold coins, the lady was really shocked. She had thought that even though he'll pay it would be in silver not in gold, and definitely not in one go.
It should be known that a lot of those who risk their lives to become Hunters, to make money. Once they step in that main door they have little to nothing on them. Ben, however, paid all at once and with gold at that. She couldn't help but wonder what his main purpose is for becoming a Hunter when he can flaunt his money elsewhere.
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