Kays Translations

Chapter 5: The Adventurers’ Guild, Continued

“The ranks go all the way up to S+. Adventurers of B rank or higher are considered first-rate. I hope you’ll aim to become first-rate too, Tauro.”

Nei then explained the rules of the Adventurers’ Guild.

They were all fairly standard.

One noteworthy rule was that any crimes an adventurer committed would be recorded on their tag.

In other words, committing a crime meant immediate expulsion from the guild. The offender would also be handed over to the guards, regardless of how minor the crime was.

Fortunately, Tauro’s attempted theft hadn’t been recorded because he hadn’t actually succeeded.

“There are plenty of rough adventurers, but most of them follow the rules and complete their quests properly, so you don’t need to worry.”

Tauro looked around the guild hall. So they’re surprisingly decent people, he thought with admiration.

“I’d like to take a quest right away…”

More than anything, he needed to earn money and get something to eat.

“Now, now. It’s already noon, so let’s have lunch first. I’ll treat you to celebrate your becoming an adventurer.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

Tauro hadn’t eaten in several days. Refusing such a kind offer was never an option.

Because it had been so long since his last meal, Nei warned him to begin slowly with soup.

He also softened his bread by soaking it in the soup before eating it.

“Tauro, I’ve been wondering—are you from a well-to-do family? You’re very polite, and your table manners are excellent… Oh, you don’t have to answer if you can’t.”

He was only eight years old, an orphan, emaciated, and dressed in rags. His good manners stood in stark contrast to his appearance, so Nei suspected there must be more to his story.

“No. My family is just a poor farming family. I was told my mother died soon after giving birth to me. When I was six, they decided I was useless and were about to abandon me in the Calamity Forest, so I ran away.”

“They wanted one less mouth to feed?”

“Something like that. They had always beaten and kicked me anyway, so I don’t miss them.”

That was the truth.

Before regaining the memories of his previous life, Tauro’s circumstances had been miserable.

He had fled home at the tender age of six because he knew that being abandoned in the Calamity Forest meant certain death.

His only possible destination was the town of Saisi, which he had heard the adults in his village talk about.

Although it was relatively close to the village, it was still several days away on foot—an enormous journey for a six-year-old.

During the day, he kept walking while fighting back anxious tears. At night, he held his breath and waited quietly for dawn, terrified by every sound around him.

He would sleep for a short while after dawn, then resume walking before noon.

After several days of travel, he finally reached Saisi.

But Saisi wasn’t kind to the weak.

There were many children in circumstances similar to his, and even scavenging for scraps of food meant competing over territory.

For a six-year-old newcomer and outsider, there were scarcely any scraps to be had.

Tauro had spent the past two years living on the very edge of survival.

It was truly fortunate that, even if only by chance, he had regained the memories of his previous life.

A child with almost no education could hardly be expected to devise a way out of such circumstances.

Without those memories, he wouldn’t even have found the courage to visit the Adventurers’ Guild.

He had only just managed to keep himself alive.

And thanks to this meal, he would survive for several more days.

The light hadn’t yet gone out of Tauro Satou’s eyes.

After returning to the guild, Tauro immediately accepted a quest.

By the afternoon, none of the worthwhile quests remained.

He therefore chose ditch cleaning, one of the so-called “errand quests” usually assigned to beginners or adventurers being punished for breaking the rules.

As long as he was paid, he welcomed the work, no matter how dirty or grueling it was.

With the reward, he might even be able to eat again that evening.

His only concern was where he would sleep that night.

Even if he earned money, the older vagrants would take every coin if they targeted him.

First, he needed to eat well, restore his body, and grow stronger.

The Adventurers’ Guild also offered training, and a dedicated combat instructor was apparently available to teach its members.

It was one of the guild’s efforts to improve adventurers’ survival rates.

I have to take part!

Tauro clenched his fist with determination.

“Nei, I’ve finished the ditch-cleaning quest.”

When Tauro appeared at the reception counter, one of the adventurers wrinkled his nose.

“You stink, kid! Go around back! Around back!”

Nei spoke up.

“Tauro, there’s a well out back. Go wash yourself there. The spare clothes may be a little big, but I’ll leave some out for you to wear.”

“All right. Thank you very much.”

After thanking her, Tauro hurried around back.

Someone was already using the well.

The man smelled awful, as though he had been drenched in sludge.

He smelled about as bad as Tauro did.

“Kid, you stink!”

The words struck Tauro like a hammer.

You do too!

Tauro retorted inwardly.

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