Chapter 7: Apprentice Adventurer Registration

“…I can’t register…?”

The next morning, Ren visited the Adventurer’s Guild in the center of the village and looked up at the counter in a daze.

“You can only register officially once you’re ten years old. Sorry about that.”

From behind the counter, a muscular woman (or so it seemed) said apologetically.

“…You can’t register in any other way?”

Ren clenched his fist and blurted the words out before he even realized it. He was surprised by himself—he felt like his desire not to give up had taken over.

The muscular guild receptionist widened her eyes, then curled the corners of her mouth slightly.

“Oh my, you’ve got spirit. Fufu… alright, I’ll tell you something special.”

“Special?”

Tilting his head, Ren watched as she smiled and pulled out a document.

—Apprentice Adventurer

At the top of the paper was written: “Apprentice Adventurer.”

Registration fee: Free
Eligible age: 7 years and older, under 10
Material sales: Allowed
Quest acceptance: Limited
Adventurer points: Not applicable

“This is a special system for children who can’t register as full adventurers yet. There are cases where they absolutely need income, right? In those situations, if you register as an apprentice adventurer, you’re at least allowed to sell materials.”

“…So if I don’t register, anything I bring won’t be bought?”

“Well… yes and no. There are exceptions. For example, if a blacksmith brings weapons to sell, they might be purchased. But normally, you need to be registered either as a full adventurer or an apprentice.”

Pointing at the document with thick fingers, the receptionist explained in detail. It seemed that if he registered as an apprentice, he would at least be able to sell materials.

If that was the case, Ren decided it would be fine. The process was simple—he only had to sign the document and receive a tag marked “Apprentice.”

After Ren signed, the muscular receptionist smiled broadly.

“Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild. I’m the deputy guild master, Mikaila. Nice to meet you.”

“Deputy guild master…”

For a moment, Ren froze, thinking she had just been a receptionist, but he quickly bowed.

“My name is Ren. Nice to meet you.”

Mikaila explained how to sell materials and what apprentice adventurers were allowed to do. Quest acceptance was limited to light tasks designated by the guild, such as cleaning or deliveries. While material sales were unrestricted, points for rank advancement would not be awarded even if he defeated monsters, so he was warned not to attempt dangerous hunts.

Ren immediately brought in the two-horned bird horns and other materials and exchanged them for silver coins. Feeling the weight of the coins in his hand, he quickly purchased a knife.

He had briefly considered buying a sword, but all he could afford was a cheap knife. Thinking about it, bringing a sword home might draw attention anyway, so a knife actually seemed more appropriate.

He also tried one of the apprentice quests: cleaning inside the guild. In half a quarter of a day, he earned 50G—five large copper coins.

He considered taking more cleaning quests, but his eyes stopped on a door labeled “Adventurer Reference Room,” and he decided to go inside.