Volume 4 Chapter 80 The Front And Back Of The Free City
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We were currently staying in the Free City of Latipak.
To secure at least a basic foothold here, we decided to visit the Adventurers’ Guild—not just for information, but also to establish some social standing. After all, remaining a jobless drifter hiding away in a Love Hotel wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle. At some point, I had to show my face in public with at least a shred of legitimacy.
And so, we registered as adventurers.
It was a convenient system. Even without connections or referrals, simply registering could grant you a minimum level of status. For outsiders like us, it was a lifeline—a foothold in unfamiliar territory.
The inside of the guild felt much like the one back in the Kingdom. However, it was significantly more crowded. A buzzing commotion filled the space. A long line stretched out in front of the reception desk, staff members were dashing about, and the occasional yell rang out from near the counters. I couldn’t tell if the Free City’s guild was always this hectic, or if we just happened to arrive at a particularly chaotic hour.
Regardless, I stepped through the guild’s doors.
The moment I entered, a subtle shift passed through the air.
We stood out.
First, there was Lifia—a half-elf with short blond hair and striking blue eyes. She wore a maid-style outfit, complete with a miniskirt and white garter belt. The contrast between her delicate features and the bold exposure of her thighs drew attention instantly.
Beside her stood Tifi, dressed modestly in a white blouse and a dark blue vest, her long skirt flowing gently. She showed little skin, yet the way her chestnut hair trailed down and the quiet glow in her amber-hued eyes gave her a graceful allure.
Then there was Kéa, who stood out in a far more flamboyant way. Her vivid red ponytail swayed with each movement, and her golden eyes held a sharp gleam. Clad in bikini-style armor, her toned abs and firm curves were on full display. Her presence was fierce, almost daring.
Yomi had a subtler mystique. With long, silvery-gray hair that clung to her like mist, and a classic pointed magician’s hat perched atop her head, she exuded arcane elegance. Her outfit—a high-cut leotard paired with black tights—covered her, but still managed to hint at her shapely figure and curves.
Korukona, meanwhile, carried a wild charm. Her sun-kissed skin gleamed as her soft feline ears and tail flicked with each step. Dressed in hot pants that showed off her legs and a snug tube top that pressed tightly against her chest, she moved with a casual vitality that caught eyes wherever she went.
With companions like this, it was no surprise we drew stares.
A slightly cocky-looking adventurer stepped forward, likely hoping to strike up conversation, but quickly retreated the moment I shot him a glare.
…Heh. Guess I’ve still got some presence after all. That thought gave me a small sense of satisfaction.
By the way, Rozmiaque was acting separately for now. He’d already completed his registration ahead of us in this country.
He was probably off somewhere, singing in a tavern. Hopefully not performing any songs about our Love Hotel stay…
After waiting for quite some time, it was finally my turn at the counter.
”Next! What can I help you with!? New registration!? Fill this out! Can you write!?”
The receptionist’s voice came out rapid-fire, her tone nearly overwhelming. Clearly, the staff were at their limit.
I nodded and took the provided form, beginning to fill it in.
Even while I was writing, the receptionist kept working through another pile of paperwork. It was then that Tifi, who had been peering over my shoulder, suddenly spoke up.
”Isn’t that wrong?”
She pointed, not at my form, but at the stack of documents in front of the receptionist.
”Huh?”
”The reward category field—shouldn’t that be the rank code? If you leave the request code classification as-is, the settlement might get misfiled later.”
The receptionist blinked and checked the paperwork again.
”…Eh? Oh! You’re right!”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
”You actually understand this stuff!?”
”Yes, I do.”
Tifi had previously worked as a receptionist in the Adventurers’ Guild of the Kingdom of Nakuos. Though she was currently on leave, her experience was deep and thorough.
”So you’ll help us!? You will, right!? Supervisor! Supervisor!! I found someone amazing!!”
She yelled toward the back office.
”Hah!? Don’t let her escape—catch her!!”
Wait—catch?
From deeper inside the guild, a man came hurrying out and marched straight toward us.
”You have secretarial skills and a certified calculation license?”
”I do. Both Level One, by Nakuos standards.”
”Perfect! We’ve got a live one!”
Before I could blink, Tifi was swept away behind the counter and sat down in a staff chair, now wearing the expression of a full-fledged guild employee.
I thought guild employment required introductions, references, or at least some paperwork. Was the staff shortage really that bad? Or was Tifi just that capable?
I stood frozen for a moment, stunned, as Tifi smiled back at me from across the counter.
”Now then, I’ll proceed with your adventurer registration.”
Just like that, she had gone from being in line to being a working receptionist in a matter of moments.
As expected of someone who had served in the Dungeon City’s guild. Her adaptability was no joke.
She had even managed to gain a more respectable title than mine in the blink of an eye.
Well, that’s fine. Since taking her leave, she had been idle, waiting at the Love Hotel. She must’ve been bored. This might be a good change of pace.
I was a bit worried they might distrust her for coming from the Kingdom, but apparently the guild didn’t mind.
”Just don’t overdo it,” I said.
”Don’t worry. I’ll take care of myself,” she replied with a gentle nod.
Still, this guild seemed like a demanding workplace. If it ever got too harsh, I’d make sure she stopped.
After all—her belly wasn’t showing yet, but Tifi was already with child.
Even so, she handled the registration process smoothly and explained everything with clarity.
”In the Free City, adventurers are ranked from zero stars up to three stars.”
So it was a star-based system.
Back in Nakuos, it had been metals—Copper, Silver, Gold. Different structure, same concept.
It really drove home that we were in another country now. Yet Tifi explained it all with such ease.
”Taro-san was Bronze Rank in Nakuos, correct? Then here, you’d likely start as one star, maybe even two depending on conditions. But to determine that, an evaluation is necessary.”
An evaluation, huh. Bit of a pain, but it’d be better to aim higher.
Rank determined your credibility, which affected what requests you could take and what information you had access to.
And in this merchant-heavy Free City, reputation was everything.
The evaluation was a practical test.
We were led through the back of the guild building into an open courtyard.
The ground was packed dirt, marked with countless scuffs and gouges from past fights. Wooden training weapons leaned against a nearby rack.
As we moved, several adventurers began to trail behind us.
Not surprising—traveling with a group of such eye-catching women was bound to attract attention. Maybe they were curious. Maybe they wanted to measure my strength. Or maybe they were scouting me for something else entirely.
Standing at the center of the training ground was a broad-chested man, arms folded.
Deep lines ran across his rugged face, and his sharp gaze made it clear he wasn’t to be taken lightly.
He must’ve been the examiner. Likely a retired adventurer now working for the guild.
”The test is simple,” he said, voice gruff. “Show me your strength.”
I stepped forward, grabbed a wooden sword from the rack, and faced him.
And so, the evaluation began.
”Hmph? Ugh, hmph!” The old man sounded confident at first, but anxiety slowly crept into his expression. He couldn’t predict my moves. No matter his technique, my strength and reaction speed were superior.
”Tch, haah!” The clash of wooden swords echoed sharply. Then──my strike knocked his sword away. With a dry thud, the wooden blade rolled across the dirt.
”…You got me. You pass,” he said, breathing heavily but still managing a smile.
”Thank you,” I replied quietly, lowering my wooden sword. The man muttered under his breath, “This is Bronze Rank? No way. Easily Silver… maybe even Gold. Is the Kingdom’s guild blind?”
”Mr. Taro just registered as an adventurer recently,” Tifi explained.
”Ah, years of experience, huh. The Kingdom’s guild really doesn’t change,” the examiner nodded, glancing at me with a knowing smile. “Well then, with this, two stars should be fine. I’ll vouch for it.”
At his words, a small murmur spread through the adventurers gathered in the square. “Two stars, huh.” “That handsome guy?” “No, that sword technique is legit.”
Amid the buzz, my companions were being evaluated next.
First was Kéa. She closed in on the examiner without hesitation. With graceful movements, she wielded two swords effortlessly, overwhelming the judges with skill far beyond mine.
”W-what is that guy…” “A monster?” “Those amazing breasts.” “They’re really bouncing.”
Then came Lifia and Yomi. The two displayed magic of wind and light, their power and control silencing the crowd.
”That elf might be half, but that much Spirit Magic…” “Those thighs…” “Does the black-haired girl have perfect command over her spellbook!?” “Those tights are kinda provocative.”
Finally, Korukona stepped forward. She dodged her opponent’s wooden sword with cat-like agility, mixing martial arts with close combat. Yet──
”Hmm, her physical skills look promising, but… she’s got a long way to go,” the examiner said honestly.
Korukona lacked speed and power, failing to impress the judges.
”As expected, not everyone is top-tier.” “That tan skin is nice…” “So nice…”
The adventurers visibly relaxed, as if relieved that not all of us were exceptional. In the end, the four of us, excluding Korukona, were registered as two-star adventurers. Korukona remained unranked.
”Everyone’s amazing… am I really a burden?” Korukona muttered, shoulders slumping. Her black cat ears and tail drooped weakly, crushed by the gap in our abilities.
”Don’t worry about it,” I said, placing a hand on her head and gently stroking her soft black hair. “You can get stronger too. If you train with us in the dungeon, you will.”
With my skill, Love Hotel, I could find the right weapons and fighting style for her. Defeating monsters would boost her physical abilities. With her natural talent, she could become a real help.
”…Yeah, I’ll do my best,” she said, her amber eyes looking up at me. Though weak, her resolve was clear.
Encouraging Korukona, we left the adventurer guild. I felt the gazes of other adventurers on my back──shock, awe, envy.
Tifi was staying a bit longer here, working as temporary staff. For someone feeling idle, this was a good push. Also, having her inside the guild helped us gather information.
We had achieved our first goal. With the two-star title, our freedom increased. We’d earn trust and gain easier access to info.
Now, we could explore while gathering intel.
Just as I thought this──
”Hey, you guys, which clan are you from?” a voice called from behind.
Turning, I saw a middle-aged man with sharp eyes. He looked like an adventurer, muscular and flashy, wearing gaudy clothes and rings.
”A clan? Not really. I don’t belong to any,” I answered.
The man smirked, lips curling into a grin. “Then this will be quick. Come to our place. With skills like yours, we can offer decent treatment. Introduce you to jobs, share info. There are good requests, too.”
He scanned us with gleaming eyes, sizing us up.
”Sorry, but I’m not interested in joining any group,” I said firmly.
I didn’t know what a clan was exactly, but I had no intention to belong to one—especially not with a shady guy like this.
”Hey now, that’s cold. This town’s not kind enough to make it on your own,” the man said with a grin.
”Well, fine. If you change your mind, come to the tavern ‘Lead Cup.’ Mention Bunark’s name. You’ll always be welcome.”
I guessed that tavern was a gathering spot for insiders.
”But──” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I wouldn’t recommend going anywhere else or keeping up that refusal…”
Still, my answer was firm. “Thanks for the advice.”
I said simply and turned away. The man’s gaze seemed to pierce through me long after.
The Free City of Latipak. A place where all kinds gather—good and bad. Not a spot to let your guard down.
Notes:
• Latipak – A small independent state centered around its port town. Located in a strategic trade hub, it maintains neutrality despite being surrounded by large nations and Demon Race territories. It is a bustling city where humans, elves, dwarfs, and Demon Race people coexist. Known for its vibrant streets, diverse languages, and lively atmosphere.
• Korukona – A cat-eared girl with amber eyes. She is brave but vulnerable, showing honesty and gratitude. Taro rescues her from the pirate and plans to send her to her village.
• Rozmiaque – High-ranking elf investigating large-scale Spirit Magic usage. Condescending, believes a High Elf is involved. Uses 6-letter Spirit Magic to trap targets. Displays contempt for half-elves and humans. Aggressive interrogator, possibly capable of sensing hidden information.
• Kingdom of Nakuos – The nation where the protagonist and companions were summoned as heroes.
• Bunark – Male. A middle-aged adventurer with a shady demeanor. He wears flashy clothes and overly decorated rings. He invites the main character to join his clan, offering decent treatment and information. His relationship with the main character is adversarial, as the offer is refused.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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