ITWOK Chapter 7 Thick skin

"Guild Leader, what is it?" Haru asked.

"That skill. It's similar to the skill [Weaken], which applies a physical debuff to creatures," Becker replied.

"Oh, that's a pretty rare skill as well. You would be perfect in support roles in parties," Tanna added.

"Except," Becker continued, "the [Minus Strength] skill applies not only to physical strength but also to magical strength."

"What?!" Tanna exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. In the world of Kladin, there was no skill that could decrease magical strength. Creatures that could utilize magic had always been a sore spot for adventurers who found it difficult to handle them. If a debuff could be applied to such creatures, it would cause a major stir.

"I can see why you wanted to talk privately," Tanna said. "If the others were to find out, they would certainly try to recruit Haru to their parties. It could lead to a lot of in-fighting within the guild."

Becker's expression remained grave. "[Weaken] applies a small debuff based on the strength of the user, but [Minus Strength] uses a different formula."

"A different formula?" Tanna asked, intrigued.

"I think it goes by a percentage," Becker explained. He turned to Haru again and asked, "Can you use your [Minus Strength] on me again?"

"Oh, uh, sure," Haru replied.

The effect came upon Becker once more. He scrutinized his body and then promptly sighed. "It's exactly as I thought. I have good control over my body, and I can feel that my overall strength dropped by approximately fifteen percent when you applied that skill."

"Fifteen percent?!" Tanna practically screamed.

Haru narrowed his eyes, thinking, 'He really isn't normal.'

"Is that a lot?" Haru asked, feigning ignorance as he gasped for breath.

"Is that a lot? Are you crazy? There's no skill in the entire world that can do something like that. If someone were to find out about this skill, it could cause a major uproar. The other kingdoms would go to war to have you!" Tanna exclaimed, her voice rising with alarm.

"No, it wouldn't cause that much of a stir," Becker replied, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced of his own words.

"Not a stir?" Tanna questioned frantically. "It's fifteen percent! I can already see poor Haru being chained and forced to use his skill on high-ranking monsters every day. He would be a debuff slave."

Her words struck a chord within Haru, bringing up painful memories from his past. He forced a toothy smile and nodded, trying to push the emotions aside.

Becker looked at Haru to confirm. "It seems unlike [Weaken], you can't use your skill as often."

Haru weakly straightened his back and nodded. "After I used the skill, I felt like I had nothing else to give. My legs are barely standing as is."

"The skill you have, [Minus Strength], likely has a high consumption cost and only lasts for a few seconds. While it would give an advanced party a significant advantage in a fight, the drawback of being useless and needing protection immediately after makes it less appealing," Becker explained.

"Well… let's forget about it for now."

Becker opened a drawer and retrieved a blank card. He infused mana into his finger and wrote Haru's name on the card before tossing it to him. "As promised," Becker said.

Haru caught the card excitedly and thanked Becker. The card carried both his name and his current adventurer's rank: F.

"If there's nothing else—"

"Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something," Haru quickly interjected.

"Hmm, what is it?"

"Well, I plan to do some quests, but it's already pretty late. I was wondering if I could have a room for the night."

It wasn't an outlandish request and one that could easily be done. All Adventurer Guilds were hub points for adventurers. As adventurers, they would travel the lands doing different quests meant to help the local community they were in. When they were tired, they could head to an Adventurer's Guild branch and rent a room or get something to eat, all in one building. As adventurers willing to risk their lives for rewards, the accommodations weren't bad at all.

Becker took out a key and threw it to Haru. It had a number on it, indicating the room the key fit. "All yours. Now, if—"

"Just one more thing."

"... yes," Becker said with mild annoyance.

"I can't really go out on adventures with what I'm currently wearing, and as I've mentioned before, I don't have a single coin on me. So, how about giving me a loan?" Haru asked unabashedly, looking at Becker with hopeful eyes.

Becker sighed, wondering what kind of life Haru had led in his own world to have such thick skin. He reached into his drawer and pulled out a box that stored a portion of the guild funds. "How much do you need?"

Holding up a finger, Haru smiled. "Not much, just one thousand Klador."

"…"

The room fell silent, Tanna's mouth hanging open in shock.

A vein popped on Becker's forehead. "DO YOU THINK I'M YOUR FRIGGIN' BANK?"

"A loan! It's just a loan!" Haru quickly said.

Tanna spoke up. "Haru, do you know what you are asking? Klador is the highest denomination within Kladin, followed by the more commonly used Kladi. They are used by all the human kingdoms and the various other races as a centralized currency for exchanging goods and services. One Klador is about a couple of days' pay for the average worker in Crown City. A thousand Klador is roughly the total annual rewards for a high B rank adventurer's party, split among a full party."

"Yeah, I know that," Haru said nonchalantly.

Becker stared at him, exasperated. "How could I lend a thousand Klador to a newbie who hasn't even done their first quest? Your Adventurer card is worth, at best, three Klador as collateral."

"Just.. hear me out," Haru said, gesturing to his attire. "Look at my clothes."

Becker examined Haru's clothes more closely. He had already noticed the strange cat-like patterns and unusual design when they first met. They were definitely peculiar, but what civilization didn't have its own unique fashion?

"What about them?"

Haru grinned. "You see, my clothes aren't just unique because they're from my world, but also because none of the other Summoned are wearing anything similar. They're truly one-of-a-kind in this world. And right now, the topic of the Summoned is all the rage in Crown City. I've been getting looks of admiration everywhere I go."

Becker raised an eyebrow. "Admiration?"

Haru's voice quickened with enthusiasm. "Think about it. The influential people of Crown City are buzzing about the Summoned, and they'll definitely be interested in the things we brought with us. My clothes might not be worth one thousand Klador as they are, but the design and style certainly could be. If we sell the rights to a high-end fashion designer with connections to major clothing stores, nobles will be lining up to buy them. This is a golden opportunity to make a profit."

He suddenly pointed to Tanna. "Tell me, what do you think of my clothes?"

"Me? Uh, I think they're pretty cute," Tanna said truthfully, praising the design.

"Exactly! Now, touch it." He stretched out his arm.

Tanna glanced at Becker, both sharing a weird glance before she reached out to touch Haru's sleeve. "Wow... so soft!"

Haru's excitement grew as he laid out his plan. "See? Quality material and a style that's never been seen before. It's perfect for both fashion and sleepwear. And with every product sold, a small percentage will come back to the guild as royalties. You'll make back five, no, ten times what you lent me in a month, guaranteed!" By the end of his pitch, Haru was a little out of breath.

Becker scratched his head. "You Summoned are really something else..." He turned to Tanna. "You're better than me with these types of things. What do you think?"

Tanna considered Haru's plan and nodded. "I think Haru's idea has merit. Before the summoning, there was already a lot of buzz regarding the Summoned, and now that the Summoned have arrived, they're the talk of the city. His clothes are likely to attract more attention from noble ladies, but there should be enough interest all around to make this a profitable venture for us. Plus, we do have connections to a well-known designer."

"Alright, I got it." Becker reached into the box and took out a sack of coins, tossing it to Haru.

Haru caught the sack excitedly and immediately began to strip, causing Tanna to quickly turn away in embarrassment.

Becker retrieved some of his spare clothes and tossed them to Haru, who looked a little confused. "I don't want you leaving this office in just your underwear or rumors are going to start flying," he said. "You can keep these clothes, they're just my spares."

Haru smiled. "You're a pretty cool guy, you know that."

Becker snorted. "When you're done, get out. I think I've had enough of you for one day."

Haru laughed as he dressed and headed for the door but stopped. "Don't worry about the loan; I'll pay it back soon," he turned and said.

With that, he left the office.

The room fell silent once again. Becker let out an exasperated sigh. "Why do I feel like we just got swindled? It feels like everything has been going his way since we first met."

Tanna smiled. "It's been a while since I've seen you lose yourself like that in front of someone."

"Who can keep a straight face with someone so infuriating? It's like talking to someone who has no shame." He poured himself a glass of alcohol and downed it in one gulp, looking deep in thought. "He's a recent summon, but the way he carries himself makes it seem like this isn't his first time here. I feel like he knows more than he's letting on."

Suddenly, there was a tapping on the window behind them. Becker reached up and opened it, allowing a bird to swoop in and land on his desk. There was a note attached to its leg. Becker retrieved the note and read it, his expression turning solemn.

"A marked transport has reached Blackstone territory. It says..." His voice trailed off.

"What is it?" Tanna asked.

"It says she has white wings and deep violet eyes..." Becker seemed visibly shaken.

Tanna approached from behind and placed a hand on his back. "I know how important this is to you. You've been looking for her for years. If it's really her, you'll finally be able to achieve your dream. Whatever happens, just know I'll be with you every step of the way."

Becker turned around, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked deeply into each other. But almost too quickly, Becker moved away. "Thank you, Tanna. Truly. I don't know where I'd be without you by my side all these years. With you, the years have simply flown by."

"Why are you talking like that—"

"Nothing. The Summoned has got my mind all scrambled. We'll rendezvous at the spot."

He left the room, leaving Tanna by herself, her eyes downcast.

***

Back at the palace, the Summoned were seated in the dining hall, getting acquainted with each other. The palace servants were bringing out an array of assorted dishes. The fragrant aromas filled the room, and laughter rang out from the newly summoned, who were all getting to know each other. Though some were still worried about their life back home, the majority seemed to have already taken to the place.

"Announcing her Royal Highness, Princess Reina!" One of the guards called out, and everyone hushed to see the princess now in more comfortable attire. She was followed by Nuel and Seraphina.

"Please, don't let me distract you. I hope you all feel at home here," the princess said with a smile as she took a seat at the head table. She continued, "Unfortunately, my father is still unwell and will not be joining us, so I'm afraid you're just stuck with me."

Lance immediately shot up. "Princess, even if you were among a thousand women, you alone would shine like a bright star. Your beauty is unmatched, and like a moth, I'm drawn to it. My princess, how could I be stuck with you if merely being in your presence is like a gift from God?" His hand sat atop his chest as he sang his song of love with full vigor.

There was a brief silence before full-blown laughter erupted.

"Oh my gosh, that's the cheesiest thing I've ever heard!"

"Man should be a gosh darn poet!"

"I don't know… that was actually kind of nice."

The princess looked a bit frazzled and blushed. "T-Thank you for your kind words, hero Lance."

The hall grew increasingly rowdy. It seemed everyone was enjoying themselves, and there were instances where some couldn't maintain their balance, likely due to the alcohol served. Even those not yet of age were partaking as if no one was watching.

The service continued, and the princess slowly introduced herself to everyone again, now on a more personable level. She was kind, warm, and engaging. She took the time to get to know the Summoned, and though there were 99 of them, she used the tact and diction of a royal to truly connect with each one. For a moment, everyone seemed to relax, but at the end of the day, they had been summoned for a reason, and business still needed to be attended to.

"Dear heroes of another world," Nuel stood and began. "I want to once again thank you for your commitment to the cause. As a token of our heartfelt gratitude, we wish to present you with a small gift." On cue, the servants brought in boxes for each of the Summoned.

"What is it?" one of them asked.

"Please, open it." the princess encouraged.

One by one, they opened the boxes, and inside was a rather large brooch carrying the kingdom's insignia, a crown, and at its center was a large blue jewel shaped like a flower.

"That… that is the jewel of our kingdom, Crown Almighty. The jewel symbolizes the people of our realm, the fathers, the mothers, the children, all of whom make our kingdom special. This brooch has held various meanings throughout our history, but it has always been a source of inspiration since Emanuel the Brave founded our kingdom. Emanuel, a valiant hero, fought alongside his companions to defeat a great evil. It is said the jewel's design was inspired by a flower that often gave him strength during hard times, enabling him to vanquish the evil that once plagued all of Kladin."

The princess paused for a moment. "Since then, it has served as a symbol of our people. Those bestowed with the brooch are known as heroes in this kingdom and are treated as such. Within our realm, as long as you possess the brooch, you will have the full support of the kingdom and the privileges that come with it."

There was a bit of clamor among the Summoned. Back home, they couldn't even imagine what it would cost to have something like this. A few were grasping it in their hands carefully.

"I hope you hold on to it well and keep it on you. There are many who would wish to take it from you, as even selling it would fetch quite a high price on the black market."

"How much, if you don’t mind me asking. How much would it fetch??" The businessman couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm, about 10,000 Klador I think."

"How much is that?" The same man followed up.

"I don't know how it translates to your world's currency, but here, you wouldn't have to work for the rest of your life living in the capital."

Amazement sounded through the crowd. A few immediately kept the brooch close to their person, afraid to lose it.

Suddenly, someone rose from their seat. It was the same thick, eye browed man who had been outspoken before. The shift in his seat caused a ripple, catching the attention of everyone there.

The princess turned to him and asked, "Hero George, is something wrong?"

"Yeah, I don't get why everyone is so relaxed when we are supposedly in a fight against the demons. I don't give a damn about this brooch or what it's worth. I only care about going home. You say we can go back once we defeat the demons, right? Then we should stop wasting time and do it already."

The princess placed down her cup and stared meaningfully toward George. "You're absolutely right."