My first job and my first reward

“Alright, I’ll keep this simple. Tell me your name, age, business, dreams, and the color of your underwear.”

“Sota, age twenty one, I want to be an adventurer, I currently dream of surviving this situation, and is that last question really necessary?”

So there I was after Rowdy ran off with his gang, I was now in the crosshairs of the same blond haired demon she-devil that sent him running. After giving her the information she asked for, the woman gave me a light smile and passed me a form.

“Congratulations, all you need to do is sign the dotted line and you're all set. Also, are you really twenty one? How can you be that short and be the same age as me?”

“There are a lot of men standing at 5 '7, why does everyone make fun of me!”

I could hear the other guild members laughing behind me. I buried my face in the paper I was given, the last thing I want is for them to see me cry. That was my plan until I realized what the paper was, I was a registration form. Upon realizing this I immediately picked up the pen at the reception desk, but I made sure to read the terms and conditions before signing. This is another world, I can’t just tap accept conditions and hope for the best like I did back home. I wonder how my phone and wallet are doing, I left them in my work locker. I sigh as I finish signing the form and hand it back to the woman. She then looks at me and begins to smirk again.

“With this you’re a member of our guild, also it’s Zoe.”

“Huh?”

“My name is Zoe, welcome to our family Sota. Your starting rank is F-rank.”

So that’s what her name was, but that’s not important right now. Finally! I’m a real deal adventurer now, I can finally start my adventure in earnest. Right as I thought that, Zoe slammed another paper on the reception desk.

“Uh, what’s that?”

“Your first job.”

“...Huh?”

Wait, I don’t get to choose!?! Even in the games they would at least-Oh! This is the tutorial quest isn’t it. I know I shouldn’t keep comparing this world to a video game, but I can’t resist. Let’s see here, an herb collecting quest! As I examined my first job, Zoe began to speak again.

“What’s the matter, wish your first job was slaying a dragon.”

“Not at all, I’m actually surprised the work in question sounds so simple.”

“It sounds simple on paper, but in practice it’s harder than it looks. This quest also acts like a test to see if you can complete tasks, besides that underwear trap from before.”

So that question she asked before was a trick! As I thought that, Zoe explained further.

“As an adventurer, you need to be able to read between the lines and know how to make proper decisions. You were able to tell my last question for you was a lie, and you even examined your registration to find hidden clauses. If you failed to do that, you would’ve been placed in G-rank with the losers.”

G-rank? I guess the G stands for garbage. After thinking that, I heard someone sigh from a table behind me. I looked back to see a tired man mulling over his thoughts with ale in hand. When I looked back at Zoe, she nodded in confirmation. She also added that I could end up like this guy if I don’t complete this mission in three days, or if I got demoted from my current rank. With that in mind, I left the guild in order to complete my first quest.

****

“Heh, even with the help of a map, I still CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHERE I AM!”

So there I was lost in the Rosarian forest herbivore area again. It was nice of Zoe to leave a note on my map, telling me this was the best area to search for the Revia herbs I’m looking for. If I recall correctly, these herbs are the ones used in most recovery pills and potions. That said, where do I even find them? Wait a minute, this is the herbivore area. Who’s not to say the Revia herbs have been eaten! Dang it! Now what am I gonna do?

*Plop plop*

Huh? What’s that sound, and why does it sound so familiar? It’s probably not important, I gotta figure out some way to-

*Plop Plop*

...I’m about to lose my flipping mind, what the heck is that sound-

*SPLAT*

“AHH, MY MOUTH! What just hit me in the face!?!”

I wiped what seemed to be goo from my face, it was an odd blue-Wait a minute, blue! I turned my head to see my slime friend smiling and bouncing.

“GOOPEY! You came to visit me!”

I ran up to hug Goopey, but he immediately shot me again. He seems to be pouting now, did I do something wrong?

“...Let me guess, is it your new name?”

“POYO!”

Really! That was a good name too, it was in honor of my favorite protag’s pet slime! Well, I guess to each their own. I apologized for my bad taste and he seemed to forgive me, what am I gonna name him?

“Wait a moment, hey buddy could you help me with something?”

“Poyo?”

I told him the situation, my little friend immediately sprouted a question mark on the top of his head. Suddenly that question mark became an exclamation point, he then began to scurry off into the bushes. I was confused for a moment, until he came jumping back and gesturing to me to follow him.

After following him for five minutes, we finally reached the place he was leading me to. It was a field of Revia herbs, they were everywhere! This is perfect, with this I won’t have to worry about being a part of the clean up crew.

“Thank you so much Bluey, with this I’m-”

*SPLAT*

He shot me in the face again, and started pouting again. Another bad name it seems, what a diva this guy is. After thanking him again he smiled and scurried off, leaving me to get the goods. I began to bag the goods, but that’s when a thought crossed my mind.

“Wait a minute, HOW DO I GET HOME!”

****

This sucks so much, I ended up getting back super late. The same guard that had me arrested before lectured me. After that embarrassing experience I made my way back to the guild. Thankfully the lights are still on. I nervously began to open the door.

“Hello is anyone-”

As I walked in, I saw Zoe sitting at the reception desk. Her head was buried in her arms, as if she was depressed about something. As if noticing my arrival she finally lifted her head up, and then our eyes crossed.

“....”

“....”

We both stared blankly at each other, then her eyes started glowing and she began pointing at me.

“YOU!”

“Eep!”

I tried to run, but she jumped over the desk and began to chase me. Eventually I found my path blocked by the job board, and right as I turned to make my escape-

*SMACK*

“HIEE!!!”

“You have a lot of explaining to do, mister!”

Zoe was standing right in front of me, my forehead slightly below her chin. As she looked down at me and me up at her I realized something. Zoe slammed her left hand into the board to block my escape, and her hand hasn’t moved yet as she looms over me. Dear god, did I just get DONNED!!!! No, this was the technique I was supposed to use when I got cooler. Zoe then saw my beet red skin, and realized the position we were in. She immediately jumped off with a yelp, and stared at me like I was a villain.

“...Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this.”

“Yeah, that’s probably for- HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE! Don’t you dare get weird on me!”

She began pouting at me like I did something wrong. I then realized she had a wet gaze, was she crying?

“I thought something happened to you, sure the job was simple but still. Do you know the death toll this job has?”

“Uh…”

Zoe, I’m such a loser. She was worried about me, and even waited for me to return. I’ve been in the forest so I know how dangerous it gets, especially at night. Zoe may seem cold, but this is what she’s really like.

“Sorry Zoe, I promise I won’t keep you late the next time I need to finish a quest.”

“That’s not the point you stupid newbie! *Sigh* Let me see your materials, and welcome back Sota.”

Zoe closed her slightly teary eyes and gave me a soft smile. She was also amazed by the amount of herbs I had, so I basically picked out the whole field. This warranted a smack from Zoe for not knowing my limits. She then presented me with a few copper coins and a metal tag with a F imprinted on it. With this I’m officially an F-ranked adventurer, I jumped for joy at my first success.

“Congratulations on your first job, although next time please come on time. Also you don’t need to worry about me getting home since I live close by.”

“Oh okay, do you need someone to walk you home?”

“There’s no way I’m getting escorted by a man shorter than me, and I get the impression that you’re an unlucky guy. Sorry but I’ll pass.

Why does the truth hurt so much, I waved goodbye to Zoe and went on my way.

****

“What a weird guy, he could’ve showed up tomorrow instead of coming back today.”

Yet here I am waiting for him, so I guess I can’t talk. Lately some of our new guys have gotten killed in the field, they were people I registered so seeing that made me sad. I guess that’s why I was so desperate to see him safe, instead of in a body bag like the others.

“I thought it was noisy down here, *yawn* I’ll never understand where you kids get this energy from.”

“Oh, hey gramps.”

I call him gramps when no one’s around, this man with a muscular build and gray hair is Anderson Baskerville. He’s our guild master, and he’s still as sharp as a knife.

“That said Zoe, I must ask.”

“What is it?”

“When did you learn that move you used back there, that was my secret technique from back in my prime.”

Secret techni-No way!

“You saw that…”

“Yep, you did well kid!”

“YOU’RE THE WORST!!!”

I take back what I said, he’s the worst!

****

BAD LUCK COUNTER: 11