Chapter 13

“A S-Shadow Mage?’ Ava said gripping her seat.

She wondered if she threw it at him, would that give her time to get away.

“Where I come from the word for ‘magic’ is different, so I misunderstood. Anyway I’d like to become an Adventurer please.”

Venilis told him to use that excuse so Naro hoped it would work, though he was seeing firsthand how people felt about Shadow magic.

“You’re…asking to become an Adventurer,” Ava said.

“Yeah, I’ll do pretty much any job too. Long as I’m able to, anyway.”

“Please put your magic into this card.”

Ava held a card out to Naro, who while shocked by the sudden turnaround did as requested and gripped the card. The card seemed to drain a bit of his mana, blue lines running through the card before they shifted into a purple.

Ava held the card in her hand for a moment, raising her hand as she did so causing the adventurers to relax slightly. Naro figured that was her way of saying he wasn’t a threat.

Two of the people however kept their weapons drawn and their attention on him.

“I’ll need a day to finish the card and properly register you,” Ava said looking back at him. “Normally it’d be just a few hours but…”

Ava motioned around her and to the lack of other employees causing Naro to nod in understanding.

“That’s fine, though may I ask a few questions.”

“...you are strangely polite for a Shadow Mage, go ahead.”

“I know it’s strange for me to ask…but it’s really okay for me to be an Adventurer right? You won’t…take it back later?”

Ava looked over at the job board, which was covered in papers to point one could barely see the wood.

“It’s perfectly fine,” she said looking back at him. “There are records of Shadow Mages being Adventurere’s, although it’s rare, and your card won’t mention what your magic is. Long as you follow the rules you’ll be fine, which I’ll explain once the card is complete.”

“That’s…good to know. My next question is when does Beso show up?”

“...Beso shows up in the late afternoon, mostly early evening when he does come here.”

“Then I’ll come tomorrow morning,” Naro said. “That’s all I needed. Could I ask you to keep my magic secret. I’m trying to live a simple life, I won’t cause any trouble.”

“...I’m obligated to only share specific information about adventurer’s, so long as you don’t commit a crime I won’t have to give out information like that. I can’t speak for them though.”

Ava motioned to the few adventure’s in the room and Naro turned to them, he could see the tenseness in their faces. Venilis also told him how to deal with this, reaching behind him he took out a silver coin.

“Will you all forget if I buy around for everyone?”

“Let’s welcome the new guy!”

Each person in the room raised their mugs and Naro let out a weak chuckle almost concerned how simple that was. He put his worries aside, his new life would begin tomorrow and with any luck he might be able to make somewhat of a living.

The money of this new world thankfully followed a simple system, more than likely due to another Sage. Venilis taught him the value of money in their talks with each other. It followed a specific system, Bronze, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Mythril. 50 Bronze made one Copper, 50 Copper made one Silver and 50 Silver made one Gold.

The value of Gold was far higher, as was Platinum and Mythril so there was some dispartness once Gold was in the picture.

20 Gold made one Platinum, and finally five Platinum made one Mythril.

Naro learned this was the case as Gold was extremely to change hands with common people, merchants and nobles and high rank adventurer’s were the only one that would ever hold it.

Three gold coins in his old world was enough to pay a high end college’s tuition three to four times over in full, or even a couple of houses. It wasn’t the kind of money normal people walked around with in their pockets.

A single Platinum was enough to buy an entire town, Uliaz included and Mythril was enough to buy a kingdom with change leftover.

He would never see Platinum or Mytrhil in his lifetime, Venilis explained that only High end Merchants and Nobles touch Platinum and Mytrhil is exclusive to Royalty and those they deem worthy.

It was because of this Naro knew how much that single piece of Silver was, it would easily be a couple thousand in his world and Venilis handed it to him without hesitation. The silver would be enough for the drinks, the fee for the card and registration with some left over for a small meal.

Staring at the Copper coins in his hand he made a quiet promise to buy bread from Venilis stand everyday until he repaid this kindness in full.

He had entered this world with nothing, and now he had not only roof over his head but, clothes on his back, a way to earn money and people he could call friends.

It finally felt like he would be able to eek out a living in this world, and actually live a somewhat normal live, putting aside that he may have to fight monsters, but he always had the option to run in the worst case.

“I hope they have Herb gathering quests…”

“Hello Belik!”

Hearing a familiar voice Naro came to a stop and hid in the spaces between buildings, peering past the corner he nosed Beso standing in front of Belik’s stand with his two cohorts. Belik tensed up a bit at Beso’ approach, and while he kept his back to him for a moment, he eventually turned and rubbing his hands together smiled at him.

“Well hello Beso, how may I help you?”

“Oh come on Beso you know why I’m here. The pay for my protection.”

“Ah…yes about that. Beso my friend you are charging…a bit of money for protecting me, more than we agreed on…and well…my stand hasn’t really been attacked since that one time. I was hoping we could negotiate the price a bit, perhaps lower it.”

Beso brows arched and he looked at the two men next to him, both moved from his side and stood in either side of Belik causing the merchant to flinch slightly. His eyes went to a nearby guard, who adverted their gaze from him before walking away.

“Belik…I pass by her almost everyday, just to check on your stall. I even stay around for a few minutes. I feel like you’ve forgotten how dangerous the world can be.”

Beso tapped Belik’s stall with his finger, fire suddenly flaring around the tip of his finger.

“You’re paying for protection…Belik. I think the price is fair for the piece of mind…right?”

Belik’s eyes went to the now singhed wood and nodding he set a small bag on the counter of the stall.

“O-of course Sir Beso. My apologies, you’re right…pieace of mind is…a good thing.”

“Glad we understand each other,” Beso said grabbing the money. “I’m protecting more than just one stall, so I can’t hang around one all day, but I am still looking our for thieves on my patrol. Hey perhaps that’s why none have shown up.”

Making a motion with his head the trio walked down the roads, Naro slipping further into the alley as they passed, he stepped fully out once he could no longer hear their laughter.

Nothing good came from being involved with Beso, looking at Belik who was counting the few coins in his hand over proved that point further.