Craft Test

I see the splattering red.

I am currently standing on a thin pool of blood.

When I look at my surroundings, I see Kaina and other maids are lying motionlessly on that pool of blood.

I wanted to rush towards them, but a hand holding a slashclaw weapon stands in my way.

I look at the holder of that weapon. The user is Nelsia with her expressionless face.

Nelsia then moves her mouth, saying...

"There is nothing more you can do."

I can see Midora's face laughing at the maids lying on that pool of blood...

And among those maids, I see my mother from this world... lying lifelessly with empty eyes.

It is my breaking point. Before I am able to scream out of despair, the world becomes completely dark.

When I open my eyes, I can see my right hand raised as if it is trying to reach the ceiling.

This is... the inn I am staying at.

I start to remember what happened yesterday.

So it was a dream... a dream about something that truly happened.

I get up and notice that my clothes are a bit wet.

"Ugh..."

The reason is because I sweat a lot.

My body also feels a bit sluggish. Nevertheless, I decide to get up from my bed.

The sun has not risen yet huh... I need to borrow a bucket from receptionist and take water from the well so that I can quickly wipe my body and face clean.

This inn has 3 floors. My room is in the 1st floor.

This is actually convenient as I don't need to go through stairs while bringing back the water-filled bucket to my room.

I expected a queue will show up near the well because of other people taking the water too. But there is no one who wants to take the water from the well.

This is quite surprising... or maybe not. Most people can learn the magic "Cleanse" to clean their body without the use of water. They won't bother taking water when there is an easier alternative that can clean better. People who wash themselves using water might be only people who do not have that magic and those who doesn't have astral body like me.

I lower the well's bucket using the rope and pour the water from the well's bucket to my bucket that is placed on the ground. I repeat this process 3 times since I'm not strong enough to lift lots of water from the well's bucket at once.

"Alright..."

My bucket is now fully filled with water. It might be too much for just wiping my body but I'll save the rest of the water for other uses. Oh, might as well borrow the bucket lid from receptionist later.

Time to bring this bucket to my room. As I think that, I try to lift the bucket.

".... gununununu...!"

It's a bit heavy, but it's not something I can't carry. I use both hands to carry it.

Then my left foot stumble upon a rock because I cannot see my legs while holding the bucket with both hands.

"!"

I manage to not fall from it, but I gradually lose my balance even after I try to balance myself.

When I almost truly lose balance, a hand reach out to my water-filled bucket and hold it.

Thanks to that, I can balance myself instead of falling.

I look at the person who helped me.

I see a black-haired human boy with clothes full of dirt. His height is about the same as mine. He only has one hand which is his right hand. He's currently helping me holding the water bucket.

"Are you... okay?"

That boy speaks not so fluently but I can still hear what he said. I immediately thank him out of courtesy.

"Yes. Thanks for helping."

"Where do you... bring this bucket to?"

"Eh?"

"I'll help bringing it."

I actually don't want to trouble him anymore. But since he offered me the help himself, it would be rude to refuse the offer so I accept his help.

While bringing the bucket to my room, I noticed a tattoo of black wide line circling his neck.

That's... a slave's crest. I only saw it before from the book. It's a crest that uses magic to enforce a contract between master and slave. My knowledge about slave contract is a bit limited though since I never really care about learning it.

It now reminds me about the state in Elverwad continent. Just like how Brahmastra has a discrimination problem against demi-humans. Elverwad also has a discrimination problem against human. Lots of demi-humans are sold in Brahmastra as slaves... while lots of human slaves are sold here.... I know it's not something I can do about it, but I find it tiresome as a person who was raised in a better environment no matter which world I am in.

After we placed the bucket on the floor inside my room, I thanked him again before he left the room.

"Ah, I forgot to ask his name...."

Then again, I don't think it matters whether I know his name or not. I am just a bit surprised that a slave like him take initiative in helping person besides his master.

"Well, let's do this..."

I take a small towel that was meant for wiping my body.

.....

....

...

After that, I change to the stolen clothes and meet with Sylphie and Ekirschteria outside of the room. I decide to follow them to the same church from yesterday.

At church, I don't participate in the sermon since I'm not a follower of any religion. I was advised to join once few years ago but the church of this world have some ominous thing that I just can't help but to be wary of.

There are quite lots of people from different races inside the church. Sylphie is talking with the mass during the sermon while Ekirschteria is watching at silently behind her. For the final prayer, Sylphie and the mass clasp their hands to pray.

And it happens... balls of light coming out from every single prayers inside the church. The balls float up to the church's ceiling and disappear. The only people that does not have lights coming out from are Sylphie, Ekirschteria and me.

I heard that the church uses special magic to bring out negative desires from the prayers. The only people that are not affected by this magic are Sylphie, Ekirschteria and me.

The lights are supposed to be the negative emotions that was drawn out from people.... After that, the prayers will feel relieved and be freed from their negatives emotions.

.... magic that control people's emotion is actually banned by law no matter which continent we are in. But for some reason, this special magic is exempted from that rule as long as it is used for religious purpose. I can see the formula of that magic. But as expected, I understand nothing whenever I see that formula. And those floating balls of light... they are not mana, that's what my mana sense tells me. If they really are indeed emotion from people, than this magic is really dangerous from my perspective. That's why I avoid going into church all this time.

My knowledge about magic formula is still fairly limited, but I doubt that I can find books out there that will help me comprehend this magic formula.

After the sermon, Sylphie asked me to have breakfast with them so I accepted. Though it is just to finish the leftover milk breads on the bench outside the church.... since the milk bread is good, I won't complain.

During the breakfast, Sylphie suddenly ask a question.

"Shion, what will you do now?"

"Hm?"

I stop eating my milk bread and look at her.

"Tomorrow, we will go to other town perform sermon as usual. Kir-san and I are both free after this. So I think that we might as well help you today."

"H-help?"

I replied with a surprised tone. I am starting to think that this girl is too kind for her own good. But she continue to talk despite my surprised reply.

"I remember that you wanted to be adventurer right? Then you need to go to this town's guild."

Well, that is a given. Adventurer needs to be registered by the guild to become an official one.

"After that hmm.... what should we do, Kir-san?"

Sylphie said that while looking at Ekirschteria who has never touch any of the bread until now.

I thought he shall use his fingerspelling again. But he brinf out a small notebook and a pencil from his pocket instead. Then he start writing something. Then he show both Sylphie and me what he just wrote on the small notebook.

"You must first pass a test."

"A test..."

I replied with a serious tone. I am also well aware that people usually need to pass a test before becoming an adventurer. However, each of the guilds have their own ways of testing the adventurer candidates. I only know about the guild in Boorash Town so I'm not sure whether the guild in this town will have the similar test or not.

Then I need more info about this test. I decide to ask Ekirschteria more.

"What kind of test it is?"

.....

....

...

And then three of us walked and arrived in front of the guild after the discussion.

The guild.... looks like a building coming out from a cowboy movie....

It has two floors, and the building seems to be made from woods. The door is an old western swinging saloon door.

I can hear people's laughter from inside. Ugh, now I don't feel like going in anymore.

When we enter the room, many adults who wears various equipments look at us. Or to be more precise, the purple knight besides me. Thank goodness this guy stands out a lot. I can avoid most of the stares because of him.

Three of us continue to walk to the guild receptionist. A blonde elf woman that somehow reminds me of Kaina.

Sylphie greets the receptionist lady with a smile.

"Excuse me. I would like to register a person as an adventurer."

"Welcome to the Liasr Guild. Who is the person who wants to register?"

The elf woman's tone is a bit unfriendly.

Anyway, I move to the front. The one who will register is me after all. So I at least need to introduce myself.

"It's me. My name is Shion. I want to register here as adventurer."

"!"

My statement surprised the receptionist lady together with other adventurers inside the guild. I can hear various comments from the adventurers.

"Register as an adventurer? That kid?"

"Seriously?"

That was expected. Nevertheless, I won't back down.

The receptionist lady immediately regains her composure and talks to me instead of Sylphie.

"Understood. There are three tests available to become an adventurer. Fighting Test, Knowledge Test and Craft Test. Which one would you like to take?"

Here it comes. Just like what Ekirschteria sai-.. I meant wrote.

Fighting test will ask me to fight one of adventurer to analyse my ability. I don't have to necessarily win to be recognised but it's still not a compatible test for me.

Knowledge test will ask me to do a written exam to test my intelligence. The subject of the exam will be related to adventurer's job. But I'm not that familiar with that job yet.

That leaves....

"I shall take Craft quest."

"Understood."

The receptionist lady hands over a written paper to me.

"Please do the instruction written on that paper. Once you passed the test, the person in charge shall put the stamp on that paper as the proof of your achievement."

I take the paper and look at it. In summary, I need to go to a certain item shop in this town and create a potion there by using alchemy. The passing condition will be when the item shop owner determine that the quality of the potion I made is good enough to receive the approval.

Sylphie said that she knows where the item shop is. So I follow her outside.

We arrive at the item shop called "Beard Phalanx" after 5 minutes walk. Strange name aside, three of us enter the store.

Just like the exterior of the building, the interior of this building is also made of woods. There are also so many shelves filled with various items. The items vary from potions to accessories.

Then we spot an almost-bald old man reading a book. I can't see him clearly from the entrance though.

That old man notice us and put the book away.

"Customers huh. Welcome."

Sylphie replies with a smile.

"I'm sorry but we're not here as customer today. There is someone who wants to take the Craft Quest."

"Craft test? Who?"

After the old man asked, I walk to the front once again and get the same surprised reaction.

After some explanation, the old man start climbing the table and stand there- wait.

I suddenly see the old man's small body standing on the table which is not what I expected from the size of his head.

"What's wrong, little girl? You seemed surprised like you never see a halfling before."

The body of that old man is actually half my height. Halfling... from what I learnt, it's a race that looks like human but smaller in size. This is my first time seeing one so it can't be helped if I'm making a dumbfounded face right now. The halfling old man looks satisfied with my surprised face and continues talking.

"Your name is Shion right? My name is Pepprica Phalanx. You can call me Pep, little girl."

He starts treating me like a kid... well, I am a kid right now...

"So you want to take Craft quest? Then...."

Pep walks over to the entrance of the shop and put it the "closed" sign on the entrance door outside. Sylphie sounds concerned and ask him a question.

"Uhh... is it fine to suddenly close your shop?"

"It's fine. No one gonna come except you guys anyway. Follow me."

After replying nonchalantly, Pep walks to the back of the shop while we are following him.

Behind the shop, there are few rooms. He opens one of them and it shows a workshop full of herbs and bottles of various potions.

"You only get 3 attempts. Feel free to use whatever materials and equipments here. More like, you can only use the materials and equipments provided by this room. The time limit is until 9 p.m."

After saying that, Pep looks at both Sylphie and Ekirschteria.

"And you two, this is obvious but I'll say this just in case. Don't help her in this exam. This is supposed to be the exam that evaluates her individual skill."

After hearing Pep's sudden serious tone, Sylphie says "Understood" while Ekirschteria just nod at Pep.

I walked inside the room alone while others are watching me from behind. The last time I saw the clock from the guild is at around 10.30 a.m..

That is a long time before the time limit of this test. So long that I can't help but to think that this test is suspicious...

My suspicion is proven to be right at the moment I saw the herbs inside this room.