Becoming an Adventurer

Using the "Withdraw Nozomi" command, I made her disappear. I picked up the wooden plate and handed it to the innkeeper. After saying my goodbyes, I headed to the guild. Several people were leaving the building excitedly, indicating that they had accepted interesting missions. Inside the guild, everyone seemed lively. Some were drinking, others eating, some were handing in missions at the reception, and others were taking new ones. When Rosie saw me, she greeted me and gestured for me to come closer.

"Hello, Ray," Rosie said with a smile. "You've arrived just in time. Here's your Adventurer ID."

Rosie handed me a small rectangular device that reminded me of a mobile phone. When I held it with both hands, it revealed an information screen displaying various data, including my adventurer rank (currently "F"), the total number of missions completed, the number of monsters defeated, as well as my name, race, statistics, class, and title. As I received it, a message popped up: "You've received the title 'Adventurer.' I'll check it out later.

"This EI, the Electromagic Identifier, will be useful for many things, including proving that you're an adventurer and showing your rank. It allows you to accept missions and tracks your progress. Be careful not to lose it."

"Don't worry, I'll treasure it as if it were my soul."

"Good. So, would you like to accept a mission? You can only accept missions of your rank or one rank above yours. Since you're not wearing any equipment, I'd recommend an F-rank gathering mission."

"Can you tell me about all the available missions?"

"Of course, I have no problem with that. Currently, there are only two available: 'Collect Medicinal Plants' and 'Defeat Blue Slimes.' Both can be completed not far from here, in the 'Great Brieze Prairie.' You'll find plenty of both there."

"So, the person who requested the mission can't go? I mean, for the plant-gathering one."

"Lately, there's been an increase in the number of monsters. It's risky to go out without an escort, and it's cheaper to request the guild's help than to pay someone to protect you."

"I understand. In that case, I accept both missions."

"Huh, you should reconsider accepting the slime-hunting mission. Blue slimes can be dangerous if you don't know how to defeat them, especially without equipment."

"Don't worry, I'm more capable than I appear. I'll come back in one piece, I promise."

Rosie sighed. "Alright, let me borrow your EI for a moment." I handed my EI to Rosie, and she swiped a card over it before giving it back. "Done, both missions have been accepted. When you finish them, hand over your IE to any adventurer guild receptionist, and they'll give you your reward."

"Sounds simple."

I glanced at the EI's screen again. Now there was a new section labeled "Available Missions," and I saw the two missions I had just accepted: "Defeat five Blue Slimes" and "Collect ten Medicinal Plants." The first mission rewarded me with 50 grim, and the second with 130 grim. It seems like an easy way to earn some money.

"Good luck on your first mission, Ray, and be very careful. If you feel your life is in danger, run like there's no tomorrow."

"I know, I know. I'll be very cautious."

I gave her a sincere smile and left the guild. My goal was to leave the city and start hunting slimes, although I'm quite nervous. I don't know what battles will be like in this world, and besides, I'm going to hunt Nozomi's cousins.

"Nozomi, don't you mind hunting other slimes?"

"Even though we're from the same species, I belong to a different race from the blue slimes. Besides, they're dangerous to my master."

"Do other blood slimes not attack humans?"

"We're pacifists, we live peacefully and flee if someone tries to attack us. But because of that, there are very few of us left."

Typical humans, hunting defenseless species for their own benefit. We're not so different from the monsters. When I left the city, I decided to head north to explore new areas of this "Great Brieze Prairie." Meanwhile, I read about the title "Adventurer": "Adventurer: Title received by all those who receive an IE from the adventurer guild. It doesn't grant any special improvements, don't get your hopes up." Well, I'll equip it anyway.

"Master, you don't know what a medicinal plant looks like, right?"

I was so excited about my first missions that I had forgotten I had no idea what a medicinal plant looked like.

"I would be lying if I said I did."

"Don't worry; if I see any, I'll let you know."

"Thanks a lot."

I think, thanks to Nozomi, I'll survive longer in this world.

After walking for about ten minutes without finding anything, I reached a small lake surrounded by several trees. It was there that I encountered the first blue slime, and therefore, my first enemy in this world. The creature didn't differ much from Nozomi, except for the color and the fact that its pupils were black instead of Nozomi's emerald green. As soon as the slime noticed me, it stared at me ferociously.

"Master, be careful. The slime is about to attack. You should summon me"

"Understood, 'Summon Nozomi.'"

Just like in the inn room, Nozomi appeared with that dark purple flash. The enemy slime didn't hesitate and lunged at me, but Nozomi blocked the attack with her body.

"Slimes are resistant to damage due to our passive ability. Mine is at level 5, so the weak attack from the slime didn't hurt me much, and my regeneration can heal it."

It's true, her HP only decreased by 2, and she quickly healed.

"Impressive."

-"he good thing is, blue slimes don't have any magic or passive regeneration. So you can physically attack them even though it might take a while"

The blue slime changed its target; now it was attacking Nozomi, but she easily dodged its attacks. I took the opportunity to kick it; my foot sank into its gelatinous body. The blow didn't seem to do any damage at all, but the worst part came next: I couldn't get the slime off my foot. It was stuck there.

"Oh, that doesn't look good. Slimes dissolve anything that enters our bodies over time. You should get it off as soon as possible."

Now that she mentioned it, I started feeling a painful sensation in my foot. My shoe was dissolving.

"I'm trying to get it off, but it won't come loose!"

The pain in my foot increased. I didn't want to end up limping after my first adventure, but a red ball struck the slime, causing an explosion of blood, and the slime came off my foot and flew away. It seemed to be dead, but my shoe was ruined. I checked my HP; I had 255 left. It could have been worse, but this incident highlighted my helplessness in a fight.

"Are you alright, Master?"

"Yeah, thanks to you. But I think I'll stay out of battles until I get some weapons or equipment. Can you handle the fighting for us?"

"No problem."

We reached the lake's shore, and I decided to leave Nozomi outside in case of any surprise attacks. Once we complete the mission, the first thing I'll buy is a new shoe. I can't wander around almost barefoot.

"Master, there are quite a few medicinal plants around here."

While lost in my thoughts, Nozomi had found several plants no more than twenty centimeters tall, with serrated leaves and small red fruits.

"Wow, there are fifteen here. That's more than enough."

"Yes! Now we just need to defeat four more slimes."

Since I didn't have a backpack or bag, I tried to cram the plants into my pocket as best as I could.

A message appeared: "Mission Complete." Perfect, now we just need the slimes to appear.

About half an hour later, we managed to defeat the four remaining slimes. The impact of Nozomi's attacks killed them instantly. It was a piece of cake. Three messages appeared: "Mission Complete," "You've leveled up," and "Nozomi has leveled up." Oh, I had forgotten to check the experience I received from killing a slime. It's probably around ten experience points per slime. Upon leveling up, my stats increased, as did the experience required to reach level three. The same was true for Nozomi. All my stats increased by 2, except for luck, which didn't change at all. Nozomi's stats all went up by 5, giving me an additional 2 points. We're going to be really strong once we reach higher levels.

"That was fun."

"Even though I barely did anything..."

"Uh, sorry..."

"It's alright. Without weapons and equipment, I'm completely useless. We should go back and buy something so I can defend myself and fight alongside you, okay?"

"Yes, it must be a priority. The inn and meals cost 100 grim, right?"

"Yes, deducting the cost, we've earned 80 grim today. I have 580 now. If we do the same missions every day, we can easily stay at the inn and eat for 5 days without any issues, and we'd still make a profit."

"That's why I think you should buy equipment when we get to the city. I know I can handle everything, and I don't mind it, actually, but I didn't like the expression on your face when you couldn't get the slime off..."

"I'm sorry for that. I don't like feeling helpless. I'll buy some weapons or something, and we'll fight together, okay?"

"Sure, but I don't want you to get hurt, still..."

"I'll be careful."