“And that’s everything I’ve learned so far.” Yamato concluded.

They were standing on a small bridge above a tributary and Yamato was informing Sakuta and Fumiko of what he’d discovered about Fortuna. According to him, the city was located in the kingdom of Altear, though they both knew that much already. It had almost one million denizens currently residing within it, so it went without saying that it was a rather large city. Fortuna was split into three districts for the rich, the middle-class and the poor.

A king by the name of Osbert ruled over Altear, and he lived here in the city, in a keep that was inaccessible to the public. He had a wife and two daughters, with another child on the way. According to the people, Osbert was a good and just king.

“Wow, you’ve already learned that much...?” Sakuta was impressed.

Yamato laughed sheepishly. “I asked around. Some of the people were kind enough to tell me what I needed to know. Others, not so much, haha...”

“Yummy...” muttered Fumiko. She was eating one of the sandwiches Sakuta had received, and was thoroughly enjoying it too, by the look of it.

Sakuta had decided to share the sandwiches with Yamato and Fumiko, figuring they'd be hungry just like he was.

“It's really good, right?” Sakuta smiled.

“It is. I didn't even realise how hungry I was. Where did you get this?” Yamato asked him.

“There’s a street with a lot of stalls back there. They sell a bunch of things but I didn't have any money. Luckily, the guy gave me these for free.”

“Right, money...” Yamato leaned over the bridge, thinking. “We don't even have a cent, huh? It feels like the more we discover things, the more lost we seem to be.”

Yamato had taken the words right from Sakuta's mouth. He'd felt the exact same way.

“I feel so out of place here...” Fumiko said. “It's scary. I don’t know what to do...”

“It's all right, Fumiko-chan. You can rely on me and Sakuta-kun. I think it’s best if we work together, anyway.”

Fumiko looked back and forth between Sakuta and Yamato. “R-really? I can rely on you two?”

“Of course. You don’t have to be alone. We’ll work things out together. I’m sure we’re all better off that way.” Yamato smiled at her. “Well, I say that but I’m not really sure where to start, either...”

That was when Sakuta recalled what that merchant had told him earlier. “We could stop by one of those trades. Apparently, it's where people like us go.”

“Trades? Is that what the girl at the guild was talking about?”

“Yes. It’s how you train to become an adventurer. From what I've heard, becoming an adventurer is one of the only ways people like us can earn money around here. I was on my way to find one when...when I ran into Fumiko.”

Yamato placed and hand on his chin. “Adventurers, huh? It’s true that we need money to survive. But it sounds dangerous... How do you feel about it, Sakuta-kun?”

“I...don’t know. I know I need money, at least. And we did take those badges earlier. It almost feels like we don’t have a choice at this point...”

“I guess you’re right...” Yamato looked at Fumiko. “You don’t have to become an adventurer if you don’t want, Fumiko-chan. It might be a dangerous job. Me and Sakuta-kun will look after you.”

Fumiko looked down, then shook her head. “N-no... I’ll be an adventurer, too. I don’t want let you guys do everything. I-I'll do my part.”

“You sure?”

She nodded her head.

“Then I guess it’s settled. Our first priority is finding a trade. We can split up for now and meet up again afterwards. Sound good?”

Sakuta nodded and Fumiko did the same, although a bit reluctant.

And so, their paths were decided.

Sakuta now found himself wandering, searching for a trade that he could join. Yamato and Fumiko had left his company to go seek their own trade and Sakuta was tasked with the same thing.

He’d been walking around for some time now and none of what he’d found stood out to him. There were four Adventurers’ Trades in total: The Warrior's Trade, Attacker's Trade, Spellcaster's Trade, and Priest's Trade. Each of them had various professions--commonly known as classes--under them that one could choose between.

Despite so many options, Sakuta didn’t know which trade to join, let alone which profession he wanted. There were plenty of options, and that was a problem for him because he wasn’t too confident in his ability to decide on his own.

Sakuta’s first stop was the Paladin Profession under the Warrior’s Trade but he didn’t get far because Yamato was already there and there was no point having two types of professions in the same group.

Sakuta’s second option was the Barbarian profession also under the Warrior’s Trade. He immediately rejected that one upon seeing the type of people queued up to join it. They were far bigger and stronger than he. All of the other trades went along those same lines of Sakuta not feeling confident enough to join them.

It was nearing sundown now and Sakuta was still mindlessly dragging around. At this rate, I won’t join anything... Maybe I should just pick whatever and stick with it. Yamato has already found his and I’m sure Fumiko has as well. I’m pretty sure I’m the last one...

Sakuta was ready to just choose whichever trade he stumbled upon next and be done with it. As long as he just joined one, he was sure everything would work out. Maybe.

What if it didn’t? I mean, I don’t fully understand why I’m joining these trades anyway. Apparently, it’s so we can survive in this world? I don’t really get it.

But I’m here now and I don’t have much choice. I promised Yamato and Fumiko that I would join one.

Hey, you!” a voice suddenly called out.

Sakuta stopped in his tracks. He wasn’t sure it was talking to him but he looked around anyway. He saw a woman with short, brown hair and brown eyes standing in front of a big warehouse-like building.

“Me?” Sakuta pointed to himself.

“Mhm! You. I don’t see anyone else around. Come over here.” The woman gestured him over.

Sakuta was reluctant at first. He looked at the woman. She seemed trustworthy enough. At least, she didn’t look sketchy. Reluctantly, he walked towards her.

“What's your name?” she asked him.

“It’s Sakuta...”

The woman placed a hand on her chin and began examining Sakuta. “Sakuta, hm...?” she murmured.

This action left Sakuta uncomfortable and confused. “Huh...?”

“You caught my attention earlier today, Sakuta,” she said, still looking at his body.

“E-earlier...?”

“The way you stepped up to help that girl.”

She was talking about that incident with Fumiko. But Sakuta didn’t recall seeing this lady. “You were there...?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“And you didn’t do anything?”

“I was going to. Well, I wasn’t going to let them do anything to the girl. But then you stepped in, so I watched. If things got too out of hand, then I would’ve intervened.”

“I see...”

But Sakuta got beaten up quite a bit. Wasn’t that out of hand already? he wondered.

“Still,” the lady regarded Sakuta with interest. “I didn’t think someone like you had it in them to do something like that. Your kind always seems too passive to do anything.”

Sakuta scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Someone like me, huh?” And what did she mean by “his kind”?

“Someone as scrawny and doesn’t stand out much as you. I mean, I doubt I would have ever noticed you if it wasn’t for that.”

“Gee, thanks...”

“But it’s fine. Scrawny is good. I can work with scrawny.” The lady then raised Sakuta's arms high and poked at his stomach. “You’re not very fit, are you?”

“Eh...? No... Sorry...”

“Hm...” The lady continued measuring his body for whatever reason. When she finally stopped, she put her fingers on her chin and looked to think deeply about something.

Sakuta was standing there, lost and confused. “Who are you, anyway? And what’s all this for?”

“That’s it! I’ve decided!” She suddenly clapped her hands together. “You are going to join my profession! Congratulations! I don’t often recruit people, so feel honoured, okay?”

“Huh...?” Sakuta was dumbfounded. He blinked a few times before asking, “Your profession? You’re under a trade? Like, in the Adventurers' Guild?”

“Precisely! Specifically, the Attacker's Trade. I run the Myrmidon profession.”

Sakuta was still struggling to see where he fit in. “And you want me to join? Why?”

“You’re perfect! I’ve decided that I can make great use out of you, Sakuta. Someone like you doesn’t come around often, you know?”

“Someone like me...?”

“Yes, someone like you. So, what will it be? Will you join the Myrmidon’s profession?”

Sakuta gave it a moment’s thought. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Sakuta got the feeling that if he didn’t accept this offer here and now, then he would have a difficult time finding something else. So, with that in mind, Sakuta looked back up at the lady before him and nodded.

“Great!” the lady clapped her hands. “Now, step this way, please.” She opened the doors to the warehouse and gestured for Sakuta to enter. “By the by, his name is Koto. We’re going to have loads of fun together. I promise!”

Sakuta took a deep breath and went inside.