《Ninth World Lia's Struggle》ch 40
Advertisement
As we approached Olandel I realized something very important, as of now I am completely penny less, I don't have a single miserable copper coin to my name! This will become an issue since most big towns have a toll for entry. Adventurers and merchants are exempted from said toll since the Liberty Association pays for them in advance, for that same reason the Liberty Association collects fees from the adventurers work. It's a good system I must admit but now that I have lost my adventurer's card I will need to pay the toll, well, even if I still had my card it would be useless since by now it has expired.
Adventurers have a quota that they have to keep depending on their rank. The higher the rank the more leeway you get. For example, an F ranker needs to complete at least one quest per month while an A ranker can go a year scot-free, S ranker's registration never expires so that's that. In my case, I was a D ranker which means I had a four-month leeway, so yea it has definitely expired.
Wondering about how to fix this little problem of my I glanced at the group walking beside me. I have a few monster parts in my hand made rug sack, I might be able to sell this to them and get enough for the entry toll. After that, I will re-register on the guild, it will be a bother to start again from F rank but nothing I can do about it.
"Hey, Isa, You see I lost most of my stuff after the incident that sent mo to the maze forest, so I don't have any money. I was thinking of selling what I have in my sack to the guild but I will need money for the toll so how about it? want to buy something? I will sell it for the value of the toll entry, what do you say?"
Isabella glanced at the rug sack on my back as I took it off while opening it. Inside I had some monster parts that I thought might sell well like the black viper's poison gland or the fangs and claws of the wobeli among others. As soon as I opened the sack everyone took a glance inside only to open their eyes wide open, glints of greed could be seen in those eyes.
"Any of this? All of this is of super high value! I could never take something this valuable for just some miserable copper coins!"
Isa was having a hard time saying those words as her eyes were unable to move away from the loot. I had an internal laugh, it was obvious she was trying her best to be righteous but the greed in her eyes betrayed her. Well, it's not like I care, I can hunt more later anyway.
"Then think of it as thanks for guiding me here"
"Even so this is too much! Moreover, you saved us! twice! guiding you to town is the least we could do"
This is getting complicated, I just want some pocket money to enter the town, what use is a fortune if you can't spend it! With a sigh, I began to think of a way to convince her.
Advertisement
"just take it okay, I don't mind, this has little to no value for me right now"
"That is, is it really okay? really?"
I just nodded with a somewhat tired expression. Dealing with people has never been my forte so I was starting to get fatigued from this exchange. After a little more convincing I got a gold coin in exchange for the black viper's gland. The toll is only twenty copper coins, but they insisted to give me at least this much otherwise they couldn't cope with the guilt or so they said.
A while later I was in line for entry. Isa and the others went to the line for adventurers so this is where we separated. As I waited for my turn I couldn't help but admire the walls of this town that were far taller and sturdier looking than those in Ingracia, if I had to guess this town is around twice Ingracia's size maybe more. The wait was long as the line advanced slowly, I spent a good amount of time wondering why but when it was finally my turn I understood the reason.
The guards were thorough in their inspections. As I am armed right now they looked at me with suspicion while asking many questions, some I answered with the truth others with lies since there are things I would rather not say. In the end, I was granted access with a warning to not cause any trouble. It was tedious and I felt the urge to just ignore them and walk in as if I own the place but I resisted and pushed though with will power. Really half an hour of questioning is too long!
As I sighed while walking towards the location of the guild I came to realize that unlike Ignacia there were a lot of people from the allied species. Thinking about the map I guess its normal since this kingdom shares borders with two kingdoms of the other races, Wait! Are the other races even ruled by kings? because if that isn't the case they wouldn't be kingdoms would they.
While I kept thinking of this and that I kept walking and after a few wrong turns alongside asking people for directions I reached the Adventurers guild! The place was big, bigger than Ingracia's, I guess it is to be expected from a town that is also bigger than that place. From the outside, I can tell it has at the very least three floors, who knows if there are underground floors too.
Walking inside I was assaulted by the smell of alcohol and food, looks like this place is also more disorderly than ingracia's. Glancing around I spotted the receptionist's counters so I made my way towards them, being careful to pick the one that said registration and management. While making my way towards them I heard I few rude comments here and there that were directed at me but I just ignored, the weak only know how to talk but never how to fight.
"Hello there, how may I help you today"
With a bright smile, the male receptionist greeted me. A young handsome man with a slim yet slightly muscular build, black hair with chocolate eyes, couple all this with the smile he was displaying any young girl would fall in love with a melted heart in an instant. Well, I just thought he is good looking and nothing else, I have never been someone romantic or for that matter, I have never fallen in love. Back on topic, I explained about my situation after which he gave me the form to fill.
Advertisement
"Hey missy, this isn't a place to play. Much less with such a shady attire, I bet you are just a begar that got her hands on some stolen weapons and thought she could become an adventurer"
From behind, I heard a deep husky voice which of course I ignored as I continued to fill the form. As of now, I was done with about half of it and I am not in the mood to deal with trash, however, the guy had other things in mind.
"You b*tch, you should respond when people talk to you!"
He grabbed my shoulder and forcefully made me spin to look at him. Well, if I wanted, with my strength I could have resisted and he wouldn't be able to make me move an inch but now I was pissed since he had dared place his filthy hands on me!
"Well, you are right, but you are trash, in that case since you aren't people I have no reason to respond to you"
Angered the man tried to punch me in the face which was what I was looking for. In an instant, I ducked below his arm and landed a punch of my own on his gut. I was being careful in controlling my strength otherwise there was the possibility of punching right through his gut. In the next instant, the man was sent flying a few meters away from me and so I turned around with the disposition to continue filling the form.
Really is my life a book or something. This is the cliche encounter in the guild were a dumb veteran adventurer with bandit syndrome attacks the new guy or girl only to get his ass handed to him. With a sigh, I began looking for the part of the form I had left of only to hear a scream filled with rage coming from behind.
"I will f*cking kill you!"
"Watch out!"
The warning came from the gentleman behind the counter as he pointed behind me, however at this point I didn't care what that idiot did. Even if he where to cut my head of it would be fruitless, how do I know? let's just say that it has happened before inside the forest. A mantis looking beast took me by surprise and beheaded me, to tell the truth, I was scared sh*tless, but the bandages in my arm worked almost by instinct and reattached my head before I could even comprehend what had just happened.
As I was going on and on about this and that inside my head I felt a sharp pain going from my left shoulder towards my torso. Yup, this idiot had cut me, as such he has signed his own death sentence. In an instant, after I felt the pain with practised movements I turned around kicking him in the gut sending him flying once more. However, unlike last time, before he could go too far I grabbed his left leg whit my right arm and slammed him into the ground with enough force to crack the stone floor.
Silence, It was deafening. The entire place became as silent as a graveyard at night but I didn't care, my little combo wasn't over just yet. Controlling the bandages on my left arm I retrieved the cutlass that was in my chest and pointed it at the man on the floor, aiming it at his heart.
"Idiots always die young. You should have learned how to read your opponent's strength if you want to go bulling people around otherwise you will end up biting more than you can chew. The end result of your idiocy is this, now go reflect in hell"
As I finished I begun to thrust the cutlass downwards with the intention to take his life. However.
"Wait!"
I stopped. I presented with a strong aura had appeared from the stairs. This person is strong to say the least, that much I could tell from his toned and muscular body and the aura of experience that oozed out from the way he carried himself.
"And who might you be?"
"My name is Alistar von Austin, the current guild master of this branch of the Liberty Association"
"I see, well, I guess I should show face to the guild master so I won't kill him. However"
In a swift motion, I cut the guys right arm from the elbow, this arm was the one he had used to swing the cutlass at me. After that, I caught the arm with my left hand and set it on fire with Pyrkas black flames, an instant was all it took for the arm to disappear into nothingness.
"But I will be taking the arm he used to offend me, by the way, you should take him to the medic bay. I won't take responsibility if he bleeds to death"
With those words, I turned around to continue filling the form, however, it now has a large bloodstain from the time I had been cut. As of now the injury I had received was gone but that stain annoyed me.
"Excuse me but, it seems the form got ruined, sorry, could I ask for a new one?"
The receptionist had an expression filled with terror as he glanced back and forth between the form, me, the place the injury had been, and the guild master. From the side of my vision, I saw the guild master give a slight nod before calling to another worker to give orders to. The poor guy in front of me started to talk in broken sentences that made no sense as he sweated buckets of cold sweat.
"Relax, just breath in and out. We won't get anywhere if you are this nervous"
To tell the truth I found it a bit cute how he trembled like a scared mouse. It took a while but he was able to calm his nerves a bit after which we continued with the procedure. After that everything went smoothly and in less than half an hour I had my new guild card. Now to get some quests and set off to adventure!
Advertisement
Tales of Destiny
A collection of short stories set in the same world as Forge of Destiny. Some are in universe stories or fairy tales, same are more traditional short stories. All of them are topics chosen by my patrons. Stories in progress can be found on my Discord, which can be found at the end of any chapter of the main story. This anthology will contain completed stories after they have remained exclusive for one month.
8 200War of the gods [Forum game]
Build this story with Great, Handsome, and Smart god! Help him to make this world a better place for humanity! Join the Good Side! Or show your corrupted and ungrateful nature and join the Evil Side! A choice is yours, potential reader! But before you will decide, just think! Do you want humanity to thrive or you will give innocent souls - as sacrifices - to the followers of the evil deity?! Make a right choice, and choose the Good Side! In this story you can choose or offer your own choice in the latest chapter. I – good and humble author – will analyze (like a real AI (that's cool, I know!)) your choices and offers and will formulate a command. Then I will write a next chapter. Guys, sounds great? In this story you need to guide MC in the new world! Help or fool him! A choice is yours! Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images on Pixabay Instruction. Choose an option you like in the latest chapter and copy it in the comments. An example: (Your nickname) whispers: [copy here an option you like] Attention! You can write your own choice. An example: (Your nickname) whispers: [Wolves! Wolves are attacking you! Run, man! Run!]
8 110From NPC to villain
This story is told on behalf of the characters who live in the game. The storyline tells the story of Alme, a girl working in the guild.
8 331A Ten Pound Bag
A serial saga with short chapters published each and every morning to read over your coffee or tea. This is a "versus life" story with no great evil to face just life in a hard place during a hard time. Our hero and his companions get catapulted back in time and must find a way to not only survive but prosper. This story is definitely "R" rated maybe even NC-17 but don't expect explosions, blood and orgasms at every page turn. Bad words and uncomfortable topics are addressed in this story, this is not for every reader. This is a technical story and develops slowly at first, full technical details, maps and research are available over on Patreon. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I am. -Emmeran
8 222Heathens in Us (First Draft)
Have you ever lost control? Had a moment where you acted purely on impulse? When the devil on your shoulder whispers in your ear, it can be hard to ignore. What if it was real? Detective Scott Hanes is out to find the truth after a bloody rage caused the death of his wife. Now he has to uncover the truth while blurring the lines of reality. Follow him as he clears his name. Or damns it.
8 165Azure Chronicles
After a catastrophe on the night of the Azure Moon, crystals and gems known as Azure Gems started to appear all around the globe. These gems have been highly sort after over the many millennia for their immense power. However, in recent years, people have become wary of owning or even being near one of these gems. This is due to the actions of a group of infamous thieves that have made it their sole mission to collect all the Azure Gems. These three thieves are known as the Phantom of Omen, the Reaper of Judgment and the Spectre of Insight.
8 74