Since I am back to having limited savings, I decide it is time to check out the wyvern culling mission that I have been recommended. As usual, Kira joins me in the walk to the guild. She is always on the look out for jobs that suit her skill set. "Do you want to come along for the wyvern culling mission?" Kira doesn't seem surprised that I ask, though she has never suggest she would join me if I went. "I would rather not. It is too dangerous. When you start killing their babies, the adult wyverns show up, and I got no chance against them. I am not worried about you though."

Makes sense that this mission would pay well. As I am deep in thought Kira reveals why she joined me for the walk to town. "So last time we had a chat one on one." She hesitates to chose her words. I really hope we aren't going to start discussing slavery again. "You mentioned that you came from a different world. What do you mean by that? Another country, another continent or something else?" I might have used the word different world in our last conversation. She must be dying to know what I meant by that.

"The last option." Kira's look tells me that she won't believe me unless I give her more. "Before I met you and the girls, I spent a few months in the wilderness on my own, surviving and learning to be a hunter. Before that I was in a very different world without magic and beasts. In that world my line of work was more in line with what guild workers do. Physical strength was less important than mental strength. The best way to describe what I was before coming here in terms you understand, is to say that I was a scholar in my old life. There is a lot more I could explain, but it will take a lot longer than our short walk."

Kira seems to believe me, but she seems less interested in my world, and more interest in my personal life back in that world. Her final question is the big one. "How did you get here?" The answer is quite simple. "I don't have a clue." Kira accepts my answer. She knows that there are plenty of things in life without good answers. A less wise person might grab onto a simple answer rather than accept that the world is complicated and there are a lot fewer answers than questions.

As I enter the guild one of the receptionists provides information on the wyvern culling taking place in just over a week. To my disappointment she seems to think I have decided to go too late. Due the lack of a direct carriage route heading directly south I will have to take several different carriages to get to the southern swamp. The distance will be more than twice what it would be if I just headed straight south. Using one of the recommended carriage routes and leaving this afternoon will take me close to two weeks. "You would be better buying a horse and riding directly south, though you would have to rest the horse from time to time, you should be able to make it just in time."

I don't really have the spare cash for a horse at the moment. I suspect they cost a lot, but I could look into it. It then hits me how dependent I have become of being ferried around by carriages. If a horse can make it in time, I can certainly make it if I just run. The old me would have laughed at prospect of distance racing a horse, but I remember reading about ultra-runners racing horse riders. My current body is far stronger than any ultra-runner in my old world. I should easily get there in time. "I think I will just run there." The receptionist seems to have no trouble believing me, but she still seems surprised.

"If you run directly south from here the guild actually got a request for you. I was going to ask you if you planned to ride there, but if you are running it would be the same outcome." Wonder what this request is. "What do you have for me?" "A couple of days on horseback directly south of here is a small town in the interior of the kingdom. It isn't close to any major guild branch so we have received a request to send a higher ranked hunter for a beatdown. Rank C or up is enough so long as the person has experience with fist fighting. I have seen you in the arena, you should do fine in the role."

"Are you sure you don't want to run this by Marka." I never got the impression the head receptionist had a high opinion of me. Beatdowns are supposed to be done by trusted members. "Don't underestimate how highly Marka regards you." She seems to have read my mind scarily accurate. "I guess I can sort it out." Won't hurt my trust ranking. Shows I am a team player I guess.

"Actually I have been wanting to know what actually merits a beatdown. I wouldn't want to do something that the guild disproves of and deserve a beatdown, but no one seems to know what the rules are." The receptionist actually bursts out laughing. "You have nothing to worry about. Everyone knows you are straight guy." Really? "Even after shaking down those money lenders?" The receptionist grins and explains. "The fact that you went straight to the guild to tell us what you did and why says a lot about why you are not in trouble with the guild. No doubt you thought you had to ask for permission to beat up some crooks. You don't. As far as the guild is concerned you raised the standing of the guild by dealing with a shady business."

Taking a break to gather her thoughts, the girl continues her explanation. "I guess if you want some guideline then they would be as follows: don't cause problems for guild staff, or business partners of the guild. You can add to that don't steal or kill without a good reason." I can kill and not get in trouble? Guess life is cheap in this world. "So don't kill a guild worker, me in particular, and you should be fine." "Not exactly a high standard you are giving me here."

Looks like I am really amusing this girl with my questions. "True, but the guild is more interested in general principals than rules. The overarching principal is; will your actions hurt the standing of the guild with good folk. Be a bit more careful with nobles, but if you come across some low-lives you can pretty much do whatever you feel like. Also, if you kill anyone in self-defense, you will never face consequences provided you cooperate with the investigation." This place really is the wild west.

"What has earned this hunter a beatdown?" I still want to know more, not that I would want to go against a guild judgment, I am just curious. "I don't know the details, but apparently this hunter has caused trouble at the guild branch and generally made it an unpleasant place to be. Most hunters who earn a beating does so by generally misbehaving. Fighting, bullying, stealing or generally just acting like a crook." "Isn't that what you said would not land me in trouble?" I am a bit confused by the lack of clarity.

"We don't allow crooks to be part of the guild, but many young hunters don't know better, so they need a beating to set them straight. For example, looks like that young hunter over there is chatting up your wife despite her crest being clearly visible." Looking to were she is pointing I see a young man trying and failing to have a conversation with Kira. "If he got a bit hands on or violent what would you do?" The answer seems obvious to me. "I would grab him by the collar and drag him to the arena for a beating." The receptionist seems amused, but not surprised by my answer. "That is what the guild does for those who do not have someone to look after them."

Seems like there is a rule for the people of the guild and another much harsher rule for those outside the guild. The guild really acts like a family. Rotten eggs are dealt with to not spoil the omelette. Kira seems to finally have lost the persistent admirer. She wanders over to me. "You never told me you had so many admirers." Kira looks more annoyed than amused by my comment. "Would you like me to give him a beating?" She finally smiles but shakes her head.

As I get ready to leave the guild I casually bump into Kira's admirer. My analyze skill tells me he is an E rank hunter with limited skills other than his charm. As he faces me to give me a piece of his mind for bumping into him, he hesitates and I take the initiative. "Ahh, I remember you. You were trying to chat up that readhead with the marriage crest. You did see the crest right?" He stutters, but nothing comes out. Showing him the matching crest on the back of my own hand his eyes widen. "Yes, I am Kira's husband. Now I hope you won't do anything funny while I am off to do a beatdown for the guild."After a hurried apology the young man flees. As I turn to look for Kira, I find her standing with the receptionist. Both of them are just grinning.