Chapter 4
THE MORNING after registering with the Mages’ Guild, Mira had a crisis on her hands.
She found herself sitting on her bed with the top half of her body exposed, trying and failing to figure out how to put on her bra. Lily, her attendant at the palace, had fitted her for the diabolical piece of clothing and clipped it onto her small frame with no trouble at all. Mira, on the other hand, was at a loss to understand how the accursed thing worked. She’d been ready to get her day started and was irritated that a piece of lingerie was proving to be the fiercest opponent she’d faced since arriving back in Alcait.
“Well, this just doesn’t make any sense!” she exclaimed after struggling with the article of clothing for a while.
Finally, she gave up. The maidservants had warned of chafing and pain if she failed to wear the garment—but this was clearly an unwinnable battle. Mira flung the bra onto her bed before pulling her sleeveless top over her head in defeat.
She still emerged from her suite in time to have breakfast with Garrett. His business at Fort Karanak was complete, but as evidenced by the small package he carried, he had other duties to attend to for the day. Mira sipped at her banana au lait as her thoughts drifted back to her own mission.
Commonly known as the catacombs, the Ancient Temple Nebrapolis comprised six levels that progressed deeper and deeper beneath the surface. It had been carved out of a rocky hillside and made for an impressive sight. Large stone statues of gods were carved on the slope. If not for the monsters, it would likely have been a thriving tourist destination.
But as the name implied, the catacombs were swarming with undead monsters. And it was that fact that made it irresistible to a mage like Soul Howl. One of the Nine Wise Men—and self-professed enthusiast of living-dead girls—he was the object of Mira’s current hunt.
Finishing off the last of her drink, Mira sighed and donned her coat before strolling out onto the main street.
Arriving at the Mages’ Guild, she noticed a familiar face. Eurica was hard at work filing paperwork this morning, instead of minding a counter. Despite their limited interaction, Mira still found it easier to approach her rather than engage with a complete stranger.
“Do you have a moment?” Mira asked. Eurica began to put aside the stack of papers she’d been working on.
“Of course, I’ll be right with you.” Then Eurica’s eyes went wide. “Oh… Oh! Miss Mira, good morning! Ah, you’re here for your adventurer’s license, aren’t you?”
“Indeed, is it ready?” Mira asked, boggling at how quickly Eurica could regain her professional composure.
“Yes, yes, it is. Just a moment, please.”
Eurica retrieved a file from the shelves behind the counter before holding out a license that had Mira’s name, class, and rank on it. “This should be it. If you could confirm all the information is spelled correctly, please?”
Mira peered at the laminated card.
Name: Mira
Class: Summoner
And thanks to the letter of recommendation, Rank: C
“Looks correct.”
Opening a drawer, Eurica withdrew a rather simple-looking bracelet and placed it on the table. “Miss Mira, since you are Rank C, you also have the option to rent a User’s Bangle. Would you like one?”
A User’s Bangle… Mira seemed to remember hearing that term before. Seeing it before her, Mira recalled that Captain Astol had called her Control Terminals by that name when she’d run across his Magic-Clad Knights battling goblins on her first day back in this world.
“Hrmm, same as this?” Mira asked as she rolled up her left sleeve to show the bracelet clasped about her thin, pale wrist.
Eurica was stunned for a moment, but she regained her composure once more and nodded in agreement. After all, why shouldn’t the pupil of Danblf have her own User’s Bangle already?
“Indeed, that it is. I see you already have one.”
“Hrmm.”
User’s Bangles were replicas of the original players’ Control Terminals, but they lacked many of the functionalities. The reproductions were largely limited to Item Box access. Even so, the convenience they provided was immeasurable, and the guild would rent sets to adventurers of C-Rank and greater.
With secretive manufacturing techniques, their high production costs made them prohibitively expensive, and adventurers who owned a personal set were few and far between. That Mira possessed a set already was further proof in Eurica’s mind that the girl was the genuine article.
Perking back up, Eurica opened the file and removed a sheet of paper, which she handed to Mira.
“Here’s a summary of your rights and responsibilities as a member of the Mages’ Guild, as well as our bylaws. Each quest is given a rank, and you cannot accept quests that are above your current rank. However, you may join in higher-ranked quests taken by those with an appropriate rank. If you do so, we ask that you sufficiently prepare for the tasks ahead.”
She went on, “Furthermore, the various dungeons have rank-based restrictions. The entry wards are managed by the local guild office, so please inform the guild when you wish to enter. You will be issued a one-time permit that will allow you passage through the ward. Violation of the rules will cause you to be subject to penalties, so please take care.”
Eurica paused her well-rehearsed disclaimer speech. “Do you have any questions about any of this so far?”
“I need to inform the guild, eh?” Mira stroked her chin and thought about the next step in her mission. “I’ll be heading to the catacombs…er, the Ancient Temple Nebrapolis after this. How do I go about getting permission from the guild?”
“Wow! You’re diving right in. Let’s see…” Eurica craned her neck to look down the line of counters. “Dungeon Management is the counter to the far right of the entrance. You can apply for entry permission there.”
“I see.” Mira leaned to confirm the position of the counter in question. Her height and the crowded lobby made it difficult to see, but she spotted the desk past a cluster of people on the right-hand side.
“Finally,” Eurica continued, “usage of basic guild facilities is free, and we offer discounts on food, drink, and other consumables. Damage will result in the repair cost being deducted from future compensation, so please treat our facilities with care.”
Her spiel finished, Eurica pulled something from her pocket, about the same size as the license card. It was a cute pink card case made from leather and embossed with a ribbon and a wand.
“Um, this is a personal present. Please use it to carry your adventurer’s license.”
“S-sure. Thanks.”
It was a bit girly for Mira’s tastes, but Eurica’s wide smile made it impossible to refuse. Mira just nodded politely in acceptance. Eurica quickly slipped the license into the case, sat it on the tray, and slid it across the counter to Mira.
Mira took the card case with a sour grin.
“Also, the guild leader said that he had something for you. It should be done by the end of the day, so he was hoping you would be able to drop by again tomorrow or whenever it’s convenient for you.”
“Something for me?”
“Indeed. He didn’t tell me what it was, but he did say it came on behalf of King Solomon.”
“Solomon, huh? All right, then. I’ll drop by later.”
“Thank you.”
Mira had no idea what Leoneil wanted to give her, but it must have been related to her mission from Solomon.
“Well, that concludes our business today. For discretion’s sake, only the guild leader and myself have been informed about your situation, Miss Mira. If there’s anything further that I can help with, just let me know.”
“Sure, sure.”
“Also…”
“What now?” Mira felt like this was the conversation that would never end.
Whatever it was she wanted to say, Eurica was having a hard time saying it. But her eyes glittered with expectation as she looked at Mira. Finally, she blurted out, “Would you please shake my hand?!”
With a deep bow, she thrust her right hand out before her. Up until this point, she’d managed to maintain her professional demeanor, but now that the business was finally concluded, she couldn’t contain it any longer.
Eurica was a fanatic when it came to the Nine Wise Men—Danblf in particular. Her house was packed with related merchandise and memorabilia. She’d even taken pilgrimages to Silverhorn and spent hours staring up at the Linked Silver Towers.
With the disciple of a legendary figure standing before her, she was completely beside herself.
“Uh, sure…?” Taken aback by the sudden display of fervor, Mira reached out and gently but firmly grasped her hand as tears welled up in Eurica’s eyes.
“Ohmigod. I’ll never wash my hand again!”
“Er, no, please do. Really,” Mira said hesitantly, unsure whether to be flattered or frightened.
“Now, then, I hope you have a wonderful adventuring experience,” said Eurica, snapping back into professionalism. “And thank you for your visit!”
After the energetic goodbye, Mira made her way to the rightmost counter. Many other mages stood between her and her destination, and she couldn’t help but marvel at their outfits as she passed.
“I’m looking to get permission to enter the Ancient Temple. Can I do that here?” Mira said, still distractedly gawking at her fellow guildmates.
“Yes, I can help you with that,” came a familiar voice.
Mira turned to stare across the counter—and there was Eurica. The desk’s usual attendant stood in the background looking confused and annoyed, having been suddenly elbowed away from her post.
With her mouth still hanging open in surprise, Mira started to fill out the paperwork that Eurica slid across the counter.
A few minutes later, with the formalities completed and the fee of a thousand ducats paid, Eurica cheerfully issued Mira a permit to enter the Ancient Temple.
The permit itself seemed odd—simply a small card with the name of the dungeon and a sigil traced onto its surface in ink. Eurica explained that by touching the card to the ward stone at the entrance to the dungeon, the barrier would relax and allow access to the adventurer and their party. Ten seconds after the card was removed, the ward would be restored. And since the ward only prevented entry, no card was necessary to exit the dungeon.
Each card could only be used once. Adventurers needed to file an application every time they intended to reenter the dungeon and obtain a new entry permit.
That said, the cards could be recycled after undergoing a special process performed by the guild. Adventurers were asked to not throw them away, but rather to return them to the guild office upon their return.
“We’re running low on cards at the moment, so it’s very important to bring them back,” Eurica concluded by pointing to a recycling box stationed near the entrance.
Mira nodded along to the explanation, and after a final handshake, she walked back outside onto the main street. She pulled her card case from her pouch and slid her precious dungeon pass within. The design might have been a bit girly, but it certainly was functional.
As she closed the case, the door to the Fighters’ Guild burst open and the young boy from earlier came flying out again. His eyes were filled with tears, and he dashed off in Mira’s direction without looking.
“Oof!” he gasped as he barreled straight into Mira’s back, sending the case falling from her hand. Thankfully, she managed to stay on her feet.
“Whoa! What the heck was that about?!” Mira spun to confront whoever had bumped into her, only to see the young boy sniveling at her feet. Her anger cooled, and she bent down to put her arms around him and hoist him back to his feet.
“You okay, kid? Are you hurt?” she asked gently as she brushed him off.
The boy looked at Mira, his sorrow tinged with confusion. With a soft smile, Mira used the sleeve of her coat to wipe tears away from his red eyes. He seemed almost used to being spoiled.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry I ran into you.” He sniffled, bowing his head.
Mira gave him a pat and responded, “That’s all right.”
“Are you injured, miss?” Mira looked up at the question to see a familiar elven woman with dark hair and dark eyes. “Ah, it’s you. From yesterday.”
The boy took a quick peek at the swordswoman but quickly dropped his gaze and trembled.
She clearly recognized the boy as well. “Based on the look on his face, I don’t think he’s crying because of the fall. Has he been trying to convince you too?”
If the tumble were the only issue, Mira would have just offered the child an apple au lait and sent him on his way. But the boy’s eyes were bright red, evidence that he’d been crying for some time. Mira was intrigued as to the reason.
“Oh, right, we haven’t been properly introduced, have we?” said the elven woman. “I’m Emella.”
“And I’m Mira.” Mira stuck with her customary short introduction, then turned and wiped the boy’s face again with the light admonishment. “Come now, boys shouldn’t cry like this.”
“Anyway, as for the reason…” Emella offered an embarrassed smile. “Well, it’s not my fault. Not entirely. But there’s really nothing I can do.”
“Oh? And what might the reason be?” Mira asked with a hint of anger.
“I had to turn down his ridiculous request,” Emella replied. “I mean, he’s looking to enter a C-Rank dungeon. I’m a C-Rank adventurer, and I can get the permit, so he asked me. But seriously, I can’t take a child into a dungeon!”
“Hrmm, I see.” Mira’s anger faded, seeing as Emella’s reasoning made good sense.
Emella sighed in relief and flashed her adventurer’s license as proof of her story. She was indeed a C-Rank adventurer and the license indicated that her class was swordsman. Mira had suspected as much, based on Emella’s appearance.
“Checks out. Truth be told, I just joined the guild myself.”
“Oh, so you’re a newbie.”
As Mira went to present her own freshly issued identification papers, she remembered what had just happened. Glancing around her feet, she muttered, “Oops, looks like I dropped my license.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was my fault,” the boy said, joining her in the hunt. He found the pink case first and as he scooped it from the street. As he did, it opened to reveal the dungeon permit.
“Miss! Miss, you’re going to Nebrapolis?!” he asked, his face lighting up as he wiped at his eyes.
“Indeed, I am.” Mira nodded, relieved for the simple reason that the boy had stopped crying.
“What…? No way!” Emella exclaimed. “You just joined, right? Shouldn’t you only be G-Rank?”
The elven swordswoman jumped back in shock. It was unheard of for an adventurer to be C-Rank upon registration. Even with a recommendation, entry promotions topped out at E-Rank.
Advancement from G-Rank to E-Rank was largely a formality. Beyond that point, registered adventurers were only promoted based on their experience and abilities. To reach C-Rank meant that an adventurer had been recognized as top-notch and worthy of adventuring on an advanced level.
Somehow, this girl had vaulted straight to the upper tiers.
What in the world is going on?! was the only thought in Emella’s mind as she raced over to stare at the card case the boy was still holding. But Mira’s adventurer’s license listed her as C-Rank, and there was no denying she also had a pass for the Ancient Temple Nebrapolis.
“But how…? A rookie can’t… What?” sputtered Emella, flabbergasted. “A permit for the Ancient temple… And it’s legit.”
Even if someone tried to present false credentials, the information was still double-checked by the guild when applying for dungeon permits. The entry pass was impossible to forge—yet a C-Rank newbie with a dungeon pass was equally impossible. Emella muttered to herself, still confused, but the boy’s eyes shone even brighter as he turned and bowed deeply to Mira.
“Miss, please, I’m begging you. Take me to Nebrapolis!” He was clearly desperate. If they hadn’t been causing a scene before, now they certainly were. He bowed his head and uttered “please” over and over again.
“Hrmm, for what purpose?” Mira asked, intrigued as to why he was willing to risk the obvious dangers of the catacombs. Perhaps she could be the solution to his problem.
The boy looked up, his expression filled with anxiety and expectation—but also full of conviction.
“They say that in the deepest reaches of Nebrapolis, there’s a mirror that lets you talk to the dead. That’s where I need to go!”
“The Mirror of Darkness, eh?” Mira put a finger to her chin. “And who are you looking to find there?”
“I want to see my mother and father. My parents are both adventurers. But the Adventurers’ Guild Union came and told me they’ve been missing for too long. They said my parents are officially dead.” The boy fought back sniffles as he explained, and Mira gave him another quiet pat.
“Per guild rules, if an adventurer goes missing during a quest and isn’t heard from for five years, they’re considered killed in action,” explained Emella. Judging by her expression, she was likely thinking of Thomas.
After being told he would never see them again, the boy would naturally want nothing else. So for the past week, he’d been showing up at the Fighters’ Guild to ask adventurers for their help. Emella had seen him there several times and thus became aware of what was going on.
“I see, so that’s the situation.” Mira gently placed her hand on the boy’s head. She spoke softly and looked him in the eyes with a reassuring smile. “Lucky for you, I was heading there anyway. Might as well bring you along.”
He stared at her in disbelief before blinking back fresh tears and breaking into a wide smile.
“Th-thank you so very much! By the way, my name is Tact!”
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