Pushing the guild's double doors, Cornelia entered a well-lit hall filled with adventurers drinking, eating, and gambling. Some of them were laughing, others gossiped, and some shared news. Most of them were humans, mostly male, but a good third were women. There were beastmen, dwarves, and elves in the mix, but they were the minority. This was normal since they were now in a human kingdom, and humans were patriarchal and somewhat racist.

When Cornelia entered the guild, the talking became quiet, looking at the newcomer. However, upon seeing Cornelia's black patched robes, two rat tails tied to her belt, dirty shoes, and poor yellowed complexion...

"Another poor soul from the slums seeking their fortune." Most of them shook their heads and ignored her.

Desperate slum folk like her with big dreams were too typical, and most died in their first month. If she survived the first month, they would pay her more attention.

Ignoring them, Cornelia walked up to the counter, where a professionally dressed, beautiful young woman stood. Likely picked for her looks and upbringing.

When the woman saw Cornelia, a hint of pity flashed in her eyes before recovering.

"Welcome, Miss! Are you here to... Sniff* Sniff*... Ew...! Did you exit the sewers?!" The woman squinted her eyes, covering her nose.

"Oh... Sorry about that... Clean." Cornelia said.

The next moment, the dirt and grime on her vanished, her skin and clothes now clean.

"I am sometimes glad I became a housemaid..." Cornelia thought.

The cleaning skill improved her ability to clean and enabled her to use cleaning magic if she had a magical talent. Luckily, she did.

With the smell gone, the guild clerk let go of her nose. "Sorry for the rudeness..." She apologized.

"It's okay. I did enter the sewers." Cornelia said, showing the rat tails on her belt.

"Oh! You took out two Giant Rats. Not bad." The guild clerk nodded. "I didn't see you before. Are you here to register?"

"Yes." Cornelia nodded.

"Okay. The processing fee is 10 Silver Coins." The clerk said.

"Here." Cornelia took out ten Silver Coins with a somewhat pained look. These ten coins were enough for five days of lodging in a cheap inn or several hot meals.

"Thank you. Now..." The clerk smiled and took out a crystal globe. "Please place your hand here to ensure you don't have a criminal record."

Without hesitation, Cornelia placed her hand on the globe, and it faintly shined before the light went away.

"Everything is in order..." The clerk nodded, took back the crystal globe, and took out a pen and paper. "Please read the terms, and then sign your name, age, main role, and if you have any pets—" She paused, realizing something. "You know how to read and write, right?"

"Yes." Cornelia nodded and read the terms.

The guild terms were generally loose, agreeing to various conditions, such as taking a cut of the profits for welfare and guild services, no fighting in the guild hall, no stealing, party-forming terms, defending the city in an emergency, etc. It also included that any damage her pet causes will be on her head.

Filling up the contract, she put on it she was a black magician and summoner and included her general information. But when she reached the pet section, she hesitated before writing Consentacle.

"I am done," Cornelia said, handing the paper over.

"Thank you for registering... Miss Cornelia." The clerk smiled and looked over the details. However, she then noticed the pet... "Miss Cornelia, what is a... Consentacle?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"... My new familiar. I only recently summoned him." Cornelia admitted.

"Well... I never heard of that race before..." The clerk had a perplexed look. But then she shook her head. "Never mind. It is your business. Just don't let it do any damage." She said.

{I'm not some wild dog, you know...} Tenta complained in Cornelia's mind.

Cornelia ignored him, however. "Can I have my license, please?" She asked.

"Yes, of course." The clerk nodded, took out a card from under the desk, and then put it on a magical device on the desk. "Please place your hand on the device to complete your registration."

Cornelia nodded and placed her hand on the gadget. It then lightly shined before the new card was minted.

"There, please don't lose it, or it would cost an additional 5 Silver Coins to reissue it." The clerk smiled and handed over the card. "I am Trixie. Welcome to the Guiding Adventurer guild branch, Cornelia. If you need to ask any questions, don't be afraid to ask."

"Thank you, Trixie." Cornelia thanked her, taking the card. "Where can I submit the subjugation proof?"

"Go to Duringrim over there. He handles it." Trixie pointed at another desk, where a gruff old dwarf sat. "And if you want to eat and rent a room, speak to the barkeep and vice guild president, Winslow." She pointed at a muscular man with a scar over his left eye behind a bar counter. "As for guild assignments, you can check the board over there and report to me when you wish to undertake one." She smiled.

"Thank you, Trixie." Cornelia thanked her and walked to the dwarf.

"Hello, missy. How can ol' Duringrim help yah?" The dwarf asked in a heavy accent.

"I want to submit these," Cornelia said, placing the two rat tails on the table.

"A course'. Can never kill too many o' dem critters, aye?" The dwarf smirked, "Give me your card. I will add it to your subjugation record for your rank advancement."

"Here." Cornelia handed over her new card.

The dwarf took it and scanned it on a gadget before returning it, placing a silver coin on the table. "Here yeh go, missy."

"Giant Rats count as G-Rank monsters. Two o' dem gives yeh two points. Earn a hundred, and yeh can advance yer guild rank to F and earn the right to dive in deh first dungeon floor." The dwarf said.

"Thank you, Mr. Duringrim." Cornelia smiled, took her coin and card, and headed to the bar.

"Hm? What can I get for you, young miss?" Winslow asked, placing the cup on his back counter.

"A hot meal and lodging. Preferably on the cheaper side." Cornelia said.

"Hm." The man nodded. "Communal room lodging and dinner cost three silver coins. The cheapest meal isn't anything lavish, but at least it is nutritious enough. You will share your room with three other women. Also, note that any theft in the communal room is on you."

"Thank you for the warning." Cornelia nodded and paid three coins.

"Hm," Winslow grunted, took out a key, and placed it on the bar. "This is your key. Return it by 10 am tomorrow at the desk, or I will fine you. Also, wait here. I will get you the grub."

"Thank you," Cornelia said and sat near the bar.

A minute later, Winslow returned with a bowl of porridge with vegetables, shredded meat, and a loaf of bread.

"Thank you." Cornelia smiled and smelled the food, her hunger rising. It was likely the best food she had in weeks.

"Eat up. If you want some advice, feel free to ask. That is why I am the barkeep." Winslow said.

"What do you advise?" Cornelia asked, eating her food, savoring each bite and gulp.

"One, never take a job too difficult for you. You are still a rookie. Two, it is better to have at least one party member. Consider your communal roommates. More significant tasks would require more party members, especially when dungeon diving. And three, choose your party wisely. Good teammates are desirable, but you might have pig-like teammates who risk your life... And some might steal or even backstab you. Plenty of rookie killers like that. And four... Never unconditionally trust your companions. Always stay vigilant." Winslow said. "Follow these four points, and I might see you the next month."

"Thank you for the advice," Cornelia said and continued eating.

{He is kindhearted.} Tenta said.

{Mm...} Cornelia agreed and ate her food. {Are you hungry, Tenta?} She asked.

{Nah, I had some rat already.} Tenta said. {It would be nice to eat more, though. They taste surprisingly good.} He added.

Perhaps Tenta was once a human, but his attachment to being a human was truly little after the Reality Smuggler deleted most of his memories about himself. At least, he had no aversion to eating monster food.

{I'll see if there are any more rat extermination quests later.} Cornelia replied, silently eating her food.

Feeling bored, Tenta decided to check out his highly abusive-sounding unique skills. (Except for the reincarnated individual, of course.)

 

 

"Oh! Thanks... Wait a minute... Doesn't that mean those other three are..." Tenta suddenly realized he was roasted. "Dammit!" He cursed.

Of course, he dared not voice his complaints. Instead, he decided to view the rest of the unique skills...

 

 

"Fuck you too, buddy." Tenta glared and checked the second unique skill...

 

 

"... Wow... I have no idea how I should feel about this gut punch..." Tenta winced, hesitated, and checked the third one...

 

 

"... Did the system do this? Or did the Reality Smuggler do it?" Tenta questioned himself.

Of course, he had no way to prove anything, so he dismissed it and looked at his final unique skill, the one given after being summoned.

 

 

"Hah... Well, that explains a lot." Tenta thought.

He then decided to check his class, Jobless.

 

 

"Oh, haha... Very funny..."

By this time, Cornelia finished her meal and handed the bowl to Winslow.

"Thank you, Mr. Winslow. It was very delicious." Cornelia earnestly said.

"Just call me Winslow," Winslow said. "And you should eat more heartily. Your body is suffering from heavy malnutrition, which can cause you to collapse on assignments."

"... Thank you for the advice, Winslow." Cornelia nodded and walked up the stairs but didn't forget to cast cleaning magic on her teeth to prevent tooth decay.

After looking around in a long wooden corridor, she finally found her room and opened the door with the key. The inside of the room was dark and narrow, with three sleeping figures on two bunk beds.

"Close the door..." A tired female voice said.

"And don't forget to lock it..." Another tired voice sounded.

"Sorry to disturb..." Cornelia gently said, closed the door, and locked it. She then carefully walked to the only available top bunk bed, climbed up, and lay on it. After taking off her purse and hugging it tightly, the tired Cornelia finally got her well-deserved rest.

{Good night, Cornelia.} Tenta said.

{Good night, Tenta...} Cornelia responded and entered dreamland.