There were rooms behind the reception desk, the room which Shin was guided to had complete furniture for a guest such as sofa, table, desk and bookshelf. Although Shin didn’t know its price, it gave the impression of first-class goods.
“Welcome to the adventurers’ guild. I’m sorry, I was rude earlier. I am Barlux Heim, the guild master.”
When Shin entered the room, Barlux shook Shin’s hand while he introduced himself.
“I am Shin. My best regards to you.”
Shin could feel that the hand he shook was stiff and rugged, and it was definitely powerful.
“Please take a seat.”
Shin sat on the sofa while Celica served tea on the table.
“Shin-kun. Although it’s a bit sudden, I want to see the letter of introduction from Tsuki no Hokora.”
“Here.”
The letter of introduction was taken out from Item Box, and he gave it to Barlux. At the same time, Barlux placed another paper on the table. Then, a pattern of a crescent moon that was drawn on the center of the letter, shined in silver.
“This is…?”
“The letter of introduction from Tsuki no Hokora is a little special. The magic of the introduction letters will resonate if brought near each other. The crest will shine like this. In other words, this letter of introduction is genuine.”
From Barlux’s explanation, it seemed to be the method of confirmation for the letter of introduction. And it appeared to be impossible to produce an imitation, as it would be found out right away.
“So it had this feature…”
Although he was astonished at the unexpected function, Shin couldn’t help but think that he should had gotten an explanation when he received it.
“No one told you about it?”
“I received it as an extra service, as a border pass.”
“Service…? Was it Schnee who gave it to you, or Tiera?”
“It was Tiera. Schnee was away.”
“Tiera huh. I think something outstanding must have happened, that she forgot to explain this, but she has good eyes for people though. Even I too, have seen a lot of people but she is always one step ahead.”
Barlux said as he laughed.
And it was true that something outstanding happened to Tiera, like a more than 100 years old curse was dispelled.
Still, were the eyes for people acquired through the wisdom of age?
“Fuh!”
As Shin thought about age, dread chilled up his spine.
The smiling face of Tiera with a background of flames came into his mind.
(Let’s stop thinking about age, I think it will be fatal…)
Because he had a bad premonition, he stopped thinking about it.
“? What’s the matter?”
“Ah, nothing.”
“Is that so? Then let’s continue the story from where I left off before.”
Said Barlux as he corrected his posture. It looked like this would be where the main subject would start.
“Because you haven’t heard the explanation, I’ll explain the uses of the letter myself. With the letter of introduction, it is possible to enter most countries without inspection. If it has information, it will be treated as final information. Each guild will even accommodate it differently. Also, in Bayreuth, you can even have an audience with the king. It will also serve as reliable identification.”
There was no doubt that what Beid was saying before was true. Although he didn’t talk about the guild or the information.
“The letter of introduction has that many uses. So naturally, there will be someone who will intend to snatch or steal it from you.”
“That makes sense…”
It could be misused for terrorism, smuggling of dangerous material, assassination and so on. Judging from a criminal’s and a crime syndicate’s viewpoint, they would desire it very badly.
“Therefore, I want you to tell me if you have the capability to protect it. If you can’t protect it, I suggest that you destroy it now.”
“…………”
Shin was thinking. With this letter of introduction, there would be advantages and disadvantages.
As for the advantages, it would become easier for him to cross the countries. And he could obtain trust from the country easily.
However, the disadvantage would be the danger from getting targeted of certain individuals or organizations.
At least, the advantages were indispensable for Shin. At the time of explanation of the guild by Cilica, he heard that entry to every country would become relatively easy if he had a guild card.
However, he considered that there was a difference in a moment of peril, and that there should be one that could strongly guarantee his identity in the case of an emergency.
There was also a demerit, as he was already known to the guards when he came to the town, and also to the people who were lining up at the southern gate. Besides, he was already known to the guild. He didn’t know the extent of protection of confidential information here, even if it was already exposed. Rather, it would be better if he acted just like normal.
(I will put it in the 『Important Things』 zone in my Item Box just in case, and avoid taking it out generously.)
From Tiera’s story, only a few people have an Item Box. In the 『Important Things』, even members of ‘Rokuten’ could not remove items he placed inside.
Although he didn’t have any way to confirm it.
“I can protect it.”
He concluded after thinking about it for a while.
“Is that your decision?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret this, will you?”
“Of course I won’t. Though I know that if I make mistakes, it will be bad for me and the store. If I was entrusted with this important thing, then I’ll make sure to fulfill that trust.”
Shin said confidently.
After all, he had decided on the answer before he thought about the issue of advantages and disadvantages.
Some might think that what Shin was doing was reckless and dangerous, but unfortunately, Shin’s life was targeted a lot. Shin obtained experiences that could deal with assassination and surprise attacks from surviving one year in THE NEW GATE, which had turned into a death game.
Even though his true intention was that he didn’t want to destroy the letter.
“Whew, well said. As expected from someone who holds the letter of introduction.”
“Though it was a bit exaggerated.”
“Too much modesty is not good. Once you hesitate, you will lose in life.”
“What does that mean?”
That was the guild master’s view, it seemed. That person could not be made light of.
“Hmm, how high is your level? I had to overcome numerous battles myself, until I almost reached the limit, yet I still can’t declare what you just did. I can understand that you are considerably strong.”
Indeed, he was a former S rank. He seemed to possess the ability to see through other’s capability, even if he didn’t have the skills.
“…must I answer it?”
“I’m sorry, but the guild needs to have a grasp on the level of an adventurer. Just the range of your level is sufficient. I cannot allow low-level adventurers to do dangerous requests.”
It appeared that Barlux said that not just out of curiosity.
He might need to confirm it not only as a person, but also for the guild, as the expectation of ability correlates to some degree if the level was known.
“I understand. My level is more than 150.”
“Hmm. Shin-kun, as I said just now, modesty is prohibited.”
Barlux raised one eyebrow after hearing Shin’s level. As expected from the guild master, he seemed to know if the level was too low.
“Is it not good enough?”
“It is not good, the level you said just now is far lower than your original level.”
Even though he didn’t want to say it smoothly because he heard the No. 2 was level 158, he was unable to deceive him.
“So you can tell without using【Analyze】”
“I’ve seen many adventurers as a guild master.”
“There’s no helping it, huh. My level is more than 200.”
Still, Shin didn’t want to admit his true level. He just added 50 levels to what he declared earlier.
“Hah!”
“Amazing…”
Barlux visibly showed an impressed smile as Shin told him his level again. Celica, who stood near the wall, unintentionally voiced her amazement.
“Is it something to be surprised about?”
Shin knew that Barlux was also above level 200, so that should not have surprised him.
“Although it was written in the document, you are 21 years old, correct?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not very often you meet a person who surpasses level 200 in their youth like you. I wonder if you and this country’s no. 1 can fight evenly.”
Although level 150 seemed to be too low, 200 in contrast, seemed too high.
“What is the current no. 1 person’s level?”
“It’s 230. She is the second princess of this country.”
“Are you serious?”
A strong princess!!! Shin wanted to retort.
(The princess is stronger than the captain of the elite forces…)
Because Barlux said the No. 1 of the country, he thought it might be the king or prince, or even a royal guard, but never a second princess.
“Isn’t there too much of a level difference with the knights? I heard from Tiera that the captain of the elite forces is level 158.”
“Captain of elite forces? Ah, you mean the leader of the knights? His level rose to 188 now. Maybe Tiera hasn’t heard about it since she is in the store all the time.”
“Still, the princess is No. 1…”
“It is because the second princess is in the fighter faction. Besides, she is quite popular and often makes an appearance in the town.”
“Is it safe for a royal family member to come into town?”
“The levels of the hooligans around there can’t even be compared to her level.”
It seemed that the strongest in the kingdom wasn’t just for show. The Horn Dragon that went out with Tiera’s story would had been killed if she fought it.
“Well then, Shin-kun. Actually, there is one more thing I want to confirm, if it is okay with you?”
“…It will depend on the subject”
Shin had an unpleasant foreboding about this.
“It’s simple. I want you to have a match with me.”
“I’m sorry, may I return now?”
“Unfortunately, you can’t.”
“I can’t?”
“It’s regrettable, but you do