Chapter 14: Instructions
ㅤ”Well then, let me introduce myself again. My name is Domotruis. I’m the Guild Master of the Thief Guild.”
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ㅤThe kindly-looking old man offered me a seat on the sofa. He sat down opposite me and introduced himself.
ㅤHis eyes, sparkling with interest, were studying my face.
ㅤAlone with him in the reception room, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.
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ㅤ”Ahaha, um, I’m Minato. Nice to meet you, Domotruis-san.”
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ㅤManaging to compose myself, I greeted him.
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ㅤThe Guild Master spoke amiably.
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ㅤ”You can call me Domo. I’m from the south. My name might sound unusual around here. Of course, your name also has an unfamiliar ring to it.”
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ㅤ”Well, I came from far away.”
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ㅤ”Hmm. I won’t pry. That’s the adventurer’s code, being a wanderer.”
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ㅤ”Should I have given a false name?”
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ㅤ”That’s a good thought for a thief. But, you seem to know Lady Latifa. It’s probably too late for that.”
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ㅤ”Is Latifa-san a famous person?”
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ㅤ”In this town, she is. She’s a well-known adventurer from the Warrior’s Guild.
ㅤSkill-wise, she’s above average, but like you saw earlier, she has a bit of trouble reading the room. She causes a lot of trouble on jobs.
ㅤThat being said, even with that considered, she’s a great adventurer. She’s beautiful and has a charismatic personality, so she’s quite popular.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Wow……”
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ㅤShe’s pretty strong.
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ㅤ（I wouldn’t want to make an enemy of her.）
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ㅤI probably wouldn’t lose in a fight, but she’s well-liked.
ㅤIt would be troublesome if she worked against me behind the scenes.
ㅤ
ㅤ……Well, you could point out that I’m already thinking about making an enemy of her.
ㅤBut that’s just my nature. It can’t be helped.
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ㅤ”Well, let’s leave that Ojou-chan aside for now. As long as you act normally, she won’t be a problem.
ㅤAvoiding unnecessary conflicts is also a survival tactic for thieves.
ㅤWarriors and magicians often have completely opposite personalities, and it’s inevitable that disputes will arise within a party. Thieves, who can adapt to situations by changing their masks, often act as mediators.”
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ㅤ”I’m not that good at that sort of thing.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”No worries, just brush them off like you did earlier. A good adventurer can be considerate of their party members to some extent. You don’t need to take care of them from A to Z like a baby.
ㅤIf you encounter a warrior or magician so foolish that they can’t understand a thief’s consideration, just leave them in the dungeon. They forget that they can’t even explore properly on their own.”
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ㅤ”Ah, I see. That’s a good lesson.”
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ㅤThough, I probably won’t be forming a party with anyone.
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ㅤ”Now, about you becoming a thief.
ㅤOf course, we welcome you. In fact, I’d like to come to you and beg you to become a thief. It was hard to keep myself from shouting out loud earlier in front of everyone.”
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ㅤAh, so he was surprised after all.
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ㅤ”Then, please let me join.”
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ㅤ”Yes, it’s our pleasure. I’ll keep your aptitude, as written by the priest, to myself.”
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ㅤ”Thank you for your consideration.”
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ㅤ”Indeed, with an aptitude multiplier of 6.9, I can’t just casually mention it. If rumors spread, branches from larger cities will come to try and poach you. No, before that, the lord will probably try to employ you.”
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ㅤ”The lord hires thieves?”
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ㅤ”A thief’s aptitude is similar to that of a scout.
ㅤBesides, the lord’s soldiers also sometimes fight monsters and enter dungeons.
ㅤThose in power always want to keep useful individuals close at hand.
ㅤIf you want to hide it, hide it completely. Not just by not saying anything, but also by being careful not to show any signs.”
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ㅤ”Ahaha, yes, I’ll be careful.”
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ㅤ”……To laugh it off like that. You seem like you’ll become someone great.”
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ㅤI laughed nervously, but Domo-san seemed to interpret it positively.
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ㅤ（Maybe the aptitude multiplier is working?）
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ㅤPeople tend to see others through rose-tinted glasses when they’ve been told beforehand that they’re amazing.
ㅤOf course, the opposite is also true, and in my case, that was more often the case. Like, the creepy guy who just keeps grinning even when being bullied.
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ㅤDomo-san cleared his throat and said,
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ㅤ”So, what kind of activities are you planning to do as a thief?
ㅤI’m not forcing you to answer, but there are things that would be easier for me to handle if I knew.”
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ㅤI pondered Domo-san’s words for a while.
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ㅤ（Can I tell him?（
ㅤ
ㅤI hesitated for a moment, but I might need permission to enter the dungeon.
ㅤEven if not, the dungeon is flooded with adventurers seeking fortune and glory. If I go in and out, I’ll naturally attract attention. In other words, it’ll get out either way.
ㅤIn that case, it’s better to be honest.
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ㅤ”Um…… ahaha, I’m planning to delve into the dungeon.”
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ㅤ”Oh? With your aptitude, that would be the most profitable course of action.”
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ㅤDomo-san seemed satisfied with my answer.
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ㅤ”But, ahaha, this will be my first time in a dungeon…… so if you have any general advice……”
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ㅤDomo-san thought for a moment at my words.
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ㅤ”Hmm. The first rule of thumb is to never go alone…… but you don’t seem like the type who needs protecting.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ahaha…… that’s true.”
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ㅤ”If you can laugh before your first battle, then you’ll be fine.
ㅤThe second point to keep in mind when exploring is to not delve too deep at once. Retreat when you feel even slightly unsatisfied. It’s easy to lose track of your fatigue when you’re tense. Have the courage to admit that you’re more tired than you think.
ㅤThere’s no shame in turning back early. No matter how good the drop items or valuable treasures you find, they’re meaningless if you can’t bring them back. There’s no point in adding more nameless graves behind the guild.”
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ㅤThat many adventurers must push themselves too hard.
ㅤI know well from my （gaming experience） what happens when you get blinded by the immediate reward and push yourself too hard.
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ㅤLooking at my face, Domo-san said,
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ㅤ”You have the look of someone who already knows all that. What kind of hardships have you faced at such a young age…… No, I said I wouldn’t pry. Forgive me.”
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ㅤ”N-no, it’s nothing……”
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ㅤIt seems Domo-san has completely decided that I’m a “promising and reliable newcomer.”
ㅤIt’s unsettling to be overestimated like that.
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ㅤ”As for the new dungeon, they sell maps at the reception desk. You should buy one.
ㅤHowever, they only sell maps up to the middle of the first layer. It’s a rather challenging dungeon.”
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ㅤ”I heard there are Cockatrices.”
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ㅤ”That’s one thing, but before that, the passages themselves are complicated and the entire floor is vast. Large dungeons are usually shallow, so the bottom layer is probably the third or fourth layer.”
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ㅤ”That’s strange. It’s almost as if it was designed to make people lose their way.”
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ㅤ”Indeed. I’ve become so accustomed to this world that I’ve stopped noticing it, but you’re right. Dungeons are clearly made for people to pass through. Yet, they’re also designed to keep people away with traps and mazes.
ㅤI sometimes think…… that the dungeon itself is a giant monster, luring people in with items and treasures as bait……”
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ㅤ”The dungeon…… is a monster?”
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ㅤ”No, it’s just an old man’s delusion. But, it’s also true that you need to approach it with that kind of mindset to survive.”
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ㅤ”I understand. I’ll be careful.”
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ㅤ”Good. Even with your immense aptitude, you’re still a newcomer. It would be best to stick around the entrance for a while and get a feel for things. As you fight, the Grandmaster’s Blessing will bestow upon you intuition and skills.”
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ㅤ”Grandmaster?”
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ㅤ”The founding adventurers who became our guardian deities. You should remember that if you’re going to belong to the guild.”
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ㅤ”M-my apologies.”
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ㅤIt must be common knowledge in this world.
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ㅤDomo-san stood up and took something out of a drawer in the desk at the back of the room.
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ㅤHe came back and handed it to me.
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ㅤI looked at it in my palm.
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ㅤIt was like a large copper coin. Engraved on it was the face of a young man with a long nose and a shrewd look in his eyes.
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ㅤ”This is the Thief Guild emblem. It also serves as your identification, so don’t lose it.
ㅤOnce you offer a prayer at the altar in the back, your registration will be complete. I’ll have someone show you the way.”
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ㅤThe conversation progressed better than I expected, and I officially became an adventurer.