Gerald - Lv 140
HP: 1255/1255
MP: 215/215
SP: 860/860
Strength: 429
Speed: 298
Magic: 40
Endurance: 378
Dexterity: 115
Status Points: 00
Skills: Brandish Lv 71, War Cry Lv 42, Stunning Strike Lv 35
Spells:
Passive: Language Skill Lv 63, Swordsmanship Lv 85, Archery Lv 27 (+ 02), Quick Sword Lv 49 (+ 03), Block Mastery Lv 45
Skill Points: 00
"Guild master Gerald, it has been a while," Pierre said. "I take it you received my letter."
"Yes, you really brought quite the group here, but they… young?" Gerald said while looking at Billy.
"Oh, boy… I wonder when I will have my growth spurt," Billy wondered.
"They participated in that mission that I mentioned, so they have skills beyond their age,"
"Ah, that… I don't dislike underhanded tactics, but even that was going too far," Gerald said. "Still, I heard that they knocked down two of the five elite guards of that brat and held their own against the other three. I suppose that is something. I take the tall and pretty Missy is the leader. It is nice to meet you, I am the guild master of this two, I am Gerald."
"No, I am…" Kate said.
"Yes, she is our leader, you can leave all the paperwork to her as well," Billy said. "She is also the only daughter of our lord, so she might deserve more respect than just her missy."
"Oh? My apologies, my lady," Gerald said and bowed slightly. "Forgive my rudeness."
"That is not a problem, just treat me the same as this others…" Kate said while forcing a smile. "By the way, despite his size and sharp tongue, he is our leader."
Billy wished that someone had protested, but no one did it. Natalie was quite prideful, so it was surprising for her not to say anything when the others declared that Billy was their leader.
"Oh, is that so? My apologies, kiddo." Gerald said.
"No problem, gramps," Billy said.
The atmosphere froze for a while, although Gerald was indeed in his sixties and he was old enough to have even grand, grandkids, no one dared call him tramps. Still, he just laughed at that.
"You have guts, kiddo, I like it!" Gerald said while laughing. "You compensate your size with spirit."
"And you compensate your hair with a high voice," Billy said.
"You got me there," Gerald said.
"Yes, I did," Billy said.
"Anyway, I am bored so I can help you guys if you want," Gerald said.
"No thanks, if you want to be useful you can tell me where I can a buy map for the dungeon and information about the monsters and tools that we will need," Billy said.
"Ah, right… you guys don't know our rules, but Adventurers have to follow a certain code, even if you don't work as one, you have to follow our rules inside and outside the dungeon if you are dealing with matters concerning them," Gerald said. "You can buy a map, but only from someone who has completed the dungeon, while the shape of the dungeon changes once someone clears it, the old version still can help. You can't make copies of the map. Anything found inside the dungeon needs to be inspected by the nearest guild, and if you want to sell it somewhere else, you will need special permission. If you find other groups of Adventurers inside the dungeon don't get in their way and don't pick a fight with them. If you break the regulations, you will lose your right to use the dungeon."
After stopping to think for a moment about the rules, Billy realized that they were fair since it was the lifeline of many people. Cowards and scums might want to make easy money by selling fake maps as well. The latest rules seemed a bit too much, to the point where it made the guild look like organizations that operated beyond the limits of the country, but it seemed that the rules were basically the same in other states. So, no one complained.
"All right, we will abide by them," Billy said.
"I will give you a list of the tools and the other things you will need," Gerald said and then took a piece of paper and then began to write it. "When you will enter the dungeon?"
"... In two days," Billy replied after he noticed that the written language used in that world was completely incomprehensible for him.
"What is that?" Lily asked. "Are you drawing something?"
Gerald frowned for a while and then he realized that the visitors didn't know the words. It will take a while, but Billy will definitely learn that. In any case, he quickly explained to the others what writing was and they quickly understood how useful it could be. While they knew that messengers were in their town, the messengers were the ones writing everything. It seemed quite interesting, but it also seemed something that would take decades to master.
"Don't worry, I will learn this in the blink of an eye and then I will teach you," Billy said. "Are there any books here that can help me learn that?"
"Oh, you are pretty confident," Gerald said. "There are and you can find them in any bookstore. We have a library in the guild and you can find the books that will help you if you are short on money. Naturally, you can't go outside."
"Of course," Billy said. "Anyway, I am going to hit the library. You guys go find an inn for us and then you are free for the rest of the day. Walk together and come to meet me when the sun begins to set."
"Ah, another acquaintance of mine is going to give you some rooms," Pierre said.
While that was useful, Billy thought that his group was receiving too much VIP treatment. Unfortunately, denying that would be rude… even though Billy was aware that he had been pretty rude with Gerald. Alexander would feel a bit off walking alone with three pretty girls, but that wasn't something Billy had to hurry about.
Once the conversation was done, Billy and the others split up… come to think of it, Billy wondered if the reading and writing skills should already be available in the skill shop. He checked while Gerald was guiding him to the library and he confirmed that they were there.. Each costing ten skill points.
