A stone fort stood in front of Callum, its huge wooden doors wide open to accommodate the number of people entering and leaving the building. Though it wasn't his first time here, it still made him gape at how majestic the adventurer’s guild was.

  It was a feat of artistry, like looking at a Renaissance painting of medieval architecture, but in real life.

  Three long banners were posted atop the entrance, each corresponding to the royalty, the regional lord, and the guild. However, he doesn’t know which one it was, only guessing that the middle one belonged to the guild.

  With a gulp, Callum tried to calm his nerves. He’s essentially walking into the lion’s den, and a small mistake would mean the end of his life.

  His fears weren’t unfounded—adventurers hunted undead on sight. But if he didn’t take the risk, it would take months, or even a year, to amass enough money for a ride towards the nearest town.

  Trying to travel there alone was a death sentence. He’d heard stories of wild beasts being more erratic these past few days, so making the trek to the next town over was a death sentence.

  The unknown was too dangerous in this world of swords and magic. Signing up as an adventurer would give him the know-how to face the not-yet-seen.

  So, after steeling himself, he entered the guild.

  The lobby consisted of tables and chairs, lit by the large windows beside the entrance of the building. People were already seated, their conversations drowned out by the din. The interior sported a high ceiling, supported by wooden beams adorned with banners unrecognizable to him.

  To his left was what he assumed was the quest board, papers pinned on wooden panels scribbled with script he still couldn’t understand. The right held a wooden staircase, leading up to another floor. A reception desk was ahead, obstructed by multiple occupied round tables.

  However, what caught most of Callum’s attention was beyond that desk.

  Just behind the guild's busy employees was a huge map of Halsinn. It showed each town and city, some marked as places of interest, while others showed the trade routes throughout the region. It was a work of art, and Callum could have sworn the details were moving.

  Only when someone bumped into Callum did he wake up from his momentary stupor. With a shake of his head, he moved through the mess of people shouting their achievements to their comrades.

  His heart raced with each step he took. One wrong move, and they’d tear him apart.

  Although his skin tone resembles much of the Goliaths idling around the lobby, losing his blindfold would be the end of him. He’d be hunted by everyone here, and the thought of spending another lifetime locked inside his corpse sent chills down his spine.

  He weaved through the throng of people, dodging large axes and swords. With the help of his uncanny senses, maneuvering the dangerous path towards his destination was a piece of cake. Yet he kept his breathing ceased throughout his journey, nervousness getting the best of him.

  It wasn’t until he reached the line of people waiting for their turn at the desk that he breathed again.

  Callum took the shortest line of the bunch, planning his visit to be as quick as possible. Though he still couldn’t read anything on the boards, Callum knew that literacy wasn’t required to get his adventurer ID. Only his strength and the first instance of are the main requirements.

  While he waited, his head swiveled, eyes searching for a particular individual. He hoped Nick or Morrick could show him around the guild and maybe give some pointers here and there. However, before he could find them, the man ahead of him finished, and the receptionist called Callum forward.

  “Welcome to Lynn’s Adventurers’ Guild. I’m Wesley, your receptionist. How may I serve you today?” A young man asked Callum in a practiced speech.

  “I’d like to register for an ID.”

  With a nod, Wesley reached under his desk, fishing out a set of documents.

  “Okay. To get your Guild ID, you’ll need to fill out these forms.”

  “I can’t read and write,” Callum said bluntly.

  There was a moment of silence before the young receptionist spoke again.

  “Then I’ll be happy to help! Could you state your name?”

  The first hurdle, the name.

  Callum considered using his real name. After all, no one knew who he was, and those who did were in a different world. However, Nick and Morrick advised against it during their conversation before Nick’s registration. They explained the importance of keeping the personal separate from the professional. Which was why Nicholas registered his nickname instead of his full name.

  He likened it to how internet personalities use their usernames to refer to each other, turning their names into something advertisable. The adventurer’s guild seems to follow the same principle since adventurers had to compete for employers in later ranks.

  “Cal Restof,” Callum replied.

  He’d already thought of the name before he entered the guild’s doors. It’s not too long, but not too short. Anyone who knew his name could connect the dots. After all, the first name came from the first syllable of his real name, while the last was an anagram of his family name.

  The receptionist wrote down his name with a quill, his writing quick as he continued his questions.

  “Your age?”

  When asked about his age, Callum thought about the years he’d spent as a corpse. Realistically speaking, he had been alive for over a century. However, if the question asked how long he had lived as a living walking being, then Callum would say:

  “34 years,” He answered.

  Though he did think about saying he’s 132 years old just to see the man’s reaction, he felt it necessary to keep himself as average as possible. At least as average as a sentient undead can be.

  “Date of birth?”

  “The 12th day of Lumm,” he replied. He’d learned the months in this world after all from Nick, and Lumm was the October equivalent of this world. However, he’s still having a hard time understanding the year since there are too many different calendars spread around the country.

  In his relief, the receptionist didn’t follow up with a question about what year he was born.

  Then, for the next few minutes, he asked Callum for his personal information, like his place of birth, relatives, and the like. He dodged most of the questions by striking them as unknown, which seems to be the norm since the receptionist didn’t look at him suspiciously.

  With each question asked, Callum grew more nervous. He knew the requirements to register, and the last procedure was inevitable. However, he had a plan regarding that issue.

  The questions started to peter out when the receptionist finally asked if he’d gone through his first instance of , to which Callum said yes.

  “Which class did you pick?”

  “I picked the warrior class. At least I think it is. There was a sword on top of it,” Callum described.

  Though he was sure it was the warrior class, he still wasn’t confident with his answer. No signs were telling him what the name of the class was after all, only scenes to showcase what the class could provide, and it looked like it was some kind of fighting class.

  “That matches the description,” The receptionist declared, scribbling what he’d guess was his class onto his form.

  The receptionist looked at Callum, eyes squinting slightly as they tried to discern his reason for wearing a blindfold.

  “Would you like to note down your race?” The receptionist questioned.

  “Race?”

  “Most adventurers keep their race open to the public, especially since some races are much better help in some situations. For example, the Goliath race is mostly called for subjugation or escort missions because of their strength, while dwarves are more fitting for gathering ores and inspections since they are more suited to the craft.”

  “I guess each race has its advantages,” he muttered absentmindedly.

  “Oh, yes. But do keep in mind that each race isn't above the other. The guild prohibits bullying or prejudice against other races; doing so would get you banned from the guild.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  “We could also hide your race if you’d like to keep it hidden. The Adventurer’s Guild takes its pledge of anonymity seriously. If you’d like to keep your race unknown, then we have to uphold that pledge,” The receptionist said in confidence as he performed a small salute.

  Callum thought about it. His pallid skin was already akin to that of the Goliaths, and he had already told his co-worker friends that he was some kind of half breed, so there’s no point not to capitalize on it.

  “I’m a half-Goliath.”

  With a nod, the receptionist wrote on the parchment.

  “Okay! Please sign here, here, and here.”

  They handed Callum their quill, fingers unaccustomed to the writing tool. But with much effort, he managed to write down his name on the paper.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  While the signature was in English, no one should be able to recognize it. After all, signatures are meant to be hard to understand, at least, that’s what his father said when he made his signature.

  “Thank you for answering our form. It’ll take a few minutes to finalize your ID. In the meantime, please wait in the lobby. However, if you’d like to learn more about the guild, you can ask the people from that counter.” The receptionist smiled as he held his documents, pointing at a small counter with other guild employees just to the side.

  With an appreciative nod, Callum walked towards what he dubbed the ‘help counter’.

  Though he knew some of the stuff about the guild with the help of Morrick and Nick, a little more information still helps. It would also act as a nice distraction until the last procedure of his guild registration takes place.

  The counter didn’t hold as many people as the reception desk, but that doesn’t mean it was empty. Callum assumed that the people here are newbies, trying to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations. He himself was a newbie, hence why he strode toward the only empty counter.

  “What can I do for you, sir?” A woman wearing the same guild-style uniform greeted him with a smile.

  “Ah. Can you clue me in on how the guild works?”

  “With pleasure!”

  The employee retrieved a hefty book from under their counter, plopping it down on top of the desk with a ‘thump’. Once the book was open, she started explaining the guild’s policies and structure. From what he heard, it wasn’t that much different from what he expected.

  “The guild works with a point-based system, with each quest assigned its difficulty in each rank. With enough points, you can move onto the next tier of your rank. And with enough tiers, you can take the exam to advance to the rank above you.”

  “Can I take quests above my current rank?”

  “In earlier tiers, no. But once you’re on your last tier, it’s possible to take a quest above your rank. However, we don’t encourage it.”

  “Why?”

  “Adventurers lose their lives when they overestimate their abilities.”

  Thanks to his photographic memory during his time as a corpse, he’d read and watched countless stories about fantasy inside his mindscape, and most of them had characters who died from their hubris.

  It wasn’t that hard to see some overconfident adventurer dying from a single mistake, which was why the guild discourages people from taking quests above their pay grade.

  However, it’s important to note that while the guild doesn’t like people taking quests above their rank, they don’t prohibit it. This means that with enough strength and preparation, one could complete a quest above their current rank.

  “Speaking of quests, can someone like me post one?”

  “Of course, you can! The guild checks each quest to be posted, categorizing it by the type of quest it is and how difficult it would be. Posting a quest does require a fee depending on its priority, and keeping it on the board requires payment every month. However, you do need to have a reward attached to the quest for it to be considered as one.”

  “I see.”

  In essence, if you want your quest to be taken, a suitable reward is needed. It can come in the form of coins, materials, equipment, or, in some cases, a favor. The guild also posts its quests every week, but most of the time, quests come from other guilds or those outside it.

  The conversation went on for another few minutes, most of which had already been explained to him by Nick and Morrick. They discussed the different ranks the guild has, and this branch in particular only goes as high as silver.

  The lady also gave Callum some advice, telling him what he should and shouldn’t do as an adventurer. Though appreciated, he knew asking for advice from experts in the craft would be more worthwhile than asking someone with little to no experience. So, with a smile and a nod, Callum thanked the polite helper and returned to his registration.

  His eyes once again scanned the room, finding an unoccupied table at the far corner of the lobby. He moved towards it, weaving through the mess of people, until he found his table occupied.

  “Oh! Callum!” a voice he had grown familiar with said before him.

  Looking closer, he saw a waving Morrick sitting at the table.

  “Morrick! Nice seeing you here,” Callum welcomed Morrick with a hug.

  “I didn’t think you’d register today. Nick told me you’d be thinking about it.” Morrick asked as he clasped the man’s shoulders.

  “I did, and I decided to give it a shot,” Callum said with a smile, sitting down with the other man.

  “Well, I’ll lead you through,”

  “I’ve already registered, so there’s no need for that.”

  “You’ve already registered?” Morrick gawked.

  “Yep, my receptionist walked me through and helped me fill out the forms,” Callum said.

  “Why didn’t you call for me? I could have given you some benefits!” Morrick exclaimed.

  The mention of benefits didn’t stick with Callum. He knows enough of it back on Earth, and how it tends to hold some kind of catch he wasn’t told about. It’s just another way to make people work more, only with additional rewards. Though that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious about it.

  “What benefits are we talking about?”

  “Well, do you know the ranks work?”

  “The girl from the help counter walked me through it,” Callum replied, remembering his conversation with the guild helper.

  Just like the books and shows Callum had watched, the adventurers’ guild has a hierarchy. In this world, it follows the rank hierarchy of Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Orichalcum, Mithril, and Adamantium, with Arcanum rumored as the last tier an adventurer could obtain, something only the Hero of Man had accomplished. These ranks are divided into tiers, totaling a hundred tiers, excluding the rumored rank.

  “Since you’re a newly minted adventurer, you’d be in the lowest tier of Iron Rank,” Morrick explained, to which Callum nodded. He knew how the ranking system worked. Work a set amount of quests, then apply for a rank-up test. Although attaining another instance of would usually do the trick.

  “But I’ve seen you working tirelessly since you got here. I could’ve vouched for you and given you an easy time moving up the tiers,” Morrick elaborated.

  “Yeah, but couldn’t you do that after I’ve got my card?”

  “Well, I could, but it would take longer since you’ve already had one.”

  “I appreciate the thought, man. But I’m okay with working my way up the ladder the proper way,” Callum said with a wry smile.

  He guessed that having a card makes the process slower in some form. Maybe it’s because he’s under the guild’s umbrella now, making it harder for others to vouch for his past work. Or perhaps it’s because investigating an adventurer’s work background takes longer than those who haven’t registered yet.

  It was then that the receptionist from before called him over with a shout.

  “Callum Foster! Your ID is ready!”

  “That’s my cue.”

  Morrick said his farewells, giving Callum good luck as he stood up to get his ID. When he got to the counter, he saw the receptionist who had taken care of his form.

  “Here’s your adventurer’s card. The final procedure may seem brutish, but it’s necessary to verify your registration,” The receptionist said as he handed Callum the card and a small knife.

  “The last procedure needs a drop of your blood for verification. The blood is needed to bind the card to your mana imprint so we can verify it,” the receptionist explained. However, Callum’s mind was half listening as he looked nervously at the knife he was holding.

  He’d seen his blood, and the black color that was the trademark of the undead would give him away instantly to those who saw it.

  “If you’re scared, the procedure won’t hurt. The knife is sharp enough that you wouldn’t feel the cut,” The receptionist reassured.

  “Can I do it back home?” Callum asked with hope in his voice. However, that hope died when the receptionist answered his query.

  “The magic which makes the procedure possible is only available here. Once you leave the guild’s premises, the card would be deemed unverifiable.”

  “Is any amount of blood okay?” Callum asked as he pushed his thumb at the knife’s point.

  “Any amount will do, as long as it makes contact with the card,” The receptionist confirmed.

  With a nod, Callum activated his senses to the max. It kept the same five-foot sphere of perception; however, this time, Callum heightened his focus on his thumb.

  He could feel his skin part as the knife bit into him. He could feel every cell and the foreign object puncture into his bloodstream. He could see the metal sizzle with each cell of blood that came into contact with it. Though he doubted it was the same blood cell he’d grown to learn.

  They looked like minuscule orbs of the abyss, eating away at the metal that came in touch with them. There weren’t even other cells like white blood cells or platelets in his bloodstream, only the orbs of black sludge that continued to hunger.

  The pain was sharp, but it paled in comparison to decades of decomposing torment. So, Callum pushed through, his concentration unwavering as he focused on the blood leaving his body.

  Callum stabbed his thumb so precisely that it only gave enough room for a couple of “blood cells” to escape his veins. He watched it travel slowly, his other hand guiding the card towards his thumb.

  When he saw that the small black orb that was his blood was out of his skin, he pressed it onto the box where he was supposed to smear it.

  Once it touched the card, the few minuscule black orbs of the abyss were absorbed into its material.

  Small, intricate lights shone throughout a network of lines so infinitesimal, he’d need a microscope to see them. However, he saw it all with his senses. It traveled so fast that by the time his thumb left the card, the procedure was completed.

  Callum sighed as he retracted his senses, his focus dissipating as he handed the card to the receptionist.

  “There,”

  The receptionist looked at the card and gave Callum a confused look.

  “But there’s no blood on the card,” he asked with one brow raised.

  “You said any amount will do,” Callum replied as he handed the small knife back on the counter. He saw the receptionist eye his thumb, growing more confused as he saw it completely uncut. At least, to the naked eye.

  “I did say that, however-”

  “Look, I’m a busy man. If you’re not sure the card wasn’t verified, then be my guest. But make sure to do it quickly since there’s a crowd growing impatient behind me,” Callum said as he stood to the side, showing the annoyed adventurers waiting in line.

  “Just a second.”

  The receptionist took out what looked like a card reader he’d seen on a store register back on Earth. He punched Callum's ID number in quick succession. Then his eyes widened in realization.

  “It seems your card has been verified,” The receptionist said in disbelief.

  With a nod, Callum reached toward the receptionist, his hand asking for his ID. The same hand he’d used to drop his blood with.

  The receptionist slowly handed the rectangular card. Callum swiped it and turned around, hurriedly leaving a stunned guild employee behind him. He was so frazzled that he’d forgotten Morrick at their table, walking so fast he didn’t see the person in front of him.

  In his hurry, Callum bumped into a hooded figure, face covered in white cloth.

  “Sorry.”

  Yet that was all he could say as he hurried away.

  “That was close,” Callum muttered while clutching his chest.

  He had taken a gamble, hoping that his plan would work.

  Even if his second plan failed, he considered other contingencies. However, with his senses, his unusual registration method finally came to an end.

  With a satisfied smile, Callum looked at his adventurer’s card.

  The front of the card held Callum’s name, race, and rank, noting the iron-like trim denoting his current rank around the card. Five empty dots could be seen at the bottom, symbolizing the tier he’s in, with a box in the lower right corner where his blood print should have been. The back held more information about him, and it showed when and where he got his card.

  “So it is the year 291. I guess it follows the Euriclean Calendar,” Callum noted.

  He learned about it from Morrick a few days before. It’s the year when the last rift of the void was closed by the Hero of Man.

  Callum smiled at that thought, enjoying the prospect of learning the rich history this world provides, especially the part about the Age of Heroes and the Hero of Man.

  Every kid in Lynn wanted to become like him, a hero who ushered in an era of peace. Nick also admired the hero with great respect, his feat of curing vampirism forever known throughout the world.

  With a card in hand, Callum left the adventurers' guild and into the Working District. The whole registration only took an hour, and he still had a lot of daylight left to finish his work.

  Callum thought. However, now that he’s an adventurer, he wouldn’t need to work as a courier.

  From what he’d heard from Nick, the pay from each quest above iron rank would be enough to pay for their food and stay in the inn. His pay only amounted to a few copper, a small amount compared to the Dins and Tins an adventurer could make in a single day.

  “But I might need to get some armor and a weapon first. Also, I need to learn how to read and write. Nick had been a great teacher, but he’s too busy to teach me the common language.”

  Then, a certain barmaid popped into mind.

  He’d seen Tess teaching Sabrina how to read some books. He also knows from Sabrina that Tess was a great teacher, so maybe he could get some lessons.

  “But she’d chew me out for sure,” Callum winced.

  He wasn’t even sure if Tess would give him lessons. From the looks of it, she hated Callum.

  “No, scratch that, she hates men in general,” Callum muttered.

  He knows that Tess saw men unfavorably. After all, the male population here in Lynn is more gruff and disrespectful. Gender equality isn’t a thing in this Kingdom. Even when the Hero of Man had made some movements to eradicate discrimination, not every place agreed with his views.

  Nonetheless, Tess is the only person who can help him. He’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t die from her lessons.