Hearing Gin's words, Yōsuke's eyes lit up, and he looked at Gin as if he had found a kindred spirit. "Exactly! Just like in 'Guardian Hero,' the protagonist grows slowly and becomes a hero in the end. Gin, you must know it, right? It's that super famous Sega game. You've played it, haven't you?"
"Ah, I think I've heard of it..." Gin responded awkwardly, trying to match Yōsuke's enthusiasm. Once they reached the city, Gin decided it was time to part ways.
Gin didn't know how many other world travelers there were, but according to common tropes, Yōsuke might very well be this world's chosen one. However, as things stood, Yōsuke's combat abilities were severely lacking.
Waiting for Yōsuke to grow strong enough to become invincible would take who knows how long. Gin needed to figure out if this world had any connection to his original one, whether he could return, and if there was another version of him in the Soul Society.
Yōsuke agreed to the suggestion of splitting up, understanding that the vast difference in their abilities would make it difficult to work together effectively. For Yōsuke, the world still felt like a game, and he hadn't realized the importance of having a strong ally.
To ensure Yōsuke wouldn't meet an untimely end due to his weakness, Gin offered two pieces of advice. First, find something to disguise his appearance. While Yōsuke wasn't particularly ugly, in a world full of beautiful people, he could easily be mistaken for an orc.
Secondly, regarding Yōsuke's "Universal Communicator" ability, Gin suggested that if it allowed communication with all beings, perhaps it wasn't limited to visible creatures. It might offer unexpected surprises if used creatively.
Leaving Yōsuke with these suggestions, Gin headed to the Adventurers' Guild to gather information. Being able to understand the local language, Gin avoided the communication issues Yōsuke faced.
In a fantasy world of swords and magic, adventurers and their guilds were a given. Gin quickly located the local Adventurers' Guild and, using his charisma, easily charmed the receptionist into assisting him.
The world was called "Gran Bahamar," similar to his own but inhabited by humans and other races like elves. Everyone here was generally attractive, which explained why Yōsuke had been mistaken for an orc.
The currency was in copper, silver, and gold, with copper being the most common.
Gin learned that this world had no demon king, suggesting the ultimate enemy might be something else entirely. Although the receptionist knew little about the gods, she did mention that anyone could use magic with enough knowledge and training. Magic was a skill that could be strengthened through practice.
"Gin, here's your adventurer's license. Keep it safe; while it can be replaced if lost, the process is quite tedious. Since you're just starting, you'll be classified as an E-rank adventurer. Would you like me to help you find some low-risk E-rank quests?"
Gin's good looks truly paid off. He realized that charm and flattery could be very effective in this world.
"Soya-san, while it's true I'm a new adventurer, please don't underestimate me. I have some combat experience; I just never registered before. Could you help me get some higher difficulty quests?"
Adventurers were typically assigned quests matching their rank, both for their safety and the safety of their employers. High-risk quests often resulted in fatalities for those unprepared.
"It's not that I don't want to help, but it's dangerous. Many newbies claim to be skilled hunters or exceptionally talented, but they often end up injured or worse when taking on tasks beyond their capabilities. Let's build up your experience gradually, alright?"
Gin sighed. It wasn't about wanting to advance his rank quickly; he just needed a source of income. Without it, he'd soon be homeless.
Unlike Yōsuke, who had a small stash of coins, Gin's share from the adventurers they defeated was quickly spent on registration fees.
The few remaining coins wouldn't be enough to buy even a single piece of bread. With a copper coin worth 0.1 yen, Gin realized he might soon be starving if he didn't find a way to earn money quickly.
(End of Chapter)