Chapter Thirty-Nine - Guild Me Up, Buttercup

Chapter Thirty-Nine - Guild Me Up, Buttercup

I glared at Mister Menu.

Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Cute skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!

Rank E is a free rank!

Meanie, I said as I slid out of the bed and dismissed the prompt with a wave. Sure, I was going to accept the free rank, because duh, but it wasnt a nice thing to see right after waking up. It wasnt even like I had done anything all night.

Did I snore?

My eyes narrowed.

Did I snore cutely?

It couldnt be. I slept just like any other girl.

After rubbing my eyes and making sure that Orange was okay after a night spent cuddled up in my arms, I wiped my lips clean of any drool, then unknotted my blouse which had ridden up as I tossed and turned.

Then I got up, picked my underthings off the floor, and got ready for the day.

The free room that Juliette had promised turned out to be quite a bit nicer than the one I had over in Rockstack. It had a single bed tucked up against the far wall, with a dresser and a little desk for my stuff, as well as a window that opened up onto a small courtyard at the back of the inn. The Rock Inn and Roll Inn was shaped sort of like a C, with two large bar areas that were on opposite streets connected through an addition that looked newer than the rest of the building.

Apparently it had once been two inns. The Rock Inn and the Roll Inn, but after years of competing for the same customers, Julien and Juliette had fallen in love and they combined their inns into one big establishment.Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

Once I was all kitted out and ready to go, I picked up Orange (which meant I was now all kittened out, haha!), placed her in her place of pride on my shoulder, adjusted my awesome hat and stepped out of my room.

Julien was up and about already, serving breakfast to the few people already in the room with a jovial smile. Ah, Broccoli! How did you rest?

Really well, I said. Your beds are super comfy. Is there a really rare innkeeper skill that makes your inn so cozy?

Oh-hoh! Zats a trade secret, he said with a tap to the side of his head. Breakfast?

Id love some! I said as I pulled up a stool at the counter and dropped my backpack to my side. How much would it cost to rent the same room again tonight?

One sil a night, he said. It comes wiz breakfast and a smile. For a little more you can get two smiles.

I laughed as he returned from the kitchen with a plate covered in eggs and sausage and some freshly baked bread. Thanks. I think Ill take you on that offer. Though I thought that one silver a night was for a place like Rockstack.

Ah, it is more zan what you would pay in ze West end of Port Royal. And zats more zen a room near ze docks, zough a pretty young zing like you shouldnt go anywhere near zere, Julien explained.

Huh. Well, I dont mind your price, especially not if the food is this good. I stuck my fork in a sausage and took a big bite of it.

Ah, no wonder Juliette took a shine to you, he said with a hand placed over his chest. So, what adventure awaits you today?

The harpy girl snorted. You look like an overstuffed pillow in that getup, she said before shouldering her way past me and stomping down the street.

Rude, I muttered before looking down at my gambeson. It was rather... pillow-coloured. And fluffy-looking. But if I looked fluffy that just meant that I also looked more huggable. And while I wouldnt hug just anyone, it did mean that I looked more like friend material. I hoped.

Shaking off the thoughts about my lame equipment, I stepped into the lobby of the Exploration Guild and paused to take it all in.

It looked like a museum. There were shiny weapons behind glass displays and huge, old maps hanging off the walls next to tapestries and banners that looked positively ancient. Jars and urns sat atop pedestals with little plaques telling of their stories and in one back corner was an entire scale model of something with a bunch of rooms connected to each other in a big spiral, each one with a cut-through on the side to reveal the interior. It took a moment to realize that it was a model of a dungeon in three dimensions.

I stopped gawking after a bit, made a note to come back and read every little plaque, and moved to the far end of the entrance hall where a waist-high desk hid a Grenoil woman. Hello, I said as I approached.

She looked up from what looked like a newspaper and smiled at me. Hello miss. How may the Exploration Guild help you today?

I was curious about joining, actually, I said.

Oh, I see. One moment, Ill go verify if anyone can assist you with that, she said.

No need.

We both turned and watched as a man rounded the corner at the end of the hall and strode toward me. He was a human, tall and dressed as I imagined a nobleman would, with a big fluffy ascot and a suit jacket that clung tightly to his chest.

He smiled at me. I couldnt help but overhear, young miss. You hope to join our guild?

I think I do, I said. I have a bunch of questions still. Oh, but I do have this! I reached into one of the bigger pockets of my bandoleer and pulled out the letter Leonard had given me all of a few days ago.

The man took it and stared at the seal. Unbroken. From one of our more senior members. Leonard Chandnuit? he asked.

Thats him, yeah, I said. We met in the Darkwoods.

Well well, he said with a growing smile. Would you mind following me to my office? I think you might be just what I need. He looked over to the secretary. Oh, and could I have a copy of the registration forms, please?

Of course, Mister Rainnewt, the secretary said before handing over a couple of sheets of parchment.

I followed mister Rainnewt (and wasnt that a neat name) over to a large and lavish office not too far from the entrance. He had maps on the walls and a few smaller displays with strange knick-knacks, but he gestured me to a chair before his desk before I could really start poking at things.

So, miss...

Im Broccoli, Broccoli Bunch! I said.

Well, Miss Bunch, Im Tarragon Rainnewt, one of the senior members of the Port Royal branch of the Exploration Guild, he said while sitting down across from me. He crossed all his fingers together above the forms he had requested. Do you mind if I read the letter? Itll take but a moment.

Go ahead, I said.

While he read, I resisted the urge to kick out my legs while I slowly sank deeper and deeper into the plush chair.

Well well, he said as he set Leonards letter aside. His smile was dazzling. Youre an interesting one, arent you? I think I might have an interesting offer in return, Miss Bunch, if youre keen to listen to it.