>>6032890“And where’s your party, huh? Too good to work with the rest of us, old man,” Old?! Your body’s in its twenties! “Or the more likely option, you were kicked out of your last one for your shitty equipment and boorish looks!” He shares a laugh with his all-female party. Wait, when did those guys show up?
You don’t comment on how your sword, The Throngler, is probably more efficient than the unwieldy gilded thing at his side or how your plain tunic and pants hide a veritable armory. That you will <span class="mu-i">definitely</span> take better care of after Lorina’s tongue-lashing the other day. You do however feel rather uncomfortable under everyone's gazes, “Can you like go away? I just want to see what quests are posted today.”
“And why should I? It’s my duty as an Iron Rank to make sure shitty adventurers like yourself don’t go and get themselves, or their party, killed due to their incompetence!” He boasts as much of the tavern nods their head in agreement. He must be the local big shot around here, from the looks of his equipment, probably a second or third son, who decided that using family wealth to acquire good equipment would make an adventuring career an easy one, leading to quick popularity and power. Though unlike Silas, who had much the same situation, the body language, equipment, and stereotypical “anime bad guy” lines make it seem he’s trying to downplay his lack of skill by gaining a reputation. Wait why are you even thinking about this there’s a much more pressing concern-
“Wait, you're only Steel?” The words fall out of your mouth causing the man to reel back as if he was struck. Does this situation have to be so dramatic?
“What do you mean I’m only Steel?! I, Elric de Glori, am a Mageknight graduate and the highest-ranking adventurer in Ivern!”
“But that’s- You’re only level four?”
There are ten levels for adventures, each assigned a metal because of course they are. In order they are, Copper, Bronze, Iron, Steel, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Platinum, Mithril, and Adamantite. You yourself are level seven which is decent enough for doing this as a hobby, you probably could be higher but your actual job makes adventuring on the regular hard to do. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t have access to the internet, Goddess knows you’d have never made it this far in the Guild if you could spend your time doom-scrolling instead of gaining fighting experience.
Elric goes to protest but is stunned when he sees you pull out your blue-tinted license, “You’re lying- there’s no way,” Then his eyes bulge and he starts to sweat as he sees what “class” you’re registered as, “I-i’m so sorry, Inquisitor! I swear I had no idea!” Shocked gasps echo across the tavern as the tables turn in this very serious social encounter. You want to groan and call the man in front of you an idiot but you know that would just escalate whatever this is.
