Earth: The Second

A Nice Adventurer?

The night sky outside is clear, Adma can see the moon and the stars shine brightly. He can also see many celestial objects, such as the milky way. For some reason, Adma realized that he is just comparing the sky right now, to the sky from a place where he used to be, although it just a simple fact that ‘the sky is much clear than where I come from,’ or ‘the stars are shine brighter’. He probably has to remember this to arrange the pieces of puzzles regarding his past.

Adma almost forgets his actual objective to go outside at this late of night. He does stretching first, then takes deep breaths, and doing warm-up by moving all of his body, from toe to shoulder.

“Warm-up is not necessary, you can change your mode just by thinking of it,” said Navigator. 

“No reason really, with this, at least I can grasp the feeling of how my body works,”

“Although you have the convenience to use me as the coordinator of your body?”

“It’s no use if The owner himself did not know how to use his body correctly Nav, what will happen if one day I can’t command you to take control?” 

Adma still going on with his warmups. This time he doing squat jumps, and training his steps.

“When that happened, you are probably already in critical condition, and can’t be saved,” replied Navigator, heartlessly.

“Well, I certainly do not want that. That is why I have to train to get whole control of my body,”

Finally, Adma arrived at the main training segment. He clenched his fists, and make a battle stance with his feet.

“Navigator, I wonder if you can assist me on some training maybe?” asked Adma.

“Certainly,” said Navigator. It then goes quiet for a moment before resuming. “Proceed to virtual combat training. Strength limiter set to 3%, disengaging combat mode.”

Adma’s vision suddenly scanning the whole area, and give him a piece of grid-based information about the direction that he is facing. suddenly, a blocky figure with a humanoid form appeared in front of Adma. Interface in his system quickly identifying it as ‘Dummy 1’

“This is your training partner. You are free to test your ability, with exception of the Void Canon,” said Navigator.

“Alright, I got it,” said Adma. He already knows how dangerous the Void Canon is. Even Navigator said that the use of Void Canon should be used at the most crucial moment since it will drain the huge energy from Adma’s core, and its potential to destroy either friends or foe.

Previously, at the ruin, Navigator tells him, that Void Canon can only be used three consecutive times before he has to wait for recharge. Each shot needs 24 hours of recharging, which means Adma has to lay low for three days before he is able to use it again. Still and all, this is his trump card when he going to face enemies that are much stronger than him. Such as the Dark Monster.

Adma swings his hand, giving the dummy one-two quick jab, that ended on the left or right hook. He also practiced his kick, and learn to calibrate his body, so that he will not lose balance.

Everything goes smoothly, Adma showing his moves, and Navigator assesses his movement, by calibrating his body, so it can be used in future battles. Until suddenly, a voice from behind surprised him.

“Wow, Mr. Adventurer! You are really strong aren’t you?”

From the corner of his eyes, Adma can see Pina leaning out of the window, watching him with one hand, supporting her chin.

“You surprised me,” replied Adma. “I thought everyone had already slept,”

“Hehehe, I can not sleep. Anyway, mister, who are you talking to?”

Adma Jolted as he tries to get the alternative name Navigator, which only came out as ‘Hmmmh…’ and ‘Uhhh…’ from his mouth.

“Let’s just say that it is my habit,” 

Pina just laughed a little. Adma thought to himself that she is being very talkative right now. What Adma knows all of this time, is just Pina is a quiet girl who seems does not to speak much. But who knows? maybe she is just suppressing something.

“If I’m bothering you, I will get someplace else to train,” asked Adma. His dummy and training mode then disappear, as he planning to get to another empty spot. But Pina just shaking her head.

“Nu-uh! You know, I just curious about adventurers!” said Pina.

“Interested? Well, too bad, I’m not an adventurer myself,” for some reason, Adma started to worry. He probably feels irritated to be upset in front of a kid.

“But I see that you can fight! Kiki also tells me that you have taken down a beast on your journey with Kiki, even better, with a bare hand!” there is an expression of excitement in Pina’s eyes as she confronts Adma. “People around me always keep spouting that adventurers are ‘scary’, and ‘evil’. That is why I’m surprised when Kiki told me that there are adventurers who are good at heart,” 

Adma thought that Kiki probably told the stories of her old companion. Although Adma himself has never met them in person, the fact Kiki cares deeply about them is enough to convince him.

“That is obvious, isn’t it? There are many people in this world, and you can not judge them all the same just because they are inside the same group,” comment Adma.

“Then are you a good adventurer mister? Or a bad one?” asked Pina.

Suddenly, a prickly sensation goes into Adma’s mind.

Where does this philosophical question come from? He thought to himself. 

There is silence between them for a moment. “As I said before. I’m haven’t become an adventurer.” Adma finally speaks up. Pina just shakes her head, and finally getting down from the window. She does not say anything, and just walking upstairs, back to her room.

Adma was still mesmerized by their conversation. It is as if the little girl is hiding something that she can only say to certain people when they are alone. He also feels upset, as if Pina has won some argument that happening between them.

***

Either disturbed or motivated by Pina’s words yesterday, Adma decides to go inside the city wall today. He brought the recommendation letter made which has been given by Wesser, he knew about a lot of bad rumors about the adventurers, but he decides to take a look for himself. The worst-case that will happen, is that Adma will get kicked out of the orphanage, and have to be on his own.

Just like in Kuliana, the new faces have to state their business before entering the city. This time, Adma just made up his story as an adventurer who has a business meeting. It goes smoothly, and he also got the ‘temporary visit’ card from the guards.

His first opinion when going inside the city is that the residential area here has the impression of dirty and impoverished. The main street also functions as a market for the population. Adma trying to digest everything he can in the middle of the crowd, people that are haggling, sellers that are promoting their merchandise, and noises made by living animals. At the field of intersection, he can see a map written on a wide wooden board. Right now, he is on the east side of the city, while the guild is more located on the western, right beside what it’s called ‘Merchant District’.

Maybe… I should visit Gon too? Adma thought to himself. He probably won’t get kicked out from the outskirts if he works as a bodyguard right? He just thinks of it as some option for later.

As long as he keeps walking, Adma realized that the scale of poverty is decreased the more he moves to the western. Roads are now paved, the water system is cleaner, houses are new with colorful paintings, and people wear better clothes. He arrived at the merchant district first, in short, this place is a market mainly for the non-food goodies. Such as fabric, weapons, armor, jewelry, magic items, glassware, and many more. Adma noticed a shop called ‘Mr.Green’ just like what Gon called his store’s name.

Adma passed the district, to the direction where the guild is supposed to be. After walking for some time, he finally arrived at the building with a similar name to the guild in Kuliana: Union of Adventurers. Although the building is not as big, he can already see how people at the entrance dressing like a preparation for war. 

As Adma comes inside, the crowded atmosphere is just the same as Kuliana. They all are gathering around the huge pinboard where missions are posted. Some of them are teams that gathering around strategies, and some are just adventurers that look like typical thugs.

The receptionists, on the other hand, are fairly empty. Adma decides to talk to one of them.

“Together reaching the stars,” said the receptionists, as she bowing her head to Adma. “What can I help you today?”

Adma tries to gather some thoughts before he proceeds. “How can I become an adventurer?”

“Oh, you are interested? To be an adventurer, all you have to do is just signed these contracts. Then, we will analyze your skills and abilities, so we able to get a picture of what your abilities specialize is,” said the receptionist. She is a young adult female, with short blonde hair, and makeup that makes her slanted eyes attractive. For some reason, the receptionist’s clothes are similar to what Adma thinks of ‘flight attendant’.

“That is all? What about the job system and payment?” 

“If you are a new adventurer, you will be given the rank of ‘novice’. This rank can only take on a mission with difficulties of one star (1*) to three stars (3*),” said the receptionist. “These difficulties are fairly easy, and you will be given the payment after you finished the job,”

Adma gets the picture. basically, the more you proceed out of the novice rank, you will able to take on more dangerous jobs, with better payment. 

He does think that this is an interesting job, especially when he remembers that Wesser says the importance of having sided with one faction, which will help me much for the future.