Black String of Fate

"With this, you have completed all the requirements to become an adventurer. According to this quest, you will be assigned the D-rank. Congratulations!"

Xavier simply nodded his head, not showing too much excitement. It wasn't a big achievement in his eyes, but to the receptionist, it looked like the kid was naturally bad at showing his emotions.

"Here's your D-rank Adventurer's badge. It will serve as a form of identity in nearly every place out there. In other adventurer's guild branches, you can take on D-ranked quests just by showing this badge. Be careful not to lose it, as it is a ton of paperwork and a great annoyance to get it reissued, not to mention the hefty fine."

"Will I be getting my rewards for this quest?" Xavier asked the receptionist, who seemed to think that he was eager to get his first paycheck.

"Of course. For this D-ranked quest, the reward is 4000 Roubles. It will be delivered shortly."

"...Excuse me? 4000 Roubles?!"

"Hm? Yes, 4000 Roubles. It's fair pay for a D-rank quest, do you not think so? Moreover, the stuff you've brought back far eclipses that reward."

Xavier went silent in shock after hearing that number.

"I'm… gonna need some fresh air."

Without waiting for a response, he exited the room and walked outside to the back of the guild. He slowly sat against a wall and held his head in exasperation.

'Adventuring pays that much?! Why the fuck did I rot in the gutters of the slums for so long when I could've done this?'

Xavier, in his previous life, barely earned anything after working commissions from rich underworld lords. He just now realized that it was not because of his work quality or natural charisma that he was popular in the underworld, but rather that he was dirt cheap.

'I've killed Experts for 500 Roubles… Damn, I can't even blame anyone for this stupidity, I should've charged at least 20 times more! This is… I can't even express this feeling. Is this what getting scammed feels like?'

In the end, he just sighed and consoled himself that nothing was really lost yet in this life. Plus, he doesn't need to worry about money because of his heist at the start of this regression.

He got up and went inside the guild, collecting his reward money and badge. It was a shiny silver badge with the guild's logo and a 'D' symbol etched into it. He looked at it for a few moments before keeping it in his back pocket along with the money.

"I'm interested in selling the chalice I found to the mage's association. When will a representative arrive?"

Xavier asked the receptionist, who replied,

"It will take up to 3 days for a representative to arrive. Finding a personal belonging of the great Elemental King is a pretty big deal, so I'd reckon at least a Master Rank mage would be arriving."

Xavier raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. During these times, the title of a Master carried some significant weight. He never imagined that the chalice was so precious, that a master was coming just to collect it.

'I gotta learn more about this Salazar guy now, I've been involved in too much related to this guy, and he also intrigues me.

Meanwhile, I should put this money to good use.'

Xavier looked at his clothes, or if they can even be called that, and decided to splurge a little.

'It's embarrassing to call these rags "clothes". Plus, I've been sustaining myself on meat jerky and wild fruits for almost a week now, so I should treat myself a bit.'

He approached the receptionist lady once again and asked a question.

"Excuse me, you know any good clothes stores around here? Also a high-end restaurant?"

The receptionist smiled as she replied,

"Of course I do. There's a friend of mine who's a seamstress. She will stitch you up with good clothes that can even handle the adventuring business. Also, a branch of the Franc and Roberto chain has just recently opened up around here, and they are offering their best service to leave a lasting impression. You should give them a try."

"Okay, thanks for everything. I'll see you around." Xavier politely smiled and left the guild with light steps, and the receptionist giggled after seeing his happiness.

'Spending your first paycheck is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I hope his day goes well.'

Little did she know, it was just another pay for him after a long time. The reason he was happy was just because he liked spending money.

He roamed the town and first visited the seamstress he was informed about. He got an all-black rouge outfit with many utility pockets and a velvet cape. If one saw him, they would think he was a rich noble kid who had gone out to experience the adventurer's life.

"Umm… Usually, no shopkeeper would say this, but are you sure about spending so much money? It's a very high quality nearing about 1000 Roubles, and as a child, you'll grow out of it quickly."

"Then I'll buy a new one. I like this the best right now, so I'll keep it."

Xavier replied while admiring himself in the mirror. He liked to dress in black, so this outfit immediately caught his eye. Plus, that velvet cape was all style points for him.

He paid upfront and then left for the restaurant. The branch owners, seeing the good quality clothes on him, assumed that he was a big spender and treated Xavier like a VIP.

And he was a big spender. He spent nearly 500 Roubles in a single meal, ordering very high quantities of top-quality dishes that were enough to feed a family of 4. While the chefs and servers doubted that all this would go to waste due to a spoiled noble, Xavier surprisingly finished it all.

'Ah, that hits the spot. Spending money like this feels so good. I don't have to worry about money at all in this life…

Now that I've enjoyed myself, let's plan for the future a bit.'

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