「Alright, we are heading to the inspection point, but…」
「Yeah」
「How should we get through it?」
For now, I asked Jisrare-san for instructions.
What kind of plan has she come up with?
「This time, it might be better to explain things honestly」
「What do you mean?」
「Up until now, we have explained your mask by saying 『Alec is shy』. This time, we should honestly say 『Because Alec’s face looks too good』」
「I see…」
So we will honestly explain that it is because I am too good-looking.
…If that actually lets us pass without trouble, I cannot help but question this town’s inspection system.
「After that, we will just get appraised and pass through normally」
「Appraised?」
「They will perform an appraisal at the inspection」
「Hm? If we get appraised, we can enter the town?」
「If someone has committed a serious crime, it will be written in their 『Job』. The gatekeepers check that」
「Oh? It works like that?」
I did not know that. Jobs can change like that too.
At least, my own Job has never changed like that.
Apprentice Mage, Apprentice Woodworker, and Woodworker. Only clean changes so far. That is somewhat reassuring.
「For example, if someone commits robbery, their Job becomes 『Robber』」
「Their Job becomes Robber…」
That hardly feels like something that should be called a Job…
Still, seeing that would immediately tell you whether someone should be allowed into the town or not.
「…Wait, but are there not people who would dislike showing their appraisal results to others?」
In this world, there is a belief that 『wanting to know someone else’s status is perverted』. It is considered bad manners, so people should not ask, and others do not want to share it either. This is true not only for elves but for humans as well.
If that is the case, would there not be people who refuse appraisal, even to enter a town?
「There are considerations for that. Appraisals at the inspection do not display things like level or skills」
「Ah, is that so. What kind of information is shown?」
「If I recall correctly, it shows name and Job, and also age, gender, and race」
「I see」
So it only shows the basic parts that appear first in an appraisal.
It is a relief for me that skills and titles are not displayed.
「Still, appraising everyone who enters the town sounds like a lot of work」
「Ahh, not everyone. You will be appraised because you do not have a card, Alec, but normally people just show a card and pass through」
「A card?」
「An Adventurer’s Guild card」
「A guild…? Ah, you mean a guild card?」
「Yes」
I see, I see. A guild card.
Well, that is a classic. It seems even the guilds in this world have something like that.
「I am a bit curious. What is it like? Do you have one, Jisrare-san?」
「Yes. It is about this size, and it has various things on it」
As she said that, Jisrare-san made a rectangle with her hands.
It is about the size of a license card.
「It even has a face on it」
That really does sound like a license.
「It looks a bit strange, so I do not like showing it to people」
Definitely a license.
…Still, having a photo on it is unexpected.
How do they even make it? Do they have something like cameras in this world?
「Can you get one made at the Adventurer’s Guild?」
「Yes. It can be made instantly」
「Oh. Are there no tests or training sessions?」
「Hm? No, nothing like that」
I see. That is convenient.
To be honest, I have failed the actual license exam once before.
That was such a hassle. Truly a hassle. Knowing there is no chance of failing is reassuring.
「…And while we are talking like this, we have already arrived」
「Yeah」
Right in front of us is the south gate of the town of Raft.
We can see the gatekeepers conducting inspections and people passing through the gate.
「There are quite a lot of people」
「This town is one of the larger ones in the human world」
「I see」
It is not exactly crowded enough to form a line, but there are still quite a few people. Even while I am watching, several people have entered the town.
It looks like most of them are just showing their guild cards. The gatekeepers glance at the cards and let them pass right away.
…That is not good. If I get stuck there, I will probably get annoyed looks from the people behind me.
But I am definitely going to hold things up…
Without a doubt, I will. Not just because I do not have a card and will need to be appraised, but also,
「They are watching me very closely…」
「Yeah…」
It seems the gatekeepers have noticed my masked appearance, and they are staring at me intensely…
Next to the south gate is a small building, probably a guard post.
The gatekeepers called out toward it and brought in reinforcements. This is starting to feel like a full-on security alert…
「…For now, let us go」
「Yes, standing here will not help anything…」
And so, the two of us started walking toward the south gate.
The gatekeepers continued their inspections while keeping a wary eye on us, and everyone ahead of us was allowed into the town.
And then, finally, it was our turn.
「Hello. Excuse me, I do not have a card, so I would like to request an appraisal」
For now, I spoke to them normally.
I tried to act as natural as possible so as not to raise their suspicion any further.
「…Then, use this」
「Yes, excuse me」
Unexpectedly, they simply instructed me to proceed with the appraisal. Acting normal might have been the right call.
Following their instructions, I placed my hand on the crystal set on the pedestal and poured in my magic power,
Name: Alexis
Race: Elf Age: 16 Gender: Male
Job: Woodworker
Hmm. Just as Jisrare-san said, the displayed information is quite limited.
And as expected, there is nothing criminal in my Job field. It simply says Woodworker.
Despite looking completely like a robber, I am, in fact, a woodworker.
「Alright, you may pass…」
「Come with us for now」
「Ah, yes」
…As expected, that did not work.
I had hoped I might be able to pass through normally, but no.
It seems I am being taken to the guard post. They want to question me.
Well, at least I was not suddenly restrained and tied up. I suppose that is something…
next chapter: Treasures of the Elves
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