CHAPTER 4
RECRUITER
When it comes down to it, I'm a complete foreigner. I'm as foreign as a dust inside a hospital or an elephant inside a room. Despite the familiar faces I'm seeing, I'm being treated to a series of encounters that never fail to unnerve me.
"So, you haven't told us where you are from," insisted Flandre with a quick smile.
"Me?" What if I tell them I'm from Gensokyo? Would they believe me? I can lie about it, but I know next to nothing about the geography of...Teapot. The names of the cities are unusual despite being named after familiar words. They will probably catch me in the middle of a lie, and I would rather not appear suspicious to these people at the moment.
"Now, now," Kourin interjected quickly. "Don't be too pushy. She might not be keen on telling, since not all travelers like to talk about themselves." He said the last part thoughtfully, as if speaking from personal experience. For a moment, I could swear that I saw his expression darken, but it vanished in a blink.
"Not at all," I said, trying to defuse the darkening mood. "I just don't think you've heard of a place called Gensokyo." Well, no use lying now. Chances are, they haven't heard of Gensokyo. If they did, then I could get some clue how to get back, right? It's a win-win situation! Well, no, not really. I still lose out in the first scenario.
"Gensokyo?" repeated Flandre. Her brows knitted as she suddenly became immersed in thought. She nipped her finger repeatedly as she mumbled to herself.
"Is she always like this when she thinks?" I whispered to Kourin. He only returned a shrug, and then took another sip of tea.
"Where is this Gensokyo?" Kourin asked instead. "I haven't heard of it." Well, there goes that chance of getting a clue how to get back home.
"It's very far," I told him casually. "I was actually lost until I managed to find this city."
"Lost?"
"Actually, I came through a forest before coming here. Then I got attacked by bandits, but I managed to drive them away. No worries," I said, and a little bit proud actually.
"A...forest?" Kourin repeated slowly. "Do you mean the Forest of Magic?"
I nearly choked on my tea. After Teapot, I would've settled for a forest named Cabbage or Lettuce. But 'Forest of Magic'?
"You must be a warrior of some skill," continued Kourin. His remark, despite being praise, didn't please me as much as it should have.
"Why? Is the Forest that dangerous?"
"The Forest of Magic is supposed to be cursed," chided Flandre as she seemingly sprung back to life, or at least back into the conversation. "Superstition and what-not. However in reality, its chief danger comes from the bandits use the vast expanse of trees as cover for their hideouts. I guess you were lucky that you were not ambushed by a bigger group of bandits, else you probably wouldn't be here talking with us."
"So why is it called like that?" I asked out of curiosity. I was actually fishing for a clue. There must be a reason why I woke up inside that forest in this world, and why it was named after the same forest where I lived back in Gensokyo.
Flandre's expression darkened. She said in a low tone, "It is said that ghosts and spirits wander about the Forest of Magic. People say that these spirits hunger for human flesh, and they hunt down unwary travelers who stray too far inside the thick woods." She glowered at me as she continued her story, reminding me of Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. It's a famous child's game in Gensokyo, especially in summer. Of course, ghost stories are hardly scary in Gensokyo anyway, since spirits and ghosts usually visit the Human village around that time and everyone is used to them.
"And when they eat someone," Flandre continued, "the spirit of that person will join the horde of spirits, hunting other victims to satisfy their hunger."
Kourin scoffed at Flandre's story, but didn't say anything else as he finished his cup of tea. "That's how it goes anyway," said Flandre cheerfully.
"I didn't see any spirits though," I pointed out. "And if bandits live inside the forest, it means that the spirits aren't real. Else the bandits would've been the spirit's menu item from breakfast to midnight snack."
Flandre shook her head. "Tsk, tsk. You have no appreciation for folklore. What I'm trying to point out is that the Forest is dangerous. You should count yourself lucky that you were able to get out of the Forest without any map or sense of direction."
?I guess,? I answered quietly.
"Still, you did drive away some bandits by yourself" Kourin butted in. "It means you know how to take care of yourself in the wild."
I shrugged. Without my magic or hakkero, I'm pretty much screwed if I find a serious opponent.
"Maybe you should try enlisting for the Prismriver guild," said Kourin. "They are recruiting freelancing mercenaries to fend off bandits raiding the caravan trails, especially near the forests. If you're confident, you can try joining for some quick cash."
"Eh!?" interjected Flandre. She suddenly stood up and slammed her hands on the table in shock and surprise. "You're recruiting her within the hour you met her?"
"Recruiting?" I asked. ?Prismriver??
Kourin folded his arms and looked at me intently. "I'm a scout for the Prismriver Hunters. It's a guild that pays bounties for bringing bandits to justice, but they also hire people for guard and escort duties and other odd jobs."
"A guild?"
"Membership is easy. As long as you can hold a weapon and can fend for yourself, you can join. Of course, the guild pays better if you are a veteran, but it's a good place to start if you are just an adventurer looking for excitement."
"The guild is funded by the Pocketwatch guild," said Flandre when she calmed down. I twitched slightly at her last remark, but neither of them seemed to notice. "They are the Prismriver's top client, and most of the escort missions belong to them. Naturally, they pay top quality rates in exchange for security."
Huh. So where did I hear that modus operandi before? Sarcasm aside, Kourin's offer is tempting, but I'm not really the type who likes to get into fights if I can help it. I prefer going around people - if you know what I mean - and only dealing with them if I don't have any choice. Playing fair and straight are for squares anyway.
"I'm not really into this guild thing," I told Kourin. "I think you're getting a wrong impression of me. I'm not some warrior or something, I mean look at me. Do I look like someone who'd go toe to toe with anybody?"
I was surprised when Kourin laughed. "I don't see you like that at all. However, I think you are misunderstanding something as well. I'm a scout for the guild; I look for people with potential, not for esteemed bounty hunters. Brokers are the one who whip up contracts, usually pricey ones, for people with lots of skill and experience. I look for fresh ones which the guild can help and train to be good guild members."
"So you look for newbies?"
"Yes," replied Kourin without dropping his smile. "The guild would assign them to easier jobs that are usually overlooked by members of higher skill. Newbies are usually assigned to helping senior members fulfill their jobs like reserved guard duty, members for hunting parties, and such."
"And how are they paid?"
"As a newbie, you are entitled to a minimal fee of three Apples per assignment, and some Orange bonuses depending on your performance. It's a pitiful pay, sure, but if you scrape your way up the guild ladder, your pay becomes more substantial. Eventually, you'll be enlisted by brokers who'd hook you up with clients willing to pay more Apples and even Cherries."
Oranges, apples, and cherries? Seriously?
"Uh...what are you talking about? Why would I like an orange?" I asked helplessly. "Or the other fruits for that matter?"
"Those are what we call the local currency of Frills. Do you have a coin?" Kourin held out his hand. I nodded and took out my wallet from my inner breast pocket (I did say I hide it close to my heart), and took out a silver and a copper coin.
"This copper coin is called an Orange. You need sixteen Oranges to make a silver Apple," he explained as he held up the silver coin on his hand. "You need thirty-two Apples to make a golden Cherry." He took out a gold coin from his pocket to show me.
"There's also the Watermelon, which is worth sixty-four Cherries, but they're not often used in trading," added Flandre. She held out a coin of pure red, the watermelon coin.
The mathematics is not really a problem for me, but what is up with their currency? Still, it's nothing worse than Teapot. Once I grok that, then little remains to be surprising.
"So how about it?" asked Kourin. "If you promise to join the Prismriver under my name, I'll give you a sign-up bonus payable up front."
I thought about it. I've never been someone who was suitable for employment, and being a foreigner probably wouldn't help me find a good job. Still, I couldn't help but remain suspicious at Kourin's efforts to recruit me. It was like he's using his sales pitch to reel me in, just like the Kourin I know from Gensokyo. Except now he's peddling trying to buy my service, instead of making me buy some antique junk.
Wow, now that I said that loudly inside my mind, I think the thought just became ten times freakier.
Still, joining a guild would probably even my chances of finding more information on how to get back to Gensokyo. If I can get to know more people, I can get more contacts that I could rely on, both for getting back and surviving long enough to do so.
"Why are you so interested in recruiting Marisa, anyway?" Flandre suddenly asked. "I mean, she looks like can take care of herself, but is she really a good material for the guild?"
"Actually, I'm curious about Marisa," replied Kourin. Ironically, that line made me even more curious about Kourin's motivations. "Regardless, it is my job to get more people to join the guild. It's up to her if she accepts or not."
Avoiding the question, huh. Still, I don't want to push too hard for now. The opportunity for making some money is something I shouldn't waste. "So what do I do to sign-up?"
"Ah, just write down your name here..." Kourin took out a small notebook from his pocket. "Do you have a pen, Miss Scarlet?"
"Sure."
It took me a few moments to write down my name on a page on the notebook. It was filled with names, all of them I couldn't recognize. They were all written in the same lettering of this country, and like the travel catalog, I could read them properly if I didn't think about it too hard.
Still, after writing my name on the notebook, I suddenly realized something important and was reluctant to give it back to Kourin.
I wrote my name in Japanese kanji, like I was used to. Whoops.
Hey, I can't help it. Despite my ability to read their funny letters, I can't write them down. It's like a one-way translator. I swear, if I find the person, organization, or thing responsible for this entire affair, I'll spark him/her/them/it to oblivion.
"Uh...what an interesting way to write..." observed Kourin as he squinted on the page where I wrote my name. Probably amazed at the strokes and figures of my writing. I was also amazed at my own name myself, but that's another story I'll get into someday.
"That's how they write my name at Gensokyo," I answered sheepishly. "I'm not really familiar with the local stuff, but I can read well enough."
"...I see. A foreigner indeed," mumbled Kourin under his breath. "I don't think it won't be a problem though, since you can read and understand enough of the local language.
"I have a question though," I told him. "Why are you so interested in recruiting me?"
Kourin shrugged, but he suddenly brightened up with a smile. "Inquisitive, I like that. Truth be told, the guild is undergoing a lot of shortages in manpower. There are just way too many jobs and too few people to do them. I'll be honest, the guild accepts dangerous and life-threatening jobs, but only few guild members accept them. Those that do don't always come back alive, or at all. Some of the members are content with the safe money, but we need people who work for more than mere coin."
"Going safe is pretty wise, if you ask me," I chided in. "What's the use of money if you can't spend it?"
Kourin shrugged. "Regardless, that is why we're trying to find promising recruits. If we go by the law of probabilities, the more recruits we find, the higher the chance that we'll find someone who'll climb through the guild ladder and become an elite."
"So that's why you're recruiting me then? To add to the probabilities?"
"Pretty much," Kourin said simply. With a wink he added, "Though to be honest, I became interested with your outburst earlier. I think you'd be an interesting addition to the guild."
I could swear that was an insult. Still, I let it slide by and focused on the rest of my tea. It was already lukewarm, so I decided to finish it in one gulp.
"So now what?" I asked Kourin. I placed the teacup on the table and pushed it away.
"You should drop by the guild house by tomorrow noon," said Kourin. "You have a town map, right?"
"Yep, though I left it in Letty's inn." Flandre suddenly lit up when she heard Letty's name, but didn't say a word. "That's where I am currently staying."
"Indeed. The map should tell you where the guild is. Just tell the bouncer my name and they'll let you in. I'll meet you there along with the other recruits."
...
An hour later, I was walking along the lamplit Pickaxe Street, thinking about the events that transpired this afternoon. The meeting with Alice was eventful enough, but now I'm also a prospective recruit of a guild called the Prismriver.
And yes, I have already realized that the guild is named after Gensokyo's musical band. The knowledge does not afford me any relief, however. It only seeks to remind me that I am so far away from Gensokyo. The fact that I can see familiar faces isn't too comforting either. It is like being looking at a fifty feet wide signboard saying "YOU ARE NOT IN GENSOKYO" in black, bold letters.
I miss my home, my bed, and my cooking. Maybe not my cooking, but I do miss my bed. And my bath. I could use a nice warm soak right now. Reimu?s onsen would be better, but she?s stingy and I don?t like sneaking around in my birthday suit just to take a warm soak at her place.
It?s not even a day yet and I feel homesick already. Still, I found something to do, so I won't be bored for a while. If I'm lucky, I can find someone who knows what happened to me. I tweaked my hat a little and sighed. What is the chance of anything happening so smoothly anyway? I don't know how long I'm going to be stuck in this world, so I might as well find something better to do.
The street changed subtly as I walked. The houses became older and worn down as I moved on, and I knew that I was in the poorer part of the city. There were still people about; most of them were workers walking home. They all looked tired and worn down by heavy burdens I could only guess at. I guess I could talk to them like standard role playing heroes who do nothing inside cities but talk to random people and loot loose items from homes that were left unlocked.
Ah, who am I kidding? I'm not really the talker-type. Looting would be fun though, but I'm not in the mood.
As I turned right around the next bend (which is Hammock road), I heard a small ruckus up ahead. Letty's inn wasn't far away, and I could see people gathering around the doorstep, watching...what?
I ran towards the inn and heard the sounds of crashing furniture. I pushed through the small crowd, one hand on my hat to avoid dropping it. As I slipped past the doorway, I saw a mess comparable to my own residence.
Well, not really. My house is a lot better than this mess anyway. And I do organize my mess into tidier messes. I segregate metals from non-metals; biodegradables are stored in dry places; and mushrooms are stored inside humid containers where they will stay fresh for months.
Ahem, regardless, I saw two men rough housing the entire inn. They were throwing chairs about, kicking and laughing as they broke the tables, and generally were making a total mess of the entire place.
Letty was cowering behind the counter, ducking through the splintered furniture, cups, plates, and utensils as they were hurled her way.
Hmm. If only extortion could be a lot more subtle, but I guess that is asking for too much. One of the men glanced my way.
"This isn't your problem girl," he growled. He was such a big muscled thing. You know, kind of like some farmers in Gensokyo who liked to carry stuff by themselves instead of relying on farm animals. Very manly if you ask me. There was a time when I wished a body like that, but that is also another story entirely.
"Eh. I was renting a room tonight," I answered sheepishly. Muscle or not, I paid five...Apples...for a room, and I'm determined not to get ripped off. "Don't mind me at all. I'll be as quiet as a pea." I began to walk towards the stairs, ignoring their disbelief.
The huge guy dropped the chair he was holding and started to approach. He towered me by at least one and a half feet. I guess he liked his milk.
"I think you'd better find another place to stay," he growled. His companion, a slightly smaller but also muscled guy, continued the destruction of the inn. I saw Letty watching me behind the counter, and she was shaking her head, trying to tell me to run away.
Aww, what is a girl going to do? Wait, girls usually cower behind their heroes and princes in a fight, right? Wrong question. What is an ordinary magician going to do? Wait, mages hide behind knights because they're too squishy to take a hit from a monster half their level.
Then, the right question would be, what is a Kirisame Marisa going to do when she sees the inn where she is going to stay for the night (which she paid for) thrashed by two muscled men, bullying a woman into hiding?
Normally I'd spark them, but I guess that's out of the question. Without my hakkero, and my magic, what options do I have left?
The man towered over me, glowering like a wild animal poising to strike. I felt hot, not burning with passion though. Seriously, something feels and smells like it's burning--
"AAH!" My right pocket was starting to smoke, and it felt like it was on fire. Let me correct that. "MY DRESS IS BURNING!"
I ran around in panic, patting my hips frantically to put out my smoking pocket. I dropped on the floor and started to roll around, like what Keine taught the villagers during the monthly fire drill.
"Phew. They're out," I sighed a few minutes later. The two men stared at me incredulously, like I was some lunatic. "Sorry about that. Please don?t mind me."
I held my hand up in apology and a small piece of paper fell out of my pocket. I caught it with my other hand and realized that it was one of my spell cards. I turned it over to find out which one.
"Love Storm ?Starlight Typhoon??" What the heck is that spell card doing inside my dress?
But before I could get any answer, the floodgates of chaos were unleashed.
CHAPTER 4 END
