“...Yes,” Bai Xuan admitted frankly. Since he had already asked, there was no need to hide it.
Lorrain remained silent for a moment. He closed the crystal box and spoke in his usual flat tone.
“The Outer Town only has the Adventurer’s Guild. Registering there only gives you the status of an adventurer, not a formal Professional Inscription. If you want a Class, you must go to the Inner Town.”
“The Class Halls for various professions are all there. You just need to pay a ‘small’ fee to enlist.”
“As for advanced roles like Priests or Paladins...” He paused and looked at Bai Xuan.
“Only the Church established here, or the very few cities with a Temple of the Goddess of Life, have the authority to grant and inscribe Holy Classes.”
His words became increasingly clear and cold. “Without a letter of recommendation from a sponsor, a noble, or a well-known mercenary group—or a donation large enough to tempt a bishop-level figure...”
“...they won’t even arrange the most basic professional aptitude test for you.”
Lorrain’s gaze swept over Bai Xuan’s plain white robe, which lacked any family or church crest.
“For you, the hardest part might not be mastering the skills.”
Bai Xuan rested his chin on his fingertips, lost in thought.
Although he had expected it, hearing about such blunt, realistic barriers still brought a wave of pressure.
The Inner Town, recommendations, donations... every single one was difficult.
“I understand. Thank you for the information, sir.” Bai Xuan nodded to Lorrain and asked no further questions.
The information was clear enough; the rest was up to him to plan.
“You’re welcome.” Lorrain gave a slight nod and picked up the flask to continue wiping it.
He returned to his initial state of being immersed in his own world, as if the conversation about professional barriers had never happened.
Bai Xuan glanced out the window. It was nearly dusk.
He bid farewell to this mysterious “Forbidden Alchemist” and stepped out of the 【Coarse Pottery Flask Shop】.
Back on the street, the twilight was deepening, but the bustle of the Outer Town had not subsided. Instead, it grew livelier as the taverns began their business.
Bai Xuan decided to find a tavern to sit in and listen for any rumors.
He chose a place not far from the main street with a very straightforward name: 【Big Skewer Tavern】.
As he pushed open the door, a wave of noise mixed with the warm scents of ale, roasted meat, and sweat rushed over him.
The interior of the tavern was more spacious than it looked from the outside, with over a dozen wooden tables of various sizes. Most were currently occupied.
The sounds of boisterous laughter, clinking mugs, and dice rolling in wooden bowls were constant.
Most of the customers were dressed as adventurers, with leather armor and weapons visible everywhere.
Behind the counter stood a tall, thin middle-aged man wearing a headscarf, his face tense as he quickly calculated accounts and gave change.
There was also a proprietress who still retained her charm wearing an apron, and a lively girl of about sixteen or seventeen with a ponytail.
They were busy moving between the tables, delivering large mugs of ale and wooden platters piled high with meat skewers.
Bai Xuan’s appearance drew some gazes.
His pristine white outfit was indeed eye-catching in this jungle of iron and leather.
Those gazes carried curiosity, evaluation, and a hint of the usual caution reserved for spellcasters.
However, they quickly dissipated as he behaved quietly, and everyone returned to their own revelry.
Bai Xuan scanned the room and noticed a row of high stools and small tables along the wall, specifically reserved for solo travelers.
He walked over and sat in a corner that was just close enough to hear a group of burly men bragging at the next table, but not so close as to be conspicuous.
As soon as he sat down, the girl with the ponytail jogged over.
Her face was flushed from the work, and her gaze quickly darted across Bai Xuan’s face and the staff by his side.
She handed him a greasy wooden menu and said in a clear voice, “What would you like, guest? Today’s roasted venison is our specialty—the meat just arrived!”
Bai Xuan glanced at the menu. As expected, it mainly featured various roasted meats and drinks. “An order of roasted venison and a glass of apple juice, thank you.”
“Alright! Just a moment!” The girl noted it down and turned to squeeze through the crowd toward the kitchen as nimbly as a deer, stealing one last quick glance at Bai Xuan on her way.
“...You guys didn't see it!”
A burly man at the next table downed another large gulp of ale and messily wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
His voice was even louder due to excitement and alcohol, nearly drowning out half the noise in the tavern.
“Just two days ago, at the Inner Town gate! That old fox of the Cross family was there with his whole household.”
“And those guards who usually act all high and mighty? They were lined up perfectly, bowing so low... Tsk, it was like they were meeting the Goddess of Gold herself!”
His companions burst into laughter, and someone urged him on, “And then? Did a real big shot actually show up?”
“Could it be fake?” The man’s eyes widened as he gestured. “That carriage was shiny black, and the horses pulling it looked more terrifying than monsters! A young lady stepped out... She didn't look very old, but that entourage, the people following her, those eyes...”
He shrunk his neck and lowered his voice. “Looking at us was probably no different from looking at stones on the side of the road.”
“And that Zane who came from the city before? The one who usually keeps his nose in the air? He was following behind that day, didn't dare let out a peep. The expression on his face...”
“Hehe, it was as stiff as a frost-bitten wildflower! It felt so damn good! Someone finally put them in their place!”
The man’s words carried the complex envy of a low-level adventurer toward the powerful, as well as unmasked schadenfreude at seeing the local bigwigs humiliated.
Bai Xuan listened silently. A young noblewoman of high status from the capital, someone who could make the local high nobility bow and scrape—her background must be terrifyingly grand.
He made a mental note to stay alert and ensure he didn't accidentally cross her path.
“And,”
The burly man’s voice rose again, filled with the pride of sharing a secret. “I heard from a buddy I know over by the Inner Town that the young lady didn't come to this backwater just for the scenery.”
“She’s going to have some fun at the ‘Glay Dungeon’ in the forest nearby!”
The Dungeon?!
Bai Xuan’s train of thought paused for a moment as the word instantly unlocked his memories.
It was a term he had seen in countless games and novels in his previous life.
Deep tunnels, swarms of monsters, ancient treasures, deadly traps... those fantasy lands filled with adventure and opportunity.
He had originally thought this world only had wilderness, monsters, and towns. He hadn't expected it to actually have this classic setting.
“Glay Dungeon...” he whispered to himself. A strange sense of excitement mixed with caution surged within him.
If it was like the stories, that place would undoubtedly be where one could quickly gather resources, hone combat skills, and even uncover ancient secrets.
But it also meant dangers far exceeding those of the wilderness.
Perhaps... this was a path worth considering?
However, before he could think further, the burly man’s “satisfying” commentary invited trouble.
“What did you say?” a cold voice rang out from a table near the door.
Four people were sitting at that table, wearing uniform dark green leather armor with a runic crest embroidered on the chest.
Rate on N.U.
