Volume 2 Chapter 3 Recruiting A New Member
After looking at several other quests, it seemed like a significant portion of them required a party of four or more.
"I see... Is this specified by the clients?"
"No, it's usually the Adventurer's Guild estimating the danger level and specifying this number under the assumption that it would be risky otherwise."
Clay's knowledge continued to impress us today. This guy knows everything.
"So, what should we do... If we were trainees, we could've just invited someone from our batch, but how do we invite a new member?"
Ice said with a somewhat disheartened expression. Indeed, that might be quite the challenge.
After all, this is the Adventurer's Guild. Most people here are already in parties. We don't have the social skills to convince someone to leave their current party and join us, neither me nor Ice.
That's when our genius member, Clay, spoke up.
"Let's put out a recruitment notice for now. Anyway, we're rookies trying to take on copper quests, so it might be a bit hard to find someone willing to join."
"Oh! So we can do recruitment too?"
It was knowledge from my past life, but I had somehow forgotten about it. In manga from my past life, there's usually some event where the group gains new members. I didn't have the image of actively trying to recruit them.
So, we sat down in the dining hall and wrote down on the recruitment form what kind of party we were, along with the requirements.
"What should our slogan be... Maybe something like 'Recruiting rookies'?"
"Well, recent graduates might apply, but we need to avoid drawing too much attention to ourselves."
"Yeah... it's tough. What do you think, Ice?"
"If we write 'Rookie Party,' it might feel more relatable, and even non-rookies might consider joining."
"True. We're not necessarily looking for rookies, just people who can handle themselves to some extent."
In summary, we just want to avoid trouble with dangerous guys like the thugs who approached us earlier.
While chatting and exchanging information about our party and recruitment requirements, we have come up with the following,
'We are a rookie party! We are recruiting new members.
[Positions Available]
All positions
[Requirements]
People with a strong determination to become stronger
[Recommended Abilities]
We prioritize those with healing and support abilities!
[Reward]
1/4 of the party's profits
[Party Information]
Gravity Magician: Sword (Copper), Bow (Copper), Torch (Copper)
Ice Magician: Torch (Copper)
Earth Magician: Sword (Copper), Torch (Copper)
This is an attack-focused party. Since we lack the basic number of members to accept quests, we decided to recruit.
Although we are a newly established party, we are friendly and peaceful. We would be happy if you could apply without any reservations!
[Additional Notes]
We might end up diving into dungeons a lot.
"...That's normal, I guess."
"Yeah, pretty normal."
"Not particularly good or bad... Well, we wrote down that we're a peaceful party, so I think it'll be fine."
While thinking that we had ended up settling for something safe, we pinned it to the guild's recruitment board.
"When applicants come, the guild will inform us, right?"
"That's the plan. For now, we wait."
"We have enough money, so let's take it easy for a bit."
I agreed with Ice's words, "Yeah, maybe we were getting too impatient," but Clay crossed his arms and grumbled.
"In that case, maybe I'll take on a few solo requests I can handle. I want to get stronger."
"Oh... in that case, I might have some experiments with my Ice magic I want to try too."
"Haha, suddenly all over the place. Alright, you two do as you please. I'll apply while leisurely waiting for applicants."
So, the Wade Party ended up disbanding for now. Actually, it's about time we stopped calling it the Wade Party and gave it a proper name. I'll think about it while those two aren't around.
With that in mind, I pinned a recruitment notice on the bulletin board. Now all that's left is to wait. Stretching out, I left the guild behind.
* * *
Today, a girl sighed as she complained about being rejected by potential party members in the guild's dining hall.
Her name is Toxy, a Poison Magician.
"Ugh, why won't anyone hire me?"
Kicking her feet in frustration, the Poison Magician continued to grumble. Probably will be the same tomorrow. Until her savings run out, she'll likely keep at it.
Because that's all thanks to the magic she was given with: Poison Magic.
"Hmph! What do you mean 'Dirty Magic'! Poison can be used as medicine if adjusted properly, but they don't even know that..."
For the Poison Magician, society is a narrow-minded place. Despite being undoubtedly useful, ever since an incident where someone killed royalty with poison ages ago, she's been labeled as such.
As a result, the Poison Magician became one of the unfortunate magics, following right after Slow Magic. While she thinks she's luckier compared to Slow Magic, which only weakens oneself, she's still not accepted by anyone.
"If only there were quests solo adventurers like me could take that pay more than copper..."
Iron-tier quests barely pay enough to survive if one doesn't handle several of them a day. Despite her efforts, Toxy plays with her copper-tier adventurer badge, almost in tears.
This is what Toxy's last six months have been like. She can't form a party herself, so she at least tries to join others through their recruitment notices. But every time, she's rejected. It's been a cycle of disappointment.
"I get it... that it's pointless. But I feel so lonely. I became an adventurer because I dreamed of going on fun adventures with friends. I don't want to give up on that dream..."
With a heavy sigh, she wipes away her tears and stands up, saying, "Let's find the next party."
It's generally a busy time with lots of opportunities. Just like when Toxy graduated six months ago, a bunch of new recruits are joining the guild.
That means there are plenty of people looking to form parties and plenty of others who want to join one. Maybe, just maybe, there's a party out there that would accept Toxy.
With that hope in her heart, Toxy stands in front of the recruitment board, scanning each notice carefully. But then, among the usual listings, she finds one that's not like the others.
"...What's this?"
This is getting a bit too strange, Toxy thought, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. At first glance, it looks like a typical recruitment notice for a rookie party. But there was some horrifyingly dangerous information hidden in it.
'[Party Information]
Gravity Magician: Sword (Copper), Bow (Copper), Torch (Copper)
Ice Magician: Torch (Copper)
Earth Magician: Sword (Copper), Torch (Copper)'
"...No way, what the heck is this? Gravity Magician, does that mean Slow Magic? And they're all copper? Plus, even a half-baked Ice Magician is here... and everyone's torch is copper."
Toxy freezes in place. Torch Adventurer Badge. While swords and bows are the usual paths for most, having a torch is the path of the eccentric.
Swords are normal. If one is better than others, it means they're safer. Most adventurers are Sword Adventurers. It could be said it's just a gathering of roughnecks.
The bow requires a bit of cunning. Even if one is not confident in their skills, they can rely on strategy. If they can outwit their opponent, whether they're a superior monster or not, they'll manage somehow.
But torch is abnormal. They are abnormal individuals who accept equal or disadvantaged situations against bigger, faster, and stronger monsters than humans. Because there's nothing to hide in dungeons.
To survive as a torch adventurer, strength is important, but more than that, something must be mentally wrong. Normally, one wouldn't swallow such danger.
And that's the three of them. The entire party. And they're all rookies, wielding copper.
Not iron, but copper.
"..."
Furthermore, there's the issue of gravity magic and the absence of a water magician in the ice magician.
Ice magic isn't particularly unpopular, but that's because it's usually associated with water magic. Having just one ice magician would be avoided, much like poison magic.
And above all, there's gravity magic. A magic that just slows oneself down. Yet, such a magician has somehow acquired swords, bows, and even a torch, all made of copper.
"...Stop it. This has to be some half-joking prank. They'll definitely be peeled off by tomorrow."
Despite trembling as she tried to convince herself, Toxy's hand was inexplicably drawn towards the recruitment form.
"No, wait, first off, they're all torches, right? Even if it's true, it's dangerous."
Even as she spoke, Toxy's hand didn't stop. She touched the recruitment form, picking it up.
But then she muttered.
"But, maybe, just maybe, these people won't reject me. They might not call poison magic dirty magic. ---Or rather, they might show me a dream."
By saying those words to herself, Toxy made up her mind. She had made up her mind. So she closed her eyes for a moment, looking down.
"If this is a lie, I'll poison them."
Toxy looked at the recruitment form and, despite feeling conflicted once again, brought it to the person in charge.
Even the receptionist lady in charge also seemed taken aback, saying, "What kind of party is this?"
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