Volume 3: Chapter 2 - Scout
The next day, Erina went to the guild and was introduced to someone who wanted to recruit her.
「Nice to meet you, I am Souka. I am the leader of a party called Valkyries.」
「N-Nice to meet you」
She was a tall, interesting woman with short, bright red hair.
Dressed in white silver armor and carrying a short spear on her back, she looked like a prince out of a fantasy world.
Souka had the kind of appearance that would make even a woman fall in love with her.
「Um, why me?」
Erina asked Souka when she had finished introducing herself.
Why did she, a veteran by the looks of it, recruit me, a newcomer?
「Some of our members quit a while ago, you see. I was trying to recruit new members, but I couldn't find the right Tank. That's where you come in.」
「Tank?」
「By tank, I mean someone who steps forward and takes on the enemy's attack, but if I say "shield", does that make a little more sense?」
「Ahh, that's why you recruit me who has a <Shield Technique>」
Erina's innate skill was <Shield Technique>.
「That's what I mean. There aren't many women with innate armor skills. I'm lucky to have approached you before anyone else.」
Souka's happy smile made her heart flutter a little, but Erina lowered her eyebrows lightly.
「I don't know if I can be of any help.」
Souka gently put her hand on Erina's shoulder as she said anxiously.
「Don't worry. We will do our best to support you.」
Souka's strong smile reassured Erina, and she nodded her head convinced
After that, Erina was invited to Valkyries' party house.
It was a small three-story apartment building with about 20 rooms.
「I'm ashamed to say that we don't have many members now. Also, you can choose as many rooms as you like.」
Currently, there are eight people living there, including five exploration members and three support members.
At times there were more than 30 people in the house, and it was not unusual to share a room.
A large room was available, but Erina chose a 1DK room because there was a possibility of sharing a room if the number of members increased.
The room was fully furnished, with all the household goods still belonging to the previous residents.
It is fair to say that she was quite lucky to have a place to live on her third day.
Once the room was chosen, she was taken to the community space on the first floor.
The exploration members had gathered there.
Souka stands up when she sees Erina.
「Let me introduce myself again. My name is Souka, I am the leader of this party, and my innate skill is <Spearmanship>. My role is a vanguard (attacker).」
When Souka sat down after introducing herself, the woman next to her stood up in her place.
She was a tan-colored woman with long, bright blond hair in a ponytail.
「My name is Yae. My innate skill is <Swordsmanship>. Like the leader, I am a vanguard (attacker). A pleasure to meet you!」
「Shinobu. <Presence Detection>. Scout.」
As Yae finishes, the dark-haired woman next to her mutters something in a whisper.
She is not very good at talking, I guess.
After Shinobu introduces herself, the remaining two stand up at the same time.
One had a short light green bob and the other had long light blue hair.
Erina recalled that this kind of flashy hair color seemed to be popular in this city and that there were people with colorful hair all over the city.
「My name is Yumi. My innate skill is <Archery>. I am a newcomer who just recently finished my Beginner's Period, but I'm looking forward to forming a party with you」
The woman with light green hair said so first and bowed.
「I'm Yui. My innate skill is <Recovery Magic>, but as my level improved, I also learned <Support Magic> and <Fire Magic>. Just like my sister, I just finished my Beginner's Course, so I look forward to working with you.」
Finally, the light blue woman bowed.
Yumi and Yui seem to be sisters.
「I am Erina. My innate skill is <Shield Technique>.」
「Oohhh, you're the tank we've always been waiting for!」
Yae said happily in the middle of Erina's speech.
「Um, I'm looking forward to working with you.」
「Yeah, yeah, likewise~!」
Erina was secretly relieved to hear that her presence had been favorably accepted.
「Now then, we would like you to join us, and all the members have no objection, but before that, I would like you to look over this.」
Erina was handed several sheets of paper by Souka.
The words were printed on them.
「Is this the party policy?」
「Indeed. It's like a template that all parties and clans use. Read it over and sign it if you don't have any problems.」
Most of the terms and conditions are the minimum requirements for a group of people to act together, so to speak, and are somewhat specific in terms of manners and morals.
In the midst of all this, there were a few items that caught Erina's attention.
「I'm sorry, what does this "In the event of leaving for personal reasons or due to negligence on the part of the individual, the costs incurred for training will be repaid and the loaned equipment and items will be returned" mean?」
「It takes a lot of money to train newcomers, you see, including the use of orbs and crystals, and we and other parties and clans with a good track record get them using highly effective equipment and items at an early stage. So if they quit after a short period of time, we lose a lot of money.」
「Then, if you're fired because you weren't as useful as you thought you were........」
「Hmm, in that case, it would be at our convenience, so we would ask for the equipment to be returned, but we would not ask for the training funds to be repaid, and if fighting really doesn't suit you, you can stay on as a supporter.」
「I see, so that's what it means......」
「Well, you can assume that I won't ask for the return of the training funds unless it's something very serious. This is just sort of a reminder.」
「Understood. And then there's this "depending on the situation may lead to the sacrifice of an individual for party survival" is ......」
Elina asked if this was also like a subject, but when she saw Souka's expression tighten, she gasped
「Exploring is life-threatening, you see. When you can't help it, sometimes you have to sacrifice someone else. No one can blame you for that.」
After saying that much, Souka's expression softened.
「But don't worry. We will do everything we can to protect you, and we will keep a good safety margin. And if it comes down to it, I'll put myself on the line to help everyone.」
「...... I see, I understand.」
After exchanging a few words with the members, Erina decided that she could trust them and signed the document.
「Shall we go to the guild and register the party then?」
「Ah, yes. But I thought we could do it right here?」
According to the "Guide," Party registration can be done anytime and anywhere as long as both parties agree to it.
「That is true, but it is more convenient to apply to the guild for party registration. For example, the terms and conditions that you just signed can be added later if you want to, right?」
「That's ...... right.」
「That's why we ask the guild to keep a copy. That way, both parties can feel secure.」
「Certainly」
Thus, Erina belonged to Valkyries.
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