Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 27: The Crystal Field

Daisuke felt a bead of sweat forming on his brow, but he concluded that telling a lie might create a worse first impression than admitting to harboring a pet. Almost as if on cue, Zephyr's tiny head popped out, looking endearingly innocent.

"This is... my friend, Zephyr."

"Oiyah?" the woman examined the pup that was obviously a manner of beast Daisuke hadn't seemed to have properly identified. "A friend you say..."

"Mr. Starfrost," the clerk interjected. "Are you, by any chance, from a small remote village?"

"Umm, yeah... but how did you know?"

"Well, you're not currently documented in the «Global Census Register». It's not uncommon for people living in rural areas to have this problem. Unfortunately, you will need to pay a compulsory service fee for that process before I can issue you your card."

Daisuke and his three copper pieces paled at this untimely news. "And how much is the service charge?"

"...One silver," the woman said regrettably.

Damn, just my luck. "I-Is it possible to arrange a payment plan?"

"Pff!" someone who was discreetly eavesdropping on the conversation struggled to hold in a laugh. "A payment plan for just one silver?"

"Ha-ha! Just what kind of merchant are you?"

"Bahahaha!"

Laughter erupted throughout the entire lobby.

The clerk shrunk back, her smile awkward.

Daisuke's shoulders hunched, his body trembling with embarrassment. But despite the blatant mockery, he held the woman's gaze firmly, refusing to back down. "I'm sorry for putting you on the spot, but I really need this—please..."

"...I'm sorry, but we don't offer any services on credit."

"I-I have a product I can sell; you can take the difference from the sale."

"I'm sorry, but without your ID, the guild cannot engage in any form of business transactions with you."

The merchants were still laughing, but Daisuke persisted. This was an important juncture in his life; if not now, then when would he make any kind of progress?

"Can you at least tell me what this is?" he asked, pulling out a shimmering blue shard from his pocket.

"We only provide appraisal services to our members—"

"That's enough," the old woman said in a calm undertone, yet the clerk and all the merchants fell quiet. "I will personally allow and oversee the payment plan."

"Pff!"

The elder shot the man a penetrating gaze, and he immediately fell silent, swallowing the laugh. All the other merchants looked away nervously.

"G-Guildmaster?!"

Daisuke's eyes widened at the clerk's exclamation. "Guildmaster? Then she's..."

Fingers laced behind her back, the tiny woman peeked out from a single eye, glancing from the silver-haired boy to his canine companion. "Now then, I expect you to keep your word and follow through with the agreement."

"O-Of course!" Daisuke responded with a ninety-degree bow. "Thank you so much!"

More than half of the merchants could be heard clicking their tongues, and a few even dared to scowl.

The woman turned on her heels to leave. I could have simply paid the silver myself, but I'm curious what those two will look like the next time I see them. "Now then, go ahead and take care of the rest, Jean."