Contrary to my worries, I got entry inside the city easily.
And yes, it was a city, as I learned from eavesdropping. And one quite popular too, due to that tower… or what was underneath it.
As I sat on a bench near a double crossing with a medium-sized central fountain I'd found after over half an hour of roaming the crowded main streets, I thought back to what I heard from the guard and others.
His first question to everyone after a curt pleasantry was: "What brings you to the dungeon city, Orario?"
Orario.
I didn't mishear it. That, and the giant ass tower I could see much more clearly didn't leave much doubt in my head.
This world had to be Danmachi. Or, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
I was in Danmachi. An anime world—not that it 'looked' like an anime world.
Not an Isekai story exactly, unless you consider my situation, which is definitely an Isekai.
By the way, my answer to that question was: To find a job.
From what I heard from others talking, it was the most common reason people came to this city. Well, that, and I heard a couple saying they wanted to join a Familia and become adventurers.
That was yet another hint that this was Danmachi.
The keywords: Giant ass Tower (I guess it was the Tower of Babel?), Familia, Orario. These were more than enough. I was quite familiar with the setting, even if I didn't exactly remember the plot line by line, or event by event.
Honestly, it was both a relief and filled me with apprehension.
Relief because it was a world I had foreknowledge of. I knew characters in it, and I had lucked out with my placement in this world— actually, was it even a chance that I was dropped near Dungeon city, Orario?
Regardless, I could work with it. At the very least, it wasn't an utterly foreign world. Or some death world like Worm or Warhammer 40k.
Not that it was all sunshine and rainbows in Danmachi either, but when compared those verses like Worm or Warhammer 40k? Yeah, this was much more to my liking.
Anyhow, now I was stuck here, whether I liked it or not.
Seeing as I was still yet to receive any notices or powers from some ROB or System, I was starting to get a bit disheartened, even though a part of me clung to that small hope that it was just awaiting some certain sceneario.
Thinking about it, those scenarios would include: Fighting monsters in the dungeon…—
I immediately shut that line of thought. I was NOT going to the dungeon as a regular human being. That was a suicide. Even if I could hope to get my latent powers (if they even exist) by risking my life, I was not ready to take that small change.
Secondly, I could get falna, a god's blessing, and maybe that'd be the stimulus that would awaken my hidden powers?
… Now, this was much more acceptable.
Also, I was bummed out on how I was going to survive here on my own.
Really, joining a familia seemed like the best way to ensure that I don't die of starvation or in a mugging gone wrong in a random shady alley.
I stewed that idea for a bit and then thought more.
Was that really the best way to go about it?
Well, it was certainly the one which I was most knowledgeable about. I couldn't expect to get by out of the kindness of random people exactly. And my own self-respect refused to stoop that low.
I'd rather do random grunt work to fill my stomach than beg.
…
… Yeah, I couldn't think of any better options.
But joining a familia came with its own problems. Specifically, my background.
Weren't the gods and goddesses here able to watch a person's history like a story or movie or something?
What would a god/goddess see if they tried seeing mine while injecting their falna?
… Oh dear. Don't tell me my best hope to survive in this strange world was actually riddled with problems of its own.
…
No. I could still work with it.
… But could I?
Also, weren't gods/goddesses able to tell when a person lied to them? So, I couldn't lie to any either.
In the worst case, I'd have to keep my mouth shut and hope for the best.
Fuck.
It was one thing after the other.
If only I had a cheat, I wouldn't be so piss scared of doing anything that might raise suspicion.
…
No, there was no point whining about it like a little bitch.
Time to act.
First things first, I needed to get into a familia.
And the best familia to enter would be…. Of course, the Hestia Familia.
Again, I was letting my foreknowledge guide me and make decisions for myself, but what other good choices did I have?
If, assuming Hestia was down here and was looking for new recruits—no, children, maybe even her first child, if I was early enough, then I could work with that.
And if Hestia was anything like in the Anime, I could request her to keep things on the down low, hopefully completely silent regarding my odd surroundings.
Yeah, I just couldn't see a way to fool a literal Lie Detection from a God or Goddess. I could try to see if it is true, but I would have to find Hestia first.
She really was the only Goddess I felt I knew well and could maybe trust.
Sighing, I decided on my next plan of action while once again suppressing the pang of anxiety that was bubbling due to this whole circumstance I had found myself in.
Fucking hell.
-x-
After a while of deliberation, I came up with a plan.
Step 1: I'd go to the guild.
Really, the guild was my best bet to find information on familias, maybe even get a direct location to Hestia or the Church she was probably staying in.
Step 2: Inquire as much as possible about Familias, rules of the city, and possible sources of employment.
I wasn't an idiot.
If my Isekai was really permanent or long-term (which I exceedingly felt was the case by the second), I'd need a source of money. And I wasn't going to go into a dungeon like an idiot hoping my powers would kick in and save me. No, I'd first try the Falna method first, before I even consider that.
Hey, maybe if Bell Cranel had already joined Hestia Familiar, I could piggyback on him to enter the dungeon? Surely the first floor wouldn't hurt. I really did want to gain an OP power, Damnit.
It was with a wry smile that I realized I was planning to mooch off or ask help from a literal 14 year old— at least, I think he was 14. I could be wrong, or this world differed from canon that I knew, so who knew.
Regardless, everything else would have to come later.
First Step, Find the Guild and get information.
Walking down the main road that led almost straight to the Dungeon & the giant Tower of Bable, I was able to ask around to help me locate the guild.
Really, it was a blessing that the people here spoke English. I couldn't imagine the trouble I'd have if I couldn't even understand their spoken language.
Hm, on a stray thought, did that mean this world was the Dubbed version of Danmachi?
Yet another question I had no way to get an answer for among a series of others.
Sigh.
-x-
Nestled snugly between two buildings, one larger and one slightly smaller, the guild made its presence known by the size of the building and the banners hanging on its windows. But even more than that, the sheer number of folks dressed in myriad of armors or dawning a plethora of weapons that seemed to go in and out of the building made it clear its purpose.
I had gotten its location from a nice old lady running a stall close to where I was sitting at the fountain. Thanks to her and following the general direction, I was able to locate it fairly easily.
Now, it was time to enter and get the information I needed.
But during the walk to this building, a nagging doubt kept bugging me.
Was I even going to be entertained if I wasn't going to be expressing my desire to be an adventurer?
I mean, it was supposed to be a public building and nothing of the sort was indicated in the Anime as far as I remembered, but it was supposed to be mainly for Adventurer business.
Oh well, I guess I'd find out real quick.
-x-
Entering through wild west style saloon doors, I could see a small bustle of Adventurers going about their business.
It really was a strange view, seeing people actually dressed in various forms of medieval armors and carrying actual weapons.
Honestly, it was making me feel a bit cautious of my surroundings. And also more than a bit out of place.
Still, taking a breath to center myself as I entered the place, I walked up to the smallest line before what looked like a receptionist desk and waited as I went through what I was going to ask.
Ask for the process on how to join a familia. Ask for a list of Familias, if possible. Enquire about Hestia Familia… On second thought, maybe not the last one. Would it be weird to ask for a random goddess's familia? Yes, yes it probably would. No need to risk it. No, a better approach would be the ask for new and upcoming familias to join. That should tell me if Hestia familia is even a thing or not.
And finally, ways to get a job in Orario.
Not sure if they would be helpful in that regard, but it didn't hurt to ask.
The line slowly shortened, and my turn was about to come.
I was looking ahead, checking out the receptionist and mostly eavesdropping on various ongoing conversations while being subtle about it.
Finally, my turn came just as I decided to check if I could ask for a more private setup, like a meeting with an Advisor? I think that was what they were called.
The receptionist was a young woman with auburn hair neatly tied back, dressed in the standard Guild uniform worn by all others who worked here. She gave me a polite smile as I stepped forward.
"Welcome to the Guild. How can I assist you today?"
I cleared my throat, doing my best to appear confident.
"Hi. I'm looking for some information about joining a Familia, the process involved, and, if possible, some general knowledge about the rules of the city."
The receptionist nodded, seemingly unsurprised by my request.
"Of course. The Guild provides guidance to those seeking to become adventurers. However, if you're looking for a more in-depth discussion, I'd recommend speaking with one of our advisers. They specialize in helping newcomers find a suitable Familia and understand the ins and outs of Orario."
Well, wasn't that exactly what I wanted? Neat!
"That would be great, thank you. Is there one available right now?"
She glanced down at a small ledger on the desk, flipping through a few pages before looking back up.
"We do have a few advisers available. Though, just to clarify—are you intending to register as an adventurer, or are you still considering your options?"
"Still considering."
I admitted easily.
"I want to make sure I understand everything before making a decision."
Her expression softened slightly, as if she was used to hearing that.
"That's a good mindset to have. Most who come here to register don't understand that, unfortunately."
She sighed a little before continuing.
"Let me see who's free..."
She scanned the ledger again before nodding.
"You're in luck. There's an adviser named Misha who's available. She should be able to answer all your questions. If you'll wait there, I'll let her know."
Uhh… I didn't remember that name, honestly. I was a little bummed out that it wasn't Eina. I would have liked her to be my advisor if only because she was very thorough and did her job with due diligence. Her being a known character from the anime was also what made me want her as my guild advisor.
In the end, it didn't matter, I supposed. I'd still hopefully get the information I needed. I'd just miss the chance to see a well-known side character from the Anime.
I let out a breath trying my best to hide my disappointment and nodded.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
She left and I moved towards an empty sofa near the corner, close to what appeared like side rooms, perhaps used for more personal matters.
As I walked, however, I felt a bit of anticipation creeping in.
Finally, I was going to get some real information about this place.
-x-
I didn't have to wait long.
The receptionist returned after only a few minutes, though something in her expression had shifted. Her polite smile now carried a hint of awkwardness, maybe even a mild apology.
"Sorry about the wait."
She said, clasping her hands together.
"Looks like Misha just got caught up with something urgent."
I blinked, standing up.
"Oh."
Well… that was a thing. But before I could ask what that meant for me, she continued.
"But don't worry! Another adviser is available to take her place."
She straightened, regaining her professionalism.
"This is Rose Fannett. She'll be handling your inquiries instead."
She gestured toward a woman standing just behind her—buxom, red-haired, golden-eyed, and with a stern, almost unreadable expression. In one hand, she held a stack of documents; in the other, a notepad.
Rose… Fannett?
Yeah, no clue who that was either.
To be fair, I didn't know most of the guild employees by name. But I figured I'd at least recognize some by face. That wasn't the case here—though, to be fair, she did have some rather eye-catching features.
For one, she had cat ears.
That immediately drew my attention, and I had to make a conscious effort to shift my gaze away. I wasn't sure how demihumans felt about being stared at, and the last thing I wanted was to make a bad first impression.
Still, it didn't really matter in the end. As long as she could answer my questions, that was enough.
"Alright."
I said, looking at Rose for further instructions.
Rose gave a small nod, her expression unchanging.
"Follow me."
With that, she turned on her heel, moving toward one of the side rooms without another word. Her posture was straight, her steps precise, practiced. Definitely the type who took her job seriously. That was a good sign, even if she appeared somewhat unfriendly with her stoic and all-business demeaner.
I trailed behind, the low hum of the guild hall's activity fading as we entered the smaller, private space. The room itself was simple but well-kept. A wooden desk, a couple of chairs, a few shelves lined with neatly stacked documents. No real decorations, just a functional workspace.
Rose took her seat behind the desk, setting her documents aside before leveling me with a steady gaze.
"Go ahead. I'll answer any queries you have." She prompted, wasting no time.
Right. Straight to business.
I took my seat, cleared my throat, and ran through my mental checklist.
"I'm new to Orario, and I want to know more about the process of joining a Familia."
I began.
"How it works, the requirements, and what I should expect."
Rose nodded; her golden eyes focused.
"Familia recruitment varies depending on the god or goddess in question. Some actively seek out members, while others are more selective or require applicants to seek them out. Generally, joining a Familia involves meeting with the deity, receiving their blessing—commonly referred to as a Falna—and then officially registering with the guild."
I nodded along. That part I more or less expected.
"Are there any restrictions? Like, can I just apply to any Familia I want?"
"There are no formal restrictions on who you can apply to. But deities have the right to refuse applicants. Some only accept members of a certain profession or skill set, while others may refuse for personal reasons. In rare cases, a god or goddess may even refuse to entertain you."
Alright, that lined up with what I knew. Now, for the important part.
"Do you have a list of available Familias that are currently recruiting?"
Rose pulled a folder from the stack she had set aside earlier, flipping through a few pages before stopping on one.
"We maintain a record of open recruitments, but the details change frequently. Here's the most up-to-date list." She slid the paper across the desk.
I scanned the names, realizing the written language was foreign and yet, astonishingly, I could understand it. So, I did get some perks! Huh. Good to know. That abated my distress a little, but not fully.
A few stood out on the list—some larger, well-known Familias, but also some I didn't recognize at all, but knew of the god/goddess my name. After all, the gods/goddesses were inspired from the mythologies of my world, if different in their forms and background.
After going through the whole list, I sighed mentally. She wasn't on the list. Hestia's name was not listed on this list.
Trying to keep my tone casual, I asked.
"Are there any new or small Familia looking for members?"
Rose gave me a look, as if trying to gauge my intent, but answered anyway.
"A few. Smaller Familia tend to struggle with recruitment, so they're more likely to accept newcomers. Did you have a particular one in mind?"
"No, just weighing my options."
I replied quickly. No need to be too obvious about my interest in a certain blue-eyed loli goddess.
She accepted that answer without comment.
"Ah right, another question."
I continued, shifting gears.
"What kind of jobs can someone find in Orario outside of being an adventurer?"
That actually made Rose's expression shift slightly—if only for a second.
"Most non-adventurers work in supporting industries. Blacksmithing, alchemy, item trading, logistics, or even simple shopkeeping. There are also labor jobs, courier services, and, if you have the skills, mercenary or bodyguard work, though for those, Adventurers are preferred over regular people."
I hummed in thought.
"So, it's possible to make a living outside the dungeon?"
"It is."
Rose confirmed.
"Though adventurers tend to make the most money, the risk is also significantly higher. Many who come to Orario seek that wealth, but only a fraction succeed. Most tend to die before they accomplish anything at all, either by bad luck or by being overconfident or hasty in their dives into the dungeon."
"Noted."
That was good to hear. At least I had options. And hearing her talk so flippantly about the deaths happening inside the dungeon only made me want to avoid it more for the time being.
I leaned back slightly. That covered most of what I wanted to ask and could ask, but there was still one more thing.
"Are there any rules or laws I should know about as a newcomer?"
Rose gave a short nod.
"Orario follows the laws set by the Guild & the local Law Enforcement. The main rules are simple: no fighting within the city, especially using weapons, respect the authority of the Guild and Ganesha Familia—who oversee law enforcement—and refrain from any illegal activities such as theft or unregistered trading. Breaking these laws can result in punishment, including fines, imprisonment, or expulsion from Orario."
Okay. Nothing too unusual there.
I exhaled, feeling a little more confident now that I had some solid information.
"That helps a lot. Thanks for taking the time to answer."
Rose simply nodded, professional as ever.
…
"If you need further assistance, you can request an adviser again at the front desk. Otherwise, that concludes our discussion."
Rose said as our meeting came to a close.
Taking the hint, I stood up. I had asked everything I could think of for the time being.
"Got it. I appreciate your help, Miss Rose. Actually, would it be possible to ask for you again? Is that allowed?"
I asked, after a brief pause.
To be honest, I found her professional behavior quite appealing, contrary to my initial doubts. She was helpful and to the point which I liked.
"Yes, you can ask for me, but I might not always be available, in which case you'll either have to wait or take another advisor."
I nodded. That was fair.
Before leaving, I did ask if I could keep the list of Familias actively hiring and if the guild provided any Job Search services.
The answer to that was yes, and yes, for a not so small fee of 500 Valis.
Unfortunately, I couldn't pay that fee given my sudden bankrupt status and instead asked if I could pay it after I got a job, awkwardly explaining my situation with some changes.
To my pleasant surprise, that was a thing. Rose, with the sheer professionalism that she possessed, didn't even bat an eye or look at me strangely as she explained the process.
They barely charged any interest or extra fee for that. It was there, sure, but it wasn't noticeable.
With that, I left the Guild building, my mind already working through my next move.
Step one & two: complete. Now, onto step three.
-x-
Rose
Rose compiled the official documents assigned to her while her thoughts wandered to the man she had given assistance to today.
Normally, people who came to the guild to inquire about things generally did to get information regarding the process to gain entry to the dungeon. Most of the time, in case of newbies, that also meant they'd be told about the requirements to join a Familia and have a god's falna on you. Which is why she and all other Advisors were supposed to carry a Guild-approved, updated list of Familias in Orario and those who were actively recruiting with her when giving guidance to new faces.
And normally, she'd try her best to intimidate the newbies into not becoming an adventurer simply due to them wanting the fame, money and prestige that came along with the job.
It was her personal mission to make sure they didn't get into this business and eventually lose their lives to such lofty and stupid ambitions. There were much safer ways to do it and the dungeon was something to abhor and stay wary of, not adventure into. Due to her dismissive and stern nature, she'd been called named many times but that didn't deter her. She was dedicated to her cause, regardless of what others felt about it. If only she could save more lives from that abhorrent place, she would be content.
Today's case however was a bit different.
While the man did request for an Advisor, it wasn't so he could get minimum required knowledge and access to hastily enter in the dungeon. Instead, his inquiries were much more down to earth and encouraging, at least to her. The questions, while clearly expressing his lack of knowledge, also painted him in a favourable light to her. Among so many others that she had advised during her years-long career in the Guild, he seemed like a smart man and didn't immediately request a quick process to get entry into the dungeon. No, he didn't even seem interested in the idea and instead was more curious about joining a Familia, rules and regulations, and jobs outside of dungeon-diving.
She was more than happy to help steer him away from that vile place.
A part of her wondered if she should let Eina handle that particular case. Given the man's polite and sensible nature, she reckoned he was someone Eina would enjoy working with.
In fact, she herself felt fine to be his personal advisor, even if he wasn't specifically looking for dungeon-related help.
It was a somewhat refreshing change of pace to help someone look for non-dungeon related work.
For that reason, she had already searched and compiled an entirr list of jobs that didn't involve delving into the dungeon personally.
It was one of the less used facilities provided by the Guild but it did in fact help people find jobs and employers gain employees.
It was just that the majority of people who visited the place did so for Adventuring purposes.
Something she understood, but felt it was unfortunate.
Still, she was going to guide one sensible man away from the dungeon and that was food enough.
"You look happy. Did something good happen?"
The sweet yet conspiratorial voice of a certain pinkette came from behind her and she quickly schooled her expression, realising she has slipped a little.
Donning her stoic facade back, she turned towards the pink-haired girl, her fellow Guild employee, Misha who had a grin on her face, looking amused.
"So?"
Rose raised an eyebrow at that.
"So what?"
Misha huffed, her smile not fading.
"So, what caused our ice queen to smile."
"What?"
Was she smiling? She didn't realise. She quickly regained her wits and replied.
"It's nothing. Must be your imagination. Are you done with your urgent work?"
She asked, partly to deflect the question. She didn't want to give any more to the girl. Misha had a habit of gossiping and she'd rather not be a subject to one of her teasing sessions. She has seen Eina getting harassed and embarrassed by Misha and didn't want that happening. Sometimes, she pitied the poor half-elf who was subject to so many of Misha's pranks and teasings. Eina was a diligent and half working employee. Someone Rose could respect despite their clear age difference.
"Mmhm. Got it done just now. I forgot I had an appointment for today, hehe. Woops."
She stuck her tongue out, acting cute and Rose could only sigh at her antics.
Now, if only Misha had half the sensibilities and diligence of her friend, Eina. She wouldn't have to deal with those complaints and have extra work handed to her.
"You're changing the topic though. Tell me, tell me, did something good happen?"
She sighed once again.
This girl was starting to test her patience.
-x-