I wanted to be more than just a retainer. My name is Rikka Takarada, and on Earth I was known by my peers for being an adept typist with nimble fingers. However, up until now, I worked mainly as a retainer for Maki Harukawa, the Redeemed One, and a rogue. But while I was selling my first badge of goods, an idea came to me. What if I could be a retainer for someone but also be an adventurer myself?
While I was doing my first retainer mission (I do retainer work in a different set of gear when I am not doing my adventuring solo), I asked Maki the question while she was watching people go in and out via the aetherytes. It was an honest discussion.
"Maki, can we talk?" I asked her at the Drowning Wench.
"No problem, let's hear it," she said, all ears.
"I want to be an adventurer too. I mean, it's good to help you out and be a rogue or rather ninja under your wing, but I want to be able to be just like you and do a lot of work on my own terms."
"Interesting, interesting," said Maki, who drank some orange juice, smiling wide. "I knew there was something about you that made me think, retainer work will not be enough. You've got the look, the body, the eyes, the charm...you're fit to be one of us."
"Who is us?"
"Our personal secret society: the Misadventures Team. They consist of me, the leader who is my sister Kahori, Georgette Lemare, Aoba Suzukaze, Megumi Katou, and Miku Argentea. That is us. We span different timelines and eras, but we are united under this timeline and this period in the realm's history. And we're young women that have had our share of lumps, our misadventures. Hence, the name."
"Wow..."
"I am going to give you a provisional membership into our team, but you are going to need to do a lot of work and raise a lot of coin to be a full member so that you are our Lucky Number Seven. Where are you with your work."
"Arcanist, Level 9, but I have hit a gap in my progression. I need gil to get a piece of gear at a level that will allow me to continue things."
"So I will go ahead and give you some useful stuff to start."
"What are these?" I asked.
"These are some minions and mount whistles. You will be able to ride on mounts to get to places once you advance at a certain point in the story. The minions are nice tag-along pets but are useful in a certain game at the Gold Saucer, the casino in this realm, based in Thanalan."
"Thanalan?"
"It's a desert region, but you will need to take care of some business here before you can go there. Your partner is the Gridman, right? Why didn't you pick Gridania?"
"You assigned me here, Maki. I like this place. So I will go ahead and start here."
"You know that you won't be able to unlock rogue until next level up, right?"
"I'm not in an immediate fush to move up, since I'm just getting started. But I really want to make the most of my time here."
"I'm sure you do. So, Rikka, welcome to the Misadventures Team as a Provisional Member. Once you get a decent deal of work done, we'll know and we'll convene here to let you know of our decision. We believe in merits being the key to success in our society and once you are in, you are golden. "
"Golden?"
"Which means we'll do our best to help you out with finances to help you get work done." She lifted my chin. "I will make you my student. I need you to be successful. Got it, Riks?"
"Yes, Maki!"
"All right, so I will leave you to your work. In terms of your retainer mission, get on the grind, sell what you have, but be sure not to ignore your own concerns. It will be a grind. My sister and I just want you to enjoy the journey, Rikka of the Nimble Blades. And I will see you around."
"Bye..." There I was, staring at my orange juice and apple tart, realizing that I was not only working for Maki but for me. It's weird to know that I work for my teacher and for me, but I suppose this is the power of adventuring. This One's For You, Yuuta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRokyTHwqf8
