Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Receiving unexpected support and intelligence from the guild was a morale boost for the Trailblazers.

This meant there might be a "shortcut" in their current expedition—an enticing prospect.

Of course, to leverage the guild's resources and reputation, they would need to contribute in return. Simply boasting about their abilities without proof would only invite resentment and unnecessary trouble.

With that in mind, after a restful night at the guild's inn, the next morning found both Venti and Dan Heng awake early, heading to the guild hall to browse suitable commissions.

However, since the day's new commissions were still being processed, the noticeboard displayed only the "leftover" tasks from the previous day—the low-reward or high-risk jobs that had been passed over.

[Eliminate the Bandits on Mount Boar Fang!]

Client's Description: Recently, a new group of bandits has taken over Mount Boar Fang. Not only have they seized control of the village's vital water source, but they've also begun robbing traveling merchants. The village is now suffering from a lack of food and water. If the bandits aren't dealt with soon, we won't survive!

Reward: 10 gold coins.

Guild's Reminder: The bandit group consists of roughly a dozen members equipped with crude weapons. (Note: This task was originally restricted to Jade-level teams and above, but due to the client's inability to pay adequate rewards, it has been downgraded to Black-Iron teams.)

These types of commissions typically came from villages in remote border regions. The villagers, who had lived there for generations, were unaccustomed to labor beyond farming and spent their lives tilling the soil.

Now, with the Demon King's army wreaking havoc, most villagers were either forced to flee or left to pin their hopes on the charity of the Adventurers' Guild. Even the reward money was often scraped together by the entire village.

Despite this, commissions like these often remained untouched, eventually expiring without anyone accepting them.

Even those adventurers willing to take on such jobs faced exponentially higher risks—and whether they would actually receive the promised reward was another matter entirely.

In such cases, bartering was the norm, and receiving payment in items rather than currency was entirely expected. After enough cautionary tales of adventurers being shortchanged, even rookie adventurers tended to avoid these tasks.

[Sewer Cleanup]

Client's Description: A commission from the Noble Court. To ensure the city's drainage system cannot be exploited during a monster siege, adventurers are needed to clear out any monsters in the underground sewers, assess the condition of the system, and report areas in need of repair. Payment will be provided by the Noble Court upon completion.

Guild's Reminder: Due to years of neglect, the sewer system likely harbors small colonies of arachnids and rodent-like monsters. The presence of flammable methane also poses significant risks. Not recommended for teams below Jade-level or those lacking a priest proficient in "Holy Light" miracles.

"...These reminders feel like they're written in blood and tears," Venti muttered, imagining how chaotic and haphazard the world's adventurer system must be.

Under such conditions, a guild that actively consolidated resources and provided adventurers with material support and reliable information was indeed something of a godsend.

"Venti, check this one out," Dan Heng said, holding up a commission that seemed more reasonable.

[Goblin Extermination]

Client's Description: My team was ambushed by a small group of goblins while exploring a cave. In the chaos, our formation was broken, and I barely managed to escape. However, two female teammates and one male teammate have yet to return. I fear for their safety. Please, help us!

Reward: Payment depends on the rescue outcome. An additional 10 gold coins will be awarded for each rescued individual.

Guild's Reminder: This cave was previously a goblin settlement. Based on their behavior, there are likely dozens of goblins inside. The cave's terrain is complex, with limited lighting. Novice adventurers without prior experience are advised to proceed cautiously.

The commission included a crude map marking the cave's location. On the back was a drawing of the goblins: green-skinned, short-statured, with distended bellies resembling beer barrels, long pointed ears, hooked noses, bulging eyes with slit pupils, and grotesque expressions.

In this world, goblins were infamous as a universally reviled species. Without females of their own, they relied on other species to propagate. Their lack of reproductive barriers meant a grim fate for any female captives they took.

What made goblins particularly dangerous was their intelligence. Despite their initial portrayal as dim-witted creatures, they quickly adapted and learned from fighting adventurers. A goblin with nothing but a wooden club could soon evolve into a cunning monster wielding poisoned weapons and ambushing solitary adventurers.

Left unchecked, goblins posed a nightmare for all species. Yet, thanks to some divine interference—or perhaps the world's own twisted rules—they were often underestimated until it was too late.

After reading the details, Dan Heng selected this commission, though he intended to discuss it with March 7th and Stelle before making a final decision. Given that their team included two female members, the mission's grim implications needed to be handled delicately.

While he felt March 7th was mature enough to handle difficult truths, he didn't want to force her into confronting such harsh realities too abruptly.

If the group ultimately decided not to take this commission, Dan Heng planned to handle it himself. But for now, he decided to gauge Venti's opinion. With Venti's skills, the challenges posed by the cave's terrain would be significantly reduced, ensuring a smoother rescue.

"Hmm… Some people truly have it rough," Venti mused as he studied the commission.

At that moment, a familiar voice called out behind them.

"Good morning, Lord Venti, Lord Dan Heng! May the Earth Mother's grace shine upon us like the morning light, equally and without prejudice," said Mimiya cheerfully, accompanied by the young priestess Fina.

Fina offered a sincere prayer, her body glowing with a warm, earthy radiance—a sign that her prayer had been answered.

"Ah! The Earth Mother has responded to me! It seems we'll have good luck all day today," Fina exclaimed with childlike delight, her smile so innocent that it was hard not to imagine her being tricked by a mere coupon.

"Haha, it's you two. Did you sleep well last night?" Venti casually tucked the commission into his coat while Dan Heng observed silently, revealing nothing.

"Well, it was definitely better than sleeping in a tree outside," Mimiya said, oblivious to Venti's subtle movements as she replied with a broad grin.

"But you two are really something—up early to look at commissions. Feels like you're more dedicated than us actual adventurers!"

"It's just the excitement of trying something new," Venti quipped with a laugh. "Once we get our adventurer badges later today, we'll officially be part of the guild, right?"

"At that point, we'll have to rely on you seniors to guide us properly," Venti said, feigning sincerity with a playful smile.

"You can actually say that with a straight face? I'm honestly impressed," Mimiya chuckled as she sat down next to Venti, bringing with her the light scent of citrus.

The young priestess Fina took a seat beside her and glanced at the commissions Venti and Dan Heng had set aside. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Oh! These were the ones we were considering taking earlier!"

"Really? What stopped you from picking them?" Venti asked casually, steering the conversation with practiced ease. He wasn't particularly secretive about the goblin extermination mission he had set aside, but if they tagged along, things would get tricky.

March 7th and Stelle would want to come too, and there's no way we'd leave anyone out just to guard the entrance. Not to mention, dealing with goblins could get… unpleasant. Better to keep this quiet until we figure out a proper plan.

"Well… the reason is simple, but please don't laugh at us…" Fina said softly, looking a little embarrassed.

"Because of the reward distribution. The others weren't too keen on taking lower-paying commissions."

Her explanation made sense. A typical adventuring team consisted of four members, yet rewards weren't scaled by headcount. Whatever the total reward was, it had to be divided among everyone.

Fina herself didn't mind doing good deeds without compensation, but her teammates were a different story. As an archer, Mimiya often made her own arrows, but enchanted ones were expensive, so she had to be frugal with her shots.

Zaryus, on the other hand, spent much of his money helping destitute members of his community, leaving him in no position to take on poorly compensated work.

As for the dwarf Venti and Dan Heng hadn't met yet, he apparently spent whatever he earned drinking himself into oblivion at the local taverns, leaving just enough for essential supplies. Saving was clearly not a concept he entertained.

Such was the plight of many adventurers—living hand-to-mouth, prioritizing necessities and fleeting pleasures over long-term stability. For some, the adventuring lifestyle was about living for the moment and little else.

"Ah… so it seems no matter which world we're in, financial constraints are always a problem," Venti remarked with a wry smile. He didn't mock their predicament—after all, he himself often resorted to drinking on credit and busking to pay off his bar tabs.

"You mean to say it's the same where you're from?" Mimiya asked, genuinely curious. It was hard for her to imagine powerful individuals lacking money. In this world, strength was everything.

If you had power, you could achieve anything—status, wealth, influence. High-ranking adventurers, especially those of gold rank, didn't even need to ask; others would shower them with gifts in hopes of gaining favor. Some noble families even sought to secure their lineage by persuading these powerful individuals to sire heirs.

This sort of reverence was less pronounced among the forestfolk but was practically ingrained in human societies, where the short-lived prioritized the continuation of their bloodlines.

To Mimiya, someone as strong as Venti struggling financially was almost disheartening.

Does this mean the god of commerce is actually the most influential deity, holding everyone's lifelines in their grasp?

As Mimiya began reevaluating her opinions about the merchant guilds, Dan Heng interjected, "It's inevitable to deal with money in life. But for the record, our team isn't as impoverished as you might think. It's just that Venti here spends all his coin on wine and never carries money on him."

"Hey!" Venti protested with an innocent grin that betrayed no guilt.

Mimiya blinked, recalling how Venti had managed to outdrink everyone the previous night. Half the people still nursing hangovers today had challenged him and lost.

Who would've thought a seemingly delicate bard could drink like a fish? Even if it were just water, such a feat would be absurd!

"By the way, shouldn't we check on Miss March and Miss Stelle?" Mimiya asked.

The two had partaken in the festivities as well. March had quickly rejected the taste of alcohol, deeming fruit juice far superior, while Stelle had drunk in quiet determination, holding her liquor until she passed out under a table.

Dan Heng had been the one to retrieve her before anyone could discover her there—or worse, mistake her for trash.

"They'll probably sleep until noon. No need to worry about them for now," Dan Heng replied with a shake of his head. Shifting the topic, he brought up the merchant's commission from the day before.

"By the way, what's your team's plan regarding the direct commission from Tope?"

Mimiya's expression turned complicated as she sighed. "It's less of a commission and more like a 'friendship fee.'"

"A friendship fee?" Venti tilted his head, intrigued.

"Ah, it's just something bigwigs from the merchant guilds do. They issue commissions to adventurers they're interested in, framing it as a gesture of goodwill. If the adventurers prove capable and willing to work with them, the guild offers better resources to aid their growth.

"In exchange, these adventurers often end up serving as bodyguards, taking on assignments tied to merchant shipments and orders."

Mimiya explained with a resigned tone.

"Zaryus and I declined Tope's offer, saying we weren't ready to give up adventuring for now. But honestly, it felt more like he was using us to probe for information."

"Getting close to you to see what he could learn about us, huh?" Dan Heng's expression darkened slightly.

Mistaking his concern for fear of a potential information leak, Fina quickly reassured him, "Oh, please don't worry! We didn't share anything unnecessary. Tope only knows that you and your companions are exceptionally strong. That's probably why he wanted to recruit you—there's no malice in it!"

Though Fina's optimism was naive, Dan Heng wasn't upset. He wasn't about to hold a grudge over someone's curiosity. Instead, her words stirred unpleasant memories from his past.

Suppressing the thoughts, he silently stood and headed upstairs, leaving Mimiya and Fina exchanging nervous glances, unsure if they had offended him.

"It's fine," Venti assured them with a smile. His calm demeanor helped ease their worries, and as noon approached, everyone regrouped in the guild hall.

March 7th slammed a commission onto the table with a triumphant grin.

"For our team's first mission, I think this one's perfect!" she declared.

[Investigate Suspicious Cult Activity in the Borderlands Forest]

Client's Description: A large number of sacrificial remains have been discovered in the borderlands forest, evidence of a cult ritual. According to reliable informants, the cult's objective is to summon chaos entities, posing a grave threat to the town's security.

Reward: 10,000 Kingdom Coins!

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