Chương 48: Chapter 24 : The Job Seekers' Guild

The following morning, Emma met Aldric outside his hotel shortly after the shops had opened. The sun struggled to break through the clouds still hanging over the Parisian sky, and the sidewalks were already busy with workers coming and going. No one stopped to chat, and most people walked briskly with their eyes fixed straight ahead. Ever since arriving on Earth, that peculiar discipline had fascinated him.

"Ready?"

"Always."

"Today, we're going to France Travail." Aldric repeated the two words to memorize them. He had already realized that many modern institutions had names that revealed very little about what they actually did. He simply nodded before following Emma toward the metro station. After changing lines several times, they emerged onto a street lined with small buildings. Emma pointed to a building with large glass windows beneath a blue sign.

"This is the place." Aldric looked up at the façade. At first glance, nothing set it apart from the other administrative buildings he had already seen. Yet through the windows, he could make out dozens of people seated in a waiting area. Some were checking their phones, others were filling out forms or speaking quietly with the people beside them. They walked through the automatic doors. Aldric immediately let his gaze wander across the room. A row of chairs occupied the center of the lobby.

A display screen showed numbers that changed at regular intervals while a recorded voice called certain people to different offices. Several posters advertised job openings and offered advice for applicants. Behind a counter, two employees greeted new arrivals.

"A guild..."

"Sorry?" He gestured toward the room.

"They're all waiting to be assigned a quest." Emma followed his gaze. A woman was talking with an employment advisor. A young man was reading through a folder for what looked like the tenth time. Farther away, a man in his fifties stared at the display with a weary expression. She smiled.

"If you want to think of it that way..." △ LOCATION DISCOVERED △ France Travail Classification Employment Guild Emma walked over to the reception desk.

"Hello. I have an appointment for Aldric de Valdor." The receptionist checked her screen before smiling at them.

"Yes, I see it here. Please have a seat. An advisor will come get you shortly." They took seats among the other visitors. Aldric looked around the room. Many wore anxious expressions. Some clutched folders stuffed with documents, while others reread the same pages over and over again.

"This guild seems quite busy."

"A lot of people are looking for work."

"Are quests so scarce?"

"Not exactly."

"Then why is everyone waiting?"

"Because a lot of people are competing for the same jobs." The situation reminded him of the great merchant guilds in his own world, where hundreds of adventurers hoped to secure the most prestigious contracts. Some were willing to wait for days before a quest suited to their abilities finally became available. A chime suddenly echoed through the room, and a new number appeared on the display. A man in his thirties immediately stood up and disappeared through one of the doors.

"He has been chosen." Emma let out a quiet laugh.

"In a way." One after another, advisors stepped out to call the next applicants. Each candidate disappeared for several dozen minutes before returning with a stack of papers or a thoughtful expression. Eventually, a woman in her fifties appeared in the doorway of one of the offices.

"Mr. Aldric de Valdor?"

"That's me."

"Please follow me." He glanced at Emma.

"You may come as well." They entered a small, brightly lit office where an entire bookcase was filled with binders. A computer sat in the middle of a desk covered with neatly stacked files. The advisor invited them to sit down before opening Aldric's file.

"Hello. My name is Mrs. Lemoine."

"Good morning." Stolen story; please report. She quickly reviewed the information displayed on her screen.

"Emma explained your situation to me. We'll do our best to find a job that matches your profile."

"Thank you for taking the time to meet with me."

"Of course." She jotted down a few notes before looking up again.

"First question. What kind of job are you looking for?"

"I am prepared to protect your kingdom from any threat." Mrs. Lemoine remained silent for a few seconds. She glanced at his résumé, then looked back at Aldric.

"I see..." She typed a few words on her keyboard.

"So you're looking for a job in security?"

"If it allows me to protect the people of this kingdom, then yes."

"Very good. We actually have several openings in that field." Mrs. Lemoine turned her monitor toward herself and began browsing through the listings. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she quietly read each job title. Every so often, she nodded before opening another posting. The speed with which she searched through the information reminded Aldric of the quartermasters in the great guilds of his world, who knew every available contract and every adventurer capable of completing it by heart.

"Let's see... Security Guard... Site Surveillance... Night Patrol Officer... Access Control..." She opened several listings before selecting one.

"Have you worked in personal protection before?"

"Yes."

"Could you tell me about that?"

"I was responsible for protecting many people who faced significant dangers."

"What sector did you work in?"

"Mostly while traveling."

"So, escort duty?"

"Yes." The advisor noted down a few details.

"Did you have a team?"

"Often."

"Were you able to work independently?"

"Yes."

"Were you responsible for people's safety?"

"Yes."

"That's valuable experience."

"Do you have a security license?"

"No."

"Any private security training?"

"No."

"Have you ever used CCTV surveillance systems?"

"No."

"Alarm systems?"

"No."

"Two-way radios?"

"No." Mrs. Lemoine typed a few more words on her keyboard before looking up again.

"So, your experience is... somewhat unconventional."

"That is correct."

"This position might be a better fit. Security guard at a shopping mall. The main responsibilities include welcoming visitors, conducting patrols, preventing incidents, and reassuring the public." As she described the different duties, Aldric recognized tasks he had performed for years: patrolling an area, protecting civilians, and responding whenever danger arose. To him, the only real difference was the absence of monsters.

"Do you think this would suit you?"

"Yes."

"Very good." Mrs. Lemoine printed the listing before opening another one on her screen.

"This one involves providing overnight security for a warehouse. The patrols last several hours."

"That won't be a problem."

"You'll often be working alone."

"I'm used to that."

"The job can become repetitive."

"A quiet watch is always preferable to an attack."

"I couldn't agree more." Emma couldn't help but smile. Once again. The advisor continued printing several job listings. When she was finished, she gathered the pages together and handed them to Aldric.

"Here are four openings to get you started."

"Thank you."

"I also think it would be worthwhile for you to take a short training course. Some employers require specific certifications." She then explained how the application process worked, the typical response times, the different types of employment contracts, and the various forms of assistance offered by France Travail. Several times, Aldric pulled out his notebook to write down words he had never encountered before. Each time, Mrs. Lemoine naturally slowed her explanation to give him time to take notes.

At last, she closed his file.

"I think that covers everything for today."

"You have been an invaluable help."

"I've only done my job."

"You took the time to answer every one of my questions. I am sincerely grateful."

"I wish you the best of luck with your job search."

"Thank you." Aldric bowed before leaving the office alongside Emma. Several people were already waiting their turn in the hallway. Some looked nervous, while others simply looked exhausted. Watching them, Aldric couldn't help but think that each of them was pursuing their own quest, burdened with their own challenges. This guild was unlike any he had ever known, yet its purpose was ultimately the same: to help those in need find their next mission.

The automatic doors slid open before them, and the noise of traffic instantly replaced the quiet atmosphere of the employment office.

"This guild is remarkably well organized. Its leaders seem to understand everyone's needs. They guide newcomers toward the quests best suited to them. They also maintain a remarkably comprehensive record of available jobs."

"When you put it that way..."

"It's highly efficient." They continued walking toward the metro station. Aldric carefully reread each of the job listings. The job titles were still unfamiliar to him, but he recognized several words Emma had taught him over the past few days. The descriptions struck him as remarkably detailed. Every employer specified the working hours, responsibilities, desired qualifications, and sometimes even the salary being offered.

"These contracts are far more detailed than those in my world. Guilds usually stated only the objective. Adventurers were free to decide how to accomplish it."

"Here, companies want to know exactly what they expect from their employees."

"This kingdom is very fond of rules."

"You haven't seen anything yet." They reached the metro stairs. Emma went down first, with Aldric following a few steps behind. By the time they reached the platform, it was almost deserted. Only a handful of passengers were waiting for the next train.

"Honestly, this isn't such a bad outcome."

"Do you really think so?" She handed him one of the printed listings.

"Look. They're hiring someone to guard a warehouse at night. Another company is recruiting for a shopping mall. There's even a training course if you want to work in security."

"Then I shall have to learn the defensive methods of this world." The metro arrived with a rush of air. They boarded an almost empty carriage and took seats by the window. As the stations slipped by, Aldric continued studying the documents. Eventually, one particular word caught his attention.

"What is a canine security officer?"

"A security guard who works with a dog."

"Are wolves accepted?" Emma burst out laughing.

"I don't think so."

"That is unfortunate."

"Can you imagine showing up with a giant wolf?"

"It would probably be a very effective deterrent." They continued reading through the different job listings until Aldric finally looked up.

"Mrs. Lemoine helped me a great deal. Yet she had nothing to gain from doing so."

"It's her job."

"So many people perform their duties simply because they believe it is the right thing to do. In my world, some knightly orders existed solely to protect travelers or aid those in need. She reminded me of them." Emma smiled.

"I'm sure she'd appreciate the comparison." △ QUEST UPDATED △ Find Employment △ NEW OBJECTIVE △ Apply for Three Security Positions Reward: +500 XP △ NEW LOCATION COMPLETED △ France Travail Knowledge Acquired Employment Services"We need to submit three more applications."

"How do you know it has to be three?"

"I have... a feeling."

"That's not a bad idea." They stepped out of the metro and found themselves once again in the bustling streets of Paris.