Age of Summoner

“So, one ID slot?” Madame Fon asked.

“...Okay.”

It seemed like he had no choice. Once he had decided, all he could do was nod acceptably.

“Very well.”

Seeing profit coming in, the owner beamed ear to ear. Crouching down to pick up a tablet in a cabinet, she pressed onto a strange-looking application that Joke did not recognize before pressing again a couple of times until a sign-up window appeared.

“So go ahead and fill out your information. I’ll go grab you an ID slot.”

She then handed him the tablet before disappearing into the back of the store, leaving Joke to stand there in confusion by the counter alone. He eventually shrugged before typing characters into the information field, which asked similar questions to general registration forms such as gender and birth date… There was a bit of a hassle in the national identity number fill-out field, and Joke also did not know what to type into the bank account number fill-out field, but he left it blank as it could be skipped.

“Finished?”

Madame Fon returned shortly after with a small-sized paper box with an AOS emblem attached to its front in her hands. As Joke still had little idea of what it was, he handed back the tablet while asking:

“So, what is this ID slot used for?”

“Oh, this?... It can be explained as a device for storing each player’s ID card, I guess. It can store both the cards used in the game and also the ID card, a connector bridging to the online and duel systems from around the world. It was basically a personal device or identity card that every player needed to have.

“So, you can’t play the game without it?” Joke asked.

“Correct.”

The lady smiled in return before picking up the tablet, which was filled out with information, to have a look.

“Let me see… Jakkarin Pitaksilp, 22, national identity number filled out. Guess you’ll link your account number later. Yeah, okay.”

She responded clearly before filling out some characters and passwords to confirm that registration until the system started loading for a short while. She then closed that program, turned on the computer behind the counter, and inserted a black card into some strange-looking device that was placed nearby.

“Wait for the system to update, then confirm your ID. It’ll be done in less than five minutes. While waiting for that to load, let’s look at this device first,” Madame Fon stated while placing down the box she brought in front of Joke. “Like I had previously explained, this is an ID slot. It is a device that connects your player ID to every AOS’s system. Hence, you have to always bring it along every time you want to use any services regarding the game.”

“Okay,” Joke nodded in response.

“This is a device that holds both your cards and ID card as I had previously mentioned. There's a battery inside so that it can send out wifi signals at all times. So, you also have to charge it before using it. A device can store up to a hundred cards. It’s been insured for a year. If there are any problems, you can claim it within seven days.”

The same good old explanations you received when buying electronic devices were also presented.

When she opened up that box to see what was inside, there was a metal box the size of a large mobile phone. It was relatively thick. Its weight—once Madame Fon handed it to him—felt light enough to be comfortably stuffed into his pants pocket.

“There are no scratches on the device. You’re okay with it?” Madame Fon asked.

“Uh, yes.”

Joke replied. The truth was, he did not know how to verify it. It could be said that he was still confused and uncertain about it. He pulled out four hundred baht from his wallet, immediately handing it to the owner of the store.

“Alright. I’ll let someone explain the next part to you then.”

Madame Fon smiled before poking her face to the other side and cupping her hands around her mouth, screaming loudly:

“Rin, can you come over here? I need a favor!”

The store quieted down for a moment with that scream. It could be seen that Madame Fon called towards the group of people that were gathering around the chair at the back of the store. A young lady who was in the middle of the group stood up with a curious expression.

“Yes? What do you need my help with, Madame Fon?”

A sweet-sounding voice reposed before a thin figure suddenly walked towards the counter. Looking closely, it seemed like this young lady was quite adorable: fair skin and petite with a nice smile. Her deep brown hair was tied up into a loose ponytail. She was in a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts which seemed comfortable.

“This guy just came to the store for the first time and also is a beginner. So, I want you to be his guide.”

“A guide?”

The young lady went still for a moment before making eye contact with Joke in puzzlement. But it seemed like the word “guide” reached the ears of the guys gathering at the back of the store, causing them to laugh out loud.

“How unfortunate, Rin. Forced to work by our Madame Fon again.”

“How many times has our Rin had to spoil the madame in helping newbies like this?”

These annoying chatters caused the “madame” to snarl at them.

“Shut up, you ungrateful jerks. Never heard you once complain when you first came asking for help from my store. Now you dare act out; won’t do anything I ask you to... Don’t worry, Rin. I won’t let you work for free. Call it a quest to help a newbie. How about I’ll give you two Retina Packs as a reward once you’re done with it?”

“Eh, really? If so, I’ll gladly help you.”

The young lady replied with great joy. While clamor erupted from the guys at the back of the store.

“Hey, why don’t you tell me that the reward will be two Retina Packs? If it’s like this I can also teach him!”

“You can choose me instead. I can also teach the newbie!”

Once they heard about the reward, these madmen went into a hectic fight over the job, causing Madame Fon to snarl at them.

“In your dreams. I’ll never let you guys teach the new kid. How many newbies that were taught by you had fled my store never to be returned? If it was a boy, you went and harassed them. If it was a girl, you went and hit on them… It’s best Rin got the job.”

Objections swelled, one after the other; most of them went along the lines of “What the hell?!” and “You wicked madame”. But of course, the person who was “praised” paid them no attention. She smiled widely at Joke, not caring about all the chirpings around her.

“Worry not, young man. Rin will be teaching you all about it. I guarantee that you cannot find a person who knows more about AOS other than adorable Rin. And here… your ID card has just been completed.”