Let's Become an Adventurer
A special scroll that erases magic attached to objects or people.
Its price is astronomically high, and only a limited number of wizards can create it.
However, it's highly effective for subduing those who rely blindly on magical gear.
The level of magic it can dispel varies greatly depending on the scroll's creator.
The leader was still smirking.
'Good thing I didn't sell it.'
It was an item from the Red Tower, renowned as masters of magical item crafting. A Magic Nullification Scroll that only an archmage or higher could produce—and from the Red Tower, no less. He was certain it would work.
"Heh heh. Why? Surprised?"
As he rifled through the merchant caravan's spoils, the leader grinned again at his own wise decision to hold onto this lucky find instead of selling it. Money was nice, but life was more important. Even as half his men died, he hadn't used the priceless scroll... but in the end, he had.
The legendary magical armor Sung-tae wore would revert to ordinary steel, but he could more than make up for it by selling Garba at the slave market.
"......"
Sung-tae stood utterly still, like a suit of armor on a display rack. He was verifying whether the magic had truly been dispelled, checking the connection to his magic circles. But to the leader's eyes, he just looked like a pathetic noble who couldn't move his heavy armor now that the magic was gone—a fool who trusted only in his gear.
"Now it's time to die."
The leader drew his sword. A blue aura shimmered from the blade like heat haze—not magic or mana, but the keen edge of a master-forged blade. His sword, made of mithril, was a trophy from raiding a caravan: a dwarven sword that could slice through steel. Armor stripped of magic couldn't possibly block it, he thought.
"Die!"
Like a swallow skimming water, the leader shot forward, slashing diagonally from below in a sharp line toward the black armor.
'Just as I thought—no magic means the weight freezes him solid. What a rank amateur!'
Pulling back his extended arm, the leader thrust at the helmet for the finishing blow. Unfortunately, his sword had long since vanished, leaving only the hilt behind.
"!?"
"Phew. Thought it was all gone for a sec. Was that just bluffing?"
Sung-tae flexed his hand, checking the armor's condition. Inspecting the magic circles, he confirmed no damage from the nullification spell. Gepelt's skills rivaled an archmage's to begin with. Plus, those hundred thousand circles etched over ten weeks weren't about to vanish from a single scroll.
At minimum, it'd take an archmage versed in magic circles slaving away—or destroying the armor outright. Or Sung-tae pushing beyond the circles' limits.
"Still, better double-check just in case."
"Gaaah!"
The leader clutched his leg, rolling on the ground after a shin strike. His leg was bent in an impossible direction, bone tearing through flesh and leaking marrow like tears.
"That force gives a clean break. Now for something less brutal..."
"Guhhh!"
Sung-tae grabbed the leader's wrist as he crawled like a worm and squeezed. With a crunch, the wrist bones pulverized into powder.
"Good. That's the right strength. Now bruises..."
"St-stop thaaat!!!"
Despite the leader's desperate screams, Sung-tae's fists showed no mercy. The relentless beating left blue welts across his body before finally stopping.
"Next up..."
The experiments weren't over. Internal organ rupture. Skin-only damage. Fist-wind attacks only. Sung-tae diligently calibrated his strength on the leader as a test subject. By the end, the man was in such agony that death would have been a mercy.
"Pl... ease... kill... me..."
"Really? Want me to kill you?"
"Pl... ease..."
"Nah, don't wanna."
Sung-tae had no intention of killing him—not out of some half-baked philosophy about respecting life. He'd already slain over fifty bandits past fifty, and from the moment he arrived in this world, he'd been prepared to kill.
"Who'd you say to kill? Say it again. Might do it if you do."
He was furious. His body couldn't die or be hurt anyway. What enraged him more than threats to himself was the mockery toward his loyal subordinate.
"Grrgh..."
"Can't even talk anymore? Guess I won't kill you then."
Sometimes living hurts worse than dying. Sung-tae gazed coldly at the writhing leader.
"My lord, someone approaches."
"The ones who fled coming back?"
Garba's wolf ears twitched, pinpointing the noise source, and turned her head. Sung-tae looked too, but contrary to his guess, they weren't bandits.
"Ugh! Blood everywhere!"
"Who are you!"
Three men in light armor with moderate gear drew weapons, wary of Sung-tae's group amid the bloodbath.
Sung-tae, anger not yet cooled, asked coldly, "And who the hell are you?"
"We're adventurers! We took a commission to hunt Ignis's spawn... Wait. That guy—is he...?"
"The wanted poster dude?"
"This one?"
Sung-tae nudged the leader's corpse with his foot. The barely breathing head lolled sideways.
Remembering their words as he prodded the fresh corpse, Sung-tae asked, "Hold up. Who'd you call him?"
"He's dead."
"No way..."
Ignoring him, they asked back, "You an adventurer too?"
What if there was a world where humans could wield immense power without guns or weapons?
A world where personal prowess granted authority?
But one with nations and order too?
Chaos from individual might would be limited, but wouldn't people grow numb to death inevitably?
'They're carrying it well.'
The leader's head—now just a lump on the adventurers' shoulders—glared at Sung-tae, eyes frozen open from pre-death torment. Annoyed by the stare, Sung-tae closed them.
"Truly grateful. Sharing the bounty with us like this."
"Jackpot!"
"Nah, I need a favor from you guys anyway."
They introduced themselves as adventurers hunting Ignis's spawn, targeting the leader's bounty. Sung-tae half-ignored their names. He was splitting the bounty for village directions and adventurer info—no long-term plans.
'Why bother memorizing guys' names?'
...That was the real reason.
He didn't need to share, but money was useless to him now. He craved fantasy adventure, not tourism. No need for food or sleep—what use was cash? If desperate, head back to the Demon King Castle and hit up Gepelt.
Better to trade with these lucky adventurers for info. He dubbed them Swordsman, Archer, and Mage per their roles.
"Thought you were a top adventurer, but not one? Unexpected."
"Gonna try it out now."
"We'll let you know after claiming the bounty. That getup—you a martial artist? Swordsman armor, but class is unclear."
"Class?"
Classes upon becoming adventurers? Never wielded weapons on Earth or here—never considered it. Should've grabbed one ahead.
"Folks pick based on strengths. Parties like us beat solo more often, so choose a class to showcase specialties."
"Got it. You're Swordsman, others Archer and Mage. More classes?"
"Endless. Swordsman, Archer, Mage, Martial Artist, Spirit User, Tamer. Sometimes temple Priests. Main branches split into sub like Black Mage, Red Mage."
"Your subs?"
"Sadly, we're not that skilled..."
Sung-tae narrowed his eyes. Mediocre guys hunting over a hundred bandits solo? No wonder the leader got cocky with constant challengers.
'Complicated. Skip it—adventurer life's enough.'
"Skip details. Tell me about daily life."
"Pardon? Daily life?"
"Been cooped up. Wanna hear how the world's spinning."
"Ah..."
They nodded, pegging him as a noble from the fancy armor and wolf beastkin attendant. Made sense—nobles had their bubbles, explaining his ignorance.
'That armor's magical gear, right? Took down bandits with it?'
'Mana's off the charts—immeasurable. Incredible.'
"World stories? Nothing exciting."
Per his request, they shared worldly tales. But unlike hoped, it was mundane drivel—yawn-inducing.
'Boring as hell.'
As guessed, poser adventurers: in over heads for bounty, dime-a-dozen types. Shallow knowledge meant dull stories till the village.
"This is Verun, closest village."
"Fantasy world for real!"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
The stream and drawbridge evoked medieval vibes. Isekai tech level medieval? But Demitrian wore modern suits. Time to learn gradually.
"Halt!"
Guards at the bridge stopped them over the head, but recognized the infamous bounty and morning adventurers—waved through.
Following to a big building, Sung-tae asked, "Adventurer guild?"
"No, bounty office. Guild's next door."
"Ah, there."
Adventurers in gear bustled in the pointed building.
"Join us for payout?"
"Nah. Claim then hit the guild. Gotta register first."
"Alone okay?"
"Not a kid. Garba, I'll register first—go claim with them."
"Yes, my lord."
With her, no double-cross. She's insanely strong. Money irrelevant, but betrayal soured moods—ruined adventures.
Leaving puzzled adventurers (at "my lord"), Sung-tae headed to the guild. Eyes locked on as he neared.
'Whew. Tense.'
Adventure's start. New challenge stiffened him. No shakes killing bandits, though.
Heart thumped with tension. Armor magic muffled quakes, but vibrating air built eerie vibe.
"Alright. Let's go in."
"Gah! Booze hits different today!"
A veteran adventurer downed a mug, sighing refreshingly. Guild sold drinks after tavern complaints on armed crowds—but guild booze tasted better.
Onlookers eyed him warily—too high rank gap for approaches. His was A: peak for mortals.
"Your experience qualifies for S-rank challenge, no?"
A B-rank buddy drinking beside pried.
"S ain't for just anyone."
"Only geniuses then?"
"Nah, gifted suffices."
"Huh? Then geniuses?"
Veteran scanned engrossed faces. S top? Small village purity.
"Become Special-rank straight."
"Special? Exists?"
"You wouldn't know. Not picked here—from S, merit-based. Truly special."
"Ooh... Special..."
"Not for anyone. Hits like 'not normal!' on sight."
"Seen one?"
"Once."
Back as rookie, the Special's pressure was otherworldly.
"Pfft. Not a hero."
"Real talk. Specials hunt Demon Kings like heroes. Dimensional gap. Geniuses."
"That much?"
"Another round!"
Ordering, veteran spun tales while waiting.
"Genius? Heaven's chosen. They leak power. Hits 'Special for sure!' instantly."
"...Like that guy?"
B-rank whispered at entrance. All followed gaze.
Thud. Thud.
Black-armored man entered. Armor wowed some; heartbeats shook others.
Thump. Thump.
My heart? His? Either way, aura overwhelmed normals—some trembled in fear.
'Strong!'
Veteran knew: Special-rank. Transcendent genius realm!
'That guy's...'
Footsteps filled guild. Gulps drowned in heartbeats. Air truly vibrated from presence alone.
'S-Special! Gotta be!'
Adventurers dream strength. Higher examples inspire. Beg demo? Common thought.
"Um..."
"Yes? Yes!"
What quest? Demon lands near—Special here for...?
'Demon King subjugation!?'
Real? Must join! Witness history, even die!
'Screw it—all or nothing!'
Veteran bolted for party invite—but tripped at next words.
"Here for beginner adventurer registration."