Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Kicked Out of the Hero Party
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2~3 months ago... right around the time Claude's Hero title was confirmed.
Contrary to expectations that she would also receive the Hero title, I heard she'd quit being an adventurer and become a teacher at the Adventurer Academy, training the next generation of adventurers.
Adventurer Academy.
As the name suggests, it's an academy established by the Adventurer Guild to train adventurers.
They scout retired former adventurers or active veteran adventurers and hire them as instructors.
It's an educational institution that teaches those who aspire to become adventurers.
Since anyone could become an adventurer regardless of status, and those without power or low birth could aim for a reversal of fortunes, far too many people challenged it—and far too many died from rushing in recklessly.
To prevent that and raise the public's perception of adventurers, they established this academy as an educational institution.
They divide classes by skill level and care for and nurture those aiming to become adventurers as much as possible.
Those who excel at the academy can start with a high adventurer rank, receiving top-tier benefits from the get-go.
So all the students gunning to be adventurers strive for top grades and placement in the highest classes.
Claude and I naturally graduated from this academy to become adventurers.
Well, Claude and I were exceptional talents from the start, so we ended up in the advanced and intermediate classes, respectively.
Anyway, it was founded with excellent intentions.
And it's a world-class educational institution successfully carrying those out.
Being a teacher there is naturally a huge honor.
It means you've been recognized as a veteran adventurer not just by the Adventurer Guild, but across the entire world.
Of course, it's not quite on the level of a Hero title, but Lunarin probably had her own reasons.
Come to think of it, is the Adventurer Academy here in Preta?
That must be why we ran into each other.
"You're calling me by my full name again. I told you to just call me Luna casually. You're so stiff."
"Hahaha."
"That family of theirs barely keeps in touch anymore anyway."
She's surprisingly open-minded for a noble.
Maybe it's because I've been putting up with Mary looking down on me for being common-born.
Anyway, it had been ages since I'd seen her.
She suggested we grab a drink together since we'd bumped into each other.
"No sign of that annoying prick you used to hang around with... You look like you've got a story. I'll listen."
Her smiling face was so stunning it dazzled me.
Even though I'm older, she somehow feels like an older sister.
"Sure, why not."
She's buying, and it's a pretty girl offering drinks—who'd say no?
And so we headed to the tavern run by the Adventurer Guild.
...Besides the pretty company and free booze, maybe I wanted to vent a little, despite pretending it didn't faze me.
"Hmm~ So that's how it is."
I told her everything up to now.
Blazing Mary and White Angel Sophia joining the party.
How that left me with nothing to do in the party.
And finally, getting kicked out after Claude said he didn't need me anymore.
Lunarin's eyes narrowed.
She looked seriously displeased.
"That annoying prick really has no eye for people."
She sighed deeply, shaking her head like she'd expected as much.
"How does he bring those types into the party... And what? Edin isn't needed?"
Her tone was laced with exasperation and disbelief.
Is she angry on my behalf?
It felt strangely nice.
"That guy's gonna get burned bad someday. Doesn't he know how vital alchemical consumables are for adventurers?"
Then she launched into a passionate rant about the importance of alchemy.
"Even S-Rank adventurers carry Sticky Potions. Who does he think he is? Hero title? That's just handed out to any talented hotshot with a bright future!"
"......"
Calling a title given to maybe 20 out of hundreds of thousands of active adventurers across the continent something handed to 'any hotshot'... Is that how talented people see it?
Or maybe that's why she turned down the Hero title to teach at the academy.
Well, she's right that all eight S-Rank adventurers on the continent—who all have Hero titles but are actually ranked above Heroes as the world's strongest monsters—don't ignore potions and consumables.
High-performance potions can regenerate a half-severed arm, earning them the nickname 'extra lives.'
Smoke bombs, Sticky Potions, Monster Lure Pheromone Pouches, and the like don't work well on high-intelligence upper-tier monsters.
But if you know their weaknesses and use them right, they're still plenty useful.
Of course, I'm not saying Claude is completely wrong.
If you can wipe out enemies without needing potions, that's ideal, like he said.
And it's true I can't make items on the level that S-Rank adventurers carry.
"Even if he knows alchemy's value, he wouldn't specifically need me."
"No, no. Edin, you're the most talented alchemist I've ever seen."
She shook her head and pointed at me.
"You don't have time or money to gather materials, and since you weren't using them, your potion-making skill atrophied."
"......"
She's not wrong.
But even if I made them properly now, I doubt they'd be that good.
"Out of every alchemist I've seen, no one else pulled off that performance relative to time and materials invested. Why do you think I invited you to join my party?"
It felt good to be praised like that.
If I just had more budget and time, I probably could make way better stuff...
But that requires money first.
Time costs money too, so money's the key to everything.
"To make good stuff, I need money. To make money, I need a job... but I don't know what to do."
My best ideas so far were getting a job at a general store or whipping up a few potions with what cash I have and selling them.
I'm not sure I can pull it off after years as an adventurer.
"Oh... ah! I know just the thing."
She pondered for a moment, then grinned and grabbed my hand.
"...!!"
Having such a beautiful woman seize my hand made my heart skip a beat.
She'd done it occasionally when inviting me to her party before, but I still wasn't used to it.
It always felt like my heart stopped.
But before I could recover from her gesture,
Her words threw me even more off balance.
"The academy's general store position just opened up. Gilbert retired and moved to the countryside."
So they're selecting a new owner.
Of course, for a massive academy like this—one of the world's best—they're picky.
They do rigorous tests and interviews.
"If I recommend you, you'll get bonus points. And being from the Hero Party? Even more points."
"B-but..."
Could a mere C-Rank adventurer like me really land a spot like that?
Top alchemists and merchants from across the continent would apply.
"I don't know if I'd make the cut..."
Lunarin shook her head at my doubt.
"Pfft, honestly, with your skills, you could compete even without bonuses."
...That good?
I wasn't sure if I was that impressive.
After all... I'd never had the setup to unleash 100% of my alchemy and knowledge.
That made me curious.
'Where do I stand right now? Just how capable am I?'
The academy general store selection test might be a great chance for me.
If I get it, great. If not, at least I'd objectively gauge my level.
It couldn't hurt to try it out.
"...Alright, I'll give it a shot."
"Awesome! Then I'll talk to the chairman tomorrow."
Lunarin beamed at my answer and chugged her beer.
"Kha~ Barkeep! Another round!"
...What a princess-like, elegant beauty—and she drinks like a sailor.
It was cognitive dissonance incarnate.
Lunarin Brettis.
Former A-Rank adventurer and Hero candidate genius.
Now living her second life as a teacher at the Adventurer Academy, shaping future adventurers.
She gazed at the shyly sipping man before her: Edin.
Honestly, his looks weren't standout.
Just your average guy you'd see anywhere.
Neat brown hair, a simple, honest face.
Like a wholesome country boy.
Nothing special.
'But what a monster under the hood.'
Still, her evaluation of Edin was sky-high.
It had to be.
His talent was the real deal, even in her eyes after seeing countless prospects.
Sure, he'd suffered under that idiot talentless punk Claude, but his abilities were insane.
Nearly elder-teacher level encyclopedic knowledge.
Top-tier support capabilities built on that.
Up to there, you could chalk it up to hard studying.
But the real value came next.
'Alchemy...'
His alchemy.
When she called him 'the most talented alchemist I've ever seen,' it wasn't flattery.