Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: 2. Got a Job at a General Store.
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Honestly, looking at his experience alone, it wasn't anything special.
Being a graduate of the Adventurer Academy was the same for any adventurer who wasn't some ancient veteran.
The academy grades were just average.
The only standout point was consistently ranking at the top in the written exams.
He had noticeable talent as an alchemist, but nothing beyond that as a student.
Well... the Adventurer Academy focused mainly on exploring uncharted areas and dungeons, slaying monsters, and completing requests as an adventurer.
The alchemy division wasn't treated as particularly important.
With the Alchemist Guild being so prominent, there was no real need for them to become adventurers anyway.
At best, they'd supply consumables or receive deliveries.
In any case, Edin hadn't been a particularly standout student even back at the academy.
And it stayed that way after graduation.
Being a member of Hero Claude's party was intriguing, but his personal skills and contributions weren't all that remarkable.
'But if Lunarin went that far...'
Lunarin was very picky about people.
Not because she was mean or arrogant.
Her standards for truly skilled and talented individuals were incredibly high.
She only thought someone like Mureos, one of the top five mages on the continent, was worthy of respect.
"This guy's the one who's supposedly so amazing?"
In that case, it might be fun to watch him for a bit, Mureos thought.
'Well, the results will show during the test anyway.'
The test to select the next general store owner was in two days.
Then it'd be clear if Lunarin was just blinded by affection or if her words held true.
"It's been a while since I went out."
She smiled faintly and said to her secretary.
"Schedule me for 10 a.m. in two days. About three hours."
"Pardon? Um... that's when you have the meeting with the instructors."
"It'll run fine without me."
"B-but..."
The secretary glanced back and forth between the schedule and Mureos' face in panic.
But she just smiled silently, staring at the secretary.
"Haa... Understood."
Having long learned from experience that no amount of arguing would change her mind, the secretary sighed deeply and began revising the schedule.
"The test will be held here in two days."
After submitting the application, a guard handed over a paper with the location written on it.
"......"
It was a familiar place.
The Adventurer Guild Preta branch.
More precisely, the third-floor multipurpose room inside the Preta branch.
'They're holding it inside the Adventurer Guild building.'
The academy grounds were off-limits unless you were staff or a student, it seemed.
The guild building saw hundreds or thousands of outsiders daily, so even if someone with bad intentions approached, it wouldn't be an issue.
There'd likely be judges using lie-detection magic, filtering out anyone with malicious intent before they could reach the academy.
And if a filtered applicant caused a scene, this was the Preta branch, known as the guild's headquarters.
Countless adventurers passed through every day.
Unless it was an S-Rank adventurer-level monster, they'd be subdued in an instant.
Hmm, I wonder how many applicants there'll be?
Plenty far more impressive than me, no doubt.
They're looking for people who know alchemy and can run a store, so skilled alchemists will flock here.
Alchemists make potions and various compounds.
Naturally, most have experience supplying general stores or selling directly.
But I've never sold anything I've made myself.
Traveling with Claude, I only made what we needed, so I never thought about selling.
Not like it would sell anyway.
General store potions sold for a few bronzes each were definitely inferior to mine, so I could probably charge a premium.
They're not bad quality either.
Yeah, Lady Lunarin said I had talent too.
Even if I fail the test, no need to get downhearted. I can make potions and try selling them.
As a C-Rank adventurer, I can take solo requests, gather herbs... make potions from them.
Earning money like that, eventually I can open my own shop, my goal.
"Thinking about what to do if you fail again?"
Then, a familiar voice came from behind once more.
"Eek! Lady Lunarin Brettis, hello."
"Yes~ You're working hard. Guards."
The guards, spotting her faster than I did, tensed up and greeted her.
Turning around, there stood the stunning woman whose outfit made it hard to know where to look: Lady Lunarin.
"How did you know?"
Did she use mind reading? Or cast a thought-reading spell on me?
How'd she know I was pondering what to do if I failed the test?
"You had that exact look. The one where your self-esteem drops."
"......"
Huh, was I making that face?
Always thinking about failure.
It's a good yet bad habit.
Adventurers must always prepare for failure.
That's why I always assume failure and plan around it.
The complete opposite of Claude, who only thinks of success.
Maybe Claude's attitude made me think of failure even more.
...But I'm not an adventurer anymore, nor in Claude's party.
No need to dwell on failure like before.
Lady Lunarin believes in me and pushed for me.
Thinking of success through effort is the way to honor her faith.
"Sorry. I'll work hard to pass."
"Good, but don't try too hard. Things might get chaotic."
"...?"
She giggled as she said it.
No idea what that means.
Some joke of hers?
I don't know, but even that amused expression was beautiful.
The guards felt the same, staring at her with flushed faces.
"Will he be okay?"
"Huh? What?"
The pretty golden-haired priestess in a white robe symbolizing purity.
A-Rank adventurer White Angel Sophia asked Claude in a worried tone.
"Edin. He got kicked from the party so suddenly..."
What she was worried about was none other than Edin, whom they'd expelled yesterday.
"Hah, Sophia. Why worry about that guy? He was nothing but a burden from the start."
Seeing Sophia's concerned look, Claude scoffed incredulously.
He truly believed that.
Edin was a stumbling block, a useless lump who only caused trouble.
"Yeah, he'll manage on his own. Why should we care?"
Mary agreed.
She saw Edin, a commoner who hadn't risen like Claude the Hero, as insignificant.
Of course, Sophia wasn't truly worried about Edin either.
'Worrying about a loser like him... Ah, I'm so kind. Am I actually a saintess?'
She was just intoxicated by her own act of pretending to be nice.
"But... at least give him some money so he doesn't starve..."
As Sophia tried her virtuous act again, Claude's face suddenly hardened.
"Hey, drop it. Is that guy the priority right now?"
"...Eek."
Claude glared at Sophia, annoyed that Edin's name kept coming up, his face twisting.
This woman was his possession.
His owned woman fretting over another man irritated him.
Especially a useless ex-friend he'd discarded.
Sophia reminded herself once more that even hypocrisy had limits and shut her mouth.
"More importantly, the request. Our party's first A-Rank one."
With Sophia obeying and silencing herself, Claude's mood improved a bit, and he grinned, bringing up the next topic.
This A-Rank request they'd taken.
Clamp Village, within the capital Preta's territory.
The capital's territory was vast, so even as a subordinate village, it was a full day's walk northwest.
Of course, by carriage it was three or four hours, so they were traveling by coach.
The request: A wyvern had recently settled in Twilight Valley, a bit away from the village.
They'd requested imperial aid, but the bureaucracy took too long.
So they turned to the Adventurer Guild.
A-Rank monster wyvern.
A beast that flies through the skies, shredding even steel with its powerful jaws and claws.
Even one warranted A-Rank difficulty.
A dozen or so nesting and forming a colony? That called for two A-Rank parties... about seven or eight people.
But Claude took it with just his party.
A risky choice for a first A-Rank request.
There were other A-Rank requests, but he chose this one deliberately.
'It's been months since my first A-Rank request, held back by party coordination and chores.'
He'd prepared thoroughly on purpose.
After becoming an A-Rank adventurer, he'd spent three months avoiding A-Rank requests to build the party and sync up.
He'd even removed the obstacle Edin.
To live up to the Hero title, adorning his first A-Rank success with a major feat.
'That'll accelerate my rise.'
Clearing a request needing two average A-Rank parties right off the bat?
The guild would recognize him more, speeding his path to S-Rank.
'My goal isn't just Hero or S-Rank. World strongest! The unique one! Gotta breeze through these steps.'
He had grander ambitions.
Thus, he couldn't fail even this.
The guild trusted him, didn't dissuade him.
He wasn't an ordinary A-Rank; he was the Hero, a powerhouse.
His abilities rivaled S-Rank already; with experience and achievements, promotion was anytime.
So they entrusted it to him.
His party—Blazing Mary and White Angel Sophia—were solid A-Rank adventurers, rumors aside.
...No one yet realized Claude's arrogance and the guild's complacency would lead to tragedy.