Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: 2. Got a Job at the General Store
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Two days later, today was finally the day of the test to select the owner of the Academy general store.
Phew, I'm a bit nervous.
Still, to keep myself in top condition, yesterday I went all out and didn't stay in my usual cheapest room at 2 silver per night.
I splurged on a luxury room for 3 silver a night, with a bed one size bigger.
Phew, dropping an extra silver on an inn room.
It was a hefty expense, but the more comfortable bed made it worth it. Totally satisfied.
I ate a hearty breakfast and headed straight to the test venue at the Adventurer Guild.
The inn I'm staying at is partnered with the guild and conveniently close by, so it wasn't far.
The street's right next to the guild building, and the prices are cheap for adventurers.
Stuff like that really shows how highly adventurers are regarded here.
Even a C-Rank Adventurer like me gets perks like this.
For a bumpkin commoner like me, adventuring is pretty much the only path to making it big.
"Heard the news?"
"Yeah... total chaos, right?"
"...?"
But the closer I got to the Adventurer Guild, the rowdier the atmosphere felt.
Something's off today.
Did an incident happen or what?
The Adventurer Guild is the world's largest organization, managing adventurers across the entire continent.
As such, they constantly deal with headaches from all the incidents adventurers cause.
Adventurers live rough lives, so they get into fights.
Or they attack and plunder others.
Or they fail to show proper respect to nobles or superiors, leading to piles of complaints.
Lots of mishaps like that.
Sometimes they die carrying out requests, and if it's just them, fine—but occasionally they drag nearby villages or people into it, causing damage.
To prevent that as much as possible, they set up the Adventurer Academy to train adventurers there.
But it doesn't stop everything 100%.
That's why I studied so hard myself—to avoid causing that kind of trouble.
...Still, what happened to make it such a big deal?
If it's this chaotic even outside the guild, it must be pretty serious.
"Whoa... he's totally screwed."
"Told you from the moment he faceplanted."
"Tsk tsk, this is why guys who just rely on their own strength and act cocky..."
Once inside the guild building, it was even worse.
Adventurers were openly hurling mocking comments at someone.
...Did someone cause a massive screw-up?
This is the Preta branch, where tons of adventurers gather, so yeah—looks like one idiot went and did something huge.
Whatever, not my problem.
Nothing to do with me.
I ignored them and went looking for the stairs to the third floor.
"Hm? What's your business upstairs?"
The stairs up were guarded by a staff member.
Probably because the upper floors have staff lounges, offices, the branch chief's room, and such.
"Ah, I'm here for the test to hire the Academy general store owner."
I said that and showed him the note from the Academy guard.
It didn't just say to go to the third-floor multipurpose room—it had an authentication mark proving I was a test participant.
Should get me in.
"Ah, yes. Confirmed. Head up to the third floor, go down the right hallway, third door on the left."
"Thanks."
I already knew the way, but I thanked him anyway for the polite directions.
"This must be it..."
I found the third-floor multipurpose room and was about to go in.
"Oh my."
"...?"
Suddenly, a voice came from beside me. I turned my head.
It was an elegant, refined woman's voice.
"Pleased to meet you."
I turned and saw a woman whose appearance perfectly matched that refined voice, standing there.
She looked to be in her early thirties.
Strikingly, her hair was pure white.
She had an incredibly mature aura.
Two men who looked like her escorts stood behind her, radiating an intimidating presence.
But even more than that...
Her own presence was overwhelmingly powerful.
...The guys behind her seem like bodyguards.
Does she even need them...?
That's the thought that crossed my mind.
"Ah, hello."
Is she here for the test too?
She feels more like a mage than an alchemist... maybe as a hobby...?
As I was thinking that, the woman smiled faintly and spoke.
"Hmm, I see. So you're Edin..."
Huh? She knows me.
What? Have I met her before?
I don't recognize the face...
"You should head in quickly. The test is about to start."
I was staring at her in confusion, and she gestured for me to go inside with a gentle smile.
Oh, yeah—almost time.
Better hurry in.
#
"Allow me to introduce the judges. Starting with this one... 'Rasen,' the Academy's swordsmanship instructor. And next..."
"......"
A guild staff member introducing the judges.
For some reason, at the end—that woman from earlier was seated behind a panel labeled 'Special Judge.'
I stared in surprise, and she met my eyes with a faint smile.
That smile was so captivating I flinched and looked away.
She's a judge.
A special judge, even?
Some big shot, huh.
That unusual presence I'd sensed earlier definitely hinted she was no ordinary person.
I'd never felt an aura like that from Lunarin or Claude.
It was truly overwhelming power.
"And though she joined on short notice, she wanted to personally observe the test."
Then came a name I never expected.
"Mureos Avantredin, Director of the Adventurer Academy."
"Wha...?"
"The... Director?"
Mureos Avantredin.
The moment that name dropped, everyone there for the test started murmuring in shock.
And for good reason.
It was like the company CEO showing up for a staff hiring interview...!
I figured she was someone important, but the Academy Director? No way.
What, you didn't recognize her as a student?
I never crossed paths with her even back then, so of course not.
All I knew was that she's one of the handful of archmages on the continent.
"I look forward to seeing everyone show off their skills impressively."
The Director said with a smile.
No way, all this pressure is just making me more nervous...
"I-If we impress the Director... maybe high scores?"
"Could even lead to a better position..."
Separate from the intimidation, everyone else's motivation was through the roof.
The Director of the Adventurer Academy is one of the continent's top figures too, after all.
Naturally, they all wanted to make a good impression.
...I'm just feeling the burden.
I don't have huge ambitions for power or wealth anyway.
I just wanted to pass a normal test and land the Academy general store job...
Now my competitors are all fired up, making it feel way harder.
"Alright then. Time to announce the test details."
The test was simpler than expected.
Make designated consumables.
Things adventurers use often, like Healing Potions, poison or bleed recovery potions, Monster Lure Pheromone Pouches, etc.
Pick about three you're most confident in and make them.
For fairness, identical materials provided by the guild. If you need specific ones, just say.
Some alchemists add special ingredients to standard recipes—probably to accommodate them.
Me? I just studied alchemy books from the library, so I stick to textbook recipes and materials.
Anyway, I grabbed my materials.
I'm making the Healing Potion I've used often, plus Sticky Potion and Paralysis Poison Potion.
Let's see, Krishi grass and Ederium ore powder... next...
"Oh..."
As I went to pick up the neatly arrayed materials, they looked pretty high quality.
A few wilted or dried bits, but overall no major damage... solid stuff.
Probably gathered by F-Rank Adventurers.
Even better gathering skills than mine.
...Did I rush too much when I gathered?
The guild posts requests for low-rank adventurers as a lifeline.
Most are gathering low-level materials like this.
Herbs, ores, tree roots you can snag easily in the forest without going deep.
Those lifeline materials get sold to the Alchemist Guild or Mage Guild.
Leftovers end up used for guild tests like this.
Feels good handling decent materials after so long.
As I was thinking that...
"Tch. What is this? Total low-grade junk."
"This... this won't even hit D-grade."
"Ugh..."
"...??"
Grumbled complaints started popping up from the other participants.
This is low-grade?
When it's in such pristine condition?
I'm baffled.
Does this count as D-grade or lower?
Th-Then what about everything I've been using...
Confusion only lasted a moment.
I quickly pulled myself together.
Yeah, I was always rushing to gather materials, so of course they'd be damaged.
Making decent potions better than the local shop stuff with those...
With these so-called low-grade ones? I can make even better.
Hm, looking at it this way, I kinda get what Lunarin meant by 'performance relative to time and materials.'
Maybe... I'm actually pretty talented?