F-Rank Reality Check

Suddenly going independent isn't easy. Let me sort out my situation so far.

The goddess gave me a bundle of checks. The constellations grant skills, but they're truly random—anything goes. The academy entrance exam was my first and only quest, and I failed it. I joined the adventurer's guild in the Laurel Guild district of the Trust Union city.

I've learned about the existence of various races, but humans are an extremely rare endangered species.

"Ah, I figured you were an academy student since you were wearing the uniform..."

"You got 'laid the foundation'."

"'Laid the foundation'..?"

"It's like what they call 'screening out.' The academy pursues perfection in both academics and martial arts. Even if writing exams are waived for human species... Minerva Academy's educational philosophy is to cultivate those who stand at the top. Their goal is to nurture the talented."

"Uh... so there were no restrictions on entrance because they figure people will screen themselves out?"

"Yes, that's part of it. Anyone can come, but there's no guarantee you'll graduate. They teach competition, how to lead factions, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and even form their own political structures among the students—it's called an academy for a reason. Grades alone determine everything, without distinctions between commoners and nobles. It's thorough meritocracy. Or you could call it survival of the fittest."

So even if I'd beaten that goblin and gotten in, without proper skills, I'd just end up at the bottom, propping everyone else up. Joining some faction might work, but lacking any real abilities was still a problem. There'd be pressure, maybe subtle pushes to drop out. And if grades fell short, expulsion... It was scarier than I thought.

The Rattling receptionist comforted me, saying lots of people fail and end up here, so chin up. Those who pass watch the rejects and steel their resolve not to end up like that. Those who barely scrape by feel the crisis of not wanting to become one of them. The ones sacrificed to create that atmosphere are what they call the 'foundation layer' in this custom.

"Well, it has the benefit of making you realize your own level. The most dangerous thing in the world is failing to self-reflect."

"Uh... then shouldn't I get my adventurer qualifications checked too?"

"We're about to do that now. Here's your adventurer ID card. You'll start at F-rank. Just so you know, this spec is standard for everyone who's not superhuman. Everyone starts on the same line."

The Rattling receptionist said that as she checked my adventurer ID card. It didn't look much different from a regular ID. If lost, 2 SP for reissue.

"For now, please place your hand on this orb."

She brought out a round crystal ball and gave a simple explanation. It checks basic ability scores—a comprehensive total of overall abilities.

"It's exactly as your appearance suggests."

".....Uh..."

It was pathetically low—more fragile than I'd imagined. I was speechless. I mean, isn't there some isekai protagonist blessing or divine protection? No matter how I thought about it, it felt like they'd just ported my original stats over wholesale.

I glanced nervously at the receptionist.

"You okay?"

"Yeah? Ahaha, we don't discriminate based on low stats. Adventurers are a free profession unbound by nations. They follow international union laws, but they do more than just hunting—exploration and all sorts. There are things that don't show in stats, so receptionists mustn't have biases."

She filled out forms while explaining it was the basic mindset for receptionists.

Next, she asked about specialties or what I could do.

"Do you have any skills? No need to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mention common racial skills. Even though humans are rare, we have data on human racial skills in the guild."

Racial-exclusive skills exist too? Come to think of it, my Levitfoot form couldn't use skills because it lacked racial physical traits.

"About 14... should I list them all?"

"Mm, no. Just say if they're mainly combat, exploration, or production. Humans are truly blessed. 14 skills at 19 years old."

"...Is that impressive??"

"Ah... skills don't come without hard effort. Some are inherited genetically, or awakened through bloodline irregularities. And rarely, gods grant them directly. But humans are the race that naturally receives those divine grants, so you're in that rare category."

Skills apparently come from effort. Inherited from parents, or irregular ones from ancestral blood awakening. Or direct grants from gods like blessings... and humans get those as standard. Yet they're endangered. Just how weak are humans compared to other races?

I checked the production category for now. All I could really do was make wet wipes and fried chicken.

What a headache. Even good skills are useless if you don't know how to use them. Some require prerequisite sub-skills...

"Got it! Registered as an F-rank adventurer with production skills. Come to me, and I'll recommend quests that suit you, Radamu."

"Thanks... uh, any decent places to stay nearby?"

"There's an adventurer dorm, but no singles—basic four-person rooms. I'll mark it on the map I gave you. There's an inn with reasonable prices, meals, and washing water."

Glad she's so kind. Before heading to the marked inn, I stopped at the bank. My account was already open via the ID. Magical processing lets you withdraw anywhere with it.

'Losing this ID would be a disaster.'

Be careful with it—pickpockets and all. Can't withdraw without the owner, but reissue is a hassle.

My balance: exactly 300 GP. Enough for academy tuition per semester if I'd gotten in, plus uniforms, supplies, dorm, food—calculated for a comfortable graduation. The goddess really looked out for me. And my answer to her trust? Academy rejection.

The uniform cost a whopping 5 SP. Sold it after one wear for 1 SP.

Changed into light, durable clothes: jeans and shirt under the goddess's hood, leather vest. Armor matters for protection, but thick leather boots and gloves already felt heavy. Maybe buy a weapon? Swords were ridiculously heavy, so I got a dagger.

"No idea what to buy anymore."

The cubic bag in my hand felt heavier with just one dagger added—arm dragging, shoulder aching.

Hurried before sunset, booked an inn room for 30 days at 5 SP. Same as the uniform... Had hard bread and thick mystery stew for a light dinner. Could've filled up on fried chicken, but it's salty and greasy—too much is a burden. Wanted to try local food since it's another world, bought the cheapest. Big regret.

"1000 CP to 1 SP... they count in thousands. That meal was 15 CP."

No real income yet—watch spending.

Headed to the library to gather info. Book scent hit immediately; entrance rules on fines for damage. Some buying books too—it's a bookstore hybrid. Library cards for borrowing. People deep in reading; I glanced around, drawing stares.

An elderly scholar-type muttered, "A human?" eyeing me. Like an animal escaped from the zoo.

'Quickly find Maou info and go...'

Need to know something—ignorance is frustrating. Followed classifications for Maou books, but none. Call a librarian? Can't tell staff from patrons. Talking to strangers takes guts. Clear Mind keeps me calm, but doesn't give courage.

"...If I'd studied like this in school, grades would've been better."

Regretting my dead past life, I carefully placed a massive tome on the table—an encyclopedia-thick book that'd make dictionaries weep.

'So this world's called the Chronicle Continent.'

First page: [If something strange happens in continental history, the cause is usually elves.]

[The continent's history begins with the root of all evil.]

Not a normal start.

"...Let's see..."

Various races lived mixed on the continent: forest guardians like Levitfoot, underground Rattling. Equus who once roamed plains, extinct by elves. Montagu sea folk massacred by elves.

Elves, blessed by spirits and the Earth Mother God, born under the World Tree called nature itself. Spoke and walked from birth, superior to all races. Claimed the greatest race should rule, using other races as slaves, food, materials. True to their epithet "born to hunt," they competed boasting kills.

Under 3rd Elf King Custer Pire's conquest, massacres began. 3 races extinct, 387 monster species gone. Nothing they couldn't hunt, greatest of all. Led by 3 Elf Overlords called transcendents. Even recorded slaying the sea god.

After, Maou—subordinate of the Demon God beyond the continent—invaded since sea god died.

"Whoa, for real?"

Elves strong individually but few. Other races they'd crushed lacked strength or reason to unite. Instead, 30,000 joined Maou's forces—shows the era's hatred for elves.

Overwhelmed by numbers, World Tree burned. 3 Overlords fell to god battle aftereffects. Earth Mother God wounded by Maou, fell into deep slumber.

To revive World Tree, needed spiritists or druids to commune with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nature. But elves forbade non-elves, killing druid infants—line ended 40 years pre-invasion.

Ironically, World Tree's history ended by elven hands.

As Maou was about to dominate, gods blessed humans. Four humans rose from trials—Heroes only humans could become—fought for continent. Couldn't kill Maou but drove to edge.

Commemorating union from that battle, named after leader Trust: Trust Union founded.

──That was the summary page in brief.

Table of contents suggested later wars' history. Save for later; closed and reshelved.

Heroes only for humans—explains why humans get divine blessings. Their favor makes sense now. Surviving humans post-elf overhunting: 78 out of 10,000. Chilling.

"More to learn than I thought."

Plenty of time—take it slow. Night falling; sleep at inn, think ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tomorrow.

"Two moons, huh."

...Got the mission somehow. Anyone revived would follow, probably. Still, I'd try my best.

*Ding-*

After returning, opening my inn room door—familiar alert.

The goddess's serious words left me a bit tense. Respect any choice? Even if I can't beat Maou, just try? School was rails; now self-directed. Future looked dark—sleepless night ahead.

*Rip-*

Tore the Constellation Ticket in hand. Which constellation would bless me now?

Today's resolve and goddess's words turned to trash. No way this skill beats Maou.

"What a gacha scam, for real."