Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Skill Verification (2)
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It was always a rowdy place. Drunken fools belting out songs from midday on. Scolding voices from the women nagging them for it, assaulting the ears. Step inside, and there'd be fellow hunters always hanging around the bulletin board, with no jobs in sight. Ah, a nostalgic sight I could no longer see.
These were the lines from a hunter NPC in a ruined village map that players passed by while playing Savior of World.
In a world gone to hell, this hunter stayed behind in the village alone, hunting the villagers who'd twisted into monsters. His dialogue revealed just how miserable the game's lore was.
And now, before everything had gone completely to shit.
I recalled those NPC lines and felt anew that they weren't lies.
"Kee-heeng~! Good, so good~."
"Alright, let's head in there this time and have some fun~!"
"Fun my ass! Get over here!"
"Gah! Honey! When did you get here! Aaagh!"
To test my skills in real combat, I'd come down to the village near the estate with Gillek and Ridel.
I wore light leather armor and pulled up my hood.
The imperial knight armor was too conspicuous, so Gillek donned plain plate, and Ridel, in her maid outfit, covered herself with a hood.
I'd asked if she couldn't just change into something else.
"I'm Lord Aren’s maid, so I won't compromise on this."
She insisted on the maid dress.
Well, Ridel was a mage anyway, so she wouldn't need to fight up close.
We headed to the village together, and what greeted us was a scene straight out of that NPC's description.
A lively, peaceful village.
It stood in stark contrast to the mostly burned and crumbled ruins shown on the Savior of World game screen.
The sight of the village felt fresh to "me" too.
After moving to the estate, I'd spent most of my time inside, rarely venturing out.
'No wonder my body looked so pathetic the first time I saw it.'
It was worlds apart from my chiseled physique now.
"That's the Hunter Guild."
Gillek pointed to a building.
A symbol of a round shield overlaid with an upward-pointing sword.
Gillek led the way, opening the guild doors.
A few gazes turned our way as Ridel and I followed.
"Who're they?"
"New faces."
"Whoa, that guy's hot."
"The hooded girl looks pretty cute too..."
"Here for a commission?"
As expected in a guild frequented by familiar faces, the hunters whispered about us strangers.
At the reception desk, the receptionist asked,
"Welcome to the Hunter Guild. How can I help you?"
"I'd like to take a commission."
"Yes, accepting a commission. May I see your hunter license?"
Gillek pulled out his hunter certification from his pocket and, visible only to the receptionist, flashed his imperial knight insignia.
"Uh, uh huh..."
The receptionist's face went slack as she slowly looked us over.
"Thanks for the help."
"Of course! I'll take care of it! Uh, what commission are you interested in?"
Even stumbling a bit, she kept her smile professional. A true pro.
"Young master, what kind of commission would you prefer?"
To keep my identity hidden, Gillek called me "young master."
"Something decently tough... Ah, there are tons of requests on that bulletin board. Let's check them out."
"No need for that! We have spare requests right here!"
The receptionist quickly laid out several monster subjugation requests on the counter.
'Oh. Lots of monsters I saw often in the game.'
Monsters from "my" memories too.
This world had its share of magical beasts, but seeing them listed on requests like this hit different.
As we moved to the bulletin board to browse subjugation requests, a conversation drifted from the desk.
"Hey, Jessica. Why're you being so nice all of a sudden?"
"I'm always nice and hardworking."
"You're always cold to me."
"That's because of your usual behavior, Mr. Chorak. Quit nitpicking and get to work."
"Just who is this 'young master' anyway? Huh? Some hotshot noble kid?"
"Don't butt in like an idiot and get hurt. Please, just stay quiet."
"Butt in? With this big, kind heart of mine, I'm just worried about the young master~."
Who knew someone this cheeky existed.
Well, with Gillek beside me, he wouldn't dare pick a real fight.
I picked a suitably moderate monster from the board.
One that appeared early in Savior of World and annoyed players plenty.
A bird monster that hopped on two legs like a chicken with an insanely thick beak.
Chicklek.
"This one."
"Chicklek... May I ask your reason for choosing it?"
"It's quick on its feet. Better for testing my skills than some lanky slowpoke, right?"
"Indeed."
"A Chicklek wound can be healed right away with a potion anyway."
"Haha, Lady Ridel. I'll ensure the young master doesn't get so much as a scratch."
"Reliable as ever."
I tore off the request and took it to the desk.
"This one."
"Chicklek subjugation. Got it."
"Oh, what? Chicklek? You sure about that, young master?"
Whoa, what the hell?
Gillek's hulking frame was right next to me, yet this guy just barged in.
"You clueless little..."
"Mr. Chorak! Wh-what are you doing?!"
Gillek stepped forward, the receptionist tried reining in the guy named Chorak, but I raised a hand to stop them.
Up close, his face was a bit flushed.
Midday drinking, clearly.
Still, as a village hunter handling all sorts, getting mad over this would be lame.
And.
'Kinda curious how long this cliché drags on.'
With my health boost and drastic body change, I even had some newfound leisure.
"Any reason I can't take this commission?"
"Reason? Obviously not~."
Chorak shrugged.
"Listen, young master. Don't do anything risky. You charge in without knowing your limits, that pretty face gets messed up—what a tragedy, right? Puahaha!"
Maybe because of my prince memories, getting picked on like this felt utterly novel.
This vibe—like a drunk uncle pissing in the street or singing at night.
And totally looking down on me for having escorts.
Truly something else.
"Haa. Young master, may I step in now?"
Gillek turned to me, eyes screaming he wanted to chew the guy out.
"Or should I?"
Ridel? You too?
She smiled, but her eyes weren't.
Well, this attitude toward a prince justified their anger.
'Can't let them steal this chance.'
Testing my skills lightly against some doubting fool before the Chicklek sounded good.
"Can't be rude to kind folks. Chorak, was it?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Thanks for the concern. But I really want to try this commission. If it's okay, could you check if my skills are up to it?"
"What? Me?"
"Yes. And as thanks, I'll cover all your drinks and food here today."
Chorak's eyes lit up.
"For real? Whoa~ A young master who gets it!"
"Chorak's drunk and causing trouble again."
"Looks like highborn stock. Sigh."
"Good thing it seems like amusing clownery."
Even normally, folks seemed more pitying than worried about him.
"You in?"
"Hell yeah! Free meal for a skill check! Hey! Clear some space!"
"Sheesh."
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Sighing and tongue-clicking, the surrounding hunters cleared tables, making space.
Chorak and I moved to the center.
Gillek and Ridel's voices from behind.
"Who knew he had this playful side."
"Sir Gillek, will the young master be alright?"
"No need to worry. I'll intervene if it gets dangerous."
Intervene?
Doubt it'd come to that.
Chorak drew his sword from his belt.
"Young master, let's see if you can take down a Chicklek."
I drew mine too.
"Please go easy."
"Here I come!"
Despite his drunken face, his movements were steady—no wobbles suggesting booze.
But.
'Still slower than our knights.'
Compared to imperial knight level, way slower.
Not just speed—power in his strikes lacked too. And underestimating me, he didn't even go for clashes.
'Flick his sword up, that'd be risky...'
Clang!
Light clash, then deflect to unbalance him.
"Wha?!"
Trip his leg, down he goes.
Thud!
"Urk!"
"Puhahaha! What was that, Chorak?!"
"Booze sapped your strength?!"
"You call that hunter material?!"
His comical fall drew laughs from the hunters.
Face red, he scrambled up, fake-coughing.
"Ahem! Ah~ Sorry sorry! Day drinking threw me off! This time for real! Real!"
Lame excuse, but I let it slide.
"Ah, is that so? Mind one more round?"
"Yeah! I'll check your skills proper!"
As Chorak snorted and posed.
Gillek's mutter from behind.
"...Please don't toy with him too much, Your Highness."
Sorry, Gillek.
Just five more wins and done.