Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Silver Adventurer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Difficulty: Easy.
Objectively speaking, as long as I didn't make any major blunders, it was something I could pull off successfully time and again with my abilities.
But setting my abilities aside, if an ordinary person had taken on this mission, just how much damage would it have caused?
So, regardless of the easy difficulty rating, the request itself was undoubtedly a tough one.
Yet, as if oblivious to all that, the reward I got was stingy as hell—perfectly in line with an "easy" rating.
Traits didn't level up all at once like before.
Still, there was definitely something that had changed.
A new skill called Assassin's Sword had appeared in the skills section.
Since it popped up out of nowhere, I had no clue what it was, so I decided to take a break and check it out. I stopped walking, sat down in the shade of a tree, and examined the new addition.
[Assassin's Sword D]
You have cut down the innocent without hesitation.
The sword you wield is silent, shows no mercy to the innocent, and is devoid of blood or tears.
The blade you use is called Assassin's Sword.
The new skill was straight-up condemning me.
"Killing the innocent" probably meant that kid.
"So, in that situation, what the hell was I supposed to do?"
I spat out the complaint sarcastically, but of course, no reply came.
The kid was in a fate worse than death and begged me herself to end it.
Was that my fault?
Yeah, it's true I couldn't help her properly due to my own shortcomings.
I was too lacking to achieve the absolute best outcome.
But since the best wasn't possible, I went for the next best thing.
Granting her peace in death and retrieving her head to spare her further desecration—that was the best I could do.
The more I dwelled on it, the more a sense of injustice toward this damn system welled up, mingled with futile regret over what might have been if I'd just been a little more capable. I shook my head.
I knew full well that this line of thinking only led to endless self-loathing, so I forced myself to stop.
Better to check out something else.
A bug dropped onto my shoulder with a plop—I brushed it off with the back of my hand and rummaged through my bag.
When I took down the goblin leader, I'd gotten a notification that some of its possessions had gone into my inventory.
And with Rie, those were just junk to her, but my bag had suddenly gotten heavier.
I'd only glanced at them vaguely and hadn't paid much attention.
The first thing I pulled out was a foul-smelling book bound in skin, covered in unreadable script.
It was so grotesque I wanted to torch it on the spot, but I figured I'd get the contents translated first before deciding. For now, I'd hold onto it.
The capital was bound to have experts who could appraise and decipher something like this.
It'd cost a pretty penny, but I had enough money, so it shouldn't be an issue.
I had no clue about the market rates in this field, so it was hard to say for sure.
The other item was a sword made from a human spine.
Seemed more for rituals than combat.
Utterly useless to me, so I'd burned it back in the village.
The goblin leader had been decking itself out with human body parts to intimidate its kin and boost its status—not just the eyeball necklace, but all sorts of horrific trophies.
No money, of course. Why would goblins have copper, silver, or gold coins?
Everything else was straight-up garbage, so I took the opportunity to toss it all.
Bag sorted, I leaned against the tree and covered my face with my hand.
My head was throbbing for some reason. Physically, I was fine, but mentally exhausted.
And besides...
That voice from the achievement notification was nagging at me.
You have killed the innocent.
Without blood or tears, without hesitation.
Those who have abandoned their humanity are called villains by the people.
You have set foot on the path of the villain.
Negative trait EXP greatly increased. Acquired trait: Villain.
The "negative trait" probably meant Gloomy Aura.
Lucky in a way.
It hadn't leveled up another step.
Even now, anyone who met my eyes wanted to charge in and kill me.
If it grew any further here, God knows what kind of nightmare I'd be in for.
And the Villain trait.
[Villain F]
You are a villain.
No further explanation.
No idea what it even did.
Anyway.
This system messaging.
Gender ambiguous, age unclear—could be a kid, adult, or old fogey for all I knew.
The voice itself was mechanical, flat intonation with zero emotion.
Yet somehow, whenever it talked about traits, skills, or achievements, it felt like it was mocking me.
I let out a sigh.
Nothing was certain right now, so pushing these thoughts would just frustrate me more.
I stood up, and just as I was about to resume walking, the sound of hooves reached my ears.
It was the exact same kind of cart I'd ridden from the city.
Not much of a passenger carriage—just a modified wagon—but hitching a ride beat walking endlessly, so I waved my hand.
The cart stopped, and after a brief argument, I hitched a ride for 1.5 times the original price.
The other passengers didn't hide their discomfort at the sudden addition to their group.
But when I handed over two silver coins, they grinned wide and cleared a seat for me.
Silver coins made them happier than my bad vibes, apparently.
Simple, but simplicity was a virtue.
And so, after several days of travel, I finally entered the capital I'd been aiming for.
Pass cost a whopping five silver coins—roughly 500,000 won by my rough estimate.
Same-rank adventurers paid half, silver-grade and up just a formal copper coin.
But I was still lugging around my wooden apprentice tag, so no choice but to pay full price.
Not thrilled, but that changed the moment I stepped inside the city.
No shit littering the streets.
Clean.
That alone was surprising, but everyone's attire was neat and tidy too.
Guards stood at posts everywhere spear in hand—felt like constant surveillance, but public safety seemed ironclad.
"A whole different world."
8-meter outer walls.
10-meter inner walls.
12-meter central keep walls.
The triple-layered fortifications made it look safer than anywhere else.
Tsk—amazed at how utterly unlike any cityscape I'd seen, I clicked my tongue and got to work on my tasks.
Found a smithy and asked them to sharpen my dull blade.
Then straight to an inn.
Not even a fancy place, yet one night set me back one silver and fifty coppers. My head spun at the insane prices.
Next, the Adventurer's Guild.
To operate as an adventurer here, I had to register with the local branch.
A three-story stone building.
First floor handled requests, byproduct sales, and appraisals. Second floor was the tavern, like in other cities.
Third floor was dorms for guild-exclusive adventurers, apparently.
Too much new stuff to take in properly.
Speaking of which, there were quite a few silver-plate adventurers milling about.
Back elsewhere, spotting even one was rare.
The capital lived up to its name.
Just a quick scan showed over eight of them.
I registered for adventurer activities, took a moment to eye the adventurers, then remembered my appraisal errand and headed to the appraiser.
She was a pretty girl with hair more forsythia-yellow than blonde.
Handed her the goblin-skin book.
"Can you appraise this?"
"...Got money?"
"Pardon?"
"Your clothes are too ragged, is all."
She smiled awkwardly—no malice, but blunt as hell.
"......I'll buy some."
In other cities, this outfit was just a smidge below average, so I'd ignored it.
But here in the capital, it felt downright shabby and pathetic. Time to get something proper.
Adventurers just need to clear requests—looks don't matter, sure, but appearances were first impressions.
Already in a foul mood, looking like a bum wouldn't help my credibility.
"I have money. Please."
"Got it. Prepay ten silver upfront."
"...Pardon?"
"What?"
"Don't you usually pay after?"
"Labor's the same no matter what it is, right? Priceless treasure or total junk—we charge a flat ten silver."
No premium for value.
No discount for trash.
She fell silent, giving me time to mull it over.
"......Fine."
Pulled silver from my inner pocket and handed it over.
"Rags but loaded, huh? Buy clothes pronto. Flashing silver like that in that getup? You'll get pegged for a pickpocket."
No ill intent, kinda belittling tone, but the advice was sound. Tough to respond.
"Anyway, payment received. Hang tight—not long."
She took the book and headed into a room.
About two hours later.
Just as the whispers from onlookers started fading, she emerged and returned the book.
"...Can I even say this?"
"It's junk?"
"Not for me to judge. Anyway, it's a scripture to the Thunder God."
"Thunder God...?"
"Goblins are sound-sensitive, right? They tend to worship thunder—the massive roar from the sky. This is a goblin's scripture devoted to that."
Even promised translation within two days, but I couldn't hide my disappointment.
"Kinda underwhelming..."
"Right? Not total trash, though. Super rare for goblins to put their thunder worship in book form. Rarity alone makes it decent."
"But not actually valuable?"
"Yep. Just page after page of bullshit."
Wondered if I'd wasted ten silver, but knowing the contents couldn't hurt. Shrugged it off.
"Could you burn it for me?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Curious about the contents, but the book itself insults the victims it's made from. Burn it—erase it from the world."
I could do it myself, but better left to pros. She eyed me with a complicated look, unmasked.
"...Sure. I'll incinerate it clean. No take-backs later."
"Just the translation."
"Leave it to me! I'm top-seven appraiser in the capital, y'know!"
"Seventh's an oddly specific rank."
"Master, two royals, three nobles-only, then me."
Puffed chest, hands on hips—clearly fishing for praise.
Too dead inside to play along.
"Impressive..."
My soulless compliment got an eye-roll and a sharp head-turn.
"Translation in two days, then?"
She nodded curtly without looking back. Couldn't help but chuckle.
Cuter than expected.
Acts childish for someone probably just 18 or 19.
More vibrant than anyone I'd met so far.
"See you then."
Parted ways and turned to leave.
Heading out of the guild to snag new clothes per her advice.
Spending freely, but all necessary investments.
"Hold it."
"...Pardon?"
A low voice halted me abruptly. I fixed my gaze on the ground and pivoted only my body toward the source.
"Why do your movements make no sound?"
"...Pardon?"
"Thought it was my imagination at first... but no."
Raised my eyes just a fraction to check his waist.
A silver plate gleamed, asserting its presence.
Silver-grade adventurer.