Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Ant Nest (1)
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"Hey, Young Master! You're from Ariel Academy?"
A burly man with tanned skin thudded across the wooden floor toward me.
I wondered what this was about.
Was he picking a fight? If he mocked me for coming from a fancy place, that could be a problem.
I'd wanted to use the Adventurer's Guild as quietly as possible. Getting a bad reputation on day one would make it awkward to come back often.
But my worries were unfounded. The big guy burst into hearty laughter and spoke warmly.
"My little brother's attending Ariel Academy too! You know Barrian? He's famous for taking first place in the whole school during combat training exams!"
He'd come to brag about his brother.
Any student taking combat training had to be a third-year... No connection at all to me, a first-year just starting basic swordsmanship.
I smiled amiably, like I was in a corporate meeting.
"Haha... I'm a first-year who just started, so I haven't heard of him yet."
"Tch, he's famous even among first-years! Don't you have any friends, Young Master?"
"That's right. I don't have many friends, so I don't hear much gossip... But he must be impressive. First in combat training—that takes real talent and instinct."
"Kahahaha! You got that right! He's my blood, so he'd better be! You know your stuff, kid."
...He fell for the flattery hook, line, and sinker. What a simple guy.
Maybe I should butter him up some more.
"I can tell just by looking at your sturdy build, sir. You've been through life-and-death battles countless times, so your brother must be cut from the same cloth."
"Kahaha! Damn straight. I'm the top C-rank adventurer, after all. If you don't know my name in this line of work, you're a spy! I hunt down pretty much every C-rank monster out there!"
The burly man clapped a hand on my shoulder and continued.
"Young Master—no, brother! I like you. I thought you'd be some stuck-up noble with a stick up your ass, but you're polite and sharp!"
"Haha, you're too kind. Even my family can't stand arrogant nobles like that."
"Grr, if those noble bastards were half like you... Hey, brother! What's your name? I'm Victor."
"Sian."
"Alright, Sian! If you ever need anything, just say the word—I'll help you out! Welcome to the adventurers' life!"
Victor, as he called himself, slapped my back with a whack! after that and returned to his table.
...Our size difference made it hurt, even if he thought it was a light tap.
Still, I'd left a good impression. Lucky break.
People skills really are essential.
Being good at your job alone won't win you friends. You have to balance work and relationships.
That's how you become what they call an ace.
That was when the counter clerk, who'd been processing paperwork, called me over.
It meant my adventurer registration was done.
She handed me my adventurer qualification card.
It had my name, Sian, my starting E-rank, and other personal details stamped on it.
Now I was a real adventurer.
The E-rank stung a bit, but ranks could be raised over time.
I knew all the tricks for quick leveling and ranking up from my veteran days.
'Did I take too long?'
I headed to the request board on the wall.
I couldn't forget why I was here. Money for meals at the academy cafeteria.
I scanned the requests for ones that paid well.
'...Nothing good.'
I rolled my eyes around, but decent E-rank requests were scarce.
Mostly stuff like finding lost dogs or gathering herbs—petty jobs with peanuts for pay.
To eat well on those, I'd need more than one a day just to break even. No time for that.
I looked higher up.
D-rank requests caught my eye. E-rank adventurers could take higher ones if they wanted.
Ranks existed to warn about danger levels—no rule said E-ranks were stuck with E-rank jobs.
If you had the skills, clearing higher ranks raised your own faster.
Of course, biting off more than you could chew might cost your life.
So I browsed carefully.
One request stood out.
'Great Tortoise Subjugation Request.'
Among D-rank monsters, Great Tortoises were on the weaker side combat-wise.
Their tough shell protected their back, making them tricky to kill—that's why they were D-rank, not E.
'Their tendons are tough and stringy—great for bowstrings. And the meat's high in protein, popular stuff.'
High demand meant pay for a month's meals.
'Nothing else fits...'
No safer D-ranks around.
Should I take it?
In the game, Great Tortoises fell to one sword strike...
'Hmm.'
I'd faced ogres, tougher variants. Should be fine.
No other good D-ranks, and E-ranks sucked too.
'...I'll do it.'
I tore the request from the board and took it to the counter.
"I'd like to take this one."
"Huh?"
The clerk gave me a puzzled look.
"You sure? D-rank right after registering..."
I wasn't sure.
If things went south, I'd bail without hesitation.
"It's fine. Give me this one."
"Got it. Party setup done?"
"No. Going solo."
That was when.
"Sian! You planning to subjugate a Great Tortoise?!"
Victor stood from his drinking table with his comrades and lumbered over.
"Yes. Heading out tomorrow."
"Haha, you sure? Even bottom-tier D-rank is still D. No idea how confident you are, but solo's rough."
"If it gets bad, I'll run midway."
"Tch! Running? No real man says that!"
Victor yelled at his mage-looking comrade.
"Hey, Andrei! Any spots left in the Giant Ant party?!"
His comrade replied.
"We need one escort!"
"What kind—frontline?!"
"No! Rear guard to assist with spellcasting!"
"Kahaha! Perfect! Casting support's right up my alley!"
Victor turned back to me.
"Sian! How about joining our party for now? We're heading to the Ant Nest Labyrinth in two days for a Giant Ant. As mage escort, you won't be in danger! Profit split's for four now—if you join, we'll do it two ways. What do you say?!"
Sudden offer.
Giant Ants were three times riskier than Great Tortoises.
But... a C-rank party of four.
Safer than solo tortoise, for sure.
Two-way split sounded skimpy, but C-rank upper Giant Ant meant big profits overall.
Way more than solo tortoise.
No need to think.
Accept.
Social skills pay off. Got a sweet deal because of it.
"I'd be grateful! If you let me in, I'll pull my weight!"
"Deal! Meet at the Liana Empire Gate two days from now, just before sunrise! I'll be waiting!"
*
The next day.
Last day of the weekend. I extended my break by skipping classes—went to the academy admin office and filed for field training approval.
"Here you go."
I handed the clerk a reason statement mixing truth and lies.
Fifteen years old, first-year freshman.
If word got out I was hunting C-rank upper Giant Ants, the academy would freak.
Prestigious Ariel Academy prioritized student safety. Cumulative deaths would hurt their rep—they'd never approve.
So I wrote it as adventurer work, but D-rank quest.
"Yes. Approved."
The admin processed it.
I bowed and headed straight to the dorm.
Needed to polish my armor and sharpen my sword for tomorrow's subjugation.
Stock up on healing potions en route too.
Even veteran five-man parties had risks. This was Ariel—high freedom, high adventure detail, high death rate.
Prepare for every possibility.
This was real now. Rash moves could end me for good.
Finishing those thoughts, I planned for emergencies back at the dorm too.
Didn't let my guard down even in sleep.
And so the fateful next day arrived swiftly.
Just before dawn, right as the sun peeked.
I arrived at the Liana Empire Gate. Heavily armored, more prepared than usual.
Ahead: the mage from the guild yesterday, Victor with arms crossed casually.
And two new faces—a swordsman and an archer, by the carriage at the gate, waiting for someone.