Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Most Problems Are Solved with Firm Resolve (2)
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Most problems can be solved with just one firm resolve.
It had been just one day since we set out, and a massive incident had already erupted, but after that, things proceeded smoothly without any further mishaps.
About ten days had passed since we left the capital.
Now, the day we arrived at the city of Hassler was truly just around the corner.
Oh, of course, Kogel had immediately used the communication orb in the village to report to the Adventurer's Guild.
Communication orbs were usually only found in cities, but villages near the capital were something else entirely.
Anyway, the Adventurer's Guild dispatched someone right away upon receiving the report.
Naturally, Kogel, who had attacked his employer, was immediately apprehended.
We were informed that he would be expelled from the guild and punished according to imperial law.
Because of that, our departure from the village was delayed by a day.
And the escort party was reduced to just the two E-rank adventurers.
Still, it seemed we wouldn't be late according to the schedule.
Tachi offered to recruit more adventurers again, but I politely declined.
Why?
"How about it, Instructor Kane? I'm handling it perfectly now, right?"
"Hehe, I've mastered Low Cure. Next up, I think I should learn Middle Cure."
Reina and Sonya.
The two of them had grown so much that Kogel's absence wasn't felt at all.
On the very day Kogel was apprehended, their combined strength had nearly doubled compared to when they traveled with him before.
Reina had begun learning spear techniques suited to her aptitude, and with enough experience, she already had the foundation to surpass Kogel several times over.
And on top of that.
Reina's growth was impressive, but Sonya's was on another level—it was like she had become a completely different person.
She had transformed from a support mage who could only cast basic buffs into a versatile all-rounder capable of healing, buffs, and debuffs.
Moreover, her healing magic was evolving at a frightening pace with every use.
I figured that just the two of them already surpassed the old Silver Sword Party's strength, so I decided to decline recruiting new adventurers.
...Well, a big part of it was that I wanted to watch their growth up close.
No, actually, that was the main reason.
"You two are amazing. At this rate, you could aim for D... no, even C-rank adventurer status."
As expected, the two didn't fall short of my expectations.
They developed rapidly by honing abilities that matched their aptitudes.
In just ten days, Reina had mastered imperial basic spear techniques to a proficient level.
She was even incorporating adventurer-style practical skills to build her own unique techniques.
As for Sonya, her C-grade aptitude was showing its true colors.
She had already mastered Low Cure and begun practicing spells to cure various status ailments, as well as Middle Cure, the intermediate wound-healing magic.
Reina aside, if Sonya refined her skills a bit more, she could join a B-rank party.
"Hehehe."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing students grow was apparently the greatest joy for a teacher.
Well, they weren't my students, and I wasn't a teacher anymore—just a former one and current unemployed slacker—but...
"Hehe, thank you! It's all thanks to Instructor Kane."
"Exactly! Instructor is the best! So cool!"
But ever since I told them I was heading to Hassler to become an adventurer instructor, they kept calling me "Instructor."
"...No, I'm not an instructor yet. Please stop calling me that."
Even when I said that, they never listened.
"Come on! If someone like you isn't an instructor, who could be?"
"Right! You pulled us up two whole ranks in just ten days!"
No, that was just because I read the books and knew the info...
"Plus, you know survival, monster ecology, botany, zoology... everything an adventurer might need!"
"And you explain it all so clearly and easy to understand!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"......"
When the two showered me with praise like this, I just quietly shut my mouth.
No point arguing.
...Besides, embarrassing as it was, it felt pretty good.
Who wouldn't like being praised?
"When we get to the Hassler Adventurer's Guild, we'll vouch for you big time!"
"Yeah! We'll rank up two levels at once and tell everyone it's all thanks to you, Kane!"
...No, that's not thanks to me—it's your aptitudes.
Still, a recommendation from fellow adventurers we'd traveled with could definitely help.
They didn't have to go this far for me when I hadn't done anything special.
They were too kind.
"Oh, there's Hassler!"
Oh, while we were chatting, we'd arrived at Hassler.
In the distance, countless buildings sprawled atop land enclosed by massive walls.
And small villages dotted around those walls came into view.
Hassler.
A city in the southeastern empire, not as grand as the capital but a vital midpoint bustling with merchants and travelers from the eastern alliance or the southern forest continent.
It boasted considerable size and a developed culture.
"Not bad—we made it in ten days."
"Thanks to you two getting stronger."
"Hehe, we got stronger because of you, Kane."
"Right, exactly."
We strolled slowly toward Hassler, chatting amiably.
Our destination was right there, so no need to rush.
"Hm?"
"...?"
Suddenly, Reina tilted her head and whipped around to look behind us.
"What's up?"
Why the sudden reaction?
Did she forget something at last night's camp?
"...Oh, no, nothing. Must've been my imagination."
As eyes turned to her, she waved her hands flusteredly and shook her head.
Hm... What was that? Felt like one of those classic flags right before something ominous happens.
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Shaking off the ominous feeling, we reached Hassler's entrance—but couldn't enter the city right away.
"Why is the line so long?"
As expected of a transit city.
There were plenty from the alliance or forest continent, but even more from the capital Carmen or further north.
The line to enter stretched on endlessly—impossible to see the end.
It snaked in an L-shape from the gate, easily over 500 people.
"How long until we get in..."
Sonya sighed wearily.
We'd been standing doing nothing for an hour already—it was exhausting.
The line had shortened by about 200 up front, but still over 100 to go.
With people from various nations and races, the entry checks were apparently thorough.
That explained the long wait.
"Lucky nobles..."
"Sigh, they just breeze right in."
Overhearing passersby, I glanced at the other inspection lane.
That was the special lane for nobles and merchants.
People with money and power.
Unlike here, crammed with hundreds and wagons everywhere, over there they didn't even dismount—just passed through.
No real inspection; guards just bowed and waved them on.
Classic class society—money and power open all doors.
Whatever, I didn't care much.
No connection to them, so envying was a waste of time.
"Just 30 more minutes..."
"Huh!?"
I was about to tell Sonya and Reina to hang in there a bit longer when...
"A commoner teacher!"
A slimy, weaselly voice hit my ears.
Commoner teacher.
That had to be referring to me, no matter how I sliced it.
Glancing back casually, sure enough.
"It's him, the fake teacher! What are you doing here?"
One of the guys who graduated from the academy a year before Jenny.
There he stood.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Dayrun Grace 📊 Aptitude Stats 🔗 Physical Skills Integration (4 types): B 🍲 Food Studies: D ⭐ Hero's Quality: C A hulking giant around 2 meters tall, with bulging muscles straining against leather armor, veins popping everywhere.
And a massive double-edged axe slung across his back, big as a person.
The man screaming "I'm a strength build" with his whole body was Dayrun Grace.
A graduate of Hero Academy's hero class.
Bodybuilding (B), Strength Training (C), Greatsword Mastery (C), Destruction (B).
A muscle monster with four brutish physical aptitudes that screamed "dumb brute."
Why was this guy here?
...Wait, asking that was silly.
Right after graduation, he'd formed an imperial hero party and started missions.
So he was here on a mission now.
"You know him...?"
Sonya looked at him in confusion.
Then she saw those throbbing muscles and...
"Ugh..."
She grimaced in disgust and stepped back slightly.
Yeah, muscles that extreme were kinda gross.
"Ah~ So you're the 'incompetent commoner who became a Hero Academy teacher through connections' that Sir Dayrun mentioned?"
"But why isn't the academy teacher in the capital... Ah~! You got fired!"
The similar muscleheads behind Dayrun snickered and trash-talked me among themselves.
"Makes sense! An incompetent loser like you deserved to get canned! But look at him, fired from the academy and now cozying up with two girls?"
Dayrun leered sleazily at Sonya and Reina as he spoke.
...Ugh, how could a human be this repulsive? Was he actually an ogre?
"Hey! Are you insulting Instructor Kane right now?!"
"Instructor Kane, I feel like I could cast a curse right now. Want to see?"
I hadn't said a word.
But the two girls beside me got angrier than I did and launched into action.
Whoa, no need for that.
Just let barking dogs be—they get bored and leave if you ignore them.
"Hah! You bitches..."
Aw, knew it.
One eyebrow arched up.
Not angry, exactly—just baffled that "lessers" dared talk back.
Tsk, reacting just encouraged more barking.
"Hey, ladies. You look like adventurers. Ditch the low-class stuff and serve me instead. I'll make it fun day and night."
"Kekeke, yeah! And no waiting in line with us!"
"We're the famous hero party led by 'Dayrun of the Double-Edged Axe'!"
...That title is exactly as it looks.
Not embarrassed?
Dayrun was a noble, fine.
But the guys behind seemed like low noble brats or ex-soldiers.
Same hero party meant they could pass together.
"Piss off."
"Gross."
The two crushed his ego with expressions and single words.
"Aw, don't be like that. Sticking with a worthless commoner commission won't pay much. Come with us and it's paradise..."
Even as Dayrun kept yapping shamelessly in this maddening collab, suddenly a gravelly husky voice came from behind him.
"Hey, meathead. What did you just spew? Adventurers are... what?"