Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Most Problems Are Solved with a Single Firm Resolve. (3)
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“Huh?”
Suddenly hearing that voice, Dayrun scowled and turned around.
Then, the person who had been hidden behind his massive back came into view.
Surprisingly, it was a young woman with strikingly beautiful features.
She stood about 170 cm tall, with a perfectly proportioned, slender figure.
She wore tight black leather that clung to her body, proudly on display without any intent to hide it.
Her jet-black hair matched perfectly.
Her eyes, somehow filled with anger, looked sharp to begin with.
Overall, she gave off the vibe of a cold, tough big sis.
“Hey, what did you just say?”
Combined with her rough speech and husky voice...
She was the epitome of a scary big sis.
“What the hell? Who’s this bitch... Oh ho, she’s pretty hot, huh? You here to serve us too?”
Of course, to Dayrun, who looked like an ogre himself, she wasn’t all that intimidating.
He scanned her up and down with a lecherous grin and reached out toward her.
It looked like he planned to grab her and do who-knows-what.
Oh no...!
Anyone could see she’d jumped in to help us.
We couldn’t let her get hurt because of that.
I had to stop him.
Normally, an ordinary person couldn’t beat a hero... Huh?
“W-Wait...! D-Dayrun, sir!”
Then, surprisingly, the one who blocked Dayrun was one of his underlings—the guy who’d been smirking at us just moments ago.
“Th-That woman... She’s the one, you know!”
“Huh? What about her?”
Dayrun glared at him like he’d kill him if it wasn’t a big deal.
“S-Rank adventurer... ‘Black Death’ Veronica...!”
“...W-What?!”
S-Rank adventurer, Black Death Veronica?
“What?! That woman is one of the famous four S-Rank adventurers...”
“Black Death Veronica...!”
The bystanders’ attention had already turned our way.
Well, with all the commotion, they couldn’t ignore it.
...Anyway, I’ve always thought this.
Why do adventurers always give themselves such nicknames?
Do they really think they’re cool?
No, that’s not the point right now.
Why is an S-Rank adventurer popping up here out of nowhere?
The hero party too.
And that ominous feeling Reina sensed earlier...
Is something really about to go down here?
“That mythical assassin who kills without you even knowing you’re dead...! Why is a woman like that here...”
“Looks like she’s investigating the troll anomaly in Ode Swamp, just like us. The guild must have put out a request too...”
...Thanks for the explanation.
Troll anomaly in Ode Swamp, huh.
That could mean one of two things.
First, the better case.
The habitat’s environment or food supply got abundant, leading to a troll population boom.
In that scenario, you cull them to a certain number, eliminate the excess food, or reclaim it to limit them.
The second... is the serious one...
“Ha, ha! So what if she’s an S-Rank adventurer? Isn’t she still below heroes? Lately, people keep saying S-Ranks are stronger than heroes... Time to teach these pathetic adventurers a lesson for thinking they can match up to a hero!”
Dayrun charged at the woman named Veronica.
Twisted lust for women and resentment over the recent hype around S-Rank adventurers had set him off.
Boom!
The ground where he’d pushed off cratered, forming a small pit.
Incredible power, just from taking a step to run.
Screeech─
Speed unbelievable for that massive bulk.
But it made sense, in a way.
Human speed depends on the muscle power applied to the body.
And his strength was dozens, hundreds of times that of a normal person.
So his speed would be accordingly fast.
But...
“...That pathetic low-level crap? From a worthless adventurer?”
Veronica didn’t even draw a weapon.
“Kuhaha, die!”
She just extended one finger.
“Die, you muscle pig bastard!”
Swish─
Utterly quietly.
As if nothing had happened.
She brushed past him.
And the next instant.
Thud─!
“Geh... Gaaah...”
Dayrun collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
“W-What? What just happened?”
“Insane... Is that the power of Veronica, the Black Death? I didn’t even see it!”
“The Black Death that creeps up from the shadows!”
“She puts people down so quietly!”
...Whatever the crowd’s reactions.
I’d already figured she was exceptional.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Veronica 📊 Aptitude Stats 🗡️ Dagger Skills: S 🧪 Status Ailment Magic: B 🩺 Anatomy: B With aptitude stats like that, plus the experience and skill to earn S-Rank adventurer status.
I was certain she wouldn’t lose to a low-to-mid-tier hero like him.
In fact, she’d knocked him out barehanded—probably by striking a pressure point—without even drawing her dagger.
Well... even if she weren’t that strong, I could’ve guided her on which way to dodge.
I’d known his attack patterns since my student days, so I could predict his moves.
But no need—her work was clean and precise.
Her aptitudes alone showed it, but she really was impressive.
To reach that level without being a hero or hero candidate.
She had one S-grade aptitude, too.
With stats screaming “born assassin,” piling up skill would make her stronger than most heroes.
Still, in a world dominated by hero and hero candidate talents, where they’re the center of everything.
Finding her own path and honing it to that degree was truly praiseworthy.
“You lot wanna go too?”
She turned from the fallen Dayrun and eyed his underlings.
“H-Hiiik!”
“S-Sorry...!!”
They grabbed their foaming boss and fled in a panic.
So clichéd villain-like, it’s kinda funny.
“Tch, acting all high and mighty when they’re even more pathetic. Insulting adventurers?”
She spat toward their retreating backs in disgust.
“......”
She glanced our way.
“Hey, you okay?”
Still with that rough voice and tone, she addressed us.
Guess that’s her default.
“Ah, um... Thank you for saving us.”
“Thank you.”
Reina and Sonya bowed politely.
“Thank you. We were in a bind.”
I didn’t forget my manners either.
“Eh, whatever. Just pissed me off hearing those bastards talk, so I taught ‘em a lesson.”
She shrugged off our thanks like it was nothing.
Well... her methods were rough, and she did it because they annoyed her.
Still, she saved us, fact.
“No, we’d be dead without you.”
“...Yeah. Whatever.”
She really seemed to think it was no big deal, leaving a curt reply before walking off.
As an S-Rank adventurer, she went straight into the city via the special inspection line.
...Kinda cool how she just left like that.
“She’s amazing.”
“We gotta aim to be adventurers like her...!”
Sonya and Reina looked inspired, fired up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We waited nearly another hour before finally getting into the city.
“Phew... We’re finally here.”
“Yeah. Standing in line was harder than the trip from the capital.”
True... doing nothing but standing was real torture.
If I ever study torture techniques, I’ll keep this in mind.
“Phew... Made it somehow. Hasler.”
I took in the cityscape.
Well-maintained roads lined with buildings.
Mansions clustered to the right, commercial district in the center.
Leftward paths led to rows of ordinary houses.
And... lots of people.
Not crowded like the capital, but a ton of ‘types.’
Calling people ‘types’ sounds weird, but it fit.
Empire citizens as baseline, plus beastfolk from the forest continent, dark-skinned folk.
Even people in East Country-style clothes from the Eastern Alliance.
Dig a bit, and you might spot rare races like elves, dragonewts, or giants.
Most demi-humans cluster on the forest continent side, so maybe.
All those races mixing probably made the atmosphere feel super free.
Buildings blending diverse cultures, exotic clothing styles.
Foreign scents wafting from the commercial district.
This must be what they mean by cultural melting pot.
“Cool place, huh.”
Different charm from the capital.
Really... first time seeing something like this.
I’d read about it in books, but words and pictures versus seeing it firsthand?
Worlds apart.
“......”
Dunno where exactly, but I grew up in Marquis Harkur’s territory.
Beyond Hero Academy in the capital, Carmen.
“Hasler this time, huh.”
The freewheeling cultural hub where countless races mingle, Hasler.
This was where my new life would start.
...Well, after passing the adventurer instructor exam, anyway.
Thinking about it made me kinda depressed... This the job hunter blues...?
“...Oh, right.”
Got distracted by wonder and gloom, almost forgot.
“Here’s the rest of the request payment.”
Had to settle up with Reina and Sonya.
Standard for escort requests: half upfront when it starts, half after safe completion.
...The upfront half was originally Kogel’s, but I took it when he got hauled off and split it with them.
“Oh, right... But you don’t have to.”
“Yeah, no need... You already gave us something worth more than money.”
They tried to refuse, but a request was a request.
Had to pay properly.
If word got out I only paid half, I’d be blacklisted at the guild, and the instructor exam? Forget it.
“Take it anyway. You’ll need it for promotions and new gear.”
Added the reason, finally got them to accept, ending our brief but long relationship.
“Thanks for your hard work.”
“Y-Yeah...”
“Mm...”
But their reactions weren’t great.
Reluctant?
I get it... After ten days, I’d grown a bit attached too.
Short time, but they felt like my students?
Well, grand words aside, I’d just given simple advice.
“I’ve got some business. You two heading straight to the guild?”
“Yeah... Probably.”
They had completion reports and promotions to do.
They’d be busy ahead.
Might run into them in Hasler a few more times.
Speaking of, I had to go to the guild too.
But first, somewhere else.
“See you around if we get the chance.”
As I said goodbye and turned to leave.
“W-We’ll put in a good word at the guild!”
“Right! You’ll definitely make instructor! Look forward to it!”
They cheered me on, waving.
Heh, been a while since I felt this.
First time since training Marquis Harkur’s private soldiers as adjutant?
At the academy... no one treated me like a master.
Jenny was... different vibe.
Anyway, after so long, that proud ‘teacher’ feeling washed over me.