Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Substantial Connections Matter More Than Broad Networks. (2)
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“Good work out there.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Exchanging farewells with Veronica, the training session finally wrapped up.
Today, once again, I'd picked up a ton of valuable lessons.
I kept realizing that crafting strategies tailored to your opponent and adapting on the fly mattered far more than rigid theoretical moves.
Especially when facing someone as strong as Veronica—it really sharpened my mind...
“Instructor Kane, that must have been tough, right?”
Just then, Lynn approached from the side, holding out a towel.
“Ah, thank you.”
As I took the towel and wiped the sweat from my brow, Veronica walked over and spoke up.
“Impressive as always. I can practically see you growing day by day.”
She said it with genuine admiration.
She wasn't wrong—my progress was indeed rapid.
In terms of aptitude, I'd say I was hovering around B-grade by now.
Of course, strict aptitude measurements were a different story.
Aptitude was raw talent that suited the body naturally.
Even without any foundation, with proper guidance, someone could grow at this pace.
But for me, it all hinged on theoretical knowledge and the movements to match.
I'd built my body from the ground up too.
And above all...
“...Is this my limit?”
The limit was crystal clear.
I couldn't advance my skills any further.
Real combat experience would boost my adaptability, sure, but the core skill level had plateaued.
Theoretically, I understood everything even more perfectly now.
My body just wouldn't keep up anymore.
The same went for my physique.
My physical growth was starting to slow down.
Compared to those with aptitude for physical prowess, my ceiling and growth rate were both lower.
Training would keep making me tougher, but it'd be agonizingly gradual.
Someone with true B-grade aptitude could push their skills and physical abilities much higher.
Heh, so this is what it means to lack aptitude, huh.
Still, reaching B-rank adventurer level with just dagger arts?
Not a bad outcome, all things considered.
Not quite the jaw-dropping feat Veronica made it out to be, though.
“I've still got a long way to go. Might as well learn a bunch more skills while I'm at it.”
If I wanted to get stronger, that was the only path left.
Like with dagger arts, build on theory to master other skills at a similar level.
The more techniques in your arsenal, the better, after all.
“......”
...Heh, ways to get stronger.
That's just an excuse at this point.
To better understand the field as an adventurer instructor?
To teach people in more detail?
Sure, that's part of it.
But the real driving force was something else.
‘The thrill of it.’
Feeling my body grow stronger firsthand—it was pure joy.
That's why I wanted to pick up new skills.
“Learning even more? You're something else...”
“...Veronica? Some adventurers are looking for you out back.”
Veronica started to say something, but Lynn suddenly cut in, interrupting her.
“Oh? Yeah... they are.”
A few adventurers had indeed gathered behind her, questions at the ready... but what was with this sudden chill in the air?
“Instructor Kane, heading off to wash up?”
Lynn turned back with an innocently beaming smile.
But seriously, what was this eerie vibe?
“Hehe, from now on, I'll have Instructor Kane all to myself...”
I could've sworn I heard a faint mutter.
Too quiet to make out.
...What did she say?
#
“Mission complete... I mean, request fulfilled!”
As evening fell, Jenny returned.
She was used to soloing as the Hero, so she'd been operating alone without a party.
Seemed like she was getting the hang of adventurer work.
“You brought back a haul. As expected of you, Jenny. Here's your pay. It might be pocket change for someone like you...”
She'd taken on a subjugation request and handed over a bulging sack, receiving her reward.
A C-rank subjugation gig like that? Even with that many kills, it probably wasn't much for Jenny.
Not even a fraction of a fraction of her daily Hero pay.
Plus, she'd grown up as the daughter of a prominent noble.
Not that Jenny seemed to mind.
“No way! This is money I earned by picking my own request.”
If anything, she looked proud of earning it through a subjugation job she'd chosen herself.
Come to think of it, Lynn grew up as a princess too—did she ever feel short on cash?
She seemed surprisingly frugal.
Or maybe her kingdom treated her poorly, forcing a meager lifestyle.
“Uhahaha! Hurry up and hit S-rank already, Jenny. The pay scale's on another level there!”
...Meanwhile, Scarlett—who'd been an adventurer the longest—was the biggest spender.
What was it she said? Earning hundreds of thousands of brets a month, then blowing it all on food or pointless consumables.
Arna had vented about it once, how it worried her.
“...My sister's gotta learn the value of money. What'll she do after retiring if she keeps blowing it like that?”
A 19-year-old fresh out of the Academy, with way more noble experience under her belt.
And she'd earned even more than Scarlett during her Hero days.
Jenny lecturing Scarlett on financial sense? Priceless.
“Pfft, retirement funds? One good request covers that.”
“Sigh...”
Jenny let out a deep sigh at Scarlett's ridiculous excuse, then spotted me and trotted over with a grin.
“Hehe, Big Brother Kane! I'm back. There was this cave in the eastern plains with monsters popping out, so I...”
Jenny launched into an excited recap of her request.
Like she was fishing for praise after a job well done.
She was the same back at the Academy.
After class, she'd gush about how she'd tackled the lesson or nailed it thanks to my advice.
Seeing her crave approval like this, it reminded me of her as a little kid.
Felt like looking at an adorable little sister who adored me.
Which, well, she basically was.
“Well done, Miss Jenny. A C-rank request is child's play for you.”
“Hehe...”
I patted her head as I spoke, and she beamed happily, tilting it for easier access.
I'd always thought this, but her looks and all...
She was like a cute puppy.
“Hahaha, praise for me too, little sis!”
Whoosh!
Scarlett bounded over and slapped a hand on Jenny's head, ruffling it wildly.
“Kyaa! Sis! My hair's getting all messed up!”
Sure enough, her neatly styled red locks turned into a frizzy mess under Scarlett's grip.
“Ugh...”
“Kyahaha. What a mess.”
“That's your fault, sis!”
Jenny pouted, while Scarlett cracked up at the sight.
It was a heartwarming scene, somehow soothing the soul.
Like we'd gone back to the old days at the Harkur estate, everyone together.
...Though Marquis Sain still hated my guts back then.
Anyway.
Just as I was thinking how nice it'd be if these everyday moments kept going...
Creeeak—
The guild door swung open.
And someone stepped inside, slow and deliberate.
“...?”
The guild saw tons of traffic by nature.
Adventurers, staff, folks here to post requests.
So the door opening and someone entering was nothing special.
But...
All eyes locked on her instantly.
The reason?
Twitch!
“Hmph.”
Sharp eyes, lightly tanned skin.
Dark brown leather attire so skimpy it barely covered the essentials, leaving nowhere safe to look.
A wild beauty in her late teens with golden, mane-like tousled hair.
That alone would've turned heads, but the real showstoppers were the pointed yellow ears poking from her head.
And hands and feet fuzzy with yellow fur like furry gloves and boots, tipped with razor-sharp claws.
“A beastkin...?”
Beastkin tribes from the southern great forests, a non-human race.
Specifically, a high-tier lion beastkin.
Sure, Hasler being a hub city meant beastkin from the southern forest continent weren't unheard of.
But elves and beastkin generally disliked humans—especially adventurers, who hunted their kind most often.
They avoided guilds like the plague.
That's why you rarely saw non-humans around Hasler.
Arna being an elf adventurer was the real anomaly.
So why was a lion beastkin here in the guild?
“Is that a lion beastkin?”
“For real...? Why's a beastkin here...?”
Whispers rippled through the crowd, but she ignored them and spoke up.
“Heard Hero Jenny here.”
Her slightly halting speech sought out Jenny.
Huh? Jenny?
Ah, maybe here for a designated request?
Word was spreading that Jenny had quit being the Hero to adventure in Hasler.
Not surprising if requests started coming in.
But... from a beastkin? To an adventurer?
“That's me... What can I do for you?”
Jenny stepped forward, looking puzzled.
She was thinking the same as me.
“...Ask you, Jenny.”
Ignoring her reaction, the lion beastkin woman asked with a grave expression.
“You no longer Empire Hero. Correct?”
“Yes, that's right...”
“Then...”
Her already fierce eyes narrowed further as she continued.
“...Save our tribe. Our country.”
The designated request she brought...
“Evil thing eating our country... Free Hero, only you. Help us.”
Would later stir up an unforeseen storm—a massive incident.