Chapter 130
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: A Quick Promotion Test
"Greetings, Argo... I'll skip the pleasantries. I recommend Luke for the position of S-rank adventurer. Judging by the capabilities he displayed during the Volcanic Horned Dragon raid, I have determined his power is sufficient to be compared to an S-rank. While others may hold their own in terms of technical skill or magical ability, his strength surpasses my own, so I believe he has more than enough potential."
That was the extent of the letter's content. With that, Argo placed the letter back on the table. To summarize, it was a recommendation for me to become S-rank, and when he said it was something good for me, he wasn't kidding.
"Was S-rank by recommendation?"
"Not usually, but there's no reason you can't be recommended. And this isn't a recommendation from some nameless nobody, but from an S-rank adventurer. Going up through recommendation is better and causes fewer problems than the official route."
"So am I S-rank now?"
S-rank, piece of cake. Should I go down and teabag those losers below? Ah, but I didn't expect this to happen so suddenly, so I didn't bring anything to teabag with today. Argo cut short my happy dilemma.
"Unfortunately, that's not possible."
"Why not?"
"If everyone who got a recommendation became an S-rank adventurer, do you think there'd only be three of them on the continent?"
He had a point, but I doubt those people would have recommended anyone else. Am I not the first to even be recommended?
"Did you think becoming S-rank was that easy?"
"Yep."
Isn't it easy if I made it this far in less than a year?
"...Don't speak from the perspective of a genius. It's a place others can't reach even if they spend their entire lives trying."
"Could you call it effort, please? I'm a genius of pure effooooort, you know?"
Anyone else would think I was some brat who got by on his bloodline and natural talent. I believe I worked twice as hard as others. Why? Because other people awaken their mana and learn about monsters naturally after being born, but I'd already wasted two years just coming to this world.
To have come this far with a body like Rock Lee's, with not a drop of mana, makes me a genius of effort. If this isn't effort, what is?
"Alright, alright... you're the best."
"So why isn't S-rank possible?"
"You're B-rank right now. Skipping intermediate ranks is against the regulations."
Sigh, those damn regulations are the enemy. People need to live with a little flexibility; being so rigid will make you go bald later.
"But with the materials I brought this time, shouldn't I be able to advance to A-rank without a promotion test?"
Originally, I had planned to meet the A-rank promotion conditions before going to Alfheim. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible, but I brought back proof that I subjugated an S-rank monster instead. Isn't this enough for a free pass to A-rank?
"As you say, bringing something like this is more than enough to get you to A-rank without a promotion test."
"Right?"
"However."
We need a justification. That's what Argo said. We need more justification than this? Saying I can't even get to A-rank after taking down an S-rank monster is just bullshit.
If that's the case, this time I'll change my profession from adventurer to serial killer. Seeing the look on my face, which suggested I was about to go on a rampage at any moment, Argo hurriedly made an excuse.
"It's nothing serious. We just need proof that you took a promotion test to become A-rank."
"And what's that proof?"
"Simple. Let's have a sparring match."
***
And so, we all moved together to the plains beyond the imperial capital's walls.
"Why did we come all the way out here when there's a training ground below the guild?"
"Because if you really have the power of an S-rank adventurer like Gideon said, a training ground won't be enough. I'd rather not spend money on unnecessary things."
That's an excellent choice. Come to think of it, I did smash the walls of a few buildings when I beat up that elf before.
The elf took care of the cleanup back then, but I'd rather not do something like that again and have to spend my own money.
"Well then, shall we get started?"
Argo drew the straight sword that was tied to his waist. It was an ordinary longsword with no special markings.
Argo struck a pose, as if he had some unique swordsmanship of his own. In response, I drew a sword from my inventory.
Given the various things he had shown me so far and his position as the Adventurer's Guild Master, I was curious about how strong he was.
Presently, Argo's eyes sharpened, and with a *thump*, he leaped toward me.
Wasn't this spar just for the sake of justification? Why is he so full of energy? I can't keep up with that tension.
Argo, now right in front of me, swung the sword in his right hand in a wide horizontal arc.
Hey, excuse me. You said this was a spar, so what are you doing with an attack like that in a place with no safety measures?
I wouldn't die even if it hit me, but anyone else would have had their upper and lower body separated by that attack.
Argo was slower than the elf and the demonic human I fought before, but he was faster than me. Still, it wasn't so fast that I couldn't block it, so I turned my sword sideways. One of the advantages of a greatsword is that turning it sideways can block any attack coming from that direction.
As I blocked Argo's all-out attack, his left hand came flying at me. At first, I thought it was just a fist, but on closer inspection, I saw he was holding a sword.
The path of the sword instantly crossed my chest.
"Irooon Body."
"......!"
But I have the invincible Iron Body. Seeing that his attack had no effect, Argo instantly leaped back and retreated.
"What... is your body made of steel or something?"
"It's probably better than steel by now."
At first, it was a little less durable than steel. But yesterday, I poured all my stat points into stamina for the foursome, which massively increased my defense and stamina.
The problem is, I don't really feel the increase in stamina except when having sex. I was always the type to fly with a single jump rather than run around, and to hunt with a single attack.
"More importantly, I never expected to see a dual-wielding style here."
Wow! Dual-wielding! Amazing! Incredible! At first, I thought he'd used some kind of magic with his right hand to move the sword to his left. But now, Argo had a sword in each hand.
"Who would reveal all their cards from the very beginning?"
"Well, that's true."
I also have a mountain of skills I haven't used yet. The information I gathered from our brief exchange just now is that while the elf and the demonic human I fought before were speed-specialized, Argo could be considered a balanced type.
An all-rounder with a good mix of strength, speed, and stamina. His speed was slightly faster than mine, and the shock that traveled up my arm from his blocked sword was considerable. Of course, he was still much weaker than me.
"Hoo... It feels like just yesterday you came to join the adventurers wearing an academy uniform. When did you get so strong?"
"Considering everything that's happened to me, it'd be weirder if I didn't get stronger."
How many demonic humans have I killed? It would be strange if I didn't get stronger.
"Still, I'm starting to get a feel for how to handle you."
Well, Argo wasn't some brainless undead. As a human, he would naturally try to find a way to win.
Argo kicked off the ground again.
This time, instead of charging straight ahead, he circled wide to the side at high speed.
Argo himself must know. Since Gideon recommended me based on my strength alone, he should avoid a direct power contest with me as much as possible.
Having a relative advantage in one area comes with this kind of benefit. It takes away one of the opponent's strategies. In this case, I'd taken away Argo's option of a frontal assault.
"Since you don't seem to know, I'll teach you one thing as your superior. Even the hardest objects can be cut."
Argo threw the swords in both his hands at my eyes. I simply raised my sword to protect my eyes, and the deflected swords landed somewhere on the ground.
What was he planning to attack with after throwing his own swords? The moment I lowered my sword, another sword came flying at my eyes.
"Huh?"
Didn't he just throw his swords? I quickly raised my sword to defend again and glanced around. All around me, rock swords created by Argo were stuck in the ground.
'I think I've seen this in an anime before...'
As I was deeply contemplating the issue of plagiarism, Argo continued to use the same method to approach me.
He couldn't cut me before, so what does he think he can do with swords that are less durable and less sharp than steel? That thought would vanish the moment you saw the blue light enveloping the rock sword.
"If I can't cut you with a single attack,"
Then I'll cut you twice. Right after he spoke, two lines were drawn from right to left. At the same time, blood flowed from my chest.
And as if he was done attacking, he quickly backed away. Then, Argo's eyes widened in surprise as he pointed at me.
"You... what is that?"
He's the one who attacked, so is he really asking because he doesn't know?
"It's blood. Did you forget you just cut me?"
"Not the blood, that light on your chest."
Does the Guild Master want to win that badly? Lying that there's some light coming from a person's chest.
"Hey. I'm not falling for such cheap bait. I've been fishing for a while."
"No, what is that, really?"
At first, I thought he was lying to try and attack, but seeing the look in his eyes, which seemed to plead that it was real, I became curious too.
So I looked down at my body and saw that it wasn't a lie.
A green light enveloped the wound on my chest, and the wound slowly began to heal. But it wasn't like a game's healing spell, where a flash of light restores you. Instead, muscle fibers grew and wove themselves together one by one, regenerating the muscle first. It was a grotesque sight, revealing the mysteries of the human body I never wanted to know.
'What is this?'
The moment I thought that.
◈ Skill Information
Name: Blessing of Yggdrasil
Rank: S
Description: Instantly heals the user's injuries. The healing speed is constant. The healing process can be somewhat gruesome, so it is not recommended for children to watch.
"Ah..."
Seeing the description window that suddenly appeared, I understood. It was the skill I had received from the World Tree this morning as payment. I hadn't even checked what it was.
The skill's name was Blessing of Yggdrasil, but its ability was basically high-speed regeneration. It would have incredible synergy with the Berserker skill.
"It's one of the abilities I received from the World Tree as a reward for helping with the raid."
"...It could grant such an ability? I'll have to amend the records when I get back to the guild."
Thinking about work even at a time like this. I guess not just anyone can be a Guild Master.
"By the way, you said this was for justification, but why are you attacking like you're trying to kill someone?"
"Justification is justification, and curiosity is curiosity. Do you think it's reasonable to go easy on someone who might be an S-rank adventurer?"
"Then it's okay for me to attack like I'm trying to kill you, right?"
"What...?"
This won't do. Get ready for some self-defense. I twisted my waist and immediately got into a stance. Not one derived from some technique like Argo's, but just my own whatever-the-hell-I-want stance that's comfortable for me to swing from.
I waited for exactly three seconds before kicking off the ground and leaping. It would take two seconds to fly, making it five seconds. Arriving within arm's reach of Argo, I swung my sword, intending to pay him back for everything he'd done so far.
Startled, Argo tried to flee, so I raised my shadow to block him.
"...What?!"
"As your subordinate, let me give you a pro tip. If you can't cut something in one go,"
It means you're weak as shit, so get stronger so you can kill it in one shot.
Without even giving him time to understand my words, Argo crossed his swords to defend. Not only that, but he also pulled up earth from the ground to form a double barrier.
—*KABOOOM—!*
That wasn't enough to block it. The swords Argo was holding and the wall were shattered, and he was sent flying far away into the forest, where he crashed. Luna, who had been watching, sidled up to me and remarked tentatively.
"You should have gone a little easier..."
"This was me going easy."
If I had used my full buffs like when I fought the Volcanic Horned Dragon, Argo would have been flattened like a pancake.