Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Calm Before the Storm
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"You're here late today."
"I know."
There was a little pickpocket issue on the way, but I dealt with it quickly and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
When we arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, Adela spotted us and greeted us.
"Sigh. How can so many things happen to an extra...?"
Not a single day has gone by without some incident since I came here.
Thanks to that, it's never boring, which is nice, but on the other hand, it's gotten to the point where I'm starting to wonder if I'm some kind of trouble magnet who causes incidents wherever I go. It's a weird feeling.
"It seems like you're the one starting most of the incidents, Luke..."
It's always trouble finding me, not the other way around. What do you mean I'm starting them?
I wonder if that little kid in glasses who causes murder cases wherever he goes felt the same way.
Maybe I can sympathize with him a little?
As I was joking around with Luna, Adela cleared her throat, steering the conversation back to herself.
"Ahem. Anyway, the explosion incident you mentioned has been confirmed."
"Already?"
That was fast. I caused the trouble yesterday afternoon, and they've already confirmed it. Whoever the scout is, they deserve a raise.
"Given the gravity of the situation, we needed to confirm it quickly. ...Plus, someone threw a violent tantrum disguised as training because their payment wasn't disbursed on the same day, which sped things up."
"Someone like that exists? What a scumbag."
I guess there are annoying customers everywhere. It can take some time for people to do their jobs. Whoever that was, they're the type of person who'd blow up a delivery company's building because a package took three days to arrive.
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sigh... Mr. Luke, you seem to be in need of a lesson on morality."
Who's more moral than me?
I just rehabilitated a pickpocket on my way here. Wouldn't you call that a paragon of morality?
"...Anyway. Here is the payment for the Giant Ant nest subjugation request."
Adela pulled out a rather heavy-looking pouch from under the counter.
As the bottom of the pouch hit the tabletop, it clinked, attesting to its contents.
"Why is there so much?"
"It was all paid in copper coins."
"And normally?"
"It's 2 silver."
"And this is?"
"200 copper coins."
What kind of absolute scumbag pays like this? How rude.
"Adela. Who was the person that paid this?"
"What are you going to do if you find out...?"
"Kill them."
"...Employee information is confidential to ensure anonymity, so I can't tell you. Even if it weren't, there's no way I'd tell someone who says they're going to kill them."
But they're the one who pissed me off first.
It's like getting change for a large bill entirely in the smallest coins. How could I not be mad?
"More importantly, let's get to the main point. You're here today for the promotion test, correct?"
"Ah, right. There was that."
"Usually, that's what people are most curious about..."
"Hahaha... You'd be disappointed if you thought I was ordinary."
"...That wasn't a compliment."
Well, it is about time I got promoted to D-rank.
I've caught goblins, warg wolves, a named monster, and just yesterday, I cleared out an ant nest. My skills have been proven.
If I still don't meet the promotion requirements after all that, this is no different from some stupid mushroom game where leveling up is the main content. I might as well quit being an adventurer and enroll in an academy.
"So. How does this promotion thing work? Do I just have to grab a D-rank adventurer and prove my skills on them?"
I looked around to see if there were any tasty-looking D-rank adventurers nearby.
That stick-thin mage over there looks like a good candidate.
It would be a real pleasure to teach those mages who just shoot spells from the back the true taste of a greatsword.
"...Calm down. I'll explain it to you now."
Adela stopped me and took out the lawbook-like tome I had seen before.
"The promotion test involves proving your skills by hunting one of the stronger monsters at your current rank."
Rustle, rustle. Adela continued explaining as she flipped through the book.
"We assign requests based on the number of party members. Since you're a party of two, Mr. Luke, you'll be given a request based on that."
Presently, Adela's hand stopped. The book was pointing to a certain monster.
"Hatchling Salamander. It looks like a lizard, but it's a monster through and through. Unlike an adult Salamander, it can't breathe fire, but it's a cunning creature that gives many adventurers a tough time."
What!?
A promotion test, and you want me to hunt a mere lizard!?
A lizard that can't even shoot fire and is still a pipsqueak!?
"Hah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Suddenly unable to control my anger, I tore the paper to shreds in front of Adela and scattered the pieces in the air.
"...I wondered why we needed spares. Now I see why."
Adela calmly took out a paper identical to the one I had just ripped and inserted it back into the book.
She was so natural about it, you'd think I'd torn up dozens of them.
"Next time, if you don't like it, just say so. The Hatchling Salamander I just showed you is the weakest monster."
"Okay."
"There are a total of three monsters for the promotion request. To put it simply, they're divided into low, mid, and high tiers. The Hatchling Salamander I just showed you is a low-tier monster."
"Objection!"
"Is there a problem?"
"What's the difference?"
"...I was just about to explain. The higher the tier of the monster you hunt for your promotion, the faster your next promotion will be."
So, in short, it's like this: hunting the low-tier monster gives you 50 experience points after ranking up, while the high-tier one gives you 150.
"Then, as a real man, I'll obviously take the high-tier."
"...I thought you might say that, so I've already turned to that page."
That's my Adela. I knew I could count on you.
Whirrrrr. The pages flipped by quickly, like a flipbook animation.
And the page stopped at a footnote marked in green.
"This is the monster."
The monster she pointed to this time was one even I knew well—a creature anyone familiar with fantasy would recognize.
"Ogre. Its intelligence is lower than that of a typical monster, but with its exceptional regenerative abilities and toughness, it serves as the first major wall for many adventurers."
"A wall?"
"Yes. Ogres are actually among the stronger D-rank monsters. Most adventurers who fail to advance from D-rank to C-rank are stopped by ogres."
So basically, it's a 'Do you feel the difference in our power, human?' kind of thing.
But this world's lore is really something else. An ogre is only D-rank. In other fantasy novels, they're depicted as pretty strong monsters. If I hadn't read the original story, I'd be saying the power scaling is insane.
"Where are the ogres?"
"They're near the middle of the forest close to Jeomineol Academy."
The academy... That's a bit unsettling.
*'What could possibly happen?'*
"Alright! Let's go, Luna!"
"Yes, Luke."
"W-Wait! You need to hear the rest of the explanation!"
"A real man needs no explanation!"
***
"Hi, Liche! Good morning!"
"..."
Liche deliberately ignored the boy.
*'How many times has it been now?'*
Arthur.
That's how he had introduced himself.
Liche wasn't the type to remember details about people she had no interest in, but this was more than just once or twice.
When someone shows up dozens of times acting like that, you end up remembering whether you want to or not.
The first time was in the library.
- Hi, Liche! Want to be friends?
- No.
The second time was right after her duel with Tia Roseberry.
- You did great, Liche! Here's some water!
- No.
Since then, he had come to Class A every morning to greet her and make small talk, and it was driving Liche crazy.
Unlike other boys, who would give up after a few rejections, Arthur's persistence was so incredible that even Liche had to acknowledge it.
Of course, acknowledging it didn't mean she felt any fondness for him.
Arthur might not know it, but in Liche's eyes, he was just a stalker, and her opinion of him had plummeted to rock bottom.
And that wasn't all.
Arthur didn't just bother Liche; he hit on Tia as well.
The sociable Tia would return his greetings and even chat with him a little, but to Liche, Arthur just seemed like a stalker with a womanizing streak.
And this person was coming to see her every single day, asking to be friends?
Her opinion of Arthur was dropping in real time.
To a point where it would be impossible to recover unless he saved her life.
"Liche, do you want to have lunch together today?"
"..."
Taunts and criticism.
Personal attacks and insults so harsh they might be considered excessive.
If you considered all of that a form of attention, what was the most frightening thing of all?
Liche wondered how she could get Arthur to leave her alone, and she found the answer.
Indifference.
From a certain point on, Liche decided to ignore Arthur completely.
It was too exhausting and annoying to talk to him anymore.
"As expected, Liche is as aloof as ever today! Class is about to start, so I'll get going! See you later!"
What does he think he knows?
That was what angered Liche the most about this person named Arthur.
His daily visits. His overly friendly act. She could just ignore all of it.
But Arthur spoke as if he knew everything about her.
*'You don't know anything about me.'*
Only after Arthur left did peace return to Liche.
-Screech.
The peace was short-lived. The door soon opened, and the Class A homeroom professor walked in.
The professor stood at the lectern with a composed gait and spoke.
"As you all know, today is a practical training session. For this session, you will form groups and head into the forest near the academy to hunt monsters. It may seem easy for you as Class A students, but practice is different from theory, so always give it your all. Instructors will be present to prevent any accidents, so you don't need to worry too much."
Practical training always comes with risks.
Especially when your opponent is trying to kill you.
The one saving grace was...
*'Only weak monsters live nearby, so nothing major should happen.'*
So Liche thought.