Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Hot, Hard, and Big
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In the end, Liche had no choice but to kill the Demonic Human.
Just as I’d said, if she knew and did nothing, she would be no more than a bystander, and she judged that she couldn't take responsibility for what would happen afterward.
Not only that, but I continued to pressure Liche.
I told her that if she didn't kill him quickly, he would remain in agony until he died.
I stomped on his arm, crushing the bone, and then stepped on his leg, shattering it completely.
"Can I... go rest now?"
It was her first kill, and she seemed a little unsettled.
The academy taught students how to deal with people, not just monsters, but it couldn't have predicted that the first person she’d kill would be a fellow student.
Not to mention the shocking fact that the student was a Demonic Human.
Of course, she would feel some guilt. But that feeling disappears with just a slight shift in perspective.
If you consider that sparing someone out of guilt could lead to them betraying you and killing you later, you won't feel a shred of remorse for killing the person in front of you.
That's why I couldn't understand why she was making such a fuss over killing a single villain, but since I planned to kick her out after the job was done, I told her to go.
And so, the next day.
As we left our lodging, we found Liche waiting for us at the entrance.
"Hello."
"You're here early. Let's go."
"Okay."
I thought she wouldn't have been able to sleep, but she looked surprisingly well-rested.
Perhaps she had managed to rationalize it all in less than a day, as she seemed perfectly fine.
The moment I started walking toward the academy entrance...
"...Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
Liche called out to stop me.
"Didn't you say we were going to train?"
"We did."
"But the training grounds aren't that way, are they?"
"Who said we were training at the training grounds?"
"......?"
She still wore a look of incomprehension.
No wonder she came in her student uniform instead of casual clothes. She must have thought we were doing something at the training grounds.
As if sparring with people for days on end would improve your skills when it doesn't even give you experience points.
Training, by its very nature, should be like a real battle.
Your skills improve only after you've faced creatures stronger than you and experienced the threat of death a few times. You won't get an ounce better by constantly fighting people weaker than you in the safety of a cradle.
"Today, we're going to the Adventurer's Guild."
"What...?"
What is a real battle?
Obviously, by the standards of this world, it's hunting.
Fighting people? That’s all well and good.
But monsters give an overwhelming amount of experience. Humans, unless they're Demonic Humans or from the Demon race, don't give much experience at all. And it's not like Demonic Humans and their kind are just wandering around everywhere.
They've been appearing more frequently lately, but Demonic Humans and their kin are still a rare sight.
Excluding them, monsters are the fastest route to growth.
The academy knows this, which is why monster hunting is part of its practical curriculum.
Of course, given its nature as a place of learning, students can't just do practical training all the time, which is why their growth is slow.
"Are you sure I can get stronger by doing as you say?"
"Believe it or not, that's up to you."
Don't we have three success stories right here?
If this wasn't effective, Luna and Yui would have been dead long ago.
"And I'm going to work you harder than any training session, so don't you worry about that."
By tomorrow, you won't be able to lift a single finger.
"Now, let's hurry inside."
The academy and the Adventurer's Guild weren't far from each other, so it was a short walk.
As we all entered the guild, all eyes instantly fell upon us.
"...What is it? Why is everyone staring?"
"Tsk. Here we go again."
Even Liche, who was used to being looked at, was accustomed to gazes of goodwill or affection, not this kind of baseless, hostile staring.
The reason was simple. It was because of the academy uniform Liche was wearing.
So belligerent.
They were like this before. They must have seen me come and go from the Adventurer's Guild in my uniform plenty of times, yet they still glare like that whenever they see anything related to the academy.
They won't learn until they get the shit beaten out of them.
"What are you looking at, you bastards?"
At my words, everyone averted their eyes.
In the past, they would have glared at me as if they wanted to kill me, but now I'm officially a B-rank adventurer, and unofficially, I'm as good as A-rank or higher.
In other words, these riffraff are no longer in a position to mess with me.
"Do you really have to be so threatening...?"
"If I don't, they'll try to walk all over me."
When I first came to join the Adventurer's Guild, there was a bald guy who didn't know his place and tried to act tough.
It's been a while since I've seen him; maybe he quit being an adventurer.
"This is also part of your training, so take it to heart."
"This is training...?"
"Yep."
Don't they teach character education in schools from my past life?
Training isn't just about broadening your horizons and honing your martial skills.
If the plunger I've worked so hard to train later gets soaked in some bullshit sense of justice like Arthur's and fails to unclog a backflowing toilet, that would be a problem in its own right.
She needs to learn how to establish discipline so she can straighten out anyone who looks like they might backstab me later. That's the shortcut to a happy ending.
"Every experience builds you up, Liche."
They say there's no such thing as a useless experience in this world, right?
"...I'll try to remember that."
"There, there. Good thinking."
That's how she'll grow, become the main wife, and then if that bastard Arthur seems like he's going off the rails, she can give him a good smack on the back and guide him to the right path.
After giving her a lecture on proper character, I headed straight for the reception desk.
Adela, who had just finished with the adventurer in front of her, saw me, and her expression sank.
"Welcome..."
"It's been a while. You're looking much better."
"I suppose so... Things were good for a while."
"Now that I'm here, I'm sure things will only get better, don't you think?"
"......"
Adela was so pleased she was at a loss for words.
To think she'd be this sad to see me, I should have stopped by more often.
"Mr. Luke, I thought you were currently dispatched to the academy?"
"There was an incident in the Empire, you see. So the academy is on break."
"That's truly... unfortunate."
Adela seemed genuinely regretful.
Her capacity for empathy is second to none.
I'm always reminded of how amazing receptionists are.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"What other reason is there to come here? I'm here to take on a request."
"I believe I heard from the Guild Master that you are currently unable to take on requests, Mr. Luke?"
"To be precise, I just can't get promoted."
They're holding back the ace because my promotions are too fast. If that's the case, I just won't get promoted. Simple, right?
A man's got to eat. If I couldn't even take requests for a reason like that, I would have just killed every wanted criminal out there.
"You only stick to the rules when it suits you..."
"I've always spoken nothing but the truth."
The fact that she can't refute it is proof that I'm not wrong.
Even if someone were to argue, killing them would be the same as making the opposing opinion disappear, which ultimately leads to my words being correct.
"Besides, I'm not here to hunt today. I'm here to train someone."
"You've brought another new woman with you."
"I told her no, but she insisted on following me."
Honestly, this popularity of mine.
Besides, in a world where polygamy is the norm, is there any reason to be criticized for having a few women around?
"Yes, yes, of course."
"Anyway, do you have any Salamanders left?"
One of the options I had during my C-rank promotion test.
The fire lizard, Salamander.
"There are some available, but... it's a C-rank monster. Do you think the person behind you can handle it...?"
"Don't you worry. She may not look it, but she's the top student at the academy."
"What do you mean, I may not look it...?"
A harlot who constantly follows strange men around, offering her body in exchange for favors, and who switches to threats when negotiation fails.
Just looking at her actions so far, she's already far from normal.
By the time this training is over, Liche will be a reformed Liche.
"Understood. Do you need an explanation?"
"It's fine. It's just a C-rank monster, after all."
If I go in knowing the entire strategy, can you even call it training?
We only got information about the Salamander's habitat from Adela and immediately left the Adventurer's Guild.
Then, we took a carriage to a rocky mountain.
***
"It's bigger than I thought..."
"Is this your first time?"
"It's not... but it's bigger than I expected. I'm a little surprised."
Hot, hard, and big...
The Salamander.
We were currently hiding behind a rock, staring at the Salamander before us.
Our location was midway up the rocky mountain.
This place, barren of any trees or grass, was the perfect habitat for a Salamander.
It's common sense not to leave a fire-breathing monster in the middle of a forest, isn't it?
The entire forest would go up in flames.
If one were to accidentally wander into a forest, adventurers would have to be sent immediately to drive it out.
"Alright, now go hunt it."
"Without any kind of strategy meeting...?"
A meeting for training? What kind of meeting?
Besides, was a Salamander the kind of monster that required meetings and strategies?
If it was, I would have accepted the information Adela offered.
"Go, Liche-mon!"
"Ugh..."
With no other choice, Liche left the cover of the rock and approached the Salamander.
And so the battle began.
From behind the rock, I could hear the explosive sound of flames colliding.
I just watched the scene unfold.
If I helped, it wouldn't be training.
Realizing I had no intention of helping, Luna and Yui went about their own business.
"Mr. Luke! Look at this pretty pebble!"
Yui picked up a pebble from somewhere and showed it to me.
As expected of a place that had been nothing but rock for ages, there were rocks and pebbles of various shapes.
Thanks to the ever-cheerful Yui, even a dreary, gray place like this didn't feel gloomy.
"It's shaped like a butt."
"...It's a heart."
Still, after only seeing grass and trees all the time, it's refreshing to come to a place like this.
"I'm not sure if this is what you call training..."
Luna said, sounding as if she wasn't sure this was right.
"Hey, do you think Liche could have caught a Salamander if she came alone?"
Even if Liche has the skills of a C-rank, do you think there are any adventurers who start at C-rank?
This was only possible because I'm B-rank.
"But even though you call it training, this is practically..."
That's right. What Luna is thinking is correct.
The bear does the tricks, and I get the money.
Liche will feel herself getting stronger quickly and develop a taste for hunting. And I'll make more money.
"This is what you call a virtuous cycle."
"Aack!!"
Liche's scream echoed from the distance.
It was another peaceful day.