Chapter 2: National Merit Recipient
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: National Merit Recipient
One of the few perks of being a man in this day and age is that you don’t need the approval of the other female members to leave a party.
The formal procedure would have been to gather everyone, make an announcement, and then take my leave, but I didn’t think that was a particularly good idea.
No matter how pathetic I might be, there’s a difference between simply being pathetic and being a total pushover until the very end.
Of course, even as I say that, I’m still the one stuck paying off the loan I took out in my name.
I know, I know. I can already feel the way you’re looking at me.
It couldn’t be helped.
I was the one who signed for the loan with my own two hands.
I have to admit I was a total sucker for that much…
But the, the important thing is what happens from here on out, right?
Give me a break.
I just wanted to be acknowledged by Mirei and the other party members. I thought if I went that far, they might finally open their hearts to me.
It was my first time having a crush.
I’ve been fighting on the battlefield since I was old enough to understand the world, so I had no experience with this kind of thing. I was incredibly naive.
Whether back then or now, people are still the hardest thing to understand.
The Adventurer Guild stays open year-round to accommodate night quests.
I quietly pushed open the guild doors and stepped inside.
“Oh, Mr. Alto! What brings you here at this hour?”
“It’s nothing major.”
The receptionist greeted me with a bright smile.
She’s a good person.
She even smiles at an ugly guy like me.
However, I couldn’t stop her from looking shocked at what I said next.
“I’m here to leave my party.”
“Excuse me?!”
Even without the receptionist’s exclamation, it was the kind of news that drew the attention of the few people scattered around the guild.
“So suddenly? And at this time of night?”
“Ah… haha… it’s just a bit complicated.”
Even though I was leaving unilaterally, I had to try my best to make sure no nasty rumors started about the party.
It would be too cruel to ruin someone else’s livelihood.
Besides, even if I told them it was because they were hanging out with other men, I didn’t want to see the reaction of people thinking, ‘Well, with a face as ugly as his, it’s only natural.’
“Could you fill out these documents?”
The receptionist was a true professional.
Despite her obvious bewilderment, she remained relatively calm as she handed me the resignation form.
I took it, moved to a separate desk, picked up a pen, and began filling in the blanks.
I set the resignation date for today.
It wasn’t midnight yet, so the date hadn’t changed.
As I was filling in basic personal details and information, I hesitated at two specific boxes.
‘Are you a National Merit Recipient?’
The reason I hesitated at this section, which only required a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ was the lingering guilt that I was a coward who had survived the Final War.
Did I actually survive by running away like a coward?
No, I didn’t.
I couldn’t have even if I wanted to.
It’s a guilt shared by everyone in our group of veterans, which numbers fewer than ten.
We always wonder if it’s right for us to enjoy massive subsidies built upon the sacrifices of our comrades.
Nevertheless, as ways to make a living became scarce, the number of surviving comrades who began accepting war veteran compensation has been increasing one by one.
You might ask if men get a basic subsidy anyway.
That only applies to men who are actively participating in marriage and childbirth.
At the very least, you have to be like me—joining an adventurer party to clear dungeons or at least being in a relationship.
However, many of my surviving comrades found daily life itself difficult due to PTSD.
To even buy and take antidepressants, you need that monster called money.
It’s bitter, but that’s reality.
Do I have PTSD?
Well, let’s just say that’s why I came to the Dungeon City and joined the adventurer party led by Mirei.
It’s hard for even me to talk about it while sober.
Someday, when a pathetic guy like me finally finds something resembling peace, maybe then I’ll be able to open up about it, bit by bit, over a glass of liquor.
Actually, I didn’t reveal that I was a war veteran when I joined the party.
I kept it a secret from the party members as well.
If my record became known, it was obvious I’d be pushed to the absolute front lines of the dungeon.
If that happened, I judged that I would never be able to heal my inner pain.
If I was that afraid, I shouldn’t have come to the Dungeon City in the first place, but I felt like if I didn’t at least smell the scent of monster blood, I might end up creating that scent of blood myself.
The arrogant and violent soldier I used to be died in the Final War along with my squad mates, so I can’t let that happen.
In this world that finally regained peace with such difficulty, I didn’t want to become another enemy.
I suppose I’d be nothing compared to the Demons, but still… I shouldn’t become a madman who causes chaos in society.
‘Please state the reason for leaving in detail.’
And then, the next question that made me pause.
It was asking for a specific reason for leaving.
Personally, it was embarrassing, and who actually writes these things properly nowadays?
Adventurer parties see people joining and leaving all the time.
Though, in most cases, the reason for leaving is a disability caused by injury.
I pondered for a moment.
I didn’t need to be exact, but I had to write something plausible enough to pass.
But as I sat there thinking, quite a bit of time passed.
Even more time than when I was checking the National Merit Recipient box.
I guess I wasn’t just ‘a little’ conflicted.
Moreover, because the people around me and the receptionist were staring with such intense focus, I agonized over it before finally just writing two words: Personal reasons.
‘I hereby certify that the aforementioned party member has left the party as of this date. (Signature)’
Once I signed my name, only the last line remained blank.
That was originally the signature line for the party leader to consent to the member’s departure, but since I’m a man, it wasn’t necessary.
Finally, I was done.
I took the document, now a bit messy and damp with sweat, and handed it to the receptionist.
Unfortunately, the receptionist scanned my resignation form very thoroughly.
And, as expected, her eyes widened enormously when she reached the section I was worried about.
“A National… Merit Recipient…?”
“Shh…!”
Before things could escalate, I quickly brought my index finger to my lips.
The receptionist, who looked like she was about to salute, hurriedly lowered her hand and pulled out a list from under the desk.
It was likely the list of names of National Merit Recipients.
As I mentioned, there are fewer than ten of us, so finding my name was easy.
On top of that, while the name ‘Alto’ is quite common regardless of gender, there is only one Alto on that list.
“Alto Bertrand…!”
She swallowed the rest of her words, but I saw her lips silently trace the words ‘Bloodhound.’
How bitter.
Regrettably, to resolve things like the loan I took out, I had to receive my war veteran compensation.
To prove that I had no criminal record prior to receiving the compensation, I had to sign my name here.
That Archiyo designer wallet was incredibly expensive.
“Please wait just a moment. I don’t think this is a matter I can simply process and move on from.”
Oh boy. I just wanted to end this as an ugly guy leaving his party.
My past ‘pushover’ behavior before leaving had come back to haunt me.
You could say I brought this on myself, but it’s painful because I have nowhere to vent this frustration.
Feeling awkward standing there alone, I shifted my gaze and locked eyes with some women who were staring intently at me.
Usually, at this hour, men are in bed with women, so naturally, everyone currently in the guild was female.
“Isn’t that the supporter from Hero Mirei’s party?”
“Should I try hitting on him? The subsidies must be pretty sweet.”
“Ha… forget it. He’s not my style.”
Wow, that woman who just spoke is kind.
Look at her saying I’m ‘not her style’ instead of directly calling me ugly.
I’m grateful.
I hope she meets a good person.
After quite some time, the receptionist hurried back toward me.
“Mr. Alto, the Branch Manager would like to see—no, would like to meet with you.”
“The Branch Manager?”
“Yes, this way, please.”
This is definitely escalating.
I should decline.
“There’s really no need to go that far…”
“Please, have mercy on me. If I let you leave like this, I’ll definitely face disciplinary action.”
Damn it.
“I’ll go if you promise she’ll let me go as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, yes! I promise on my name!”
Left with no choice, I followed the receptionist to the second floor.
The second floor is a place you don’t visit unless it’s for a truly major quest.
Even our party… no, Mirei’s party and I had only been here a few times.
Knock, knock.
“Branch Manager, I have brought Mr. Alto.”
“Tell him to come in.”
Creeeeak.
They really need to oil that door.
I’m sensitive to sound, so things like that bother me a lot.
“Group, attention!”
“Attention!”
“Salute the National Merit Recipient.”
“Salute!”
As soon as I entered the office, the Branch Manager snapped to attention and saluted along with the receptionist.
I really hate this kind of thing.
It’s embarrassing as hell.
“We thank you for the peace achieved through the blood of you and your comrades.”
“May this peace never be stained with blood again.”
Awkwardly, I raised my hand and returned the salute.
I even gave the formal response required when receiving a salute.
The only problem was that my posture looked like a soldier on his last day before discharge.
Now that the saluting was over, let’s try to break this awkward atmosphere quickly.
I lowered my hand first and spoke quietly.
“As you were.”
“As you were!”
Both the Branch Manager and the receptionist, who lowered their hands following my lead, were visibly tense.
“Well… Ahem! Cough!”
The Branch Manager, who was about to state her business, cleared her throat loudly after it seized up, then invited me to sit.
As I took a seat, the receptionist quickly placed a teacup in front of me.
It has a nice aroma.
Though it’s the first time I’ve ever been served here.
“Mr. Alto Bertrand.”
Without even giving me time to savor the scent of the tea, the Branch Manager spoke.
“If it wouldn’t be too rude, could you tell me the reason for your departure from Hero Mirei’s party?”
Seeing the Branch Manager like this feels very strange.
Until not too long ago, she used to joke around with the other party members about how ugly I was, acting all friendly.