Adventurer!
Adventurer!
[Appa, Omma, your son is heading out to experience the wider world.
What I learned at the academy alone could not satisfy my curiosity.
...
...
I will return home before it gets too late, so I hope you do not worry too much.
And when I earn money for the first time, I will send it home.
-Sincerely, Jin]
"My crazy son."
Morning came, and when his son didn't come out, Jin's appa entered the room.
Those were the words he uttered upon seeing the letter left all alone on the desk.
I stepped outside. I didn't make any grand plans.
I felt that making such detailed plans would undermine the very reason I came out.
Let's go on an adventure. With just a single sword in hand. With only the bare minimum of food and money in my bag.
I knew it could be dangerous, but if I were only going to do safe things, I wouldn't have learned the sword in the first place.
Stepping outside, there are buildings, and streetlights powered by mana circuits.
There are restaurants, convenience facilities, and people walking around with very peaceful faces....
It's way too civilized. It feels like I've come on a trip to some European country rather than another world.
There's no way the fantasy-like adventure I hoped for could exist here. Therefore, I leave the city.
I spend money to board a train powered by a Mana Engine. It's not very cool right from the start.
Still, is it a relief...? If there's one fact, it's that there are limits to how far one can travel by train.
There are places where roads haven't been properly paved due to monsters. From here on, I rent a horse to travel.
From this point, it really started to feel like a fantasy.
I knew from what I heard at the academy, but the difference between the city and the non-city areas here is like heaven and earth.
From then on, extremely cliché things began to happen.
"Hey, stop right there."
A band of bandits blocking the road.
I intended to cut them down if they approached within a certain distance while I held my sword.
"Oh, fuck, guys, let's just let him pass."
That was until they got somewhat close, met my eyes, and immediately tucked their tails.
"Kyaaaak! Save me!"
There was also a woman in a crisis, surrounded by goblins.
"Whew, are you alright?"
"Kyaaaak! Save me!"
"Yes, I've come to rescue you."
"Kyaaaak! Save me!"
"...?"
I had cut down all the goblins, yet she was still trembling in fear.
When I backed away a little, she immediately ran away.
I wonder what that was all about, really.
Anyway, as I traveled while experiencing such 'pleasant' events, I arrived at my destination.
It's not a city... it's a village. I just need to find the guild here and register as an adventurer.
"Now... would you please place your hand on this crystal ball...?"
For some reason, the brown-haired, freckled receptionist-yang in front of me is trembling.
"Um... what is this for...?"
"It's to... determine your magical potential...."
"Aha."
In that case, it's better not to expect much.
Because my aptitude for magic is zero.
-Jjaeng-geurang!
"...?"
"?!"
That's what I was thinking until the crystal ball cracked.
"What...? With this much, your magical talent must be...!"
"Um, isn't there an error? There's no way...?"
Jin found it hard to believe. When he was tested with state-of-the-art equipment at the academy, he clearly had no aptitude.
"Ah, I see. The device was malfunctioning."
"Aha."
Thinking it was indeed strange, Jin hid his needless disappointment.
"Why is it doing this... it's the first time it's completely broken...."
"Excuse me."
"Ah, fuck, someone must have dropped it, thought it was fine, and put it back, seriously."
"Excuse me?"
"Ah, yes?"
The trembling appearance had long since vanished.
She was grinding her teeth while deducing how this situation had occurred.
It was quite a fresh sight, and it was fun to watch, and I could also tell why such a thing had happened.
But for now, there was something more important to say.
"Please give me something to wipe the blood."
Naturally, I had injured my hand when the crystal ball broke.
...
...
They also consider talent in swordsmanship other than magic.
How do they see this? Can it be confirmed using magic tools? No, that's not it.
"Ready... Se-"
They just fight directly. You get into a fight with a specific person designated by the guild.
"-t!"
To put it in vulgar terms, he started by handling the tempo however the fuck he wanted.
-Kagak!
I immediately react and block his sword as he rushes in.
"Are you flustered? But in a real fight, there's no guarantee the opponent will come at you fairly."
"...It's fine. Come at me as much as you like."
"Hmm...."
Maintaining that deadlock, I put strength into it and pushed him back.
We exchanged blows. Naturally, it was his offensive. I was busy just blocking.
"...Not bad."
"Thank you."
Still, I mixed in some attacks here and there. I even received praise.
-Kang!
"That wasn't bad. But this settles the match."
As he lunged his sword forward with force, Jin had to block.
But was it a posture problem, or was it because his stamina was hitting rock bottom?
The sword slipped from his hand. It spun in the air before tumbling onto the ground.
'That's a shame.'
If I did well... no, even if I did well, it would have been difficult.
'Still, I have to do what I have to do.'
"Can we have one last handshake?"
"...Well, sure."
I hold out my hand. He also holds out his hand in return.
And so, Jin immediately attempted some fucking grappling.
"You crazy bastard."
"Hmm."
"What are you doing?"
"In a real fight, there's no such thing as mercy."
I received recognition from him.
The title of 'You play like a total piece of shit,' which is the highest title a man can receive.
"...What did you say your name was?"
"It's Jin."
"Jin, Jin, I see. Fine, I've got it. I am called Kasen."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Anyway, Jin passed the test. Silver rank.
Iron is the lowest. They do real chores here.
Bronze is next. They catch fodder mobs like slimes.
After that is Silver. A reasonably experienced adventurer.
According to Kasen, his pure skill could have earned him Gold or higher, but in principle, Silver is the maximum.
Jin didn't have much of a complaint.
The adventure is more important.
...
...
"Ho-oh, a newbie?"
There were those who tried to haze him.
"Subjugating a goblin pack, eh? Not bad for a newbie."
They were quite prideful individuals.
"An Ogre...? You got lucky, I see...."
Jin decided to do what he had to do without paying attention to the gazes of others.
"A Troll...? A Twin-Head Ogre...?"
He also produced decent results.
"Get out of the beginner hunting grounds!"
He was kicked out. It couldn't be helped.
To higher places. Toward the heights. He hones his sword.
As he did, his skills improved significantly, and his rank went up.
Now, there were few people in the guild whose skills surpassed his own.
So, he wanted to start looking for a party.
"Ah, I'm sorry... we just filled the spot."
"That's a shame."
It was by no means easy.
"...The party was canceled today."
"Instead of a party, would you like to spar with me?"
"I was actually planning on going alone."
And so, he failed. Why was that? Was he untrustworthy?
"Jin-ssi...? You're really going here alone?"
It was a final decision. What else could he do when people wouldn't be recruited? He had to do as usual.
'To the dungeon.'
Guide, porter, combatant—he decided to be all of them.
...
...
However, although he thought he would always act alone, a very unexpected connection was made.
"Go... away...."
"Rest assured. I've come to help."
"As if... I'd trust someone who says that with their own mouth...."
I didn't know I'd develop this habit either. Grumbling only in his heart, he approached her.
Then, she screamed at Jin as if having a seizure and tried to get away, but he ignored her.
Would the threat of an adventurer sprawled out and covered in wounds in the middle of a dungeon be scary?
He performed first aid and carried her out.
He left her at a hospital. The money... she'll pay it herself.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"...Why did you come?"
"A hospital visit, obviously."
"Who asked you to come...."
She muttered. He couldn't hear well what she was saying.
"You, what's your name?"
"It's Jin."
"...My name is ■■■."
"That's a pretty name."
"...."
So that was her name. ■■■ is blushing for some reason... does she have a fever?
"...Thanks."
"Pardon?"
"I said thanks."
"Don't mention it."
The day a comrade was gained.
Also, connections were not limited to comrades.
He gained a mentor.
"Certainly, you've improved a lot compared to before."
"Thank you."
Kasen. Strangely enough, the connection between Jin and him continued.
He would quietly watch Jin swing his sword and give a pointer or two.
'I soaked it up immediately.'
It didn't feel bad at all. Jin knew well how precious such light advice was.
Time flows, he swings his sword, time flows, and Kasen drops advice out of frustration.
As time flows like that, before he knew it, it was now.
Strangely, it had become something akin to a master-disciple relationship.
Today, too, he practices swordsmanship.
He could just do it as he always did, but since Kasen was here anyway, there was a way to ensure he received good advice.
It was to make him unable to resist giving pointers. By making him angry.
"...What are you doing?"
"It's Battōjutsu."
"What...?"
The sword is in its scabbard.
Then, after concentrating, in an instant—
"...!"
He draws. He draws a blue line in the sky.
"Hmm...."
It seemed okay. The speed wasn't bad, and the sword path was clean.
"What the hell is 'hmm'?"
"Wasn't it okay?"
"It's inefficient. Why are you practicing a technique that's useless except for surprise attacks?"
I thought he was right. It's certainly inefficient.
No matter how fast you swing it, it's not as good as swinging it without a scabbard.
A surprise attack—it probably has about that much meaning.
...But,
"I'm just doing it because it looks cool."
"Heh...."
"In the first place, if I were going to worry about efficiency, I'd use a gu—"
"Withdraw those words immediately."
Hmm, those words were a bit dangerous.
"Withdrawn."
"You're mocking me. Fine, draw your sword."
"?"
Anyway, he grew stronger in that way.
He received training from Kasen and went to dungeons with ■■■.
Jin thought that perhaps this daily routine would continue.
"So, from the city...?"
"A Watcher, an Anomaly Observer."
"You're saying you've come to recruit me."
"Yes, we have been keeping a close eye on Jin-ssi's activities."
Jin realized that his genre was quite a hodgepodge.