Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Rookie Adventurer Bern (18) - Battle of Nerves
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bern had imagined what an adventurer's life would be like, but reality differed in several ways. The biggest surprise? Far more time spent traveling than he'd expected.
Back when he was a Rank 1 adventurer, his tasks were mostly errands within the city, so travel time amounted to a walk of just a few dozen minutes. But a Rank 2 goblin extermination quest took over a day just to reach the site. Rank 3 quests often required hiring a carriage—and even then, they could drag on for days.
In other words, getting to the destination and back consumed far more time than resolving the quest itself.
And Bern was a man who never forgot the adage that time is money.
On the road to Frensia.
With the horse and carriage borrowed from the Adventurer's Guild parked off to the side, Bern faced Blanca head-on.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
During their journey, they held mock battles every morning and evening.
Blanca's grip on her sword now looked far more natural. Her sky-blue eyes fixed on Bern with fierce determination, as if she wouldn't miss a single move he made.
Satisfied, Bern kicked off the ground with all his strength.
But unlike usual, he didn't charge forward—he leaped backward.
Clink.
The leather pouch at Bern's waist.
It brimmed with pebbles of various sizes, shapes, and colors.
Bern grabbed a handful and flicked them at Blanca with his thumb.
But Blanca had already cast two spells.
One was a reinforcement spell she'd already known; the other, newly bought with earnings from their quests.
The first enhanced physical strength, durability, and agility. The second sharpened dynamic vision and reflexes—sensory enhancements.
What a normal person might dismiss as a mere glint, Blanca calmly deflected with her sword, bolstered by magic.
Blanca recalled Bern's lessons.
"Most physical enhancement spells are seen as a step below what martial artists achieve. They can channel aura to boost strength or senses at will with perfect efficiency. Mages' spells are fragmented by category and less mana-efficient."
"But from what I've compared—er, advice from other mages confirms—spells have clear advantages. They guarantee consistent effects."
"Martial artists multiply: [Base Ability × Enhancement Rate = Final Result]. Mages add: [Base Ability + Spell Rank = Final Result]."
"Warriors are limited by innate talent. A frail woman rarely outmatches a strapping youth physically. But spells? A fixed boost makes it possible."
"Warriors must micromanage enhancement ratios constantly. Spells? Cast once, and they last until the duration ends—no fussing with mana allocation."
"So for physical buffs, learn as many varieties as possible. Once active, they stick around."
Thwack! Thud! Thud-thud-thud!
Pelting stones flew relentlessly, denying Blanca any respite.
She parried with her sword or rolled aside, but a few still struck home.
Thump!
One to her left shin, another to her right shoulder.
Impacts that could shatter bone on a normal body—but her spells dulled them to mere bruises.
Gritting her teeth against the dull ache, Blanca charged Bern.
Bern kept up the pebble barrage to keep her at bay, but as she closed the distance, his throws lost momentum.
"Spells often scale with rank in range and power, making them tricky up close—especially projectile types, where angles get awkward."
"Treat body and magic as separate domains. Dodge physically while attacking magically. Swing your sword while healing yourself. Only then can you fight higher-ranked mages."
Blanca slashed at Bern while unleashing a barrage of low-rank fire spells.
Too close—the heat singed her too—but trusting her buffs, she endured the counter-pebbles peppering her body.
She covered openings from Minor Wound Healing with sword checks, healed, then fired more spells.
For a delicate woman like Blanca, it was ruthless, reckless—bordering on inconsiderate.
Yet she felt no resentment.
Her skills improved rapidly with this tactic. More than that, it felt tailor-made for her by Bern.
Sword, attack spells, healing—all her tools now fit like puzzle pieces, each playing its role. No more half-baked mediocrity.
'How much effort did it take to devise this?'
When asked, Bern humbly brushed it off as nothing special. Blanca didn't buy it.
A pure swordsman like him—how much could he really know about magic?
It had to be the result of exhaustive research, deliberation, and agony for her sake.
Yet he passed it on casually, like a passing thought. Blanca struggled to suppress the 'something' swelling in her chest.
"That's enough for today. Good work. I can really feel your progress."
The mock battle ended. Bern extended a hand to Blanca, who collapsed panting on the ground.
His face beamed with pure goodwill and admiration—hard to believe for the woman who'd just swung swords and hurled fire at him.
He seemed as thrilled by her growth as if it were his own.
Unable to meet those innocently shining eyes, Blanca looked away.
"No, you worked hard, Bern. Fighting like a mage when you're a swordsman—unfamiliar tactics must've been tough."
"Not really. I've done it plenty."
Blanca let out a hollow chuckle.
This man, always seeming flawless, always fumbled excuses like this.
As if a non-mage had 'plenty' of practice maintaining distance.
"Big bro! Sis! That was an awesome match! Man, it's a shame no one else saw it—but feels like I'm getting some insane VIP treatment. Mixed feelings, huh?!"
"Renya. Don't you think it's time for your extra training?"
"Nah, what you've taught me so far is plenty! Porter in camp, scout when needed, errand boy in town—that covers my keep! Haha!"
Glancing at Bern chatting amiably with the exuberant Renya, Blanca sank into yet another dilemma.
'How on earth do I repay him?'
He'd solved her chronic mana shortage with a priceless ring.
Freed her from a lifetime of guild debt.
Crafted unique tactics for her 'jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none' style—and trained her personally.
She'd received so much, given so little.
Bern said adventuring together was enough. But that didn't feel right.
She'd even considered her body—but he'd refused multiple times. No way he'd accept now.
His noble character probably recoiled at exploiting guilt. Or maybe he saw her desperation to save her mother as clinging.
She couldn't argue; her intentions had been impure once.
'Guess the chance comes later.'
After slaying the lich.
Freeing her mother from that fiend, with nothing left to hesitate over.
Then, purely and sincerely, she'd confess.
After days of travel, Bern's party arrived in Frensia.
But no welcome awaited—only blatant complaints.
"Rank 3? Even Rank 4s failed without results, and now you send these pathetic Rank 3 nobodies?! Does the Adventurer's Guild mock me?! Taking money for this incompetence? You vermin!!"
The lord of Frensia's crude tirade twisted the party's expressions.
A knight behind him nodded grimly.
"My lord is right! This insults you and Frensia—we must hold the Guild accountable!"
"Well said, Sir Gudrun!"
The atmosphere soured. The bespectacled middle-aged treasurer, drenched in sweat, intervened.
"P-Please wait, my lord. These Rank 3s match Rank 4 skill. The eastern branch sent their best—no insult intended."
"If they match Rank 4, why not send actual Rank 4s?"
"The branch had only one Rank 4 party: Arses. No others to send."
"Hah, for all their swagger, the Guild's worthless. Peasants can only rise so high."
"M-My lord..."
The treasurer's eyes darted frantically between the lord and the party.
Renya's usual grin hardened; Blanca's gaze sharpened. Bern just blinked blankly as Lucidra whispered from the shadows.
'That's right.'
'He might not see it as asking for help.'
'Ever seen a client hiring mercenaries then cowering before them? No—they paid, so they demand results. This lord's the same. He paid the fee, so Guild and adventurers are his underlings.'
The previous party quit, admitting failure. Now these lower-rank ones arrive. His frustration was understandable.
But.
That was the lord's view. Bern's party had just taken a Guild referral—no need to swallow random insults.
"Hmm. Seems Your Lordship has quite the grudge against us."
The lord scowled—not at the words, but the audacity of speaking without permission.
Bern smiled brightly at him.
"Well, if the client's unhappy, what can we do? We'll head back. Solve your problems yourselves. Normally, I'd bill for wasted time and travel costs, but I'll waive it. Your domain looks broke enough—no need to fleece the poor."