Elsid Takes the Adventurer Exam
Elsid received a hefty slap across the face as thanks for saving a girl. He spent the time wandering around, buying the supplies he needed and stuffing them into his pack. The coat was bulky and a pain to fit, but at last he was ready for the long journey ahead.
"The northern region, huh..."
Yet supplies alone weren't enough. To reach the north, he would first have to cross the holy city of Agatram. The simplest route was to loop back to Ragna Castle and cut through the Thousand Water Forest. According to his grandfather, the forest teemed with hundreds of monster species, and five creatures known as the Five Evils each possessed power rivaling a Dragon Slayer or an eighth-circle mage. It was a place of absolute danger. Only monsters of that caliber could have driven tens of thousands of orcs and even greater numbers of goblins to the forest's edge, forcing them into endless clashes with Ragna Castle.
Elsid had always wanted to enter the Thousand Water Forest someday, but his current skills were far from sufficient. Though he was a swordsman, he could only wield a little aura and basic swordsmanship; he had yet to master the sword techniques that would prove his worth as a true Aura Swordsman.
"So the only option left is crossing the border..."
Ten years ago, when he first left Ragna Castle, the newly appointed Lord Bernard had issued him an official identification document using his authority as lord. Unfortunately, he had lost that certificate several years back. Without it, crossing into another territory would require paying the toll unless there were serious complications. At the time, he had been too focused on Luke's training to care about losing the paper, never imagining it would become necessary like this.
If he couldn't cut through the Thousand Water Forest, he would have to pass through the border, and that demanded solid proof of identity.
"Looks like that's the only way."
Elsid decided it was finally time to do what he had been putting off. He had been interested ever since Luke mentioned it, but various incidents had kept delaying him. It was time to become an adventurer.
"Guess I'll head to the Adventurer Guild."
Elsid turned on his heel and strode toward the guild with renewed purpose.
***
Having visited once before, Elsid reached the Adventurer Guild without trouble. The building was still impressively large. Nao's guild combined a restaurant on the first floor with an inn on the second, so its size was only natural.
Ding.
The bell on the door chimed brightly as he entered. Several adventurers eating in the restaurant glanced his way, then quickly lost interest and returned to their meals. If a twelve-year-old beastkin girl or a self-proclaimed goddess had walked in, things might have gotten lively. Elsid chuckled at the ridiculous thought and headed for the reception desk.
"Welcome. What brings you to the guild today?"
The mature receptionist asked with a blank, businesslike expression.
"I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Are you registering alone?"
"Yes."
Some people registered as parties, so the question made sense. Elsid nodded.
"There's a simple test before registration. Is that all right?"
"Yes."
"Your rank will be determined based on the skill you display during the test. Understood?"
"Yes."
"The guild takes no responsibility for any injuries sustained during the test. Do you acknowledge this?"
"Yes."
"Understood. Please wait a moment while I make preparations."
The receptionist disappeared after her string of questions. Whispers broke out among the adventurers once they realized Elsid was taking the test.
Then a voice called out.
"Hey, so you're finally becoming a real adventurer, huh?"
It was Robin, the man Elsid had met only a handful of times yet already found tiresome.
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Why else? Gotta earn some drinking money. Rain's training under Yu Jin-gwang, and Arke's busting her ass learning new holy magic at the temple. Thanks to them, the rear guard here is stuck doing herb gathering like some newbie adventurer."
The words carried a strange sense of déjà vu. Elsid felt like he had heard almost the exact same complaint the last time they met.
"Then just quit drinking."
"Is there a human alive who can live without water?"
Robin answered with a deadly serious face Elsid had never seen before, as if he were about to start writing in formal script.
Before Elsid could react to the absurdity, the receptionist returned.
"Thank you for waiting. Please follow me."
"All right."
Elsid nodded and fell in behind her. Robin tagged along, apparently intending to watch. The receptionist made no move to stop him; if anything, the brief glimpse Elsid caught of her face suggested she wanted nothing to do with the man.
Elsid had a feeling he was beginning to understand exactly what kind of adventurer life Robin led.
***
The training ground wasn't far. Wooden walls enclosed the space on all sides, and the floor was packed hard earth. It seemed to be the guild's private training area.
"So you're the one who wants to become an adventurer?"
Someone else was already there. A muscular man over 190 centimeters tall stood clad in smooth blue full-body armor that looked like it would send any insect sliding off. A massive greatsword strapped to his back only added to his imposing presence. His most striking feature, however, was...
"A beastman?"
His skin was marked with orange and black tiger stripes.
"That's right. Bakal of the Tiger Clan. Normally I swing this sword myself to test those who wish to register as adventurers."
Now that Elsid looked closely, he could see the beastman's distinctive ears and tail.
In his twenty-three years, the last time he had seen a beastman was during Luke's training, when the boy had faced one as an opponent. The sight felt oddly novel.
"The test is simple. Defeat me in combat. Do that, and you'll become the adventurer you've always wanted to be!"
"Understood."
The test to become an adventurer was nothing more than a one-on-one spar against the instructor. The only condition for passing was victory. Simple and straightforward.
"One warning. Come at me with everything you've got. I won't be holding back either."
Bakal drew the greatsword from his back, radiating pressure as he prepared to fight.
"I'll be counting on you."
Elsid met the challenge without flinching, drawing his wooden sword and sheathed Arming Sword from his waist.
The two faced each other.
"Oh? That wooden sword. Are you the one who made quite the name for yourself in the subjugation force led by the lord recently?"
"Yes. I was fortunate enough to be recognized."
"To think that man was an unaffiliated expert rather than an adventurer."
While they stared each other down, Bakal suddenly asked the question. Elsid simply nodded in confirmation.
"What a shame. If I hadn't been away on guild business, I would have joined the subjugation force myself..."
In the middle of speaking, Bakal's figure blurred. Before Elsid realized it, the tiger beastman was right beside him.
"...Here I come!"
By the time Elsid noticed, Bakal was already swinging his greatsword down in a diagonal slash from above.
Fast.
Startled, Elsid immediately threw himself sideways.
Whoosh!
BOOM!
"Oh? You dodged that. Good reflexes."
Thanks to his quick decision, Elsid avoided the attack. The ground where he had stood was now cracked. Looking at Bakal's feet, he saw a faint blue glow. The beastman had used Turyeongbo to multiply his speed. That single strike reminded Elsid of the zombie Tyrant's forepaw. Every time he had dodged that attack, the ground had been mercilessly torn apart.
Facing a powerful opponent, Elsid thought,
So this is what an adventurer is like.
It was exciting. Yu Jin-gwang had been the same. Were adventurers all this strong? A genuine powerhouse stood before him, nothing like the deadweight that was Robin. His heart pounded, and an involuntary smile tugged at his lips.
"Now the real fight begins."
Elsid declared his fighting spirit openly as he faced Bakal.