Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Test (1)
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1.
In the past, the role of merchant groups had been transporting goods.
It wasn't easy.
In the monster-infested Maple World, moving from city to city was incredibly dangerous.
And to do it while carrying goods, no less?
A mind-numbing task.
"Each merchant group has its own know-how for crossing continents. Know-how for slipping through monsters."
That was precisely why merchant groups had skyrocketed to success in the Mystic Gate era.
"That know-how is incredibly useful for finding Mystic Gates."
It meant they could locate the Mystic Gates popping up all over Maple World faster and safer than anyone.
In any case, the quick-witted, capable merchant groups in the Mystic Gate era grew rapidly, and with growth came more work.
Employees were busy with their duties, executives with theirs.
Of course, the busiest was the one caught in the middle.
That was Evis.
Rakan's right-hand man, the executive's left arm, was living days with no time to breathe.
His nerves were naturally on edge.
"What? El Pam asked to borrow money?"
When he heard that in such a state, Evis was so dumbfounded he let out a hollow laugh.
Of course, he snapped out of it soon enough and shouted.
"So how much? 200,000 mesos? That crazy bastard isn't right in the head?"
He spat out his anger.
And it was justified.
The guy already owed 2 million mesos, and now he wanted another 200,000?
'We wanted a madman, but this is too much of one?'
200,000 mesos wasn't a huge sum for Evis personally.
Nor was he lending it out of his own pocket. The Gapor Merchant Group was footing the bill.
But if it couldn't be recovered, it was on Evis.
'Where'd the first million go?'
And he'd already borrowed a massive million mesos—what more cash could he possibly need?
It was hard to comprehend on every level.
At this point, Evis made his own decision.
'No way we're just handing it over.'
Even if they lent it, he had no intention of giving it freely.
'A mad dog needs a stick.'
No—he'd use this chance to break him in properly.
That had been the plan.
"Evis."
"Huh? Rakan?"
But the moment Executive Rakan stepped into his office.
"A Red-grade 100-man gate has appeared."
Everything changed the instant Evis heard those words.
2.
"200,000 mesos."
Dibo's face showed surprise as the employee handed over two checks with those words.
'No way—they're actually lending it? And this fast?'
From what he'd heard, El Pam already owed the Gapor Merchant Group 2 million mesos, and now borrowing another 200,000?
'From Gapor?'
The opponents weren't just anyone—they were the Gapor Merchant Group.
Common sense said you'd get whipped, not loaned more.
'What the hell is the boss?'
That was why awe began to mix into the doubt in Dibo's gaze toward El Pam.
El Pam's eyes, however, were different.
'No discussion, just handed over. Impossible for the Gapor Merchant Group in their usual state.'
The moment the 200,000 mesos came through instantly, he was certain.
'A 100-man gate has appeared.'
Evis truly needed a madman right now.
Naturally, he knew what came next.
'They'll run tests soon.'
With a 100-man gate conquest ahead, the Gapor Merchant Group would start selecting the best members from adventurers 2nd Circle and below.
'And I'm on the shortlist.'
Lending the 200,000 mesos meant they had El Pam in mind as a participant.
Not because they acknowledged his skill, of course. Evis had never actually seen El Pam fight.
He'd only heard El Pam claim he'd hunted Gold Slimes himself and seen the results: 2nd Circle adventurer in under a month.
Impressive, sure—but Evis wasn't naive enough to take it at face value.
The reason for the favorable treatment was simple.
'They need a madman or two.'
Conquering Mystic Gates required at least one guy willing to carry bombs and do insane things.
'Still, he needs to pull his weight.'
Of course, a bare minimum of skill was required, and now Evis would test for that minimum.
The 200,000 mesos were for that test.
"By the way, why borrow 200,000 instead of 100,000?"
"I need some too."
"Oh."
Then gladly use it.
Dibo nodded at that fact.
Money had come in—why let it sit?
Mystic Gate hunts required far more prep than expected.
"We'll buy weapons."
Weapons were especially crucial.
'As expected of the boss. A man of means.'
Only then did Dibo finally nod.
"So, what weapon are you buying?"
"Items."
Trust formed in the corners of Dibo's eyes at those words.
Adventurers earned such treatment by proving strength through items.
"Could you tell me what item you're getting?"
To such a Dibo, El Pam said.
"I'm buying a polearm."
"Pardon? Boss, aren't you a mage?"
"I am."
"Then what are you buying?"
"A polearm."
3.
Dibo let out a hollow laugh as he stared at the polearm in his hands.
'Buying a polearm enchanted with the 1st Circle skill Slash Blaster for 50,000 mesos...'
50,000 mesos.
No small sum.
'No, Slash Blaster is worth that much, at least.'
Dibo didn't resent the price itself.
Ordinary items with 1st Circle skills or spells traded for around 10,000 mesos, but Slash Blaster was different.
A 1st Circle skill, yes—but one of the strongest warrior skills.
'When activated, attack power at least doubles.'
Doubling attack power meant breaking what couldn't be broken otherwise.
'Shatters three or four Orange Mushrooms at once.'
That was why warriors who could use Slash Blaster were worth double—more than that—compared to others.
50,000 mesos was no bargain-basement price. Sell it in a pinch, and it'd fetch over 30,000.
"But boss, why the hell did you buy this?"
The problem was, no matter how amazing the item, it was useless junk without someone who could wield it.
"You're a mage, right?"
Adventurers couldn't use skills outside their class.
That was the whole point of classes and distinctions.
To that question, El Pam gave a curt reply.
"Someone else will use it."
"Someone else?"
Dibo brightened with a smile at once.
"As expected of the boss! You've prepared everything! Right, tackling a Mystic Gate with just one slave and one adventurer is for idiots! I misunderstood you!"
Naturally, Dibo's steps lightened.
Soon, the two arrived.
"Over there."
At the Mystic Gate commissioned by the Gapor Merchant Group.
"Grade Red, one wound, entry limit eight people, let's see... one wound."
Through Dibo, the gate's difficulty came out fairly high.
A wound meant high enough difficulty for failures.
An eight-person entry limit was quite large.
But Dibo wasn't worried.
"So where are the others?"
He believed El Pam had comrades.
"Who's using this polearm?"
In answer to that faith, El Pam pointed at Dibo, who laughed and tilted his head.
"Oh."
Then he turned, saying.
"They're over there. Hello, I'm Di... Huh?"
But at the empty scenery before him, Dibo tilted his head again and turned back.
There it was.
El Pam's finger still pointing at him.
"Me?"
Realizing the meaning, Dibo recoiled in shock.
"I use a longsword!"
Telling him, who'd swung nothing but longswords his whole life, to use a polearm?
This wasn't just switching weapons.
Most combat slaves used longswords for a simple reason: to wield the shield now strapped to Dibo's back. And that shield was more precious than life.
Switching to polearm meant inevitably ditching the shield.
Throwing away his hard-earned spare life.
It was a death sentence.
Of course, El Pam knew.
'Aran's disciple. One of the best polearm users in Maple World history.'
Considering Dibo's talent, he'd wield it better than anyone, even on first try.
"Boss, I've never even held a polearm! Well, I am now, but that doesn't count!"
But from Dibo's perspective, unaware of that, the reaction was inevitable.
Soon, Dibo shouted.
"Ah, damn it. Are you really insane?"
One incomprehensible situation after another piled up, finally exploding his patience and restraint.
"You've got to have limits on the crazy shit! Explain or something! You think this is a joke?!"
And at Dibo's outburst, something reacted.
Thud thud thud!
Dibo clamped his mouth shut at the sound.
In his eyes.
Thud thud thud!
A herd of Orange Mushrooms charging toward El Pam and Dibo.
Dibo's face hardened at the sight.
His shout had stirred the nearby Orange Mushroom pack.
'Mistake.'
A fatal error he should never have made—and even before it, Dibo prepared.
For the brutal fight about to begin.
"Mistake."
"Yes?"
El Pam ended his curt words and began the fight.
"Fire Arrow."
Fwoosh!
El Pam conjured a single fire arrow.
Thud thud thud!
He launched the created fire arrow straight at the twenty-seven charging Orange Mushrooms.
Whoosh!
The flying fire arrow traced a swallow-like graceful arc, slicing through the twenty-seven Orange Mushrooms.
Pfft!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
'Huh? What?'
Dibo was so stunned that, before he knew it, he blinked his wide-open eyes—and it was over.
Pfft!
All twenty-seven Orange Mushrooms lay pierced through the head, reduced to mere lumps on the ground.
'Ah!'
Dibo stared, dumbfounded.
El Pam spoke to him.
"Don't make the same mistake next time."
With those words, El Pam's finger pointed at the Mystic Gate.