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“You’re late today.”

“Yeah…”

I did encounter a pickpocket issue on the way, but I handled it quickly and headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild.

Upon arriving at the Guild, Adela greeted us as she spotted us.

“Sigh. How come so many incidents happen to an extra like you…?”

Ever since I came over here, there hasn’t been a single day without an incident.

Thanks to that, I can’t say it’s boring, but at this rate, I can’t help but feel like I’m a walking incident generator whenever I go.

“Most of the incidents seem to be led by Luke…”

It’s always the case that incidents find me; I haven’t led anything.

I wonder if that little glasses-wearing kid, who causes murder cases wherever he goes, feels the same way.

Maybe I can relate a little?

As I was chatting with Luna, Adela cleared her throat, redirecting the conversation back to herself.

“Ahem. First of all, the explosion incident I mentioned last time has been confirmed.”

“Already?”

That was quick. I thought they’d take longer to confirm after the trouble I caused yesterday afternoon. Whoever the scout is, I commend them.

“Given the nature of the incident, it was necessary to confirm it quickly… Also, someone used training as an excuse to commit violence that day, and that made it even more urgent.”

“Is there really someone like that? That’s truly malicious.”

I guess there are nuisance guests everywhere. It’s understandable that things might take some time when someone is working; it’s not like they can just blow up a delivery company because the package isn’t delivered in three days.

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Haah… It seems like Luke needs a little lesson in morality later.”

As if there’s anyone as moral as me.

I met a pickpocket on the way here and we had a little ‘chat’ about it. At this rate, I could consider myself a model of morality!

“…Anyway. Here’s your payment for the Giant Ant den extermination request.”

Adela pulled out a somewhat heavy-looking pouch from under the reception counter.

As soon as the bottom of the pouch touched the table, it jingled, proving its weight.

“What’s with all this?”

“It was all paid in denarios.”

“What was it originally?”

“2 silvers.”

“And this?”

“200 denarios.”

Who on earth gives money like this? So rude!

“Adela, who was the one who paid this?”

“Why do you want to know…?”

“I’m going to kill them.”

“…I’m afraid I can’t share employee information due to anonymity. Besides, I wouldn’t tell someone who said they want to kill them anyway.”

But they had it coming first!

Getting 100 coins instead of the 10,000 I should have received is the same as if they’d given me a hundred 1-degree coins—how can I not be angry?

“More importantly. Let’s get to the point. The reason for your visit today is indeed the promotion exam, right?”

“Oh, that too.”

“Usually, that’s what people are most curious about…”

“Hehe, if you think of me as ordinary, that’s disappointing.”

“…That’s not a compliment.”

Well, it’s almost time for me to level up to D-Rank.

I’ve hunted goblins, war wolves, and named monsters, and just yesterday I raided a giant ant den, so my skills are proven.

If, even after all this, I still don’t meet the promotion requirements, then I’d rather just quit being an adventurer and go to the Academy—this isn’t some damn mushroom game where leveling up is the main objective!

“So… how do I get promoted? Can I just catch a D-Rank adventurer and prove my skill?”

I looked around to see if there were any tasty D-Rank adventurers nearby.

That distant, twig-thin mage might be an option.

It would certainly be a joyful experience to beat the taste of a greatsword into those mages who only cast spells from the back.

“…Calm down. I’ll explain it to you.”

Adela, stopping me, pulled out a book that looked like a legal document that I’d seen last time.

“The promotion exam is about proving your skill by defeating a monster considered to be the strongest of your current rank.”

Page by page, Adela turned the pages as she continued her explanation.

“We give requests based on the number of party members, and since you’re a duo, your request will be based on a duo.”

Finally, Adela’s hand stopped, pointing to a specific monster in the book.

“Hatchling Salamander. It looks like a lizard, but it’s unequivocally a monster. Unlike adult salamanders, it can’t breathe fire, but it’s a clever monster, so it can be quite troublesome.”

What!?

You want me to catch just a lizard for the promotion exam!?

Even worse, a lizard that can’t even shoot fire and is still in its juvenile stage!?

“GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Suddenly losing control of my anger, I tore the paper in front of Adela, scattering it into the air.

“…I was wondering why I needed extra copies, and I guess this is why.”

Adela smoothly pulled out another piece of paper that looked just like the one I just tore, sliding it back into the book.

It was so smooth it almost felt like I had shredded dozens of sheets.

“Next time, just say no if you don’t want it. The Hatchling Salamander I just showed you is the weakest monster out there.”

“Yeah.”

“The promotion request has a total of three monsters. To simplify, they’re divided into low, mid, and high-tier monsters. The Hatchling Salamander you just saw belongs to the low tier.”

“I object!”

“What’s the issue?”

“What’s the difference?”

“…I was just about to explain that. The more powerful the monster you defeat for promotion, the quicker your next promotion will be.”

To put it simply, if you catch a low-tier monster, it gives you 50 experience points after leveling up, and a high-tier monster gives you 150 experience points.

“Then, obviously, as a manly man, I should go for high-tier!”

“…I anticipated you’d say that, which is why I unfolded this part.”

As expected of Adela. I trust her.

With a rustling of pages, the book sped through them like moving images.

And it stopped at a footnote marked in green.

“This monster.”

The monster she pointed to was one that I was well aware of; it’s a monster known in every fantasy.

“Ogre. Its intelligence is lower than that of common monsters, but it’s known for its exceptional regeneration and endurance, making it a first wall for many adventurers.”

“A wall?”

“Yes. In fact, ogres are among the stronger D-Rank monsters. Most adventurers but have a hard time advancing from D-Rank to C-Rank due to failing against ogres.”

So basically, it’s ‘Do you feel the difference in strength, human?’

But it’s truly a remarkable world. An ogre being only D-Rank?! In other fantasy novels, they are described as pretty strong monsters, so if I hadn’t read the original story, I might’ve thought the power balance was completely off.

“Where can I find ogres?”

“They’re located in the middle of the forests near the Jeminal Academy.”

The Academy… that makes me a bit apprehensive.

‘What could possibly go wrong?’

“Alright! Let’s head out right now, Luna!”

“Yes, Lord Luke.”

“Wait! You need to hear the explanations first!”

“Explanations are unnecessary for a manly man!”

*

“Hi, Riche! Good morning!”

“……”

Riche intentionally ignored the man’s greeting.

‘How many times has it been already…?’

Arthur.

That’s how he introduced himself.

Riche wasn’t someone who remembered details about people she didn’t care about, but it should only have been a time or two.

It’s not like she’d forget him after dozens of visits like this.

The first time was when she was at the library.

– Hi, Riche! Want to be friends?

– No.

The second time was just after her duel with Tia Roseberry.

– Riche, you did great! Here, have some water!

– No.

Since then, he has come to greet her and engage in meaningless conversations every morning, and that was driving Riche crazy.

Unlike Riche, who thought he would fall off quickly if she ignored him a few times, Arthur showed incredible perseverance that she couldn’t help but acknowledge.

Of course, just because she recognized it doesn’t mean she grew fond of him.

Arthur might not realize it, but in Riche’s eyes, he was more of a stalker than anything else, and her fondness for him had plummeted to the very bottom.

Is that all?

He not only did this to Riche, but he was also getting a bit too friendly with Tia.

Sociable Tia seemed to accept his greetings and engage in conversation, but to Riche, Arthur looked like a stalker with high flirting tendencies.

And this person wants to be friends with her every single day?

Arthur’s approval rating was rapidly dropping.

Unless he saves her life, it’s becoming impossible to recover from this.

“Riche, would you like to have lunch together today?”

“……”

Mockery and ridicule.

Insults and offensive remarks that aren’t too harsh.

What’s scarier than all that wrapped in a guise of concern?

Riche thought about how to make Arthur go away and found the answer.

Indifference.

At some point, Riche decided to ignore Arthur.

Speaking to him was draining and annoying.

“Looks like Riche is still aloof today! Class is about to start, so I’m gonna head out! See you later!”

What does he think he knows?

This is what annoyed Riche the most about Arthur.

Showing up every day, acting friendly—it would all stop if she ignored him.

And yet, Arthur spoke as if he knew everything about her.

‘Knowing nothing at all.’

Just then, Arthur finally left, and peace returned to Riche.

– Clack.

Peace was short-lived, however, as the door opened and the professor in charge of Class A entered.

With a dignified step, the professor stood in front of the lectern and said,

“As you all know, today is the practical class. The practice involves heading into the forest near the Academy and forming groups to hunt monsters. It may be easy for you as Class A, but theory and practice are different, so always give it your all. There will be a teacher present, so don’t worry too much about unexpected incidents.”

Practical classes always come with dangers.

Especially when the opponents intend to kill you.

The fortunate part is.

‘There are only weak monsters around, so it should be fine.’

That’s what Riche thought.

 

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