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“Adela~ I brought back an Ogre~”

Twirling and twirling.

The few strands of hair from the Ogre I clutched in my hand swayed, making the head attached to it shake side to side.

“Do you really need to show off like that…?”

“Isn’t there something else you should say?”

“…I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Right. That’s it.

As an employee, I must fulfill my duties.

“If I show this, it’ll make them feel the difference in strength, right?”

The idiots in C-Rank are frustrated because they can’t catch this thing, huh?

It’s a request meant for two people, but honestly, I think I could have taken it down alone.

And honestly, now that I think about it, even Luna could probably solo an Ogre.

Given the power I felt when I got hit earlier, it’s definitely true.

Not everyone in the guild is D-Rank or below, but considering the number decreases as ranks go up, most are likely C-Rank or lower.

Among them, there would also be some D-Rank or lower folks.

So, carrying around this Ogre’s head will definitely let them feel the difference in strength.

“Here, take the head. So now we’re D-Rank, right?”

“…Yes. Here is your D-Rank Adventurer badge.”

Adela retrieved two copper badges from the drawer under the reception desk and placed them in front of me.

The emblem of the Adventurer’s Guild, featuring two swords crossing each other.

A round badge the size of a 500-won coin, with the issuance date and our names engraved on the back.

“Oh, you’re quite efficient.”

Given that our names and issuance date are on here, it seems like a custom order.

With all the work they have, can they really get this done in a day?

“I knew you would succeed, so I prepared it in advance.”

“You always act aloof, but deep down you trusted me, huh?”

“Personality and skill are separate matters.”

What do you mean by that? Just hearing that makes it sound like I’m hard to deal with.

If Adela can’t recognize a man of my caliber, she’s going to have a tough time when she tries to meet a boyfriend later.

They say a person should have a good heart rather than just good looks, but if she can’t see people right, then…

“More importantly, it seems like it was quite a struggle for you with this request, Mr. Luke.”

“Huh?”

What do you mean a struggle?

Is it a struggle? I mean, I am the protagonist, after all.

But Adela wouldn’t know anything about that.

As I momentarily lost myself in thoughts, Adela continued.

“You’ve gone on requests before without a speck of dust on you, but this time, your shirt is torn, and there are even burn marks.”

“Ah~”

That’s what you meant. I was wondering what you were talking about.

If I looked in the mirror right now, it would surely be a mess. My shirt is probably slashed straight like it was cut by a sword, and my whole body has burn marks all over it.

Yet, surprisingly, neither of those marks were from the hunting. One was from a teamkill, and the other was from self-harm.

When I looked over, Luna’s head hung low, looking embarrassed.

“The torn clothes are from Luna hitting me, and the burn marks are from me setting myself on fire, you know?”

“So you ended up getting hit by Luna…”

Why does it sound like you knew this would happen someday?

“I guess my setting myself on fire isn’t surprising?”

“Compared to the behavior you’ve shown so far, that’s actually mild.”

Wow… it’s as if someone can think about suicide openly, and instead of stopping them, they’re just asking when they’ll start.

Being a bystander is the worst kind of sinner.

Adela seemed like a diligent person when I first met her, but I’m saddened to see how much she’s changed.

“Still, I’m glad you didn’t come in completely naked.”

“That’s a bit unfortunate, you know.”

If I had come in naked, I could’ve shown these lowly men my Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon, letting them feel the true difference in strength.

I wonder if the elemental resistance skills apply to the clothes I’m wearing; after the flames were extinguished, my appearance didn’t change much from before the fire.

Just how singed I looked is all.

It’s a pity I couldn’t reveal my second greatsword to everyone, but considering I burn my clothes every time, that would definitely cost a lot, and changing clothes every time is annoying, so honestly, it worked out.

“…I’m not that upset, though.”

“Really now?”

Adela, if you had seen my greatsword, you would’ve turned into a drooling mess like a woman enchanted by an incubus.

But since you haven’t seen it, you can make that kind of response.

After reincarnating, I had rinsed off a few times and caught glimpses of Luke’s endowments, and wow, that’s seriously impressive.

Just like a character whose raw power is dialed up to the max, Luke was gifted something most important for a man.

Considering there’s a term like “big” in the previous life, with Luke’s greatsword, there wouldn’t be a woman he couldn’t seduce.

‘Should I take it out and show it now?’

As I reached for my waist, Adela’s expression became fierce, and murderous intent instantly filled the air.

I guess sending murderous intent towards receptionists is standard these days.

It’s something I can’t even do. I envy that.

Suddenly, with her gaze returned to normal, Adela pulled out the payment and placed it on the reception desk.

“Sigh… here’s your payment.”

“Whoo! Payment, getto daze!”

After catching nothing but War Wolves and Goblins, moving up to an Ogre brought in more payment than I expected.

If I had only jangled coins with fairytales before, today feels like I’ve got a green pig along with my silver coins.

“Adela, how much longer until our next rank up?”

“Hmm… If you do two more requests or one big request like this Ogre, I think it’s possible right away.”

I see. At this rate, I should reach S-Rank pretty quickly!

S-Rank adventurers, capable of single-handedly destroying entire nations. At this growth and rank-up speed, it seems it won’t take as long as I thought.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

Having received everything, I thanked Adela and turned to walk back to the entrance.

As I walked, Luna, who had been following alongside me, asked.

“Mr. Luke, what kind of request do you plan to do tomorrow?”

“Who knows?”

Tomorrow will be left to tomorrow’s me!

Just then, as I contemplated that and stepped out of the Adventurer’s Guild.

“I found it.”

*

A man waking up in the infirmary of the Academy.

“…A strange ceiling.”

As he muttered the typical line of an isekai protagonist, he reached out with his arms to sit up.

-Ouch!

“Ugh…!”

Clutching his aching abdomen, he grimaced.

That pain brought back memories he had forgotten.

Arthur.

The protagonist of the novel that Luke reincarnated into.

He held his abdomen with one hand and grasped his throbbing head with the other.

The incident of being attacked by demons during practical training. The time he charged in confidently only to be utterly defeated.

If he had been an ordinary student at the Academy, that feeling of helplessness right after losing would have been the perfect trigger for giving up, just like Riche.

However, in this situation, he had different thoughts.

“Why did I lose…? According to the original, I should have won here!”

Was it still due to a lack of opportunity?

No, not that. It was because it had only been a short time since he reincarnated, and he was still feeling the disconnect from his previous life.

“Right! Logically, the protagonist can’t lose, right? Of course, that’s true because I’m the protagonist of this story!”

He couldn’t kill anyone, let alone having lived as an ordinary person in a peaceful country before reincarnating; it’s impossible to suddenly plunge into slaughter.

That’s why he lost.

Arthur rationalized his defeat.

“But how am I still alive? There’s no reason for me, the loser back there, to be alive!”

If it were later on, maybe in the second half, or at least the middle, but right now in the beginning, Riche had no way to defeat that demon.

So if he lost, he should have died.

Why is he still alive?

“Could it be!”

Is the original story taking a different turn because I’m here!?

It’s a common cliché for characters to reincarnate and change the narrative of the original story.

In a reincarnation tale, just the protagonist being alive can shift the story dramatically.

“Oh my, for it to influence the original so early, I’m truly amazing! Myself!”

The truth was that it had been Luke who intervened, but the only conclusion Arthur could reach while fainting was that.

“Right! Riche!”

Though he remembered late, the most important thing was her.

Arthur quickly looked around.

This kind of scene usually has the heroine nursing the collapsed protagonist, right?

However, strangely, there was no one around him.

“…?”

Why isn’t anyone here?

After briefly pondering, Arthur’s mind quickly jumped to a conclusion.

‘Ah! Riche must also be injured and is in another room!’

The infirmary is structured with beds separated by curtains on either side.

Since Riche must be hurt too, she’ll definitely be lying in the bed next to mine!

“Hehehe… Riche. I’ll take care of you first!”

Still clutching his throbbing abdomen, Arthur sprang up and hastened to the next bed.

However, apart from him, there were only two extra male students who had been in the same group.

“What the heck? Where is everyone?”

No, wait, the world revolves around the protagonist.

In the end, Riche and I are meant to meet.

Arthur exited the infirmary and headed through the Academy.

Then he encountered a girl with unusual two-toned hair.

The very Riche Winchester he had sought out.

“Oh? Riche! You’re safe!”

I knew we would meet by some fate!

Of course, I’m the protagonist!

Feeling joyful, Arthur rushed over to Riche.

As evening approached, she was coming out of the dormitory, perhaps intending to go out.

It was an event that didn’t happen in the original story, but it felt like a great chance to be alone with her, so he decided to follow her.

“Where are you going, Riche? Let me come with you!”

“Move aside.”

But the response was a cold voice with piercing eyes.

At this moment, what was most important to Riche was getting information on Luke, who had fled once again.

‘I need to find him quickly.’

 

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