Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 15: Promotion exam 1
On the day of the promotion exam.
When I arrived at the entrance of the dungeon, about a 30-minute walk from the royal capital, two men were already waiting.
One of the men had the emblem of the Adventurer's Guild, indicating that he was the examiner.
The other person was likely another examinee, just like me.
The examiner was tall, muscular, and had a deeply tanned skin. On his back, he carried a large sword that suited his massive physique.
"I'm Crabbe Greenwood, the one serving as the examiner!"
The examiner introduced himself with a tough expression.
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He looked like someone straight out of a sports club, or more like a musclehead.
"Um, I'm Haruto Springsteen. Nice to meet you today."
At first glance, I instinctively thought, "This guy is not my type."
And that intuition turned into certainty in the next moment.
"So, you're Haruto! You're late! You're slacking off!"
He suddenly shouted at me in a loud voice.
However, I checked the time before leaving the royal capital and came straight here, so there's no way I could be late.
As proof, the agreed-upon time was noon, and looking up at the sky, the sun was directly overhead.
"Um, I'm sorry, but if I'm not mistaken, I should be right on time."
When I said that, the examiner rolled his eyes.
"As a test taker, it's only natural to arrive earlier than agreed upon as part of your mindset!"
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I became convinced that the man in front of me was an "unreasonable jock"
— My least favorite type of person.
However, in the promotion test, if I couldn't gain the recognition of this guy who was also the examiner, I wouldn't be able to get promoted. If I created a bad impression here, my chances of advancement would be in jeopardy. So, I gritted my teeth and apologized.
"I'm sorry."
When I apologized, Club let out a snort and continued.
"Today, I'm going to toughen up your spirit! Get ready!"
"Um, please do your best..."
It was a sudden turn for the worse in my mood, but I had to endure it.
I gathered myself and greeted the other man who would be taking the test with me today.
"Hello, I'm Haruto. Nice to meet you."
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"I'm Cyrus Carter. Nice to meet you too!"
They greet with exceptional energy.
Ah, this one is also a musclehead. I was convinced of that.
To be frank, entering the dungeon with the three of us is incredibly depressing.
After confirming each other's names, Crabbe claps his hands.
"Well then, let's get pumped up and dive into the dungeon!"
Crabbe turns on his heel and energetically enters the dungeon. Silently, Cyrus and I follow suit.
†
This time, the dungeon to conquer is of the cave type.
Walking through the damp space where the sound of dripping water echoes, we soon encounter a monster.
"Shaahh!"
The monster has tattered skin and bloodshot eyes, characteristic of a Plague Wolf.
To ensure my readiness, I use "Skill Analysis" to examine the opponent's tactics.
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Plague Wolf
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◇ Skill List
- Smash Claw Lv3
- Poison Claw Lv3
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It has a troublesome skill. The poison attack of "Poison Claw" cannot be blocked by the protective magic Life Barrier. In other words, if you take a hit, you'll continue to suffer damage from the poison throughout the day.
Since we don't have a healer in the party, it would be wise to take precautions. To avoid the poison attack, it's smart to refrain from close-quarters combat.
"That one has a poison attack! Let's attack from a distance."
After warning the others, I draw my bow.
"Ice Arrow!"
I launch an attack from a distance. However, the Plague Wolf, utilizing its agility, effortlessly dodges my attacks.
―― But that was within expectations. I release a second "Ice Arrow" in quick succession. It, too, is evaded with a leap, but that was just a feint.
At the moment the Plague Wolf lands on the ground, I release another Ice Arrow. In the next instant, the magical energy in the arrow turns into ice, bursting and clinging to the Plague Wolf.
If it stops moving, victory is ours. I prepare to pursue and draw my bow once again.
But then, it happened.
An entirely unexpected event unfolded. Suddenly, Cyrus leaped towards the Plague Wolf. Seeing Cyrus appear in front of the arrow, I hurriedly stopped the activation of the Magic Arrow.
Cyrus swung his sword without hesitation, showering the Plague Wolf with "Magic Slash." The attack, landing on the immobilized Plague Wolf, resulted in a critical hit. The Plague Wolf succumbed to its injuries.
I stood there in astonishment at the turn of events.
He deliberately intervened just as I was about to launch a long-range attack. If he had misjudged by a step, my Magic Arrow might have hit him.
Moreover, I couldn't understand why he suddenly chose to engage in close-quarters combat. Despite freezing the Plague Wolf's movements with ice, a slight misstep could have resulted in him being hit by the poison attack.
Furthermore, he possesses the skill "Magic Slash," which can be used at a distance, yet he chose to opt for close-range combat.
It seemed like a thoughtless and reckless action, as if he hadn't considered the consequences at all.
I felt the urge to scold Cyrus,
But...
"Cyrus, well done!"
For some reason, the examiner, Crabbe, praised Cyrus.
He praised him despite the fact that he took a risky action.
He's only praised for defeating a monster. Klub, this man, is an examiner who evaluates with such a simplistic thought process.
That alone is unforgivable.
Crabbe goes on to say something even more surprising.
"Haruto, you could have fought more bravely. If you had used sword skills, you could have defeated it more quickly."
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"What...?"
I was left speechless. I never expected to be reprimanded after pointing out the danger of the enemy monster.
This guy completely confuses courage with recklessness.
"Alright, let's go."
Before I could retort, Crabbe turned on his heel and marched ahead.
I had nowhere to direct my lost anger. With a slight resistance, I forcefully stomped the ground with my foot, pouring strength into my steps, and followed behind Crabbe.