Kays Translations

Chapter 26 “Promotion Examination”

"Ugh... Oops, I couldn't sleep because I was nervous, and now I'm getting sleepy."

With sleepy eyes, Klaus waited in front of the guild.

Perhaps because it was earlier than usual, the town's streets were sparsely populated.

"But it seems like these guys were in the same mood as me, huh?"

Noisy

Noisy

In stark contrast to the drowsy atmosphere that still lingered over the town, several men and women appeared uneasy in front of the guild.

Swordsmen, thieves, magicians, priests, gladiators... Well, a variety of people.

However, their unmistakably non-conventional demeanor made it clear they were not your average law-abiding citizens.

"─So, most of these are today's examinees, huh?"

Amidst the restless chatter within the group, glares were exchanged among rivals, sparks flying.

And now, for some reason, Klaus found himself being thoroughly glared at by a younger brat...

"Hey, you there."

"Huh... I guess I should've taken it a bit easier. But I didn't want to be late."

"You!... Hey!"

"That's right. Let's check our equipment while we can."

"Hey, listen!!"

Thunk!

"Ouch! W-What the hell! You pretend not to notice, so read the room!"

"What did you say?!"

Despite being a kid, he was incredibly aggressive.

"And who do you think you are? Causing trouble at a time like this, in a place like this?!"

Though Klaus had been ignoring the situation, he reluctantly raised his voice in protest upon witnessing the young troublemaker resorting to physical aggression.

"It's not you! It's Merim! You're the one ignoring me!!"

Sure, sure, Merim.

Aren't you calling me "you" too?

Absolutely unreasonable...

"Sure, sure. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You're so cute, you're so cute──see ya."

I can't be bothered with someone like this.

Time for the ultimate move, 'Trick the Liz...' That should be enough for a kid...

"Fine, as long as you understand────hey!"

Crash!

Ugh... Is this... not working?

"Hey! Don't cling to me!! Ouch ouch! My leg hurts!"

"Darn it! Don't try to escape whenever there's an opening!"

Ugh, seriously.

What's up with this guy...?

"Fine, fine, I get it. State your business, state your business──"

Merim, the young boy??, was covered in a cheap fabric robe, with a bandana wrapped around his head. 

Despite looking a bit scruffy, the staff peeking out from the robe had a magic stone attached to it. ...Is he a magician, perhaps?

"You! Be grateful! I'll let you join my crew!! It's limited to today's intermediate exam, though!"

Hahaha! He laughed heartily and leaned back, Merim did, for a while──...

"...That kind of thing works sometimes."

"Yeah, yeah! Alright! My name is Meri──!"

Waittttt!

Gabacho!!

"Hey!! Stop clinging to me already!!"

What's going on?!

What? Are you stupid? Are you going to die?!

"Shut up! Don't try to ignore me!"

No, you ignore them, right?

Isn't that normal?

Look, everyone else is averting their eyes too, you know?!"

"Listen to me!"

“I don't know what you're talking about... but find your friends somewhere else, somewhere else!”

"We're not just friends! We're comrades! I'm saying I'll make you my comrade!"

"I don't need that!"

Friends and things like that, everything is in order!!

So... I can't take it anymore──.

"Alright! Everyone, thank you for waiting. We will now begin the reception, so please prepare 10 silver coins for the exam fee and wait~."

Terrine, with a cheerful expression, clapped her hands, gathering everyone's attention.

Under the morning sun, she sparkled, capturing the awe of a few male adventurers.

Well... she's undeniably beautiful though.

"Huh? Please don't say foolish things.

There are absurd pickling requests too,

It's not like it will end in a day or so.

Are you being foolish?"

And, flashbacks of her recent interaction came back to his mind.

Yeah...

I know her true face, so I won't be deceived. I──.

"Alright, you there, with the foolish expression, Mr. Klaus... please hurry up and line up~"

Gulp?!

Several adventurers were taken aback by Terrine's tone of voice.

And then,

"No way, Terrine would..." one of them said, shaking their head.

(Yeah... They're being deceived. That person... is like that.)

What's with the "Mr. Klaus" nonsense...

...Hey!!

Seriously, what's with the "Mr. Klaus" thing!

Adding 'Mr.' there serves no purpose!!

"Geez... acting all mature for your age."

That's Terrine's true nature.

Always pretending to be someone she's not────Meow, meow, meow, meow!

"Terrine, my face! Don't squash my face...!"

"Hey, calm──down, you idiot! Grrrr!"

Ida-da-da-da-da!

My face, my face is getting squashed!

With a shadow of darkness in her expression, Terrine smiled as she iron-clawed Klaus's face while forcefully pushing him into the line.

"Hehehe. Your face looked squashed from the start, didn't it?"

"I'll kill you! You damn witch!!"

Whose face looks squashed, I wonder!!

"What? Who are you calling a damn witch?!"

Ida-da-da-da-da!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

The adventurers all averted their eyes simultaneously.

Even the kid from earlier was whistling and pretending not to notice...!

"Hey, quit thinking rude stuff and get in line already," Terrine pointed, dismissing him.

Y-Yes!

Already, the early-bird adventurers had grouped together in solo or party formations, forming lines.

And they had somehow managed to gather the considerable sum of 10 silver coins, which was quite a hefty amount, and were paying the fee.

"Alright. Mr. Squashed Face, also known as Klaus. 10 silver coins. Pay in seconds with your ears aligned."

Wait a minute!!

"I understand, I understand!"

What's going on?!

(...What did I do?!)

For some reason, there had been a strong focus on Klaus since the other day.

"Why do you think that?"

"Please don't read my mind──Yes, here's the exam fee."

"(Tch) Yes, indeed... We received the 10 coins we converted from the quests we completed through unpaid overtime."

Ugh.

She actually clicked her tongue.

"No, even if you say that..."

Stare!

"I'm sorry..."

I just did my job...

Talk to the guild master about overtime and stuff!

"Yes, I've finished filling it out. Can I participate solo as usual?"

"Yes... As usual...!!...You’re always alone anyway."

Don't ask every time.

"Oh! In that case!! K-Klaus, I'll be your c-comrade────... Ouch!"

The annoying kid from earlier suddenly tripped and fell for no apparent reason.

Jingling, jingling, jingling, jingling...! Jingling~♪

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Ow, ow, ow... Oh! Money!"

The annoying kid who had been bothering him all along, Merim, barged into the line talking about being a comrade, and in front of Terrine, scattered some small change.

Helping Merim gather the scattered coins, they exclaimed,

"Oh-oh-oh... It's all copper coins."

"Oh dear~. It looks like we were disturbed by this mean older brother here. It's okay; let's pick them up together, just the two of us~"

Huh? How am I the bad guy here?

"Sure, hurry up and go to the second floor of the guild. The orientation is about to begin."

"Oh, yes."

Apologies...

Klaus reluctantly left Merim, who was busy gathering small change, and gathered in the guild's second-floor conference room. 

Inside, it was already filled with adventurers. Klaus took a seat at an available chair.

(Well, everyone here is quite young, huh?)

Klaus is relatively young too, but he's about a decade older than the boys and girls gathered here.

Well, there are some middle-aged men and women here too, but they seem to be adventurers who started later in life and have other jobs as well.

Normally, like the majority here, full-time adventurers become adventurers at the age of 15 and quickly gain intermediate-level experience.

Those at the lower ranks, like E to D rank, usually graduate quickly.

Those who can't graduate have likely already given up on being adventurers and are either becoming breeding grounds for goblins or orcs somewhere.

Still────.

Nevertheless,

I finally made it here...!

...Finally,

(I finally have the path to becoming an intermediate adventurer open...)

Feeling this, among the adventurers waiting for the exam, I tightly clenched my fist.

Continuing as a lower-level adventurer for three years, even being called a "veteran lower-level adventurer," I persistently hunted in lower-level areas where no one else dared to venture...

The turning point came on that day when my rank in the "Auto Function Mode" upgraded.

It was only after gaining access to "Automatic Resource Collection" that Klaus truly blossomed as an adventurer.

(And today... Today, I will follow the footsteps of those who have advanced before me—someday I'll surpass them and aim even higher.)

Alone, he made that decision.

However, despite Klaus swelling with great expectations and hope, the intricate web woven by people closed in around him moment by moment.

On this day, at this very moment, Klaus was unaware... He had no way of knowing—.

He never could have anticipated that, in the midst of his promotion exam to intermediate rank, he would unexpectedly encounter the fateful individuals from his past...

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter