Adventurer’s Guild #1

 

“Kid, I’m going to take the adventurer exam separately.”

Mitchell said firmly.

Mitchell seemed to have already made up his mind.

“Then do that.”

“⋯Huh? Why don’t you ask?”

“Well, that’s the rule.”

The Adventurer’s Guild’s selection test only allows parties of up to two people.

This is to prevent those with limited skills from free-riding on the power of the group.

In the end, our party is destined to disband.

“I agree with Mitchell. I’ll take on the challenge on my own.”

Wagner said the same thing.

Only by passing the test with your own strength can you proudly stand tall as an adventurer.

‘That’s typical of Mitchell and Wagner.’

I would have been a little disappointed if they had shown themselves to be dependent on me.

Even if you have to get help from your colleagues when you can’t help it, you will grow more if you learn to solve problems on your own.

“Huh? Wait a minute. So if you two form a party…?”

Flora pointed alternately at Mitchell and Wagner.

It’s a common sense judgment.

I think it would be ideal if I were to party with Flora and Mitchell with Wagner.

“I don’t care.”

Wagner folded his arms and nodded.

However, Mitchell’s thoughts seemed a little different.

“Are you crazy? Then I’ll have to spend the entire exam alone with this guy. I heard it’ll mean two weeks in the wilderness!”

“Mr. Mitchell, we’re colleagues. Mr. Wagner may resemble a bear, but he’s not dangerous, is he?”

“It’s not that it’s dangerous, no—I don’t like it. I absolutely hate it.”

Mitchell shook his head sharply.

Wagner’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Even though he didn’t respond, he seemed a little hurt inside.

‘You deny it so vehemently, it’s a little suspicious.’

I pondered the truth hidden deep within Mitchell’s frown.

Is it really true that I hate it?

I wonder if they’re just making a fuss to hide some other reason.

Like an elementary school student who deliberately acts colder to his favorite classmate⋯.

“Mr. Mitchell, you’ll regret this later-“

“I have no regrets. Just thinking about hanging out with Bear gives me goosebumps.”

“What’s wrong with Mr. Wagner? Then Mr. Mitchell, you can party with Estelle. I’ll go with Mr. Wagner.”

Flora said calmly.

For a fleeting moment, Mitchell’s face darkened.

“Hey, what are you talking about- just do what you were going to do.”

Mitchell’s expression instantly changed, and he smiled as if nothing had happened and answered.

‘Oh, look at this.’

It’s suspicious, after all.

I don’t know about Wagner, but there’s always a bad vibe coming from Mitchell.

You, no way⋯.

Wagner?

I barely managed to swallow the question that was rising to my throat.

It’s still too early to dig it up.

“Don’t worry. Neither Mitchell nor I intend to give up easily. We’ll do our best and definitely pass the exam.”

Wagner said, patting his chest.

That was the time.

“Do you want to join the Adventurer’s Guild too?”

Suddenly, someone from behind interrupted our conversation.

“What are you doing, all of a sudden?”

“Let’s see-”

The woman I saw earlier was Maria.

Maria didn’t answer Mitchell’s sharp question, but instead looked at our faces sharply.

“Hey, you guys can’t do that. You can tell just by looking at it that you’re just kids.”

Chook.

Maria sucked lightly from the straw in her iced coffee cup.

She came to Garden as an examiner for this exam.

Since you probably have an eye for judging the level of adventurers, it’s unlikely that you’re just trying to pick a fight without thinking.

“Huh? That’s too much-”

Flora had a sad look on her face.

“It’s too much, you know. That’s the truth. The guild decides how many new recruits to select from the exam. If they find everyone unsatisfactory, it’s not uncommon for them to not select a single one. Didn’t you know that?”

“Still⋯.”

Maria narrowed her fox eyes and smiled mischievously.

Maria’s words are mostly correct.

However, there are also facts she deliberately left unsaid.

The content and selection of candidates for the examination are entirely at the discretion of the examination administrator.

If you meet a lenient examiner, you may end up with quite a few successful applicants that year.

“Why this year? What a troublesome test tube.”

Even though it’s unfair, there’s nothing I can do.

The Adventurer’s Guild is not a public institution run by the Empire.

No one will listen to you when you complain about failing because you met a bad-tempered examiner.

It was just bad luck.

“That’s funny. Do you know who we are?”

Mitchell crossed his arms and glared at Maria.

Maria, not daunted by his gaze, looked down at Mitchell with a sly smile.

“I don’t know. Who is it?”

“What, you act all this way, but you don’t know anything about Garden? Haven’t you heard? We’re the ones who took down the vigilantes. Still, do you think we’re kids?”

Mitchell laughed, his voice rising in pride.

Come to think of it, this kid doesn’t know yet that Maria is the examiner for this exam.

Even if he knew, Mitchell wouldn’t be ignored and just sit still.

I decided to watch the situation quietly without interfering.

It was quite interesting to see two people with somewhat similar characters fighting.

“Ahhh—I see you’re the party that caught some punk? Is it Dawson or something?”

“What, a punk?”

“So what? You’ll only get noticed in this backwoods town. Did you really think you’d accomplished something great, you little rascal?”

Maria looked down at Mitchell with a look of laughter.

A faint vein bulged on Mitchell’s temple.

“Don’t insult Mitchell.”

Wagner, who had been listening to the conversation silently, opened his mouth.

“Here’s some advice for you. I want to let you know that those who dismissed Mitchell as a nerd didn’t end well.”

There was no lie in Wagner’s words.

Dawson and the vigilantes are now all buried underground, cold corpses.

Maria was momentarily speechless at Wagner’s remark, which carried a heavy weight.

“Really? Okay, I’ll keep that in mind. But do you know that?”

Maria, who was momentarily pushed back, soon began to counterattack.

Unlike before, he seemed genuinely excited, as if his voice had become much louder.

“I’m a test tube, what should I do?”

“⋯What?”

“What are you surprised about, you little rascal? Didn’t you understand? I’m in charge of this exam. And you’re all out of luck here.”

“No- wait.”

“What should I give as an excuse? Right, I talked back to the examiner. Is that enough?”

“Are you crazy? You’re the one who starts the fight-“

“It’s noisy, and you’re out—everyone, go home. Don’t even come near the guild gates.”

Maria was talking like a machine gun.

‘ha.’

That’s why it’s a headache if he’s a test tube.

Although he is very talented, he has a uniquely childish and immature personality.

He’s one step ahead of Mitchell.

“Is it okay to handle the guild’s selection process so arbitrarily?”

Wagner also looked straight at Maria with a fearful look in his eyes, as if a fever was rising inside him.

“Uh. You can do whatever you want. I’m in charge, so what can I do? If you bother me, you’ll be the test tube-“

“Maria!”

A shout came from behind.

Maria, who had been chattering excitedly, flinched and shrugged her shoulders.

Only then did Maria notice and glance back.

Behind him stood another test tube, Jack, with a frightening expression on his face.

“Don’t let your personal feelings get in the way of the test.”

“No, Jack, that’s—”

“I understand that it’s tiring to come to such a remote area during your busy schedule. However, the Adventurer Recruitment Exam is an important task for the guild. It’s not there to vent your frustrations.”

“I know that too-”

“Maria.”

Only when Jack called her name again did Maria finally shut her mouth.

Unlike Maria, Jack is a stubborn and principled adventurer.

The guild’s decision to assign the two to one team seemed reasonable.

Jack gestured toward the entrance.

“let’s go.”

“Ugh⋯.”

Maria grumbled to herself, still dissatisfied, and turned her head away.

“Okay, okay. I don’t need to eliminate them myself anyway. Those ragtag guys are hopeless anyway.”

The type of person who can’t be relieved unless he says something harsh and moves on.

It’s so childish.

An exasperated Mitchell sat up, pushing against the table.

“I said let’s take a look at this.”

I grabbed Mitchell’s wrist as he was about to lunge at me.

There is no need to fight.

Unlike Dawson, Maria isn’t an enemy, even if she’s annoying.

“Hey, Mr. Test Tube.”

When I called, Maria frowned and turned around.

“why.”

“Does that mean we’re definitely going to be eliminated?”

“Uh. Are you dissatisfied?”

“No. Then do you want to make a bet?”

“⋯A bet?”

Maria’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay. Let’s see if any of us can pass the exam.”

“It’s such an obvious matchup, haven’t you heard? You’re out for sure, without even looking.”

“Then I will bet against it.”

“What are you betting on?”

“Well, let’s see. What would be good?”

I deliberately paused for a moment to bring the conversation back to my direction.

“How about Jin paying all the travel expenses to Nirvana? Including food and lodging, of course.”

“Not bad. I don’t deal in cheap things, whether it’s carriages or food. Is that okay?”

Maria smiled faintly.

The cost of traveling to Nirvana, the large city where the Adventurer’s Guild headquarters is located, is not cheap.

If you can go while spending other people’s money like crazy, there’s no reason to refuse.

Of course, that applies to me too.

Since I was going to the big city anyway, I planned to travel in luxury, using Maria’s money.

“And one more thing. The loser has to apologize. Say something like, ‘I’m sorry for talking nonsense without even knowing the topic.'”

“Ha. You’re a little arrogant, aren’t you?”

Maria let out a hollow laugh as if it were nothing.

“Don’t regret it later. I have no intention of backing down.”

“But make this clear: I won’t use my position as a test tube to manipulate you into anything unfair. Otherwise, the bet won’t stand.”

“Yeah, that’s about it. Anyway, like I said before, you’d be eliminated even if I didn’t interfere.”

Jack brought his face close to Maria’s ear and whispered something.

Maria shook her head with a confident expression.

“Hey, what are you talking about? I’m never going to give in. I told you those kids are retards.”

“⋯You take responsibility for what happens next. I don’t know anything about it.”

Jack shook his head and left the cafe first.

Maria, who was following behind, lifted her chin and looked down at us.

An arrogant face that knows no defeat.

Since ancient times, betting tastes better when you break a face like that.

“Okay, heroes of the countryside. See you in two weeks, then?”

Maria followed Jack, her shoes clacking together.

“⋯This really motivates me.”

Mitchell stroked my head.

“Good job, kid. Let’s give that little bitch a beating together.”

“There were some twists and turns, but let’s all work hard to make it this far.”

Wagner also had a firm determination in his eyes.

‘Maria. You’ll regret it.’

Even if you lament that you should have thought more carefully before making a bet, it is already too late.

‘Then, should we start preparing?’

The goal is set. The stakes are set.

Now, let’s use the remaining two weeks until the Adventurer Exam efficiently.