Ch.13Rolling the Snowball NPCs. (4)

The sight of a person spinning two and a half times in the air before falling, despite not being that high up, was quite novel. I think it would’ve gotten plenty of likes if posted on Instagram or Threads.

Of course, being a complete loser, I’d never used such social media.

My strength control was precise, and the guy passed out with a gurgle. He was still breathing properly.

Let’s give myself a pat on the back for that perfect attack.

“…My, my goodness.”

“Does this qualify me for blue rank?”

“W-wait! Just wait a moment!!”

The examiner, Mr. Devil, opened his eyes wide before immediately running upstairs to bring someone else down.

Oh. That person.

[Profession Adventurer: Level 31]

He’s the highest-level adventurer among those whose status windows I saw earlier.

“This kid is something special! You’re currently the only gold-ranked person in our guild! Come test him for me!”

“No, Mr. Devil. I don’t even have an examiner’s license.”

So that person is gold-ranked? The rank just before white, the highest for adventurers.

That person pays 5,000 cans annually to maintain their adventurer ID. In other words, if I beat them, I could save money too.

“I’d like to request it as well. I want to see if I’m on par with gold rank.”

“Hmm. I can do it, but you might get hurt if I do. Is that okay?”

“Yes. I’ll take responsibility.”

“It’s fine! This kid is definitely at least gold level! Just face him once. If I see something inappropriate, I’ll stop it!”

The kind man called Devil pushes me forward while highly overestimating me. Hmm, he’s really a nice guy. Shouldn’t his name be Angel instead of Devil?

Eventually, the level 31 adventurer came up, unable to refuse both the old man’s and my request.

This will probably be the strongest opponent in my life.

Considering my average stat level is 50, there’s still almost a two-fold stat difference, but a normal NPC at level 31 means they’ve faced many battles and monsters. In other words, their experience is different—I absolutely cannot let my guard down. Right.

For the sake of saving money…!!

“Hmm. Bare hands?”

“Yes. I have some experience with knives and machetes, but I’ve never used them against people.”

“I see. Come at me whenever you’re ready. I’ll control my strength, but if it hurts, give up immediately.”

“Okay.”

While speaking kindly, he’s clearly treating me as his inferior. He takes a light step and approaches me faster than when I dashed at Gold Sun.

And then.

“Haah!!”

“Hup!!”

*Swoosh!*

A few strands of my hair flutter down as the wooden sword passes right above my head. My goodness.

If that had hit me, would I have been knocked out cold?

“…Huh? You dodged that?”

“Wasn’t I supposed to attack first?”

“Ah, is that how tests are usually done?”

“No! You were just so fast that both of you went for the first strike. Just continue as you are!”

For some reason, the adventurer who should have taken this test himself seemed confused, but since Mr. Devil spoke as if this was normal, perhaps he advanced through a different method.

Maybe I should read the guidebook more thoroughly later?

“Then, I’ll come at you this time.”

While I was momentarily distracted, the adventurer said that and rushed at me with a quick thrust.

Though it’s a wooden sword, the incredible speed creates a sound that strikes my ears and eardrums as it cuts through the air.

If it hits, the speed and sharpness might draw blood. A level 31 opponent is truly somewhat dangerous.

I narrowly avoid the sharp attacks that keep thrusting at me while observing their trajectory.

And then.

*Clack!!*

“Huh?!”

As expected, he was just a bit dangerous.

If that had been a real sword, I couldn’t have fought like this, but I struck down his thrusting sword with my elbow and immediately delivered a kick to his face.

*Bang!*

“Ugh?!”

The man barely dodged my kick by a hair’s breadth, recovered his deflected sword, and immediately delivered a sharp slash toward me while my posture was broken.

*Thwack!!*

“Ah! I should control my stren—!! Huh?!”

I grabbed the wooden sword that struck my side with my arm, pulled hard, and as he was dragged toward me in surprise, I raised my foot in a straight line to kick his chin.

*Whoosh!!*

“…You dodged that too?”

I remained frozen with my leg raised.

My eyes widened as I watched my opponent drop his sword and backflip away.

My goodness. I was really serious that time.

“Haha. This wooden sword isn’t enough against you. Your body is too tough.”

No. My side definitely hurts. But it’s nothing compared to being hit by a golem, and my status window shows my HP hasn’t decreased.

To finish, the opponent’s wooden sword is caught between my arms. In other words…

“This kid definitely qualifies for gold rank. I’d have trouble facing him without a real sword—it’s been a while since I’ve met such an opponent.”

Saying that while raising both hands, the man surrendered to me and Devil.

“I knew it!! My eyes never deceive me! To think there’d be a gold-ranked talent at just fifteen! Haha! What an amazing catch!!”

And that’s how I became a gold-ranked adventurer.

*

“Here’s your gold-ranked adventurer ID.”

“Thank you.”

Mr. Devil, who first tested me, personally handled the entire process of issuing my adventurer ID.

This old man is really too kind.

“Work hard from now on. And don’t be too confident in your abilities—build your adventurer foundation slowly. That ID won’t get you disrespected anywhere, but never become arrogant.”

“Yes. Thank you for your guidance.”

I bowed my head with genuine gratitude, and then turned around…

“Ah, Examiner Devil.”

“Yes?”

“The casino in the trading city of Aigram is really good. You should visit sometime.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Yes. Not only do they have good gambling, but there are also many beautiful women.”

I don’t want to judge by appearances, but the old man seems like he’s still single.

“Ahaha!! Is that so?! Well, that’s good to know. I’ll definitely visit sometime.”

Judging by his response, I guess I was right.

“Yes! You should definitely go. I recommend visiting this year.”

“Huh? O-okay. I’ll think about it.”

I couldn’t just tell him to go without explanation, and I didn’t want to leave him to die, so I gave him a hint, but will he actually go? Honestly, I don’t know.

I just hope that such a kind person lives a long life.

Of course, some might say dying quickly is better for those who have to live in a deteriorating world, since the kinder people are, the more painfully and quickly they tend to die.

I left the guild hoping he would live a long and happy life.

*

“That makes five.”

Orcs are more visible than I expected.

Now that I’m registered as an adventurer, I planned to hunt monsters to earn money.

At this rate, I think I can catch a caravan to the Seo Empire in a day or two if I stay up all night. It would be nice if more trolls showed up occasionally.

[Krrrr!!!]

As if on cue, a troll comes charging madly toward me.

But, wait?

[Troll: Level 33]

After a somewhat intense scuffle, I twisted its neck just the same and killed it, then looked at the status window. Dead troll, level 33.

Wasn’t the one I saw before in the mid-20s? Why is this one’s level so high?

Come to think of it.

[Orc (Dead): Level 23]

“…Is my memory wrong? Weren’t they in their teens before?”

It’s a bit hazy so I’m not sure, but the monster levels have increased.

Could it be…

“Are the monsters in this area naturally higher level?”

Well, different levels for different fields is basic in open-world games. It seems the border city area has higher-level monsters. But…

“…Hmm, somehow their level seems similar to those from the mountain where we lived. Was our mountain higher level than average too?”

Well, it makes sense. It’s the mountain where the ep.4 boss appears. Of course it would be somewhat higher level than average.

After thinking that far, I collect all the magic stones dropped as the corpses disappear.

Well, what does it matter if the levels are high or low? My HP isn’t 300 but over 1100. If a fight goes badly, I can just run away.

I felt a ticklish sensation in my head, like something was about to surface, but I didn’t try to recall it.

If it were truly important, I would have remembered it by now.

So I hunted monsters until sunset that day, and…

“Big brotherrr!! Why are you so laaate…!! I’m hungry!”

“I’m sorryyyy!!!”

I ended up on my knees apologizing to my tearful little sister.

*

“Has someone named Jack come through here?”

“Huh? Who? I don’t know anyone like that.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

A blonde female swordswoman in leather gear is looking for someone in front of the ticket booth for carriages crossing the border.

“I’m sure the direction was right.”

She had been tracking him by continuously asking people along the way.

His name on the wanted notice: Jack. And the girl he was carrying: Ira.

There was nothing written about the golem beside him, but she thought he might have acquired it somehow after the wanted notice was distributed.

“The closest way to cross the border from that direction would be through this city. He must be here.”

The female swordswoman, Rey Sol. She had pursued Jack all the way to the border city since they parted ways that day.

Her skill: [Can’t Tolerate Injustice.]

Normally, when this skill activates to track something, she should have been continuously caught up in trouble. How did she manage to pursue him so quickly?

The answer was simple.

(!)[Skill: Can’t Tolerate Injustice. (Active)]

Her skill was already continuously activated toward Jack.

“Where could he be? I’ve searched all the inns, but there were no rooms rented under a mountain keeper’s identity.”

In Ponia, it’s common sense to submit one’s identity when renting an inn room.

Names are also recorded, but since his wanted notice hadn’t reached the border yet, it was impossible to search inns by name.

And miraculously, on the day she arrived, Jack had re-registered for an inn room with his adventurer identity, completely escaping her radar.

“Hmph! I won’t give up. I’ll definitely find him! I absolutely cannot overlook something like this!”

Not just because of her skill, but by her very nature, the female swordswoman Rey Sol cannot ignore injustice.

The trouble-maker was approaching Jack moment by moment.