episode_0013

After returning to Kubele, we all decided to have a simple meal at a restaurant following the young man’s suggestion.

“Oh, you’re an apothecary. It’s fortunate that I received a request to subdue King Blue Slimes.”

The young man who rescued us from the Blue Slime horde smiled and spoke.

His name was Oren.

He was living the life of an adventurer and had come to carry out a request to subdue King Blue Slimes when he happened to stumble upon us.

As someone aiming to become an adventurer myself, I found him to be quite impressive and remarkable.

“I owe you my life. If it weren’t for you, I wonder what would have happened…”

“It was just a natural thing to do.”

Oren scratched the back of his head with a slightly embarrassed expression in response to my repeated gratitude.

But I meant it sincerely.

The way he effortlessly swept away the Slime horde in one strike was truly heroic.

“In truth, I also aspire to become an adventurer. I want to become a great adventurer like you, Oren.”

“Haha… you’re praising me too much.”

“No, I really mean it. At least to me, you’re the hero who saved my life.”

“I’m just a passing, ordinary Bronze adventurer.”

Bronze?

So, the adventurers in this world are classified in that way.

But for someone who seemed so strong, it was surprising to hear that he was just a Bronze adventurer.

Maybe Bronze was actually a very high rank.

Or maybe not, judging by the way he spoke.

“And in fact, I’m the one who should be more grateful.”

Oren suddenly said, looking at me.

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“As a lowest-ranked Bronze adventurer, it’s not easy to receive such sincere thanks.”

“Is that so?”

“The attention and honor are focused on higher-ranked adventurers. We Bronze adventurers are like janitors handling the miscellaneous requests they don’t bother with.”

Oren smiled bitterly.

A janitor handling miscellaneous requests.

It felt strange to hear him say that, considering how he looked like a hero fallen from the sky.

“At least to me, you’re the greatest hero who saved my life.”

“Haha, thank you. It feels rewarding to be an adventurer.”

Oren genuinely smiled at my words, looking pleased.

Despite being called a Bronze adventurer, he looked incredibly impressive in my eyes.

“Oh, and next time you go into the forest, make sure to bring at least one sharp sword with you. Slimes have a core in the center, so if you cut the center precisely with a sharp sword, anyone can easily subdue them.”

Anyone could easily defeat a monster if they had a sword?

I remembered being surrounded by that monster, looking at its glowing nucleus.

Hmm, it’s a strange feeling.

“Yunoa- Yunoa-”

Meruru, who was sitting next to me and silently eating her food, tapped my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s not enough meat.”

Meruru said, tapping an empty plate with her fork.

Next to her, there were already five plates that she had finished eating.

Ah, I see.

She went through that because of me, so today, I should let her eat whatever she wants.

Once I sell the herbs I collected today, there should be enough money…

“Oh.”

I was about to call the waiter to place an order when a sudden thought crossed my mind, causing me to pause.

“Aaaah-!”

I grabbed my head and groaned.

I had forgotten to invoke Freya’s blessing.

* * *

“Yunoa couldn’t shake off the thought of forgetting Freya’s blessing.

Rather than feeling grateful for narrowly escaping death, he was more regretful about missing out on earning money.”

After parting ways with Oren at the restaurant, the narrator pierced into my inner thoughts.

In the midst of a quiet moment during a crisis.

Honestly, there’s nothing else I can do.

Fifteen gold is a considerable amount of money, enough to make a living by collecting herbs all week.

If you’re not disappointed, that’s what it means to be an adult.

“The group of slimes that almost took Yunoa’s life could have been defeated by anyone with a well-forged sword.

Despite facing a life-threatening situation from such a monster, he didn’t even feel embarrassed and claimed to aspire to be an adventurer.”

The narrator’s commentary adds another layer of pain this time.

It’s true that the swordsmanship of the young man named Oren, whom I just saw, seemed incredibly impressive to someone like me who knows nothing.

But to think that someone who looks so strong is just a bronze adventurer.

Can someone like me really become an adventurer? I doubt myself.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t give up on my dream of becoming an adventurer.

The sight of Oren fighting bravely against dozens of slimes to rescue us.

His refreshing expression as he received my gratitude with genuine satisfaction.

Seeing that, I too wanted to help someone as an adventurer and experience that sense of fulfillment.

I want to feel the same emotions Oren felt.

I want to be in a position to help others, not just receive help.

That’s how I’ve always been as a human.

Even before coming to this world, I was too afraid to do anything and spent my time making excuses in the safety and comfort of my home.

But now, things are different.

I’ve gathered enough money to become an adventurer.

I’ve already collected all the herbs in the nearby safe areas, so there’s no need to delay any longer.

Yes, I’ve made up my mind.

Today, Yunoa & Meruru’s herb shop is closing down.

I’ve decided to go to the guild today to become an adventurer.

***

I feel uneasy walking with a sword strapped to my waist because I’m not used to it.

Meruru, who just put on a new robe she bought, happily bounces along beside me.

“Is this all the money we have left…?”

Before going to the guild, I visited weapon shops, general stores, and armor shops to buy everything I needed.

I spent the most money on weapons.

Since my skills are lacking, I thought it would be better to use a good sword.

So, I picked a sword that fit my hand well and wasn’t too heavy by trying out each one on display at the weapon shop.

For armor, I chose something that would allow me to move as freely as possible rather than focusing on defense.

There were also enchanted armors that could protect the whole body, but they were too expensive, so I just looked at them and moved on.

I bought a few healing potions just in case at the general store and got a new robe for Meruru.

Kubel Adventurer Guild.

A white brick building standing tall in the bustling center of Kubel.

“I finally made it…”

Taking a deep breath at the door, I pat Meruru’s head a few times to calm myself down.

As we entered, the scene of the adventurer guild that I had only imagined was unfolding before my eyes.

Various adventurers choosing quests with serious expressions in front of the large bulletin board.

Counters for various guild tasks and pretty receptionists… huh?

Among the guild counter receptionists, there was someone who looked familiar.

A beautiful woman with cherry blossom-colored short hair.

She exuded a somehow dignified and warm atmosphere, but somehow seemed like she wasn’t wearing underwear…

“Tina?”

“Oh? Yunoa! Are you Yunoa?”

Approaching and calling out her name, Tina greeted me with a warm smile.

I didn’t expect her to become a guild receptionist after looking for a job.

She cut her long hair into a short style.

Now that she’s no longer a priestess, she must be wearing underwear.

“What brings you to the guild? Have you been well?”

“I’m here to register as an adventurer.”

With a warm heart, there were many things I wanted to say, but I went straight to the point.

Since Tina was busy working, it would be best not to engage in unnecessary small talk.

“Well then, please take a look at these documents and sign here and here with this pen.”

Tina skillfully took out the adventurer registration form from under the counter and handed it to me with a pen.

The document was filled with obligations and precautions for adventurers, written in such a tiny font that it was difficult to read.

I had seen this type of document before in my previous world.

It was similar to insurance policies or privacy agreements.

The content was important, but the reading was so difficult that in the end, people would just skim through it and sign it hastily.

Once you signed these kinds of documents, the truly important parts would be explained verbally.

“I have signed here.”

“Yes, I have received it. Miss Yunoa, I have a few questions for you.”

Tina took the signed document without even looking at it, and put it somewhere under the counter before speaking.

“Have you received education from a knight training camp, academy, swordsmanship school, or magic university?”

“No.”

“Does your family have a Gold-ranked adventurer, a recognized founder of a swordsmanship school or magic school, acknowledged by the kingdom?”

As if that would ever be the case.

“No.”

“Do you have any experience in war, mercenary activities, or victories in battles against monsters?”

“No.”

“Lastly, for party recruitment or quest proposals… what class would you like to register with the guild?”

“Paladin?”

There were so many questions being asked.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious as I had to answer no to every single one.

But it couldn’t be helped, it was the truth.

After finishing the questions, Tina scribbled something on the document and took out something from under the counter.

It was a badge made of metal, about the size of two fingers.

It had an unrecognizable bird or chicken-like emblem engraved on it.

“Yes, registration is complete. Miss Yunoa, you are now at Novice rank.”

No, I thought Bronze was the lowest rank.

And that’s how I became an adventurer.