episode_0489

As soon as I arrived at the guild, the receptionist Yang told me about the promotion test to the next rank.

“The promotion test… Oh, no, the E-grade promotion test?”

“… Yes, Ms. Lily. Based on your recent experience in the Adventurer’s Guild, we have decided to grant you the qualifications to take the promotion test.”

“… What’s good about going up?”

“First of all, the level and rewards of the requests arranged by the guild will increase. And the E-rank adventurer’s pass can be used as an identity pass that proves your credit not only in our guild but also in other regions, and you will also be granted the right to use some of the internal facilities, including the guild library.”

The receptionist, who pretended not to know and asked questions, kindly explained the structure of the Adventurer’s Guild from start to finish.

He nodded to show that he understood and continued his usual silent assassin act.

“I want to take the promotion test. How do I do it?”

“The E-class promotion test is largely divided into two types, depending on the adventurer’s choice. One is to take the competency test within the guild, and the other is to complete an E-class adventurer-level request. Since assassins often find it difficult to complete E-class missions alone, they usually take the internal competency test… .”

“I want to do it as an E-class adventurer’s request.”

“Yes… . I think Lily would say that… .”

An internal competency test would probably involve sparring with adventurers of a suitable level who are part of the guild.

I guess he would treat me like an E-rank adventurer and give me some leverage while fighting… The problem was that I didn’t know how to gauge my opponent’s skill level and how much strength I should use.

It’s a habit to go all out and fight, but honestly, it’s not easy to fight while being considerate. And maybe a B-class or higher adventurer will show up and say, “I’ll take care of it.”

Above all, it was better to be alone when using magic or spirits. It would be obvious if I used them, but in the worst case scenario, there was nothing I had to protect before my own life.

“Then, I would like to ask you to subdue this goblin nest as a promotion test for an E-class adventurer.”

“Give me.”

“However, this goblin nest subjugation quest requires at least 3 people to be dispatched, so I can’t give it to Lily.”

“… Anything else? Is there anything you can do alone?”

“Yes, but you can only receive it after you officially become an E-rank adventurer. If it’s not this quest, you have to take our guild’s internal ability test.”

“… … .”

Fight one-on-one with an unknown opponent.

(Power cannot be controlled. If not careful, it may lead to an accident.)

vs

Defeat the goblin nest with a party of three and two adventurers of unknown identities.

(Considering my current skill level, there is a high possibility that I will complete the group project alone.)

It couldn’t have been a really shitty balanced game.

The former is a bit more reassuring, but the latter is less likely to cause an accident.

I can easily defeat a goblin nest by myself. The problem is that depending on the party member, there is a chance that a noisy guy will stick around.

‘… But it’s better to be safe.’

I don’t really feel like it because I can clearly see a future where I’ll have to do everything by myself, but it’s better to get promoted anyway.

As always, the more money the better. Whether it be to save up as much money as possible during the year I spent in the Iron Horde or to settle down and spend the rest of my life here leisurely, I needed to get promoted as soon as possible.

“… I’ll do it. Party hunting.”

“Yes, Miss Lily! Since there are two F-rank adventurers who are about to be promoted, you can party up with them!”

“… … Tsk. Do whatever you want.”

The receptionist, who was making a tongue-clicking sound as if she was trying to organize a party, smiled and prepared to organize the party. Judging from her quick reaction, it seemed like her goal from the beginning was to have me organize the party.

If you can achieve this level of success by working alone as an assassin class, how much more success can you achieve by working diligently as a party hunter?

It was obvious that he was thinking that way, but he didn’t mention it. It was a promotion test that he would take once anyway, so why bother scratching it?

“Hello. Are you Sister Lily?”

“… … .”

While I was waiting for the party the guild had formed with those thoughts, I heard a girl’s voice from the side.

“… Who?”

“I am a trainee priest of the Aurelia Church, Mirif Aurelia‧Niel. The receptionist told me that I should form a party with Sister Lily for this E-rank adventurer promotion exam, so I came to say hello.”

“Mirif Aurelia‧Niel?”

“You can call me Miriph, Sister Lily.”

“… Yeah, Mirif.”

Are you an apprentice priest of the Aurelia Church? Well, a priest can’t go out on a solo expedition unless it’s a party hunt like this, so you have no choice but to get promoted through a party mission like this.

At least I was relieved that I had avoided the worst situation where all the party members were men. If the vanguard had been women, it would have been okay, but…

“Are you guys taking the promotion test too? Kee-ha, this is totally awesome.”

“Oh, brother, are you also taking the E-class promotion exam?”

“Yeah. I’m so lucky to be partying with such pretty girls. Anyway, please take care of me?”

“… … Phew.”

How can life go exactly the way you want it to?

Anyone who saw those sinister eyes that seemed to have a purpose other than hunting for a party sighed.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

“What is your brother’s name?”

“Baum. People call me Baum of the Steel Sword.”

“Is that so? Brother Baum, you seem to be good with swords.”

“Hehehe, right. Should I show you a taste right now? If I see a monster or something, I can just cut it all down with my sword!”

… do some shit, do some shit.

As soon as I left the village and headed to the goblin nest, I saw a guy who was bragging and causing trouble, and I was cursing him inwardly.

Baum of the Steel Sword is a piece of shit. Is there a swordsman in the world who doesn’t use an iron sword?

In addition, he was swinging his sword in an ugly manner, wasting his strength in the air. Even Mirif, who had been listening to him with the generous nature of a priest, seemed to be fed up with his ridiculous behavior.

-Boom! Boo! Boo!

“Oh my, what, how is it?! This Baum style swordsmanship 3-stage slash!”

“… Tongue, Brother, you seem to have a lot of stamina. With that kind of strength, you must be confident when taking on monsters, right? ”

“Haha, that’s right! As expected of a priest, he knows a thing or two!”

… I only felt sorry for Mirif, who was trying to accept such a pitiful sight. In the meantime, that idiot bastard, not understanding her words as she spoke indirectly, kept swinging his sword even more excitedly.

Do all trainee priests who fail to enter the academy practice like this? It was a moment that made me feel a renewed respect for the many priests of the empire.

“And it’s not just when you’re fighting monsters that you’re particularly powerful!”

“Yes?”

“The strength of this body is even when dealing with women in bed… Oh my, was it too early for you ladies? Kyahahaha!!”

“… … .”

“… … .”

…fuck.

Should I just kill this kid and run away to another village?

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a guy who’s really bad at something but does all kinds of crappy things just to look good in front of women, so a strong urge to kill welled up deep inside me.

Yes, originally, all the people I met outside the academy were of this level. It was a moment when I realized once again that the kids inside Luminor Academy were all civilized people with a certain level of education.

“Hey, why is your assassin lady so quiet? Is she embarrassed?”

“… … .”

No. I want to stab you in the balls, but I’m holding back. I feel like if I open my mouth even a little, all I’ll come out of it is curses.

“Well, it would be embarrassing to be in front of a man like me.”

“… … .”

“By the way, do you always wear that mask? Can you show me your bare face?”

With those words, he was trying to do something stupid like naturally bringing it to my face, so I slapped the back of his hand as hard as I could and pushed it aside.

-Tsk!

“Aya?!”

“Don’t touch me.”

“… Hey, you don’t have to hit me this hard… .”

“… … .”

“… Oh my, you’re a bad-tempered girl.”

Baum, who was about to say something, was bitten by my spirit and carefully walked back to the seat next to Mireph. Perhaps because he was a priest, he couldn’t say a single harsh word and responded to every word the idiot said.

The thought that if I did something wrong, the percentage of virgins within the party might be reduced by half began to appear in my head, and two Liliths began to persuade me in different directions.

‘Let’s just kill that idiot and take Mirif with us. It seems like he won’t be of any help at all, considering his skills.’

I really want to, but then it would be an E-rank promotion test and my plans to spend a peaceful time in the Iron Horde would be ruined. I want to spend at least a year in peace… .

‘Hey, idiot! Does that make any sense?! Stop listening to that idiot and come to your senses, Lilith!’

‘What, stupid kid… .’

… Well, it’s not murder, no matter what. It’s not like that guy was trying to kill me.

Those guys I met in the alley last time were obviously threatening me with impure intentions, so I killed them. Anyway, I won’t be seeing them again once this promotion exam is over…

‘Not that!’

huh?

‘If you’re going to kill them, then kill them in the goblin nest! Just pretend you accidentally killed them in the melee! Later, you can pretend that the goblins killed them!’

‘Oh, are you a genius?! Yeah, it’s a bit shit, but let’s just hold out until the goblin nest, Lilith.’

… Usually, isn’t one of the two the one who persuades them not to kill?