18-4 Part 1
The Bizarre Book Says to Take the
Promotion Exam at the Guild
- Gravel -
Translator : PolterGlast
「Promotion
exam, promotion exam, huh. Now that you mention it, there was such a thing...」
His complexion
clearly showed he wasn't keen on the idea. As if to say it was troublesome, the
man at the reception slumped sloppily into his chair.
「Is
there some inconvenience?」
「I
don't really mind, but if you'd take on a big job, I could go see my favorite
woman too, you know...?」
「Please
expect that for next time.」
The bizarre book
will surely demand unreasonable things of me again anyway. The day when this
man's wish comes true probably isn't too far off either.
「Please
make it as quick as possible. We might end up in a situation where business is
out of the question...」
「Yeah,
I suppose so.」
He's probably
talking about the Emperor's illness. If it has spread even to a grassroots
existence like him, is it finally time for conspiracies to swirl in earnest...?
But that's not the only problem. This man has seen through a part of my real
name. The grey (Shinza) is a fake
name; it's ash (Ash), right? he had
said on the first day we met here.
「So,
you, what was your rank again?」
「Even
if you ask me that, I've never taken an exam here even once.」
「Then,
you're Gravel. It's the rank that takes on medicinal herb gathering, errands to
remote areas, information gathering, and extermination of Giant Rats.」
「I
wonder why you entrusted the annihilation of the Goblin army to such mere Gravel...」
When I said it
sarcastically, the receptionist who always smelled of alcohol laughed somewhat
languidly.
「Well,
on your first job, you went and defeated Abyss
Hounds with that bastard Sigrun,
after all. Thinking a good sucker had arrived, my evaluation of you is what you
call a salmon swimming upstream.」
「You
haven't changed. More importantly, I want to quickly get the promotion exam out
of the way.」
「Yeah,
is that so. Well, I don't mind letting you take it, but—this is mostly just for
show, you know? There are guys who are satisfied with the Stone rank, one above
this.」
「Seems
like it. By the way, what about Sigrun?」
It's interesting
because everyone's complexion changes when I bring up the topic of Sigrun. Not missing the reaction of the
vast majority, the receptionist also made a tired face.
「That
one... She is Obsidian. I specifically had it newly established for her, with
the warning 'you'll get hurt if you mishandle it' included...」
「Kachua?」
「That
country bumpkin is Stone.」
「Then I
want the rank above that. Let me take them all at once.」
It's easy if you
anticipate the tendency of that bizarre book's questions. That book would
definitely demand that I aim even higher.
「You're
a lazy one... Well, it'd be troublesome for us if you cause lost opportunities
over and over, so I don't mind.」
「Even
if you say that on the premise that I will take the jobs exactly as you wish
and definitely succeed.」
The receptionist
tore off a memo, folded it, and handed it over. There's probably no need to
specifically look inside. I shoved it into my breast pocket.
「Right
now, you're the top of our guild, as far as I know. Besides, the biggest thing
is that you're far easier to use than Sigrun.
That woman, she behaves herself in front of you, but... she's outrageous.」
「No, I'm
troubled precisely because she doesn't behave herself at all. More importantly,
what should I do?」
「Not
really, that woman doesn't listen to anyone's orders, but she barely listens to
your intentions, barely... So, I'll have you go to the place I'm about to tell
you.」
It probably means
I'm favored. Not wanting to get lost, I memorized his words accurately and
headed east in the Imperial Capital for
the promotion exam.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
Land prices in the Imperial Capital of Bergelmir are extremely high. Even to
place one school for commoners, they struggle to find a location. These are the
words of Puis, who was a student
until a while ago, not me, though. Because of that, the designated place was
the most remote of remote areas even within the Imperial Capital. Two-story collective housing was crowded around,
and each and every room was so cramped that my room looked like a mansion.
「Excuse
me, to those who are not related—ah, no, are you perhaps from the guild?」
「No,
I'm on the side that takes jobs there. I heard I could take the promotion exam
here.」
It was a small
school. And one meant for commoners, primarily the younger age group. When I
handed her the scribbled note from the receptionist, the female teacher brought
it close to her glasses, perhaps being nearsighted.
「Understood,
I will prepare for the exam immediately.」
「Sorry
when you have school work to do too.」
「No,
this place is sustained by donations from the guild, so there is no need for
you to mind.」
「I see.
Then, sorry but I'm counting on you.」
Thus, I was allowed
to take the promotion exam immediately.
◆ ◇ ◆
The task for the
Stone rank promotion exam, that is—
「Then,
please submit it when you have filled in all the questions.」 It's
a written exam.
「I
thought I would be told something more like hazing a newcomer, like hunting 100
Giant Rats...」
「Yees,
let's all continue our studies~♪」
That wasn't the only
bewilderment. Parallel to my exam, the children's class had begun. The budget
is limited, and they are short on people. I understood that just by looking.
「...Being
an adventurer is a gambling business with one's life as the wager. Therefore,
there are many who lack general education, and so this rank system was started
to make them acquire the minimum level of education. ...Yees, let's practice
multiplication today~♪」
Sorry, let me
complain. It is tremendously uncomfortable... The children are looking at me
with curious eyes. Eyes that say, Big brother, why are you here?...
『Kukuku...
This book and you are truly interesting. I never thought I would see such a
sight.』
Laughing when
someone is troubled, you have a bad personality... Returning an awkward smile
to the children's round eyes, I looked at the questions written on the edge of
the blackboard. The contents were not much different from what the children
were taking. Simple math and vocabulary tests. I lined up the answers on the
writing board.
◆ ◇ ◆
Before long, the
class ended. In time with that, though I had ended up waiting quite a bit, I
showed the writing board to the female teacher.
「Wow,
all questions answered correctly, well done~♪ And congratulations, it's a
promotion, clap clap clap♪」
There was a reason I
waited until the end of the class. It wasn't that I missed the chance to call
out to her, but because this phenomenon that occurs as soon as I pass the exam
was inconvenient in many ways. In short, I glowed and became a firefly as
usual. At the mysterious man who suddenly started glowing, everyone there
opened their eyes wide in surprise.
「Big
brother, amazing!」
「Wow,
wow, he's glowing! Why, why!?」
「Humans
glow!?」
The children's eyes
were shining. It seems it's well-received. The female teacher was flustered,
but it was hugely popular with the children. Avoiding their gazes, when I opened
the Book of the Evil Dragon under the desk, it was just as I read.
- Adventure -
【Clear
the Adventurer's Guild promotion exam】 Completed
·
Reward: EXP 150 (Already received)
- Adventure -
【Get
promoted to the Adventurer Rank: Stone】
·
Reward: EXP 300
A new topic had been
added. It seems I can get double the previous experience points just by taking
a simple exam. By the way, perhaps because it was extremely easy as a mission,
my glow subsided immediately.
「Alright,
let me take the next exam.」
「Is
there no explanation whatsoever about why you're glowing or anything!?」
The kind-looking
female teacher with glasses raised a loud voice. It's bewilderment. But as
someone who has a constitution that glows every single time, I couldn't be
bothered to deal with it every single time.
「It's
my constitution. It seems that when I feel I've accomplished something, I glow
contrary to my own will.」
I faintly heard Zirant's laughter. It's troublesome.
Let's push through with a serious attitude.
「So
that's how it is!」
「Nice,
nice! Sparkling and pretty!」
「This
is the first time I've been envied for it too. It's nice.」
「Yeah,
so nice!!」
The girl's eyes were
shining.
「There's
no way that's true! I've never heard of humans glowing!?」
「More
importantly, let me take the next exam. I want to do it all at once.」
It seems she had finally understood what kind of person I was. Looking tired, the female teacher leaned against the teacher's desk as if crumbling.
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