Chapter 17: My Insignificant Doubts

Ensig:
Just so you’re aware, I’ll be changing some things in the previous chapter in accordance to this post. Or… I would have, if there was anything to change.

Yeah. Turns out Sword-shisho refers to what I thought would be “Monsters” as literal “Demonic Beasts”. This: 魔獣 — which could also be “Magic Beasts”.

One might think “Well, because they have ‘Magic Stones’ shouldn’t the change happen?” but that would be incorrect. This is because “Magic Stones” can also be “Demon Stones”. Yep: 魔石. If you didn’t catch on already, 魔 can mean “Magic” or “Demon” among other things, which is why this is the case.

I considered changing all of the Demonic Beasts into Magic Beasts — because not all of them will be “Demonic” I’m sure, but because a so-called Evil God was in a certain description, I’ll keep it as-is until an “Intelligent Demonic Beast” shows up. And by “intelligent” I mean “capable of differentiating good and bad, and thinks they’re ‘good'”.

And so, this chapter’s title was incredibly convenient, in that my doubts over the identity of Demonic Beasts was all for nothing!

Enjoy!

※ ※ ※

We walk over to the Adventurer’s Guild through the road that Randell had taught us.

Hーmm. It’s quite a beautiful town. It looks like a European-like town from the middle ages. It’s got a good feeling of “fantasy” floating about.

Also, this is the first time since I’ve come to this world that I’ve seen so many Humans. That alone would be enough to raise my spirits.

I only became more excited, because we ended up walking within a large group of people, each of different races. There was an old Kemonomimi with a fluffy tail, a big-breasted woman who ruined my image of Erofus — er, Elves. (¹) There’re also a wide variety of other races walking about, like a bearded Dwarf.

Mixed among the crowd, I was able to see the figures of Adventurer-like people here and there, too.

After confirming a couple of their statuses, I find that there doesn’t seem to be anyone that can match Fran. I’d like it if we can find someone with a close status.

In addition: Fran’s sheer number of Skills as well as the levels of said Skills are overwhelmingly higher than most. The highest Skill Level I saw was from a guy with Lv5 Sword Arts. I know the difference between that level and Lv7 well.

It’s possible that if they utilized Skills or Status values, they might be able to win… Because I’ve fought on the Plain, I understand this fact.

Or rather, the difference of Status makes little difference in the face of Skills. But it’s jus because of this that I don’t think Fran will have a problem fitting in with adventurers.

But still, I couldn’t help being a bit depressed for a different reason.

The reason is the performance of the other Adventurers’ weapons.

Name ：Good-Quality Steel Longsword ATK ：398　MP ：5　Durability ：600 Magic Power Conductivity・F Skills ：None

My form is equivalent to that Longsword, and yet… Its ATK is superior to mine. I have a feeling of loss as a sword.

To add insult to injury, there’s its material: Good-Quality Steel. In other words, Mithril and Orichalcum — the so-called legendary metals — lost to simple Steel. That… That’s depressing.

After that, weapons, all boasting higher attack power than me, jump into my eyes. 1 in 5 people would have one better than me.

And, hung at the waist of the man who was walking before me, was this:

Name ：Mithril Alloy Dagger ATK ：423　MP ：20　Durability：700 Magical Power Conductivity・D+ Skills：None

『Ha… Hahahaha……』

I can’t do anything but laugh. Aah. I was weak. I defeated Demonic Beasts, thinking that I was so clever. But in reality, I was simply a sword with an excess of decorations.

「What’s wrong?」
『Aah, Fran. I’m already useless.』
「 ? 」

I explained the situation to Fran. About how I was an inferior Skill if you look past the Skills. More inferior to any random weapon, at that. Surely, it was some upstart nouveau riche who made me.

*pat pat*

Fran pats me after I finished the explanation.

『Fran……』
「Nn.」
『Are you comforting me?』
「Teacher has Skills.」

Hm…? Wait… Wait, that’s right, girl! I may be inferior to the average sword in attack power, but I can support with Skills! Or rather, that’s my only worth! Then it’s decided! I’ll become the king of Skills!

However, it would be best to buy a proper sword, as opposed to an inferior one like me, right? You’ll have no choice but to use me for now, but I’ll buy a strong sword for you eventually!

Therefore, we should register with the Adventurer’s Guild, and earn money energetically!

『Alright! I’m sorry to have worried you. I’m fine now, so let’s go to the Adventurer’s Guild!』
「Nn.」

An excessive amount of time was taken because of my moping, but we’ve finally arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild.

『It’s large…』

It was considerable size compared to the surrounding buildings. The size was likely due to the amount of Adventurers which come here.

『I have a request!』

I’m all fired up! — Ah, but no one heard me.

The inside is cleaner than I thought it would be. I expected its interior to look like some form of dingy pub, with an overpowering impression and cluttered interior, but… The front desk seems like it belongs to an expensive hotel.

Well, if it looked terrible, I suppose that would stain the reputation of the Guild.

However, when a 12-year-old girl walked in, a considerable amount of attention was drawn. While we walk up to the counter, the eyes of the surrounding Adventurers are following us.

「Register.」
「Ah, yes. Are you alone?」
「Alone.」
「Erm… This is the Adventurer’s Guild, so……」
「I know.」

It seems that in this world, a 12-year-old girl coming alone to register to be an Adventurer is rare. Their weapons and protective gear are perfect, and so despite her only being 12 years old and giving off an atmosphere that shows discipline from a young age, the mumbling continues to increase. (²) Even when I was a child I acted better than them.

Fran doesn’t have any armor, either. Rather, her appearance is quite shabby, which would only be common for runaway slaves.

We’re too out-of-place.

I recovered from my thoughts once the Receptionist starts to explain.

「Anyone can register, but there’ll be a test.」
「Nn.」
「It’ll be a test of fighting forms, but is that alright?」
「Good.」
「Are you really sure? You could get injured…」
「Unconcerned.」
「Well… If anything happens, the Guild takes no responsibility.」
「Alright.」
「So, you still wish to do it……? I understand. Just a moment, please.」

She probably understood that Fran genuinely wanted to take the test. The Adventurers become a bit noisy.

There wasn’t anyone who started a quarrel, but the atmosphere is nowhere near welcoming. A child taking on an Adventurer’s test… It likely rubbed them the wrong way.

That would be natural. If I was in their position, I would likely feel the same way.

『Are you alright, Fran?』
「 ? 」
『Well, it’s fine even if you don’t understand.』

After a few moments, the Receptionist returns.

「Sorry to have kept you waiting. This way, please.」
「Nn.」

At the back of the Guild was a spacious area surrounded by walls on all sides. It seems that this is the Guild’s training ground, or at least something similar.

A rugged man is standing in the middle of the grounds. His height would be about 2 meters. He’s wearing rough black body armor, which looks like it would be sharp to the touch; he looks just like a High King ruling at the end of a century. A huge Battleaxe is leaning against his side, which doubles his overpowering impression. From behind him, I can practically see the *gogogogo* sound effects. (³)

If it was a regular child, they would cry as soon a they laid eyes upon him. Even I, who was used to the pressure of Demonic Beasts, was slightly surprised.

「Are you the registration applicant?」

Uoーo. Through his glare alone, that powerful of intimidation increases.

「Nn.」

However, Fran doesn’t seem to be frightened at all. It’s the same attitude as always. My girl is a big shot! (⁴)

「I’m your testing examiner, Donna Dorondo」 (⁵)

There’re way too many “do”s… It’s difficult to say. He doesn’t look like a Donna either.

「The contents of the examination are easy. You have to fight me. If you’re defeated too easily, you don’t pass!」
「Understood.」
「Just so you’re aware, I’m not good at holding back. When I fight, I do it seriously. If you don’t want to fight, now’s the time to leave!」

The moment Donna Dorondo shouted that, a terrible pressure fell over us. Isn’t this obviously the Coercion Skill (⁶)? Doesn’t that mean that the fight has already begun?

『Alright, let’s do it!』
「Nn!」