“Hey Chick-kun(chick), do you remember that group called ‘The Shining Stars of the Era’?”
“Piyo?”
“They’re an adventurer party from another town. I was guiding them on a hunting trip, but they got beaten up by Lua and ended up in the clinic.”
“They’ve recovered now and have asked me to guide them again, but…”
“—Why are you talking to a chick!?”
In front of the Adventurer’s Guild counter.
The adventurer party known as ‘The Shining Stars of the Era’ was shouting at me. As Lua said, they were indeed a very young trio.
“Oh, sorry. What were you saying?”
“We’re requesting a change of our guide from you!”
The first adventurer, whose glasses gleamed ominously, seemed to be their leader. Despite being an adventurer, he had a rare air of intelligence about him, though also a touch of hysteria.
“After being beaten by Lua-san, we consulted an informant. We’ve learned about all the famous adventurers in this town.”
“Good call. You need to know who not to mess with.”
“For example, the ‘Saint Anemone who can say “little girl” ten times a second’ and the ‘Thief Rodin who ate so many stolen panties that his stomach burst’.”
“And then there’s you, ‘Jade the Kind-hearted’, isn’t it?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. We’ve been told you’re famous, but not in the same way as someone strong like Lua-san.”
He scoffed and looked at me with eyes full of disdain and contempt.
“You’re also known as ‘Jade the Perpetual Third-Class Solo Adventurer’, aren’t you? Even after ten years, you haven’t made much of a name for yourself!”
“Not much, huh?”
There are six ranks for adventurers.
You start at rank five. Everyone begins here.
Next is rank four. After completing several requests and demonstrating basic competence, you get promoted.
Then there’s rank three. This is for those who have proven themselves further among the rank fours.
Beyond that, only geniuses tread.
“Hey, glasses kid. Above rank three, there’s rank two, rank one, and a handful of people recognized as ‘Special Rank’ human weapons by the country. So, I’d say I’m middle-tier.”
“Ha! What middle-tier? Anyone below rank two is a failure!”
‘…’
The guild atmosphere became tense.
“Hey, glasses-kun. I don’t mind, but that comment was a bit out of line.”
The other adventurers who had been watching indifferently now glared at him.
“Listen, I know you’re aware, but you shouldn’t pick fights with top adventurers. And picking fights with a lot of people is even worse. You never know who is connected to whom…”
“I couldn’t care less about the connections of weaklings!”
Glasses-kun cut me off, shouting. His companions also chimed in with, “Yeah!” and “Bring it on!”
These guys are reckless, huh?
“Humph. We, ‘The Shining Stars of the Era,’ will become the strongest adventurer party. Though it’s only been three months since our registration, we’ve already reached rank three.”
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
Young and already achieving that, it’s no wonder they’re cocky.
“Isn’t it? And most importantly, as the leader, I was born with three skills and have awakened four more. I’m a chosen one!”
“That’s amazing.”
It really is. In this world, the conditions for people to awaken skills are somewhat known.
Skills are basically the crystallization of one’s aptitudes.
For example, those who awaken the skill ≪Analyze≫ often have excellent eyesight and intellectual curiosity. Those with ≪Spatial Storage≫ are typically physically large and strong, good at carrying things.
Skills are essentially a manifestation of one’s talents.
“My abilities are proof enough from the gods. Any objections?”
“Nope, none.”
It’s impossible for a talentless person to suddenly awaken a powerful skill and become unbeatable.
“Those who can, simply can.”
Talent is just a reflection of one’s natural abilities, compressed into something usable. It’s a cold, hard reality.
“…The goddess Sophia who gave humans skills must be quite cold and thoughtless. Making talents visible has caused arrogance among people, especially in noble and warrior families, where the number and type of awakened skills can cause family issues.”
“Silence…!”
He interrupted with a truly angry voice.
Did I hit a nerve? Sorry, I’ll change the topic.
“Anyway, I admit it. If you really have seven skills, glasses-kun, you’re a rare genius.”
“Humph, exactly. By the way, you’re also known as ‘Jade the Wasteful with Too Many Skills,’ right?”
“Yeah, I have five.”
That’s a lie.
As a dragon with a body of excessive specs, when I succeeded in humanizing my cells, I awakened twenty-seven skills. But that’s a secret.
“Can I ask what they are?”
“They’re my trump cards, so I can’t reveal all. But I often use ≪Analyze≫ and ≪Spatial Storage≫, so I’ll tell you those.”
“Hah, those are trash skills.”
‘…!’
Ah, no, no, no!
Glasses-kun, you shouldn’t belittle someone’s skills like that, especially not in the middle of the adventurer’s guild!
“What’s with that guy…?”
“I have ≪Analyze≫, you know…!”
“I’m a ≪Spatial Storage≫ user. I remember his face now…!”
Wow, the atmosphere is maxed out with hostility!
“Hey, glasses-kun!? Did you hear what I said!? Skills are a person’s talent itself! Insulting them is like denying their entire being!”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it? ≪Analyze≫ is useless in combat. You can just study the monster’s information beforehand.”
“Uh, well…”
“And ≪Spatial Storage≫ is even worse! While it can store any inanimate object, the user still feels the total weight of what’s stored! It’s pointless, as you can only carry as much as you can physically handle. It’s useless. You might as well use a basket.”
“……”
He continued to criticize the skills one after another.
I’m not angry, but…
The people around…
『I’ll kill him…!』
The holders of those skills seem extremely threatening right now…!
“Hey, you…”
Many people have only one skill, and some of them might have ≪Analyze≫ or ≪Spatial Storage≫ as their only skill.
Is he not noticing their killing intent? Or is he aware and still saying it?
“Glasses-kun, you should apologize… I’m fine, but to the others around here…”
“To those above rank two, I apologize for the disturbance. To those below rank three… Hah. Embrace your incompetence.”
Ah, it’s over.
…Am I the one who has to do something about this…?
“Well, that’s it. Based on the above evidence, we, ‘The Shining Stars of the Era,’ judge adventurer Jade to be incompetent! We demand a change of our guide!”
Glasses-kun looked to the counter, where the guild receptionist, Mistika, was writing as usual without looking up.
“Your answer, please!”
“Request denied.”
She shot down his demand without even looking up.
“Wha—why!?”
“Rules. We selected Jade as your guide based on his knowledge, experience, and kindness. No unauthorized changes are allowed.”
“But I object!”
“Rules. That’s all. Thank you for your understanding.”
“!?!?”
…Wow.
Mistika is as indifferent as ever.
No wonder she has a peculiar fanbase…
“You…!”
Glasses-kun couldn’t take it anymore and finally lashed out, kicking the counter. Papers scattered from the impact.
Oh…this is bad.
“Hah. I heard this was the most thriving frontier city, but the personnel training is lacking. With incompetent adventurers and rude, unattractive receptionists, really…”
“Mistika-san.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve been hurt.”
“Indeed.”
It’s fine. I don’t have much pride, so being insulted by someone with high aspirations doesn’t bother me. But…
“The other adventurers and…”
Yes.
“And I have been treated poorly. So…”
I see.
“Will you get angry for me?”
“I’m already angry.”
So…
“Glasses-kun.”
“What?”
“Shut up.”
As soon as he blinked, I moved in and punched him in the stomach, sending him flying.
“Ugh!”
Glasses-kun slammed into the wall, still conscious. Time to speak up.
“I don’t care about myself. I’m living a pretty relaxed life. If someone with high aspirations looks down on me, well, whatever. But…”
Next.
I grabbed the shoulder of the dumbfounded guy on the right.
“Heh?”
He looked bewildered.
Ignoring him, I applied more force.
He sank into the floor.
“Aaaaaargh!!?”
“Mocking my friends is something I can’t let slide.”
Next.
I grabbed the left lackey’s jaw. “I-I didn’t say anything!” he yelled.
“I have nothing to do with this!”
“Shut up.”
I threw him upwards.
He hit the ceiling headfirst and writhed in pain.
“Aaaaagh!!”
“Alright.”
Now it’s just me and Glasses-kun, one on one.
“Hey.”
“Ugh!?”
He flinched as I took a step forward.
He trembled more with each additional step I took.
Haha.
“You’re amusing.”
“Ugh!?”
Oops.
That was a bit rude.
Glasses-kun glared at me angrily again.
Well, what I’m going to do won’t change.
“People often call me ‘nice.’ I grew up in peaceful Japan and try to live up to that. But if you don’t get angry when you should, you’re just a coward, right?”
So, when it’s time to act, you have to act.
“Get ready.”
“Huh?”
“I’m your guide. I’m going to give you a lesson now.”
I won’t abandon my guild duties.
Guiding him is my job.
“A lesson… with a punch…?”
“Look, you’re not happy dealing with me, right? Then fight back with your fists. That’s how adventurers do things.”
If you have a problem, fight it out.
That’s the rough and straightforward life of an adventurer.
“So, get ready.”
“Y-You…!”
“Hurry up and get ready.”
“You’ll regret this! I have many special connections!”
Glasses-kun started shouting about something.
What’s he on about?
“I-I am from the Antares family!”
Just as he began yelling, a foolish voice called out from the guild entrance, “What’s going on here?”
That voice…
“Hey, Jade! Can I borrow some money? What’s with this scene? Are those people growing out of the floor and ceiling? Did the building give birth?”
“Hey, Lua.”
It was my mischievous friend Lua.
He must have returned from a mission.
Behind his short figure stood his party, “Heroes’ Dream,” composed of sturdy adventurers.
“Eek!? The ‘Iron Fist Lua’…?”
“Oh, it’s the Glasses-kun I beat up last time. What are you doing?”
Glasses-kun was trembling. Well, Lua did send him to the infirmary recently.
And then…
“What’s all this commotion?”
A sharp voice rang out.
Hearing it, Glasses-kun trembled even more.
“Ah, it’s Sir Jade. About ‘that book,’ if you keep it secret, I’ll do anything—wait, what’s with this scene!? Are those people growing out of the floor and ceiling? Did the building give birth?”
“Hey, Shirokusa.”
Next to appear was my old friend Shirokusa.
“Why are you and Lua giving the same reviews?”
“Oh, Lua’s here…!”
“Don’t hide behind me in embarrassment.”
He must have just returned from a mission too.
Behind his slender figure stood his party, “Defenders of the Realm,” with their formidable warriors.
“The ‘Sword Saint Shirokusa’…!? One of the top-ranked second-class adventurers along with Lua…?”
Lua and Shirokusa.
Seeing them, Glasses-kun’s eyes widened in disbelief before he looked at me.
“Y-You know them!? You’re just a third-class…!”
“It’s just coincidence.”
I’m not boasting.
We happened to become friends during training and occasionally drink together. They just worked hard and rose in ranks.
Besides,
“L-Lua, sir…”
“Oh, Shirokusa, still a virgin? Listen to this. You know how all the girls at the brothel wear sexy perfume? It’s popular with the cool girls! So, I put some on to catch Lady Sarah’s attention. Smell it.”
“Ugh!?”
“Why are you bending over?”
…I don’t really want to brag about knowing these idiots.
They’re wonderful friends who make me feel that way, damn it.
“Well, never mind them.”
I turned back to Glasses-kun.
“I don’t know who you are. But you’re an adventurer now, right?”
“Ugh.”
“And more importantly, you’re a man, right?”
“Ugh…!”
I’ve made up my mind, and we’re surrounded by excited adventurers.
There’s no running away now.
“Then you know what you have to do. Last chance, get ready.”
“Ugh!”
He seemed to understand.
Finally, Glasses-kun stood up and got into a fighting stance.
“That’s it, Glasses-kun. Now you’re talking.”
He’s trembling, but that’s okay.
It’s better than whining.
“J-Jade, I’ll make you regret this someday…!”
“Shut up, newbie. If you want me to regret it, do it now with your fists.”
“Damn youuuuuuuuu!!”
And he charged at me.
I got into my stance and said,
“Welcome to street fighting. Here’s your welcome punch.”
I punched him square in the face.
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