EP12. From the beginning again (5)
Sean and Levy went back to town and turned Judas and the bullies over to the Society.
Of course, the thugs who tasted Levi’s lightning followed him in a very calm manner. On the contrary, seeing him visibly relieved after joining the association, it was easy to get confused about who was the villain.
Of course, the attitude of the hoodlums could be perfectly understood if you saw Judas next to him. Clearly, his hair, which had been abundant until morning, had completely disappeared, and he had a pale complexion beyond gloom, as if he were dying.
Thugs were bounty criminals who were wanted by the association. Judas colluded with those criminals and acted as a kind of broker to seduce and lure adventurers.
Shawn and Levy were able to receive a small amount of compensation thanks to that, so should I say it was a good thing? He also finished hunting goblins, which was his original purpose, but it was a very small amount compared to the money he received as a bounty.
“I wonder if it’s right to do something more difficult.”
“Goblins are too weak. But she still only gets a low grade?”
“I guess so. It’s because it’s still in the same grade.”
After the goblin hunt, Shaun and Levy dimly realized that the gap between their skills and ranks was significant.
Well, if you think about it, that was natural. From the moment they first caught the monster, it was actually at the level of subjugation, not hunting.
Considering the dangers of Orki Magna, the majority of adventurers of the same rank would not be able to collect even a bone if they were nearby.
“Then how do I raise my rating?”
“Well, I should ask.”
Sean once again approached the receptionist at the counter. No matter how many times he talked to them a day, it seemed like it would be an instant to become friends with the receptionist at this rate.
“Hey?”
“Ah, this is Shawn. What are you doing?”
As expected, the guide had already memorized the boy’s name. Sean asked with a shy smile.
“How do I increase my adventurer level?”
“Ah, you mean rank? The grade is automatically promoted when a certain amount of achievement is accumulated. Public value accumulates every time you complete a mission.”
This means that you have no choice but to continue solving missions in order to raise your level. Of course, it wasn’t that it was difficult, but it was just simple labor that was inefficient and of no particular help to the two right now.
Sean asked if there was any other way.
“Is there any other way to increase public value? Or that adventurers of the same rank participate in the subjugation…”
“Um… I’m sorry, but it’s dangerous to participate in a mission that goes beyond the rank, so it’s impossible in principle.”
In the end, Sean and Levy, who were next to him, couldn’t hide their disappointment at the answer that it was impossible.
The guide, who hesitated while watching the two of them, belatedly added a word.
“····Of course, it is not that there is no way at all, but····.”
“Is there a way? Can you please tell me…?”
“Please…”
Even when Levy, who had not participated in the conversation due to shyness, earnestly asked for it, the receptionist eventually told the story.
“There are other ways. It’s not a mission, it’s a free adventure.”
“A free adventure?”
“To put it simply, the adventurers are fighting monsters on their own, without going through the association. After defeating the monsters, I just report to the association. This way, regardless of grade, achievement is recognized.”
“Oh…”
It was quite a tempting story. To hunt monsters on their own, regardless of the association’s guidelines.
To be honest, Sean and Levy already had two free adventure experiences.
The first time was when I caught Umbra, who was hiding in the shadows. And when I caught a monster with Kania.
The guide looked at Sean and Levy as if they were shaking and explained the danger with concern.
“But free adventure is dangerous. The biggest problem is that it is very difficult for the association to send rescue in case of emergency.”
“····But the situation we went through this time was also dangerous, right?”
“Of course you are right, but if you do not revisit the association within the stipulated period, it is our policy to judge that there is a threat to your safety and to start the search immediately.”
To be honest, Sean was quite agitated after hearing the guide’s warning. Of course, they could end up in danger while catching monsters as things go badly for them. I have no intention of falling into arrogance to the point of ignoring that possibility.
But assuming that’s the case.
Is it really possible for the two of them to survive with the help of the association? Shawn wondered about that. It was because they felt that there was no one stronger than them here at Henerd.
From noble mtl dot com.
Especially if it was an enemy that was so strong that Levi couldn’t defeat it, it meant that no one could defeat it, at least in the vicinity. Levi had just as much power.
“So I want you two not to go on free adventures if at all possible.”
“Thank you. I’ll remember it for now.”
The two left the counter after remembering the information about the free adventure.
***
“What shall we do now?”
“I guess I had a lot of time left to just rest.”
Because the goblins were weaker than I thought, I had quite a bit of time left even though I met the bullies and had an accident.
“Shall we take a tour of the city?”
“That’s not bad either. I don’t know if there’s anything worth seeing.”
Henerd’s city was quite small, so he might be disappointed after seeing it.
But you can’t just lock yourself in your room the first day in a new city, so Shaun and Levy decided to walk around and see the city.
The characteristics of the city were similar to those of Laes. After all, is it a characteristic of cities with many monsters and adventurers? Basically, I felt that it was an entertainment street or that the facility itself was rough and simple.
As Sean walked down the street, he asked Levy.
“But there is such a thing as free adventure.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t know how to find monsters because I think I’m on a free adventure.”
“Uh… I know? Until now, most monsters have been met by chance.”
There was a strong possibility that catching monsters wouldn’t be a problem, but apart from that, how to find monsters was pretty vague.
“Shawn was a hunter, right? Then you just have to find monsters like animals!”
“I mean, it’s easy. Originally, hunters have to get used to the forest like their own house, so perfect hunting is possible.”
“Is that so? It’s very annoying.”
“It’s annoying…”
Even though he’s an adventurer now, Sean, who was proud of his job as a hunter, didn’t like Levy’s cold reaction.
“How fun hunting is. You haven’t tried it, so after you do it a few times, you’ll fall in love with the charm of hunting.”
“Shaun does a lot of hunting. I’ll enjoy the meat Sean caught! hehehe.”
“Ugh…”
Sean imagined the future as Levy said.
When he returns from hunting, he sees Levi waiting for him at home.
In my imagination, Levy was more mature than she is now, and she was now beautifully grown to fit the expression of a woman, not a girl.
“Welcome.”
Another figure appears behind Levi, who greets him with a bright smile.
I remember a small girl running towards me with a bright smile.
The girl looked exactly like her childhood Levi.
The girl jumped into her arms and looked up at herself and smiled at her.
With a cute laugh resembling Levi.
“Shaun? Why are you blank all of a sudden?”
“····No. Nothing.”
“You know what? Did Sean look so stupid just now?”
“····Noisy.”
I don’t know why I suddenly had that kind of imagination.
After thinking about it, I thought that such a future would not be bad.
A small smile formed on the boy’s lips as he walked through Henerde.
***
As we looked around the city together, the sun had set and it was evening.
Dan Levy said to Shawn, placing her hand on her hungry belly.
“Let’s have dinner soon! I’m hungry.”
“Yes. Where is this good restaurant?”
“I think we should go that way!”
Pointing her finger in one direction for no reason, Levy started running straight ahead. Sean, who witnessed a fairly absurd scene, just sighed and followed Levy, who had run ahead.
Ironically, Levy’s groundless claims were often true. Especially when it comes to her food.
I don’t know anything else, but when it comes to eating, Levy is more expert than he is, so Sean decided to just follow Levy.
“…Hey?”
Just as he was walking along with Levy, someone stopped him from behind.
When I turned my back to check my identity, there was a girl standing there hesitantly.
“Me?”
“Yes! Maybe over there…”
Sean examined the girl’s figure. She was a cute little girl with blue hair in two pigtails.
It was a natural fact since it was her first time coming to Henerd, but she was a strange girl she had never seen before.
What are you trying to say? She said in a small voice.
“Do you know where the association is?”
“Association? You mean the Adventurers Association?”
“Yes! And it’s okay to talk comfortably!”
“Really…? No, yes okay.”
It was a bit awkward to talk comfortably in the first meeting, but Sean didn’t refuse the girl’s request and recalled the route from his current location to the Association.
“Go straight from here to the second block…”
Sean explained in detail and clearly to make it as easy to understand as possible.
The girl who reacted by nodding her head violently whenever her explanation continued, bowed her head until the top of her head touched the ground and thanked her.
“Thank you! You are my lifesaver!”
“No. To what extent…”
Sean scratched his cheek at the reaction, which seemed to be burdensome, and asked something he was curious about.
“By the way, what are you going to the Association for? Are you an adventurer?”
“No! I’m not an adventurer, but it’s similar. Hmm····.”
Similar thing? Are you a mercenary then?
“Let’s call it a guide! It guides you!”
“Oh… Who are you guiding where?”
“That’s why I’m guiding adventurers to where the monsters are!”
Oh my god. Sean, who heard the story, immediately remembered their situation.
Isn’t that the talent they need right now?
····Wait. But when you said you were guiding the way… Why?
“Is Henerd new to you?”
“Yes? No. I am a native here!”
“Then, is this your first time going to the association today?”
“No? Associations often go. It’s where I work!”
At the seemingly contradictory statement, Sean raised his eyebrows and asked one last time.
“····Then why are you asking me for the location of the Association?”
“Uh, that’s… Therefore····.”
The girl, who was hesitant about Sean’s question, eventually spat out an answer after a long time.
“Because I’m a bit long… Lol.”
“····What is that?”
“Ah, thank you anyway! Then!”
The girl left her place as if to run away.
Shaun muttered involuntarily as he stared endlessly at the girl’s back as he walked away.
“… That’s the complete opposite.”
As soon as he saw the girl disappearing into a place completely opposite to the path he had just explained, Sean realized that at least the words of the guide were not lies.