24. Official Hero Promotion Test (1)
Anton, whom I haven’t seen in a while, pats my back! knocked
“If you come back, you should say hello! You rude child!”
“It hurts.”
He was bigger than me, and because he was a strong superman, I felt a real tingling pain.
Still, I know better than anyone that this is his way of greeting.
He smelled of light oil.
“then! I hit you because it hurts, man! It’s been a few weeks since you’ve been back and I don’t think I should hear from others about you! After having a major accident in court, are you finally showing your face!”
Next, I patted my back lightly and looked around at my party.
“Looks like Ian’s new warriors!”
“Hello… . This is Vivian.”
“This is Helena, the feeble kindler!”
“My name is Lucia.”
The companions finished greeting each other in turn.
“My name is Anton Smith! As you can see, he’s the head of this forge! Everyone is at home, think of it and feel at ease.”
Anton smiled and nodded.
“okay. Judging from how they came, it must mean that they have the basic skills.”
Anton, who was quick-witted, said it on his own.
Anton, like Ruby, knows me quite well, so it’s comfortable.
“Looks like the official exam is coming soon, right?”
“There are no ghosts.”
“Clap. i am someone Let’s take them inside first!”
After that, everything went smoothly.
First, Helena and Lucia took up various weapons and tried swinging them, confirming the sense of weight and distance.
Likewise, I tried on some prepared armor and checked the fit.
Is there anything uncomfortable or stuck when moving, how much does it weigh, etc.
I would have enchanted the light weight anyway, but it was a process I had to check.
And now I’m on the verge of taking body measurements with the female employees.
I’m going to create a custom suit of armor based on what I’ve just tried on.
I sat down with Vivian in the forge yard and waited.
“Hmm. For some reason, I feel sorry for Vivian.”
I couldn’t bring just the two of them, so I brought Vivian along, but there was nothing to give her here.
Armor would only be cumbersome to her.
So somehow, it became an uncomfortable situation where I was following him but not receiving anything.
“Oh no! I’m OK! Really!”
Vivian quickly waved both of her hands.
“Ruby’s clothing store is like that, and this blacksmith’s is like that. It’s fun to be able to come to a place like this casually. I’m curious too… .”
“I’m glad if that’s the case. Well, I’m going to visit Ruby separately from Vivian, so I hope you don’t feel too alienated.”
“… Yeah? Ta, apart? Two, two together… ?”
“Maybe?”
Lucia and Helena will mostly wear the armor Anton gives them, and unless there is a special reason, they won’t visit me and Ruby.
Vivian has to raise the level of enchantment of her robe or hat, repair it, or make a new one, or whatever.
“… like.”
Vivian blushed and wiggled her closed knees.
would it be that good
Well, it’s like saying you’re going to buy new clothes, but I can’t like it.
“… oh Come to think of it, we should all go together.”
“yes… ?”
“It’s getting hot, so I just remembered that everyone will need some summer clothes.”
“… … .”
Silence fell for a moment.
The waterwheel turned with a slightly hot wind.
“Oh my, this woman’s erratic guy has set fire to the innocent girl’s heart again and fell for himself.”
Anton suddenly appeared, breaking the silence.
“What do you think I did?”
“What are you doing, boy? The same goes for the warriors I took with me last time, and all of them only bring pretty girls. Can’t you hear this?”
“… … .”
It’s logically correct, so I can’t refute it.
“A guy full of energy… .”
“No, Anton, some!”
“What, man, did I say something wrong? A guy with a healthy body.”
“Ugh… .”
Anton sat across from me and clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Vivian’s face turned redder than before.
If you squeeze the cheek, even red juice seems to flow out.
“Boy. The demon king is good and everything is good, but how long are you going to live alone?”
This is what I always say when we meet.
They nag as if they were dealing with a pathetic son who was old and never married.
“I will take care of that.”
“How many wives do you want to have… .”
“Be quiet, please… .”
Eventually, Vivian turned her head away.
Seeing this, Anton laughed.
Anyway, he’s a mischievous old man… .
“I heard rumors. It was still buzzing.”
“rumor?”
“okay. That’s what was put in the courtroom. You said you decided to reveal it now?”
“ah. That’s it. What happened… . I thought it would be better to clarify. No, but you didn’t let go?”
“Yeah, everyone has an idea.”
He murmured softly, then smiled sadly.
Probably, you are thinking about the first party.
Even so, I don’t have to take it out of my mouth.
Because I’m afraid I’ll be uncomfortable.
this uncle
A lot of affection, a lot of worries, and a bit far-fetched.
He is the person I got to know because of his ignorance.
During the first round of eating without knowing how to do anything properly, Anton, who was passing by, really got the food right.
He died not long after that.
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Just in case, I visited in the second round, and he even gave me a sword and shield one by one, saying that I was throwing them away when I was about to go into battle without any equipment.
I didn’t know if his skills were as great as Ruby’s or not.
Because there was no talk of him in the second half of the second playthrough.
He probably died in the war with a high probability.
Considering its character, it is clear.
So, in the 3rd round, I entrusted him with all the requests and helped him.
It was to pay off my debt.
Fortunately, his captaincy skills were excellent.
Once he became famous, his skills went viral.
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Just as he treats me like an immature son, I think of him as something similar to the father of this world.
‘I’m sorry that I didn’t come to visit often for something like that, but… .’
It’s unavoidable because I know each other is busy.
Perhaps when I come, they will come out to greet me and welcome me without hesitation.
I know you have a lot of work, but it’s a bit like coming here without any business and wasting your time.
“Please shine your face more often, I will forget about it and live.”
“Thanks to my fame, I won’t be able to forget you anymore.”
“Surely just.”
“I’ll come sometime.”
After answering bluntly, I came up with an idea.
‘If you bring Anton to the place where you received the land… .’
It is clear that it will be convenient to have the main personnel close to Ruby.
However, since there has not been a definite answer from the imperial family yet, we will talk about it later.
“When can I get it?”
“Let’s see… . I’ll take care of it first, so you’ll probably get it in about three weeks.”
3 weeks.
It’s risky, but it’ll be fine.
In fact, I expect to pass the official test even at the current level.
This is just because I’m anxious.
While Anton and Vivian were having a small chat, Helena and Lucia came out.
“I’ll send it with the staff when it’s finished.”
“thank you. Can I pay the price then?”
“You sound like Daegeum!”
Anton slaps my back again! I was beaten.
“100 million!”
“I have no intention of accepting money from your nose, man!”
“What is the nose asking… .”
“Go quickly. You must be busy.”
“… Yes. I will come again next time.”
“okay. Warriors, even if he is a little like that, he is a trustworthy guy, so please follow him carefully.”
Your voice is so different from when you talk to me?
“yes! I will work hard!”
“Yes! I will keep that in mind!”
“Actually, we are in a position to be thankful for.”
Anton laughed at the trustworthy answers of the three.
On the way back, I stopped at Ruby’s clothing store to check Vivian’s outfit.
He said he liked the white robe and hat he was currently wearing, so he decided to fix the worn parts and raise the enchantment level.
And I bought the three summer clothes as well.
Vivian seemed awkward with the knee-length skirt and thin, light clothes.
Lucia was light, so I rather liked it.
Helena’s everyday clothes were black nuns, so she would change into summer wear on her own.
I looked at it and thought briefly.
‘It must be hot during the exam.’
*
The heat and test day arrived quickly.
Fortunately, I received the goods from Anton before that.
Helena has new, reliable-looking full plate armor, a one-handed mace, and a kite shield.
All of the armor was lightweight and enchanted with protection.
The ivory-colored gold-rimmed armor reminded me of a paladin.
“Oh clothes… .”
Helena, who even wore a helmet, was content with moving her body around.
Is it because of my mood that the design of the helmet looks similar to the can I stole? .
“Thank you very much!”
Helena removed her helm, a plait of orange hair flying, revealing a bright smile.
“Looks like anyone can stop it! As expected, Ian-nim is my… .”
“My?”
“Uh, yes? Oh, he is a benefactor… !”
“Even benefactor with something like this.”
Lucia repeated putting on and taking off the newly engraved armor remotely.
It seemed that he was getting used to the steering.
For her nimble movements and characteristic multi-arming, it wasn’t quite as full plate as Helena’s.
On top of the quilted armor, only the main parts such as gloves, pauldrons, and breastplates were plated.
The quilted armor worn underneath was also formidable, so the defense was sufficient.
Rather than a knight, he exuded the atmosphere of a dignified mercenary.
“How amazing.”
Lucia fired the gauntlet from a distance, then retrieved it and put it on again.
“Well. Something. You seem to know it or not.”
Lucia received many other things besides that.
This is because there are many weapons to handle.
Two longswords, a round shield, a halberd, a short spear, a throwing dagger and hatchet, and a dagger for great armor.
Fully armed, she was quite noisy.
“still. I think I can easily pass the exam.”
“It’s reliable.”
Vivian, on the other hand, was wearing her old outfit.
Unlike me, who was apologetic for nothing, she didn’t care at all.
Rather, he was preoccupied with seeing the new appearances of Lucia and Helena.
Mercy is sitting on her shoulder and watching.
“How are you today?”
I asked Kati, who was watching with me.
I saw what training was supervised by Galatea and Malion.
I heard that Galatea is directly contacting the black mana shed and raising her reaction power.
To be honest, I didn’t really know.
Kati seemed to be similar to me, so she replied after being silent.
“I do not know.”
“okay… ?”
“Yes. They say they’re doing well, but… . Galatea says that it is not yet at the stage of enlightenment because it has left only a very small amount.”
“Hmm.”
does that mean
How little do you have left… .
“thank you.”
Katie blurted out.
“Thank you for caring.”
Is he even reading my worries?
He comforts me in advance by taking a few steps ahead.
It was embarrassing to say that, but at any rate, I felt strange and stuttered on rare occasions.
“… Well, something like that… .”
Kati, who was staring at me like that, approached me slightly and whispered in my ear.
“It’s hard to bear when you show me so flustered.”
“What is… .”
“Please refrain.”
“… … .”
anyway so.
[Announcement of official warrior promotion test location and date confirmed.]
It was the day of the test.
*
A total of 6 parties will participate in the test we will take.
All of them are in a standard group of 4 people, and my party is the only one in a group of 3 people.
But don’t worry.
In general, it seems that expectations outweigh concerns in public opinion.
It’s the second party of the person who raised the first hero’s party or something.
By using such a grandiose term, the public’s expectations were raised.
Amos especially gave me a lot of strength.
Anyhow, that was a good thing for me.
Unlike temporary exams, official exams are large in scale and are a rite of passage that can be called ‘heroes’ in earnest.
So, it is bound to be popular.
As I moved to the assigned C-class dungeon area, I was recalling the information of this dungeon.
As I paused for a meal, a party approached me.
“Ian.”
Helena and Lucia, led by Vivian.
His expression hardened, probably because he had an exam ahead of him.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Please speak.”
“Do you know about the dungeon to be tested this time?”
“yes.”
I explained the dungeon every time they entered it.
It would be too easy if I gave everything, so I filtered out only what was necessary in moderation.
Since it’s a formal test, did you need more information?
“You know what… . We want to take on the challenge without Ian’s information this time.”
“… yes?”
After Vivian, Helena spoke.
“We want to pass the test entirely on our own.”
It was a very firm and firm tone.
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Just like that expression.
“You can’t blindly rely on Ian.”
Lucia also agreed.
I laughed out loud at that admirable will.
“If I ask you to tell me later, won’t you tell me?”
The three nodded their heads resolutely without answering.
It was a reaction that had already made up its mind.
From C-class dungeons, the level is different from those below it.
They are strong enough to clear a D-class dungeon as a group of three without difficulty, and in my estimation, they will probably be able to pass the test without any information.
Still, I couldn’t help but worry.
‘But even though I’m saying this, I can’t help it.’
I decided to respect them.
“good.”
The three nodded again.
All of them were spleen and nervous, but they were reliable.