CHAPTER 12: ABILITY TEST

“Inferior?”

“…’Lost persons’ have been ridiculed for a long time. The ‘Lost persons’ have poor fighting power and cannot fit in with the normal life.” (Marie)

　When the receptionist answered my question, Esther looked up next to me.

“Take it back! Toru is not inferior! Toru protected me from the Goblin horde!” (Esther)

“Oi. Girlie, Why da wed face?” (Drunkard 1)

“Don’t lie. He’s da one who iz ’bout to die. Then ya helped ‘im, din’ ya?” (Drunkard 2)

“No. I was the one saved!” (Esther)

“Why do ya protect sus ‘nferyers?” (Drunkard 1)

“Maybe he’s fooled ‘er?” (Drunkard 2)

“Stop fooling around!!” (Esther)

　Esther going to attack the two drunks.

　She’s about to pull out her sword–,

“Esther. Let’s calm down a little.”

“-What!?” (Esther)

　I put my hand on the handle and stopped the sword that was about to be pulled out.

　Being stopped by me made Ether blush like a boiled octopus.

　I gazed at two men in the bar then I talked.

“I’m currently trying to register as an adventurer, so can you keep quiet?”

　I was getting a little annoyed because not only me but Esther was also ridiculed.

　So I activated [Intimidation] with all my might towards the men.

　At the moment the air seemed to freeze like someone could tap it and it will shatter.

“”-Ugh!?” (Drunkards 1 & 2)

　The men’s bodies reacted strongly to my [Intimidation].

　Their bodies grew stiff and started to gasp for air.

“Whaz iz dis… dis brat…” (Drunkard 1)

“Cam on…” (Drunkard 2)

　As I continued to stare, the drunks fell on their chairs and landed on the floor with a bang.

　Their pants got damp then got soaked through.

　The sound of someone gulping was the only sound to be heard.

　The cacophony of talking and movement was replaced by deafening silence.

　As I looked around, the adventurers swiftly turned away, avoiding my line of sight.

　I was a bit worried about the reaction, but since it became quiet, I was happy to resume the procedure.

“Please continue.”

“meee……” (Marie)

　Have I not stopped using Intimidation? The receptionist is moving her mouth like a fish, but no words are coming out.

(Huh? I haven’t used [Intimidation] on this person.)

　Just in case, I deactivate [Intimidation] consciously.

“Hey. What did Toru do to them?” (Esther)

“Nothing?”

“Why did they fall?” (Esther)

“Maybe they were just drunk and passed out? It looks like they were really drunk.”

　I’m not interested in them. So I answered while avoiding the truth.

“Now, continuing from the previous story, it is true that there are people that treat ‘lost’ persons as ‘inferiors’. However, the Adventurer’s Guild is an open institution that accepts people who pass tests without discrimination. So I would like it if Toru-san enters the Adventurer’s Guild. How is it?” (Marie)

“Of course. I would love you to register too.”

　“There is something I want to sell,” Toru added.

“What do you want to sell?” (Marie)

“Yes. I don’t know if it will sell, but it looks pretty so I think it will sell as a material.”

　Saying that I took out the glowing stalactite.

“eh–!?” (Marie)

“Well…”

　Esther is convinced that the receptionist is completely dumbfounded.

　What they were staring at was not the glowing stalactite but where it came from.

“Toru-san, do you have a [Inventory]?” (Marie)

“I do have one”

“I wondered if this was the case because Toru’s weapon had disappeared without realizing it, but you were putting it in the [Inventory].” (Esther)

“…Ah, yeah, yeah, that’s right.”

　My [Magic Sword] wasn’t strictly in the [Inventory], but I myself do not know what the [Magic Sword] is or where it disappears to.

[Magic Sword] seemed like a pain to explain, so I decided to leave Esther’s misconception as it is.

“We will buy this. This is a spirit crystal.” (Marie)

“Oh, this is called a spirit crystal.”

“Did you bring it without knowing?” (Marie)

“Yes. It is pretty so I thought that I can sell it.”

“So that’s it……” (Marie)

　The receptionist smiled slightly at my words.

“Spirit crystal is a general term for stones that have special powers. It takes a long time for it to change from normal stones. The name implies, ‘changed with the power of spirits’. Then it came to be called the spirit crystal.

　It is this spirit crystal, but it is believed that the power of the land is contained in the way it shines. It is a very rare and valuable item, so we will purchase one at 1000 Garde.” (Marie)

“Oh!”

　A fist-sized spirit crystal is 1,000 garde. It’s worth 100,000 yen in Japan. [T/N: around 1,000 USD]

　I was surprised at the price.

　The stones I collected with the feeling that I want to sell them because they are beautiful are 100,000 yen apiece.

(It was nice to have collected many!)

“Are you sure you want to sell this at 1,000 Garde?” (Marie)

“Oh, I have more, so can you buy the rest?”

“Okay, you know…wa…what?” (Marie)

　I pull out the spirit crystals from my [Inventory] one after another.

　The total number of spirit crystals is 15 pieces. It is around 150 silver coins.

　Since it was said that the living expenses of the ordinary people in Eargard are 5 silver coins a month, it would be possible to live for 30 months if we spend it wisely.

(Oh, if I could sell it at a high price, I should have collected more…)

“Here, I will immediately appraise. During the appraisal, can you take the ability test for the adventurer registration?” (Marie)

“Ability test?”

　When I heard that it was a test, I thought of the entrance exams as the most common thing. Do I have the necessary knowledge to become an adventurer?

　But I had the wrong idea.

“What do you do in the ability test?”

“This is a test to determine the fighting ability of an adventurer.” (Marie)

　Combat ability test.

　I was anxious about the words she said.

“Don’t worry. Just look at Toru-san’s physical strength and skills. You won’t get hurt.” (Esther)

“Huh…”

“Please ask the person in charge of details. Even if the result of the ability test is bad, we will not refuse the adventurer’s registration. It is just a reference to make it easier to give additional training. If the test result is good, you can skip F-rank and start from E-rank. Please do your best.” (Marie)

　The receptionist gave me a form to take to the test, and I went to the training field.

　The training field was a hall about half the size of a gymnasium.

　It’s quite late in the day so there is barely anyone there, but adventurers will usually be conducting combat training. Various weapons made of wood were leaning against the wall.

　Unlike the reception hall, the training ground is covered with sand.

“Oh, who is the new adventurer to be?” (Trainer)

　While observing the training ground, a loud voice came from behind Toru.

　Looking back, there was a skinhead macho man. No matter how you look at it, his face is quite fierce.

　He is just wearing a shirt and slacks, but his muscles look like they are about to rip his clothes, it’s so form-fitting it’s like part of his skin.

　He looked at Toru’s face and opened his eyes in surprise for a moment, but he immediately recovered and extended his hand.

“Give me your form. Did you get it from the receptionist?” (Trainer)

　I hand the paper that I received from the receptionist. The man quickly glanced through the paper and made a disappointed look.

“What you are an ‘inferior’?” (Trainer)

“Is that what is said?” (Esther)

　Esther, who had accompanied me, clenched her teeth after hearing the man’s words.

　But the man pretended not to hear Esther’s words.

“Well… Be careful not to hurt yourself. I’ll try not to hurt you, but there’s a limit to it too. It’s troublesome if you get hurt and complain.” (Trainer)

“You have no idea–” (Esther)

“Okay”

　I move to the front while pulling Esther back.

“It’s a test of fighting ability, but what should I do?”

“Ah, I don’t have to attack at all, so attack me with the weapons there. If you have a weapon you are good at, use it. Even if you are an “inferior person” and have no weapon you usually use.” (Trainer)

　His words have no provocation only resignation.

　An “inferior person” cannot be strong. It is needless to do a test. The trainer knew the result from the beginning.

(He probably dealt with a couple of ‘lost people’ in the past.)

　I felt such an atmosphere from the trainer.

“Are ‘Lost’ people really weak?”

　I picked up a wooden sword leaning against the wall.

　The Lost person, who came to Eargard as an adult, does not have the power that he would normally acquire if he started as an infant.

　Language comprehension is an example.

　If you live in a place for a long time, you will be able to speak the language of the area in which you grew up.

　Like people born and raised in high altitude areas, they have strong lungs and heart.

　If you learn the piano from an early age, your hands will be dexterous and your cerebellum will develop better.

　Toru thinks that such a “power that should be naturally acquired by the environment in which he grew up” is missing from the Lost persons.

　I am using a skill board to make a correction in my ability.

(But there may be a decisive difference that the Natives have and the Lost don’t)

　Therefore, I stood up in front of the man without letting my guard up.

　I am a challenger.

　Since the beginning I will also deal with this seriously.

　I closed my eyes and concentrated my mind.

“…Fuh.”

　Taking a deep breath, I focused deep, even deeper.

　MY outstretched hand was still as I entered fighting mode.

　A second seemed to last forever.

　Now, I open my eyes.

　With a wooden sword in front, I looked straight at the man.

“…… I’m ready.”

“Okay, come anytime.” (Trainer)

　I leaned forward a little and inhaled.

　The next moment,

“–!?” (Trainer)

　I was suddenly in front of the trainer.

　The man opens his eyes.

　But the man still doesn’t make any actions.

(An opening!)

　So I swung the wooden sword hard.

　-Bam!!

　The sound of flesh being hit echoed through the training ground.

　The sword hit the man’s side swiftly.

　The man was then sent to the back after being hit.

　He rolled around three times before finally stopping.

　I was about to ready my second swing,

“…Ah, that?”

　Toru was working on the assumption that the man would block his blade at the last minute.

　However, the man didn’t even show any movement to prevent it.

　Toru can’t hide his surprise.

(I thought he would prevent it…)

　Or it would be nullified by the man’s bulging muscles.

　However, it seems that the man couldn’t receive my attack properly due to his heavy muscles.

“Ugogogo…” (Trainer)

　The man is planted near the wall.

　There is no sign of him standing up any time soon.

“Good job, Toru!” (Esther)

　Behind me, Esther cheered.

“Let’s go, Toru! Beat him up!” (Esther)

“No, that’s not the rule!?”

　Esther squealed, probably because his provocation was too much. However, beating him here is not training but just assault.

　I exhaled a sigh and lowered the wooden sword.