Chapter 8: The Bear Goes to the Adventurers’ Guild
When I arrived at the guild, there were many adventurers inside.
Everyone carried swords or staffs.
It really felt like a game world.
But there weren’t any players here.
“There are quite a lot of people this early in the morning.”
“Lower-ranked adventurers compete for jobs. Everyone comes early to get better requests.”
I see.
Strong monsters require strong adventurers.
Weaker monsters can be handled by many adventurers.
If there are more adventurers than jobs, it becomes a competition.
I parted ways with Fina, who went to Gentz, and entered the guild filled with rough-looking men.
As soon as I stepped inside, all eyes turned toward me.
Were they sizing me up?
Or just surprised to see a girl?
In the game, gender didn’t matter, but maybe female adventurers are rare here.
Looking around, there were some female adventurers, but the ratio was about 7:3 in favor of men.
Ignoring the stares, I approached a guild receptionist who looked around twenty.
“It’s my first time here.”
“Ah, yes. Are you here to join the guild?”
“I heard it can be used as ID.”
“Yes, a guild card can be used in any country.”
“Then I’d like to register.”
As I said that, I felt a gaze from behind and turned around.
“Hey, a weirdly dressed brat like you wants to be an adventurer? Adventurers must be a joke now. People like you lower the quality.”
Classic.
“I’m just here to get an ID. I don’t deserve to be told that.”
“That makes it even worse. Adventurers who don’t work are useless.”
“I didn’t say I won’t work. I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s what lowers the quality.”
I turned to the receptionist.
“Is that true?”
“As long as you meet the minimum requirements, there’s no problem.”
“Minimum requirements?”
“You must be at least thirteen years old and reach Rank E within a year. Otherwise, your registration will be revoked.”
“Rank E?”
“It means you can defeat low-level monsters like goblins or wolves.”
“Then there’s no problem. I can defeat wolves.”
“Gahaha! Don’t lie! There’s no way a brat like you can defeat a wolf!”
“What’s his rank?”
I asked the receptionist.
“He is Deborane, Rank D.”
“And the ones laughing behind him?”
“They are also Rank D and E adventurers.”
“Hmph. This guild has low standards. People like this are Rank D?”
“What did you say?”
“You said it yourself. If someone like me can’t be an adventurer, then you, who can’t beat me, are worthless. Or are you too stupid to understand your own words? Oh, sorry… maybe you’re a goblin.”
“You want to die?”
“How annoying. Is there a place to fight here?”
Even in the game, idiots like these would often pick fights with solo players.
But a shut-in player doesn’t just take it.
With time and money invested, I always crushed them.
People like this multiply like pests if you don’t deal with them.
“Yes, there’s a training area in the back…”
“Then if you win, I’ll give up becoming an adventurer and leave. If you lose, you all quit. Deal?”
“Don’t underestimate me just because you’re a girl! If I lose, I’ll quit! Right, you guys?”
“Yeah!”
The adventurers behind him grinned.
They were enjoying this.
“You heard that, right?”
“Yes… but you should reconsider. Deborane may have a bad personality, but he is Rank D.”
That’s enough confirmation.
I won’t let them pretend they forgot.
We were guided to the training area.
About fifteen adventurers followed behind Deborane.
“Are you really going to do this?”
“Of course. Weak adventurers lower the quality. It’s better they quit early.”
“You won’t leave here alive.”
“Only the weak bark the loudest. It’s true, isn’t it?”
“Hurry up and start!”
Deborane raised his sword.
“Ah…”
I forgot.
I don’t have a weapon.
Only a wooden stick.
“What’s wrong? Draw your weapon!”
I looked around and saw Fina approaching.
Perfect timing.
“Yuna onee-chan!”
She must have heard the commotion.
“Fina, can I borrow your knife? I’ll return it later.”
“Are you going to fight?”
“It just happened. Don’t worry, just watch.”
I borrowed her knife and stood before Deborane.
“You’re fighting with that?”
“I don’t need my weapon for a goblin like you.”
“I’ll kill you!”
“No killing. Begin.”
Deborane charged and swung his greatsword.
I stepped sideways about three meters in one motion.
Thanks to the bear shoes, it was easy to create distance.
Then I stepped in and punched his side with my black bear glove.
Secret technique: Bear Punch.
Huh?
He didn’t go flying.
His face just twisted.
Maybe the level difference?
“You…”
He swung again.
At this range, raising a sword like that is amateurish.
I’ve fought countless PvP battles in the game.
When levels and gear are equal, victory depends on skill.
Against someone relying on brute force, I won’t lose.
I struck his wrist with a Bear Punch.
His balance broke, and the next moment, my knife was at his throat.
“It’s over.”
“Don’t mess with me!”
He knocked my knife away and swung again.
I stepped back and avoided it.
These shoes are too useful.
“I won, right?”
“Not yet!”
The receptionist hesitated.
She should judge properly.
“Fine. I’ll end not just the match, but your life. Next time, I won’t stop.”
His face stiffened.
He understood the difference in skill.
“You scared of this knife?”
I waved it lightly.
“Sorry. Using this on someone unqualified was childish.”
I threw the knife into the ground.
“Now it’s not scary, right?”
I gestured with the bear gloves.
“Don’t mock me!”
He charged again.
I dodged.
He adjusted.
Then I moved faster.
Step after step, I closed in.
My punch struck his face.
He fell.
Right, left, right, left.
Bear Punch, Bear Punch, Bear Punch.
The black bear glove really is stronger.
His face swelled, and he lost consciousness.
“Who’s next?”
No one stepped forward.
“Then please process their guild withdrawals.”
I smiled.
“But…”
“They said it themselves. If they can’t beat me, they don’t deserve to be adventurers.”
No one moved.
Then one spoke.
“I didn’t say that.”
“Me neither.”
They tried to distance themselves.
“But you agreed when he said it.”
I looked at the receptionist.
“Yes…”
They had no escape.
“Then fight all of us!”
One by one, they stepped forward.
Fine.
The fight ended quickly.
Each one fell in a single punch.
My level must have increased.
“Hey! What’s going on here!”
A heavily built man entered.
“Helen! Explain!”
So her name is Helen.
After hearing everything, he looked at me.
“You did this?”
“I was defending myself from being attacked.”
“The guild stays neutral in disputes.”
“So you’re on my side.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I’m not even a member yet. I’m a civilian. If adventurers attacked me, isn’t that your responsibility?”
“…That’s true.”
“So you’ll support me, right?”
He scratched his head.
“What do you want?”
“Register me. And cancel their registrations.”
“I’ll register you, but I can’t cancel theirs.”
“Why? They said they’d quit.”
“Do you all want to quit?”
They stayed silent.
“They said it themselves.”
Some nodded.
“Alright. I understand they’re idiots.”
“Good. Then process everything.”
“Answer me. Do you want to quit? If not, leave your cards.”
“WE’RE SORRY!”
They all bowed.
“Can you forgive them?”
“I have a condition.”
“Say it.”
“Make sure no one bothers me after I join. And handle any trouble through the guild.”
“Agreed. The guild will take responsibility.”
“Then I’m done.”