The Adventurer's Guild Part-2

The training ground was a circular area with benches spread on the slanting sidewalls and dry ground in the middle. The roof was the clear sky. It had enough space to hold exams for a dozen people at once.

"You here for the test?"

A man with huge proportions and a burly mustache asked me in a deep voice. He had the air of a professional bodybuilder. He was wearing leather armor. For a second or two, he made me nervous with his deep speech and bulging muscles but I soon got a grip on myself once I appraised him. Seeing his demeanor automatically made me respectful towards him. He was also twice my age so it wasn't out-of-place behavior either.

"Yes, sir."

"M'kay. Take whatever weapon you prefer from that lot over there, and then we'll begin."

"Understood, sir."

He didn't waste any time asking about my skills or stats and went to a marked area near the center, where he waited for me.

Okay then, it's gotta be a sword, right?

I took a medium-sized wooden sword from the lot and held it in my hand. It felt weightless in my hands. It was made from hardwood from a species tree known for its sturdiness.

Something about it didn't feel right though. Maybe because it didn't give off the same aura or perhaps it was the lack of weight that made me feel uncomfortable while using it.

Oh well, it'll have to do.

I came to the center of the training area and saw the man holding a wooden long sword as well.

"For the first round, I want you to attack me with full strength. I'll only dodge and parry so you need not worry about defense. Your goal is to hit me as much as possible. You'll be judged based on the damage you can do. Got it?"

"Yes."

What if I harm you though? Is it really okay?

"Then begin."

The examiner's level was 40. And his combat stats were all easily above 150, nearing the 200-mark. He was most certainly strong, when compared to the adventurers I appraised before.

I decided to start with a straightforward attack and used <Sword Technique IV> on him. My attack speed, which suddenly picked up since I had used a skill, surprised him a bit. But, he managed to tackle and avoid my blows using his sword and body movements.

Not enough, huh? Fine, then.

Next, I tried to increase my speed and performed continuous <Sword Technique IV> while trying to disturb his footings using my amateur methods. A bunch of my attacks passed through his defense and left graces as it touched the unprotected areas like his hands. I then used a bit more speed and slipped behind him. I performed a proper slash at his bareback. He tried to turn and block as soon as he realized, but I was faster and the slash hit him quite hard.

SNAP!

[New ability "Weapon Breaker" acquired!]

[New ability "Hammer Smash" acquired!]

Why hammer smash though? I was swinging a sword here. What the hell??

I heard the wooden sword crack into two from too much force.

Oops. Did I put too much strength into it?

I backed away and looked at the broken sword.

Crap, how am I supposed to hit him now? I wonder if I can ask for a change of weapons.

They won't charge me for this broken sword right?

"That's enough! You can stop now."

The examiner's loud voice made me lower my broken sword, and I came back in front. The instructor was trying to stretch and rub his back. It had clearly hurt him a bit.

Hopefully, the armor absorbed some of the force.

I'll apologize to him if he's hurt, though.

"Next, I will attack and you'll defend. You can parry, dodge, but you're not allowed to leave this specified space."

He pointed to the circular ring that was drawn around us.

"Okay, um, do I fight with the same weapon?"

"Do you think you get to take some time off to change your weapons during a fight with a monster?"

"Oh."

Probably not. Guess I'll have to make do with this. Fine, I'll just dodge. Surely with my higher stats, I'll manage somehow.

"Here I come, then."

The next moment he came attacking me with his wooden longsword. I was nervous at first but I managed to avoid all his attacks using simple parrying.

[New ability "Dodging" acquired!]

Oh? But, I don't think I need to use it right now for this level of attack.

After a while of trying to hit me with all he had got, he finally gave up. I had ensured to stay inside while dodging his swings.

"Phew. Those were some good moves, kid. You seem to have a high level. Are you a knight-on-training by any chance?"

"Ah, no. Just your average traveler. I learned some combat from my grandfather who was in the army."

It was a made-up lie to cover my abilities. My grandfather was a farmer. While well-built, he was an old and mushy man who was the very definition of a pacifist. He couldn't even hold a broom to fight, let alone a weapon.

Somehow my service-man father didn't come to my mind at all when I thought of a combat teacher.

Wonder if he's still doing overtime in that shitty black company. I wanted him to retire soon after I get the job. Yet, here I am, in another world.

Sheesh.

"How old are you?"

"20, sir."

"Wha- For real?! You don't look that old though. I thought you were 17 or something."

He was surprised to hear my age. Apparently, to him, I looked younger.

Wait, isn't this the template situation where the MC is thought of as much younger than he is? Yeah, it is, isn't it?

… But I'm not even Japanese. Aren't Japanese people the ones who look younger than they are? That doesn't help my case then.

Maybe it's because I trimmed all my facial hairs the last morning I spent on Earth.

Well, even if I said so, my pre-pubescent hair hardly made me look older.

"If you have such great skill, why not try joining the knights serving under the lord? They have a much more stable income than adventurers who live an uncertain life."

"Well, I don't want to be tied to this place, sir. I might have to leave here since I am looking for something."

Besides, knight work seems tiring. I don't think they have as much freedom as adventurers.

"Drop the 'sir'. Just call me James. We, adventurers, don't use such a polite tone when talking. You'll instead be looked down upon by others and feel out of place and stiff. Got it?"

Ah, I have heard this setting.

They probably did it because most of them were from a commoner background or something. Only nobles used polite speech, and that too to only other nobles.

At least, that was my assumption.

"Sure. Thanks for the advice, James."

He lifted one side of his lips to form a smirk and then told me to go wait at the front desk.

***

"That kid was really something, huh?"

One of the only 3 spectators of my test came to James and spoke.

"Looking at him, I thought he was some rookie but his moves didn't match his appearance. His level must be fairly high if he could use such movements. I'm telling you Aengus, he might become a decent adventurer if he keeps his abilities and learns how to work here." (James)

"Well, that'll depend on how he does. I have personally seen strong rookies overestimate and die in the wild." (Aengus)

"Haha, that's true. The idiots who aren't cautious won't make it in this field after all." (James)

James stored his wooden longsword in the lot where other such weapons were kept. The weapon I had broken was also placed there before I left the training ground.

I was told to do so before leaving by James.

James then took off his leather armor.

"Hey, check if there's a rash here. I feel a slight burn on my back from the attack. To think he would break the hardwood. Really, now. Even I can't break it unless I try hard." (James)

"There's one. But it's not that serious. Just ask Ruri to use her healing magic on you. Who knows, she might fall for you in the process. Hehe." (Aengus)

Aengus teased James. He knew James had been eyeing one of the healers of the adventurer's guild for the past few months.

"Oh, just shut up. She probably doesn't want to be with someone old like me."

James sighed as he said so. While James was a veteran adventurer with extensive knowledge of the field, he lacked skills in romance.

"You don't know that though. She might be interested. She's still single after 25. And I've seen her stealing glances at you." (Aengus)

"R-Really?" (James)

"Nope. But your expectant face just now was fun to see. Ahahahaha." (Aengus)

"You bastard. Don't mess with me!" (James)

James tried to punch Aengus but Aengus being an adventurer himself dodged his attack. The attack didn't have much strength since James wasn't trying to hurt him.

The two kept on conversing for a while, while I finally reached the reception counter.

***