Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Me vs. Adventurers!

As I brushed the dust off my clothes, a voice called out from the gallery.

"Fight me!"

It was a loud guy with a single horn, the same oni as Murasaki, who had visited Guildmaster's room earlier.

He's one of those who witnessed the worst first impression.

"That guy's frustrated because he got outranked by you," Murasaki explained.

According to her, his name is "Toguru," and while he's also an oni like Murasaki, they belong to different species due to the difference in the number of horns.

Single-horned oni tend to be treated less favorably than those with two horns, so he hasn't been receiving good treatment among the oni.

Last time, he challenged Rank B but failed the written test, so he's been desperate to study and train.

...Certainly, it wouldn't be interesting if someone with such a cheat ability just came and easily passed.

I can't complain even if he picks a fight with me.

"We went through the trouble of having Murasaki act as the examiner to avoid everyone's resentment!"

As I looked around, Shikibu was standing beside me.

Wait, didn't she just say something important now?

If I think calmly about it, if someone suddenly rises to Rank B, rumors of connections and bribes will spread. By doing it openly, she's proving that there was no foul play involved!

"Murasaki, Shikibu!"

I called out to them and thanked them.

"It seems I've caused you both some trouble. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. As the Guildmaster, there were reasons for us to do this," Shikibu replied.

I will never forget the favors I receive, and I will repay any humiliation I suffer tenfold. That's my creed!

Anyway, I have to deal with the irate Toguru in front of me, but I also sense danger from Shikibu next to me.

"Shikibu, can I handle this?"

I asked hesitantly.

"Takuto, you don't have to worry. Let me handle this..." she said.

This is a bad pattern. Even if I forcibly restrain her, it will only lead to accumulating more dissatisfaction and jealousy towards me.

"This is a challenge that I brought upon myself, so I'll deal with it!" I declared.

I calmed Shikibu down from her anger mode and checked the guild's rules.

"I'll take full responsibility for what happens from now on. I don't intend to let anyone get hurt."

I picked up a table from the training grounds and walked to the center. There, I placed a bag containing "2000 gold coins" I earned by defeating monsters on the way to Zeke.

"I'll use this as a reward for anyone who can beat me in arm wrestling. First come, first served! Toguru, if you want to challenge me, get in line quickly!"

With a loud voice, a long queue formed immediately.

"I'll help too," Iria said as she approached.

She assisted with the proceedings. Each person got three chances, and after finishing, Iria used magic to leave scars on their palms. She explained that the scars would disappear by tomorrow and that this magic was commonly used during sequential tasks.

I kept winning by playing with my opponents' strength rather than using overwhelming force. When it was Toguru's turn, he was completely furious.

"I said we'd fight, but arm wrestling is such a cowardly way!"

He was completely angry.

"Hey, what are you saying? It's only natural that the challenger has the right to decide the contest! Or can't you win at arm wrestling?"

"You're annoying!"

This guy is always told to calm down and tends to act on his own in the party...

With Iria's signal, I defeated Toguru's fist.

In an instant, Toguru himself didn't even realize that he lost.

"... One more time!"

He shouted, but Iria quickly grabbed his chin.

"Understand the concept of waiting your turn."

She said with a menacing face, and Toguru silently went to the back of the line.

...Iria, you're scary~

She informed me that after defeating a few more people, it would be one full round. It seemed we hadn't finished one round yet.

...It's longer than I thought.

"At last, it's my turn!"

In front of me was Murasaki, and behind her was Shikibu.

"As the Guildmaster, it's just one full round."

"Huh? Hold on! Why are Murasaki and Shikibu lined up together?"

It was an unexpected development.

Murasaki, I can understand, but I don't really want to arm wrestle with Shikibu...

"If it's a contest of strength, as a man, I can't back down!"

Yeah, it's the mindset of a musclehead.

"It's not that I need the money, but expenses will increase from now on."

I see, he's after the money.

Is he planning to have a luxurious honeymoon?

As soon as we linked hands, I could tell that they were different from other adventurers just by the way they felt.

Murasaki is undoubtedly strong.

Thinking that it would be a disadvantage if it dragged on, I decided to use my burst power to win.

Shikibu was even stronger and managed to hold her ground against my burst power, but she still won without any trouble.

Like this, we continued arm wrestling endlessly, and by the time I defeated Shikibu in the third round, two hours had passed.