Chapter 17: My Insignificant Doubts

Ensig:

Just so you're aware, I'll be changing some things in the previous chapter in accordance to this post . Or... I would have, if there was anything to change .

Yeah . Turns out Sword-shisho refers to what I thought would be "Monsters" as literal "Demonic Beasts" . This: 魔獣 — which could also be "Magic Beasts" .

One might think "Well, because they have 'Magic Stones' shouldn't the change happen?" but that would be incorrect . This is because "Magic Stones" can also be "Demon Stones" . Yep: 魔石 . If you didn't catch on already, 魔 can mean "Magic" or "Demon" among other things, which is why this is the case .

I considered changing all of the Demonic Beasts into Magic Beasts — because not all of them will be "Demonic" I'm sure, but because a so-called Evil God was in a certain description, I'll keep it as-is until an "Intelligent Demonic Beast" shows up . And by "intelligent" I mean "capable of differentiating good and bad, and thinks they're 'good'" .

And so, this chapter's title was incredibly convenient, in that my doubts over the identity of Demonic Beasts was all for nothing!

Enjoy!

※ ※ ※

We walk over to the Adventurer's Guild through the road that Randell had taught us .

Hーmm . It's quite a beautiful town . It looks like a European-like town from the middle ages . It's got a good feeling of "fantasy" floating about .

Also, this is the first time since I've come to this world that I've seen so many Humans . That alone would be enough to raise my spirits .

I only became more excited, because we ended up walking within a large group of people, each of different races . There was an old Kemonomimi with a fluffy tail, a big-breasted woman who ruined my image of Erofus — er, Elves . (¹) There're also a wide variety of other races walking about, like a bearded Dwarf .

Mixed among the crowd, I was able to see the figures of Adventurer-like people here and there, too .

After confirming a couple of their statuses, I find that there doesn't seem to be anyone that can match Fran . I'd like it if we can find someone with a close status .

In addition: Fran's sheer number of Skills as well as the levels of said Skills are overwhelmingly higher than most . The highest Skill Level I saw was from a guy with Lv5 Sword Arts . I know the difference between that level and Lv7 well .

It's possible that if they utilized Skills or Status values, they might be able to win... Because I've fought on the Plain, I understand this fact .

Or rather, the difference of Status makes little difference in the face of Skills . But it's jus because of this that I don't think Fran will have a problem fitting in with adventurers .

But still, I couldn't help being a bit depressed for a different reason .

The reason is the performance of the other Adventurers' weapons .

Name :Good-Quality Steel Longsword ATK :398 MP :5 Durability :600 Magic Power Conductivity・F Skills :None

My form is equivalent to that Longsword, and yet... Its ATK is superior to mine . I have a feeling of loss as a sword .

To add insult to injury, there's its material: Good-Quality Steel . In other words, Mithril and Orichalcum — the so-called legendary metals — lost to simple Steel . That... That's depressing .

After that, weapons, all boasting higher attack power than me, jump into my eyes . 1 in 5 people would have one better than me .

And, hung at the waist of the man who was walking before me, was this:

Name :Mithril Alloy Dagger ATK :423 MP :20 Durability:700 Magical Power Conductivity・D+ Skills:None

『Ha... Hahahaha......』

I can't do anything but laugh . Aah . I was weak . I defeated Demonic Beasts, thinking that I was so clever . But in reality, I was simply a sword with an excess of decorations .

「What's wrong?」

『Aah, Fran . I'm already useless . 』

「 ? 」

I explained the situation to Fran . About how I was an inferior Skill if you look past the Skills . More inferior to any random weapon, at that . Surely, it was some upstart nouveau riche who made me .

*pat pat*

Fran pats me after I finished the explanation .

『Fran......』

「Nn . 」

『Are you comforting me?』

「Teacher has Skills . 」

Hm...? Wait... Wait, that's right, girl! I may be inferior to the average sword in attack power, but I can support with Skills! Or rather, that's my only worth! Then it's decided! I'll become the king of Skills!

However, it would be best to buy a proper sword, as opposed to an inferior one like me, right? You'll have no choice but to use me for now, but I'll buy a strong sword for you eventually!

Therefore, we should register with the Adventurer's Guild, and earn money energetically!

『Alright! I'm sorry to have worried you . I'm fine now, so let's go to the Adventurer's Guild!』

「Nn . 」

An excessive amount of time was taken because of my moping, but we've finally arrived at the Adventurer's Guild .

『It's large...』

It was considerable size compared to the surrounding buildings . The size was likely due to the amount of Adventurers which come here .

『I have a request!』

I'm all fired up! — Ah, but no one heard me .

The inside is cleaner than I thought it would be . I expected its interior to look like some form of dingy pub, with an overpowering impression and cluttered interior, but... The front desk seems like it belongs to an expensive hotel .

Well, if it looked terrible, I suppose that would stain the reputation of the Guild .

However, when a 12-year-old girl walked in, a considerable amount of attention was drawn . While we walk up to the counter, the eyes of the surrounding Adventurers are following us .

「Register . 」

「Ah, yes . Are you alone?」

「Alone . 」

「Erm... This is the Adventurer's Guild, so......」

「I know . 」

It seems that in this world, a 12-year-old girl coming alone to register to be an Adventurer is rare . Their weapons and protective gear are perfect, and so despite her only being 12 years old and giving off an atmosphere that shows discipline from a young age, the mumbling continues to increase . (²) Even when I was a child I acted better than them .

Fran doesn't have any armor, either . Rather, her appearance is quite shabby, which would only be common for runaway slaves .

We're too out-of-place .

I recovered from my thoughts once the Receptionist starts to explain .

「Anyone can register, but there'll be a test . 」

「Nn . 」

「It'll be a test of fighting forms, but is that alright?」

「Good . 」

「Are you really sure? You could get injured...」

「Unconcerned . 」

「Well... If anything happens, the Guild takes no responsibility . 」

「Alright . 」

「So, you still wish to do it......? I understand . Just a moment, please . 」

She probably understood that Fran genuinely wanted to take the test . The Adventurers become a bit noisy .

There wasn't anyone who started a quarrel, but the atmosphere is nowhere near welcoming . A child taking on an Adventurer's test... It likely rubbed them the wrong way .

That would be natural . If I was in their position, I would likely feel the same way .

『Are you alright, Fran?』

「 ? 」

『Well, it's fine even if you don't understand . 』

After a few moments, the Receptionist returns .

「Sorry to have kept you waiting . This way, please . 」

「Nn . 」

At the back of the Guild was a spacious area surrounded by walls on all sides . It seems that this is the Guild's training ground, or at least something similar .

A rugged man is standing in the middle of the grounds . His height would be about 2 meters . He's wearing rough black body armor, which looks like it would be sharp to the touch; he looks just like a High King ruling at the end of a century . A huge Battleaxe is leaning against his side, which doubles his overpowering impression . From behind him, I can practically see the *gogogogo* sound effects . (³)

If it was a regular child, they would cry as soon a they laid eyes upon him . Even I, who was used to the pressure of Demonic Beasts, was slightly surprised .

「Are you the registration applicant?」

Uoーo . Through his glare alone, that powerful of intimidation increases .

「Nn . 」

However, Fran doesn't seem to be frightened at all . It's the same attitude as always . My girl is a big shot! (⁴)

「I'm your testing examiner, Donna Dorondo」 (⁵)

There're way too many "do"s... It's difficult to say . He doesn't look like a Donna either .

「The contents of the examination are easy . You have to fight me . If you're defeated too easily, you don't pass!」

「Understood . 」

「Just so you're aware, I'm not good at holding back . When I fight, I do it seriously . If you don't want to fight, now's the time to leave!」

The moment Donna Dorondo shouted that, a terrible pressure fell over us . Isn't this obviously the Coercion Skill (⁶)? Doesn't that mean that the fight has already begun?

『Alright, let's do it!』

「Nn!」