Chapter 5:
The Bear Visits the Adventurers’ Guild
THE GUILD WAS PACKED with adventurers, each equipped with their own swords and staffs. I felt like I was back in one of the old quest hubs. Then again, not a single one of them was a player.
“There’s a lot of people around for this time of day.”
“That’s because it’s a scramble for the lower-level adventurers to get work. Everyone comes here early to get the best jobs.”
I separated from Fina, since she was heading over to Mr. Gentz, and headed into the guild. It looked like most of the people there were gross old men. Their stares fixed on me, possibly because they were sizing me up, or because it was rare for girls to come into the guild. When I examined the crowd, there were female adventurers, but only a few.
I ignored the stares and made my way to the receptionist, who looked like she was in her twenties.
“So I’m new here,” I said.
“Oh, yes. So you’d like to become a member of the guild?”
“I heard that it would come with identification, right?”
“Yes, you’ll be able to use the guild member card in any country.”
“In that case, could you help me with it?”
When I told her that, I felt eyes on me and flipped around.
“Hey, is that gal in the weird clothes supposed to be an adventurer?” said one of the creeps behind me in line. “Looks like she’s really underestimating us. Little ladies like you drive down our market value.”
Was this guy a walking cliché?
“I just came here because I wanted an ID.”
“All the more reason to say something. We don’t need any adventurers who don’t work.”
“I never said I wasn’t going to work. I’ll do the things I can.”
“And I said that’ll lower our value.”
“Ma’am,” I said to the receptionist, “this man talks a lot, but is what he’s saying true?”
“As long as you fulfill the minimum requirements for the guild, there isn’t a problem.”
“There are requirements?”
“You must be over thirteen years old and rise to E-rank within a year. If you aren’t able to, your membership will be revoked.”
“What’s E-rank?”
“E-rank requires proof you can slay low-ranking monsters like goblins and wolves.”
“In that case, we’re good. I can beat a wolf.”
“Gah ha ha. Don’t make stuff up,” chortled the creep behind me. “There’s no way a little girl like you could beat a wolf.”
“What’s this guy’s rank?” I asked the front desk lady.
“He is Mr. Deboranay of D-rank.”
“And the ones laughing at me?”
“They are all D-ranks and E-ranks.”
The adventurers smirked. Players like these had existed in the game, too—idiots who leapt to conclusions about you based on how you looked. In games, as in life, there was only one way to deal with idiots: proving them wrong to their faces. That said, I’d take any fight anyone picked on principle.
“Hmph,” I said. “This adventurers’ guild must be pretty lame if all these people are just D-rank.”
“What did you say?” said Deboranay.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? Are you an idiot? Do your ears not work? If someone like me can’t become an adventurer, then that makes you all garbage, since none of you can beat me.”
“Why, you…you got a death wish?”
“Is there a place around here where we can have a match?”
When I was playing games solo, idiots like him picked fights with me all the time, and I always turned the tables on them with characters I’d funneled time and money into. If I didn’t nip jerks like these in the bud, they’d multiply like roaches and give me grief down the line.
“Yes,” said the receptionist, “there is a place behind here, but…”
“In that case, if you guys win, I’ll give up becoming an adventurer and I’ll leave. If you guys lose, you’ll stop being adventurers and leave. That good with you?”
“You underestimating us even though you’re a girl? If we lose against you, we’ll quit! Right, boys?!”
“Yeah!” Deboranay’s flunkies cheered, looking smug to the last.
“Miss from the front desk, you heard all of that just now, right?”
“Yes. However, I would suggest apologizing. Mr. Deboranay has his quirks, but he really is in D-rank.”
But she’d confirmed she’d heard it all. I wouldn’t let them pretend they forgot what they said.
The receptionist led us to a training pit in the back. A crowd of fifteen or so adventurers followed behind me, with Deboranay at their head.
“Umm, are you really doing this?” said the receptionist.
“Yeah,” I said. “Letting weaklings be adventurers affects the whole guild’s reputation, so I need to get them to quit early.”
“Why you little—!” said Deboranay. “Don’t act like you’re leaving here alive.”
“In other words,” I replied, “you’re prepared to die, too? They say the weak are all bark and no bite. Looks like they got that right.”
“Hey,” said Deboranay as he readied his sword. “Let’s hurry up and get this started.”
“Uh…”
I had forgotten I had no weapon. All I had was the cypress stick.
“Something wrong? Hurry up and get your weapon out.”
While I was looking around trying to figure out what to do, I saw Fina heading over. That girl had great timing. It looked like she ran over after noticing the commotion. How adorable.
“Yuna!”
“Fina, could you lend me your knife?” I asked her as I approached. “I’ll make sure to give it back later.”
“Are you fighting, Yuna?”
“Things just shook out that way. It’ll be fine; just watch.”
I borrowed the knife from Fina and squared up with Deboranay.
“That’s the weapon you’re fighting with?” he said.
“I wouldn’t sully my own weapon against a goblin-tier enemy.”
“I’ll kill you.”
“I’ll say this as many times as I have to,” said the woman from the front desk, “but you can’t kill each other. You may begin.”
Deboranay charged, hoisting his longsword. I leapt a whole three meters to the side with one step. Because of my bear shoes’ ability, I was more than quick enough. Immediately after, I
