Chapter 25: An eye for talent
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Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama
Lyla’s illusion spell — ‘Real Nightmare’ — should have worked. After all, I had personally administered it, telling Almeria that Roland was dead. Could someone have dispelled it –? In that state, she shouldn’t have been troublesome enough for anyone to apply a dispel. I couldn’t believe it.
「What’s with that pained expression? There should be some registration procedure right? Well, hurry up and do it!」, exclaimed Almeria, standing at the reception area.
Seeing that Milia was no match for her, I had no choice but to dissuade her personally.
「No can do — I’m sorry, but we are unable to grant your request.」
「Why?」
「You are not only a princess, but also a heroine. It is not befitting of you to be an adventurer.」
「Fine, fine.」
Almeria pouted, looking away. In the back, the employees were standing in a circle, fervently discussing among themselves:
「Huh? Roland-kun and the heroine are friends…?」
「I don’t know if they’re friends, but they’re definitely acquainted at the very least.」
「To be acquainted with the princess who is also a heroine…?」
「There’s more to Argan-san than meets the eye.」
「Hmm, what if, he was once saved by the heroine…」
Say what you want, but it’s not like any of you will ever know the truth. Although the employees dispersed and went back to their work, I could still feel their awkward gaze.
「To treat me like that… I-I’m surprised. But okay, I see how it is…」
Turning red, she briefly put her fingers together.
「I beg your pardon, for I do not understand what you are talking about.」
「Stop talking like that, will you? Can you behave like you did back then?」
I sighed and behaved normally.
「Okay. Have you said anything to King Randolph?」
「This doesn’t involve Father, does it?」
「You’re always like that.」
「You always treat me like a kid!」
The employees resumed their circle and started murmuring again.
「Did you hear that!?」
「He spoke to the princess in such a casual manner!」
「Not just friends. Good friends!」
「And she went red while talking to him!」
「They’re doing it, aren’t they?」
「He addressed the king by name!」
「Could they be engaged?」
「Oh, so that’s how it is!!」, they exclaimed in unison.
…nope, couldn’t be more wrong.
「Strange, isn’t it? They said anyone could become an adventurer.」
「I’ve said it before — there are considerations to be taken in some cases.」
「You can’t threaten me with that bespectacled face! Why did you put them on anyway? …well, it’s not like they don’t suit you…」
Then why complain?
「Okay look, Roland, if you’re an employee of this guild, then please follow instructions from higher-ups.」
「Do not order me around.」
「Even if they’re good friends, to talk to the princess like that…」
「Even the branch chief’s head will roll — not just Roland-kun’s!」
I glanced at the office. Iris was there watching.
「Ah. You’re Roland’s superior? I’m going to be an adventurer, that fine with you?」
「If you so desire, then –」
「Name?」
「Iris Negan. I am in charge of this town’s adventurers’ guild.」
「Hm, I see. I’ll remember that.」
「It is an honour.」
Almeria raised her chin in triumph. This was her ugly side. I thumped the counter, startling her. She lowered her chin again.
「Curb your arrogance. She is my superior — I will not tolerate any form of disrespect towards her.」
「S-sorry.」
「And have you introduced yourself to branch chief Iris?」
「N-no, not yet…」
「It’s not like anyone here knows who you are. Don’t put yourself on a pedestal.」
「I-I’m sorry…」
Almeria shrank. Apologising to Iris for her lack of manners, she introduced herself formally.
「I am Almeria Ferland, the first princess and former heroine.」
「I am aware of that, your Royal Highness.」
The onlookers erupted into hushed conversation once again.
「He made the heroine apologise!」
「To have such an attitude to the princess…」
「And even taught her a lesson!」
「Who is he!?」, they chorused.
Every single person in the guild was now spectating my exchange with Almeria.
「…Anyway, branch chief Iris — your superior — has consented to me becoming an adventurer.」
「That’s fine, then. To become an adventurer, we have to measure your magic level and assess your practical abilities. One of the employees here will be your examiner and will confirm that you meet the standard… for today, I am that employee.」
「Which means?」
「I get to decide whether you pass or fail.」
She gave me a bitter expression.
「While I did say that you have to meet the ‘standard’, it varies with each examiner. In your case, if you can beat me, I will endorse you as a full-fledged adventurer.」
The onlookers gasped.
「’I-If you can beat me’… but his opponent’s a heroine!」
「He’s picking a fight with the strongest heroine!?」
「What’s he thinking!?」
「It’s not possible! I don’t understand what he’s doing!」
「That’s so unfair! I can’t possibly pass if I have to beat Roland!」, exclaimed Almeria, shaking her head.
「The heroine, so timid!?」
「Why on earth…」
「Didn’t she slay the Demon King?」
「You mean to say… he’s that strong!?」, echoed the bystanders.
There’s nothing stopping her from going to another guild for her test, but she was fixated on doing it here for some reason.
「I want Roland to recognise my abilities!」
「You don’t have to become an adventurer just for that, you know.」
「I need an excuse to meet you, okay!? Get it… baka!」
She grabbed a pen from the counter and flung it at me. I caught it.
「Did something just happen?」
「I didn’t catch that…」
I returned the pen to its original place.
「Do not toss our supplies.」
「Uuuuuu…」
「Let’s go and take the test. Outside.」
I led her to the outskirts of the city. Almeria’s knights, city-dwellers, adventurers… the spectators were numerous — so numerous, in fact, that the entire city had probably come down here to watch us. Standing a good distance away from them, Almeria inhaled slightly, then slowly exhaled. One of the methods of focusing her attention that I had taught her.
She unsheathed her legendary blade, Eiswarz.
「Roland… I’m not holding back. I want you to recognise my abilities. I will become an adventurer!!」
「Letting your emotions loose won’t solve anything. I taught you that, didn’t I? You have feelings, hopes and desires. I want to see if you have the strength to match them.」
I was unarmed. Putting my hands in my pockets, I tanked her shockwave head on. Sweat dripping from her forehead, Almeria paused to catch her breath.
「…」
When I took a small step forward, she took a large step backwards, putting some distance between us.
「What’s going on?」
「He took one step and she reacted like that?」
「It appears that the heroine can’t attack…」
Almeria isn’t a monster that attacks purely by instinct. It should be clear by now. She adjusted her breathing and raised her sword once again.
Her killing intent was apparent, yet she wasn’t exactly seasoned in her techniques. Come to think of it, it was a good idea not to let her take Lyla on in this spent state. She’d probably have died.
I deflected Almeria’s killing intent, more intense this time, like a sonic boom meeting a force field.
Verve, courage, tenacity, bloodlust, resolution — these were the auras that you could intimidate others with. I returned every ounce of her killing intent.
Her face turned blue. Twitch, twitch — she started trembling from head to toe, causing her blade to do the same. Her breathing had been thrown out of whack. Sweat trickled from every pore.
Without a single clash of our swords, it was obvious who the victor was. She’s grown a lot, though — I’ll praise her for that. Her knees went weak. She dropped her sword and collapsed.
「Haa… haa… this cannot be. I thought I’d become slightly stronger… haa… haa… this is the twentieth time I would’ve died…」
That counter should’ve been higher — I was just too lazy to count every instance.
「Just by enduring five seconds of my killing intent, I can tell that you’ve become stronger. Compared to that time you wet your pants after being intimidated in battle, anyway.」
「Hey, don’t say that in front of everyone!! I didn’t wet my pants, okay!? It was sweat!」
「It’s my victory. Unfortunately, that means you don’t qualify to be an adventurer.」
「Fine, I get it! Can you read the atmosphere a little, you strict baka! I’ll come back one day!」
Sticking out her tongue, Almeria stomped back into town.
「Whatever suits you.」
She turned around, glancing at me bashfully, then broke into a sprint.
「Roland-san, you’re affiliated with the princess, right? Is she your, uh, ex-girlfriend, or…」, asked Milia back at the guild.
「We were both in the party that slayed the Demon King.」
「Ahahaha. What do you mean by that –」
「Just joking. I used to be her private tutor… or something similar.」
「Oh, I see. Yeah, it seems like it! I think it’s your glasses～」, agreed Milia, shifting a little.
I did teach her the basics of battling, so it’s not like I lied or anything. In any case, people now recognised me as the princess’s former private tutor. Go figure.
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