Chapter 1

◆To those who have come from the manga and anime versions of Mr. KRSG's work:

The manga and anime versions are based on the "novel book edition," and there are differences in the characters and plot development compared to the web version (Syosetu version).

Additionally, many of the web version episodes were written in a short time and have low completion, while the book edition has been revised and expanded from the web version. The book edition also includes exclusive new content and beautiful full-page illustrations and inserts by Mr. Kawaguchi, so I would be very grateful if you could check them out as well.

＜Book Edition 'Parii' Series Page＞

◆Amazon (Volume 1 is currently free to read. Volumes 2 and 3 are also available with Kindle Unlimited)

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0977NJZDR

◆BOOKWALKER (Volume 1 is free, and Volumes 2 and 3 are available with Read All MAX)

https://bookwalker.jp/series/264192/list/

I grew up tilling the fields with my mother in a mountain cabin.

My father, who was always frail, died when I was young—after that, we lived a peaceful life for a while, but when I turned 12, my mother fell ill.

I did my best to take care of her, but she gradually wasted away, and one day,

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for you. At least, live the life you want."

She handed me a leather pouch containing some money.

Those were her last words.

The next morning, my mother was cold.

──And so, I was left alone.

After finishing my mother's grave next to my father's, I decided to go down the mountain and into the city.

Surely, I could have continued living as I was.

This was a remote village where even a doctor couldn't be called, but we had good fields and livestock.

There were plenty of edible fruits in the forest, and game like rabbits.

I wouldn't have gone hungry.

But──.

I decided to leave my small, familiar home.

There was something I had to do.

I wanted to become an "adventurer."

Like the heroes in the tales my father used to tell me when I was young.

Fighting alongside companions to slay a giant dragon and obtain treasure, then embarking on further adventures.

Learning magic from an old wizard, lifting curses from forests, and obtaining elixirs that could cure all diseases from the king of the spirits.

My father told me these thrilling stories over and over again.

──An elixir that could cure all diseases.

If such a thing really existed, perhaps my father and mother wouldn't have died. I imagined that.

But there was no guarantee that it actually existed.

It might have been just a made-up story by my father to entertain me when I was young.

I wanted to find out.

To see how much of my father's stories were true and how much were fairy tales.

No, perhaps the truth didn't matter.

I was simply captivated by the characters in the stories.

The "protagonist" in my father's tales.

Someone who would wield a sword for their companions and the weak, no matter the obstacles, and always win to bring the story to a happy ending.

That's what I wanted to be.

I couldn't suppress my admiration for such a hero.

So I spent several days descending the mountain and headed for the "Adventurer's Guild" in the city.

I had heard that if I went there, I could become an adventurer.

It was easy to find the guild building.

When I asked a guard, he kindly showed me the way.

Yes, it was easy to get there.

But when I entered the Adventurer's Guild, a stern-looking man came out and said,

"This isn't a place for kids. Go home."

There was no one waiting for me at home.

When I somehow managed to explain my situation,

"Ah, you're an orphan... Well, there's no other choice. How about going to a 'training school' for your chosen profession? ––It's unprecedented for someone as young as you, but if you're serious, I'll try to help you."

The man scratched his head and started talking.

In this city – the capital – those who wish to register with the "Adventurer's Guild" can receive training in several professions at the royal training schools.

This was decided by law by the current king to prevent accidents among new adventurers.

Moreover, it's apparently free for everyone.

Not only that, but food, clothing, and lodging are provided during the training period.

All expenses are covered by taxes.

It was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Of course, I jumped at the chance.

"If you're serious about becoming an adventurer, go to the training school and learn some skills, no matter what they are."

At the time, I didn't fully understand what he meant, but the guild staff member said that.

──Skills.

It was the first time I heard about their existence.

They seemed to be proof of strength and competence in the world.

According to the guild staff, everyone has at least one or two outstanding skills.

The training school is there to identify these skills.

There are six basic training schools for professions in this country.

Anyone can choose and receive training in the profession they desire, and after training, it's said that they can quickly determine what skills they have and what profession they are suited for.

So I followed the advice of the Adventurer's Guild staff and decided to receive some training.

After getting directions from the receptionist, I thanked him and headed straight for one of the training schools.

──Swordsman.

It was a profession I had always admired.

The hero in my favorite adventure tales wielded a single sword to cut down a mountain-sized dragon.

I wanted to be like that someday.

I knew it was just a story, but maybe I could become someone like that.

──No, I would definitely become someone like that.

With that thought, I knocked on the door of the training school.

But──.

After several months of training under the guidance of the instructor, I realized that I had no talent for the sword.

And it was hopelessly so.

The role of a swordsman is primarily to attack.

Thorough destructive power – in other words, attack-oriented skills – are most important.

However, no matter how much I trained to the limit of the training period, I didn't develop any effective attack skills.

I didn't even acquire basic skills that anyone should be able to learn.

As the designated training period was about to end, I couldn't give up and asked the instructor to extend my training.

But I was told, "Without skills, just swinging a sword won't help your companions at all. It would just be a waste of your time," and I was disappointed but decided to try training in another profession.

──If I couldn't be a Swordsman.

Next, I went to the Warrior training school.

A Warrior is a profession that stands as a shield for their companions, using various weapons to excel on the front lines.

This was also close to the adventurer I had envisioned, though not as much as a Swordsman.

I apparently had no talent for the sword.

But it didn't have to be a sword.

I just wanted to be strong enough to live as an adventurer.

So I entered the Warrior training school and trained alongside tough adults for several months, pushing myself to the limit.

But even after desperately trying to keep up with the training, the only thing that sprouted by the end of the period was a basic skill that slightly improved physical abilities – something anyone could learn.

It wasn't enough to be recognized as a full-fledged Warrior.

It seemed I had no talent for being a Warrior either.

The instructor, who had been very supportive, advised me to try another profession, saying, "If you continue like this, you'll lose your life soon."

I was even more discouraged but clung to hope and entered a training school for a different profession.

Next, I went to the Hunter training school.

If melee combat wasn't an option, fighting with a bow might not be bad.

Besides, I had experience hunting in the mountains.

I could set traps and knock birds down with stones.

Maybe I had potential, I thought, and started training.

──But, it didn't work out.

No matter how hard I tried, the only skill that sprouted was "Stone Throwing," a skill that anyone, even a child, could learn.

Worse, I couldn't even handle a bow properly by the end of the training period.

The instructor said I had "no sense for handling delicate tools."

I was very discouraged after leaving the Hunter training school.

It seemed I couldn't become the protagonist in the adventure tales I had imagined.

I had no aptitude for professions that involved wielding weapons and fighting glamorously.

So I changed my mind.

As long as I could go on adventures, anything would do.

I decided that even if I wasn't the protagonist, I would be useful as a support.

I didn't have to be a heroic adventurer.

I would do anything.

Half in despair, I entered the Thief training school.

Maybe I could excel here, I thought, with a faint hope.

But – it was too naive.

In the end, the only skill I developed was one that slightly reduced my footsteps.

The male instructor in charge of my training said, "A scout who can't even unlock a trapped treasure chest or detect presence is no good at all." He clearly told me to look for a different profession because I had no talent at all.

I had thought this was my last hope, but I was eventually kicked out.

I was at a loss.

It really was my last hope.

Everything I thought I could do.

The only thing left was – the Magic profession.

But, from the start, I had given up on it after hearing the guild staff's explanation.

Magic is said to take shape only when the nature of one's innate magical power, vast knowledge, and diligent training all come together.

Becoming a magic user is not an easy task.

It's said to be much more difficult than professions like Swordsman or Warrior.

That's why I had excluded it from my options, thinking it was impossible.

──But, I had no other choice.

I had to try.

I decided to step into the world of magic, which I had only heard about in fairy tales and had never seen.

I knew it was a reckless move.

But maybe I had a hidden talent.

With that thought, I knocked on the door of the Mage training school.

The result was──.

It didn't work out at all.

When I knocked on the door of the training school, an old mage let me in, saying, "Well, give it a try," but in the end, the only skill I acquired was the ability to light a small flame on my fingertips.

This was a very basic skill that anyone, even the most untalented, could learn in about three days of training, and I spent all my training period just to master it.

In short, I had no talent for magic at all.

The old mage who taught me said,

"I've never seen someone so lacking in magical talent."

He watched over me with interest, but in the end, he kindly advised me,

"This isn't the place for you. You should look for a different path."

I couldn't say anything and left the training school that day, giving up on becoming a mage.

So──.

There was only one profession left that I could try through the Adventurer's Guild's mediation.

The even more challenging magic profession – the Cleric.

A Cleric is not a profession that anyone can become.

Healing magic is a profession that those who have received the divine favor from birth and undergone long training since childhood can take on.

The guild staff had also told me, "You can't just decide to become a Cleric."

I understood that.

But──.

I couldn't become a Swordsman, Warrior, Hunter, Mage, or even a Thief.

I had no other hope.

So, I decided to try the Cleric profession and headed to the training school.

I arrived at a large, heavy stone temple.

When I knocked on the door, a tall priest came out, and when I explained my wish, he clearly said, "If you don't have the aptitude, it's impossible. Give it up."

I knew that.

But I didn't want to give up.

I told the priest, who was about to turn me away, "I won't move from in front of the door until you let me train," and I actually did.

After a day, two days, and three days, the priest finally gave in and said, "If it's just a little guidance," and allowed me to enter.

──So, I started my training as a Cleric.

But, after a blood-soaked training period, the only skill I acquired was "Low Heal," a degraded version of the basic Cleric spell "Heal." It was a skill that could barely heal a scratch, and as a Cleric, it was practically useless. All that effort, and that was all I got.

In other words, I had no talent for this either.

The training instructor, a priest, consoled me, saying, "It's impressive that you could do this much without a blessing in childhood," but the other trainees of the same age had acquired much more impressive skills and were growing at a much faster rate.

It was clear that I was useless.

──In the end, everything was a failure.

So, I reported to the guild staff that I had no aptitude for any profession and couldn't acquire any useful skills.

"If you can't acquire a single proper skill, you'll die quickly as an adventurer. Go back to the mountains and live quietly. Or, I can help you find another job."

Naturally, the guild staff advised me to give up on being an adventurer.

Being an adventurer is a dangerous job.

I knew that.

What the staff said made a lot of sense.

But I couldn't give up.

So, I left the city without a word.

──I have no talent.

I really have no talent at all.

That was clear.

──But, then.

I suddenly thought of something.

If I have no talent, maybe I just need to train even harder and make up for it with effort.

That thought crossed my mind.

I just couldn't give up.

Because, one day, the Swordsman instructor told me, "If you train a skill for a very long time, it's extremely rare, but you might acquire a new skill"──.

──That's it, that's the only way. I clung to those words.

Those words were my last hope.

It must have been that the evaluation period was too short for me.

If I train more, I can do it.

I will definitely develop a good skill and become an adventurer.

Alright, then, it's time for special training.

When I return to the mountains, I'll train rigorously.

So, since I wanted to be a Swordsman, I first made a makeshift wooden sword when I got home and started training by hitting wooden sticks hanging from trees with a rope.

I just kept hitting.

Just hitting the swinging wooden sticks with the wooden sword.

That was my training.

"Parry"

──The only sword skill I acquired at the Swordsman training school – a skill that no one needed, the lowest of the low.

I forgot to eat and sleep, and I kept hitting the wooden sticks from morning till night.

◇◇◇

A year later.

"Parry"

I could finally hit ten wooden sticks at once with one swing.

I could see my own growth.

──But, there was still no sign of a new skill.

When will I develop a new skill?

But, surely, someday.

If I keep training, I might develop a new skill and become a full-fledged adventurer.

My adventure will start from there.

The thought made my heart race.

Every day was exciting with hope for the future.

◇◇◇

Three years passed.

I continued training from morning till night, every day, except for the time needed for farming and hunting.

I changed the hanging wooden sticks to homemade wooden swords a long time ago.

It felt more effective for training.

I just kept hitting.

Hitting the countless wooden swords hanging in the air, training. Over and over again.

And──.

"Parry"

Now, I can hit a hundred wooden swords at once with one swing.

I can do it even with my eyes closed.

But, there's still no sign of a new skill.

"I still need more training──"

I feel a little stronger, but I was taught that in this world, skills are everything when I went down the mountain.

And, I still haven't acquired any skills since then.

As it is, I haven't even reached the level of a novice adventurer.

──At this rate, going on an adventure is a dream within a dream.

I thought so and decided to impose even stricter training on myself.

◇◇◇

Another ten years passed.

I continued rigorous training without a single day off.

The number of wooden swords hanging in the air increased daily, and I stopped counting after it exceeded a thousand a few years ago.

I just kept hitting.

Hitting the wooden swords hanging in the air, training.

I repeated this mindlessly, day after day.

"Parry"

Now, I can hit a thousand wooden swords without even swinging my sword.

But, there's still no sign of a new skill.

"I wonder how much training the world's swordsmen do──"

──I can't even imagine it.

Now, the concept of an "adventurer" seems like a distant, unreachable existence.

I have no talent at all. I know that.

That's why I've been trying to make up for it with effort──but I'm starting to feel my limits.

I'm twenty-seven now.

I'm not young anymore.

I was told to acquire skills to become an adventurer, but I haven't acquired any since then.

No matter how hard I try, I can't reach the skills necessary to be a "normal adventurer."

──But, I have a dream.

A dream to become an adventurer and see the vast world──.

"……An impossible dream, huh"

I knew that.

Maybe it's time to look for a different way to live.

But I couldn't give up──

So, I went down the mountain again and knocked on the door of the capital's "Adventurer's Guild."

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