Chapter 2

I visited the capital city's adventurer guild after many years.

The interior had hardly changed, but the space that felt so vast in my childhood now seemed much smaller, and overall, it appeared somewhat more aged than I remembered.

"Is there something you need at our guild?"

As I casually looked around, a young, petite woman—more like a girl in her mid-teens—called out to me from behind the reception desk. She was the only one sitting at the counter, and it seemed that the uncle who used to handle my requests was not there.

"I want to register as an adventurer."

In response to my request, the girl at the reception desk immediately pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Please fill in your name and the skills you possess. If you can't write, just let me know. I can write it for you."

I can read and write the basics, as taught by my parents. I looked at the paper she handed me, which seemed to require only my adventurer registration name and the skills I possessed. I honestly wrote down the skills I had.

------------------------

＜Adventurer Registration Form＞

【Name】 Noll

＜Skill Declaration Section＞

【Swordsman】 Class – Parry

【Warrior】 Class – Strength Enhancement

【Hunter】 Class – Stone Throw

【Thief】 Class – Stealth Step

【Mage】 Class – Petty Fire

【Cleric】 Class – Low Heal

------------------------

One of the most basic skills from each class. A total of six skills. This was all I had.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes, thank you. I'll just confirm this for a moment... ...Huh?"

The girl at the reception desk seemed puzzled as she checked the paper I handed her, holding a thick book titled "Skill Performance Evaluation Dictionary" in one hand. After a while, she asked me, looking a bit hesitant.

"Um, is this really correct? If there's anything you missed—"

"That's everything."

"......Huh?"

My simple response changed her expression from confusion to anxiety, and she began flipping through the pages of a small booklet, which seemed to be a manual.

"Excuse me...! Then... Are you familiar with the capital's 'Training Institute' system? Here in the capital, anyone can receive training in the basic classes from excellent instructors and learn new skills—"

"I already know that. I've completed all the training. This is the skill set I have."

"–What...!?"

The girl let out a small gasp of surprise. But she quickly said, "Excuse me, please wait a moment," and flipped through the pages of the manual again, looking apologetic as she looked up at me.

"Um... This is... very difficult to say, but—"

"Is it that I can't register as an adventurer?"

"...Yes. You don't meet the guild's minimum requirements for adventurer registration... I'm really sorry."

"No, it's not your fault."

I knew that with my skill set, I couldn't register as an adventurer. The girl seemed relieved by my words, but her expression changed again when I asked my next question.

"But, I still want to register as an adventurer. Is there any way?"

"......Huh......???"

My question made her hand holding the manual tremble, and her eyes darted back and forth between my face and the manual. Her face was red and almost in tears. ...Was I causing her so much trouble?

"Is it really impossible?"

"Uu... But...!! ...Please wait a moment...!!"

I began to feel bad for her, and the girl stood up, shouting, "Master!" as she ran to the back of the guild.

"What's wrong, Aria...? Why are you so red...?"

"Um...! –That person–"

She seemed to be explaining something about me to someone called "Master." The person who came out from the back was a large, stern-looking man. I recognized him. He had more white hair than before, but his face was still familiar and nostalgic.

"Hey, don't be too hard on our new recruits... Who are you? I don't recognize you...?"

The man didn't seem to remember me. He glared at me suspiciously. But I was happy to see a familiar face and couldn't help but call out to him.

"Uncle, it's been a long time."

"Huh? Who are you? I don't know you—No, wait a minute."

The man scratched his beard and tilted his head, but then he seemed to recognize me as he looked at my face closely.

"You... You've grown so tall... Could it be, that kid from back then... Noll?"

"Yeah, that's me."

It turned out the uncle remembered me, even my name. The girl at the reception desk looked back and forth between us, looking anxious.

"Um... Master, do you know him?"

"Yeah, something like that. It's fine, Aria. I'll handle this. You take care of the other work."

"Y-Yes!"

As the girl returned to her seat and started handling other visitors, the guild uncle, who now seemed much friendlier, spoke to me happily.

"Sorry about that. I should remember the faces of our visitors, but you've changed so much I didn't recognize you."

"It's not your fault. It's been over ten years. I'm surprised you even remembered my name."

"Heh, I couldn't forget even if I wanted to. You were the only one who completed all six training programs at the Training Institute, and didn't learn a single skill. When you disappeared without a word, I thought you had died... What have you been up to? No, I'm not prying or anything."

The uncle scratched his head and asked about what I had been doing since I left the city. Since there was nothing to hide, I told him that I had returned to a house in the mountains and trained alone for over fifteen years.

"You've been training alone for over fifteen years to learn skills? I didn't think anyone would do that... But, I guess you would. So, did you learn any skills?"

"Ultimately, I didn't learn any skills."

The uncle asked in a slightly hesitant tone, but I answered honestly. I hadn't learned any skills. The instructors were right when they said I had no talent.

"Well, I guess that's to be expected.

The training instructors at the Royal Training Institute aren't just anyone. They're top-notch, even in the capital, which is known as the holy land of adventurers. They don't make mistakes. If they said you couldn't do it, then you probably couldn't.

...I'm sorry, but that's the truth."

"Yeah, I know. I tried my best, but it didn't work out."

When you learn a skill, there's a special feeling. It's something only you can feel, a clear sense that "something has changed." I experienced this when I learned the basic skills at the training institute.

But since leaving the capital, I haven't felt that sensation even once. That means I haven't learned any skills. I thought I had worked hard, but...

"Well, don't be too discouraged. Things don't always go as planned.

There are plenty of other ways to live besides being an adventurer... But, wait a minute.

You know this, yet you came to the 'Adventurer Guild' for a reason, right?

...Could it be that the registration form on this desk is yours...?"

"Yeah, I still want to become an adventurer. I know it's a lot to ask, but is there any way?"

The uncle frowned and looked at me for a while, then shook his head as if giving up.

"Well, I guess I have no choice... I'll explain from the beginning since it's part of my job."

He scratched his head and began to explain.

"First, being an 'adventurer' is a dangerous profession.

You enter areas infested with monsters, take on reconnaissance missions for criminal hideouts, and sometimes even go on hunts... The most lucrative jobs are always accompanied by the risk of death.

In short, adventurers are people who love danger and are confident in their abilities, or those who are willing to take high risks for high rewards.

...Do you understand so far?"

"Yeah, I get it."

Of course, I knew this, so I nodded.

"Basically, being an 'adventurer' means deliberately putting yourself in danger.

That's why, to protect human life, the capital and other recognized guilds have established a common 'Rank' system.

The purpose is to reduce the number of people who take unnecessary risks and die."

He took out a 'Rank Certification Table' from the guild desk and showed it to me.

------------------------

＜Adventurer Rank Certification Standards＞

Rank S - 【Platinum】 Recognized by the Adventurer Guild Association for exceptional abilities

Rank A - 【Gold】 Recognized by designated institutions as exceptionally skilled and accomplished

Rank B - 【Silver】 Recognized by designated institutions as exceptionally skilled

Rank C - 【Bronze】 Recognized by the Adventurer Guild Association as skilled

Rank D - 【Iron】 Recognized as having excellent skills as an adventurer

Rank E - 【Beginner】 Recognized as having the minimum required skills as an adventurer

------------------------

"There are basically five ranks from 'A' to 'E'.

There is also an exception, the 'S' rank, or 'Platinum,' but this is a special, honorary rank that is rarely awarded. You don't need to worry about it.

Normally, you start at 'E' and work your way up to 'A' based on your performance.

But first, you need to be recognized as having the 'minimum required skills' as an adventurer.

Only then can you become a Rank 'E' adventurer, or a 'Beginner.'"

I think I heard this explanation when I was a child.

"The minimum requirement for a 'Beginner' is to have at least one 'useful skill.'

It's supposed to be a very lenient standard, but for you, it's a barrier.

But this is a guild agreement, and even if I wanted to help, I can't do anything about it.

...I'm sorry."

The uncle scratched his beard, looking apologetic.

"I see, then there's nothing I can do."

I had to accept it. I understood it rationally, but it was still a big shock.

I had lived my life with the goal of becoming an adventurer. Just because I found out it was impossible, my feelings didn't change.

But...

"Is there really no other way...?"

I couldn't help but let out a sigh and drop my shoulders. The uncle watched me silently for a moment, then scratched his head and said:

"Well, if you just want to become an adventurer—there is a way, but it's not easy."

I looked up at him in surprise.

"Is there a way?"

"Let's put it this way: it's not impossible, but it's not easy."

"Tell me more."

He began to explain slowly.

"Technically, there is a rank below 'E'.

It's not well-known, but it's called the 'F' rank, or 'Unnamed.'

It's a special rank in the capital, lower than the typical beginner.

You can register without any 'useful skills,' as it's not a requirement.

"Really...?"

I leaned forward on the guild reception counter, feeling a glimmer of hope.

"But, listen carefully.

The reason this rank is practically considered non-existent is important.

'Unnamed' is open to anyone, including you, but there is a condition."

"Condition?"

"No 'monster hunting' or 'gathering quests' outside the city. It's too dangerous for someone without the skills to protect themselves.

Instead, you can only take 'city-based miscellaneous quests.'

These include things like cleaning gutters, moving soil at construction sites, and finding lost cats.

'Unnamed' adventurers can only take these kinds of quests."

"City-based miscellaneous quests...?"

"Yeah, but who would become an adventurer just to do such menial tasks?

You'd have to pay a commission to the guild for job referrals, and it would be better to just get a regular job.

In the past, it was used to force jobs on beggars in the city, but now that the economy is stable, it's a forgotten system.

The law was made a long time ago, and there's no record of it being used in the past hundred years.

I don't think there's any benefit to registering, but—"

"Then, that's fine. Register me."

"......Huh? ...Did you even listen to what I said?"

"Yeah. No monster hunting or gathering quests... basically, no quests outside the city. That's fine. Register me."

The uncle scratched his head again.

"You... You're not the type to listen to others once you've made up your mind, are you?"

"Sorry, but I'm asking you to do this."

"Alright, I'll issue you a registration card, but if you want to quit, just let me know.

It's definitely better to get a regular job. I can introduce you to places anytime.

...Got it? Do you understand?"

He went to the back room, pulled out a small, dusty box, and handed me a 'black card' to sign.

"If you understand, take this."

"What is this...?"

"This is your F-rank registration card, officially an 'Adventurer License.'

As I said, it comes with restrictions.

Don't show it off to others; it's not something to be proud of."

"Thanks... I owe you one, Uncle!"

And so, I took the first step toward my long-held dream.

I obtained the F-rank 'Unnamed' Adventurer License.