Chapter 20

This time, it's a sudden shift to a general adventurer's perspective. I hope this will be an opportunity to re-evaluate Rex, who is often treated as insignificant despite his potential.

(Oh no! There's no time left!)

The town of Freelea was, as always, a bit more bustling than usual.

In the midst of the crowd, I ran desperately, pushing through the noise.

After bumping into people multiple times, I finally managed to rush into the Adventurer's Guild and slide into the training room on the second floor, which I rarely visit.

(Oh, there are so many people...)

The training room, which is usually ignored by adventurers, was now overflowing with young adventurers. Upon closer inspection, there were even veteran adventurers, some of whom I could name, among the crowd.

(I thought this training session wasn't advertised much, but it's amazing...!)

This all started with a single adventurer asking the guild reception, "I want to teach the basics of adventuring to the young ones. Can you lend me a room?"

The guild readily agreed to lend the training room and, thinking it would be a good opportunity, also recruited participants.

As a result, the training room was packed with people.

(...This is the influence of an A-rank adventurer!)

However, I couldn't just stand there in awe.

This kind of opportunity might never come again.

I decided to enter the room with a resolve, determined not to regret it for the rest of my life.

"Sorry, sorry!"

Apologizing, I pushed through the crowd and managed to secure a spot where I could see the podium.

The instructor seemed to have already arrived, but the lecture had just begun.

(Phew! I made it just in time!)

I might have to stand, but I didn't care at all.

I focused my gaze on today's instructor standing at the podium.

"Well, I only intended to give a few tips to a handful of people. But since we have an unexpected crowd, let's get started, shall we?"

There was a somewhat reluctant air about him, but he exuded a warm and indescribable "aura."

(That's the top adventurer in this town! The man who, despite being on the brink of death with a body riddled with wounds, fought valiantly and defeated several demons, known as the 'Indestructible Man'!)

They say rumors grow in the telling, but seeing the real thing in front of me, I couldn't think the rumors were exaggerated at all.

The sharp gaze hidden behind his gentle demeanor spoke of his incredible battle history.

His face, which seemed to have faced death many times, or even come back from the dead, gave off a sense of resolve that I could easily believe.

"Now, what I'm about to say is my take on 'how to become a stronger adventurer.' However, this isn't just my own achievement; it's the result of the efforts of many, many people. So, I don't want you to think it's just my accomplishment. And if possible, I hope you'll pass on what you hear here to others."

His tone conveyed that he had no selfish motives and was genuinely wishing for the safety and success of other adventurers.

I think he's the kind of person who can sincerely praise and acknowledge others, even if they become stronger than him.

That, I believe, is just as impressive as being a successful adventurer.

"Alright, first of all, do you know what's most important to become a top-notch adventurer?"

The first to react to his words was a spiky-haired swordsman in the front row.

He raised his hand enthusiastically and shouted, "Strength!"

"That's not wrong, but my view is different. The most important thing to become a great adventurer is 'a heart that never gives up.'"

He looked around the murmuring room and smiled.

"Does it sound boring? Does it sound uncool? But here's the thing: as long as you're alive, you can always start over. And, fortunately, we have 'growth.' No matter how many mistakes we make or how badly things go, the 'experience' we gain is stored within us."

It was a quiet but passionate speech.

Everyone in the room, which had been noisy at first, was now clearly listening to him.

"Therefore, there are no wrong paths for an adventurer. We just need to keep moving forward. As long as we don't stop, the path will continue. Even if we look foolish or are mocked, only those who keep moving forward will become 'top-notch.'"

He scratched his head as he finished speaking.

"Whoops, I got a bit carried away. It's not just about spirit; let's move on to more practical stuff. We are said to be blessed by the gods with six powers. Here they are:"

Strength - Power when using weapons

Life - Toughness when attacked

Agility - Speed of actions

Magic - Strength and frequency of magic

Spirit - Resistance to magic attacks

Focus - Skill in using magic and techniques

I frantically copied the words written on the blackboard into my notes.

I knew that you get stronger as you grow, but I had never consciously thought about which powers produce what effects.

Sure enough, A-rank adventurers are amazing.

Not only are they strong, but they're also smart. High-rank adventurers are truly impressive!

"By the way, which of these six powers suits you best depends on the individual, but it's said that race has a significant influence. Dwarves are tough, and elves are good at magic, for example. Most of us are mixed-race, but the dominant bloodline can give you an idea of which abilities you excel at. It's good to keep in mind."

As soon as he said that, the room buzzed with excitement.

People were looking at each other, saying things like, "You look like a dwarf" or "I'm definitely a fairy!"

I have a slender build and pointed ears, so I feel closer to an elf.

Maybe I should consider becoming a mage instead of a scout.

"Alright, settle down. We'll get to that later. For now, let me talk about abilities."

His voice quieted the noisy room immediately.

"Got it? There are six abilities, and they are all equally important. ...Do any of you mistakenly think, 'I'm a warrior, so I don't need magic' or 'I'm a mage, so I don't need strength'?"

His words made my heart skip a beat.

That was exactly what I had been thinking just a moment ago.

"That's a big mistake. Warriors need magic to use arts, and mages need strength to wear powerful equipment. There's no such thing as a 'useless ability' in this world."

His statement was truly eye-opening.

Honestly, just hearing that one sentence made today's training session worthwhile.

"However, just having well-rounded abilities won't make you a 'top-notch' adventurer. So, what do you need to do? It's to..."

He paused for effect and then said with a grin,

"---have your own strength."

"Thus, among these six, consciously improve one. Create your 'strength.' And if you have to prioritize one, I recommend 'agility.'"

Agility...

I think it means 'speed.'

It seems a bit boring, and I tilted my head in confusion, but he seemed to see through me.

"I get why you'd make that face. Of course, increasing strength or magic is more flashy and cool. For example, if you had twice the strength, you might be able to defeat a strong monster with a single blow. With twice the magic, you might be able to defeat more monsters with a single spell. But that's all it is."

He spoke with conviction.

"Twice the strength won't help you cast spells, and twice the magic won't help you hit an enemy. But agility is different. If you're twice as fast, you can hit the enemy twice as much, and you can cast twice as many spells. In dangerous situations, you can escape faster than anyone else, and you can rush to help your comrades in need. In short, it's useful in any situation."

His words made me realize.

Indeed, that's true.

Focusing only on attack power or magic leaves you with limited adaptability.

On the other hand, being faster than the enemy is valuable in any situation.

"Of course, I only realized this recently. I'm not particularly fast myself."

The room erupted in laughter, and he chuckled, looking a bit embarrassed.

In the relaxed atmosphere, he scratched his head and continued.

"Well, since we've wrapped up nicely, let me share one more thing. It's about the 'equipment' that protects us adventurers."

His words made me lean in eagerly.

I had been struggling with equipment.

I really wanted to know what an A-rank adventurer thinks about his own equipment.

Receiving the expectant gazes of everyone in the room, he slowly began to speak.

"Here's a story. Two swordsmen became adventurers around the same time. They had similar skills and had already grown a few times by hunting stray monsters before becoming adventurers. However, there was one difference. One was poor, and the other was rich. So, the only difference was the quality of their swords."

I secretly tensed as the story unfolded.

My family is poor, and compared to my acquaintances who became adventurers at the same time, I don't have very good equipment.

If he says, "You can't be a good adventurer without good equipment," what will I do?

Filled with such anxiety, I waited for him to continue, almost praying.

"One had a used iron sword, and the other had a brand new mithril sword. They met in a dungeon and simultaneously attacked the same monster. What do you think happened?"

It was obvious.

With the same skills, the one with the stronger weapon would win.

So, the one with the mithril sword must have...

"The mithril sword was deflected by the monster, and only the iron sword managed to cut it."

"Huh?"

I couldn't help but exclaim.

That doesn't make sense, does it?

How could the one with the weaker weapon win...?

"Of course, it's not a cheap twist like the mithril sword being defective. Listen carefully. Equipment isn't just about being expensive and sharp. Strong weapons require corresponding skill. Using something that doesn't match your level, no matter how much money you spend, is meaningless! Worse, it can be dangerous!"

His words were shocking.

I felt my worldview shift 180 degrees.

"Moreover, I think