Chapter 45

"Students, you might have been surprised by the sudden guest, but this is by no means a bad thing."

Pushing aside the still laughing Prince Zemnant, Examiner Soaides spoke.

"The prince is an important figure in both the Rubrum Kingdom and the Centakirian Kingdom. If you can earn his high regard, it will be a great honor from both countries, and your activities as A-rank adventurers will be more advantageous."

The faces of the examinees, who had looked annoyed by the sudden intruder, brightened up at this.

If it would benefit their adventurer lives, anyone would welcome it.

"That's right. ...Of course, for those who have already made a bad impression, no matter how much they struggle now, it won't change anything, will it?"

His gaze when he said such a sarcastic thing was undoubtedly directed at me.

Then, he immediately whispered in a low voice that couldn't be heard in the hall to the examiner next to him.

◆

"Do you understand? All I ask of you is one thing: to fail the associates of that detestable Reslaser without fail."

"We have already received a large amount of support from the prince. It is also the duty of adventurers to follow the wishes of our sponsors."

The examiner said this with a brazen attitude.

The other examinees probably couldn't hear the low voice, but with my hearing, which exceeds eight million levels, it was easy to understand.

"Excellent! If that man fails the exam, Reslaser's reputation will be completely ruined! My father will surely reconsider and appoint me as the heir to the throne! When I become king, I will never forget your kindness, Soaides-kun!"

"I will do my best."

What kind of "best" is that?

It's not right to bring the power struggle of a country into the exam. At this point, it's certain that the A-rank promotion exam won't be conducted properly.

"But... why is that hateful Reslaser's lapdog even here at the exam venue? I thought I had already informed you of his fatal flaw?"

Is "Reslaser's lapdog" referring to me?

What a terrible prince, still calling others dogs even after being scolded by the king.

"Indeed, I had instructed the local guild master to screen out all applicants without skills at the application stage. It seems there was a mistake. I apologize."

"If you betray my expectations, there will be dire consequences later."

"Rest assured. In the main exam, I and other active A-rank adventurers will directly face them. We will show no leniency or mercy."

"Excellent! As expected of A-rank adventurers, I have a new respect for you!"

I must have misjudged you.

For A-rank adventurers, who are supposed to be at the pinnacle of all adventurers, to bend to the will of the powerful and distort an important exam is unacceptable.

The A-rank promotion exam is already difficult enough, and now it's guaranteed to be even more challenging. I need to stay focused.

◆

...That's what I overheard.

After all that, the A-rank promotion exam finally begins.

"First, those whose names are called, please come forward. ...Arionia from the Magita branch of the Branshelil Kingdom."

"Here."

"Iskario from the Northern Frontier Village branch of the Zwarr Republic."

"Here."

One by one, names were called, and those called were forced to come forward.

"...Noem from the capital branch of the Centakirian Kingdom."

"Ah! Yes!"

It was Noem's turn, but mine hadn't come yet.

Perhaps feeling a moment of resistance to being separated, Noem looked at me anxiously.

"Go on, I'll be called soon."

"That's right. ...I'll go ahead then."

Separating from Noem.

However, my name was never called.

As the number of examinees called out and left, the remaining number was reduced to about one-tenth of the original...

"That's all."

...and it was cut off.

Confusion spread among the remaining examinees, including me.

At this point, it was unclear what the other side intended to do.

No, to be honest, I was starting to get an idea.

"Those of you who remain, don't you have a vague idea why your names weren't called?"

The one speaking was the same person who had just taken the roll call.

One of the four examiners, a man as thin as a withered tree.

"I am A-rank adventurer Sentences. It is a dirty and unpleasant task for me, the most valuable adventurer, to call out the names of worthless people like you. Do you understand? If you are both incompetent and ignorant, there is no hope for you."

"Are all the remaining people 'Skill-less'?"

The moment I said that, a ripple of unease spread through the remaining group.

Each person probably had their own suspicions.

"Correct. I'm relieved that you have at least some intelligence. If your understanding were too low, I would have to give unnecessary explanations, and my precious words would be wasted on worthless people."

For someone who talks so much, he sure is picky.

"Those who were not called and remain here are the 'Skill-less,' those who were given no abilities. Pitiful stragglers abandoned by the gods, born with the mark of failure."

This guy is really saying whatever he wants.

"Every time, though few in number, there are always 'Skill-less' people who somehow make it to B-rank and delude themselves into taking the exam."

"They should meet the eligibility criteria. Since they are taking the exam according to the rules, there should be no problem."

From the crowd, shouts of "That's right, that's right!" were heard.

The other examinees also seemed indignant at the condescending attitude of the A-rank examiner.

"Even if they don't violate the rules, I want to eliminate as much irrationality as possible. ...Do you know? Since the establishment of the Adventurer's Guild, no 'Skill-less' person has ever become an A-rank adventurer."

This fact silenced the crowd.

It was a moment of speechless shock.

"There has never been a single 'Skill-less' A-rank adventurer, not in the past, not now, and not in the future. It would be more beneficial to focus resources on promising high-skill holders rather than on incompetent people who are bound to fail. For the good of the entire Adventurer's Guild, would you kindly withdraw now?"

The thin man's eyes were filled with blatant contempt.

"If you do, your evaluation from the guild will be somewhat better. As much as it can be for incompetent people. ...Now, let's hear your wise decision."

"I will take the exam."

I answered immediately.

"I came here with the intention of passing and becoming an A-rank adventurer. I have no intention of giving up and going home without doing anything. Challenging the impossible is the soul of an adventurer."

"Right, right! That's exactly it!"

"Who would follow a condescending examiner like that! We won't give up hope until the end!"

The other examinees, clearly angered by the examiner's contemptuous words, were also riled up.

Surprisingly, none of the 'Skill-less' examinees voluntarily withdrew, and all remained.

The examiner's attempt to screen them out was a complete waste of time.

"Ah... what a hassle. Why are dealing with fools always so troublesome?"

The examiner Sentences on the stage scratched the back of his hand irritably.

His thin appearance matched his apparently nervous disposition.

"If everyone had left, everything would have proceeded smoothly. ...Fine, then. As an examiner and active A-rank adventurer, known as the 'Labyrinth Conductor,' I will conduct a special exam for the 'Skill-less'!"

A special exam?

"You incompetent people are, of course, far inferior to those with legitimate skills. Therefore, you will first take a preliminary exam to see if you have the same abilities as those with skills, despite having none."

The next moment.

"Everyone! Watch your feet!"

I shouted.

The training with the Azure Dragon over five years honed more than just my level.

Even at levels exceeding several million, training with a dragon in a higher dimension required focusing my senses to predict and avoid instant death.

So my intuition was sharpened to the point where it could see far beyond ordinary foresight skills.

"What!?"

The thin examiner, who was probably about to do something, froze in place.

"Ah, there's a sharp one among them! However, as an examiner, I order you not to move from where you are! Those who move will be disqualified this time!"

With that, we couldn't move.

Then, something astonishing happened.

A hole opened up at our feet.

The ground that was supposed to be solid disappeared, and we lost our support, falling straight down due to gravity.

"Don't worry, there is no danger. At least, not from falling into the hole."

The thin examiner's sinister face moved away above us.

"It's just a guide. To the exam venue suitable for you, the scum, of course."