Chapter 53

Yuta stood at the entrance of the classroom, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

The carnivorous receptionist entered the training ground with an older man. The surrounding adventurers were surprised that the guild master had arrived.

"Hmm. So that's the guild master. But it's getting a bit dramatic to call the guild master for a duel. However, he's quite muscular. Probably a former high-ranking adventurer, so he's probably strong. Since the carnivorous receptionist beckoned me, I'll go over."

"Are you the new spirit mage? Adventurers who can't gauge their own strength die early. Well, if you lose this time, you'll have to retire. It might be for the best. I'll make sure you don't get killed, so just lose quickly."

Oh no. This guild master also has a bias against spirit mages. The situation is pretty bad. I'm completely at a disadvantage. I'm being hated so clearly.

How many reasons could there be for someone to hate me this much on our first meeting? I'm starting to wonder what normal spirit mages have been doing. But that doesn't mean I have to just follow along.

"Even if you say that, I was laughed at in front of everyone. If I run away, I'll be targeted every time I come here. I can't survive as an adventurer like that. If you're the guild master, I'd rather you scold the ones who bully newbies instead of getting angry at me."

"You're pretty cocky. Do you really have that much confidence?"

What? I thought I was just stating the truth. Why is it cocky? That's strange, Sylphie understood me completely, but humans don't?

"Um, to begin with, I'm wondering why everyone thinks I'll lose. Does no one think I can win?"

"Hmph. Useful spirit mages are surrounded by nobles, not adventurers."

So that's it. That's why everyone thinks useless spirit mages come to be adventurers. I don't think it's strange for spirit mages to want to be adventurers...

"Well, what can you do? The adventurer guild is tough on spirit mages, and even useful spirit mages refuse to be adventurers. Oh, and can you manage the money over there? If I win, it's all mine, but those guys look like they won't go down easily..."

I taunted them even though it was pointless. The adventurers who bet on the duel started yelling at me. It's starting to get fun.

Is this how a villain feels? Sylphie looks exasperated, but in this atmosphere, I can't help but become a villain. But it's unexpected that my first day as an adventurer is already full-on villain mode.

"Guild Master, let's get started. I'll crush this guy quickly."

"Haha. You say it's a duel, but you're scared and coming at me with five people, Karl. It's better not to act tough. You'll be embarrassed if you lose."

No good. I accidentally used baby talk. This atmosphere is making my personality worse. I'm supposed to be a good kid.

"You really will be killed, you know."

The guild master gave me a look of exasperation. Indeed, Karl's eyes look like he's gone mad. Without any cheats, I would have run away already. Those eyes are thinking about how to torture and kill me.

"Right. There's no point in talking anymore, so let's start."

We faced each other in the middle of the training ground. Karl's eyes are still wild, which is quite scary.

"Start!"

As soon as the guild master gave the signal, Sylphie cast a wind barrier. Karl and his group ran towards me, their faces twisted in ugly grins. I definitely taunted them too much.

I took out my magic hammer at its maximum size and swung it once. The wind pressure or the shock made Karl and his group quickly back away.

"Hey, what's that? You're a spirit mage, right? Why do you have something like that?"

Karl seemed to snap back to his senses from the shock.

"Why? It's my weapon. Is it wrong for a spirit mage to have a weapon?"

I swung the hammer around a few times. The guild master, the receptionist, and the drunk adventurers were all surprised. It felt pretty good.

"Hey, Yuta. Do I have to fight? Shouldn't I be changing people's perceptions of spirit mages?"

(No. I thought that too. But even if I win with Sylphie's power, it will just be seen as a coincidence that a skilled spirit mage happened to come. It would be a bigger shock to threaten them with the hammer.)

"Yuta, are you becoming a bad person?"

(I admit I'm enjoying it, but I'm just acting like a villain to avoid being underestimated. If my bluff doesn't work, Sylphie, please make them faint skillfully.)

I don't have the nerve to turn people into mush right away. I might have to kill someone someday, but not now. I might need to learn how to knock people out effectively. While talking to Sylphie, Karl and his group didn't attack at all.

"What's wrong, Karl? Aren't you going to kill me?"

I grinned and taunted them.

"You're cheating. Spirit mages are just frauds."

"Huh? I'm not cheating. I am a spirit mage. Spirit magic is much more powerful than this hammer."

Sylphie's attack power is probably stronger than the hammer. I haven't seen it, but she's a great spirit, so it's certain.

"Stop it! You're lying!"

"I'm not lying. If you can't beat me with this hammer, I'll use spirit magic without hesitation. But be careful, this hammer can kill if it hits."

I swung the hammer around and finally hit the ground hard. A loud thud echoed, and a crater formed in the ground. The ground that bounced off the wind barrier was flying around.

Swords and spears are cool, but in this situation, a hammer is amazing. The intimidation factor is different. One hit and you're pancaked.

"Huh."

Oops. I accidentally let out a strange laugh. If I keep this up, I might really become a bad person. I need to calm down. I'm a good kid. I'm a good kid. Okay, I'm fine.

Well, I hope they get scared and give up. If not, it's Sylphie's turn. When the dust cleared, Karl and his group were sitting on the ground.

"What's wrong? If you're not going to attack, I'll come to you."

I slowly approached them, swinging the hammer. Karl and his group were shaking their heads and trying to get away from me. They were opening and closing their mouths, but they couldn't speak from shock?

"Guild Master, what should we do? If they don't surrender, can I crush them?"

"Wait. You guys, do you surrender? If you can't speak, nod your heads."

Karl and his group nodded their heads. I won by bluffing. Maybe I should keep the hammer. It might become a habit.

"Then I win. Guild Master, please handle their resignation procedures."

"Umm, okay."

He sounded reluctant. He was trying to get rid of me happily. The discrimination is intense.

"Wait. We don't want to quit being adventurers. Can we negotiate for something else?"

"Well, you tried to force someone to quit, but you don't want to quit yourself if you lose. What do you think of that?"

I don't really care if they quit or not, but if I let them off easily, they'll underestimate me. It's already hard enough being discriminated against.

"That's..."

"Guild Master, did I sign some kind of contract? If I don't like it, do I not have to follow it?"

"No. If both parties agree, it's different, but the contract was made through the adventurer guild. One party can't refuse. The adventurer guild will enforce it."

The guild master answered reluctantly. I'm not asking for a fake smile, but at least a normal face would be nice.

"That's how it is, Karl."

He looked very desperate. I'm not sadistic, so bullying men isn't fun.

"Guild Master, what would be a fair compensation for retiring as an adventurer? If it's something I can accept, I'm fine with that too."

"Hmm. Money or goods would be appropriate, but what would be fair for being an adventurer... I'm not sure."

What's so difficult? I'm keeping Bel and the others waiting, so it's a bit of a problem if it takes too long.

"Well, that's troublesome. I'll take all their assets. Sell everything, including their equipment, and bring me the money, including their savings."

"That's... We won't be able to live."

"Get a loan? If you don't like it, you can retire. You came at me, so don't act like a victim."

The adventurers around me are recoiling. Am I the bad guy?

"Fine. We'll pay all our assets. Just let us off."

Karl and his group said it with a grim determination. I really want to reveal that I don't have the nerve to hit anyone with the hammer. What would their faces look like if they knew it was all a bluff?

Danger. I want to reveal it. My mouth is tingling. I was trying to act like a villain, but maybe I'm inherently a bad person. No, I'm a good kid. My reputation will suffer, so I'll hold back.

"Understood. Guild Master, please handle it."

"Understood. I'll arrange for the money to be ready by tomorrow. This is your bet money."

I received the bet money I had managed. When I put it in my magic bag, I got 62 silver coins and 13 large copper coins. There were about twenty adventurers who bet, so each lost about three silver coins. In Japan, I sometimes lose that much at pachinko, so it's within acceptable limits.

About 630,000 yen in income. I bowed to the drunk adventurers with a smile, and they turned away with very unpleasant faces. A harmonious and fun adventurer life. Maybe I stumbled on the first step. It feels awkward, so I'll exchange the magic stones tomorrow and get a room.

"Um, Miss Receptionist? Can you recommend a place to stay? I'd like a slightly better place since I have some extra income."

"Please call me Ertina. A mid-level inn will do?"

Ertina's expression was strained. If this were a dating game, my affection level would be negative.

"Yes, please recommend a place with good food."

As Ertina was guiding me out of the training ground, the guild master called out to me.

"Wait. I want to talk to you."

Talk? I didn't expect it to get this noisy. I want to calm down and organize my thoughts at the inn. If I don't, I might say too much.

"What do you want to talk about with me, who you were clearly trying to kick out?"

I added a bit of sarcasm. This level of mischief should be acceptable.

"Yes... I want to hear about your abilities, skills, and goals."

"I don't plan to reveal my cards, so it will be a surface-level conversation. If that's okay, we can talk tomorrow. I just arrived in the labyrinth city and want to rest at the inn."

"Understood. I'll arrange for you to be guided to the adventurer guild tomorrow."

I parted ways with the guild master, received a map of the inn from Ertina, and left the adventurer guild. The gazes, including the guild master's, were harsh, so I feel like more trouble is coming.

Maybe I should have asked Sylphie to do a traumatic and flashy attack instead of threatening with the hammer? But when I threatened with the hammer, it was really fun.

I took a deep breath to escape the harsh gazes. It was fun from the middle, but I'm tired. I got carried away with sarcasm and arrogance, but maybe I went too far. Thank you for reading.