CH 51

Heal

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The receptionist is accompanied by an old man into the training ground, surprising the adventurers around who said that the guild master had arrived.

Wow, so that person is the guild master. But calling the guild master for a duel is too much, it’s becoming an exaggerated story. However, he looks very muscular. According to the template, he is probably a former high-ranking adventurer and must be strong. The receptionist beckoned to me, so I will go and see.

“So, you’re the new spirit mage. Adventurers who cannot accurately assess their own abilities are doomed to die young. Well, if you lose this time, you will retire. It might be a good thing. I’ll make sure you don’t get killed, so hurry up and lose.”

Oh no, this guild master is also the type who has prejudice against spirit mages. The situation at the adventure guild has come to severe discrimination. I am completely out of my element here, and I am being disliked refreshingly.

How many reasons are there for someone to be disliked by someone they just met? I wonder what kind of actions regular spirit mages have taken up until now. However, that doesn’t mean I have any reason to just blindly follow him.

“Even though you say that, I was made a laughingstock in front of a full audience. If I run away, I will be harassed every time I come back here. I cannot survive as an adventurer like that. If you are the guild master, instead of getting angry at me, I want you to scold those who bully newcomers.”

“You’re cheeky. Are you that confident?”

Huh? Did I just say something strange? Why am I being called cheeky? Something is strange. My words were clearly understood by Sylphy and the others, but are they not understood by humans?

“Well, you see, everyone thinks that I will lose. Isn’t there anyone who thinks that I can win?”

“Hmph. Spirit mages who are useful are surrounded by nobles, not adventurers.”

I see. So that’s why everyone is picking on me, thinking that a useless spirit mage is becoming an adventurer. But I think it’s not strange for spirit mages to want to become adventurers…

“Well, isn’t that inevitable? The Adventurer’s Guild seems to be harsh on spirit mages, and even useful spirit mages reject becoming adventurers. Oh, and could you manage the money over there? If I win, it’s all mine, but those guys seem reluctant to give up.”

I tried to provoke them even though it was pointless. The adventurers participating in the bet started hurling insults at me. Somehow, I found it quite enjoyable.

Is this what being a heel feels like? Sylphy was exasperated, but given the situation, there was no choice but to be a heel. But it was unexpected that my first day as an adventurer would be full of being a heel.

“Guild master, let’s start soon. I’ll crush this guy quickly,” said Carl.

“Hahaha. You’re calling this a duel, but you’re scared and have five people attacking at once, Carl. It’s better not to brag too much, you know. Losing would be embarrassing, you know?” I replied.

Uh-oh. I involuntarily started speaking. This atmosphere is making me more and more of a bad person. I’m supposed to be a very good kid.

“You’re really going to be killed,” said the guild master, giving me a dumbfounded look.

Indeed, Carl’s gaze was unsettling. If I didn’t have any cheats, I would have run away immediately. That look was considering how to torture and kill me.

“Well, there’s no point in talking anymore, shall we start?” I said.

We stood facing each other in the middle of the training ground. His eyes were still unsettling.

“Begin!” signaled the guild master, and at the same time, Sylphy put up a wind barrier. Carl and his companions rushed towards me with distorted and ugly faces, grinning. I definitely went too far with my provocation.

I took out my magic hammer at maximum size and swung it “Bun!” The force of the wind caused Carl and his companions to stagger back in surprise.

“Hey, what the hell is that? You’re a spirit mage, right? Why are you carrying that?” asked Carl, seeming to regain his senses.

“Why? It’s my weapon. Is it wrong for a spirit mage to carry a weapon?” I swung my hammer back and forth, surprising the guild master, the receptionist, the drunken adventurers in the audience, and even myself. It felt strangely satisfying.

“Hey, Yuta. Do I not have to fight? Can’t I show them that spirit mages are strong?” asked Sylphy.

(No, I thought so too. But even if we win with your power, it’ll just end because a skilled spirit mage happened to show up. So it’s better to intimidate them with the hammer. That way, they’ll be more shocked.)

“Yuta, has your personality turned bad?” asked Sylphy.

(I admit that I’m enjoying this, but I’m just acting as a villain so that they don’t underestimate me. Oh, and if my bluff doesn’t work, please knock me out with your magic.)

I don’t have the courage to make a human into mincemeat right away. Someday, I may have to kill a human, but it’s not now. I might need to learn how to send people flying properly. While I was secretly talking with Sylphy, Carl and his companions still didn’t attack.

“What’s wrong, Carl? Weren’t you going to kill me?” I taunted, grinning.

“You’re a coward, pretending to be a spirit mage,” he replied, with an ugly expression on his face.

“Huh? I’m not pretending. I’m a spirit mage. Spirit magic is much more powerful than this hammer,” I replied.

Sylphy’s attack power is stronger than the hammer. I’ve never seen it, but she’s a great spirit, so I’m sure it’s true.

“Don’t mess with me!”

“I’m not messing with you. If I can’t beat you with this hammer, I’ll fight you with spirit magic. Oh, but be careful. If this hammer hits you, you’ll die. So try your best to dodge,” I said, swinging my hammer and striking the training ground hard. The sound echoed loudly, creating a large crater in the ground. The ground that bounced off the wind barrier hit and exploded.

“Wow, I used to think swords and spears were cool, but in times like these, hammers are also amazing. After all, the impact they deliver to the opponent is different. If it hits, it will definitely flatten them.”

“Hehe.”

Oops, I let out a strange laugh. If I keep this up, my personality might end up going in a bad direction. Let me calm down a bit. I am a good person. I am a good person. Alright, it’s okay.

Um, yeah. I hope they get scared and give up. If they don’t, then it’s Sylphy’s turn. When the dust clears, Carl and the others were lying on their backs.

“What’s wrong? If you’re not going to attack, then I’ll come to you.”

I slowly approached them while swinging my hammer back and forth. Carl and the others shook their heads from side to side and struggled to get away from me. Are they unable to speak due to surprise?

“Guild Master, what happens in this case? If they don’t surrender, is it okay to crush them?”

“Wait a minute. Do you surrender? If you can’t speak, then nod your head.”

Carl and the others nodded their heads up and down. I won with my bluff. Hammers are pretty cool. I could get addicted to them.

“Well, then it’s my victory. Guild Master, please take care of their resignation procedures.”

“Yes, understood.”

That was a somewhat reluctant response. They were trying to make me leave willingly, but now they don’t want to leave themselves. The feeling of discrimination is too much.

“Wait a minute. We don’t want to quit being adventurers. Can’t we negotiate with some other conditions?”

“Uh, how about no? You were trying to force people to quit being adventurers, and now that you lost, you suddenly don’t want to quit? What’s up with that?”

It’s not like I care whether they quit or not, but if I forgive them too easily, they’ll just start disrespecting me again. Especially since I’m already being discriminated against, if they start disrespecting me, I’ll be even more worried about the future.

“Well…”

“Guild Master, I signed some kind of pledge or contract. If I say I don’t want to follow it anymore, is it okay to not abide by it?”

“Well, if both parties agree, then it’s different, but the pledge or contract was made through the Adventurer’s Guild. If one side refuses to follow it, there’s nothing we can do. The Adventurer’s Guild is responsible for ensuring that it is fulfilled.”

The Guild Master answered reluctantly. I’m not asking for a fake smile or anything, but at least I’d like him to ask with a normal face.

“That’s how it is, Carl-san.”

He looks extremely hopeless. I don’t really enjoy bullying men… Even if I did, there’s no fun in it.

“Guild Master, what kind of compensation is suitable for retiring from being an adventurer? If it’s something I can agree with, I don’t mind quitting.”

“Hmm, well, if we’re talking about compensation, then money would be appropriate. But what would be suitable compensation for being an adventurer… I’m not sure.”

Is it really that difficult? We’re keeping Bell and the others waiting, so I don’t have time to waste.

“Uh, that’s troublesome. Alright, I understand. They can pay with all their assets. They should sell all their equipment and anything else they have and bring the cash, including their savings.”

“That’s… then we won’t be able to survive.”

“If you don’t like it, take out a loan. If you don’t want to, then you can retire. Choose whatever you want. Don’t act like the victim when you came to me first.”

Everyone around us seems disgusted. Am I the one in the wrong here?

“Alright. We’ll pay with all our assets. Please forgive us.”

Carl and the others say with a determined and sorrowful expression. Right now, I really want to admit that all of it was just a bluff. I wonder what their faces would look like if they found out that everything was just an act?

Oh no. I want to confess. My mouth feels itchy. I thought I was playing the role of a heel, but deep down I might actually be a bad person. No, I’m a really good kid. My reputation is about to take a hit, so I’ll just have to endure it.

“Understood. Guild Master, please take care of it.”

“Got it. I’ll arrange for it to be cashed in by today and delivered by tomorrow. This is your betting money.”

I received the betting money that I had entrusted to the guild. When I put it in my magic bag, I counted sixty-two silver coins and thirteen large copper coins. Since there were about twenty adventurers who participated in the bet, each person lost about three silver coins. Well, it’s within the acceptable range, as sometimes people lose that much in pachinko in Japan.

I earned about 630,000 yen. I bowed my head to the drunken adventurers with a smile, but they all avoided my gaze with displeasure. This was supposed to be a fun and lively adventure, but maybe I stumbled from the very beginning. It’s awkward, so I’ll exchange the magic stones tomorrow and quickly find a place to stay.

“Um, excuse me, Miss Receptionist? Could you recommend a place to stay? I just received some extra income, so I’d appreciate it if you could recommend a place of higher rank.”

“…Please call me Eltina. Would a mid-level inn be okay?”

The receptionist…Eltina’s expression looked strained. If this was a romance game, my likability would be in the negatives.

“Yes, please. I’d like a place with delicious food.”

As I was being escorted out of the training grounds by Eltina, the guild master stopped me and spoke.

“Wait. I want to talk to you for a bit.”

Talk? I didn’t expect things to escalate this far. I need to calm down and organize my thoughts at the inn. Otherwise, I might end up revealing unnecessary information.

“What do you want to talk to me about, after trying to kick me out earlier?”

I added a bit of sarcasm to my tone. This level of prank should be forgivable.

“I want to hear about your abilities, strengths, goals, and more.”

“I don’t intend to expose my hand, so the discussion will only be surface level. If that’s okay with you, let’s talk tomorrow. I just arrived in the labyrinth city and want to rest at the inn.”

“Understood. If you come to the adventurer’s guild tomorrow, I’ll guide you.”

After parting ways with the guild master, I received a map of the inn from Eltina and left the adventurer’s guild. I still feel like there will be more trouble ahead, especially with the guild master’s stern gaze.

Maybe it would have been better to ask Sylphy to do a flashy attack that would traumatize them instead of threatening them with a hammer. But when I did threaten them with the hammer, it was honestly really fun.

I take a breath to escape from the intense glares. It was fun from the middle, but I’m really tired now. I got carried away with my snarky and arrogant attitude, but I might have gone too far.