Chapter 5

The swordsman is a frontline class with a good balance of offense and defense, and is the star of the attackers. With the speed of their sword strikes, they boast higher firepower than the heavy warriors, who are power types. Many people have the image of a warrior as a swordsman, making it a popular job.

In contrast, the main weapons of heavy warriors are axes or spears, and they serve as the party's wall. They defend thoroughly and strike with a powerful blow from their axes when the opportunity arises. They also use the reach of their spears to attack enemies without letting them get close.

However, because they must wear heavy equipment, they have been associated with negative images such as being "sweaty" and "slow."

Riti's decision was no exception, and it was very simple.

"Sword! It's definitely the sword!"

Indeed, it was that simple. She wasn't unaffected by Aldis's sword skills, but more than that, her image of a weapon had always been a sword since she was in the village. Since the swordsman guild provides swords, her excitement only grew. Having only ever held farming tools, she had always longed for a real sword. The day had finally come when she could hold one. Skipping along, the girl's thoughts were filled with her sword.

From the outside, one might misunderstand that something good had happened to her for her age.

"This is the swordsman guild! Alright!"

Perhaps due to her high spirits, she pointed at the guild, which resembled a coliseum, and called out. What was about to begin, and could she handle it? There was no such worry for the positive monster Riti. She opened the door of the swordsman guild boldly and greeted them energetically.

"Good morning! I'm Riti! Please teach me the techniques!"

"Another energetic one, huh?"

The man at the reception desk responded. He seemed to find Riti strange, and his reaction was a bit slow. Looking at her adventurer card, his expression darkened. An unknown place of origin and an age that was too young. He even considered rejecting her outright.

"By the way, young lady, why did you choose the swordsman guild?"

"Because swords are cool!"

"…Well, at first, you'll have to complete the 6th-class curriculum. It starts with lectures, then practical training, advanced courses, and exams. It's not uncommon for people to give up at this stage. I'll give you the schedule for each course, so choose the days that work for you."

"Really!?"

"That's why many people give up…"

"Amazing, just as I expected from adventurers! I'll do my best!"

At this stage, most people would look exhausted. It had been a long time since he had seen someone with such shining eyes. Perhaps, being from the countryside, she simply didn't know the reality. Riti's impression began to waver in the man's mind. The guild members were mostly active adventurers or soldiers dispatched by the country, but there were also a few retired soldiers and former adventurers. The man at the reception desk was no exception; he had been a former adventurer. He had been promoted to 3rd class 12 years ago, married, and enjoyed a blissful life. His life had been smooth sailing until a few years ago when he lost his comrades and was severely injured, forcing him to retire. Unable to support himself, his wife had left him. While lamenting his past, the man watched the girl head to her lecture.

* * *

The lecture courses each lasted one hour, and in itself, this was not particularly difficult. On this day, about ten people were attending the "Travel Guide 1" course.

The distance to the destination, the terrain and facilities along the way, the climate, and the monsters that appear. Integrating all of this information and preparing efficiently is the basic skill of an adventurer. The instructor, Tuito, combined his real-life experiences with the course, making it realistic. Almost everyone took notes feverishly, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible.

Except for one person.

"In this way, if the road is well-maintained, there's no problem."

"Hmm-hmm!"

"There are cases where it's not well-maintained…"

"Right!"

Riti, who was excited by Instructor Tuito's lecture without even taking notes, naturally stood out. Leaning forward, she showed more curiosity than anyone else.

Normally, as an instructor, he should have reprimanded her, but he couldn't help but be drawn in. As an adventurer, he had never been so interested before, and it was understandable that he got carried away. To him, Riti was a cute junior.

"In an unknown place, where the surrounding terrain is not yet understood. What would you do in such a case?"

"Hmm… I would camp before nightfall. If my strength runs out, it's over."

"That's one way. But there's something you should do before that."

"Before camping?"

"Look for signs of monsters. If it's a path they frequently use or if their lair is nearby, it's extremely dangerous."

"Oh!"

In this one-on-one session, the other students probably found it less enjoyable. However, they were strangely not annoyed and listened intently to the exchange. Thanks to Riti's curiosity, the lecture became more in-depth.

For Riti, who had been attacked in a small cave in the Demon Forest, the veteran's advice was valuable. For Instructor Tuito, a 3rd-class adventurer who was still active and dedicated to training the next generation, it was also a joy.

"Basically, the places where adventurers camp are fixed. So, the easiest place to camp is where the previous people did… However, this isn't always the right answer. Do you know why?"

"Because the monsters will know that humans gather there, right?"

"Exactly! Some monsters are that smart. So, understanding the distribution and habits of monsters is also important. Of course, you'll learn this in another course."

He added that many adventurer parties had been wiped out without this knowledge, making the students shudder. Despite the lecture being only one hour, everyone had a rich experience. The person who made this possible was unaware of her own contribution. She became the center of attention among the students.

"Rue Village? Where is that?"

"From here, it's… very far away."

"From such a place, to become an adventurer? Isn't there an adventurer guild in a closer city?"

"There are reasons for that."

Among them, a girl of about the same age was particularly proactive with Riti. The brown-haired, slightly tanned girl, Roma, wanted to escape the restrictive family life. The words "marriage" and "arranged marriage" often spoken by her parents made her feel sick. If she had to start her bridal training now, it would be unbearable. The future of serving a husband and taking care of the household and children, and pouring drinks for a tired husband at night, made her feel like she was going crazy.

At that time, she heard about Yggdrasia. The existence of female adventurers like Bandela and Clarine became her support. However, Roma lacked the talent. After about a year of studying at the mage guild, she hit a limit with her magic power. Defying her parents' opposition, she left home and was at a loss—

"I decided to become a swordsman because I didn't want to give up on my potential. I'm challenging myself with all my might now."

"Admirable… Admirable! I support you!"

"Me too. Let's both do our best."

It was understandable that Roma felt a sense of kinship with Riti, who shared similar experiences. However, Riti didn't mention that she had been with Aldis. It wasn't because she was considerate of Roma's admiration for the hero party. She hadn't fully processed her feelings for Aldis. She was angry, but the fact that she lacked talent was true. If she had a talent that would make people's eyes widen, things might have been different. She couldn't put these complex feelings into words.

"I'm the son of an adventurer. I was told, 'If you're a man, be an adventurer!' and was thrown into it… I really don't like it."

"The unexplored area 'End of the World'… I want to uncover what lies beyond it."

"I think we still lack resources. Ingredients, magic stones, and minerals. That's why I believe it's our job to supply them in the future."

As Dimos said, there were many young students. While some were passive, most showed enthusiasm. Riti was very satisfied to be able to talk to people with the same aspirations for the first time. However, she couldn't just be happy here. She needed to advance to 5th class and, at the same time, improve her skills as a swordsman. At 6th class, she could only take on requests like cleaning, pet searches, and helping in stores. However, completing these tasks would provide valuable experience. Building trust with the townspeople and expanding her community was also important. In other words, she had a mountain of work ahead.