Chapter 21

"You said it wasn't a flag, right? That was the truth."

"Riana... try not to stand out, okay? I know you don't realize it, but you can't just act on assumptions like 'this is something a normal person can do'!"

"O-Okay, I understand. I'll be more careful during the training!"

"You don't have to be too careful! But still..."

Before the beginner's training, Mr. Fred, who had offered to assist the guild master as a supervisor, was given a different job and headed to a nearby dungeon-type labyrinth, looking very worried. It seemed to be a high-priority request, and of course, due to confidentiality, I didn't ask for details.

It seemed he had thought to be there to support me in case I made a mistake during the test. I felt a bit guilty for worrying him so much, but at the same time, I was very touched by his concern. I had to be careful not to disappoint Mr. Fred!

"Wow, Riana, you're a hunter style. Hey, I use close-range weapons, so how about we go on a hunt together sometime? I think we'd balance each other well!"

"Um... I'm sorry, but I plan to focus on gathering requests for a while to learn the geography and herb distribution around this town... so I don't plan to take on any hunting requests for a while."

"Then I'll be your bodyguard!"

"I don't plan to go anywhere that requires a bodyguard, so... I appreciate your offer, but..."

Before the training even started, I was already facing a challenge. I had intended to stay as inconspicuous as possible, but this made me feel uneasy about the day ahead. Why was he so persistent? Was I that obviously unreliable just by looking at me?

I wasn't uncomfortable around men because I had trained with knights, but this type of person was new to me... I felt overwhelmed the whole time. His name was Gil, and he used a spear. He had been part of a self-defense group in his hometown, but his talent was too good to be wasted there, so he was encouraged by the village chief and his parents to come to the city. He had only recently registered as an adventurer but had a lot of practical experience and offered to teach me if I wanted.

He proposed this after introducing himself and hearing that I lacked confidence in combat. I could only listen to his one-sided talk, but his confidence was something I admired. I wished I could be that way, to be good enough at something to teach others.

From what I could see, his stance and muscle build didn't suggest he was that skilled. I wondered if I might even beat him in a fight. But maybe he was just hiding his true abilities.

I tried to observe him without drawing attention, but I couldn't figure anything out, so I slowly tried to put some distance between us.

"Hey, save the chatting for the break. ...Now that everyone who signed up has gathered, let's begin the beginner's training. I'm Reav, a silver-ranked adventurer and the leader of the 'Dawn Fang' party."

At the city gate where we were supposed to meet, the adventurer who would lead us today confirmed the number of participants and then called out, drawing everyone's attention. The person who had been talking to me stopped as well, and I felt a bit relieved.

Once adventurers reach a certain level, they are often asked to help train newbies. The guild carefully selects people who are good at teaching, but it also counts as a contribution to the guild, making it a rewarding job, as Mr. Fred had mentioned. To advance in rank, adventurers need to take on such jobs, though the rewards are modest.

So, it seemed that Reav, who was standing in front of us, had taken this job to get back into the swing of things while recovering from an injury. I could faintly smell the herbs used for sprains from the patch on his elbow. Elena, the mage standing next to him, was also part of his party.

We were asked to introduce ourselves briefly. As he pointed to each of us, I realized I would be the last, number nine.

"My name is Riana. I learned how to walk in the forest from an old hunter. I can use a bow, though not very well."

Others were showcasing their strengths and looking for party members. They all seemed very good at communication. I reflected on this and, with Fred's advice, decided to create a backstory for "Riana" to avoid drawing attention. In a different country, common knowledge can vary, and the skills I had might be considered rare here, potentially revealing my origins. It was better to act alone until I could blend in naturally.

I planned to focus on gathering for a while, which would also give me an excuse to decline hunting requests. I didn't want to make friends right away, and this setup seemed to work.

I needed to observe ordinary "newbie adventurers" and blend in as an unremarkable newcomer. I was determined to do this.

"Riana... did the beginner's training go well...?"

"Yes, it went well. ...I don't think I broke any major rules or did anything that would disqualify me as an adventurer!"

"Oh, no, that's not what I was worried about."

After the training, as I came down from the second floor where the classroom was, Fred was waiting and asked cautiously. I stood up straight and confidently said that I hadn't done anything to stand out.

I had carefully observed my surroundings and calculated my actions to avoid drawing too much attention. Of course, I hadn't slacked off. If I had, I might have been told I wasn't fit to be an adventurer.

My goal was to meet the minimum expectations and show just enough to avoid disappointing the instructor. It helped that I had a good example of a typical "newbie adventurer" before me.

I think I managed to show enough to avoid disappointing the instructor.

"Hey, Fred. Picking up Riana?"

"Reav, it's been a while. Yeah, her dad... asked me to keep an eye on her for a while, to make sure she doesn't get tricked by anyone strange."

"Hmm, I think she's strong enough to take on requests alone, but I'm more worried about her safety in the city."

"What? ...I thought you'd say something like, 'an incredibly promising new talent!' or 'a once-in-a-century prodigy!'"

"Hey, don't get carried away just because she's your protégé."

"Ah, hehe, sorry."

Fred laughed it off, but I felt very embarrassed by the praise. It was different from the flattery I had heard at home, and I was still getting used to it. When I was told I had performed exceptionally well for a beginner, I was more moved than I expected.

After the training, Fred invited me to dinner at the same modest but nice restaurant we had gone to the day before. Before I could say anything, he joked, "You'll pay me back when you get a higher rank," and I silently vowed to treat him to a proper dinner.

"From what I heard, it seems the beginner's training went smoothly?"

"Yes... Fred, you worry too much."

"I thought you might have shown some incredible skill that would shock even the veterans."

Fred had been concerned about this even before I came to the city. Did he have some specific worries?

"Normal... no, that's not it. You don't have any skills that only a professional in that field could do, right? Like being able to cast area-of-effect spells, or using magic for high-precision, wide-area detection, or easily defeating a silver-ranked monster alone?"

He had asked me this seriously yesterday too. Of course, I had no such skills. I had never been able to do anything that my father considered "basic for a professional mage," and my brother had never acknowledged my defeat of a silver-ranked monster as a true victory. If the best in the country said I couldn't, then I wasn't ready to call myself a professional, and I lacked the skills that professionals should have.

"Did you have any trouble?"

"Um, I don't think so."

Before the training started, a boy kept talking to me persistently, but that wasn't really a problem. After the practice session with the instructor, he suddenly became quiet and avoided me. Maybe something happened during the session, but since I had no plans to be friends with him, it didn't matter.

"Nothing? When the instructor said to show your skills, did you accidentally beat him up?"

"Of course not!"

"Or did you accidentally turn the area into a wasteland when asked to use magic on a target?"

"Hehe, Fred, you sometimes joke like that."

"I'm pretty serious, though."

His sudden, unrealistic questions made me laugh. I had to stay low and not draw attention, so I wouldn't do something like that. I could do it if asked, but I wouldn't do it without a reason. I could make that judgment.

"Riana, you were pretty good with the bow, according to Reav. We didn't encounter any monsters on the way here, but maybe we could have pretended to be siblings on the journey."

"Only in that situation. In your silver-ranked hunting grounds, I'd just be a burden."

I wasn't a complete novice, having trained with professionals in various fields, so I understood that Reav's praise was relative to a beginner's level.

I was worried about being told I lacked the skills to be an adventurer, but I realized that wasn't the main focus. They were more concerned about whether I would do something reckless and die quickly. The boy who said he wanted to level up and earn money quickly was pushed hard, but I, who knew my limits and planned to stick to gathering requests near the city, wasn't criticized. This was proof.

I learned a lot about how to use the facilities, read request forms, accept requests, and advance in guild rank. I wanted to earn enough to live independently and steadily improve my skills.