V1C3

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I heard the faint voice of a frail-looking girl. It wasn’t until after I started running that I realized the voice was that of someone I knew.

Beside an out-of-the-way dry well, two men were surrounding the girl.

“What are you doing?”

“… huh?”

“Buzz off, kid.”

The two men are equipped like adventurers. A big one and a small one. The girl, however, could easily be described as beautiful.

“Hey, Ra-kun!”

The girl is Pierina, who was waiting for me. She acted like she hasn’t seen me in months.

The truth is that Pierina, who has a good figure and a good athletic ability, is actually very timid when I’m not around. She is easily targeted by such people. I’ve managed to save her from them every time, but…

It’s not a simple matter when your opponent is an adventurer.

“Hey, she’s with me. Let her go.”

“I don’t think so, asshole.”

“You wanna play with us, don’t you, little girl?”

The big man brings his face closer to Pierina’s. She struggles to pull away, but he just grips her arm tighter.

“Ouch! Stop….!”

“–You’re adventurers, aren’t you? Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? Or are you just a bunch of regular guys with basic jobs?”

“Fuck off!”

“You’re the one with the basic job, asshole! I’m a level 5 [Warrior].”

Before the big man could finish his comeback, I threw the bag that I was carrying on my back.

There was a popping sound, and the bag hit the man in the face, scattering its contents. His hand loosened from Pierina, but this was just a diversion. He’d probably be standing back up soon, so I’d have to stop the other one before that.

The smaller man was already looking at me with a clear intent to fight. By that time, a full-body dropkick was already in his face. I’m only fifteen years old and small, but a blow with my full weight on it is not to be taken lightly. It should have at least staggered him. A level 5 [Warrior] is a pretty strong guy in the city. You can’t beat him in a fist fight. You have to run.

“Let’s go, Pierina!”

“Okay, Ra-kun!”

I take my childhood friend’s hand and zigzag away down the road. The luggage I’ve worked so hard to pack is gone. I have to go back home again. I just left. It was like a lifetime farewell. Wow, this will be so awkward.

I had a strange feeling.

No footsteps were following us.

“…Huh?”

Pierina is struggling to catch her breath.

“What’s wrong, Ra-kun?”

“They’re not following us, huh. Weird.”

“How is it weird?”

“If you get in a fight with a bunch of unadventurous teens, they’ll get pissed off and come after you, you know.”

She’s still breathing heavily.

“Let’s go check it out.”

“What?”

“I mean, you can’t stay here alone or something like this could happen again. You just don’t have any stamina.”

“Oh, Ra-kun, it’s just that…”

“Up you go”

“Wait-”

I hoisted Pierina onto my back. Hmm?

“You’re so light. Are you eating?”

“Huh?”

“Okay, let’s go see what’s going on.”

I cautiously went back the way we had came.

There was some kind of commotion.

People were gathering and I could hear shouting.

“What…?”

I peek around the corner.

“Oh, it’s the girl from earlier!”

“Where? Oh, you don’t say!”

We’ve been spotted by a skinny guy and a fat lady.

Let’s run away for now.

“Wait, wait, wait! I’m not trying to stop you guys! I want to thank you!”

I cock my head while staying ready to escape at any moment.

“…Thank me?”

“Allow me to thank you for tricking these penniless bastards!”

Huh?

The fat lady and the skinny man are the owner and treasurer of the brothel, they said.

According to the story, the two men had spent one night at the brothel, and ran away without paying. Then Pierina happened to walk by and got involved with them.

“Our bouncer was having some trouble at another location. I happened to look outside for a second and saw this.”

“Huh.”

“No, I’m serious, you’re awesome! Even though I’m a bit of an adventurer, I can’t believe you took out two [Warrior]s all by yourself!”

Wow, all these people witnessed me! It’s amazing! The applause is embarassing, though.

“Oh no, thank you, haha…”

“Ra-kun is awesome! He’s always so cool!”

Pierina is waving her hands around excitedly. Calm down.

The two [Warrior]s were completely unconscious.

They are professional mercenaries licensed by the dungeon guild, and yet they were left in this state of affairs by me, a city dweller (and one of them just got a bag thrown at him), so they must have been very weak. Level 5 is a questionable thing.

The owner of the brothel,

“So, ‘Ra-kun’ is an adventurer, right? What’s your occupation?”

“I haven’t decided yet…”

“Huh? You did this without a job class…?”

“Yeah, I guess…?”

The owner was completely taken aback.

“Haha! That’s really great! This is going to be so much fun! When you’re old enough to be a man, you can come visit us. I’ll introduce you to my best girls!”

The landlady handed me my bag with all the scattered contents, as well as a cloth pouch of money.

Well, you don’t have to when you have a girl this cute!

She winked at me knowingly, saying such a thing.

–No, I confessed to this person once and was rejected.

But I couldn’t say that.

Pierina is standing next to me, looking at me blankly.

“Cute…?”

“I’m talking about you.”

“What? Wait, me?”

“You’re cute, Pierina.”

“Wow! I don’t know if that’s true……hehehe, thanks, Ra. I love you!”

And Pierina hugs me in her arms.

But don’t be fooled. When this girl says, “I love you,” it has the same meaning as “I love you, big brother.” It’s not a lovers thing by any means.

Yes, don’t forget that. I confessed my love to this girl once, and then - I was rejected.

Three years ago on my birthday.

I had just turned 12 years old, and I mustered up the courage to tell her the feelings that I had been developing for years.

I love you.

I want you to marry me in the future.

To be honest, it’s a memory I’d rather forget, so I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think that’s what I meant.

But Pierina looked puzzled and then said sadly, “I don’t want my future husband to have a problem with you, Ra.”

“I hope Ra-kun will always be a big brother, not a master.”

It was the moment my first love was shattered.

Since then I’ve been trying my best to at least be this girl’s big brother…

–You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?

It’s as if she’ s trying to play a trick on me, by saying “I love you” and sticking close to me, but don’t be fooled. Don’t be fooled by her “I love you” and get your heart broken. Pierina’s “love” is for her pets, her brother, her father and so on. I’ve known her for years. I’m an expert.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Ra-kun?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I patted her head, and Pierina smiled happily.

– You really are a lovely 'sister’.

Or so I thought to myself.

The Dungeon Guild.

It is a union that governs the country’s dungeons and the adventurers who challenge them.

The headquarters of the guild is a huge building that stands right next to the dungeon. It seems that as a result of repeated additions, a simple bureaucracy has grown to look like a castle. The top is wobbly and looks a bit unsafe.

You can check your status, adventurer job quests, and job class here. The items you’ve acquired can also be redeemed for cash. An inn, a tavern, and both armor and blacksmith shops are all available.

“We’re finally here!”

“Huh? Yeah.”

Pierina is a nervous wreck. I feel the same way.

When I entered the reception area on the first floor from the main entrance, it was insanely crowded.

There was a throng of adventurers of all ages, men and women, of all jobs.

I spotted the “Adventurer Registration” sign and headed there. Fortunately, there was no one in line. I called out to the lady at the reception desk.

“Um…”

“Hey! Welcome! Registering as an adventurer, maybe?”

She was in good spirits. I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Just you? Or both of you?”

“Yes, me too.”

That’s right. Pierina was born a month before me, and she had already been given a skill last month. She decided to wait until I received my skills yesterday to register.

“Okay, got it♪ I need both of you to write your names right here”

She holds out two sheets of paper to me. I write my name in the top blank and hand it back to him.

“Great! Please wait for a moment. I’ll send this to the appraiser and register your skills and status♪”

When you complete the [Gift of Heaven] ceremony, where the Queen gives you skills, your skills and status are registered with the dungeon guild. That’s what I’m calling it.

“Yes, it’s done. Hmmm. You must be Rana and Pierina. I’m Anna, nice to meet you♪”

“I look forward to working with you”

“How wonderfully straightforward of you. –Yes, this is your current status and your skills. Neither of them should be shared with anyone, basically, aside from your party members. You don’t know what’s in store for you when you’re with other adventurers who don’t know each other♪”

Anna warns me with a smile as she hands me a parchment status sheet.

Me and Pierina nod in agreement.

“Then, let’s decide on a job class for you right away♪”