kscans

Chapter 20 - The Promotion Exam

The day after the city hall recruitment offer, I was looking at the calendar in the morning when I spoke to my mom.

"Hey, Mom."

"What is it? If you don't leave soon, you'll be late for school."

"Yeah, well… about your wedding anniversary this year, you're still going, right?"

At my question, my mother's brow furrowed in a slightly troubled way.

"…Your father's company seems to be doing okay for now, but we want to keep saving up. I was just about to suggest we skip it this year."

"I'm earning money as an adventurer, too. Isn't it fine? You should go."

My parents got married in early May. When I once asked why not June, they told me that my maternal grandparents weren't in good health at the time, and my dad had said, 'I want the people who raised you to see our wedding.' So, it ended up being in May.

Any more details would just turn into a story about them gushing over each other, so I've never asked. What kind of sadist would I have to be to willingly listen to my parents' love story?

Anyway, every year, the two of them go on a short trip for their wedding anniversary. It's a modest pleasure for my parents, who don't usually indulge in luxuries.

"But still…"

"Come on, it's just a trip once in a while. Go and enjoy yourselves."

"Hmm…"

That reaction. If she were being honest, she'd want to go.

They're such a close couple they still kiss every morning when my dad leaves for work. As their son, it's beyond awkward, but it's far better than them not getting along.

…And well, there’s also a little part of me. Just a tiny part, that enjoys the liberating feeling of having the house to myself.

Watching anime during dinner while eating whatever I want, or staying up all night playing games.

I have my own slovenly pleasures to look forward to, so I really do hope the two of them go on their trip.

"Oh, but make sure you go somewhere with no reported dungeon discoveries. And check the local evacuation guides online beforehand, okay?"

"We haven't even decided to go yet. More importantly, you need to get to school."

"Yeah, yeah… But seriously. Go on the trip, okay?"

"…Alright, I get it. I'll tell your father."

"Okay. Well, I'm off."

"Yes, yes. Have a good day. Be careful of cars."

And with that, another ordinary morning came to an end.

I set off for school alone.

*

May. A Friday, two days before my parents' wedding anniversary.

The rainy season hadn't quite started, and the humidity wasn't too bad yet. But the temperature was deceptively high; it seemed this year would be another scorcher.

Despite that, the dungeon we'd come to today was filled with a damp, sticky air.

It was a place that looked like a widened cave, but with occasional staircases and even small rooms with doors, it had a strongly artificial feel.

It was a dungeon like a hidden fortress. The passages, illuminated by lights brought in by the Self-Defense Force, had roughly hewn walls, but the floors were perfectly flat.

After finishing our usual preparations and passing through the gate, I immediately activated Byakuren and proceeded with caution.

I always try to be vigilant, but I was on particularly high alert in this dungeon.

After all, this was an 'E-Rank Dungeon' known to have 'the danger level of a D-Rank.'

There were SDF-installed lights in this dungeon as well, but a section of them being out was a sign of 'danger.' They were out there, licking their lips in the darkness. Or so the Dungeon Store's website said.

Of course, even if the lights hadn't been extinguished by monsters, we still had to be on guard. There was no room for carelessness.

Still, this was a place Aira-san had deemed manageable for us. She was a bit of a letdown in many ways, but she was a navigator I could trust. We should be fine… probably.

I took a small, deep breath as I walked. Just as I did, Erina-san stopped.

In her line of sight, at the far end of the passage, was an old wooden door.

"I can hear footsteps getting closer from behind that door. As for the number… probably three."

"Got it."

I held my breath and gently placed a hand on my knife.

The passages in this dungeon weren't especially wide, but they weren't narrow, either. There was plenty of room for people to pass each other, and the ceiling was about two meters high. Swinging a sword with full force would be difficult, but as long as I was mindful, it shouldn't be a problem.

With Byakuren beside me, any attacks would have a hard time reaching Erina-san. Instead, my concern was whether my weapon would get caught on something.

After all, my own level had risen to 3, which improved my mana output. Accordingly, the size of the golem body I could form had also increased. The current Byakuren was about 180cm tall with a thick frame—a very reliable-looking tank, at least visually.

As I was pondering this, the door creaked open with a Giii….

Swallowing hard, I tightened my grip on my sword.

"Graa…"

A creature just over 150 centimeters tall appeared with a low growl. It had a slightly hunched posture and held a rust-covered sword and a buckler.

Its skin was green all over, and its twisted, large nose and long ears were distinctive features. Its yellowed teeth and bulging eyes were illuminated by the artificial light.

The small monster, wearing only a loincloth, glared at us and raised its sword.

Goblin.

A vile little demon whose name is frequently heard in Japanese fantasy fiction.

These ones, having appeared in reality, possessed all the ferocity and cunning of their novel and manga counterparts—minus the libido.

Before it could do anything, I threw a knife and a shuriken spike. Both struck it square in the face, and the lead goblin fell backward.

"Gyaa! Gyaa!"

The remaining two goblins stepped over their fallen comrade and shrieked at us. One had a spear, the other a sword and shield.

I left the spear-wielder to Byakuren and took on the other one. It charged right at me, so the distance between us closed in an instant.

"Graaah!"

The creature's bloodshot eyes and spittle-flecked charge radiated a murderous intent that belied its child-like stature.

Fighting back the urge to be intimidated, I stepped forward.

The goblin was raising its sword while protecting the left side of its head with its shield. I aimed for its right shoulder and swung my blade in a downward diagonal slash.

Its upraised sword tried to move to defend, but it was too slow. My blade cleaved the little demon's body in two.

I glanced over at Byakuren to see they had yet to trade blows. While the goblin's attention was on the stone body, I flashed in from the side and lopped off its head.

With a light thud, the green head rolled across the floor.

I remained vigilant as I watched all three of them turn to salt.

It was to be expected that the fight itself would be over quickly. The scary part of this dungeon wasn't the strength of the monsters.

Seeing no reinforcements, I exhaled and collected the coins lightly buried in the salt.

…Still, the sensation of cutting this monster was particularly disgusting.

Since it looked like a classic 'goblin,' I didn't have any resistance to cutting it down, but its silhouette was still close to a human's.

Should I be glad I don't have some hidden psychopathic talent, or am I already a lost cause for being able to kill without hesitation…?

Either way, that wasn't something to think about right now.

"Erina-san, if you would."

"Mhm. Leave it to me."

As she put the coins in her Item Box, she remained on guard.

'…I was worried it might be premature, but it seems you'll be fine after all. For the D-Rank promotion, that is.'

The promotion of one's rank. It's proof of an adventurer's ability.

Most adventurers start at 'F.' To rise to 'E,' one must pass a physical fitness test and attend a special training course.

It's a relatively simple task to get to 'E,' and there are even people like us who start at this rank from the get-go.

But 'D' is a different story. From that point on, you're treated as a 'first-rate' or 'professional' adventurer—at least, in adventurer circles.

The difficulty jumps with just a single rank. The rewards are better, but it's said that most adventurers stay at 'E' because the risk doesn't match the pay.

If I remember correctly, the distribution was about 30% F-Rank, 40% E-Rank, 20% D-Rank, and 10% C-Rank?

That's how high the danger level is. There are even calls to ban public access to goblin dungeons and any dungeons ranked D or higher.

But I digress. Being able to clear this goblin dungeon is the condition for promotion.

It's only been half a month since I became an adventurer, but I've heard some people get promoted to D-Rank in just a week. It's rare, but not impossible.

'But don't let your guard down for a second. Move while carefully observing your surroundings. I'll do my best to watch through the mirror as well.'

"Yes, sir."

"Got it!"

We replied to Aira-san and resumed our exploration. After checking beyond the open door with a hand mirror, we moved forward.

It seemed to be a T-junction, so I performed a clumsy clearing. At least there were no enemies in sight.

As we proceeded, we found a broken light at a corner. We both stopped and slowly looked around.

"…Any enemies?"

"Can't see any. You, Kyo-chan?"

"Nope."

We nodded to each other, and Erina-san took a penlight from her Item Box, shining it into the darkness.

There, a simple, thin rope was stretched across the passage. Following it with our eyes, we saw a small crossbow hidden in a recess in the rock.

If we'd carelessly tripped that rope, an arrow would have been embedded in our calves. A goblin trap.

Yes, this dungeon had 'traps.' It's why this place was known as 'the most terrifying E-Rank dungeon.'

After Erina-san severed the rope by throwing a shuriken spike, I sent Byakuren ahead just in case.

…Nothing out of the ordinary, huh.

"Let's go."

"Okay!"

'I'll mark it on the map here. Make sure you report it when you get back to the store.'

"Understood."

Discovering and reporting a trap in this dungeon earns you a decent reward. Not a huge amount, but still.

For a moment, I considered recovering the crossbow itself, but the buyout price and the reward for reporting it were about the same, so it wasn't worth the trouble.

We caught up to Byakuren and moved forward, soon coming to a closed wooden door.

Erina-san pressed her ear to it, but there was no sign of any enemies. However…

"Ah, it's locked."

Another simple lock was fastened below the doorknob.

We could just kick it down, but according to information from the store, 'some traps are activated by forcing a door open.'

I considered just having Byakuren charge through, but if a crossbow was set up at head height, the flask could be destroyed.

Guess I'll have to rely on 'Alchemy' here.

The structure of the locks in this place is public knowledge at the store. I took a small wooden tag from my backpack and pressed it into the keyhole.

I visualized the structure of the keyhole and imagined it unlocking. At the same time, I poured in my mana.

A red light flashed for a moment with a snap, followed by a soft click.

"…It's open."

"Whoa."

I put the wooden tag back in my backpack, unhooked the scabbard from my belt, and slowly pushed the door open. When it was about a quarter of the way open, I sent Byakuren in first.

Apparently, no trap was triggered. Letting out a breath of relief, I entered and looked around, but there were no traps to be seen.

It seemed I'd worried for nothing.

"That's amazing, Kyo-chan. You're like a phantom thief!"

"I'd rather not become a common thief…"

"Ehh? But a phantom thief and a robber are different, aren't they?"

"Are they not the same…?"

I raised a questioning eyebrow at Erina-san, who tilted her head with a finger on her lips.

'Well, some robbers call themselves phantom thieves, so it's hard to say. Though phantom thieves do have that righteous outlaw image. More importantly, Kyo-chan-kun, did you learn that alchemy from the internet as well?'

"Yeah, pretty much."

It had been posted on the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club website for reasons like, 'I'm going to raise my level in dungeons and improve my golem forces! For my homunculus bride!'

…Thinking about it calmly, is this really the kind of technology that should be posted online?

'I'm quite interested myself. Could you perhaps share the URL?'

"I found it on a site called the 'Alchemy Enthusiasts Club,' but it has a lot of lewd jokes, so it's a bit hard to recommend… oh, right. Never mind."

'What's that, Kyo-chan-kun? As if we're well-acquainted with lewd jokes.'

"That's exactly right, isn't it?"

"What was that, Kyo-chan?! You won't find maidens as pure and proper as us in this day and age!"

"A pure and proper maiden does not repeatedly shout 'doody.'"

"Hmm? Did I say something like that?"

'Hey, hey, Kyo-chan-kun. We're in the middle of a serious exploration here. Please refrain from such vulgar language! Ha ha ha ha!'

"Have you morons forgotten what happened yesterday?"

A self-proclaimed ninja and a hopelessly uncool college student whistling poorly.

Feeling my cheeks twitch, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It was true that we were in the middle of exploring a dungeon. I had to focus.

The doorway didn't lead to a room, but rather to a path that curved in an L-shape.

There was a wooden shelf at the corner, but it was empty. If this were a game, there might have been a ring or a gem inside.

If there had been anything like that, the SDF or police who entered first would have collected it all and sent it to some research lab.

Unfortunately, the romantic dream of finding treasure sleeping in a labyrinth just doesn't happen in public dungeons.

There's nothing but traps and monsters. Though some dungeons occasionally have ore that can be sold.

If there were any treasure to be found… it would mean it was in a 'danger zone' that the SDF had missed.

In any case, we had to explore.

"Ah, wait, Kyo-chan."

Erina-san's quiet voice stopped me. The grip on my shoulder was by no means weak.

"I just heard breathing from up ahead. There might be an ambush."

"………"

I nodded silently in response.

'If you turn that corner, it's an immediate slope. They'll have the high ground. Want to turn back?'

"…Nah. Let's keep going."

I nodded again at Erina-san's words.

I gave Byakuren an order in the quietest voice possible, having it guard its head with its arms as it advanced. The moment the golem's body cleared the corner, a single arrow flew through the air with a whoosh.

A simple arrow, deflected by the stone arm. Before it even hit the ground, I lunged forward.

"Gyak! Gyaa!"

Two goblins with spears shrieked at me. Behind them, another was trying to nock an arrow to its bow.

I immediately threw a knife. I aimed for the archer, but it went slightly off, only piercing its ear. Still, it was enough to stop its movement.

As the archer let out a short scream, the two spearmen turned their points toward me.

With a flash of my sword wreathed in wind, I forcefully parried the approaching dull gleam.

Immediately after, a shuriken spike flew past my head. It expertly struck the archer's fingers, causing it to drop its weapon.

I have no idea how she controls it like that. All I know is that it's incredibly reassuring.

"Graah!"

I closed in on the goblin that had raised its spear. I sliced through its body and the haft it was holding. I left the other spearman to Byakuren and brought my longsword down on the back of the one trying to flee while clutching its injured right hand.

I cleaved the small green back in two. When I immediately turned around, the last goblin was collapsing with a shuriken spike sprouting from its eye.

I remained vigilant. After confirming that all the enemies had turned to salt, I picked up the coins.

I remembered reading a post by a 'former SDF adventurer' about how grateful they were that monsters turned to salt like this because it meant they couldn't play dead.

He was certainly right. Being able to tell at a glance that an enemy is dead reduces the risk of a surprise attack.

This goblin dungeon was a dangerous place where it felt like 'the entire dungeon is the enemy.'

However, including the data gathering, we cleared it safely in about two hours.

Erina-san and I had taken a step toward 'D-Rank.'

…Mind you, just because we took a step doesn't mean we're D-Rank as of today. We've only passed the practical portion.

We still have to take a written exam and an interview for the promotion later. Even if they're largely formalities, an exam is an exam.

Frankly, it's a drag and a pain.

First, you have to apply to take the exam, then a few days later when your application is accepted, you go to the designated test site, have an interview with someone from city hall right after the written test, and then you find out if you've been promoted in three days to two weeks… something like that.

I doubt it, but I hope this isn't part of the reason so few people advance to D-Rank, right?

──Brute force alone won't get you recognized. That's just how modern society works.