Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 26

 

Chapter 26: A Day at the Guild

 The days of the week in this world are slightly different from those in the original world. A week consists of six days: Sun, Moon, Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth.

 The Sunday in the original world is Sun, which is also a holiday in this world. Holidays in this world are so thorough that not only schools, but also all stores and restaurants are closed. Even if you go out because it is a holiday, nothing is open. The way to spend a holiday in this world is to just relax and take it easy at home.

 The one exception to this rule is the Adventurers' Guild.

 The Adventurers' Guild is open for business any time and day, regardless of holidays. Even though the guild is open, many adventurers have decided not to work on holidays, so the guild is usually deserted compared to usual.

"...Weeding the garden, cleaning the room, looking for the dog. It's really a chore."

 Jin sighed heavily as he looked at the request forms posted on the bulletin board. Even though it would take more than a year to receive a request for subjugation, that day would never come if he did nothing. With this in mind, he decided to steadily accept the request.

"With this content, it would be the same for any of them."

 The requests he could receive at the F rank were all chores. So, Jin thought it would be the same no matter which one he accepted, and reached for the request form in front of him.

"...It's better to stop."

"Eh?"

 Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him, and when he turned around, there was Ren standing in casual clothes, which were also black.

“…Did you also come to accept a request?”

"No, no. I was asked by the people in my class."

"What?"

“How to distinguish good requests. They've had a couple of requests, but it seems they've missed a lot."

"They were working as adventurers?"

 Jin was a little surprised that there were students other than himself who wanted to work in the guild.

"There is no problem even if they spend a year in a low rank."

"Is that so... so this one's off too?"

"Well."

"It's not good enough?"

"You chose to weed the garden, but have you thought about how big the garden is?"

"...I didn't think about it."

 Ren's words alone made Jin realize his carelessness.

“Since one is paid a fee for weeding, the garden is naturally large.”

"That's probably true."

"But there is a difference even if they are the same size. The client is a well-known merchant in the capital, and his mansion is huge. He is also famous for being a cheapskate."

"……You mean?"

"It probably won't be done in a day. And if you don't finish it all, he won't be satisfied and won't pay you."

"I see."

 Jin learned that he had to be careful not only about the content of the request, but also about who the client was.

“Of course, the reward is high. But is it the reward you are looking for? It's the achievement of accomplishing the request, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right."

 Anyway, Jin's goal is to raise his rank by completing a number of requests.

"That's why I don't recommend that request."

"'Then which one would be better?"

"There are none left. Other people have already taken the good ones."

"……I see."

"It's a mistake to come at this time. It's been two years and you still haven't adjusted to this world's time?"

 Morning comes early in the other world. Most people get up at the crack of dawn. But the night is also early. Oil is a luxury for the common people, so they try to be active only while there is light.

"I can't get rid of my nightly routine"

 Being able to do this is a luxury.

"An adventurer mustn't do it. If you want to get a good request, you have to be in the guild at sunrise. Other adventurers do that, so I don't know if there are any left."

"That early?"

"That's right. Every adventurer wants to raise their rank as soon as possible. To do that, they have to choose a good request, and they want to finish it on the same day."

"Is it really that different?"

"No. I know it's an extreme analogy, but if you can get a job that can be completed in a day every day, you can go from F to E in a month."

"What?"

 Ren's explanation was different from what Jin had heard from the receptionist.

"...Maybe you didn't know?"

"I was told it would take six months."

"Yes. The answer for sure is yes. There's no guarantee you'll get the job done in a day, let alone every day."

“I heard that even if you are an excellent adventurer.”

“Still, the guild staff won't say a month. They seem to answer what one can do with certainty."

 If you work hard, you can raise your rank in a month. It is up to the adventurers to decide how hard they work. They would complain if they did their best and didn't make it up the ranks.

"I see. Then how long does it take to go from E to D?

“You can move up from E to D if you accomplish 30 requests without any problems. However, since there are many E-rank requests that cannot be completed in a day, the time required to complete them will inevitably increase."

"What about going up from there?"

“To move up to C rank, you not only have to complete a certain number of requests, but you also have to pass an aptitude test. But you are not informed of the contents of the test, are you?"

"Informed?"

“The C rank is when you become a real adventurer. I wonder if that's where the guild wants to sift them out.”

 The reputation of an adventurer is a matter of the guild's credibility. The guild's reputation is a matter of trust. What would be acceptable for a low-rank adventurer would not be so for a C-rank adventurer. The client's status is also a factor, since this is a high-value request.

“By the way, what is your rank?”

"I'm not obligated to answer that."

"That's right."

"But I can't hide it either. It's a C rank."

“…………”

 Jin was surprised at the rank, which was higher than expected.

"What's wrong? You can find out if you look it up, so I just told you. The rank is public information, so you can ask the receptionist and they will tell you."

"No, that's not it, you are a C rank?"

"Yes"

"I'm sure it hasn't been two years since you joined the guild."

"That's right. About a year and a half."

"So how did you get to C rank?"

 It's a speed that far surpasses the way Ren explained how to increase rank. Jin wants to imitate it if possible.

“Because I can do work that other people can’t do. I have a near monopoly on requests from that side of the business."

"A nomination request"

"That's right. There are no rank restrictions on the nomination requests. If you accomplish the requests without any problems, you will be recognized for your abilities and your adventurer rank will be raised regardless of the number of requests you accomplish."

“......That means special treatment, doesn't it?"

“I wish they would say, The right person in the right place. But it is not. Anyway, they ask me to do what only I can do. That's a given, isn't it?"

"That's right, but it's also because you've earned the guild leader's trust."

 The interview with the guild leader he failed. Jin is shocked, once again, to learn that the difference between him and Ren, who succeeded in it, is so great.

"Trust? The guild leader is the head of this giant organization called the Adventurer's Guild. He can't trust people that easily. It's not about trust, it's about whether he can use you or not. That's the kind of judgment he makes."

"I believed in the premise as it was."

"Is that so?"

"And he thought I was useless."

"Maybe in your case, your ability is not the problem."

"Eh?"

"I've heard a little about it. You are soft-spoken. You lie about what you can't do. You break promises without hesitation. The behavior you showed to the guild leader is all in line with the adventurer's taboo."

"Taboo?"

 Jin didn't realize that he had done something that was considered taboo.

"You can think of the Adventurer's Guild as a company and the adventurers as employees. You talk about your customers' secrets without hesitation. You lie to your customers. You break promises and contracts with your customers. How can such an employee stay in the company?”

"...Such employee will be dismissed."

 If he explains it like this, Jin will understand well what he has done.

"That's what I'm talking about. The Adventurers' Guild is probably...... it's good to talk about this, but. Don't you want a request?"

 Ren abruptly tried to end the conversation. But Jin still had more questions he wanted to ask Ren. It is not every day that the two have a chance to talk together.

"I'm not going to do it today. There are no good requests left, right?

"Well."

"Next time I will come early in the morning."

"That's good."

“For the future, can you tell me a little more?”

"……What?"

 Ren frowns. Calling him out was a bit of a whim. He doesn't want to talk to Jin. He would rather not speak to him.

"Various things. I seem to be too ignorant about the guild. I don't think it's just about the guild."

"...I'm in the middle of doing some research."

"Research?"

“The guild also has a lot of useful books.”

“I don’t mind if you read. Of course, I'll try not to get in your way."

"...Then let's go upstairs."

 Despite his reluctance, Ren accepted to listen.

"Upstairs?"

“There is a cafeteria and a library on the second floor. It's a place for adventurers to relax."

"Oh, I see."

 When he climbed the stairs in front of the bulletin board, there was a cafeteria with many tables and chairs, just as Ren had said. Ren heads to one of them.

 He easily finds the seat Ren is going to because there were a number of books piled up on the table. Jin sat down in front of Ren's seat.

“Ren-kun, do you want another cup of tea?”

"Eh?"

 It was not Ren who shouted in surprise, but Jin. He was surprised to suddenly hear a voice behind him.

 A woman who looked like a waitress wearing an apron was standing behind Jin.

"I do."

"How about the newcomer?"

"I'll have the same one."

"Then, give me your card."

"Ah, yes"

 At the woman's request, Jin tried to take out his card.

"Mion-san, it's my treat."

"Ara? That's rare"

"That's true."

"Yes. How was your day? You know a lot of people."

"I'm here today because of those people."

"Well, then. Two teas. I'll bring them right away.

 With a smile, the woman called Mion left the place.

"Hey."

"What?"

"A treat?"

"It's not a courtesy. If you drink tea at a cafe, they'll take your money. That's why you were asked for your card. You didn't charge your card, right?"

"...You can charge it?"

 He heard that the reward for the request would accumulate, but he didn't think he could charge it.

"You can do it. Not only can you get a reward, but you can also hand over money at the reception and charge it for that amount."

"That's."

"Like electronic money, right?"

"Yeah."

"This is a continuation of what I was saying earlier. Maybe the Adventurers' Guild was created by people from another world, just like us."

"I see."

"That doesn't surprise you."

"I thought that might be the case. It's a little unique."

"It's not just the mechanism, but also the idea."

"Idea?"

 Jin did not have the impression that the ideology was also special. He did not know enough about the guild to think so.

"The Adventurers' Guild is a unique organization that does not belong to any country. As far as I know, there is no other organization like it."

"What about the church?"

"I can't say for sure, but I don't think the church has much influence. I don't feel a sense of faith from the general public. It's not like the religions of the original world."

 As an adventurer, Ren has many contacts with people outside the church. This is his impression of those people.

"Is that so? I didn't know."

"The Adventurer's Guild is a service business. They put clients and customers first. If you know the rules, you will know that."

"I see."

"And the Adventurers' Guild is a place to help people who, for whatever reason, are having a hard time making ends meet or need money."

"That is?"

 Ren's explanation was completely unexpected to Jin.

“Regardless of your birth, upbringing, or ability, you can register as an adventurer, F-rank won't pay well, but E-rank, although still little, can manage to earn enough to live on. In other words, it's like helping the poor."

"Is that so?"

"I think so. Giving jobs to the poor and making them independent. I don't think it's an idea from this world."

"……Indeed."

 The guild system, which only allows adventurers to do jobs that match their abilities, can be seen from a different perspective as a way of preventing adventurers from being overwhelmed.

 From easy jobs, they gradually move on to more difficult ones. It is as if they are being trained.

"That's why people like you who want to become adventurers because they want to defeat monsters are shunned. And you are only willing to do it for two years at most. It's just a burden to the guild and they don't make any money."

"What do you mean by burden?

"The guild does not make any money from low-ranked adventurers. It is the high-ranked adventurers who are earning the guild's organizational expenses. It is with this income that the guild is able to maintain its organization and support the poor."

“Is that so?

"Yes."

"I see. Ren-kun was thinking about that sort of thing by yourself."

 The one who cut in was Mion, who brought the tea. Before he knew it, she approached right behind Ren.

"...Why don't you stop sneaking up on me?"

"Because, Ren-kun, you won't be surprised. Here you are, two cups of tea."

"Thank you."

"...Ren-kun, it's fine because there's no one here today, but please don't talk about that too much."

"Yes. I'll be careful."

 It was a warning not to pry into the guild unnecessarily. Jin understood this, too, and his face became somewhat tense. In contrast, the woman turns a big smile on her face and goes back into the back again. This time, Jin felt nothing but fear.

"...Hey."

"I think it's better not to pry, though?"

"Yes, but."

“The only thing I can say is don’t think of Mion-san as a cafe clerk. She is also a guild employee. And not an office worker."

"What is a non-office worker?"

 If you are not an office worker, you must be an adventurer, such as a guild soldier, but that is something that Jin, who is not familiar with the guild, does not know.

"If you want to know, you should do your own research."

"……I got it."

"Well, I guess I can't talk anymore."

 It was what Ren wanted, but Jin didn't allow it.

"No, I still have something I want to ask. It's not about the guild."

"What?"

"Why are you hiding your power?"

"...What do you mean?"

 It's the topic that Ren doesn't want to talk about the most.

"You're hiding your true abilities, aren't you?"

"No, I didn't do that"

"But, you..."

"What makes you think that? You are not the only one. Other people misunderstand me and get involved with me in some way. Frankly, it's annoying."

 This is Ren's true feelings. He wants people to leave him alone, but they misunderstand him and get involved with him without his permission. This is really annoying for Ren.

"That's because I think there's something about you."

"That's a misunderstanding. I don't have any special powers. To begin with, have you ever seen me do something amazing?"

"...No."

 There is certainly no scene where Ren showed his power. That is why Jin thinks he is hiding it.

"Look. I can't understand why you think I'm hiding something."

"But you are a C-rank adventurer."

"That's just because I made use of my special skill. If you say that's my ability, yes, but I'm not trying to hide it."

 The request cannot be fulfilled if it is hidden. He's not even hiding that he is a C rank. Ren also tells the truth.

"What is your special skill?"

"About spirits. Not many people have it, it seems. At least not in the capital."

"...What about Silver Wolf?"

"Who told you that?"

"When I asked if they knew any silver-haired adventurers here, they all said yes."

"I see. It can't be helped."

 He can't tell them not to mention his street name. Originally, it was also meant to keep people from saying their real names, and it was customary for adventurers to call each other by street names or nicknames.

“It seems rare to have a street name at such a young age.”

"What do you think? It's just a nickname."

"You were injured in the forest on purpose, right?"

"...You're still pursuing it."

 No matter whether Ren denied it or not, Jin would bring up something else to pursue.

"I'm just curious as to why you're doing something like that."

"You're assuming it's on purpose, right?"

"I won't let you say it wasn't."

“…I didn’t hide my strength. I'm just showing some people that they're wrong."

 As for being injured on purpose, Ren decided to admit it. Even if he denies it, he knows that Jin will deny it again.

"Isn't it because you have the ability to face that many magical beasts?"

“I wasn't alone, there was a B-rank adventurer. I was only dealing with the magical beasts that he failed to defeat."

"But still..."

“That is also a misunderstanding. Yes, if you have time to pursue people, you should be reading this."

 Ren took out a book from the pile of books and threw it in front of Jin. It's a fairly thick book, so the sound of it falling on the table in the empty cafeteria was audible.

"This is?"

"The Encyclopedia of Magical Beasts. It was compiled by the Adventurer's Guild. It contains quite a lot of details, so I recommend reading it."

"All this?"

"No way. All you have to do is look up the monsters that will appear when you receive a request to kill them."

"Yeah, that's true."

"By the way, if you turn to page five or six, you'll see a war wolf and a murder bear."

"...In what order is it written?"

 Jin understood what Ren wanted to say.

"It's not wrong to think that it's the weakest rank."

"Were those magical beasts only that much?"

 Jin had no knowledge of the strength of the magical beast. He is a little disappointed when he learns that the magical beasts they fought were of the weak class.

"Yes. It's a small fry that can be defeated even if you're not a hero candidate. The number was abnormal, but you just need to not be attacked all at once."

"...Hey."

"What?"

"Are we really that strong?"

 When he listened to Ren's words, this question rose.

“The question is vague. If you ask me if you are the strongest in the world, I say no. If you ask me if you are stronger than me, I say yes."

"The guild leader told me that if one is an A-rank adventurer, that one is stronger than us."

“I don’t know any A-rank adventurers. But since the guild leader said so, I guess he must be right."

"I see."

“I would like to add that the guild master, of course, is also a member of the guild. He would only tell you certain things. So, in other words, if you fight ten times, you lose ten times."

“…………”

 Jin was at a loss for words at Ren's words.

"Eh? Don't tell me you're depressed?"

"Is it weird?"

"It's weird."

"Eh?"

 They are hero candidates. It's only natural to get depressed when you hear that someone is stronger than you. Jin thought.

"Did you learn some kind of swordsmanship from an early age?"

"No."

"If so, that means you've been learning swordsmanship for two years, right?"

"Yeah."

"No way, did you really think you could become the strongest in the world with that?"

"That's……"

 There is no way that a student with absolutely no martial arts training could become the world's strongest in just two years. This is common sense. Unless that student is a hero.

"I thought you knew what you guys were doing, but I was wrong."

"......What we are doing?"

“Many of the hero candidates only think about what they can do until they graduate from the academy. Because of the bidding process. But is that all there is to life in this world?"

"……No."

"That's where it all starts, right? And yet, they think that if they are chosen by a good country, then everything is safe. Did you think that if you got into a good company in our former world, then your life would be rosy?"

"It's certainly wrong, but it is also true that it is better to be chosen by a good country."

 It is better to be in a good country than a bad one. Jin's claim is also correct, however...

"What is a good country?"

"It is a strong and prosperous country."

“What about a country that is strong and prosperous, but where there is a lot of fighting and killing among the powerful within the country?”

"That is not a good country."

"Isn't that the case in the Luine Kingdom?"

"...I don't know that much about them."

 It's probably not just Jin. Not all of the hero candidates have investigated this far. They didn't even want to find out.

"What about the Lemberg Empire? What about the Izrim Magic Kingdom?"

"……I don't know."

"It's not always right to be chosen by a major power. But if you're chosen, you have to go to that country. If that's the case, you need the power to survive in any country. Is that something you can learn if you forge a sword?"

“…………”

 It was something that had not crossed his mind at all. When Ren pointed this out to Jin, he had no words to reply.

"Then, I don't know what to tell you, though."

"What do you mean?"

“Because you didn’t seem to stick to the title of Holy Knight.”

"How do you know that?"

"A magic sword, right? You were using it."

 It's the sword that Jin used in the [Forest of No Entry].

"Oh, you noticed?"

"The sword was kind of shiny."

“I felt the limitations of being a holy knight. So I decided to change my profession to that of a magical swordsman, but that only resulted in a detour."

 Yuya is already a Hero. Egg and apprentice is a title that could have taken. Jin was concerned that he was falling behind Yuya.

“Wouldn't it be better if you could reach a higher level in the end, even if it is a detour?”

"I don't know if I can reach it."

"That's why you're anxious. And you are not the only one who thinks so. Everyone is trying to follow the benefits that are given to them for fear of being left out."

"Is that wrong?"

"You are afraid that it will destroy your potential, right?"

“…………”

 Ren's words are also far beyond Jin's imagination. How could he come up with this idea? Jin felt that he could never do it.

"Why did we become young at this age? Don't you ever try to think about that?"

“…………”

 Jin had no answer to this question either.

"You guys are worthy of being a hero candidate. I think so."

"……What do you mean?"

 Ren's words are clearly sarcastic. Jin knew this too.

"You can think for yourself. You don't think for yourselves, that's your problem right now."

"What do you know!?"

 Another suggestive word comes out of Ren's mouth. This is what Jin wants to know the most.

"Nothing... well, so much for reading time."

 But Ren has no intention of telling him anything more.

"Are you leaving?"

"No. I promised to wait for them to return, so I'm going to stay until the sun goes down."

"All the time here?"

"Yes. There are meals, books, and a training ground. It's the best way to kill time."

"Training ground?"

"Yes. It's time for me to move my body, so I'm going there."

"Me too, I'm going too!"

"You're free to go. I'll show you where it is. You do whatever you want."

"……Yeah."

 Ren gets up from his seat and heads for the stairs. Jin's feelings are confused as he watches his back. He was going to ask him a question from the front to clarify, but instead, he became confused.

 There is something about Ren. This feeling only grew stronger for Jin.