Volume 2 Chapter 5 Junior Adventurer Promotion Exam I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Lower-rank Adventurer Promotion Exam…
This is the first major challenge that the lowest-ranked adventurers, who always felt like rookies, face.
The practical second exam is relatively easy, but the problem lies in the first exam which tests knowledge.
The topics covered are things that any adventurer should know as common sense: major laws of East End, manners at adventure sites, and procedures to follow in case of emergencies in dungeons.
Since many cannot read or write, the exam is conducted orally, yet there are still many who fail the first exam.
This is because there are those who lack common sense or those who know the information but struggle to explain it verbally.
By the way, when it comes to the Intermediate Adventurer Qualification Exam, knowledge about domestic ruins and labyrinth exploration becomes necessary…
If they reach the Advanced Adventurer Qualification Exam, not only detailed knowledge about rare ruins around the world is required, but also the ability to read and write in either the Western or Eastern common languages.
As the rank increases, the places they can go for quests expand, but this leads to complaints from various sides since cultural and valuable ruins get damaged.
Especially for Advanced Adventurers, representing the Guild, when they receive requests from nobles or intellectuals, they need to handle these tasks smoothly and competently.
If any issues arise, not only will hunting dogs be sent after that adventurer, but troubles can also reach their affiliated Guild branch.
Strength alone isn’t enough to qualify.
Being an Advanced Adventurer requires responsibility, common sense, and education.
(Because of this, once individuals reach Intermediate rank or above, people in town no longer see them as ‘just thugs.’)
’At the lower rank, they are still considered less than ordinary people. Well, even listening to the oral exam content, it seemed like something a child could answer, so I guess it makes sense.’
Hearing the voice of ‘glasses,’ they walked down the white stairs leading to the underground cemetery behind the Guild.
At the bottom of the narrow staircase, they emerged into a wide space measuring 50 meters square.
In the dimly lit area, several torches and vents were installed on the walls surrounding the space.
This was the large plaza in front of the dungeon, known as the ‘Catacombs’.
The labyrinth was co-owned by the Adventurers’ Guild and the Western Church, and the second exam of the junior adventurer qualification test was being held here.
Although it was referred to as catacombs, it wasn’t like the bodies of the town’s people were buried here; it was merely a space created by the staff of the Guild and the Western Church where ghost-type monsters could thrive.
The monsters that appeared were weak and in small numbers.
A strong barrier was also in place, preventing them from coming to the surface.
In short, it was an ideal training ground for newcomers.
”…”
Kian surveyed the 30 or so people crowded in the dim space.
Having lived in this town for 15 years, he recognized almost all the faces around him.
Moreover, they were all a good bit younger than him.
They shot Kian sharp glances as he came down the stairs into the catacombs.
He could feel the strong hostility directed at him.
When he stared back, they all turned away, pretending to have no interest.
However, even without their gazes, the intense hostility still prickled against the back of his neck.
’Feeling quite tense, aren’t they?’
(Everyone’s livelihoods are on the line. With limited spots for passers, to them, I’m basically an enemy to be defeated.)
Kian knew he had to be careful; one moment of relaxation could lead to trouble from behind.
Just as he was thinking this, a high-pitched voice rang out from the side.
”Kian!”
It was Serena.
She wore her usual light leather armor.
Avoiding the crowd, she walked quickly over to him.
”You passed the first exam, congrats!”
”Thanks. Since you’re here, that means you passed too, right? Congratulations to you as well.”
”Passing such an easy exam isn’t anything to brag about, though.”
She shrugged, the silver-haired girl.
A long sword was sheathed at her waist.
The enemies here were ghost-type, and steel weapons had little effect on them.
Kian wondered if she was planning to coat that with charcoal resin and wrap it in flames.
”Surprisingly, a lot of people fail the first exam. There are probably some among us here who failed last month and are trying again. It’s better not to say such things too loudly.”
Kian said, lowering his voice as he glanced at the bald, burly man who shot him a sharp glare.
”Really…”
Serena murmured, realizing the amount of hostility directed at them as she turned to look behind.
”Have you ever failed, Kian?”
”I’ve never even been able to take the promotion exams. I’m below that,”
”Hmm… It makes me wonder if the Guild’s assessment is wrong.”
As she spoke, she seemed a bit restless, swishing her silver tail.
She rubbed her slender, white thighs, wrapped in long boots, and occasionally lifted her heels to stretch.
”Are you nervous?”
”Huh?”
”No, it’s just that you seem more fidgety than usual.”
”Oh, do you really notice?”
”Are you worried about the second exam?”
Serena fell silent, making a difficult face for a moment before raising her light blue eyes.
”Kian, you’re already an old man, right?”
”Uh…? Oh. I’m already 30. By human standards, I’m definitely an old guy.”
”So, so then….”
Serena said, fidgeting while clasping her hands behind her back, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink, giving her a somewhat alluring look.
Her silver dog ears drooped, hidden among her hair.
”What on earth is going on?”
”Uh… well… hair loss.”
”Hair loss?”
”Yeah.”
Serena nodded, gazing at Kian with a mix of half embarrassment and half confusion.
”Do you often experience hair loss? From what I see of your hairline, you don’t look bald, though…”
”What on earth are you talking about? It’s normal to have some hair loss; that’s just metabolism. I’m not losing enough to go bald, though.”
”…I might become bald in the future.”
She said this with a serious expression, her eyes glistening.
She touched her short, wavy hair and swayed her long tail.
”Actually… lately, I’ve been losing some hair.”
”Really? Is that so?”
”Yeah.”
Serena tightly closed her thighs, creating deep wrinkles in the fabric of her shorts around her lower abdomen.
”And because of that, I feel restless and can’t settle down.”
”You don’t look like you’re going bald, though.”
Kian furrowed his brows and leaned slightly, glancing at her silver tail.
”Hmm, your tail doesn’t seem like it’s losing hair either.”
”…No, it’s fine. This is my problem. Just forget it.”
”Is that so?”
”Yeah. I’m a warrior. Before worrying about my appearance, I need to pursue strength.”
”I might be saying this out of turn, but I think appearance is important. I used to dress like a homeless person, and that caused me to get rejected for work quite a bit.”
Just as Kian finished speaking, Irina, the head receptionist, stepped onto the platform set up at the back of the plaza.
Surrounding the platform were fully armed guild martial staff.
It seemed the second examination was finally about to begin.
The atmosphere in the plaza suddenly became lively as the gathered crowd started to whisper.
With over 30 voices, the murmurs echoed like ripples in a test venue.
”Hey, look at that.”
A man dressed like a thief whispered next to Kian.
It didn’t seem he was talking to Kian but to a companion standing beside him, who leaned closer to listen.
”Ah, that’s Guild Master Friedrich. I mean, if it were an intermediate or higher qualification exam, I’d get it, but why is he here for a lower-rank exam?”
Following their gaze, Kian looked toward the back of the plaza.
On the left side of the guild staff, beneath the torches on the wall, a gaunt man in a staff uniform resembling a skeleton was engaged in conversation with a few followers.
There was no mistake.
It was Guild Master Friedrich.
After dealing with Sophia, Kian hadn’t seen him in public, but he looked even more unhealthy than before.
He appeared severely exhausted, showing maps to the staff around him and hurriedly pointing in various directions to give instructions.
”Is something going on?”
Serena whispered, scratching her shoulder.
Kian shook his head.
”I don’t know. But it doesn’t seem like the exam will be canceled. The receptionist, Ms. Irina, is starting to speak now.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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