Chapter 16

The examination hall was quite spacious and located separately outdoors, seemingly not just for interviews but also to measure the skills of prospective adventurers using nearby scarecrows and target boards.

As I was looking around the examination hall, Karina asked me,

“Kurt, was it? How old are you?”

“Hmm… Twenty-six, I think… No, maybe twenty-eight. Sorry, Lizardmen don’t really pay much attention to age.”

“…I see. So, what did you do before becoming an adventurer?”

“I was a hunter. I started my first hunt before eight winters passed, so I’ve been a hunter for about 20 years.”

“…I see. So, how skilled were you as a hunter?”

“Hmph. Not to brag, but I was known as the best hunter in the village. I could easily take down a Basilisk.”

“…Understood. Then, I’ll call the next interviewee, Marisia.”

“Already over?”

“There’s nothing more to ask.”

Surprised by the shorter-than-expected Q&A, I asked, and Karina firmly replied.

Well, with that level of experience, I wouldn’t be looked down on anywhere.

Still, to call a Silver-ranked adventurer just for this level of basic questioning and charge 1 Silver…

Isn’t that a bit too much?

Though I thought that, since fewer hassles are better for me, I didn’t question it further and returned to the guild lobby.

…

Hmm. It’s taking a while.

Unlike my short conversation, Mari’s examination was taking quite a bit longer.

It’s unavoidable.

Unlike me, who was a veteran hunter, Mari said she had no significant experience.

Unlike me, proving herself would take time.

Well, her archery skills were quite impressive, so she’d probably pass somehow.

While I was thinking this, Karina and Mari finally came out of the examination hall.

“Oh. Finished? Took quite a while.”

“Ehehe. Unlike you, Kurt, I don’t have any impressive experience, so the skill test took a while.”

“Hmm. I guess that’s unavoidable.”

So, it was faster for me because of my experience.

This is why experienced folks have it good.

“By the way, do we get the results right away?”

“Yes. I’ll let you know now.”

Hmm. That’s convenient.

If it took longer, I might’ve wasted the whole day, so that’s a relief.

“First, Marisia, the Half-Elf. Though she has no special experience, her impressive archery skills during the examination were quite remarkable. Therefore, she will skip the basic Stone rank and be granted the Iron rank adventurer qualification directly.”

At Karina’s words, the bustling tavern fell silent for a moment, followed by murmurs of admiration.

Adventurer ranks generally start at Stone, also known as Rock, and go up to Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Even if someone is exceptionally skilled, they usually start at Stone rank during registration.

However, if their skill is far beyond Stone rank—at least two ranks higher—the examiner can grant a higher rank.

So, Mari being granted Iron rank means the examiner judged her to be at least Bronze rank or higher.

The reason they don’t grant Bronze directly is to account for potential examiner errors or hidden flaws that might appear during actual missions.

I passed the time by listening to a brief explanation at the reception desk while waiting.

By the way, if Mari started at Iron rank, wouldn’t I be granted a higher rank?

Maybe I’d get Silver rank.

No, adventurers above Silver rank aren’t just judged on skill but also on integrity and trustworthiness, so I might get Bronze rank.

Huh, I thought I was staying calm, but the thought of becoming an adventurer like in the novels got me excited.

Logically, if I were to be granted Bronze rank or higher, the examiner wouldn’t decide alone, so the rank wouldn’t come out this quickly.

I’d probably start at Iron rank like Mari.

“Kurt, unfortunately, you’ve failed the adventurer examination.”

“I thought so… Wait, what?”

“Let me repeat. Kurt, you are not qualified to be an adventurer. I’m sorry to disappoint your efforts in coming to the Adventurer Guild, but the decision won’t change. You can reclaim your 5 Silver at the reception desk on your way out.”

Thinking I might’ve misheard, I asked Karina again, but she repeated the same words firmly.

What…?

I didn’t mishear?

“Why! Why am I unqualified to be an adventurer?”

“You don’t know why you’re asking?”

“Of course! With my level of experience, there’s no way I’m unqualified!”

What is this? Lizardman discrimination?

Are they speciesist? Freaking racists?

If I failed, Mari should’ve failed too. Why is she the only one who passed?

It’s because she’s an Elf, isn’t it?

Humans. They only like Elves and discriminate against other humanoid species with unique appearances. I can’t stand it.

Before I could explode in anger, Karina’s mocking voice reached me.

“Right. You wouldn’t be lacking if what you said was true.”

“What do you mean?”

“Other humans unfamiliar with Lizardmen might be fooled, but you can’t fool my eyes.”

“What did I lie about?”

“For ordinary humans, it’s hard to tell a Lizardman’s age unless they’re very old, but I can tell clearly. Looking at your skin, you look no older than your late teens at best. No, considering your height is over 2 meters, that’s generous. Based on your skin condition, you could pass for early teens.”

“That’s…”

Caught off guard by this unexpected point, I was at a loss for words.

Transcendents, or beings who’ve reached the level of masters, regardless of species, live long lives like Elves.

And living long means slowed aging.

Thus, despite being close to thirty, my body as a Transcendent Lizardman didn’t look much different from a teenage Lizardman.

I never thought I’d be called out on that here.

Seeing me flustered, Karina seemed to think she’d hit the mark and continued.

“A Lizardman who looks under twenty comes in and says what? That he’s been a hunter for twenty years? That he can easily hunt a Basilisk, a monster even I wouldn’t dare claim victory over? You expect me to believe that?”

“Ku, Kurt…”

“That’s…”

Only then did I realize how Karina saw me.

I opened my mouth to argue against the misunderstanding.

“…I see the misunderstanding. Then examine me properly again. I’ll prove my skills.”

“No, if you had answered the interview honestly, I would’ve seriously tested your skills. But you kept lying throughout the interview. Adventuring is all about trust. Someone who keeps lying isn’t qualified to be an adventurer. Leave.”

“If you took the examination fee, you should examine me properly.”

“You wasted your chance to be examined properly. And I’ll refund your fee.”

“I’m not asking for a refund now.”

At this point, I’ll have to prove myself by showing my skills.

I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I can’t just leave after barely stepping into the Adventurer Guild.

It’s a matter of pride, but I also need to make a living as an adventurer.

In that case, I’ll use my aura…

Just as I was about to reach for my back, the guild door burst open.

“Emergency mission!”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the guild, which had been intently listening to my conversation with Karina, shifted.

The adventurers wiped their smiles and turned to the guild employee who brought the urgent mission.

The employee, unfazed by the intimidating gazes of the adventurers, explained the mission details.

“The client is Gemini, the wife of Fuchi, a herb gatherer from the commercial district. The mission is to rescue Fuchi, who went missing in the Shavel Tiger’s territory. The reward is 25 Silver and 25 Silver worth of herbs or spices! Any takers?”

“Sh, Shavel Tiger’s territory? Ahem…!”

“Isn’t the Shavel Tiger in its breeding season, making it more aggressive? That’s too risky.”

“Rescuing someone for 50 Silver worth of reward isn’t bad, but… entering the Shavel Tiger’s territory changes things.”

The guild employee, seemingly not expecting no one to step forward, asked again in a panicked voice.

“Surely someone will take this!?”

“Even if we go now, it’s probably too late. Maybe cancel the request?”

“That’s…”

At the cold words of an unknown adventurer, the guild employee couldn’t hide their disappointment.

Hmm… 25 Silver worth of spices, huh?

I’m not interested in herbs, but spices are quite appealing.

But as someone who couldn’t even register as an adventurer, taking on a mission was impossible.

In that case, I’ll give up on registering today and go rescue him personally.

At that moment, Karina, who had been confronting me, raised her hand and spoke.

“I’ll take it.”

“Karina!”

“Ooh. If it’s Karina, we can trust her.”

“That’s Karina for you. She never backs down from this kind of thing.”

“The model adventurer.”

At Karina’s words, the adventurers all voiced their admiration and showed her respect.

But Karina, ignoring their gazes, asked the guild employee for mission details.

“I’ll take it, so explain the mission in detail.”

“Understood!”

The guild employee happily explained the mission to Karina, who then pointed at me and said,

“You’re coming too.”

“Me too?”

“Yes. I’ll show you what it means to be an adventurer. Scared?”

“No. I was planning to go alone if you hadn’t taken the mission.”

“Haa… Right. You’re sticking to your guns. But let’s see if you can say the same after this mission.”

“Ah! Me too! I’ll come too! I’m part of Kurt’s party!”

“…Fine. An archer of your level might be helpful.”

With that, Karina finished her light preparations and left the guild with me and Mari.