Chapter 8
The Villainous Noble Who Kept Rewinding After Death: The Story Somehow Changed When I Committed Suicide
Episode 8: Adventurers’ Guild
The Adventurers’ Guild is one of the organizations not affiliated with any particular country, primarily managing adventurers who are known for doing various tasks such as monster extermination, escort missions, herb gathering, and even street cleaning.
Within the guild, adventurers split into specialties such as those focusing on monsters or mercenaries who cater to warfare and PvP. It’s simple; each individual chooses their specialization, meaning of course there are also those who can handle both.
There are also people who do similar activities without being affiliated with the Adventurers’ Guild, but most requests go through the guild, creating a natural flow wherein adventurers take on missions, making it quite difficult for individuals to earn a living on their own.
Moreover, the biggest perk of being part of the Adventurers’ Guild is the ability to enter dungeons.
Dungeons are cooperatively managed by the country and the guild, so only those who belong to the guild with a guild card or those who have special permission can enter.
Therefore, anyone wanting to earn a stable income becomes an adventurer, and those aspiring to grow stronger also join the Adventurers’ Guild.
Next is the ranking system. Adventurers have individual ranks and party ranks, ranging from F to SSS.
To level up, one must meet conditions set by the guild. By fulfilling these requirements, one can increase their rank.
From F to C, you can rise by successfully completing ten requests of the same rank, but for B to S, in addition to ten successful requests at the same rank, an examiner must accompany you to assist in completing a request one rank higher and conduct an interview.
For ranks above SS, you will have to battle someone of the next higher rank, with the examiner recognizing your abilities, followed by an interview with the Guild Master. If the higher-ups at the guild approve, then you can finally rise in rank.
At level S and above, you are treated almost as nobility.
So this is not merely about strength; it’s a measure to confirm whether one is suitable for that rank based on both strength and character.
Finally, regarding dungeons. Dungeons are ranked from D to SSS, and if your individual or party rank matches the dungeon rank, you can enter.
Why is it set starting from D rank? It’s because monsters in dungeons often act in packs, and unlike the surface, there aren’t plenty of escape routes.
If a fresh novice adventurer were to enter, they could easily die due to the number and strength of the monsters, which is why a minimum rank of D is required.
Up to this point, the receptionist explained about the Adventurers’ Guild and dungeons, but since I am a newbie at F rank, it means I won’t be able to dive into any dungeons.
“Excuse me, miss. Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“If there’s a commotion inside the guild, what happens?”
“In that case, we, the guild, basically remain uninvolved, so please resolve it on your own. However, if someone draws a weapon or casts magic first, the other side is acting in justifiable self-defense, so the one who initiated the attack will be penalized.”
“I see, understood. Then, I’d like to make a purchase, please.”
“Certainly. Please place the item you want to sell here.”
I pulled a magic stone from the bag at my waist and placed it on the table in front of her.
“Th-this is…”
“It’s a magic stone from a Snow Wyvern.”
This was the magic stone from the Snow Wyvern I defeated a month ago.
I had no use for it until now, but I intended to negotiate for a rank-up using this.
“Um, who defeated it?”
“Me.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. So, as a special case, could you consider a rank-up request?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Hey, hey. If you were listening, you’d know that’s impossible.”
While the receptionist was in a dilemma, a burly guy from behind spoke to me.
“Hmmm. Why do you say that?”
“Ugh! That’s because there’s no evidence you actually defeated it! Maybe you just picked up the magic stone after another adventurer’s dying fight, or perhaps you bought it from some shop!”
“I see.”
Indeed, what this guy said was plausible.
“Then, if I showcase my skills, would that be enough for you to recognize me?”
“Hmph. That’s not for me to decide. Even if I recognize your talent, nothing changes if the guild doesn’t.”
(…This guy isn’t too bad.)
His attitude was large and his tone rough, but he was making a valid point and remained neutral.
“Then, miss. If I can show my skills, do you think you could accommodate me a bit and raise my rank? I think it would be beneficial for the guild to have more powerful members.”
Adventurers are jobs where you never know when you might die, but high-difficulty requests come in frequently.
So, it must be troubling for the guild if they can’t assign capable adventurers to suitable ranks to handle these requests.
“…I understand. I can’t decide on my own, but I’ll discuss it with the higher-ups.”
For now, it seemed like they’d consider it, so all I had to do was show my abilities…
“So, how should I demonstrate my skills?”
“If that’s the case, how about a mock battle? The man over there, Randol, is an A Rank adventurer, and he should be a suitable match given your experience defeating a Snow Wyvern.”
It seems the guy who spoke to me, Randol, was an A rank adventurer.
(I thought he looked strong, but A rank, huh?)
“Tch, guess that’ll do. Do we do it at the training underground?”
“Yeah, please.”
It seemed the location was decided, so it became a movement with me, the receptionist, and Randol, along with some onlookers watching our exchange.
The underground training area was quite spacious, with several other adventurers engaged in mock battles and magic training.
(Is that a barrier?)
There were spectator seats in the surroundings, and protective barriers were set up to prevent damage.
(Nice barrier! With this, even mages can train safely.)
“Hey, are you ready?”
While I scanned the area, Randol, wielding a huge axe, called out to me.
“Yeah, no problems here.”
I unsheathed the sword at my waist, holding it in my right hand, and stood facing Randol.
“Say, who do you think will win?”
“That’d be Randol, right?”
“But, you know, that kid had the magic stone from the Snow Wyvern.”
“Still, there’s no proof he defeated it, right?”
“Are both sides ready?…Then, begin!”
With the receptionist’s signal, I focused my attention solely on Randol, blocking out all extraneous information.
First, I blocked out the crowd’s noise, leaving only the sound of Randol’s heartbeat, his pulses, and the movement of his muscles, turning my sight into black and white, letting in only Randol’s slightest movements.
Randol was the first to make a move. He stepped in, raising his axe, and within an instant, he was right in front of me, swinging it down.
(Hmm. Strong as expected. But…)
To counter the descending axe, I interposed my sword with both hands.
There was no way I could stop his axe’s weight and strength.
(If I can’t block it, I’ll just deflect it.)
There’s no need to meet force with force. By using the flexibility of my wrists and thoroughly understanding the angle of my sword and my body’s movements…
(I can easily deflect it.)
The axe slipped off my sword smoothly, and just by shifting my body slightly, it missed me and slammed into the ground.
Since the axe’s center of gravity was at the tip, he couldn’t attack again immediately. Seizing that opening, I positioned my sword against Randol’s neck.
“Alright! My win!”