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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“Adela, I brought back the Ogre.”
The Ogre’s head, clutched in Luke’s hand, swung back and forth by a few strands of hair.
“Do you have to be so… theatrical?”
“Isn’t there something else you should be saying?”
“…I’m glad you’re safe.”
There it was.
She was fulfilling her duties as a receptionist.
“Showing this off should make them feel the difference in power, right?”
The weaklings who couldn’t become C-rank adventurers apparently couldn’t even defeat an Ogre.
The request had been for a two-person party, but he could’ve handled it alone.
Luna, after witnessing his power, would probably also be capable of soloing an Ogre now.
Most adventurers in the guild were C-rank or lower. Some might even be below D-rank.
Parading the Ogre’s head around would demonstrate the difference in strength.
“Here’s the head. So, we’re D-rank now, right?”
“…Yes. Here are your D-rank adventurer badges.”
Adela retrieved two copper badges from a drawer. They were round, about the size of a 500-won coin, with the guild’s insignia of two crossed swords. The issue date and their names were engraved on the back.
“Hoho. Efficient, aren’t we?”
The badges must’ve been custom-made. How did they get made so quickly?
“I had them prepared in advance, knowing you’d succeed.”
“Tsundere Adela strikes again.”
“Personality and skill are separate things.”
That sounded like an insult.
Adela wouldn’t have any luck finding a boyfriend if she couldn’t judge character. Inner beauty was more important than looks.
“You seem to have had a rough time with this quest.”
“?”
Rough?
Well, he had to clean up after the protagonist.
But Adela couldn’t have known that.
“You usually don’t have a speck of dust on you, but now your clothes are torn and scorched.”
“Ah~”
Right. He did look like a mess. His top was torn, and he had scorch marks all over.
But surprisingly, neither were from fighting monsters. One was from friendly fire, and the other was self-inflicted.
Luna looked ashamed.
“The torn clothes are from Luna, and the scorch marks are from when I set myself on fire.”
“So you were hit by Luna…”
Why did she say it as if she had expected it?
“Aren’t you surprised I set myself on fire?”
“Compared to everything else you’ve done, that’s pretty tame.”
She’d probably stand by and watch someone commit suicide.
Apathy was the worst sin.
He remembered Adela being a diligent person. How did she become like this?
“At least you’re not naked.”
“It’s a bit of a shame, actually.”
If he were naked, he could have shown off his Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon.
Did the resistance skill apply to clothes? He was mostly unharmed, other than the scorch marks.
It was a shame he couldn’t show off his second greatsword, but constantly burning his clothes would be expensive and inconvenient.
“…I’m not disappointed.”
“Are you sure?”
If Adela had seen his greatsword, she would be drooling like a lovestruck maiden.
She was only saying that because she hadn’t seen it.
He had seen Luke’s… equipment while bathing.
It was huge.
As a character designed to be physically weak, Luke had been compensated in another area.
He could probably seduce any woman with that.
Should I show it off?
He reached for his crotch. Adela glared at him, sending a wave of killing intent.
Sending killing intent to customers seemed to be a basic skill for receptionists these days.
He was envious.
Adela’s expression softened as she placed his reward on the counter.
“Sigh… Here’s your reward.”
“Woohoo! Money!”
He had been hunting War Wolves and Goblins until now, so the reward for an Ogre was substantial.
He was used to copper coins, but this time, he received silver.
“Adela, how much until our next promotion?”
“Hmm… two more requests, or one big one like the Ogre.”
At this rate, he’d reach S-rank in no time.
An S-rank adventurer, a one-man army capable of destroying a nation.
“We’ll be going then.”
“Be careful.”
He said goodbye to Adela and headed for the exit, Luna following behind.
“Luke, what request are we doing tomorrow?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Tomorrow’s problems were for tomorrow’s him.
As he stepped out of the guild…
“Found you.”
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The man woke up in the academy infirmary.
“…An unfamiliar ceiling.”
He tried to sit up, but…
Throb!
“Ugh…!”
He clutched his stomach, a grimace on his face.
The pain brought back memories.
Arthur.
The protagonist of the novel Luke had possessed.
He held his stomach and his throbbing head.
He had been attacked by a demon during the training exercise. And he had lost.
A normal student would have felt defeated and hopeless, like Riche had.
But Arthur thought differently.
Why did I lose? I should have won, according to the original story.
Was it because he hadn’t received enough plot armor yet?
No. It was because he wasn’t used to his new life. He had been a normal person in a peaceful world before he reincarnated. He wasn’t used to killing.
“I’m the protagonist! I’m not supposed to lose!”
That was his excuse.
But how am I alive? I shouldn’t be.
Riche, especially at this early stage of the story, couldn’t have defeated that demon.
He should have died.
Could it be?!
Had his reincarnation changed the story?
It was a common trope in reincarnation stories. The protagonist’s presence alone could alter the original plot.
I’ve already influenced the story! How terrifying… I am!
The truth was that Luke had intervened, but Arthur, having been unconscious, had no way of knowing.
“Riche!”
He remembered her. She was the most important thing right now.
He quickly looked around.
The heroine was supposed to be nursing the injured protagonist.
But no one was there.
“…?”
Where is she?
He quickly came to a conclusion.
Riche must be injured too! She must be in another bed!
The infirmary beds were separated by curtains.
I’ll go and take care of her!
He got out of bed and rushed to the next bed, clutching his stomach.
But no one was there, other than the two E-class boys from his group.
“Where is she?”
The world revolved around the protagonist.
He and Riche were destined to meet.
He left the infirmary and started walking around the academy.
He spotted a girl with distinctive two-toned hair.
Riche Winchester.
“Riche! You’re safe!”
He had known they’d meet!
He was the protagonist, after all!
He ran towards her.
It was evening. Riche was leaving the dormitory.
It wasn’t in the original story, but this was a chance to be alone with her.
“Riche, where are you going? I’ll come with you!”
“Get out of my way.”
Her voice was cold, her gaze sharp.
She was focused on finding Luke and getting information.
I have to find him.
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