The Begotten Fiend

Chapter 31: Only Way To Fail

I stood there, massaging my sore parts.

All I could say was: "Damn."

In just a few minutes, I got my ass handed to me twice.

I guess when they say that you’re a big fish in a small pond, they weren’t kidding.

But this is good. This means I shouldn’t get conceited.

Still, to think he walked straight through Intimidation.

And when it worked well on monsters similar to me in strength?

Just another thing for me to think about.

Regardless, I have to take the first step to getting strong... and that’s--

"Kid, didn’t I tell you you’re bad for business? What are you doing, showing up back here?" The man from before--the one who sat in the hotel lobby--was the one who spoke.

"I know, I know, but something came up." I held both my hands up, trying to appease him. "I need the directions to the adventurer’s guild, and you’re the only person I could rely on."

It was a little disappointing that Rhea hadn’t shown me where it was before. I wonder why?

"Hey, you look a little rough around the edges?" the man said, eyeing me up and down. "You get roughed up by some punks, and want to get stronger?"

"Well, that’s..." I scratched the back of my head. "I guess you’re kind of on the money on that."

He laughed, then reached down below his desk--shuffling through some papers.

"Here," he said, holding out a small pamphlet. "A map of the city."

"You’re giving this to me?" I asked.

"Well, I’d usually charge eight bronze coins, but consider it fair compensation."

"Compensation? For what?"

"Hah..." he didn’t answer my question, pushing the pamphlet into my hands. "Just take it."

As he said that, someone else entered the lobby--likely to find a place to stay.

I didn’t overstay my welcome, taking a light bow before making my escape. "Thank you..." I stammered when I tried to think of his name.

"Bors." He waved me away.

"Thank you, Bors."

As I walked out the door, I faintly heard him say "that’ll be one silver."

Bastard! You said it cost two!

Honestly, I’m not even mad. The fact he let me stay at all is proof he’s nicer than he let on. And I have this small, little thing to take with me.

My eyes poured over the area, looking between the city and the pamphlet for any sort of landmarks.

Ah, there!

I followed down the path that led to the adventurer’s guild.

**********************************************************

Standing in front of it, it was even better than I’d imagined.

The building was supported by ivory pillars painted gold. The walls were a nice, glossy stone. Along every crevice of the place were gallant designs, with flowers, heroes, and beasts etched into it.

A big sign hung over its front door, saying "Adventurer’s Guild."

And within the guild held enough mana to fill the entire building.

Certainly matches the look I’d imagined all those years back. I was finally here.

My lips curved upwards as I ran inside. "Let’s do it!"

When I slammed the door open, what I saw quickly stole the curvature from my lips.

The air was musky, the atmosphere was gloomy. In one corner, there was a big, tall man with caveman-like attire draped over him. In another, women covered themselves to the bare minimum while flirtatiously hovering over the men.

It was like they’d gathered every negative archetype of the poor adventurer, and stuffed it in one building.

"Ah, a newcomer," a voice rang. It came from the receptionist desk at the end of the hall. "Come, I don’t bite."

She was smiling as she spoke--a mole sticking out above the right corner of her mouth.

I slowly approached the desk, half-wishing that I would just turn around and forget the whole thing. "Ah, I’m in the right place, right?" I asked, not that I didn’t know the answer.

She didn’t answer it directly, just pulling out a kind of stamp. "I was told to be expecting you."

"You were?"

"You are Nash Borne, right?"

I nodded my head, leaning into the desk. "Though, I prefer to go by just my last name."

"Well, unless you march down to the magistrate’s office and get your last name removed, I’m obligated to use your full name."

That doesn’t sound like too bad of an idea, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about.

"Anyway, do you think you can register me with the adventurer’s guild?" I asked.

"Hm... do pigs fly?"

"Wh-what?"

What the hell type of response is that?

"What I mean is, you should know how this works. You don’t just "join" the adventurer’s guild. If that were the case, we’d be putting thousands of men to their deaths." She tilted her head, stamping a seal down on one of her many papers stacked up. "Do I need to bring you up to speed on this stuff?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay, in a nutshell, this office is only meant to be used for accepting quests and whatnot. We do process requests for entry, but that takes time. I suggest you go to the chancellor’s branch and have your request for entry processed there."

"What do you mean by ’request for entry’?"

Sighing, she stopped moving her hands, crossing her arms. "Okay, you’re supposed to research these things before you come to one of the guilds."

I didn’t really know what to say, I just tilted my head down. "I know, I’m sorry. Still, could you be lenient with your junior?"

I’m not sure if I’m imagining it, but she’s... blushing?

Maybe she has a weak spot to young people.

"S-sure... but don’t take me for granted." She coughed, returning to her serious expression. "Look, the process has multiple steps, but to make a long story short, you start by requesting for entry into the guild, then the main branch runs an extensive background check, makes a personality interview, then provides combat orientation. It is the safest route to becoming an adventurer."

What? That sounds like a lot.

"And how long would this all take?"

"It’s not the same for every person, but it takes around six months." freewebnσvel.cøm

I only have two silver coins, and I need a source of income. Plus, I simply cannot wait that long to get strong.

I crashed my hands into the desk. "Six months!? There’s no way I can wait six months--"

She held her finger to my lips, cutting me off. "Ah-ah-ah. That’s what all of you brutes say." Then, she gestured to her side where a single door stood. "You can also undergo a direct combat trial. If you pass, you’ll instantly become an adventurer."

A combat trial?

"Okay, sign me up. Throw whatever you have at me--"

She cut me off again, this time, without a finger. "Look, kid. Trust me when I say that you should take the conventional route."

I pumped my fist. "Miss, I appreciate your concern. But you don’t need to look after me. Despite how I look, I’m pretty strong--"

"No, that’s not it." A slight smirk crept upon her lips. "The arbiter, he’s a tough man. Not a single person has passed his trial."

"And this trial... is it one I can take more than once?"

She shook her head. "No. It’s impossible to take it multiple times."

"Why? Is it not allowed?"

"No." Her stare turned into a glare--so deathly serious that I staggered back. "It’s because the only way you fail is if you die."