Chapter 22: The Path to Adventure: A Swordsman’s Resolve

“Ahhh!”

A sharp cry escaped as searing pain radiated from the top of my head.

Selion chuckled lightly as she watched me, her expression amused.

Blinking back tears, I attempted a counterattack. But my options were limited—my swordsmanship was basic, restricted to slashes and thrusts.

With no follow-up to a thrust, I found myself needing significant time to reset my stance. This gap highlighted a glaring weakness I had overlooked while fighting monsters.

It felt like sparring with the gatekeeper back in the village—a methodical approach that exposed my flaws, attacked them relentlessly, and forced me to recognize them myself.

Every failed strike from me was met with a punishing counter, her weapon landing squarely on my head.

This only made me more cautious.

“Hmm…”

As the duel dragged on, a look of curiosity crossed Selion’s face.

I wanted to ask about it, but I had no time. My full attention was on dodging her relentless strikes.

Clang!

Her blade swept precisely into the path of my retreat, as though reading my movements in advance.

I hastily raised my sword to block, but the sheer force of her strike disrupted my stance.

Bracing for the inevitable blow, I closed my eyes tightly, ready to endure the pain.

But no impact came.

Cautiously opening one eye, I saw Selion standing with her arms crossed, her expression oddly contemplative.

“Is it… over?” I asked hesitantly.

“If you’ve shown me all you’ve got, then yes, it’s over.”

“Phew…”

I let out a sigh of relief and lowered my sword.

My body was drenched in sweat, a result of the frantic movements during the short but intense duel.

Sliding my sword back into its scabbard, I waited for Selion’s verdict.

“How did I do?”

“You’ve passed for the Bronze tier, at least. But…”

Her gaze lingered on me as her words trailed off.

Finally, she shared her observations.

“Your form is solid—you must’ve had a good teacher. Your hesitation in attacking is noticeable, but it’s actually a positive trait. It shows you understand the danger of a sharp blade and respect its lethal potential.”

With a casual gesture, Selion sheathed her training sword.

“But…” she continued, “your attacks stop mid-flow, especially after a thrust.”

“Ah, that’s because…”

“Let me guess—you weren’t taught the follow-up moves?”

I nodded quietly.

In truth, I had been taught them. But aside from the basic downward slash and thrust, I doubted the other techniques were effective, so I refrained from using them in actual combat.

While training in swordsmanship back in the village, I had often felt that transitions between movements were slightly awkward.

“That’s unfortunate. If you had fully learned that swordsmanship style, you could have easily ranked higher than Bronze,” Selion remarked.

“Is that swordsmanship style really that remarkable?”

“Well… I can’t say for sure since I didn’t see all of it. Judging by your reaction, you probably don’t even know its name, do you?”

I nodded and recounted my story to Selion—how I came to learn swordsmanship and the demeanor of the man who taught me. Of course, I left out the part about running away from home.

“Hmm… Maybe there was a reason he could only teach it to you that way?” Selion murmured, seemingly deep in thought.

Without warning, she grabbed my arm and led me off to another room. She not only wrote up my certification but also handled the issuance of my rank badge herself, suggesting she had taken a liking to me.

“Here you go.”

“Oh! Thank you.”

I bowed my head gratefully as I received the rank badge from Selion.

After a brief glance at me, she returned to the room she had come from, her crimson hair leaving a striking impression as she disappeared from sight.

Murmuring her name softly to myself, I made my way to the library on the second floor.

However, upon entering, my expectations were immediately dashed.

The state of the swordsmanship books was appalling. Some had no text at all, only crude drawings, while others were written in indecipherable handwriting.

To make matters worse, the only other person in the library—a lone visitor—clicked his tongue in disapproval after skimming through a few books and promptly left.

“Hmm…”

Even the library’s security seemed lax. I sighed as I looked at the dozing librarian behind the desk.

Despite my disappointment in the state of the library, I decided to make the best of it and search for anything useful.

I dragged a small wooden ladder from the corner of the room and began pulling books from the shelves, starting with one that seemed to be in decent condition.

The book’s opening passage was vague and poetic, encouraging the reader to “feel the essence of nature.” It felt promising, so I read on eagerly, hoping for something insightful.

But my hopes were quickly dashed—it wasn’t a swordsmanship manual but the diary of a swordsman, filled with exaggerated accounts of his supposed exploits.

Sighing, I put the book back and grabbed another.

The next morning, I woke up in the inn’s bed.

My eyes were dry and sore, likely from staying up late reading last night.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I propped my chin in my hand and sighed.

The state of the guild library had been nothing short of dismal. There was no way I would find the origins of my swordsmanship there.

Though I hadn’t gone through every book yet, the deplorable condition of the library made my early judgment feel justified.

Yes, I decided—I wouldn’t waste my time there anymore.

After dressing, I headed down to the inn’s first floor.

Despite the early hour, the kitchen was bustling with breakfast preparations. The aroma of something savory wafted through the air, suggesting a warm soup was on the menu.

I found a seat and ordered my meal.

As I had predicted, the breakfast consisted of a steaming bowl of soup, mashed potatoes, and a single sausage.

The mashed potatoes were topped with mayonnaise.

I stirred them around with my fork, chuckling softly as a memory from my past life resurfaced.

Back then, I had grand ideas about making and selling soap or mayonnaise to earn money—right up until I discovered those items already existed in the village elder’s household.

Looking back on it now, it was a laughable memory.

After taking a bite of sausage, I finished my breakfast and headed to my next destination: the Adventurer’s Guild.

Before entering, I glanced briefly at the Swordsman’s Guild but quickly shook my head.

The thought of wasting more time in that dreadful library held no appeal.

The Adventurer’s Guild interior was massive, which wasn’t surprising given the size of the nation and the sheer number of adventurers.

Looking around, I made my way to the bulletin board, which was as enormous as the guild building itself. Some requests were posted so high that they were out of my reach.

As I browsed for suitable quests, a particular flyer caught my eye:

[Dungeon Exploration Team Recruitment]

Join us in exploring a dungeon rumored to hold forgotten knowledge and unimaginable treasures. We are seeking brave and determined adventurers for this expedition.

Recruitment Details:

• Swordsmen (5): Strong and capable of melee combat.
• Magician (1): Proficient in long-range magic attacks.
• Holy Cleric (1): Skilled in dispelling curses and healing.
• Rangers (2): Experienced in trap detection and disarmament.

Requirements:

• Adventurers with a history of discord with teammates are not eligible.
• Except for magicians and clerics, all participants must hold at least a Bronze rank badge.
• Must possess courage and resilience to endure dangerous situations without faltering.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Basic stipend: 5G.
• Ownership claim to one item from the treasures found in the dungeon (with certain exceptions).
• Provision of various potions and warm meals.

The dungeon’s location and duration of the exploration will be discussed with the client.

This was it.

Without hesitation, I tore the request from the board and approached the receptionist.

The receptionist, visibly weary from a long day of work, greeted me with a faint smile.

“What can I do for you?”

“I’d like to take this one.”

“Dungeon exploration request…?” she said, glancing at the flyer I handed her.

I showed her my Bronze rank badge, still gleaming like new.

“I’m applying as a swordsman. Here’s my rank badge.”

“Hmm, your rank checks out. No past infractions, either.”

“Well, I only got it yesterday.”

“Hmm… well, it shouldn’t be a problem. Here, take this.”

The receptionist handed me a small slip of paper. It listed the location and room number of the inn where the client was staying.

With no reason to delay, I immediately headed to the inn.

When I arrived, I noticed another adventurer waiting outside the designated room. Judging by his presence, he was likely here for the dungeon exploration request as well.

Approaching him, I asked, “Is no one inside?”

“Huh? Are you the client…?” He glanced at the paper in his hand and asked cautiously.

I shook my head. “No, I’m here for the same request.”

“Ah, dungeon exploration… hmm, seems like no one’s in.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting for about 20 minutes now…” he replied with a long sigh.

He looked tired—would he even be able to fight properly?

Slumping down next to the door, he asked, “Are you a cleric? Or maybe a mage?”

“I’m a swordsman.”

“A swordsman…? Bronze rank?”

“Yes. What about you?”

“Er, uh…” The adventurer hesitated before turning away and showing me his Bronze badge.

He continued to eye me curiously, which wasn’t surprising.

I was sure I didn’t look like the typical swordsman, especially not one at his rank.

After all, who would expect someone who appeared to be a young girl to hold the same rank as him?

We both waited in silence for the client to arrive.

Some time passed before a woman climbed the stairs.

She was wearing a white leather coat that stood out against the dim corridor.

Seeing us sitting outside the door, she looked startled. “What… what’s going on?”

“Ah, are you the owner of this room?”

The male adventurer quickly stood and showed her the slip of paper in his hand.

“We’re here about the dungeon exploration request,” he explained.

“Oh…”

Recognition dawned on her face, and she nodded. Then her gaze shifted to me.

“And you…?”

“I’m here for the same reason.”

“Are you a mage? Or maybe a cleric?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with hope.

Why did everyone keep assuming that? I wasn’t even dressed like one.

Still, I could technically fulfill her expectations—I was indeed capable of magic.

But claiming to be a mage would undoubtedly lead to complications later, like attracting unwanted attention from the Magic Tower.

“No, I’m a swordsman.”

To clarify, I showed her my freshly issued Bronze rank badge from the Swordsman’s Guild.