Chapter 2: If Only I Could At Least Defeat a Slime
Anyway, I had to survive.
And for that, I needed money.
I decided to continue being an adventurer.
Of course, it would probably be better to find another job, but finding work in an unfamiliar land is tough anyway.
So, I figured I’d quit being an adventurer after I became strong enough to at least defeat a Slime.
That’s just how frustrated I was, I guess.
“Uoooooooh! Take this!”
Even as I swung my fist down with all my might, the Slime didn’t even flinch.
No matter how much I attacked, it had no effect on the Slime.
With one arm useless due to a fracture, I was struggling even more.
“Damn it… If only I had a weapon.”
I was a non-combatant, so they never let me have any weapons.
Of course, I didn’t have any money, so I couldn’t buy one either.
For food, I somehow managed by scrounging for scraps or eating grass and berries.
Why do I have to go through such humiliation…?
“So, I really can’t even defeat a Slime, huh…”
As evening fell, I gave up and returned to the Guild.
Even though I had no business there, I found myself staring at the quest board.
If only I could defeat a Slime, I could take on quests too…
“Hey, isn’t that Loin? Still can’t even beat a Slime?”
The one who approached me saying that was the hateful man who had expelled me.
“Ghuftok…”
He shouldn’t have any business with me anymore, so did he come all this way just to mock me…?
“Your Attack is 0, right? You’re just not cut out for this.”
“Yeah, yeah! How pathetic. Why don’t you just quit this job?”
These hanger-on women were really getting on my nerves…
Even though I left the party, they’re still hounding me?
In the end, maybe they just wanted someone to bully.
It didn’t matter whether I was actually useful or not; they just wanted to vent their frustrations.
If I was useful, fine. If not, they’d just expel me.
They probably planned it that way from the start.
In other words… I was deceived.
“That’s enough, just leave me alone! Don’t do anything more to me!”
“Ooh…! Scary…! You can do it if you try, shorty. Why don’t you defeat a Slime with that same spirit? Oh, wait, you can’t! Sorry, sorry, you’re just too weak, aren’t you?”
“Ghk…”
I wanted to say something back, but…
I reported them to the Guild, but they didn’t take me seriously.
I guess this kind of thing is common in a big city like this.
In a city like this, nobody needs me…
Still, I want to become strong enough to defeat at least one Slime!
This was the one shred of pride I wanted to cling to.
“Just watch, I’ll show you I can beat a Slime soon enough.”
“…Pfft…! Kuhahahahaha…! Did you guys hear that?!”
Ghuftok laughed as he addressed the entire Guild, making sure everyone could hear.
“This guy, this Loin Canberras! Even though he’s perpetually at the bottom of the adventurer rankings! He says he’ll show us he can beat a Slime! A Slime, you hear! That Slime! You’re the only one who can’t beat something like that! Gyahahahahaha!”
“Gyahahahahaha!”
Laughter echoed from all over the Guild.
Ah, I think even the receptionist-san is laughing.
Am I… really that ridiculous…?
It’s true, I’m still weak right now.
But I’ll definitely become strong enough to beat a Slime!
Because I won’t give up!
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《Adventurer Rank》
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1678th Yogso Sohman
1679th Dan Sylvester
1680th Loin Canberras
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Even after that, I challenged Slimes over and over again.
Sipping muddy water, scrounging for scraps.
Until I could defeat a Slime, I couldn’t go home.
My clothes became more and more tattered, and my spirit wore thin.
But I never gave up.
No matter how many times I was laughed at, no matter how many times I felt like collapsing, I went out to defeat Slimes every day.
“Oh, couldn’t beat one today either?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
The gatekeeper started recognizing my face.
By now, I’m a bit of a celebrity.
Well, in a bad way… but still.
But, I also made some allies.
I was a pathetic sight, stubbornly refusing to give up, but there were people who cheered for me like that.
“Yo, Loin, do your best again today! Well, you probably can’t, though!”
“Shut up! But… thanks.”
Someone who would say that and give me things like fruit.
And then, there was the receptionist-san at the Guild.
“Loin-san. Please keep up the good work! If you can just defeat a Slime, you’ll be able to take on those quests you’ve been longing for!”
“Thank you very much.”
“And also… please use this blanket. It’s cold outside.”
“Receptionist-san… Thank you so much!”
And so, the days and months passed.
And then, at long last, that moment arrived—