Chapter 3: Promotion and the Great Subjugation Mission 02
The next day, after finishing my daily routine, I headed to the guild in the evening and found a small crowd gathered around the bulletin board.
It seemed that the official announcement for the Great Subjugation Mission against Goblins had been made.
Glancing over the details, it stated that the subjugation would be led by a viscount’s household, and all adventurers of E-Rank and above were required to participate. The reward was set at 50,000 to 200,000 Rom per person per day, depending on their rank.
The departure was scheduled for three days later, which felt rather rushed, but judging by the reactions of those around me, this seemed to be the norm.
In front of the bulletin board, Kisara and a few other staff members were explaining the details verbally to adventurers who couldn’t read. This was clearly a matter of great importance for the guild.
Having gathered the necessary information, I completed my purchases and made my way to the weapon shop. With my finances in a better state, I decided it was time to upgrade my weapon. My level and skills had increased, and I had acquired special skills, making my current mace feel inadequate.
“Hey there, kid! The items you requested have arrived,” the shopkeeper greeted me as he emerged from the back, pushing a cart with two metal rods on it. These were training rods made of Dark Metal.
“Thank you! I’ll take them. Also, I’m looking for a new mace since my current one isn’t cutting it anymore.”
“Not cutting it, huh? You’re pretty confident for someone who just bought that two weeks ago.”
“Yeah, well, it’s like this,” I said, swinging my mace lightly with just my wrist, causing the shopkeeper’s eyes to widen in surprise.
“Whoa, what kind of strength is that? Even D-Rank adventurers can’t do that!”
“Oh, I did manage to rank up to E-Rank yesterday…”
“Seriously? No way… You really are something else. So, are you sticking with the mace, or did you want to try a spear like you mentioned?”
“It seems that using the mace suits me better. But I’m a bit interested in long swords as well.”
“A long sword, huh? It’s significantly harder to handle than a mace.”
“I understand that. For now, I’d like a training one. I want a mace that’s about three times heavier than my current one.”
“Three times, huh… Alright, just wait a moment.”
The shopkeeper disappeared into the back and returned with three maces and three long swords on another cart.
“This one here is the best of what we have. As for the long sword, I’d say it’s a cheap one… but with your strength, you should get a good one instead.”
“Understood. Let me see them.”
I picked up each weapon, trying to find the one that felt the best. The mace was easy to choose since my skills had improved, but I was unsure about the long sword. I decided to pick one that felt comfortable to hold.
“I’ll take this one, please. And could you add a belt to the long sword’s sheath?”
“Got it. That’ll be a total of 510,000 Rom. Can you pay for that?”
“Yes, that’s no problem. Thank you!”
My funds had taken quite a hit, but considering it was an investment in my future, it was worth it.
It felt like I had changed significantly in just two weeks since arriving in this world, being able to spend money so boldly.
The next day, instead of entering the dungeon, I spent the entire day at the training grounds (temporary) to get accustomed to my newly acquired mace.
The new mace was slightly longer, and the head was noticeably larger. It definitely felt about three times heavier than my previous one, and swinging it reminded me of the first time I had swung my old mace.
Imagining the movements of the monsters I had fought so far, I swung the mace in various directions, picturing myself crushing them.
Normally, swinging something this heavy would pull at my body, but thanks to my special skill, Stability, my body remained steady.
Stability was said to stabilize my footing, but in reality, it was an incredible skill that seemed to defy the laws of physics by keeping my center of gravity close to my body.
It felt as if my weight increased momentarily, providing stability, and it seemed that the effect would grow as my level increased.
I was currently at level two, but even so, I could feel the skill’s effectiveness immensely.
After about an hour of swinging the mace with intense focus, I felt it becoming more familiar to my body. I likely leveled up at the same time I got used to it.
Next, I turned my attention to the long sword.
The reason I chose to challenge myself with a long sword instead of a spear was simple: the striking image of Anatoria, the Crimson Blade, wielding a long sword had left a lasting impression on me.
After an hour of swinging the long sword in a clumsy manner, I suddenly felt a jolt of understanding in my body regarding the proper way to wield it.
My blade control began to stabilize, and my footwork became somewhat smoother.
After another hour, it seemed I had reached level two with the long sword.
“Alright, I’ll need to try this out in actual combat to improve further.”
I wouldn’t grasp the nuances of wielding it any better without facing monsters.
I set the long sword aside and picked up the Dark Metal rods, holding one in each hand and stowing another in my bag.
This should provide me with nearly 300 kilograms of added weight.
I thought about going for a run, but my shoes wouldn’t hold up. I took them off and began running barefoot.
Thanks to my special skill, Steel Body, the soles of my feet hardened instantly, allowing me to step on stones without feeling pain. I was really becoming something beyond human.
After a day of intense training, I felt my skills and physical body strengthening. Yes, this was definitely enjoyable. Tomorrow, I would unleash this power against monsters.
The following day, being the day before the Great Subjugation Mission, I had my armor adjusted and acquired a new buckler in the morning.
Afterward, I headed to the Great Rock Dungeon, where I practiced slashing Goblins and Rock Lizards with my long sword to get accustomed to the feel of it.
After getting used to the mace’s blunt force, the sensation of cutting through monsters with a blade was refreshing. At the same time, I could feel the sheer power of a blade all too well.
I had heard that Western swords were primarily used for slashing rather than stabbing, but there was no denying the difference a blade made.
However, it seemed that with my increased strength, the blunt force of the mace still delivered a more straightforward power.
After all, even the boss, the Bear Wolf, would have its head “explode” with a full-force strike. The terrifying violence born from mass and speed was undeniable.
With that, I felt I had done everything I could to prepare for the Great Subjugation Mission. At this point, I believed I could take down the Failed King head-on.
Looking around at the other adventurers, I felt that I was quite exceptional for an E-Rank, but… no, no, I mustn’t become complacent. I must remember that I am still a newcomer, having only been an adventurer for just over two weeks.