Naturally, there’s a toll to pass through any town.
The larger the town, the higher it tends to be.
So, of course, the toll for the Royal Capital is ridiculously high.
It’s more like an entrance fee, costing one gold coin.
That’s why the people in the Royal Capital are mostly nobles, big merchants, or those who lived there before the capital was established.
By the way, this town is three silver coins.
If it’s your hometown, you don’t have to pay the toll.
And a passage permit is something that commoners would kill for, as it only needs to be shown when entering a town to be exempt from the toll.
“Oh! You’ve suddenly become motivated. Did you want to go to the Royal Capital that badly?”
“Yes. I want to enter the Royal Eldina Academy.”
My ultimate goal is to become a Rank S adventurer.
However, to do that, I have to defeat the Demon Lord.
But defeating the Demon Lord alone would be extremely difficult.
That’s why I want to cooperate with the Hero to defeat him, but to cooperate with the Hero, I need to be recognized by the country.
The Hero is the same age as me, 12 years old.
For training, he will attend Eldina Academy in three years.
So, if I become friends with the Hero there, and even beat him while in school, I’ll probably be recognized by the country.
That’s the plan.
Before that, I need to become at least a Rank A… or at least a Rank B adventurer.
It’s going to be tough to get there in three years, but once I’ve decided to do something, I’m going to do it.
“Hee, you want to enter Eldina Academy. Certainly, you’d need a passage permit for that. …Actually, I was a student there myself, but it’s full of monsters, you know?”
“Yes. I’m prepared for that.”
“Well, I’d be happy if you became my junior, and I won’t stop you. So, let’s have a mock battle. Come to the back of the Guild.”
Following Kuuga-san, we arrived at a small arena.
“This is a place the Guild lends out when high-rank adventurers have duels. I got it specially for today.”
“…I’m in your care.”
“Don’t be so nervous, I’ll fight with my left hand as a handicap.”
Kuuga-san is specialized in strength, so his speed shouldn’t be that great.
If that’s the case, I might be able to win if he’s clumsy, but,
“!? Are you sure? That’s too much…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Now, let’s begin.”
I gripped my one-handed sword and faced him, and in an instant, I realized the difference in our abilities.
No, I was made to realize it.
An overwhelming pressure. This is…
“What’s wrong? You’re not coming… then I’ll go!”
Kuuga-san approached with incredible speed.
I barely managed to follow him with my eyes, so I somehow evaded.
However, even though I thought I had evaded, it seems I was hit slightly.
The next moment, I fell to the ground.
“Just a graze, and this much power…”
At this rate, my defeat is certain.
He reached my side and tried to strike me with his sword.
This is what I was waiting for!
Even if Kuuga-san is specialized in strength,
all of his stats are probably still higher than mine.
Currently, the highest of my stats is strength. It’s better not to compete in other stats.
So, if I land a counter, I have a chance to win!
I lowered my stance and blocked Kuuga-san’s sword.
Good! In terms of strength alone, I don’t seem to be that far behind.
He seems surprised that I blocked it, but that moment of hesitation is an opening.
I immediately changed my posture and landed a counter.
At that moment, smoke rose.
My sword made contact, but immediately after, it cut through the air.
Could it be… I thought, and when I looked behind me, Kuuga-san was there.
“Sorry.”
I was knocked unconscious with a chop to the neck.
When I woke up, Kuuga-san was smiling.
“No, I didn’t think you’d be able to block that. I thought your average stats were around 3000, but it seems your strength is exceptionally high.”
“More than that, that skill you used to disappear at the end was way too much.”
Kuuga-san laughed as he answered me as I slowly stood up.
“Ah, that. That’s my Original Skill, ‘Demon Armor’. It triples my stats for a certain amount of time.”
“That’s an outrageous cheat skill, isn’t it?”
“Is it? I think ‘Raijin’ is more amazing, though.”
“Well, of course…”
“Anyway! Since you lost, no passage permit for you!”
“Ugh! Couldn’t you have given it to me like, ‘For my cute future junior…’ or something?”
“Hahaha. No way, it was a promise.”
Well, it can’t be helped. I’ll just honestly pay the one gold coin…
Name: Cain
Lv 17
HP: 2985/3358 (186)
MP: 3528 (146)
Strength: 35764 (147)
Speed: 3286 (145)
Physical Hardness: 3301 (129)
Magical Power: 3544 (162)
Luck Stat: 25
Skills:
Status Board
Skill Duplication
Throwing x 2456
One-Handed Sword Basics x 3002
Physical Enhancement x 3141
Defense Basics x 31
Magic Basics x 201
Basic Magic x 4
Titles:
Goblin Hunting Expert
As a side note, combat-type Original Skills almost always have an effect that gives a bonus to the stat increase amount when leveling up.
Therefore, even if the stat increase amount is high, 5 is the amount without skills.
Also, I received feedback that “Aptitude Ceremony” should be “Ceremony of Aptitude” and I thought that was indeed correct, so I have corrected it.
There may be some clumsy, confusing, or contradictory parts, but I would be grateful if you could watch over me with a warm eye and point them out.