You’ve Got Some Nerve Using A Ridiculous Name

To work as an adventurer in the Fortress City of Nilgen, it seemed one first had to go to the Adventurers’ Guild while carrying the wooden tag given by the guard.

Since he had been told the general directions, Kikori reached the Adventurers’ Guild without much trouble and looked up at the building.

A three-story stone structure. A sign hung on the splendid, sturdy-looking building, but unfortunately Kikori could not read it. He had never learned letters, so it could not be helped.

“This is an impressive building…”

“Hm? What’s this, kid? Don’t tell me you’re applying to be an adventurer?”

A man called out to him from behind, and Kikori almost jumped in surprise.

“Your weapon is… what’s this, an axe? Well, it’s not completely useless, I guess.”

“Uh…”

“Yeah. I’m Gantz. Kid, you trying to become an adventurer?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you, I’m Kikori.”

“Hah! ‘Nice to meet you,’ huh! Been a long time since I heard such a polite greeting!”

I messed up, Kikori thought.

Even when he felt he was speaking normally, others sometimes found him strange.

He knew that—and yet he still messed up.

“Well, being polite isn’t a bad thing. Not many people feel bad about being treated well.”

He kind of seems like a good person, Kikori thought.

The man had a powerfully built body, wore a metal breastplate, and had partial armor on his arms and legs.

The shield on his back looked sturdy, and the sword at his waist showed signs of long use.

He was probably what one would call a veteran adventurer.

“So, about that. You should quit trying to be an adventurer. You’ll just die.”

However, what Gantz said next sounded as if he were certain of Kikori’s death.

“But I—”

“No ‘but.’ Do you have any idea what a fight to the death is like? I get that a kid like you coming alone must have your reasons, but I’m not about to toss fresh bait in front of goblins.”

Or else, Gantz leaned in and peered at Kikori’s face.

“Or what, kid… you think goblins are a joke? You think they’re easy to beat? They’re not. They’re the kind of enemies that make grown men piss themselves and run.”

After saying it in a threatening tone, Gantz lightly patted Kikori on the shoulder.

“Well, you said you wanted to be an adventurer and got yourself a wooden tag, right? I’ll put in a word for you. Spend a couple days doing odd jobs at the guild, then look for different work.”

As Gantz thumped his shoulder again and again, Kikori almost answered “Yes” without thinking.

But… other work? Errands, customer service, deliveries. No matter the job, while talking he might again let something from his “past life” slip out.

Those utterly useless memories that only dragged him down might once more become the reason he was called “demon-possessed.”

If that was going to happen—

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, Gantz-san.”

He wanted to avoid interacting with others as much as possible.

At least until his sense of normalcy and way of thinking were overwritten by those of a resident of this Fortress City.

“Even so, I… I want to become an adventurer.”

At those words, Gantz’s expression changed several times.

Eventually, he let out a deep sigh.

“You’ve got the eyes of someone cornered. You’re still just a kid—what kind of life have you been living?”

“I’m sorry even though you were worried about me. But I—”

“Yeah, yeah, enough! If I stop you and you sneak off anyway, it’ll just leave a bad taste in my mouth! Come on, let’s go, kid!”

“Kid? I’m—”

“Kikori, was it? You’ve got some nerve using a ridiculous name. Well, this place is full of people like that anyway!”

Firmly grabbed by Gantz, Kikori was led into the Adventurers’ Guild.