That’s All I Can Teach You

“Eh, you can tell even that much?”

“Heheh. No matter how much you polish them, you can always tell when a blade has cut a living thing. You’d be surprised how many different qualifications you need to sit in this seat, you know?”

Laughing, the receptionist slid the axe back toward him and tapped the counter.

“Now then, Kikori-san. I’ll take your wooden tag.”

“Ah—yes.”

When Kikori handed it over as prompted, the receptionist quickly took it and held out something like a bronze pendant attached to a chain.

“What’s this?”

“It’s like an ID that represents your trust level. That one is commonly known as proof of a Bronze-rank adventurer. It’s what we give to shiny new rookies.”

As the receptionist explained that discounts varied depending on one’s identification, Kikori nodded in understanding.

Given the nature of this Fortress City, no matter how many adventurers there were, it was never enough.

That was why they offered preferential treatment through such “identification,” and further motivated people to work by creating an internal promotion system and clear distinctions.

“It’s well thought out.”

“Hehe, you get it? You seem kind of mature, you know.”

“Huh? R-really?”

“Yes. Most people get excited when they see that, but you’re oddly calm. Like an adult.”

He messed up. Again, his past life had gotten in the way.

Kikori felt the blood drain from his face.

How should he react? Thinking desperately, he forced out a “Y-yay,” but Gantz, standing beside him, roughly placed a hand on his head.

“Don’t go trying to be weirdly considerate. Being realistic is a talent, if you ask me.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I touched on something I shouldn’t have.”

Comforted by both Gantz and the receptionist, Kikori’s face turned red.

If only he could live better—he kept wishing that, but reality never worked out so easily.

While he was thinking that, the receptionist pulled something like a megaphone from beneath the counter and shouted toward the space behind Kikori.

“Anyway, Kikori-san! You’ve been officially recognized as a new adventurer! Alright everyone, a round of applause!”

“Hey, welcome to the end of the world!”

“Don’t go dying right away!”

Cheers—or something like them—and countless claps filled the hall.

At least he seemed to be welcomed, Kikori thought as he bowed his head… and the applause only grew louder.

“Well, that makes you an adventurer now. From here on out, it’s either live or die. Make sure you live.”

“Yes. Thank you very much, Gantz-san.”

“…”

Gantz looked down at Kikori, then once again roughly ruffled his hair.

“I’m not going to teach you everything from scratch. No matter what you teach them, people who die will die. This is a place where pampered boys swinging pretty swords get killed in less than half a day.”

“…Yes.”

“Don’t hesitate. That’s all I can teach you.”

With that, Gantz waved his hand lightly at Kikori and walked away.

And so, Kikori’s life as an adventurer began.