Episode 2: Penalty Fees

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What…⁉

The job offer was revoked⁉

My mind went completely blank.

Getting an offer from a clan is generally considered equivalent to formal employment.

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After receiving an offer from "Blade of the Black Mist," I turned down all other offers from other clans. Now that it’s been revealed I have no attribute, no clan will accept me anymore.

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I had been preparing my whole life to become an adventurer, so I haven't developed any other skills that would allow me to find another job immediately.

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The small amount of savings I have won't last long.

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"That's too cruel! I'll do any chores, anything! So…!"

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"It's unnecessary. Just leave."

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A cold, dismissive tone.

This wasn't the kind and cool Raven I knew.

I finally understood.

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"Blade of the Black Mist" had planned to cut off young people who hadn't even finished their attribute tests if they turned out to be useless.

I was foolish to have dreamed about this organization.

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But if that's their attitude, then I...

I glared at Raven and spoke.

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"…Then, at least give me some money."

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"Money…?"

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Raven looked surprised by my response.

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"Of course! You've been messing with my life for your own convenience! Offering me a job and then discarding me at your whim? That's too convenient! If you're a big clan, you should at least provide some compensation!"

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I was desperate.

I might have never shouted so loudly in my life.

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"I have the official offer letter. If you don't pay up, I'll spread this story around! Wouldn't a big clan like yours care about its reputation?"

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"…!"

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Raven, who had been confident earlier, now seemed a bit taken aback.

He clicked his tongue and sighed.

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"How much? How much do you want?"

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I answered immediately.

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"One million jewels. Considering three months of salary and the trouble you've caused, that should be about right."

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"…Fine. But you understand what will happen if you spread this around, right?"

"Yeah. If you pay me, I'll forget about it."

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I understood that this was also hush money.

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I could have refused the money and spread bad rumors out of revenge, but that wouldn't benefit me at all. Practical gain was more important than feelings.

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"Here you go."

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"Huh?"

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Raven filled a burlap sack with jewels and threw it at me.

I hadn't expected to be paid in cash on the spot.

That's the benefit of being in an important position in a big clan, I suppose.

I checked the contents of the sack on the spot and counted the jewels.

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"Eighty-five… ninety… ninety-five… a hundred. It's all here."

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Thus, I received the money and left the place.

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I had always dreamed of becoming an adventurer.

Even though I just found out I have no attribute—meaning I lack the basic talent needed for the job—I still can't give up on it.

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No, I refuse to give up.

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Even if I lack abilities, I can lead a party and bring out the best in my comrades.

I've never heard of such an adventurer, but I believe the world could use at least one adventurer like that.

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However, no adventurer would normally follow the instructions of someone like me, who lacks attributes and has no experience with clans.

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This is why I need to use this one million jewels wisely.

Honestly, I don't like the idea, but I have no choice.

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I need to buy a slave.

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Thirteen years ago.

When I was only five years old, a horde of monsters attacked my hometown, Gale Village.

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A small village with a population of about five hundred didn't have the strength to fight off a horde of monsters.

Houses were wrecked, and the smell of blood was everywhere.

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In an instant, our peaceful village was destroyed by the invading monsters.

At my house, my father fought a wolf monster in our yard and was killed. The monster then approached me and my mother.

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Slash!

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My mother, holding me in her arms, was stabbed in the back by the monster's sharp claws.

She groaned and then collapsed on the spot.

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"Mom…?"

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She didn't respond when I called out or touched her.

Even as a child, I realized I was going to be killed too.

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"Hey! Is anyone there⁉"

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"A child is alive!"

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"We've come to save you! You're safe now!"

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I heard voices I'd never heard before.

The monster, hearing those voices, tried to flee but was quickly killed.

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"This is terrible…"

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An adult who saw my father and mother, now motionless, joined his hands in prayer.

One of them crouched down to my level and met my gaze.

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"Kid, I'm sorry about your parents. If only we'd arrived a bit earlier…"

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"Who are you…? Why did you save me?"

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"We're adventurers. I guess you wouldn't understand that. We hunt monsters. We saw a horde of monsters approaching Gale Village and rushed to help."

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"Adventurers…"

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Even though I was confused by losing my family and having my village destroyed, I still remember thinking that adventurers were cool.

At the same time, I felt a strong sense of duty to exterminate the monsters.

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If I became an adventurer, I could do that.

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From then on, I trained to become an adventurer.

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Fortunately, I had a talent for fighting monsters, and I was accepted into the prestigious Wells Adventurer Academy, graduating at the top of my class.

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After coming this far, there's no way I can give up on my dream now.