A week later...
( Showing stats >>> ... )
Level: 26
Health: 432
Stamina: 493
Strength: 231
Magic: 224
Physical Defense: 63+12
Magic Resist: 52+12
Skills: DragonClaw(Lv2) FireBall(Lv3) SwordStrike(Lv2)
Passive Skills: DraconicScales(Lv2)
The window appeared in front of Zero.
There - he's standing near the corpses of the monsters he just fought. All of them have at least three slashes of wounds on their torsos that seem to have come from another giant monster. Their eyes are already white and their blood fills the ground; they can't be anything but dead now.
[ I guess this is enough for now... ] he felt distressed as he saw his own stats, ignoring the leftover monsters that are now trying to escape.
( I guess I'll go back to the guild. ) he put his sword on its sheath and turned the other way.
This has been now his daily routine.
With a bit of thought, he had decided that he will need to become more powerful, as even if he refuses to accept the task that was given to him by Zereal, he will come to the point where he will need to fight these 'Chosen People'. Or still, no matter what, he will still need to power himself up nevertheless.
***
[ Red-hound fangs and goblin horns... and by the sizes of these... hobgoblins... You really went to another level in just a week, huh...? ] Diana, the receptionist who has first received Zero seems to be stunned in disbelief as she sorts the materials Zero had brought him.
Zero is now back in the guild.
And as usual, there are some adventurers that are hanging out inside it and having a talk with each other, whereas Zero is still on his own. The only person who he had talked with since the first day he has arrived was Diana - who he was able to get close too.
[ It took a while, but now, I can at least handle most of them. ] he casually replied to her.
Diana looked at him with a baffled expression. She had witnessed his unbelievable growth - to now from when he just started. It was easy to say that he was the fastest to ever grow compared to any other adventurers she had seen so far.
Furthermore, he also started to become really famous in the town that most adventurers already know his name. He was now even given the nickname, "Monster Hunter" for the uncountable number of monsters he had already killed just within a week. Some adventurers are even trying to get him to their parties, but every single one of them, he turned down.
And his casual remark, "This is the least I can do for now" still boggles her mind every time she hears it. She could only imagine what he is aiming for - just how strong he would get first before he starts to have a confident reply.
[ Diana-san? ] as she remained there, silent, he tried to get her attention. And immediately, she snapped back and went back to her thoughts.
[ Umm... Right... Here you go. ] she gave him a pouch that contains the price for the materials he sold them. And right away, he took and received it with a grin on his face.
[ Hehe... ]
Diana could only sigh as she looks at the obvious greed written on his face.
[ By the way... can I ask why are you still not doing any tasks on the board...? With your abilities, you can now at least complete most of them... You can't rank-up just by selling materials like this, Zero-san... ] this question had been inside her mind ever since he realized Zero's rapid growth.
All adventurers are supposed to take their ranks up, but she had never seen him even considering taking a task on the board. If he takes any kind of task on a daily basis, he could've already been promoted to Bronze II, yet he was not because he never took any.
This was not just a mystery she wanted to find out, but the other adventurers as well.
[ ... ] she waited for a reply, but Zero only stares at her - seems to be thinking of something.
"I just want the experience" - is the answer he wanted to say but didn't.
To Zero, all he cares about is the money and the levels he gets from defeating monsters. He couldn't care less of what his rank is.
And as far as he knows, most of the tasks posted on the board are task he isn't even allowed to take, which ironically denies what Diana-san had said.
*Gather Herbs* and *Guard Person* and *Escort* were the only tasks he could do with his current rank. And he doesn't have the patience to do those things just to rank himself up. If he is still able to collect money and gain levels without taking his rank up, then there's almost no sense for him to rank-up at all.
[ I'll think about it, Diana-san. For now, I need to look for stronger monsters. ] after a long thought, he answers.
[ Is that so...? Anyway, you - ]
[ Oh~? Stronger monsters you say? ]
It was then, that suddenly, a voice was heard from beside him, interrupting Diana and repeating the words he just said.
He turns to look where it came from and saw a man with the same age as him standing beside him.
He has yellowish hair and an Ikemen face. And his clothes also indicate that he must be an adventurer such as himself.
[ Oh, right, let me introduce myself, my name's Richard. Hmm... Diana-san, how about you say the rest? ] he rudely asked Diana who was just quietly staring at him.
[ I-I guess I can... Umm, Zero-san, this here is Richard-sama, he's the strongest and best adventurer in this town. He also just recently reached the rank silver II so he's close to being a gold. ] she hesitantly explained.
[ Fufu... Amazing, right? ] he laughs, seems to be full of himself.
( Is it really? ) again, he did not say the words out loud. He just let this 'Richard' person continue boasting about himself and quietly stares at Diana - whispering, "Going to get out of here now", and turned around.
But before he could even step a foot on the ground, he called out to him again.
[ He-Hey wait! Don't ignore me! ]
[ What. Is it...? ] he tiredly asked back.
[ You said that you want to fight stronger monsters, right? How about I tell you where to find one? ]
His words made Zero pause and put him in a thought.
( It's really hard to gain levels now with these usual monsters... I really need to fight with something stronger... It wouldn't be much of a trouble to hear him out, I guess...? )
Richard's offer seemed to be very tempting for him that he couldn't back away after hearing it.
And so, he reconsiders and decided to hear him out -
[ Okay, but let me ask first, what kind of monster are you talking about? ]
[ Oh... It's just some weak monsters... ]
[ Weak monsters? I thought I said I was looking for strong ones, are you deaf? I'm walking out now. ]
[ He-Hey! Isn't that a bit rude!? Haa... Anyway... Yes, I'm talking about those chimeras in the mountain near this city. They're strong monsters. ] he said those words with a tone that seems to be inviting or challenging Zero.
[ You're looking for strong monsters, right? They're the strongest that can be seen in this town. ]
[ Bu-But, Richard-sama... Even you cannot subjugate them... Then why are you...? ] there was a shock and grim expression on Diana's face as she tries to complain.
Zero looks at them and finally figured out what is happening.
[ Haah... ]
( I get it now... This guy doesn't like me at all, huh? )
[ Well, I'm just suggesting it, but you can come there to subjugate them on your own. The details are written in the task on the board. But since you cannot take it with your current rank... Well, you can always cheat the guild, right? You won't get the reward for subjugating it but you will still get the money for selling the materials you would gather from it. ]
[ Is that all you want to say? ]
[ A-Ah... Right... It seems you're busy... Well, I just wanna help you out, you know? ]
[ Then, thank you. ] he said his thanks, and now completely turned around and went outside.
***
Zero came back to a familiar shop - Gerald's weapon and armor shop.
Immediately, he was greeted by Anna with a hug on his waist.
[ Welcome, Zero-nii! ] he receives her and stroke the top of her head, in which she made a smile after.
[ Oh? If it isn't my best customer? Are you here for another weapon? ] Gerald appeared from the back of the counter and greeted him.
[ Yes, I need a stronger one than this. I can sell it back to you anyways, right? ] he stroke the sheath of his weapon as he says so.
[ Of course, but it would be much cheaper... Haah... ] he made a sigh as he looks at him.
[ You know, I shouldn't say this since you're a great customer, but... I think you should stick to a single weapon... ]
[ Well, if I couldn't sell it back to you, then I definitely will only use one weapon. ]
[ I don't know if you're really a cheap person or not... ] he couldn't only scratch his bald head as he tries to figure him out.
[ By the way... I think this would be the last time I will buy a weapon from this shop. I'm thinking of going to the nearest city after I finish one last task. ]