Starting early morning Sam had turn to his old military methods to train himself even though he hated them. Discipline and endurance were the two pillars on which the training stood. Running, pushups, squats, crunches ...the training went for two good hours.
For a whole month, Sam's schedule was two hours of exercise followed by day long sword training with Cain. Cain was also happy with Sam's resolve and helped him to the best of his abilities. Now it was time to check out his progress. Sam decided to go on a solo quest.
Walking to the guild he stood in front of the quests board and started looking for one that would suit him. Picking a quest he confidently went to Tia, the Catwoman and handed her the request paper.
"I am sorry but you are not eligible for this quest because your rank is too low."
The quest recommended a D rank and Sam rank was even low an F rank.
"How do we rank up l?", faced with this question Tia couldn't help but sigh. Many adventurers lose their lives early in order to rank up fast or either left crippled for life. "To rank up you have to gain points through quest. After you have accumulated certain points you can take the rank up exam, if passed you will be promoted".
The road to magic was tough thought Sam and went back to the quest board.
*Click clack click clack
The sound of a person's footsteps could be heard getting closer to Sam. Turning back to look, an iron armour of grey color having a red breastplate, two swords on the waist, looking like a hulk came and stood beside him. From head to toe there was not a single opening in the armour. Seeing the person Sam thought, 'He must be an A-class adventurer, no, no ,no he must be an S-class adventurer, look at those swords sheath, they look quite expensive and not to mention the armour itself is quite something '. Everyone in the room was admiring the craftmanship of the armour.
Sam wanted to introduce himself but getting no response from the person he also minded his own business. After some time the armour man took a paper and went to the counter. Sam also picked a giant rat extermination job and went to the counter.
"...Alfie." this was all Sam could hear, before he reached the counter the armour man went on his way out. "This is the job I want to do", handing the paper to Tia Sam waited for the quest to be registered. He was then briefed about the mission and he also went out.
The rat extermination quest was located outside of town near the city's sewer exit. Giant rats had made a nest near the opening and used the sewer to enter the town and steal food. Reaching near the nest Sam hid behind a large tree and observed the area.
'Do you know anything about giant rats, Sei'
[A giant rat uses his sharp teeth to bite away their enemy's flesh and they have the agility of a household mice, meaning they are fast. You have to be careful as they work in groups]
Raising his sword Sam started moving towards the nest and threw a stinky bomb in the nest. Since rat's have good sense of smell, the stinky bomb will make them dizzy. Wearing a poison protection mask went in to the nest and started killing them.
[Unlike what you told me, your strategy stinks of dirty play]
'Shut up, even though I have trained I can't just rush straight on and be killed. I have a brain and I will use it for all kind of foul play'
[No chivalrous spirit huh]
'It can go to hell if it helps me level up faster'
...
..
.
It became dark when Sam killed the last giant rat. The stinky bomb lost its effect after the fifth kill, after which Sam had to utilize all the underhanded trick in his book to get out of this pinch. He cursed the man who sold him the bomb saying its effect last whole day. Now he was cover in blood, guts of giant rat and felt his stomach turning from his own stench.
[You yourself have become a stinky bomb. Guess you won't be allowed to enter the city gates hah hah haah]
It was bitter but true, so Sam went to find clean water to clean himself. Following the water upstream he went inside the forest. He was going for a dip when he heard a noise.