"Hey, hey, did we hear that right? Did you guys say something about becoming adventurers?"
Not far from where we were sprawled, Yui and Mei stopped their sparring and approached, curious. I got up slowly, still recovering from the exhaustion of my fight with Yuki. Timidly, I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, Yuki was quicker. With his cheeks slightly flushed but a hint of pride in his voice, he said:
Yuki: "Yes, Kaimmy and I just formed a party! But we'll have to wait a few years before we can take the test..."
Yui: "Ah, that means you still have plenty of time to train. You know, there's a test happening next week, and we're signing up!"
Mei: "That's why we were looking for someone to teach us to fight, after all. Our dad tried to teach us a bit, but honestly, he spends so much time at work that it would take years for us to learn anything."
Yui: "Finding this place was a stroke of luck! Learning from the best is always a good option. I'm pretty confident we'll easily pass the practical tests, although I'm a bit anxious about the written test..."
Mei: "Hey, don't worry. I've told you that the written test covers only the basics; we won't have trouble with that. After all, it's a test for beginner adventurers, not for high-ranking ones."
Yui: "Still, we'll need to study a bit. I don't want to fail the first test just because I couldn't answer some stupid question about goblins."
I learned from my parents that for the past few years, the adventurer's guild started requiring tests for new members. Apparently, before this test, new adventurers were often too overconfident in themselves and ended up getting killed even before completing their first mission. The problem became so serious that there was a meeting among the representatives of the guild branches to discuss what to do. My parents, along with some other high-ranking adventurers, were invited to participate in this meeting, which resulted in the creation of the tests. I was too young at that time, so I never knew exactly what the test was about.
Kaimmy: "Humm, sorry, I know there's a test, but I never knew much about it. What kind of tests are you going to take?"
Yuki: "Yeah, since we're becoming adventurers too, it doesn't hurt to know more about it. I'm quite curious."
Mei: "Hmm, where to start... well, the test is divided into 3 parts. The first is a written test that covers topics like the differences between monsters, demons, magical beasts, how to treat injuries, antidotes, basic survival skills in nature, and other basic knowledge that every self-respecting adventurer needs to know."
Yui: "The second one is a simulated battle against a guild instructor, and if they consider you fit, you move on to the third and final test, which is a fight against F-rank monsters captured by other adventurers exclusively for this test."
Mei: "They even have various arenas to simulate the environments where these monsters appear; some hide among the trees, making them quite challenging to deal with. Depending on the monster, you might end up having to face several of them at the same time."
Before I knew it, Ayako, Hiroshi, and Kaelan approached and joined the conversation. Hiroshi seemed particularly interested in the topic, and I could see his mind buzzing with new ideas.
Hiroshi: "Interesting, I think I can use this to add some variety to the training once again. I was really starting to think we needed a change."
Ayako: "How about all of us help you prepare for the test this week? It would be a great way to spice things up a bit!"
Yui: "Ohh, that would help us a lot, so, please!"
Hiroshi: "Great, great. Since we're your instructors, we know that all of you, including Kaimmy, Yuki, and Kaelan, are already more than capable of passing the second test. The issue is the first and third."
Mei: "Hey, Kaelan, do you happen to plan on becoming an adventurer too? I know you got into this because of your daughter, but I'm still curious."
Kaelan: "Huh? Actually, I just thought it would be good to learn to defend my family and my shop in case I ever need to. My wife and I opened a store dedicated to selling adventurer supplies and tools in the city. Adventurers... you know how some of them are, right? Obviously, not all of them, but there are always those more... troublesome. Some have tried to cause trouble in our store, giving me a real big headache."
Hiroshi: "Hahaha, he's right. You'll encounter adventurers of all kinds during your journey. Some are ridiculously arrogant and violent, but you'll find others kind enough to balance the scales."
Kaelan: "I've got it! If you pass the test, I can take everyone to visit my store, give you some discounts, and maybe introduce you to my daughter!"
Yui: "Ehh, hey, I'll hold you to that promise, okay? Your daughter must be really cute!"
Encouraged by Yui's comment, Kaelan spent several minutes boasting about how his daughter was the cutest thing in the world. As a father, I'm sure he'll spoil his daughter as much as he can. I also want to meet his daughter... I think his constant preaching about the cuteness of his daughter is starting to have an effect on me. I've never had much contact with small children, but I imagine it would be a unique and interesting experience, so I am looking forward to it.
When everyone recovered from the unexpected turn in the conversation, Ayako resumed the main topic with a serious expression that definitely didn't match her personality, something that rarely happens. It made me realize that she was about to share something really important, causing me to unconsciously adjust my posture.
Ayako: "You know, a real battle is very different from the mock battles you've been practicing against each other so far. No living being wants to die, after all, and you'd be surprised to see what a cornered creature is capable of."
Hiroshi: "Even the dumbest of creatures, when facing mortal danger, will use everything at their disposal to increase their chances of survival. From playing dead to attacking you when you lower your guard to poisoning their weapons, and you need to learn to deal with that. Most beginner adventurers who died in the past did so because they underestimated the will to live of the creatures they faced."
Ayako: "It's a bit late for it today, but get ready! Tomorrow, we'll go on an expedition and won't return until each of you has faced a monster under our supervision."
Hiroshi: "Sounds like a good idea, be ready tomorrow! For now, we can discuss a bit more about the first test."
I wasn't expecting this; I was caught completely off guard. I'm starting to feel a bit anxious... the serious tone of the conversation was enough to make me quite alarmed. Taking a life... even if it's a monster, I wonder if I'm really ready for that. My unease seems to have caught Ayako's attention, who approached slowly and placed one hand on my shoulder, as if to reassure me.
Ayako: "Yo, Kaimmy! You okay?"
Kaimmy: "I-I... I'm scared, I guess..."
Ayako: "Hmmm, I know it can seem scary, but remember, this is an important step to become a strong adventurer. And don't worry, we'll all be together on this expedition. If you still feel scared at the time, remember that we'll be here to support you. You're stronger than you think, girl!"
Hiroshi: "Yes, you've shown results far beyond what we expected for someone your age. I'm sure in the future, we'll be proud to say you were our student. For now, just don't let this fear cloud your mind. That goes for all of you too!"
Hiroshi and Ayako's kind words dissipated some of the negative thoughts lingering in my mind. I began to feel a bit more confident, but there was still a twinge of apprehension haunting me. To distract myself a bit, I focused on Hiroshi's explanation about the differences between the various types of monsters in this world. According to him, excluding common animals, the most common types of monsters are categorized as 'magical beasts,' originating from animals that somehow absorbed the mana present in their environment and underwent some kind of mutation. The birth of a new species of magical beast is extremely rare, but it remains capable of reproducing, making them quite numerous given the time required to multiply. Additionally, there are humanoid races such as goblins, orcs, lizardmen, and other beings capable of forming societies. However, their wild lifestyle and low intelligence distinguish them from races considered civilized, like humans, elves, and dwarves.
Then, there are elementals and spirits, entities shaped from pure mana, devoid of a physical form except for a small core in the shape of a solidified mana crystal that plays the role of the creature's 'heart.' Elementals are complex entities, with characteristics reflecting the amount of mana of each element that makes up their bodies. Within this category, special types of elementals formed from pure light mana stand out, known as angels; they are extremely rare, with immense healing powers and considered sacred beings by most religions. On the other hand, dark mana behaves differently from the others. When the dark mana in the environment becomes strong enough to manifest in the form of a being, it can absorb practically anything to construct a monstrous and deformed body, including inanimate objects, carcasses of dead animals, and sometimes even still-living beings, resulting in truly terrifying and grotesque visions. These beings, by far the most dangerous, are called demons. The mere description of the appearance of some of these demons is enough to make a person question their own mental sanity. Any living being is susceptible to corruption by dark mana, including magical beasts, making them even more dangerous and aggressive, and not even humans are immune to its influence.
The unexpected lesson continued for some time, covering crucial topics such as wilderness navigation, first aid techniques, and other fundamental skills that every adventurer needs to master to increase their chances of survival in this challenging profession. Physically and mentally exhausted, I finally concluded my day while contemplating the challenges awaiting me tomorrow.