Today, I don't have work. The chief told us it would be our day off. I planned to join the guys for drinks or hanging out, but what did they say?
"Sorry, crazy guy, I got a date."
"Hey, I'm going to the next town with my wife."
"Sorry, no can do, crazy guy. I have other plans."
Damn these normies! And they all have girls already! Why am I the only one who doesn't!?
Sob~ sob~
"Why is life so unfair?" I lamented dramatically, throwing my hands up in the air.
"Haaa… so I'm just alone today, huh?"
I rubbed my chin, thinking. I had some money saved up, so I could use this free time to do something useful.
"...Should I register as an adventurer?"
Yeah, that sounded like a good plan. The slime incident was humiliating, but at least I learned something. Plus, if I could earn from fighting monsters, that'd be a huge bonus.
"Alright! To the adventurer's guild!"
With that, I marched off, ready to start my journey…
…And praying that today wouldn't turn into another comedy skit at my expense.
When I arrived at the adventurer's guild, I pushed open the door with confidence.
Just like before, the place was rowdy as hell. A bunch of muscle-headed men were already drunk, shouting and laughing at a volume that could probably shatter windows.
And the women?
Buff. Ripped. Terrifying.
Where were the cute, slender girls? Did this guild have a secret rule that only bodybuilders could join?!
"Ugh… whatever." I sighed, shaking my head and heading toward the receptionist's desk.
There she was—the same receptionist from months ago, the one who told me the registration fee was one silver when I was too broke to afford it.
She looked up, smiling politely. "Hello, how may I help you?"
I cleared my throat. "I'd like to register as an adventurer."
She blinked, then her eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, I remember you. You came here a month ago, didn't you?"
…Uh-oh.
Her polite smile twisted into something smug. "So… did you finally manage to get the one silver coin?"
Oof. This girl was definitely mocking me.
Fine! I won't let her get to me!
I forced a smile and pulled out my hard-earned silver coin. "Umm… here you go."
She accepted it gracefully. "Thank you. Now, please place your hand on this orb."
She set down a small plate—or was it a card?—next to the orb.
I hesitated for a moment before pressing my hand onto it.
The orb immediately started glowing, its light swirling and transferring onto the plate like some sort of magical printer.
"Ugh… what is this?! This looks way too advanced!"
Magic or not, I was pretty sure this was just a fantasy-world version of a credit card machine.
"You will be starting from the lowest rank—Newbie class—before working your way up," the receptionist explained, her professional tone dripping with condescension.
"From Newbie, you'll rank up to Rookie, then Class F, E, D, C, B, A… and eventually, S-Class. Well…"
She trailed off, and then…
That look.
That damn look.
I could see it in her eyes—she was mocking me!
I clenched my jaw. She's degrading me. This girl was a menace.
And then she grinned. "If you can even reach Rank D, that is. Tehe~"
Damn it, girl! I knew that sarcasm! I knew it!
Bitch.
But I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me snap, so I forced a smile so fake it belonged in a painting. "Thank you."
She gestured toward the seating area. "You can wait there until your card is ready. I'll call you when it's done."
And then, as if she hadn't already stepped on my pride enough, she added, "Oh~ don't forget to order a drink while you wait, okay?~"
Damn it, this girl! Shit!
I sighed. "Umm… okay… Err… one big glass of cold ale?"
She clapped her hands together like a waitress in a fancy tavern. "Coming right up!"
The other adventurers? Yeah, they didn't give a damn about me.
Of course they didn't! I wasn't a walking mountain of muscle like them!
But... I'm hot!
I swear!
…Right?
Still, the way those adventurers and even the other receptionists kept glancing at me—their expressions full of pity—was soul-crushing.
Damn it! I came here to be an adventurer, not a charity case!
Big ale for you, newbie!
The receptionist slammed the mug on the table, foam spilling over the sides.
"Thanks, beautiful," I said with my best charming smile.
Her response?
A blank stare.
Like I was some bug.
…Damn it, girl! Sob! Sob! Why do they all look down on me?!
I'm not super handsome, but I'm not ugly either!
This isekai… it's harsh! Way harsher than the stories I've read!
Unlike the anime, the games, the novels—where's my OP protagonist moment?!
Where's my instant magic casting?! My full-power transformation?! My revenge arc?!
I should be fighting dragons, crushing demon kings, swinging a legendary sword—
Yet... here I am.
Waiting for my damn adventurer card.
…Damn it!
"Hazekaya Hazuki?"
The receptionist called my name.
Finally! My adventurer card was ready.
I got up, but… huh? The receptionist was different this time. Maybe calling the other one "beautiful" triggered something?!
This one was older, more professional-looking. She handed me the card and started explaining.
"This plate—your adventurer card—will show your basic details: Name, Age, Level, and Class."
She pointed to a section that was completely empty. "This here is your skill slot. And this is where your skill points will be displayed."
Then, she squinted at my card and let out a small chuckle. "Well… umm… I can't believe you're still Level 1. Most kids are at least Level 5 by now."
…Ugh. Damn. That hurt.
I forced a smile, but my heart? Shattered.
The other adventurers? Rolling. On. The. Floor. Laughing.
Some literally fell off their chairs, clutching their sides.
…Damn those shitty muscleheads.
She continued her explanation. "And this here will show you how much EXP you earn and need to level up."
She pointed to the bottom of the card.
I looked at it carefully. It read:
Name: Hazekaya Hazuki
Age: 24
Class: ???
Level: 1
Skill Slot: (10) [Empty]
EXP: 1/100 (99 more to reach Level 2)
Ugh… Killing one slime yesterday only gave me ONE EXP?! Seriously!? At this rate, I'd have to slaughter an army of slimes just to level up!
The receptionist, completely ignoring my frustration, continued. "Please make sure you have a weapon and armor suitable for you. If you need training, there's a beginners' area at the back of the guild."
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Thank you," I said.
But deep down, I was screaming.
Fuck this shitty isekai!! Sob sob~ Why me!? Whyyyy!? Where's my legendary sword? Where's my blessing? Where's my OP class? Where's the harem? Where's the cute girl who's crazy about me!?
Damn you, isekai stories!! You lied to me!!
…Well, that's what I wanted to scream. But if I actually shouted that in here, I was sure these muscleheads would give me another terrible nickname.
Yeah, no thanks.
I took another deep breath, grabbed my adventurer card, and forced a smile. "Alright… guess I should check out that training area."
Baby steps. Even if I had no OP skills, no special blessings, and no cute girls throwing themselves at me… I had determination.
…Okay, maybe a little determination. And a lot of self-pity.
I checked out the guild training area and immediately spotted him—a big, bulky, scar-faced man with muscles that looked like they could crush boulders. Is this the trainer? He looked terrifying!
"Hmm? Oh, a new guy?" he said, his voice gruff. "Let me see your adventurer card."
I handed it over, already dreading what was coming.
"Bwahahahahaha!! Level 1!? No class!? Man, you're gonna die out there. Sorry, pal! No training for you."
"Ugh… at least let me try!" I protested.
He shrugged, still chuckling. "Fine, fine. Haha… well, for starters, try lifting that sword."
"This one? Easy!"
I grabbed the hilt and pulled—what the--!! Too heavy!!
My arms shook, my back screamed in protest, and my knees wobbled like jelly.
The bulky trainer crossed his arms and grinned. "Easy, huh?"
"Sh-shut up!" I growled, trying to salvage what little dignity I had left.
He sighed. "Look, newbie, you ain't got the strength for big weapons. Try something smaller."
I dropped the sword with a loud clang and looked around.
A dagger? Nah, too small. A bow? I'd probably miss the target by a mile.
Then I saw it—a wooden club. Simple, sturdy, and most importantly… not too heavy.
I grabbed it and gave it a test swing.
"Hmm… not bad," the trainer said, stroking his chin. "Alright, let's see what you got. Hit that dummy!"
I nodded, took a deep breath, and swung with all my might.
Thwack!
The dummy barely moved.
The trainer shook his head and sighed. "Yeah… you're gonna die out there."
"Oi! Don't just say that so casually!" I barked, rubbing my wrists. Even swinging a wooden club made my arms tingle. Was I really this weak?
The trainer smirked. "Reality's harsh, newbie. You thought you'd be some legendary hero?"
I flinched. Shit… was it that obvious?
"Listen up," he continued. "You got two choices: train your ass off or die like an idiot. What's it gonna be?"
I gritted my teeth. "Tch… of course I'll train."
He nodded. "Good answer. Now, fifty swings—no stopping."
"F-Fifty!?"
"What? You wanna complain?" He cracked his knuckles. "You can leave if you want. Not like anyone's forcing ya."
Damn it! I couldn't just walk away after all that tough talk.
I took a stance, gripping the club tightly. Alright, Hazuki… just fifty swings. You got this!
One.
Two.
Three…
By ten, my arms ached.
By twenty, I wanted to cry.
By thirty, my legs wobbled.
By forty, my soul was leaving my body.
By fifty… I collapsed, gasping for air.
The trainer loomed over me, unimpressed. "Hah. You survived. Barely."
I weakly raised a fist. "T-Training… complete…?"
He snorted. "That was just warm-up, dumbass."
Fuuuuuuck this isekai…
( End Of Chapter )