CH 67

That day, I was greeted by a training ground filled with more people than ever before.

[Oh, here he is! It’s Rex!]

[Idiot! Bow down that large forehead of yours!]

[This way! Please give us your guidance!]

I couldn’t help but facepalm at their enthusiasm.

(D*mn it, it really went just as I thought!)

In the past, Nirva’s comment had brought a flood of Adventurers to the training grounds, but the number of Adventurers this time had exceeded even that.

The only reason for such a ruckus is definitely that.

The “Adventurers Correspondence”, a newsletter published by the Adventurers’ Guild, had taken the liberty of making a report about me.

(Verteran, you b*stard! I’ll never forget this!)

If this was in modern Japan, I would have shouted “I’ll sue you and win my case!”, but it would be unreasonable to expect privacy or compliance in this loosely pseudo-medieval world.

(Well, since I was able to get them to reserve a time where I would teach them Manual Arts, I was able to pull myself out of the situation where they’ll haunt me more than necessary for the rest of the time, so I can only think of this as a step forward.)

With a sigh, I strode willingly toward the group of Adventurers calling out to me in their hoarse voices.

※　※　※

After giving a light lecture, or rather, a cautionary tale to the entire group, the staff and I split up to take a look around.

As I was giving some people some advice and giving light demonstrations, I spotted a familiar face in the training area.

I walked up to him and called out.

[You’ve also come today huh. Is it really okay for you, the party leader, to leave your party so often?]

The handsome swordsman looked back at me and chuckled at my words.

[I have a day off today, and besides, you yourself know it. There’s a couple in my party who are, ummm, too close with each other. When those two make that pink space around them, I really feel out of place.]

[Ahhh. By the way……]

He once asked for some light advice about his party members.

That problem seems to have been resolved but……

[The two of them have been supporting each other for a while now, and they take your party’s adventures very seriously, so it’s all good, you know?]

He scratched his cheek, looking troubled.

The problem, apparently, is that them being too close with each other is also a problem.

Thinking about how people have happy troubles in life, I shrugged my shoulders.

[Rather than that, since there’s an opportunity, please teach me properly. For me, a Magic Swordsman, Manual Arts is something indispensable.]

Giving me a friendly smile, he said something like that.

Indeed, his stats show that he’s an all-rounder warrior.

His attack power is somewhat lacking, but he has more MP than a normal warrior, so he can unleash his Arts repeatedly, and for the sake of mobility, it can be said that he’s compatible with Manual Arts which allows him to use Arts while moving.

[Though you said that, you’ve already learned the forms, right?]

[Even still, I don’t know how well I’m doing.]

I used to think that Manual Arts could be used by anyone in this world as long as they realize that they could manually execute their Arts, and that they would develop on their own without anyone having to teach them.

I still think that’s true in one respect, but apparently, it’s not that simple.

I was playing in the Practice Mode, which is a game mode specialized for Arts Practice, with “no MP consumption, no Arts Cool-Down Time, Arts Trajectory Assist, and Achievement Level Display after each Activation”.

Conversely, when ordinary people in this world practice Manual Arts, they have to do it in a hellish environment where “every time you use an Art, you consume MP, making use of the same Art takes time, you have to think about the trajectory of the Art by yourself, and even if the Art is activated, you can’t really tell how successful it was”.

[Frankly, I envy your disciples.]

[Disciples?]

[You know, I’m talking about them. Radd-kun and Resilia-chan.]

I’d like to say that they aren’t my disciples, but I don’t really have to deny it.

I shrugged my shoulders as usual and just let it go.

[If it’s you, you can judge the degree of perfection as an Art just by swinging without even activating the Art. With just that, I’ll be able to learn Manual Arts many times faster than training by myself, and above all, I’d appreciate it if you could demonstrate as an example.]

[A demonstration huh…… You could just try using it in Auto Arts for that.]

When I said that with a laugh, he shook his head.

[I’ve realized this after attending your classes several times. “If you swing the sword in the same way as when you used it in auto, it will be established as an Art” is a fact. However, your demonstrations are a little different from Auto Arts, and I think the way you do it leads to the “correct answer” for Manual Arts.]

“Am I mistaken?”, his eyes seem to ask me that.

[I think your disciples are doing well in their Arts. However, I think that’s probably because they’re following your example as their “form”. However, you are different. Your skills aren’t something I can understand. No, perhaps you may have mastered something like “the feeling of Manual Arts correctly” that no one in this world could understand.]

He has sharp eyes.

The external explanation is that Manual Arts are “activated by wielding the weapon in such a way as to reproduce the trajectory of the Arts”.

That explanation isn’t actually wrong, but it isn’t exactly accurate.

If you want to perfectly activate Manual Arts, you need to “swing the sword as if you were swinging the controller to recognize the trajectory of the Arts”.

And the only one who can understand such a thing is me, who knows that this world is a game.

(With a situation like this, I may not be able to have free time for a while.)

With these resigned thoughts in mind, I continued to perform his desired demonstrations of various Arts until the time for my instructions ended.

※　※　※

[I’ll see you later. Make sure to get along with Grey and Zemyna, okay?]

[Yeah. I’ll come visit again.]

I said goodbye to Bene, the Magic Swordsman, who waved his hand back to me with a refreshing smile.

This ends my Manual Arts instructions, but it doesn’t mean my job is over.

""

[……After this, I’m going to the Arena for Aptitude and Status Appraisal.]

As I strolled into the Arena, looking fed up with everything……

[Good work, Nii-san.]

[Resilia……]

I’m not sure where she had been hiding until now, but Resilia appeared out of nowhere and started walking by my side as if it were a matter of course.

I wonder if she’s acting as my escort.

Thinking that she was quite diligent, I just dismissed it as her acting like usual and we proceeded on our way to the Arena.

[However, this is quite unexpected. I never thought Nii-san would actually take the Guild’s request so seriously. I thought you would just throw it right away and go somewhere else.]

[You think so? I can get paid without even stepping out of the city. If you just take out this unnecessary fame, this would have been my ideal life.]

When I said this, for some reason, Resilia just astoundedly shook her head.

[I can’t believe the words Nii-san is saying. Nii-san may say that you think safety always comes first, but your actions so far have proven that you are an Adventurer at heart who likes to plunge yourself into danger.

[You make it sound like I’m a dangerous guy……]

When I voiced my dissatisfaction, Resilia gave me a cold gaze that seemed to ask me if I’m not aware of it myself.

I gently lowered my gaze.

[……Well, putting that aside, I’ve explained this before. I’m taking this job for a reason other than it being safe.]

When Resilia tilted her head at my words, I answered.

[……It’s to scout someone.]

※　※　※

[Okay, next person please————]

Guided by the voice of the Guild Staff, a nervous-looking Adventurer steps forward.

[I- I’m in your care!]

I gave him a noncommittal nod and activated <Inspect>

Thereupon, while writing down his Status that I could see through <Inspect> on the paper in my hand……

(His Affinity’s total value is 19. His abilities are more like a warrior’s, but his MND being unnecessarily high isn’t quite ideal. ……Hmmm, he’s quite normal.)

I make my comments in my mind in regards to the calculated Status.

—————This is the reason why I had taken over this job.

Teaching Manual Arts and examining a person’s Affinities are both jobs that I do with Adventurers.

In the process, I’m able to identify capable Adventurers.

My actions aren’t something I can really admire from the standpoint of privacy and compliance, but I don’t intend to abuse it, so I’d like it if people would excuse me from all the complaints.

(I was hoping to find someone with a promising future, but I can’t seem to find one.)

Radd’s party, who are Semi-Unique Characters, all had a total of more than 21 Total Affinity Value, partly compensated for by the game.

However, among the randomly generated Adventurers, it was rare to find one with more than 20 Total Affinity Values.

No, there were a few Adventurers who had a total of 21 or 22, but unfortunately, they were all from high-level Adventurers.

(The lower the level, the more efficient training them will be and the less solid their connection with others are, the easier it will be to scout them.)

In that sense, I would say that Radd and his party are just perfect.

(In any case, we’re short of hands.)

What I want isn’t only manpower, but also collaborators.

(……I need some pawns.)

The world is huge, especially since if we want to move to another area, it can suck up days or even weeks of our time.

That’s why, I need someone who can see what’s going on in other areas and gather information on my behalf.

As if she were my shadow, Resilia follows me everywhere I go.

She knows my secrets, and she certainly is my best ally in this world.

However, it isn’t as if Resilia does what I tell her to do.

For example, when I asked her to gather information on a neighboring area……

[I understand what you’re saying. ……but I refuse.]

She immediately rejected my suggestion without any hesitation at all.

[I have no intention of parting ways with Nii-san. I have to protect Nii-san, no, Rex Nii-san’s  body.]

When she said it like that, I couldn’t say anything.

Of course, if Resilia finds herself in a situation where “she must do it no matter what”, she will act separately from me.

However, as long as there’s some leeway in the situation, she doesn’t want to be separated from me, or rather, “Rex’s” body.

(Haahhh…… I wish I could find someone who would listen to anything I have to stay without prying into my secrets.)

Even though I’m the one thinking that way, I feel like thinking like that was the worst.

Putting a stop to all the daydreaming, I put my attention back on the job in front of me.

As I shook my head to shake off these stupid thoughts……

[————–I’m Lily. Pleased to meet you.]

A cool voice shook my eardrums.

[Eh……]

I felt my heart beat strongly.

The voice was filled with nervousness and trepidation, somehow inviting a sense of protectiveness from people.

(Could it be……)

I raised my gaze……

—————-And there she stands, the embodiment of a man’s ideals.

Well-formed, but with a gentle beauty that would somehow make one feel affectionate.

Long and lustrous hair, flowing down her back.

Large, motherly breasts that were clearly visible even through her clothes.

Modest, yet graceful figure with a dignified atmosphere.

I don’t even have to use <Inspect> to know it.

I already knew her name, her Affinities, her Abilities, and everything about her.

And the moment our eyes met……

[————!]

She smiled.

A smile that is both angelic and demonic, a smile that seemed to invite a person down the abyss.

(Ahhhh……)

This might have been the first time.

The first time I thanked the God who sent me to this world.

I slowly lowered my head.

I can’t let people see my face right now.

After all……

[————-I found it. The best pawn.]

I’m sure there’s definitely a very, very dark smile on my lips right now.