Chapter 9

For the next 6 days I was accompanied by Alex, Maria, Chelsie, and sometimes Wendy on our gathering quest.

Whenever I asked Alex if he liked to spar with me after we finished gathering some bittercress grass, he always had a frightened look and gave one reason or another why he couldn't.

It’s kinda disappointing that he is always busy with something, it honestly is not that much fun having to train alone. He makes a good dumm… I meant sparring partner.

Today I’d completed my 10th F rank Quest, which means I could take the E rank evaluation test to become an E rank adventurer.

Being an E rank means that you’re unofficially considered a true adventurer since it’s where the dangers of being an adventurer starts.

You have to fight an instructor in the training area to see if you have the bare minimum amount of skills to fight.

“Umm… Nyx, after this you should be able to take the E rank evaluation test right?”

Maria spoke next to me as we were gathering some herbs.

“Ya, I’m planning to do it tomorrow. Why do you ask?”

“I was just wondering”

A question pops up in my mind, isn’t Maria a E rank?

“Aren’t you E rank?”

“Well…” with a pained smile on her face

“No, I’m still a F rank. I’ve failed it twice already”

She took a deep sigh and said

“I must be a real burden to Alex and everybody else”

She is really beating herself up about it, maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, I doubt that’s true”

Overhearing our conversation, Chelsie walked by carrying a few bundles of bittercress grass.

“Your not a burden to any of us, your our friend”

Chelsie's words managed to get Maria spirits up, she smiled because of that and went back to collecting herbs.

They are really supportive of each other, despite constantly fighting over Alex.

Speaking of the others.

“By the way, I’ve been wondering what Lucia and Wendy usually do?

Chelsie responded with.

“Well Lucia either is training her magic or doing quests exclusively for mages like operating some magic tools”

Then she told me about Wendy. She usually does hunting quests, using her beastkin senses which are better than humans to track down monsters but she occasionally comes and helps out if there aren’t a lot of good ones out there.

This got me thinking, I was wondering for the last few days now with them, how far Maria, Chelsie, Wendy, and Lucia got with Alex.

Are they already on first base or maybe on third base? My best guess is around half or a quarter to first base since from my gaming knowledge, this is the beginning of their story, so nothing of note is happening or that Alex, like most protagonists, is really dense.

“I got another question, so how far along any of you gotten with Alex”

Maria was all red, shouting out.

“Why would you ask that sort of question out of the blue?”

As for Chelsie, she was silent for a while in thought

“Don’t tell me… don’t tell me… you're also after Alex”

What are you talking about?

Then she murmurs to herself in full earshot of me.

“That would explain why Alex always acts weird whenever Nyx is around and why Nyx sometimes smiles whenever he meets with… wait does that mean when Alex went and checked up on Nyx, they did it?”

Why am I getting this yanderish aura that is almost exactly like Mia and Noah from my past life, emanating from Chelsie, hearing her mutterings? What kind of a conclusion did she come to? I thought Chelsie was the calm and logical one.

“Wait, Nyx is a guy, Chelsie. That can’t be right they’re… both guys”

Maria was repeatedly muttering while fidgeting with her fingers, face even more red, “they’re both guys, that can’t be… but…”

Her face was so red that I could partially see steam coming out of her ears. I’m seriously getting the impression that she is thinking of something very weird right now.

Chelsie grabs her hair in frustration then faced Maria

“I can’t believe someone has already gotten with Alex before me. Our plans have changed, we need to talk with Wendy and Lucia about this. I can’t believe his ability to attract other women even works on guys now.”

Chelsie took a deep sigh and continued.

“Great now, we have to worry even more that more people will fall for Alex now.”

Before this misunderstanding could balloon even bigger, I spoke up.

“What are you even talking about? I’m not attracted to Alex, I’m just wondering since I see you all fighting for Alex all the time”

Every morning I see them fighting over who gets to fond over Alex and I was generally curious how far they have gotten.

“So you're not after Alex?”

“No and why would I”

“Good, I don’t have to find someway to get you out of the picture”

Chelsie sighs in relief hearing me say “no” to something really disturbing.

“So are you going to answer how far in any of your relationships with Alex and what’s this plan?”

“The four of us agree to not let any more girls go after Alex, and we’re all competing to see who will be Alex’s first wife, however…”

“We haven’t even made any progress”

Maria finishes what Chelsie said, with both of them looking a bit dejected.

As they were answering my question, Alex walked toward us carrying a couple of bundles of bittercress grass.

“Chelsie, Maryera, and Nyx, I’ve finish collecting the bittercress grass for today's quest”

“Good, we also finished for today”

Then I ask him if he wants to spar with me for a bit again, since I’m planning to take the E rank evaluation test so I want to get some more practice in.

Alex had that frightened look again. His eyes were darting all over the place till they landed on Chelsie and Maria, then his face turned all red.

“I can’t because ummm… I’m taking Chelsie and Maria umm… on a date you see”

Both of their faces blush after Alex blurted out that he will be taking both of them on a date.

“Do you really mean it, Alex”

Maria’s face was crimson from hearing that from Alex.

“Aren’t you leaving Wendy and Lucia out if you're taking both of us out? It won’t be fair for them”

I was surprised that Chelsie, who was also blushing, told Alex that it wouldn’t be fair for the other two to be excluded. I guess she is the mediator between the four of them to see who will be Alex’s first wife.

“Don’t worry Chelsie because… I’ll also take them on a date tomorrow”

His face became even redder as he blurted it out. Then he grabbed Maria and Chelsie’s hand and began walking away.

“Sorry Nyx, I can’t spar with you for today”

“Okay…?”

I stood there still, wondering what I just witnessed here? Alex just asks both of them on a date and another with two other girls, I guess he is really the main protagonist.

Seeing Alex walk away while holding Chelsie’s and Maria’s arms, I should go back to the adventurers guild early for today instead of training, so I could rest and prepare for the evaluation test.

Going back to the adventurers guild, Emma congratulated me for completing the 10 F rank quests to be able to take the E rank evaluation test.

“When will you like to take the E rank evaluation test Mr. Nyx”

“Tomorrow, the afternoon if possible.”

“That should be fine”

“And what about the instructor”

“Unfortunately Mr. Nyx, I can’t say who is the examiner since that’s part of the test”

“I see”

I went downstairs to the library after I finished talking to Emma, continuing where I left off with Mable for the rest of the day.

Going back to the adventurers guild tomorrow, I walk in anticipation for the E rank examination test.

The adventurers guild was empty as usual at this time of day. I went to Emma’s booth, where she told me to go to the training area where the examiner is.

The training area was outside, at the back of the building, it had a dirt floor, with training dummies and racks of wooden weapons to the side.

I only saw a big muscular red-haired guy that is 2 to 3 times my height in the middle of the training area, holding an oversized wooden sword that was twice my height that is honestly impractical to use.

“You must be Nyx”

“You must be the examiner then”

He had a big grin on his face

“I’m Cade, B rank, Emma has some interest in you so I also have some too”

Emma has some interest in me? I ask what he meant.

“Oh you don’t know? Emma used to be an A rank adventurer but these days she is retired. You’ve caught her eye”

Wait… she used to be an A rank adventurer, that is a surprise and why me. Thinking about it, with the way she is treating me, it’s exactly like how I was treated when I was still a noble. Does she know that I’m a noble?

Interrupting from my thoughts Cade spoke.

“Let's start, the wooden weapons is on your right, go and pick whatever you want. You just have to land a hit on me to pass, so make this interesting”

“Alright then”

I better ask her after this. It shouldn’t be too difficult to pass the examination,I’ll just have to hit him once.

Grabbing a wooden sword and readying my stance, I waited for him to give the go signal.

“Let’s start then”

We both stared at each other for a short while. I made the first move by rushing at him and getting really close to Cade so I could make it harder for him to use his oversized sword.

He swung his oversized sword to prevent me from getting closer to him, so I duck under his swing.

However he took several steps back and he adjusted his swings, with a surprising amount of agility you wouldn’t expect with that oversized sword, to stop me from getting closer. It forced me to leap back to get some distance.

“You're not half bad, Emma was right about you. I don’t have to hold back too much”

I had a slight grin seeing that this is going to be a very interesting fight. Never thought I’ll have to fight someone skilled enough to make an impractical weapon practical.

I tried getting closer again, this time enough so that I was in striking range but he managed to move his body to the right and counterattack, where it almost hit me.

That was close, feeling the momentum of the swing, I'll probably fracture a bone if I get hit just by the sheer force of the swing despite it being just a wooden sword.

I tried getting close to him several more times for a hit but all of them were unsuccessful with him skillfully wielding that oversize sword to stop me.

“You got to do better than that”

I did not respond to his taunt but I grin even bigger seeing the challenge in it, with Cade also grinning in response.

If this continues I’ll tire myself out so I have to think of a new strategy. It is going to be challenging to get past his giant sword.

I really wish I had some range weapons I could use like a throwing knife or spikes, then it would be way easier to create an opening against Cade.

I guess I’ll have to get more reckless if I want to pass. This time I will get close to Cade but instead of stepping back, I’ll just dodge all his swings instead, till he makes a mistake.

Rushing back at Cade, I continue to dodge each of his swings and to keep up the pressure to find an opening to strike. I was practically dodging by the skin of my teeth, trying to not get hit by his sword.

Finally there was a slight opening, one of his swings was a bit too big, so I rushed in to not waste the opportunity.

I managed to get past his sword, where he couldn’t really do anything with it, I aimed my sword at his neck.

I stopped just before I hit him, Cade was stunned seeing the wooden sword coming.

Then I gently poke his neck with the wooden sword, ending my evaluation.

With that my expression turned back to normal.

“Did I pass?”

“Hehehe, I nearly thought I was going to die there”

Cade touched the spot on his neck where I had poke with the wooden sword.

“You pass, go to Emma and she’ll sort out the rest”

“Okay then”

“Also why don’t we have a match next time when your stronger”

He still had a grin on his face, so I nodded and grinned back.

“That sounds fun”

Walking back to Emma who was at the counter, waiting for me.

“I didn’t know you were a A rank adventurer”

“Ah, Cade must have told you, Mr. Nyx”

“Anyways, I pass the examinations”

“Congratulations for passing the test and becoming an E rank adventurer.”

Then Emma asks for my guild card. She placed it on a box-like device on the table where it made the card glow and turned it into a bronze color.

I looked at my adventure card to see the only thing that changed was the color and my rank changed from F to E.

“By the way, you know that I am a noble right?”

Thinking about it, I wasn’t doing a good job concealing that I’m a noble, like being able to read and write was a dead give away.

“As expected from Mr. Nyx, I apologize”

Emma was about to bow in apology but I stopped her.

“I prefer you speak to me plainly”

“If it’s alright with you, then”

Emma's face relaxes and she changes her way of speaking to a more natural one.

“Your really a noble, so which family are you from”

“I rather keep it a secret”

Emma was surprised when I did not say which family I belong to.

“That's strange, normally you nobles would always use your family names even if your trying to hide your identity”

“Are nobles becoming adventures that common?”

“It’s rare, I’ve come across a fair amount during my time when I was active, and they always use their family title to get favors with the guild”

Interesting, so nobles becoming adventurers are more common than I thought.

“Anyways, I’m curious on why you’ve became a adventurer”

“I had a opportunity and I ran away”

I couldn’t tell her everything, afterall the less the better.

Emma looks even more surprised and confused.

“Why? Somebody of your talent and potential at such a young age. Even if you don’t have magic, why did you run away?”

“Family troubles I guess”

Emma had an exhausted expression and took a deep sigh hearing my response, then she placed her hand on her forehead.

“This is why I retired, so I don’t have to deal with stuff like this”

“Also is their anyone else who knows”

“I’d haven’t told anyone except for the guildmaster. Either way, what are you going to do now after you become a E rank”

“I’m planning to buy some throwing weapons, since my fight with Cade reveal a weakness”

With my fight with Cade, I realize changing my swordsmanship is not enough, so I'm planning to buy them to help me in the future.

“Then I’m planning to take on some E rank quests. And after that I plan to do a D rank quest to escort a wagon to Acton.”

It’s a bit annoying that I have to complete 3 E rank quests to be able to do a D rank quest, but if it gets me to Acton then I’m fine with it.

Acton is a large city that was formed around the Dradevow dungeon, so the main adventurer headquarters of this region and mages guild are there, alongside with other guilds like the merchant guilds.

There I could have the resources to figure out how to make magical tools that don't require you being a mage like the adventurer card I am holding in my hand.

After telling her my plans, minus the part about making magical tools that doesn’t require being a mage, I went to Kinwall’s shop and thought of what kind of throwing weapons I should get on the way there..

Emma’s perspective

“So what do you think of him, Cade?”

After Nyx had left, Emma talked to the guild master, Cade.

“His talents and skills belie his age, he’s abnormal to be honest. I doubt a genius around his age can match him”

“Interesting… he also figured out that we know that he’s a noble. Did you find out which family is he from fighting him”

Emma continued and told her best guess at Nyx’s identity.

“My best guess is the Lunslur family since they’re having a power struggle right now, over being the next head after the previous one die a year ago, and their territory is next to this one”

“I doubt it, since his swordsmanship is very different from the Lunslur family. I feel like I fought it before for some reason”

“I see, he is a mystery”

Emma put her hand on her chin in thought, trying to assess how much trouble Nyx might be in the future but gave up since they don’t have a lot of information on him.

“Also by the way, here”

Emma sucker punched Cade on the gut without warning.

Despite Cade being way taller and more muscular than Emma and being the guild master, Emma still punches Cade in the gut from being tick off that her secret got revealed again. It caused him to collapse on the ground.

“That's what you get for revealing that I was a high ranking adventure”

Cade clutched his stomach and groaned on the ground.

“Ya… I'm sorry… I’m sorry. I won’t do it again”

“You said the same thing last time”

Even more tick off, Emma proceeded to kick Cade in the stomach while he was still on the ground.