I went through a few back alleys before finally arriving at the inn . I guess the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds couldn’t catch me . They clearly weren’t much .

The bell jingled loudly as I opened the front door and went inside . This sound was now very familiar to me .

“Oh, you’re early today . ”

Maris’ face popped out from under the counter .

“Yeah, I’m back . Got chased by a few adventurers on the way . ”

“There are still people complaining about you? Really, such people are not fit to be called men!”

“Haha . Well, there are quite a few of them . ”

“That’s quite disappointing though…”

We chatted idly for a while, until she handed me the room key .

“Ah, Asagi . It’ll be your second week today . What will you do?”

“Extend, of course . ”

“Hahaha . Do you mean to just stay here and live with me?”

“I’d love to do just that, but I want to go out on a journey, once I have enough money…”

“Is that so . Well, I better give up then . ”

She chuckled . I don’t know how I would ever be able to repay her . Not just her . Russell, and the Chief . I’ll throw Gardo and Ness in there as well .

After paying the amount for the extension, I then went back to my room, plopped on my bed and took out my status card .

“Status open . ”

Name: Asagi Kamiyas.h.i.+ro

Race: Human

Job: Adventurer (Rank: G)

LV: 15

HP: 218/218

MP: 86/86

STR: 71  VIT: 65

AGI: 228  DEX: 105

INT: 53  LUK: 11

Skills: Jack of all trades, master of none

Magic: None

Current Quests: None

All Equipment: Head – none

Body

– Leather armor

Arms – Leather gloves

Legs – None

Feet – Leather shoes

Weapon – Iron sword

– Iron short sword

Accessories – None

“My level went up… And my AGI broke 200, huh… How high can it go? Though, I don’t know what the average even is . ”

There was nothing to do but laugh at how unbalanced it all was, but I couldn’t complain about being fast . Being fast with everything was the trick to living .

I stashed the status card back in my pocket, grabbed a change of clothing and headed off to the public bathing area . The inn had its own baths . Which was great for me . I loved bathing . Taking an early morning bath after a long night of work was the best…

Just as I took off my clothes in the changing room, a few other guests at the inn came in . After a short greeting, I showered and then hopped into the tub .

“Ahhh…that’s reinvigorating…”

I sigh without thinking . Who wouldn’t? You can’t help it . It’s like a phenomenon, I think .

After being warmed through, I quickly get out . I don’t take long baths .

Then it was just a matter of getting dressed, eating dinner and going to bed . I’ve started to really settle down here now, so I tried to spend a little time before bed to reflect on the day and think about my future plans .

Today’s goblin hunting had gone well . The guild house was quiet because of Gardo . If only he were always there . Things got annoying after that . There was a high likelihood that

that they would try something again outside of the guild house . I better be prepared .

As for the good news, my level went up . Very good . I wanted to reach level 20 before going up to Rank F . So I suppose I had no choice but to go goblin hunting tomorrow as well… I think I’ll head out earlier than usual tomorrow . Better get some sleep then . Yeah, I’ll do that .

I pull the blanket up to my chin and close my eyes . Ahh, it was a stark contrast to sleeping in the trees… I was practically asleep now . Two, three breaths and my consciousness was gone .

The goblin hunting, or should I say, herb gathering went well the next day . I dug the dirt around the roots so as to cleanly remove the plants before putting them in my bag . Then it was off to chasing goblins until nightfall . Strangely, I never b.u.mped into any other adventurers . I even asked the girl at Reception about this once .

“Ahhh . Well, there aren’t many newcomers here, lately . Everyone else goes out the west gate and to the forest with all the wolves . By the way, Asagi . Did you go deep into the forest? Hmm?

Apparently, I was one of the only ‘Rocks’ around here . It was kind of lonely to not have any contemporaries around, but it also meant no fighting or competing . It was kind of great to be able to work in peace .

Then a few days pa.s.sed and I had

I had fifteen successful quests under my belt and so was raised to Rank F . Or as they called it, ‘Obsidian . ’ I was better than Rock, I guess . But I think they could have spent more time coming up with a name…

Well, this was their old custom, so there was no point in thinking about it . They clearly didn’t .

My level had also pa.s.sed 20 . I felt rewarded for my efforts, but the guild worker had glared at me with a frightening look . It was a look that said, ‘d.a.m.n b.a.s.t.a.r.d . You’ve gone too far just because people were staying quiet!’ But I could bear it, I was stronger now . Don’t lock eyes, don’t make excuses, stay friendly . That’s all you needed to get out of most sc.r.a.pes .

“Asagi . Is Mr . Asagi here?”

The guild worker at Rewards, who always helped me, was calling . But I had already received the reward for the herbs…

“Yes, what is it?”

“Mr . Asagi, since your level has reached 20, your rank will be raised to E . Please hand over your status card . ”

Hmm? But I only just reached rank F?

“Please hand over your status card . ”

“Um, but I was raised to F just now…”

“Ranks can go up through the number of successful quests as well as level count . As you have willfully hopped your way up, I discussed it with the guild master and it was decided that your rank would go up as well . So please, hand over your status card . ”

There was something harsh in the way she said it…

she said it… But really, had I known this I would have raised my level even more .

But she looked like she was about to explode, so I quickly handed over my card . She disappeared in the back room for a moment and then returned . That was quick .

“Mr . Asagi, you are now Rank E . Commonly called, ‘Crystal . ’”

“Thank you . ”

I took my card back .

“Please don’t push yourself too hard . There’s no coming back once you die . ”

“You’re very kind . You take care of yourself too, miss . ”

“Thank you . But my name is not ‘miss . ’ I have a proper name, ‘Fiona . ’ So please refer to me by that name from now on!”

That was an out of the blue introduction . It was hard to tell how familiar adventurers were supposed to be with guild workers .

“Well then, Fiona . Have a good day . ”

“You too, Asagi . ”

So saying, she gave me a wink . This girl, was she coming onto me?

That was the idiotic thought in my head as I left the guild house . But, of course, I was alert to my surroundings . There was a thick atmosphere of unease .

In other words, it was time for an all-out dash .

“Ahh! That s.h.i.+t . He’s running away again!!”

“d.a.m.n! He’s fast!”

“How dare he talk with Fiona so lightheartedly!!!”

Spite, scorn, envy . Their words were full of it . Unfortunately, I had better things to do right now . So I left them there and set off for the Chief’s smithy .