I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [250]
The town of Axel—known as the starting point for novice adventurers.
Unlike the royal capital, where the Demon King's army frequently attacked, Axel was surrounded by weak monsters that appeared infrequently. The peacefulness here was such that adventurers relying solely on hunting monsters for income risked starving.
Today, the adventurers' guild was lively as always. Inside the dimly lit hall, groups of people in armor or robes gathered to discuss quests at the request board, consult with staff, or chat over drinks at the tables.
The main doors swung open, and a pair of hands pushed them aside.
Rose petals floated in from outside, and the bustling guild quieted noticeably.
"Umu! So, this is the adventurers' guild? It's livelier than I imagined!"
Standing confidently in a dazzling red dress, Nero flicked her hair with flair, her entire presence seemingly glowing.
"Umm… aren't we drawing too much attention, Sister?"
Following behind Nero was a figure wrapped in a long cloak, with only a few strands of blonde hair visible. Her voice was tinged with nervousness.
"Umu! I am an emperor! Wherever I stand is the center of the world! Attracting attention is only natural. Besides… you're quite Roman yourself, Iris."
"I… I have no idea what you mean by that, Sister… Also, wasn't this supposed to be a stealthy outing? Isn't being this conspicuous a problem?"
The cloaked girl—whom Nero addressed as Iris—fidgeted anxiously, on the verge of tears.
"What are you afraid of? Weren't you full of courage when we first set out? And didn't you leave a letter for Claire and the others? This isn't sneaking off—it's merely acting before informing. A privilege of emperors!"
Indeed, "Iris" was none other than Princess Alice in disguise. "Iris" was the pseudonym chosen for their excursion, as the name "Alice" was far too well-known. Even in a remote border town like Axel, it was unlikely anyone hadn't heard of her.
Perhaps due to their striking appearance or their prolonged presence at the entrance, a female staff member approached them.
"Welcome! Are you here to post a quest? Or perhaps for a meal? If it's a quest, please head over to the request board. For dining, feel free to take any open seat."
As the staff member spoke, Nero's eyes lit up.
"Umu! A beautiful young lady!"
"…Excuse me?"
"And in uniform, no less! I see, I see—you all have excellent taste! Umu! I'm very pleased with both your service attitude and your beauty!"
"Uh… thank you?"
The staff member's polite smile faltered slightly, clearly caught off guard by the sudden compliment.
Receiving praise for her appearance from someone who looked even more stunning than herself made her momentarily wonder if Nero was mocking her.
"Sister! You're scaring her!"
Noticing the staff member's uneasy expression, Alice quickly stepped forward and pulled Nero aside. Turning to the staff, she apologized earnestly.
"I'm so sorry. My sister didn't mean to cause trouble…"
"No, it's quite alright. To be complimented by someone so beautiful is… actually quite flattering."
Gathering herself, the staff member waved off Alice's concern.
Now that she thought about it, if even someone as breathtaking as Nero genuinely praised her looks, how could she not feel flattered?
And the cloaked girl, though her face was hidden, had such a sweet voice and gentle demeanor that speaking with her felt like a refreshing breeze.
"Actually…" Alice hesitated for a moment before speaking softly. "We came to the adventurers' guild because we want to become adventurers."
In this world, adventurers gained access to jobs and levels through the guild.
Since Nero wasn't originally from this world, she needed to register as an adventurer to choose a job and start leveling.
After approaching the reception desk and paying the registration fee, Nero and Alice officially became adventurers.
Adventurers were issued identification cards, which displayed their status and level.
"This part of the card shows your level," the receptionist explained. "In this world, all living beings contain souls. By defeating or consuming other creatures—ending their life activity, essentially—you absorb part of the memory stored in their soul. That's what we call 'experience points.'"
Pointing to a specific section of the card, she continued, "Normally, experience points aren't something you can see, but with this card, adventurers can track their earned experience points. Your current level and the number of defeated targets will also be recorded. As you accumulate experience, there will come a moment when you cross a significant threshold, and your level will suddenly increase."
"In simple terms, gaining levels grants various benefits, such as skill points to learn new abilities. So, please work hard to improve your level!"
Hearing about experience points gave Nero the distinct feeling of being in an RPG.
"Now, please fill out this form with your personal information and touch the card. This will allow it to display your parameters."
Alice filled out her form using the pseudonym "Iris," while Nero had no reason to hide her identity and proudly wrote "Nero."
The receptionist took Nero's form and adventurer card.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Nero. Let's see… Huh? Wha—WHAT?!"
Her startled cry echoed through the guild, drawing everyone's attention.
Holding Nero's card, the receptionist repeatedly double-checked the readings, her disbelief growing with each glance. Finally, she looked at Nero with a mix of awe and shock.
"Umu? Is something the matter?"
"I-I'm so sorry! Please forgive my reaction! It's just… your stats are astonishing, Miss Nero. All your parameters far exceed the average, and your agility and luck are the highest I've ever seen! Even your strength and vitality, though slightly lower than the others, are on par with top-tier adventurers!"
The receptionist's words sparked a wave of murmurs throughout the guild.
"Umu? Are you saying I'm impressive?" Nero tilted her head, then straightened with a triumphant smile. "Well, praise me more! I'm far more incredible than you can imagine!"