Chapter:12-The Test

The Adventurers' Guild—one of the most powerful organizations in the world. It was originally founded by the First King of the Empire, who also happened to be the First Hero. Adventurers are people who take quests and journey across the land, seeking fortune and glory. Ask any child on the street what their dream job is, and they will say without hesitation, "Adventurer, of course!" Treasure, fame, and all that the heart desires—adventurers have it all. Of course, they cannot obtain such rewards without risking their lives, making it both the most successful and the most dangerous job in the world.

Adventurers are ranked according to their strength and experience:

Wood – Beginner

Bronze – Rookie

Copper – The most common rank

Iron – Superhuman

Silver – As strong as a group of knights

Platinum – As strong as a Count's army

Gold – As strong as a Duchy's entire forces

Within the Drovakian Empire, only seven Gold-ranked and twenty Platinum-ranked adventurers exist. The strongest rule at the top, while the weak grovel at the bottom. It is the job with the highest reward and the highest risk.

The adventurers of Lekri are housed within a massive five-story building, made almost entirely from augmented wood—a material strengthened through alchemy. Inside, a few hundred adventurers gathered, some drinking, others discussing quests, and a few arm-wrestling in a corner, their laughter and cheers filling the air. In the reception area sat Lucy, a young woman in her early twenties with fair skin and a slender, modest figure. Her brown hair was tied in a messy ponytail, complementing her brown eyes, which reflected nothing but boredom. Resting her cheek on her palm, she absentmindedly watched the adventurers.

The rhythmic tapping of shoes approaching the counter caught her attention. She lazily lifted her gaze and saw a young man standing before her—above-average height, well-built but not overly muscular, with fair skin. He had a small, polite smile.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, I am here to apply for the Adventurers' Test," he replied calmly.

"Uh-huh… Fill out this form." Lucy slid a simple sheet of parchment across the counter.

The form was straightforward, asking for basic details: name, age, preferred weapon, and whether the applicant could use mana, aura, or any other special abilities.

The young man, Edwin, took the form and began writing. He had learned to read and write from a priest at his hometown's monastery. For the section on special abilities, he left it blank. Runes were rare—if someone found out he possessed one, it could bring unwanted attention. Some people had even killed rookie adventurers just to steal their runes.

Lucy glanced over the form, something she didn't always do—most applicants couldn't read or write, and she often had to fill it in for them.

"Hm, come back tomorrow. The test is then," she said.

"Oh, I see." Edwin nodded. As he turned to leave, he suddenly stopped, pivoted on his heel, and returned to the counter.

"May I make a report?" he asked.

Lucy blinked. "Huh?"

Edwin calmly reported the presence of a goblin den in the nearby forest, just outside Lekri's jurisdiction. This information startled Lucy—such a discovery needed immediate attention. She quickly relayed it to the higher-ups, but before she could thank Edwin, he was already walking out the door.

"…Weird guy," she muttered.

Outside the Guild

Edwin stood outside, gazing up at the massive guild building.

Why join the guild, you ask?

He glanced to his side and summoned the system. Instantly, a translucent blue screen appeared before him. Yesterday, he had received a quest:

[Quest: Become an Adventurer]

So, he had followed the directive.

As he walked back to the inn, Edwin saw children playing with their parents, their laughter echoing through the streets. A small smile formed on his lips before he sighed, his expression darkening. His thoughts drifted to the villagers who had died in the fire—at least they could rest now. With that, he continued toward the inn.

The next day, hundreds of applicants stood in multiple rows, their faces set in determination. The crowd was diverse—some large, some small, some foreigners, and some locals. Among them stood Edwin, observing those around him.

Suddenly, a stern-looking man entered—a towering, muscle-bound figure with numerous scars and a thick beard. His deep, commanding voice rang out.

"Listen up, maggots!! Every year, over 120,000 people take this test, and only 2,000 pass! So, do me a favor—don't add to my workload by making me clean up your dead bodies! UNDERSTOOD?!"

The applicants collectively gulped and shouted, "YES, SIR!"

The test was simple but brutal. Each participant would be sent alone into the forest outside town and would have to survive there for seven days. The forest contained low-level monsters and harsh terrain, but the real challenge was the lack of resources. This forest was artificially created—its ecosystem could not sustain itself. As a result, the monsters were constantly starving, making them far more aggressive than usual.

One by one, the applicants were sent inside.

The Forest

Edwin stepped into the forest, his senses sharpening. The eerie silence mixed with the rustling of leaves sent shivers down his spine.

Something felt off.

He scanned his surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place, yet nothing felt entirely normal either.

This forest is way too weird, he thought.

He walked cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, until he spotted a small gelatinous green blob slithering across the ground.

"The hell?!" Edwin murmured. Then, realization struck. "Wait, this must be a slime, right?"

He observed it carefully—its green color and small size indicated it was a basic slime. Edwin drew his black sword and slashed at it. The blade cut through effortlessly, splitting the creature apart. The core shattered, and the slime's form disintegrated into a puddle of green liquid.

Edwin knelt and examined the remains. Slime liquid was a common alchemical ingredient, and its core segments could be useful for certain enchantments.

He collected both, securing them in a small pouch.

As he stood, he felt a presence behind him.

The moment he turned, three glistening red eyes peered at him from the shadows.

Something was watching.

A cold chill ran down Edwin's spine.

The real test begins now.

End of Chapter