Today Emi has her adventurers’ test.

Emi left to go to the Adventurers’ Guild first thing in the morning. She went through the alleys that connected to Matthew’s establishment and out onto the main street where many people have already started their normal routine. She walked at a natural pace for her small stature and arrived at the Guild shortly after. Emi climbed a few steps, pushed open the large double-doors and entered the building.

“I’m here for my adventurers’ test.” She said to the same red-haired lady receptionist she spoke to yesterday after walking up to the long desk and the window in the middle.

“Is another kid trying their luck with the test? And it’s a girl too, there’s no way you’ll be able to pass!” Interrupted a scrawny young man not a great deal taller than Emi, he had leather armour, and there was a sword prominently placed on his back. His mocking remark made Emi turn away from her comfortable spot from where she peaked over the desk.

Looking at the young man behind her, a bewildered Emi couldn’t do much except stare blankly at him and then to the other adventurers in the Guild; who mostly had blank looks on their faces as they watched on, while others seemed unimpressed.

“Go away if you’re just going to interrupt.” Pressed the receptionist, then looking back down at Emi.

“The test will be starting shortly, just wait in here until then.”

“Okay.” I said after turning back to her.

“—Hey, wait a minute…”

Suddenly, the adventure snatched the newsboy cap clean off Emi’s head, revealing her large blue cat ears.

“So you’re a beastman!? I can sell you to the traders, a cute girl like you will fetch a decent price. I found you first so it’s only fair.” The young man said with a carefree smile on his face.

“No.” Emi said back to him, but immediately after the receptionist defended her with a far louder voice.

“Don’t you know that every species can become an adventurer!? All species have protection in the Guild; even if she isn’t an adventurer yet, I will not be allowing you to take her!” The receptionist said with a piercing eyes and a frown forming on her face as her wavy red hair was seemingly getting brighter.

“…!? What stupid rule is that!? I’ve never heard of it!”

The cocky adventurer looked down at Emi after yelling at the receptionist, who now had an even deeper frown forming on her face than a moment ago.

Outstretching his arm, he reached out to grab Emi by the shoulder to likely drag her out, but before he can, the receptionist jumped over the counter and stood in front of Emi with literal flames jutting out from her.

“Are you so dumb that you can’t understand me? Or rather, do you choose not to listen to me?”

“Y-yeah… That girl is a beastman and I saw her first, so she’s coming with m—”

“She will not be going with you.” Interrupted the receptionist.

“You’re not the first one to see that she was a beastman. Unlike you, many experienced adventurers can tell from a glance what species someone is. So let me ask you a question—what species do you think I am?” Hotly asked the receptionist shielding Emi as fire escaped from her and a collection of red hot flames appeared around her and Emi.

Things are getting a bit intense…why is everyone looking away?

The young adventurer wavers for a moment after seeing the enraged receptionist; ultimately deciding that he couldn’t answer her question, he had no idea what he could say that wouldn’t make her even more angry. His awkward indecisiveness was put on hold when a large man walked in from the door adjacent to the long receptionist desk.

“What’s going on out here?” The deep voice reverberated upon seeing the situation.

“This little boy thinks he can start trouble and get away with it.” Curtly stated the receptionist as she replied to the very tall and muscular older-looking man, who had spiky short brown hair and a slight beard—and he positively towered over Emi.

“Hmm…” The man looked between the receptionist, Emi, and the young adventurer who at this point looked kind of mortified.

“Well…you deal with him, Seraphina. And you, little girl. You’re taking the adventurers’ test right? Come with me.”

“Wait… Can you give me my hat back?” Emi asked, outstretching her hand before the young adventurer started to scramble to hand it back to her.

“Done?”

The tall, muscly man told Emi to follow him before turning and going back into the door he had just came from, which was located by the left of the reception desk. Through this door was a small hallway revealing a few doors and a stairway leading up which was on the right side. She followed the man through to the end, which wasn’t far, and through a door.

She was met with a very large and open room that made absolutely no sense when she thought about how the building looked from the outside.

Did I go underground at some point?

The large area was split into two sections. There was an open, rectangular shaped section at a very comfortable size with a lower ceiling; it had a brown colour-scheme and was mostly made of wood and was probably some sort of waiting or viewing area. It had benches set up and weapons lined on the wall and set on tables throughout the room, and one of the walls looked like a perfect square had been cut out from it which led to the other section. The rest of the space that the weapons room connected to was far larger and took up majority of the space—and yet was also not at all logical from the outside appearance of the Adventurers’ Guild. The large room was made out of giant stone bricks and was quite expansive—even the roof was about 20 metres from the ground while wall to wall was probably even double that. Throughout the space were varying-sized boulders scattered everywhere about the room, some having been destroyed with rubble scattered every which way.

“This room is used as training ground when there aren’t adventurer tests running. It’s made with magic.” He explains as Emi curiously glances around the room, likely sensing her confusion.

“The adventurers’ test is a one on one fight against me. Choose a weapon from those lined up here.” Pointing at the line-up of weapons on a nearby table that had a few differing swords, a hammer weapon, a large and a smaller-sized axe, a bow, a spear, a magical staff, and a wand.

Yeah…these are way too big for me.

“Can I use my dagger?” Emi asked, looking up at the muscly man with her usual flat expression.

“You have your own dagger…? That’s fine. Considering your size, you probably wouldn’t be able to handle any other weapon anyway…”

“Okay.”

Emi brandished the dagger that was tucked away and hidden under the clothes Matthew gave her, showing the man her weapon for their upcoming fight. It was only a standard-class dagger; though, even if her weapon was better, it was unlikely that would make any difference for Emi considering she was up against an opponent who was clearly far stronger than herself.

“The rules are: if you injure me at all, you pass; if you impress me, you pass; or, if you show obvious promise as an adventurer, you pass.” He states as he walks with Emi to the larger area of the room—the one made up of heavy-looking stones.

What type of rules are these…?

“There’s a time limit of five minutes. Start when you’re ready—don’t be afraid of hurting me.”

The man stopped in the middle of the room and turned to face Emi, taking off the large axe that had been planted firmly on his back.

She clumsily held the standard-class dagger using her left hand with an amateurish sway. She stared down the large, older-looking man with spiky brown hair and hulking muscles who still clearly towered over her even from a distance. Ruminating over how she should have practiced short-sword mastery while in the forest, Emi decided to just attack with instinct.

She leapt forwards using a Quick Dash to cut off the distance as quick as possible. Her plan was to go behind him and freely slash with her dagger, but he turned around as if he knew where she was going to end up and blocked her swing, sending sparks from the long handle of his large axe and jarring Emi’s hand and arm.

“You have the Quick Dash skill…” He accurately observed.

After he repelled her attack, Emi’s hand throbbed for a moment from the shock sent from holding the hilt of the dagger as it collided with the handle of the man’s axe. Nevertheless, she quickly recovered.

She threw a kick to his side at his hip and it landed. Though it did seem as if he let it—likely because he knew it wouldn’t do much.

Acquired: Martial Arts Level 1/10.

“Huh…”

Right when her kick landed on him, Emi heard her status update call out to her in its now all-too-familiar female-sounding voice. She got a new skill that increased her proficiency with martial arts, which to her, simply meant that she was that much more likely to land her attacks.

Utilising her newly acquired skill, Emi does a low kick, but it doesn’t have an effect. He’s way too heavy, she thought to herself.

She quickly stood back up and slashed her dagger towards the underside of his right arm—him still towering over Emi due to their differing heights—but it was blocked in time using his axe’s hilt. She tried running around him using her agility, but he continued to stay on guard, leaving no openings.

Emi started sending haphazard swipes at him with her dagger while she tried to think of what to do.

I could use some magic, but I doubt it will do much.

That was the only option Emi could think of while her distracted mind tried to focus on what was in front of her. She jumped backwards and once she gained a small amount of distance, Emi sent forth a Water Magic Mastery, Level 1: Ball of Water which she tried to fully encase him in.

“…So you can use a bit of magic?”

The man swings his large axe with a fwoosh and instantly Emi’s mana was cut off from the magic and it disappeared.

“…”

“That’s called Mana Cutting, you’ll do well to learn it as soon as possible.” He said in an educational tone.

The magic didn’t work.

Emi gave up on using magic the moment she used it and it didn’t work; thinking he would simply be able to cut through he magic attack again. She quickly got back in range of the man with a Quick Dash and started sending attack after attack with her dagger and shortly after, her short-sword mastery level increased by one.

With slightly more confidence, Emi hopped back before pouncing forwards and delivering a piercing strike with her dagger to his face, but then—

“Don’t expect me not to fight back.” He calmly voiced even as Emi was only a moment away from stabbing him.

“—Guh…!”

Emi’s cap fell off her head and her already airborne body offered no resistance when the sharp kick slammed into her. She shot through the air to the right from the heavy impact driven into her left side, landing and sliding across the rocky ground, shooting up dust as she collided with the massive boulder near one end of the room.

“Ack! Ack!” Emi started coughing after she settled back into the ground following her impact with the boulder as tears formed in her eyes.

He watched Emi with predatory eyes as she dryly coughed and crawled back up from the ground, hobbling as small rocks fell from her clothes and from her hair with pain running all over her frail body while she struggled to stay upright; her hounding eyes stared back at him with an angry glare.

That. Really. Hurt.

With a hate-filled glare, Emi performed a Quick Dash right towards him and jumped, sending a flying kick to his chest that he blocked with his arm.

Upon her kick being blocked head-on, Emi flipped backwards landing on two feet a few metres in front of him. She Quick Dashed once again and slashed her dagger right across his chest—which of course got repelled by the man’s axe.

“Hiss…!” A noise involuntarily comes out.

Quick Dash! Quick Dash! Quick Dash!

Emi internally yelled out, frustrated from her attacks failing to get past his defences. No matter what she did or how hard she tried, it always got blocked by his giant axe.

With what was certainly an infuriated expression, Emi sent a Water Magic Mastery, Level 2: Water Shot to his eyes as a way to get back at him. The thin beam of water got cut straight through the middle with a Mana Cutting—a testament to the man’s skill. Emi used yet another Quick Dash at the same time he cut her Water Shot spell, but as soon as Emi got into his range, she was delivered another kick that happened to be softer than the one that sent her flying across the room a minute ago. The kick collided with Emi’s opposite side—her right side—the instant she let her guard down; her feet left the ground for a moment and she stumbled a bit from the force, but had managed to stay upright.

Progression: Quick Dash has evolved to Lightning Dash.

“…I need to calm down.” Emi whispers to herself in between heavy breaths after the female-sounding voice snapped her out of her stupor and the pain throughout Emi’s body and on her skin throbbed.

“I just need to land a hit on him, but no matter what I do, it does not work.”

“I want to pay him back…” She added.

His discerning eyes stared down at Emi with a thinking gaze and she stared back.

Hmm…

“Maybe this will work…” She said so faintly that it wasn’t audible.

She used Lightning Dash—the evolved Quick Dash skill—to shorten the distance far faster than before. Leaving a faint trail of light blue lightning, Emi swings her blade with as much power and speed that she can muster.

Despite her pace quickening, the man was still undisturbed and calm enough to easily block her attack. Once he did, Emi quickly escaped with a Lightning Dash as not to get caught up in any attacks the man might unleash, stopping when she was about 10 metres away from him, and she waits.

This confirmed her suspicions that he will most likely continue to stay planted in that same spot he’s standing, considering he has not yet moved from it to follow her.

Emi used another Lightning Dash, this time shooting off of the ground with as much force as possible and thrusting her dagger straight forward in the direction of his large muscly chest. The man lifts up his large axe to block her strike with its flat side.

“Eheheh…”

Instead of striking his axe, Emi pulled her dagger back to her comparatively flat chest and twisted her body, planting her feet on the flat face of his axe; using her feet and her empty right hand, Emi pounced off his axe and alighted on a nearby boulder.

The man turns to look at Emi with a thoughtful frown, looking up at her as she adjusts herself on top of the boulder—surely questioning why she pulled out of her attack to such a spot.

BOOM!

Progression: Fire Magic Mastery Level 10/10 has evolved to Fire Magic Ascendency Level 1/10.

Acquired: Quick Casting… Fire Magic Ascendency, Level 1: Heat Area.

All of the sudden, the man got hit with a Flame Spear from behind. He—with a surprised look on his face—quickly turned to look for who had shot the Flame Spear and as he did, Emi used her Lightning Dash skill to once again shoot off toward him, this time slashing her dagger uninterruptedly across his cheek.

Acquired: Short-sword Mastery Level 4/10.

Hehe…

“Does that mean I pass?” Emi asked the tall, muscly, and now shocked man who had a small amount of blood escaping from his cheek.

“What just happened?” He asked Emi.

“I used a Delayed Casting on my Fire Magic Mastery, Level 10: Flame Spear, then cut you when you weren’t looking.” Emi triumphantly answered, despite her tone not indicating much.

Delayed Casting was something she acquired after reaching Magical Proficiency Level 15. When she was in the Forest of Frost, Emi practiced magic over and over whenever she was able. Due to her low level, it took a lot of time because of her small amount of mana, but she was creative. After Emi discovered that mana can act in a similar way to how blood flowed through veins, she realised that she could improve her Magical Proficiency by controlling the mana that flowed through her body—without the need of expending any at all.

It was still a pretty big gamble for Emi. She figured that the man wouldn’t kick her a third time, so she lunged at his chest with a piercing strike. Of course, he probably could have just swung at her instead, but he chose to block it because he didn’t want to hurt Emi anymore than he already had.

At least, that was her guess.

“You already have Magical Proficiency Level 15 and Fire Magic Mastery Level 10/10…and you were able to wound me.” Said the man in a somewhat amazed manner as he touched his bleeding cheek.

“You pass. I’ll also allow you to become an adventurer right now.”

“…That lady told me that only the Guildmaster could let me be an adventurer before I was twelve.” Emi said as a way to refute his claim.

“I am the Guildmaster.”

“Oh.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Guildmaster then told Emi to follow him; leading her back through the training and weapons area, into the hallway—and instead of going back into the main Guild area—he led her up the stairs connected to the hallway and all the way up to the third floor.

“We’ll need to do a couple things before you can become an adventurer.” Said the Guildmaster, who was now sitting in a chair behind a fairly large desk.

There were stacks of paperwork littered around, a couple filing cabinets crammed in one corner of the room, and many knick-knacks and other objects strewn about that looked as though they might have been for decoration.

Across from his desk were two separate hard chairs and against the right wall was a small soft couch. The room reminded Emi of Master Mattie’s office, even though it was rather large in comparison and had a couch on one side.

Emi planted herself in the left chair and waited for him to continue.

“First, I need you to sign a contract.”

The Guildmaster rang a small bell and immediately someone who must be an attendant entered the room, whom he tells to bring an empty adventurer card. After a moment they come back and hand it to the Guildmaster.

“Cut your thumb with that dagger of yours and plant it on the symbol on this card.”

Despite the rather odd request, Emi did as he ordered; She cut her thumb and pushed it against a corner of the metal rectangular adventurer card that, rather unexpectedly, had a paw-print symbol instead of a fingerprint one.

Immediately after Emi pushed her bleeding thumb into the card, information slowly started to bleed through and appear.

———

—Adventurer Card—

Name: Emi Age: 11 Level: 6 Species: Blue-White Cat

Rank: F

Status: HP 30/30 MP 24/24 EXP 4/60

ATK 24 DEF 6 AGL 60 INT 66

Task experience: 0 Tasks completed: 0/0

Monsters killed: 4 Non-monsters killed: 1

Class: None Party: None

———

“…”

The Guildmaster looked at Emi with a suspicious look that looked overly exaggerated; Emi awkwardly glanced around the room at whatever she could distinguish while she shifted in a hard seat that felt even harder at this point.

“…Tell me why it says ‘Non-monsters killed: 1’.”

“W-well… It’s a long story…sort of…” She uncharacteristically stammered.

Why does the adventurer card have to say that…

“I’ve lived a long enough life. Tell me what happened.”

Emi then proceeded to describe the events that happened in the Forest of Frost, explaining how her parents were murdered by someone who was most likely a soldier and how she had almost been ‘had fun with’ soon after.

Emi recounted the time she killed that man.

“…I see.” Is all the Guildmaster said.

“So, what this contract I had to sign?” Emi asks right after about what he said earlier.

“You’ve already done it. It was a blood contract which you signed with the adventurer card and now nobody will be able to use it except you; it can get stolen though—as pointless as that is… If you lose it, or get it stolen, you will have to buy a new one.”

“Is the blood contract all I need to do?”

“No, the second thing I want to know is why you want to be an adventurer.”

“Why I want to be an adventurer…?” Emi tilts her head.

“I was told by my master that I would have protection as a beastman if I became an adventurer.”

“Hmm… Yes. Most adventurers are human, but there are many that are a different species. When someone becomes an adventurer, most cities would rather stay in the Guild’s good-books than to discriminate against adventurers. Most adventurers don’t care what someone’s species is either, since most adventurers just care about the same thing—earning enough money to live and prestige. If you do good as a beastman and become strong, then nobody will be able to refute you.” Explained the Guildmaster.

“Wait a second… You said ‘master’ right? You’re not a slave are you?”

“No. It only recently happened, but I became someone’s pupil. That means they’re now my master.”

It may have only happened two nights ago in a rather unforeseen turn of events, but Emi did trust Matthew, and she had every intention of helping him in his plans. You could say it was a girl’s intuition that guided her to this decision, or rather, maybe a cat-girl’s intuition.

“Hmm… Answer me. Will you ever do anything that will bring harm to the Adventurers’ Guild?”

The Guildmaster sharpened his eyes as if trying to make Emi nervous—or it might have even been a way for him to see through any deceit. The only problem was that it didn’t have any real effect on her.

“What could I do that would harm the Guild?” Emi innocently asked.

“Don’t be stupid. No normal eleven year old girl has killed a person before, and you also mentioned you had a master; it’s suspicious.”

Rude.

“I’m not suspicious. I’m only going to help him and in exchange he’ll teach me how to fight better—and while I do that, I’ll kill the soldiers that murdered my parents.”

“…You’re really just going to tell me that?”

“My Mother always told me that honesty was the best policy.” She stated with a blank look.

“…Do what you want, just don’t drag the Guild into it.” Conceded the Guildmaster.

“What’s your name?” Emi asked.

“Ballard.”

“I‘m Emi. May I go now, Ballardie?”

Heh…

“…Yes. Go see Seraphina; she is the receptionist you spoke to earlier. Show her your adventurer card and choose your class. I will tell her what she needs to know.” Awkwardly answered Ballard.

Emi and the Guildmaster went back down to the main area of the guild, with Emi trailing behind the tall Guildmaster like she was trying to retrace his large steps. Emi had been gone for quite some time, so most of the adventurers that were here earlier are out at this point. There was one adventurer that stood out—the young adventurer that tried snatching Emi earlier. He was currently prostrated on the ground with the receptionist—Seraphina—standing next to him with her arms crossed. As soon as the young adventurer noticed both the Guildmaster and Emi walk in, he apologises—no doubt intimidated by a still fiery Seraphina next to him.

“I’m sorry for being rude to you earlier. It won’t happen again.” He says, still looking down at the floor.

“It’s okay.”

He looks up at Emi with a bright look on his face, while Seraphina still has a frown.

“You should punish him.” She harshly states.

“…What for?” Emi asked with a tilt of her head in confusion.

“…”

“…”

“Anyway, Ballard…why does she look like that!? And why are you bleeding and burnt?” Seraphina asks as she looks between Emi and the Guildmaster with a displeased expression.

Emi had torn clothes, her skin was scratched up and bleeding, and there were still a few pebbles stuck in her disheveled dark-blue hair; on the other hand, there was only a slightly injured Guildmaster.

Children doing adventurer tests were rarely ever injured, but the Guildmaster had done a number on Emi.

“I wanted to remind her not to let her guard down. Then when she was pissed she came up with a plan and I fell for it, that’s why we’re both hurt. She has a pretty good head in her shoulders.”

Eheheh…

“Anyway I have things to do. Help her with the registration and make sure she chooses a class; I allow her to be an adventurer.” Ballard said before going back through the door and leaving.

Seraphina walked back behind the long reception desk, Emi mirroring her and arriving at the window in the middle. She gave Seraphina her new adventurer card like the Guildmaster instructed.

“Hmm…” She let out after looking through it before giving it back to Emi.

“Here. Put your hand on this.”

Seraphina gestured to a round crystal ball that she pulled from under the desk. The moment Emi placed her hand on the hazy ball, a screen popped up right in front of her face.

———

—Class Selection—

Compatible classes include:

Apprentice Mage

· Slightly increased proficiency in all magic-based skills, lesser proficiency and a proficiency cap in non-magic combat-based skills. Requires Magical Proficiency Level 1. Further class branches once reaching Magical Proficiency Level 30.

Fire Mage

· Extremely proficient in fire magic-based skills, lesser proficiency in other magic-based skills. Requires Fire Magic Ascendency. Further class branches once reaching Fire Magic Transcendency Level 1

Apprentice Water Mage

· Slightly increased proficiency in water magic-based skills, lesser proficiency in other magic-based skills. Requires Water Magic Mastery. Class progresses to Water Mage once reaching Water Magic Ascendency Level 1

Speed Mage

· Improves agility and agility level gain. Improved proficiency with agility-based skills. Can only use small weapons and light armour. Reduces magic cast time. Requires Magical Proficiency Level 10, and Quick Casting or a special agility-based skill. Further class branches once reaching Magical Proficiency Level 30.

Lightning Mage

· Triples agility and agility level gain. Improved proficiency with agility-based skills. Can only use small weapons and light armour. Greatly reduces magic cast time. Requires Magical Proficiency Level 10, Quick Casting, Lightning Dash, and a special agility-based skill. Further class branches once requirements are fulfilled.

Short-sword Master

· More proficient with Short-sword, dagger, and knife-like weapons. Unable to use combat-based magic. Requires Short-sword Mastery. Further class branches once reaching Short-sword Ascendency Level 1.

Assassin

· Improves agility, intelligence, and grants assassin-based skills. Can only use small weapons and light armour. Requires Short-sword Mastery Level 1.

———

Staring at her class selection screen with her hand still resting on the crystal ball, Emi thought long and hard about what class she should choose; though it wasn’t long before Seraphina interrupts.

“You have a few good options. I can recommend you one if you’re unsure what to choose.” She suggested.

But I already know what I want.

“It’s okay. I want Lightning Mage.” Emi confidently replied.

The crystal ball responded with a faint jingle and flash of light, locking Emi’s decision in.

“Good choice, that class is quite rare and usually those types of classes have very specific branches. Do your best at reaching the requirements for evolving it.”

“‘Evolving it’?”

“It’s just a term used when someone continues to branch a special class. For example, if someone chose a Mage class and evolved it to a Wizard class, it still wouldn’t be a proper ‘evolution’ since it is a linear growth. They are different things and you need to select the right class and class branch.”

I still don’t quite get it.

“I see…”

“Good. Now your class should show up on your adventurer card.” She says as she puts away the crystal ball.

“Once you feel like your class can evolve, come back to the Guild and choose the right branch. Also, it’s possible to hide your status on your card—I recommend you do that.”

“Okay. By the way…what do adventurers do exactly?”

“…You’re only just now asking that?” Seraphina exasperatingly said before continuing.

“The short of it is that they do jobs that people request. Adventurers may also receive job requests from the Guild, but those are more-so exceptions. Adventurers get paid when they successfully complete a request; the adventurer card will say whether you successfully or unsuccessfully completed it, so don’t bother lying. Also, when you kill monsters, the Guild will buy the materials from you—like monster parts or manastones. I don’t recommend it since you lose on money, but you can also sell whole monsters to the Guild and we will harvest the materials for you.”

“Hmm… Are these manastones?” Emi asks Seraphina, placing the light-blue crystal she had got from defeating the Lightning Bull as well as a smaller white crystal she got from a Frost Rabbit.

“How did you get this…?”

Seraphina grabbed the light-blue manastone Emi placed on the desk and she looked it up and down as she inspected it. Emi hadn’t the slightest clue of what Seraphina was doing with the crystal as she looked over it, so she just continued to stand behind the desk with her head resting on the edge.

“I defeated a Lightning Bull in the Forest of Frost. It was the first monster I ever fought.” Emi nonchalantly added.

“I see… A Lightning Bull awakening in the forest is pretty unforeseen. The forest is a pretty safe area all things considered, so when the Guild heard sightings of an E+ rank monster in there it became a top priority. You did good.” Seraphina said as she pat Emi’s head back and forth right in between her large blue ears which twitched whenever she grew too close.

After a moment, she noticed that there was something missing.

“By the way…what happened to that hat you were wearing?”

“It must still be in the training grounds. It came off when the Guildmaster kicked me really hard and I flew across the room.”

“Tch… I’ll beat the crap out of him later for hurting a cute little girl like you.” Seraphina angrily whispered with a very serious expression, which made Emi blush slightly.

“Let me heal you.”

She jumped over the desk the same as she had earlier, this time landing on the floor facing Emi, hovering her hand just in front of Emi’s head and using a spell she called Flame Mending—healing her wounds with an encasing warmth.

With Emi feeling far more energised and without pain, she gave Seraphina a hug.

“Thank you.” Emi says, looking up at the tall woman with her arms around her lower back.

“Umm… You’re welcome…” She awkwardly replied as her long, bright-red hair swayed.

Once Emi eventually let her go, Seraphina got back behind the counter to pay Emi for completing a Guild request and for the Lightning Bull and Frost Rabbit manastone, giving Emi 20 silver, 3 silver and 15 bronze respectively—resulting in a bag of coins.

According to Seraphina, Lightning Bulls are quite rare in this area and one of the most dangerous monsters the Forest of Frost has to offer, so Emi got paid extra for the request the Guild put out. In total, Emi was given 23 silver and 15 bronze coins, but she had no idea whether that was a large amount or not.

Since currency was a concept that Emi was unfamiliar with, Seraphina explained to her the way it worked and that there was bronze, silver, gold, and platinum coins and that each coin was worth 100 of its predecessor. This meant that 1 platinum was worth 100 gold; 1 gold was the same as 100 silver; and 1 silver was the same as 100 bronze.

“If you ever need any help, just come by the Guild and let me know.” She says right as Emi was preparing to leave.

“Hm. Thank you.”

“Oh wait, don’t forget your hat!”

Oh…

Once Emi went and found her newsboy cap from near the middle of the empty training grounds, she returned to the main area, said goodbye to Seraphina and left the Adventurers’ Guild.

Emi looked up at the early afternoon sun and her hungry stomach was a rumbling indicator that she had been busy for longer than expected and it voiced its concerns. With her newly-earned money, Emi headed towards where the food stands were set up.

Walking past stall after stall as they seemingly continue forever, one in particular caught her eye.

“Does that say ‘Only Mushrooms’?”

She walked towards the small food cart with drool practically trickling out from her mouth. With starry eyes Emi ordered everything on the menu—Fried Mushrooms, Garlic Mushrooms, Stuffed Mushroom, Battered Mushrooms, Roasted Mushrooms—there really was a lot.

In the end, Emi left with two brown paper bags filled with mushrooms which only cost 60 bronze coins; it was hardly anything compared to what she was just given. Emi gave the woman running the stall 1 silver coin and she returned 40 bronze coins to Emi.

Having money is good.

Emi put away the bronze coins she was given in return. This might become an issue once I get more… Emi thought as she put her stuffed coin bag back into her pocket. She walked down the street hugging two bags filled with mushrooms and walked around many people in the hustle and bustle of the busy main street until she eventually got to a certain familiar alleyway.

Emi walked and walked until she arrived at an ordinary, out-of-the-way door, and entered a tavern-like establishment.

She received many piercing stares from the shady looking people who sat amongst the round tables, but ultimately, no one said anything even as Emi went through the small batwing-like door next to the bar and through the door behind it; continuing all the way until she got to Matthew’s office.

Trying to awkwardly maintain hold of the oversized brown bags of mushrooms in her hands while at the same time attempting to open the door to his office—a thud rang out as she accidentally slammed the door open.

“Hiss…!” A hiss escaped from Emi the moment she stumbled into the office and saw who was sitting on the seat opposite from Matthew.

On the seat not far in front of Emi was a dog-girl with caramel-coloured hair. She had grey eyes and droopy brown ears and what Emi thought was a ridiculous fluffy white and brown tail that had much difficulty trying to do anything except wag.

Her and Emi lock eyes once the door slammed against the wall with a jolt.

“…Why is the mutt here?” Emi asked through her grinding teeth and deep frown.

“I should be asking you the same thing! You called me disgusting!” Angrily voiced the caramel-coloured dog.

The two girls stare each other down, her looking at Emi from her spot on the right-side chair, and Emi through the gap in between her mushroom bags.

“What’s going on here…?” A dumbfounded Matthew asks.

“This stupid dog called me out in front of everyone and I had to run away…”

“This idiot cat called me disgusting when I was only walking!”

“I wasn’t even referring to you specifically. Are you stupid?” Emi asks in all seriousness.

“Grrr…!”

“—Okay, stop it.” Matthew stood up with an exasperated look on his face.

“I was going to introduce you two sooner or later, but I guess now is a good enough time than any… Emily meet Emi—your junior pupil. Emi meet Emily—your senior pupil. You are both going to help me with my plans so make sure you get along since you’ll be working together.” Ordered Matthew.

“Emily is too similar to my name. Maybe I will call her Illy.”

“As if! You’re my junior remember? You should be the one to change your name!”

“I disagree, Illy.”

“That isn’t fair!”

“—Quiet! You two must get along. Emi, did your adventurers’ test go well?”

“Yes. I was allowed to be an adventurer even though I am not 12 yet.”

“…? Huh. Okay then.”

“I also bought many mushrooms.” Emi added with a heartfelt smile.

“Want some?”

“…Umm. I might have a couple.”

Just a couple?

“What are mushrooms?” Asked Emily.

As if she forgot all her past ferocity at the mention of mushrooms, Emi went on to explain that they are delicious things that grow in dark places and that she had bought many from a food stall right before coming here—asking Emily if she wanted any.

“Hmm… Okay!” She reached into one of the bags Emi placed on the desk and put a roasted mushroom into her mouth.

“This is amazing!!!” She excitedly says.

“Have you never had mushrooms before?” Emi asks.

“Nope.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Emily and Emi then went on to share the mushrooms, trying all sorts of differently prepared ones and comparing them. They’re all the same kind of mushroom though, so eventually they started tasting very much the same, but that didn’t matter. They ate and ate until the bags were both empty and both pat their stomachs once they were done, in the end leaving none for Matthew.

“I want to try other mushrooms…” Emily said.

“…Me too.” Emi replied.

Once Emi and Emily settled back down into their respective chairs, Matthew immediately continued with his talk.

Apparently Emily was acting as a slave for Matthew’s plan and needs combat training, so both Emi and Emily are going to get trained by Matthew in the Forest of Frost.

It seems that Emily was Emi’s senior pupil by only a few days—it was clear she thought it was unfair that Emily was classed as her senior.