Ke’ar tossed the rock in his hand up into the air and caught it repeatedly. Exiled from his village for being too handsome, strong, and amazing, he’s forced to wander the swamps for a new home. If anyone else asked the other frogmen inside his village why Ke’ar was exiled, they would say because he was unlike any other frogman in the village and didn’t belong. Ke’ar cursed at them and momentarily thought about hurting all of them but simply turned away and cursed the village along with everyone inside it. He only came to a few days ago with strange unexplainable memories inside his head.
These memories are the reason why he was exiled but Ke’ar didn’t care too much about being exiled. That was because he was also gifted an amazing magical ability. Looking for a new home, Ke’ar stumbled upon a magical beast that could easily tear his soft, wart-filled, moist body apart. If Ke’ar didn’t have his magical ability, he would’ve swiftly run away as fast as he could without looking back. However, now was the perfect time to test just how potent his ability was...
Ke’ar smiled as the sizable stone weighed nicely on his palm. The large badger monster growled and charged at the sight of him. The stone glowed with a dull light as Ke’ar released it toward the beast. As the stone left Ke’ar’s hand, it suddenly multiplied into several stones and harshly pelted the wolf-sized badger. It fiercely growled and roared at Ke’ar for hurting it. Ke’ar took the time it was doing that to grab a tree branch before tossing it at the badger as well.
The tree branch turned into several branches and poked, cut, and battered the carnivorous animal. By this point, the badger realized the meal would not be easy and took off running. Ke’ar victoriously laughed at the sight of the fleeing animal as he picked up several small pieces of stone and continued his journey through the swamp. Without a home or goal in mind, Ke’ar walked, swam, and ran his way through the swamp.
Until he found his way to a human settlement. He cautiously walked up to the large community of humans with nothing but rocks in his hands. The guard immediately glared at him and prepared to pull out his sword at the sight of him. Ke’ar dropped the rocks in his hands and held his hands up in the air. Causing trouble with this human would definitely cause more to come out.
“What do you want, frogman?!” The armored human pointed his spear at Ke’ar.
“Entry into the settlement. Ke’ar won’t cause any trouble and I'm alone.” Ke’ar responded.
“Are you trying to become an adventurer or something?!” He asked with annoyance. ‘Every race is coming out of the woodworks to become a damn adventurer... It was a simpler time when every race but humans were evil and able to be killed on sight. Damn Peace Treaty.’ He thought.
“Yes! I want to become an adventurer!” Ke’ar didn’t know exactly what an adventurer was but his memories gave him a feeling that it was his only chance of finding somewhere he belonged.
“Fine. Go in, but if you cause any trouble, I'll gut you myself frog.” He threatened.
“Ke’ar understands.” Ke’ar slowly and calmly entered the human settlement.
Races of all kinds appeared in Ke’ar’s eyes as he walked inside. Horsemen, half human half horse, lizardmen, merfolk, succubi, and more all wandered around the human settlement. Of course, the majority of those walking around were human but Ke’ar could always spot someone from another race in either two or three glances. Ke’ar was quite amazed. For some reason, he thought humans hated other races outside their own.
It took Ke’ar a while before someone was kind enough to give him directions to the place where he could become an adventurer. Mostly because he was without clothes, apparently stinky to a majority of other races, and was ugly. He disagreed with those two final points but ultimately it doesn’t matter. He’ll be able to moisten up once he gets some of the human coins. A feat only possible once he becomes an adventurer!
As he walked in, eyes immediately locked onto him as soon as Ke’ar walked into the building. Ke’ar wasn’t frightened but it was certainly unnerving. His only weapon was the silver coin he found on the ground that dropped from a human’s small purse. When he walked up to the counter, he wasn’t tall enough to even see over it. Soon though, a human woman appeared over the counter and looked down at him.
“Hello, Ke’ar would like to become an adventurer.” Ke’ar politely greeted.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Of course you do...” She muttered. “Name, role, and any special abilities?”
“Ke’ar is Ke’ar. Ke’ar doesn’t know what a role is. Ke’ar can make one into many.” Ke’ar answered.
“Some sort of mage or ranger then? Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Can you read human language?” She soon asked.
“No.”
“Are good in a fight? Scouting? Performing magic? Enduring attacks?”
“Ke’ar can be very helpful in a fight.” He nodded.
“Got it. Alright, to become an adventurer costs one silver. Do you have any money?”
“Ke’ar has money! Look!” Ke’ar happily showed the single silver coin he had on his person.
“Great.” She emotionlessly replied. “Take this. It’s proof that you’re an adventurer. You’re now free to take on any requests or missions at your current rank. Your rank is F and you are only allowed to take F-ranked requests.” She handed him a small cloak with the building’s emblem on it. “Since you cannot read, do you wish for me to read the current F-rank requests needed right now?”
“Yes, please.” Ke’ar requested.
“We have a customer that needs a letter delivered across town, another that needs some rats exterminated from her house, a trip to the forest to gather some herbs, an extermination request for a wolf that keeps attacking sheep, should I keep reading?” She asked.
“Ke’ar will take the one that gives the most coins.” Ke’ar asked.
“Got it. The requester asks for you to kill and bring back the pelt of five or more wolves. Are you sure this is the request, you wish to take?”
“Yes.” Ke’ar agrees.
“Very well. Come back with five or more wolf pelts and you’ll get your payment. Good luck adventurer.” She went back behind the counter and Ke’ar left the adventurer building happy.
Ke’ar excitedly looked through the city for more money and objects to use to aid his quest in taking down five wolves. He was questioned several times on why he was digging through trashes but ultimately not brought in as the guards didn’t want to put up with his stench for more than a couple of minutes. Once Ke’ar finally found another coin, he evilly grinned to himself as he headed down a dark and abandoned alleyway.
He tossed the bronze coin into the air and watched as it multiplied into several more bronze coins. Ke’ar’s laughter filled the alleyway as he multiplied and multiplied and multiplied the coins until his adventurer cloak pockets were stuffed with bronze coins. Now it was time to do some real spending... With a kiss to the shiny coin, Ke’ar made his way to an inn. He heard that it was a place where he could bathe and get food as long as he paid money.
“Sir, you wouldn’t mind paying first before we cook your food, do you?” The inn worker glared at him.
“Ke’ar pays money.” He scooped into his cloak and a mass jingling of coins hit the counter.
The heavy-set woman’s glare turned into a pleasing smile as she stuffed the coins in her apron pocket before skipping happily into the kitchen. Ke’ar could feel more stares at him but didn’t let them get to him as he patiently waited for his food. Once the food finally came out, he didn’t hesitate in tearing it apart. He hasn’t eaten since he was exiled from his tribe. Ke’ar was starving!
“Ke’ar has never tasted anything better...” Ke’ar contently rubbed his belly as he made his way to the room he bought.
After a long long soak in the water provided by the inn, Ke’ar took a quick rest before exiting the inn and making his way to where the humans make their weapons. Along the way to the blacksmith, he saw a few familiar faces from the inn following him from behind. Ke’ar frowned and hurried to the weapons maker. On making it inside, several weapons littered the walls of the building. Most were much larger and bigger than himself.
“Hello, Mr. Blacksmith. Ke’ar wishes to pay for weapons but doesn’t know which weapon to buy.” Ke’ar walked to the counter, unable to see past it just like the counter at the adventurer building.
“A frogman, huh? Well, what kind of weapon are you looking for?” He asked with a gruff voice.
“Ke’ar can turn one into many. Ke’ar likes to fight away from enemies. Ke’ar doesn’t like up close.” Ke’ar explained.
“A long-ranged fighter huh? I got a couple things. Let’s see which one fits you best. Give me a second.” He went into the back of his shop and disappeared.
After a few minutes, he returned with four items: a bow that fits perfectly for Ke’ar’s size, a large net for capturing creatures, a blowgun, and a javelin. Ke’ar’s eyes lit up in joy as he looked at them all. In no time, he emptied out his pockets filling the glass counter with bronze coins.
“Can Ke’ar take them all with this much!?” He excitedly asked.
“This is more than enough little guy.” The blacksmith was shocked but laughed at the amount of money this fella was carrying. Not too often you see other races carrying this much money.
“Ke’ar will pay you more if you find more weapons perfect for Ke’ar like these!” With only one bronze coin remaining in his cloak, Ke’ar left the blacksmith decked out with his new purchases.
He got several strange looks as he left the blacksmith but paid no mind to it as he speed-walked his way to the swamp to find some wolves. Unknown to the frogman, three men were following his trail with grins on their faces.
“We caught the jackpot, boys.”