CH 32

[……No way.]

I watched in dismay as the blade of my <Greatsword Revolt> flew through the air and plunged into the ground.

When I cut down those demons, when I blocked the attack of the sub-dragon, my partner has been fighting with me without swaying a bit.

The fact that it was so easily cut off completely stopped my thoughts.

This…… would definitely have been a fatal gap on the battlefield.

However……

[……Have you had enough already?]

The man standing in front of me doesn’t even scold me for it.

He just looked at me with cold eyes, as if to say that whether I was holding a weapon or not, it was the same either way……

(No, I guess this actually was the case.)

Even if he hadn’t exploited an opening, if he just unleashed a strike right after cutting my <Greatsword Revolt>, I would have been cut down without being able to avoid it.

Or perhaps, if I had pushed further, it might have been able to cut me in two along with my sword.

[……Well, I surrender.]

I let go of my greatsword that had been cut down, and sat down on the spot.

[Boss!]

I heard a voice behind me screaming, but my mind remained the same.

[Don’t you get it? We’ve completely lost.]

He surpassed Juke in magic power, surpassed Ren’s throwing skill, and easily surpassed me in swordsmanship and prowess.

If this is not defeat, what is?

(That isn’t all……!)

We were so intimidated by this man’s strength that we forgot our vow “not to hurt the other party”.

It wasn’t just Ren who had seriously thrown his knives.

When Rex approached me, all I could think about was “how to beat him”.

My goal of unmasking this man and waking up the kids, as well as my determination to settle this matter without harming the other party, all of this had slipped my mind.

……However, this man named Rex was different from us.

When he intercepted the knives that flew at him, or when he neutralized me with his sword, he didn’t hurt us at all.

Of course, that may just be his “composure due to the difference in our ability”.

However, it’s a fact that even when we suddenly attacked him, both sides were unharmed while we were suppressed.

————-We were defeated not in strength, but also in heart.

I looked him square in the eye, put my hands in the ground……

[……I’m sorry.]

——-and bowed my head.

[What are you doing, Boss!?]

[Boss!?]

Ren and Juke shouted, but this is a matter of decency.

[It isn’t just about this matter! I underestimated you! I had decided that a solo A-Rank Adventurer couldn’t exist and I treated you like a charlatan!]

I was the one whose eyes were glazed over.

Even though I said “Adventurers are free beings”, I was the one trying to mold the Adventurers the most.

I thought there was no such thing as a single Adventurer who could fulfill all the roles in a party.

But this man, Rex, surpassed us in magic, skill and swordsmanship.

This isn’t something that can be described simply by “him having high abilities”.

As one gains experience as an Adventurer and “levels-up”, one’s magic power and dexterity will certainly grow to a level above that of others.

For example, I have the magic power of a Mid-level Adventurer, but that doesn’t mean I can use the same magic as those of the same level.

Ability isn’t the only requirement for a strong Adventurer.

No matter how high your basic abilities are, they are meaningless unless you have the skills to put them to good use.

In order to acquire such skills, one must be employed in a specific Class and study hard in that Class.

If it’s a simple skill at a lower level, it would have been all good.

However, learning such excellent skills such as <Freeze Rain> and <Knife Shot> require extraordinary effort.

That’s why it was an established tactic for Adventurers to stick to a single Class-line: “If you’re a warrior, stick to being a warrior”, “if you’re a magic-user, stick to being a magic-user”.

Or perhaps, if they want to take more than one path, two at most is the best they can do.

(And yet, this man has shown himself to be a magic-user, a thief, and a swordsman, and a master in every one of their techniques!)

I’ve been an Adventurer for decades, so I’m painfully aware of how much endless training such mastery requires.

(And for me to call such a person a charlatan, how pathetic……!)

Moreover, what is truly amazing about this man is that even after all that happened, I still can’t feel the aura of aspiration from him.

At first, I mistakenly thought that the reason for this was because “this man is just a regular guy”.

However, I was mistaken.

Perhaps, this man of great skill has already transcended such a perspective.

Even now, he has completely shut us down, not with an atmosphere as if “we’re fighting for our lives”, but in a natural, casual way, as if we were “just playing cards”.

(We were no match against him. We can’t…… even hope to stand against him.)

Of course, the fact that he is a good Adventurer doesn’t guarantee that he is a good leader.

However, it’s hard to believe that a man who has acquired so many skills through incredibly hard work would be so nonchalant with his training.

And when Rex is so much more than we thought he was capable of, there’s no reason for us to stop them.

[If a man as strong as you were to go with them, we can rest assured that they will be in good hands. Even if it’s the <Seven-Colored Lava Cave>, you’ll be able to protect them well enough……]

[Aren’t you misunderstanding something here?]

A cold voice interrupted my words.

Hearing those words, I reflexively looked up and the Black Adventurer said something I couldn’t believe.

[Only these guys are going into the dungeon.]

[Wha……]

I was at a loss for words at what Rex said.

(Just sending those chicks to the Lava Cave is no different from suicide.)

I wanted to say that, but for some reason, I couldn’t say it out loud.

The enemies in the Lava Cave are strong, and even the simplest Collection Quest isn’t something that a newcomer can do.

Even so, perhaps these disciples under his tutelage would be able to get around the slimes in the Lava Cave and fulfill the Quests?

For a moment, I thought as such.

[No, but…… I guess this is just right. I have some things I want to talk to you all about, so you appearing here is just perfect. I’ll have you lot follow us to the cave entrance. Also……]

However……

However, it seems like I was still making light of him, no, them here.

[————-I’m going to have you be the witness to my disciples’ Quest Completion.]

The man, who I thought had no expression on his face, twisted his lips to a grin.

It was only a few hours later that I learned the true meaning of his words.

☆　☆　☆

Sword Emperor Era, Year 664: The 10th Day of the 11th Month.

Exactly one month after the “Oracle by the Goddess of Salvation”.

Freria’s Adventurers’ Guild received news of a sensational incident.

————-The newcomer party <Brave Blade> achieved the “Boss Subjugation Quest” of the Mid-level Dungeon <Seven-Colored Lava Cave>.

The news, brought by the most respected Adventurer in Freria’s Adventurers’ Guild, <Immortal Verteran>, quickly spread among Adventurers in the town and around the world, surprising them to no end.

The fact that this newcomer party, which had been together for one month and had explored dungeons only twice, achieved a “First-Try Subjugation Quest Completion” was, needless to say, an unprecedented feat.

This legendary accomplishment completely changed the direction of how the wind blows.

The former notoriety was replaced by praise, and everyone was in pursuit of the secret of their achievement and the teacher standing behind this party……

————-And thus, the world came to know “Rex Toren”.