Tilea's Worries

**TITLE -- "Ortissio’s Struggles (Part 2)" --**

The Adventurer's Guild...

In essence, it's a place where humans arrange their jobs. I've gathered some information about it during my time undercover in the royal capital. If I remember correctly, the Guild is located on South Street.

As I hurried along, three scruffy-looking men with unkempt beards blocked my path.

“Heh heh. Sorry, kid, but this road’s closed,” one of them sneered.

“That’s right! If you want to pass, you’ll need to pay a toll!” added another.

These weak-looking humans, barking up the wrong tree, clearly didn't know their place. Judging by their appearance, they were probably just local thugs hanging around. The royal capital’s deteriorating law and order seems to have led to an increase in such unsavory types.

Ugh, like annoying flies buzzing around...

I glared at the humans.

“Oy, what’s with that look? You wanna start something? You got a death wish, kid?”

The humans brandished their swords, which were nearly two meters long. The blades were caked with dried blood, evidence that they’d been frequently attacking people.

They were all armed with swords.

The way they occasionally swung their swords to provoke me was irritating. I'd already had my fill of swordsmen recently, and my frustration was only growing.

These humans… They're pushing their luck!

Originally, the ability to control one’s magical power was something that Lady Tilea taught Lady Camilla and Captain Nielsen. Now, all the members of the Evil God’s army have mastered it.

I, too, was subjected to Captain Nielsen’s hellish training until I mastered it. Suppressing one’s magical power to human levels sounds simple, but it’s a technique that requires tremendous skill.

The higher your magical power, the more difficult it is to control.

That’s why the regular soldiers mastered it relatively quickly. As a higher-ranking officer with exceptionally high magical power, it was much more challenging for me. However, the effort paid off. Mastering magical power control has significantly enhanced my combat abilities.

As expected of Lady Tilea. The magical power I once thought had reached its limit is now growing rapidly. Even my technique with the Demon Fist has undoubtedly improved. Additionally, this ability is crucial for infiltration. No one suspects us of being demons.

However, there is a downside.

Because I suppress my magical power, my aura of intimidation doesn’t work.

In other words, foolish humans like these now underestimate me. Ever since I started keeping my magical power at human levels, I’ve been dealing with an increasing number of idiots like this. It’s like swatting flies—no matter how many I get rid of, more just keep coming.

I sighed inwardly.

Honestly, I’m in a hurry…

I ignored the humans and tried to press on.

“Hey, hold on! I told you, you need to pay the toll—Gyaaah!”

Of course, I had no qualms about crushing the bugs in my path.

“What the hell did you just do!?”

One of the humans started yelling after I stomped on his comrade.

“Hm? Weren’t you showing off your leg because you wanted me to break it?”

“Y-You idiot! Of course not!”

“I see. I misunderstood since you were so proudly showing off your leg. It seems you don’t just want your leg broken but your whole body.”

As I cracked my knuckles, the remaining humans looked terrified and bolted like rabbits.

All that remained was the one with the broken leg.

“Hah… hah… It hurts so much! You bastard, do you know who I work for? I’m one of Boss Zama’s men!”

“Zama?”

“Yeah, hah… hah… Boss Zama is the big shot who runs the Evil District and is praised as one of the Seven Stars. You’re dead meat!”

The human threatened me through gritted teeth, his face covered in cold sweat from the pain of his broken bones. Apparently, this guy was from the Evil District.

The Evil District, huh…

It’s about time we dealt with that area. There’s a lot of wealth concentrated there. Maybe I should use this guy to start breaking it down.

No, what am I thinking!

There’s no longer any need to focus on gathering wealth. I’m going to become a member of Lady Tilea’s personal guard. I can leave financial matters to that idiot strategist or to Myuhhen.

I formed a magical bullet to finish off the human.

“H-Hey, you’re kidding, right? Hah… hah… Stop, I’ll give you money! I mean it! I just robbed a merchant house, so I’ve got a ton of ca—Gyaaah!”

The magical bullet struck the human, obliterating him without a trace.

What a joke, charging a toll! Lady Tilea is the ruler of this entire land! As a mere human, you should be grateful she even allows you to exist!

Such insolence!

After purging the human, I headed toward the Adventurer's Guild.

And…

So, this is the Adventurer's Guild.

It’s one of the largest buildings on South Street, with a huge sign reading "Adventurer's Guild" hanging prominently above it. Though I scoped out most of the capital during my time undercover, I never had the chance to investigate this place.

That was because those pesky adventurers Remilia and Maira from the security forces got in my way.

Will they interfere again?

No, I’ve mastered magical power control.

This time, it’s different. I can infiltrate perfectly. And even if my cover is blown, it doesn’t matter. Those fools are no match for my upgraded power.

I’ll crush them easily.

I opened the door. As I stepped inside, all eyes turned toward me.

They’re here, all right. A bunch of colorful humans loitering around.

So, these riffraff are adventurers?

Hmph, there's no difference between them and the scum outside. They’re so weak it’s almost disappointing. Reaching S-rank is going to be easier than I thought.

I already know a bit about adventurers from my time in the capital. Adventurers are jacks-of-all-trades, doing everything from guarding important people to hunting magical beasts. But first, I need to register as an adventurer at the reception desk.

The reception desk is over there.

I walked over to the open desk and spoke to the receptionist.

“Hey, I want to register.”

“You’d like to register as an adventurer?”

“That’s right. Hurry up.”

“Understood. Just to confirm, becoming an adventurer is a dangerous profession. Are you sure you’re prepared?”

“Of course, I am. I’ve been ready for ages. Frankly, I’m surprised at how weak everyone here seems.”

“…Understood. Then I’ll give you a brief rundown of the adventurer’s code.”

“A rundown?”

“Yes. All new registrants are required to take a short course.”

“I don’t need any courses. Just hurry up and register me!”

“I’m sorry, but the course is mandatory. As I mentioned, being an adventurer is a dangerous job. Without the basic knowledge, you could put not only yourself but also those around you at risk.”

The receptionist started lecturing me, which only made me more irritated.

I wanted to punch her in the face, but I held back. If I can’t register, it’ll all be for nothing.

“Fine, fine. I’ll take the stupid course. Just stop lecturing me already.”

“…Thank you.”

“I don’t like it, but I’ll take your course. You should be grateful. Now, can you bump me up a few ranks?”

“That’s impossible. Everyone starts at G-rank.”

“Hey, I’m not like these other weaklings. I don’t have time to waste climbing up from the bottom.”

The receptionist gave me a look of exasperation and sighed deeply.

How insolent.

I want to kill her, but I’ll hold back.

“That will be covered in the course. We require everyone to follow the rules.”

“Hmph, but what if someone shows up who can’t be measured by your rules? I’m an exceptionally talented individual.”

“…Do you want to cancel your registration? If you can’t follow the rules, we can’t allow you to become an adventurer.”

The receptionist adjusted her glasses and challenged me with a provoking look.

Ugh!

I almost punched her right then, but I managed to restrain myself. I have to hold back until I complete the registration. I took a deep breath.

“…Fine. I’ll start at G-rank.”

“That’s the rule.”

“So, what’s the fastest way to go from G-rank to S-rank?”

The receptionist looked even more exasperated and sighed deeply again.

What an irritating woman.

I’ll kill her!

No, I have to be patient. If I kill her now, it’ll only cause problems. I have to reach S-rank before Myuhhen does, no matter what.

“There are no shortcuts. You’ll need to complete quests to rise from F, E, D, C, B, and A. Consistent effort is the only way.”

“I couldn’t care less about the proper way! How many quests do I need to complete to rank up? Would slaying a thousand magical beasts do the trick?”

“…G-rank adventurers can’t take on magical beasts. Your main task will be collecting herbs. After successfully gathering twenty to thirty herbs, you’ll be promoted to F-rank. The Guild buys them in bundles of ten for three hundred gold, which is a valuable source of income for rookie adventurers. But don’t take it lightly. There are similar-looking poisonous herbs that can kill you if you’re not careful. Every year, we lose a few adventurers to such mishaps.”

“This is all so tedious. Just hearing it makes me sick. So, after that, do I finally get to hunt magical beasts to reach S-rank?”

“It’s not that simple. Rising in rank isn’t just about hunting magical beasts. You’ll need to guard merchant caravans, pass written exams, and prove yourself in various areas to reach higher ranks. Even those who are currently A-rank and B-rank adventurers…”

“Ugh, enough with the details. I’ve heard more than enough. Written exams? I’ll prove my worth with my strength alone. Just hurry up and finish my registration!”

“…Then please fill out your name, age, and place of birth on this form. Also, we’ll need your identity papers.”

“Identity papers?”

“Yes. If you’re a citizen of the royal capital, you should have them. Even if you’re from outside the capital, you should have received a certificate proving your identity from the village chief when you left. Either document will suffice. You’re not an illegal immigrant, are you?”

What? What’s this all about?

I don’t have any such complicated paperwork.

“Uh, well, I did have them, but they seem to be… misplaced…”

“You lost them?”

“Tch. So I can’t register without them?”

“Well, given the recent demon attack on the capital, many people have lost their papers. In such cases, we usually ask them to apply for a reissue…”

“A reissue!? Do I really have to go through that hassle?”

“Yes, although some people like yourself find it troublesome or are in a hurry and try to avoid it. In such cases, you can also register with a letter of recommendation from a prominent individual or something equivalent.”

Like I’d have something like that.

As if I’d know any humans well enough to get a—wait a second. There is someone…

"Hey, does the referral need to come from an adventurer?"

"It depends. We don't accept recommendations from adventurers with poor reputations."

"What about Myuhhen-Bo-Eret?"

"Are you talking about Myuhhen-sama?"

"So, you know him. That makes things easier. Can he be my guarantor?"

"Myuhhen-sama? Yes, he is well-known for his exemplary conduct and exceptional skills, even as a newcomer. He’s currently breaking numerous records in the Adventurer’s Guild. If he’s your guarantor, there’s no problem."

"Good. Then he’s my guarantor. Now, register me!"

"...I’ll need to confirm this, so please wait a moment."

"What? You don’t believe me?"

"It’s the procedure."

This woman… I’ll kill her! No, I can’t. Calm down. I can’t risk ruining my chances of joining Lady Tilea’s personal guard.

"Tch. Hurry up! Call that ass-kissing, brown-nosing, bearded scumbag Myuhhen now!"

"...Please wait a moment."

The receptionist then started talking with another staff member. They were whispering, but it was pointless. With my demon hearing, I could make out every word. They were questioning if I was really acquainted with Myuhhen, commenting on how unusually rough I seemed for someone associated with him.

Hmph, what drivel.

"Hey! If you’ve got time to flap your useless mouths, then get Myuhhen, that ass-kissing bastard, over here already!"

I shouted at the staff members.

This caused the chatter in the guild to shift from hushed whispers to outright, audible voices of disdain.

Damn them! These pathetic humans!

It’s clear that Myuhhen is well-regarded even here. Everyone in the guild speaks highly of him. The receptionist even blushed while singing his praises. Sycophantic fool, sucking up to those in power despite being a mere warrior!

"Hey, how much longer!? Hurry it up! Go get that bootlicking, sycophantic, bearded clown!"

"Alright, enough is enough! Stop getting so cocky, rookie."

One of the adventurers grabbed my shoulder, trying to stop me.

The adventurer had a silver plate, which, based on the information I gathered, meant he was a B- to D-rank adventurer.

Perfect. This is my chance to demonstrate my skills.

Without hesitation, I backhanded him. With a short death rattle, his body was sent flying backward with great force.

The adventurer’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

““You bastard!!””

Five or six other adventurers, probably his companions, glared at me with anger and charged. Naturally, I dealt with them with a few additional punches, knocking them out cold.

In an instant, the place fell silent.

The surrounding humans were stunned. The guild staff were slack-jawed in shock.

So, they finally understand my power. It’s about time they stopped underestimating me.

I glanced around with a smug look on my face.

The very humans who had been whispering about me earlier were now frozen in shock. Some of the staff were trembling.

"Heh heh, now you see what I’m capable of?"

"Y-Yes."

The female receptionist, who had been so rude earlier, answered, shaking.

"Then hurry up and register me. Now that you’ve seen my power, just start me at S-rank."

"Th-That’s against the rules… Eek!"

"Then you’ll die… but don’t forget to prepare a replacement at the desk."

"W-Wait… Oh!"

The receptionist suddenly let out a squeal, her gaze shifting to something behind me.

When I turned around, someone suddenly put me in a chokehold. It was the technique called a "choke sleeper."

Gah, can’t breathe.

I let my guard down. Myuhhen, that bastard!

Myuhhen’s "choke sleeper" was perfectly executed. In this state, with my magic suppressed, it was difficult to break free.

"My apologies. It seems my acquaintance has caused you some trouble."

"Myuhhen-sama! Thank goodness. This person was spouting nonsense and causing a huge commotion."

"Sorry for the trouble. I’ll take care of him. Please go back to your work."

"Thank you. But, um, who is that person? He seems to know you, Myuhhen-sama, but he’s incredibly violent…"

"Haha, he’s from my hometown, but he’s, well, not quite right in the head. He’s the black sheep of our village."

"Is that so? Myuhhen-sama, it must have been tough dealing with him."

Even though I was on the verge of losing consciousness from lack of oxygen, I could still hear the conversation between Myuhhen and the receptionist.

Don’t underestimate me.

If it comes to this, I’ll unleash my full magic and break free.

I’ll show them the power of a demon. I’ll turn this place into a wasteland!

Just as I was about to release my magic, Myuhhen leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Are you planning to cause trouble for Lady Tilea?"

Hearing that, I had no choice but to back down. Lady Tilea is absolute.

Even though it irritated me to be thwarted like this, I left with Myuhhen.

Once we were outside and alone, Myuhhen immediately snapped at me, “What the hell are you doing here?”

He reprimanded me, saying that the Adventurer’s Guild was under his jurisdiction and that I was violating military regulations.

But of course, I wasn’t. I had Lady Tilea’s permission. I declared that I was here to get promoted before him.

Hearing this, Myuhhen groaned and muttered, "Ortissio, you’re not going to become an adventurer."

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant and just stood there dumbfounded. But after a few seconds, the meaning of his words sank in, and I felt anger welling up inside me.

"What do you mean by that, Myuhhen! I told you, I have Lady Tilea’s permission. If you’re going to interfere, we can settle this here and now!"

"Calm down, Ortissio. Listen. You know you need identification to register as an adventurer, right?"

"Yeah, I don't have a human identity record. But couldn't you just vouch for me?"

"Ortissio, you know that the security forces are after you, right? A wanted criminal can't become an adventurer. The moment you register, the security forces will come rushing in."

I was stunned by Myuhhen's words.

Damn it.

Is Remilia going to get in my way again?

What should I do? Should I kill Remilia? No, I can’t. Right now, Lady Tilea needs Remilia for some plan. I can’t make a move against her.

If I'm being targeted by the security forces, I can't become an adventurer. That means my path to becoming a member of Lady Tilea’s personal guard is cut off.

The shock of this realization left me wandering aimlessly.

I had no idea where I was going.

By the time I came to my senses, I found myself in a dark alley, where no light could reach. The atmosphere was damp and gloomy.

This path must lead to the Evil District.

“Heh heh, from here on, the road’s closed.”

“You’ve stumbled into the first circle of hell, kid. Tough luck.”

More humans were gathering around. A few of them buzzed around like flies. Just how overpopulated is this city with humans? I really need to conduct a large-scale extermination.

This is so frustrating.

I’ll vent my anger on these fools.

"Ortissio, HUNDRED CRACK FIST!!!"

Attatatatatata, attaaaa!!

I unleashed a flurry of lightning-fast punches on all of them.

This is one of the advanced techniques Lady Tilea taught me.

“You’re already dead.”

“Hahahahaha, of course they’re all dead, with those huge holes in their bellies!”

“Who’s there?”

A tall man approached from behind, laughing as he got closer.

Is he one of the humans’ allies?

I moved toward him to finish him off.

“Whoa, hold on. The name’s Bito. I’ve come to bring you some good news.”

“Good news?”

“Yeah, I’ve been watching your moves. Clearing out those thugs, causing a ruckus at the Adventurer’s Guild… It was impressive. Ortissio, you want to become a high-ranking adventurer, don’t you? But you couldn’t even register.”

“So what? Are you saying you can help me?”

“I can.”

“What did you say?!”

“Yeah, I’m guessing you couldn’t register because of a criminal record or something, right? Don’t worry. There’s always a loophole. If you leave it to me, I can get you registered as an adventurer in no time.”

Oh, this is great. I don’t care how you do it, just make it happen.

“Is that so? Then do it.”

“Sure, but you’ll have to join a certain organization.”

“An organization?”

“It’s a give-and-take. I’ll help you out, but you’ll need to return the favor. But don’t worry, it’s a good organization. You’ll be able to enjoy killing to your heart’s content.”

Join an organization? 

How laughable for an insect like you to be so presumptuous. To think you’re giving orders to a high-ranking officer of the Evil God’s army—though, whatever. As long as I can register as an adventurer, I don’t care. If this little organization gets in my way, I’ll crush it.

“Fine, I’ll join.”

“You’ve made a wise decision. Our boss is generous. If you do good work, you’ll get rewards beyond your wildest dreams.”

“Does that include promotions within the Adventurer’s Guild?”

“Of course. Our boss has powerful connections everywhere. Climbing the ranks will be easy.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Then let me formally introduce myself. I’m Bito, leader of a rogue group. I manage the members, and sometimes I scout for promising talent like yourself.”

“Spare me the boring details.”

“Heh, you’re arrogant to the core. I’ll ask you anyway—sometimes the jobs we do are pretty brutal. Are you up for it?”

“I already told you, I don’t care. I must rise through the ranks, no matter what. I’ll kill anyone who stands in my way. That’s all there is to it.”

“Heh heh, good answer. No hesitation at all. If someone were to obstruct your ambitions, you’d probably kill them, even if they were royalty.”

“Of course.”

“Heh, welcome aboard, Ortissio. Our organization has been waiting for someone with your kind of *evil*.”

The brat who called himself Bito responded with an air of elegance.

I really couldn’t care less. I just want to get on with completing quests and climbing the ranks. This guy is so damn annoying. He kind of reminds me of that idiot strategist.

Yeah, once I’m done with him, I’ll kill this guy too.