Mr. James, what do you think I should do now?" I asked.
James looked at me and paused his wiping. "What do you mean?"
"No... never mind."
I continued drinking my guava juice.
Soon, an official from the army arrived and cleaned up the bandit's body.
I had arrived in a new world without knowing how to go back to my own. What should I do here?
"Mr. James, what job do you think would suit me?" I asked him.
James, who was brewing a drink for himself, replied with a smile, "A combat job should suit you."
"You didn't flinch or panic when I killed those bandits, which shows your calmness in battle."
"An adventurer or soldier would be the best pick."
True, when James killed or decapitated the bandits, I didn't feel repulsed or nauseous. Was it because they were bandits that I was fine with them being killed?
"Furthermore, I noticed that your body is in good shape."
"Did you train?" he asked with a smile.
"I did some workouts, but it was nothing compared to the strength you showed, Mr. James," I said, scratching my head in embarrassment.
"Are you an ex-soldier, Mr. James?"
James paused and replied calmly, "No, I'm an ex-adventurer."
"I see."
Then the evening turned dark as I left the tavern.
"If you want to join the adventurer guild, say that James the Butcher recommended you. It would help with the process a little," James, who was leaning against the tavern wall, said.
"Thank you!" I said, grateful.
I walked toward the Adventurer Guild in the town. It was a normal two-story building.
Along the way, I saw the traces left by the bandit's raid: broken houses and blood.
I entered the building, which had only a few people inside. I approached the receptionist, a woman in her twenties who looked weary, presumably exhausted from the recent bandit attacks.
"I'm here to register."
She looked at me and said, "You have to wait two days since the guildmaster is away."
I pondered, "I was recommended by James the Butcher. Is there any benefit?"
She replied in a flat tone, "No."
What the heck, Mr. James? You said it would help with the process. What kind of help was that?
I embarrassingly said, "Okay, I'll wait."
"Sure," she then continued to bury herself in paperwork.
So I simply left and decided to come back two days later.
I decided to explore the town some more.
I saw people busy burying dead bodies in the graveyard, orphans sitting alone, and I visited an inn.
Luckily, James had given me enough money for me to get by. That was kind of him; I really needed to pay him back one day.
Without him, I would have died just like countless others.
I booked a room and took a bath before working out, doing various exercises such as push-ups and squats.
Morning arrived, and I headed to a weapon shop.
Since I decided to be an adventurer, I needed my own weapon since it is hard fighting barehanded.
I bought a simple iron longsword and waited until the guildmaster returned.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and I was back in front of the guild building.
Just as I was about to enter the building, a shout could be heard even from outside.
"What! Bandits raided the town while I was gone?"
I entered and saw a tall man talking with the same receptionist from two days ago.
She sighed, "Yes, it was terrible."
"Hah! If I was there, those bandits wouldn't have had a chance!"
She looked at him and deadpanned, "Yes, yes, Mr. B-Ranked."
"So you recognized my might? Riana?"
She rolled her eyes, "If you have nothing else to say, guildmaster, I would prefer you not to bother me with my work."
She then ignored the man and continued her paperwork.
"So cold!" he said exaggeratedly.
I approached the guild counter and spoke, "Miss Receptionist, I'm here to register. Is the guildmaster back yet?"
She looked at me and pointed her hand at the tall man, "This is the guildmaster; talk to him about the details."
"A newcomer, huh? Come follow me; let's see what you got!" The guildmaster walked ahead of me as he beckoned for me to follow him.
"Okay." I smiled, looking forward to the test from the guildmaster.
We arrived at the backyard of the guild, where a wooden dummy could be seen.
"So what would we be doing?" I asked, curious.
The guildmaster started taking off his leather armor as he now only wore simple fabric and pants.
He beckoned to me with his hand as he said, "You'll be sparring with me!" He grinned.
"I see if you qualify to be an adventurer!"
I pondered a little before taking off my iron longsword and placing it on the guildmaster's pile of gear.
"Sure, please take care of me!" I grinned back.
The spar now started as the guildmaster shouted while he ran at me barehanded.
It seemed he adjusted his strength to a newcomer level, which helped me.
I stepped back and executed a punch to his face, which he blocked with his palm.
"Going for the face?"
Then he threw me up. I flew up, but I used my weight to land on his shoulder as I used my arm to choke him.
He grinned and slammed my body on the ground by bending his back.
The pain assaulted me as I struggled to get up.
"Is that all you got?"
"That was so weak you won't even be able to kill a slime!" He mocked me.
Spurred by his comment, I got back up and laughed.
"It's not over... yet!"
I charged at him and threw a flurry of punches.
We traded punches, but the guildmaster was clearly superior, though he limited his strength.
Just as I was going to charge at him with my battered body again, he spoke, "That's enough."
I frowned as adrenaline coursed through my veins.
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen enough."
"You passed; congratulations on becoming an adventurer!" He smiled at me.
I passed? Before pain registered in my brain, I fell to the ground.
"Agh... It hurts!" I sprawled on the ground, clutching my wound.
The guildmaster ignored me as he asked, "By the way, what is your name, newcomer?"
I noticed his question as I forced a smile.
"I... It is Rels."
"Rels Kimochi!"
So the spar ended with Miss Riana, the receptionist, bandaging my wound.
"You are too rough on a newcomer, Guildmaster!" She scolded the tall man.
"Is that so?"
"But I like his grit!" He laughed.
Then I was given a round silver badge with a simple sword design.
"This is the adventurer badge. Congratulations, Rels," Miss Riana spoke.
"You are now an F-ranked adventurer! Welcome!" she smiled, which is the first time I'd seen it.
I smiled brightly and replied, "Thank you!"
On the third day since I transmigrated, I became an adventurer; I looked forward to my future.
Perhaps here, I can be the strongest man alive? I wonder about it.