Although he said that…

Benny was feeling sick to his stomach as he sat amongst a row of applicants while waiting for his own number to be called.

(Man…I’m getting nervous…I’ve only trained with Magic for over three months. But these guys…)

Benny glanced at the line-up of people on his sides.

They were around his age group because Benny overheard them mentioned their ages during their application. He heard that people typically start out as Adventurers around his age. That was probably because the age of adulthood in this world should be around fifteen where one is usually recognized as independent. But there were cases like Tenryu’s wherein he applied at a younger age.

Despite their youth, Benny could tell from the calluses in their hands, occasional scars and their typical countryside vibe that he usually sees from young farm hands that they were clearly people who worked hard. Since he often been to the family farms of his grandparents in the provinces, he often sees these kinds of kids. But it was weird to get that feeling from an actual RPG world.

In Benny’s case, he wasn’t that much different. Or rather he himself changed physically.

Training from mornings till noon caused his formerly pale skin to gain a slightly more tanned appearance. His hair grew out a bit from the shorter haircut he usually had. So much so that he already bears even more of a resemblance to Tenryu, albeit without the ponytail (or dragon’s tail as Tenryu puts it) and the spiky, flaming hairstyle. His hands were calloused from both training and working. He gained a bit of muscle, so he wasn’t as thin as before. He even has that defining scar over his eye like those hardcore fantasy characters.

It really felt weird for Benny, who had lived a normal easy life for a long time, was now integrating to this type of lifestyle.

But it seems that everyone still had the pre-exam jitters which never changes no matter how much you’ve faced. Quite a few were sitting rigid on their seats. Some even had the “I-think-I’m-gonna-hurl” expression.

Frankly, Benny was also feeling the same. He continued to glance around until he caught the eye of one of the applicants.

It was a person wearing a hood who sat just a few seats away. Benny had the odd feeling that person kept on glancing at his direction. It weirded Benny out, but the person didn’t give off a negative Aura vibe.

It was getting uncomfortable so to distract himself, Benny does what he always does prior to examinations: review.

Currently, he reviewed on the Spells he plans to use. All the while he was habitually tapping the top of his Magic Tool which is currently in its cane form.

(Perhaps I should make use of that…hmm, no… There’s a higher probability of destroying a wall…Emrys did say I have to limit what I intend to demonstrate...”

There was some bit of noise. Probably an applicant or something as it didn’t sound like the proctor. Benny went back to his thoughts.

(I guess I’ll stick with Light-based Magic and some Arcane Magic… Grand Cross should be aright is what Emrys said…but it’s a little too much…maybe that other Spell will do…)

Benny was musing to himself on what he planned to do. He had a variety of Spells in the knowledgebase of Magic within his head. But he was calming himself down to use the “necessary” to pass.

“OI!”

STOMP*

“Hm?”

Benny looked up a bit and saw three fellow examinees were looming over him.

(Geh?! Not these guys of all people.)

It was the brats from last week.

They had that smug air as the last time Benny saw them, but they had a clearly annoyed expression which was being directed to him right now. Why was that?

“Can I help you?”

“The hell a ya? Spacing out like that?! I’ve been trying to get ya attention the whole time! Don’t ya ignore me!”

“Pardon me. I was just thinking. I tend to be absentminded whenever I’m like that.”

“This guy’s a weirdo, Big Bro.”

“Should expect much from a guy who’s hanging around with that fire-brained loser?” says the largest of the three, who was clearly their leader.

Benny’s slightly embarrassed smile turned to a frown.

“Are you perhaps talking about Tenryu?”

“Who else are we talking ‘bout? We saw ya with Wildfire just now looking all buddy-buddy with ‘im!”

“He’s my friend so it’s naturally that I’d be all “buddy-buddy” as you say it.”

The three looked at him blankly before bursting into laughter as though they heard something funny.

“Ya telling us ya friends with ‘im?”

“Yes I am. By the way, Tenryu isn’t a loser. Fire-brained perhaps but he is certainly not a loser.”

Benny wasn’t aware but somewhere outside Tenryu was sneezing profusely.

“Big bro, so the rumors of some kid hanging around that guy were true.” The delinquent on the left said.

“Rumors?”

That was a first. Benny didn’t know some rumors about him were spreading.

“They say some look-a-like was hanging around him as his new lackey!”

The delinquent on the right followed up.

(That was one heck of a curveball! Since when was I someone’s lackey?)

“Oi! Listen up newbie.”

(Newbie?)

“Don’t hang around that guy. Yer better off with other people than that loser!”

Benny has heard that a few times already but, he felt that they had another reason for saying that.

“And why may I ask should I not hang around with Tenryu?”

“Haven’t ya heard all the stuff about him?”

“If you mean about his destructive and violent tendencies of his, it’s old news. He’s just a bit rash and impulsive. It’s hard work just to keep him in check. There are times it wasn’t so successful.”

Benny remembered the ruins they destroyed.

“That’s why ya shouldn’t be hanging around im! Ya wasting ya time! He’s not known as the Eternal E-ranked for nothing. Ya’ll be stuck in the same rank as im fer the rest of yer life if ya keep hangin around with ‘im!”

“Yeah, that’s right Big Bro!”

“Right as always!”

Although it sounded like a sound advice, but Benny could tell there were some implications on his words. Plus, the ones telling him were giving him the “bad Aura vibe” so he was being very cautious.

Benny himself was aware of that moniker of Tenryu’s. The reason Tenryu couldn’t rank up was because of his track record of failing in his job. Finishing a job successfully earns points. But thanks to both their efforts, Tenryu started earning points to allow him to rank up very soon.

“That’s why! Instead of hanging around that guy, hang with us!”

“Pardon?”

And here it was. The recruitment by bullies. Another all too well-known trope.

“As expected of ya, Bro! Newbie, ya better be grateful!”

“Looking out fer weaklings, is so like ya!”

(Why am I being demanded and insulted at the same time?)

“We could use a guy like in our party. We heard ya was helping that guy and the only reason he’s been doing well these days was cause of ya right? That must’ve been tough on ya. Ya said so yerself.”

“Certainly, I did say it was tiring but I never said I disliked being friends with him.”

“Like I’m telling ya! Just quit hanging around with im and hang with us! We’re way better than that loser. Heck, I betcha we can beat him hands down!”

“Ya said it, Bro!”

“He’s a total nobody!”

(Didn’t I just say Tenryu wasn’t a loser and now they’re adding nobody to his name? They probably didn’t listen to me at all.)

“So let’s get along. Newbie…”

They were smiling…in a nasty way.

Like they found a “lackey” they can boss around to their heart’s extent. Benny has seen this from the school bullies picking on the weaker students. Luckily thanks to Ace, who he was close friends with, the bullies wouldn’t pick on him.

Benny momentarily glanced at the other applicants. They were turning a blind eye or ignoring the whole thing. The hooded person just kept their gaze down but seemed to be interested. However, it was clear that person had no intentions to help out. No surprise there, this was a dog-eat-dog world.

And it was clear to Benny.

(Yeah, these guys are no good.)

They’ve probably been bullying other people and believe they were tough people. Benny has no idea how tough they were but compared to Tenryu…these guys were the “nobodies.”

Benny, who had been looking down wherein his face was covered by his hat had lifted his head and glared at them…viciously.

The three who were overconfident about being able to defeat Tenryu flinched from the expression Benny had on his face. It was like a monster readying to attack them. That was they thought.

They quickly backed away from him.

“T-The hell are ya glaring at us-”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I happen to know I want to be friends with and it’s obviously not you guys. Also, if I think about strength and raw power, I know Tenryu can easily beat you hands down without breaking a sweat.”

Forgetting their earlier unease, the leader of the trio flared up. “W-What was that?!”

“Rather than bothering me. Shouldn’t you focus more on what’s going to come up in the exam. We don’t even have an idea what’s coming up. If you think brawns is gonna be all that then you must be even more of a dunce than Tenryu.”

Those three were getting even more red-faced than Tenryu’s hair color.

“Ah~ Aren’t ya a little tough guy?”

“Nope. I just admonishing a group of idiots who don’t even know their place.”

“Big Bro! Let’s beats this guy!”

“Beat’im to a pulp!”

The leader raises his hand. The gloves he was wearing turned bright brown and began to be encased in rocks.

(This guy’s aiming for a Mercenary-Class.) Benny thought. (Or rather…he shouldn’t be doing something like that here.)

Mercenary-Class Adventurers who specialize in close and hand-to-hand combats. By experience through his online gaming. They are a bad match-up for long-range attackers like Sorcerers when they are within the strike zone. It seemed that in this situation, Benny was in trouble.

Or at least it should be.

“We’ll let’ see how tough ya are with this!”

He swings his fist at Benny.

But Benny wasn’t one who would take chances at his weaknesses. After all, this was a world where a fatal mistake can cost you your life. He made sure to learn what he can to compensate for such instances.

However, this time there was no need to use such.

Compared to Tenryu’s ungodly level agility this was a piece of cake. Benny simply dodges his hand and uses a backhand slap to knock it off its trajectory. Rather than his head, the fist smashed into the wall behind him.

“W-what?!”

“Big Bro!”

He tries to pull his hand out but-

“Wha-?! Hey! I can’t pull it out!”

When Benny backslapped his hand earlier, he had also Enchanted it with a Sticking Charm. So when that guy punched his hand into the wall it was immediately stuck.

At that exact moment, the doors to the waiting room opened.

“Alright, next applica-What?! Hey! What are you doing!”

The proctor was yelling when he saw the hand stuck to the wall.

The trio’s leader looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Well, it may be a wall in this case but clearly putting your hand through another person’s wall is not something appreciated.

“T-This is- It’s not what it looks like!” the trio leader tried to deny it but that would be hard considering the evidence.

Oh, boy. Now this just complicates things. Should I just tell the truth?

“Oh, it’s very clear what it looks like. You punched a hole through the wall.”

Someone stood up. It was that hooded person from earlier. From the voice it was a woman’s voice. Surprisingly, despite being the same height as Benny it was the voice of an elderly woman. Were there even people at that age who aspire to be Adventurers?

“Ah~ Who the hell are ya-?! Mind ya own business!” the trio’s leader snapped at her, completely forgetting the compromising situation he was in.

“Yeah!”

“That’s right!”

The woman in the hood didn’t seem unperturbed. She took off her hood, revealing she was an elderly lady that gave off the vibe of a school principal. What really caught Benny’s eye was the pair of mouse ears on her head.

“Magister Eleanor! You were here the whole time?!” The proctor called out.

(Eh? Magister? Wouldn’t that mean she’s the-)

“Of course, I believe it is part of my duty to observe potentials in becoming Adventurers.”

“You were supposed to be on Proctor’s Panel!”

“Yet, if I was not here. I wouldn’t be able to bear witness to something interesting just now.”

Magister Eleanor turned her gaze towards the idiot trio’s leader who still had his hand attached to the wall.

“Garm Gazzard.”

Garm? That’s the guy’s name?

“Not only have you deliberately tried to put pressure on a fellow applicant, you even dared to use your Abilities and Magic to cause deliberate harm to said person. And you two, Arbit and Cornic, you did no better in not stopping him in. Rather you tried to even join in. The Adventurer’s Association does not condone such actions of prospective Adventurers. As such your applications are effectively denied. As well, you are hereby banned from applying to this branch for the next five years.”

Garm and his two lackeys paled at this immediate verdict.

“Oi! Isn’t this unfair?!” Garm protested.

“Unfair is it?” Magister Eleanor’s gaze turned even colder. She clapped her hands

“This is only mere punishment for this specific incident. Don’t think I haven’t found out what you three have been doing to my grandson these past few weeks.”

The caused the idiot trio to huddle together.

Grandson? Could she be that boy’s grandmother? Now that Benny thought about it, it all makes sense. If that boy was the Magister’s grandson, then he was very connected to the goings on in the Association.

“Heathcliff, escort these boys to my office, I have a long talk with them after this.”

“Eh? But Magister what about the Exams? I’m one of the proctors.”

“I’ll take over from here.” She snatches the clipboard from his hands. “Oh yes, all of you!”

She turned her gaze towards the rest of the applicants who flinched at her gaze. (Benny himself included.)

“If I find out you would do the same as these three, and mind you I will, be prepared to face even worse consequences.” She says it with a smile.

Everyone seemed to become like stone statues but nodded stiffly at her words.

Benny had to admit she was quite amazing. Then again, being a Magister of group of Adventurers would entail a character of strength.

With a deep breath, she looked at the clipboard, “Okay, next applicant is…Benjamin Estrella.”

(Eh? Me?) Benny thought.

“Hmm…I’ve heard a deal about you. This is going to be interesting.”

Benny had no idea what she meant but he had strange feeling about this.

“Oi, you three! Get going!”

Heathcliff urged the idiot trio forward. Garm Gazzard turned his head towards Benny. A fierce look of rage and hat aimed towards them.

“I’ll remember this!”

Yup it was the classic trope.

Normally, these guys were going to be thorns in his side in the future. And Benny would rather not have that kind of trope bothering him.

So instead of immediately following Magister Eleanor, he approached the trio and Heathcliff.

Garm Gazzard glared and taunted him, “Ah~? What ya gonna pick a fight no-”

But before he could continue, Benny released a wave of concentrated Manna directed at those three.

It was an intimidating force that a powerful boss-like person would send out to put pressure towards an opponent. Benny had in fact based this from many comics and shows plus his own actual experience with subjugating powerful Magic Beasts during those jobs with Tenryu. To those experiencing it, it would you were standing under a powerful waterfall. Benny has learned that this was particularly effective towards weak-minded opponents.

Right now, these three delinquents were on the floor, writhing in fear. Heathcliff backed away as though he had just encountered a beast.

The other applicants, though it wasn’t directed at them were also moving away.

It was cemented in their minds that this guy was no good. He was probably just as dangerous as a rampaging Tenryu Fyreroar. To get in bad side of this one was tantamount to hell.

Thankfully, since Benny himself was no a type of person who enjoys dominating over others he withdrew the pressure and after a few seconds everyone was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Hmph. You guys say you can beat Tenryu? Don’t make me laugh. Tenryu easily brushed that off as though a small insect was bothering him. And mind you if you dare bother anyone related to me or me myself, I will make sure you regret it.”

“Y-you…w-what are ya?!”

“I’m just a simple Magic User.”

“Oi! This guy’s no good! He’s threatening us just now! Shouldn’t he be disqualified too!’” Garm tried to appeal to Magister Eleanor, who only looked at the since with curiosity.

“Hmm? He hasn’t laid physical harm to you though. Plus you provoked him but he left it at threats. I don’t see a reason why I should punish him for something he hasn’t done. Heathcliff, what are you doing? Take these three away already. And get the janitor.”

“Y-yes.”

And with that, the idiot three were taken away. Though it seems they left a trail of fluids on their wake.