I never thought the one to examine me would be this guy. But I guess it makes sense since I heard Miles talking to him about a mercenary license. Is the hotel just his side job? I can feel his strength and mana wafting over to me. I check his stats just to be sure.

Name: Beorn

Level: 90

Race: Half-Human

Class: Sword-Master

| Vitality: 236 | Strength: 277 | Dexterity: 561 | Agility: 692 | Intelligence: 421 | Willpower: 290 | Mana: 200

Skills: ???

I already knew he was strong from checking his stats once in the hotel, but at that time, I was stressed because my time almost ran out.

We look at each other for at least 5 minutes without anyone saying anything. Beorn just seems to scan my body up and as if looking for something.

'So you are Civitas. I think we already met yesterday, albeit it was a bit short. Miles told me a lot about you. I'm sorry for not paying you any attention yesterday, but at that time, I thought you were just another brainless youth eager to throw his life away as a mercenary.

But Miles changed my mind. And you can stop that illusion of yours. Miles already told me about your eyes.'

Miles told him about this without asking me? Is he this confident in the trustworthiness of this person? I'll have to talk to him about this.

Although I still am a bit suspicious, I turn off the illusion.

{Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe he just saw through your illusion-magic, and this examination I just an alibi to kill you? I can feel it this man is dangerous.}

"If he really wants to kill me now, there's no chance of me making it out here alive he is just way too strong. He has almost twenty times more agility and dexterity than me."

I reply in my mind.

As I finish turning my magic off, the look in Beorn's eyes changes for a split second.

'So he told the truth...

Miles told me you were trustworthy, but I want to prove that myself.

Nothing lays the heart and thoughts of someone better open than a fight. Draw your weapon and attack me. Aim for my head, stomach or wherever you'd like this first strike is free for you. If you can, hit me.'

Beorn spreads his arms and just stands there like there's nothing to worry about in the world. He clearly isn't afraid of me even the tiniest bit.

Since I don't think there's any more point in talking, I draw my weapon as told.

'Is that old rusty thing your sword? Did you loot it from a corpse or something?'

Man, he's good at guessing.

Not affected by his banter, I just take my stance and then start to rush at him as fast as I can.

He still doesn't move. But I keep rushing at him. When my sword gets within 10 cm of his stomach, I already get scared I'd kill him here, but then he suddenly starts moving. If I didn't have these eyes, I wouldn't have even seen him move. But still, I can't quite follow him with my eyes and even less with my body.

The only thing I know is that he's gone. Then, suddenly a hand lays on my shoulder from behind.

'I saw you hesitating when I didn't move. Was this genuine care for human life, or do you just want to keep your cover? We'll see.'

Since his hand is on my left shoulder and I'm holding my sword with my right hand, I try to stab him through my armpit. But of course, it doesn't hit. His speed is just insane. When I turn around, he's already at the opposite side of the room.

'As much as I like playing with you, I think it's time to fight.'

He says and draws his sword. It is long, slender and only has one cutting edge.

'Try to survive.'

With that, he starts to dash towards me. I guess he's holding back. I can see his movements, but following them with my arms is a different story altogether.

I somehow manage to deflect his attacks, but always in the last possible moment. Often I can't defend early enough, and his sword already managed to cut a centimetre deep. Tiny wounds start to pile up on my body, and I begin to fear he really wants to kill me.

I manage to hold up this tight situation for some time. When I just think I can't do it anymore, Beorn's movements suddenly appear to slow down, and attack paths seem simpler to me. Everything seems much more manageable to me. Then I notice why.

# Skill mastership improved #

# Common Sword-Mastery #

# becomes #

# Uncommon Sword-Mastery #

So this is, how it feels to get a skill improvement?

Now I want even more skills to improve.

With this newfound strength, I manage to deflect an attack and start a counterattack for the first time. Beorn seems a bit surprised and has to rely on his superior speed to deflect the blade. But because of his sudden outbreak of strength, he hits my sword a bit too hard, so it breaks right in the middle.

We both stand there looking at my sword.

'Hah, I guess this is my loss. I never thought you'd suddenly whip out such refined technique. I'll replace your sword with a new one. Trust me, it won't be your loss.'

I look at my sword, a bit sad. It accompanied me through a few hard times.

"Does this mean you trust me now?"

He had already turned around to go away when I asked this. He simply raises his hand and answers.

'You passed your test. You now are officially a gold-rank mercenary.'

He leaves the room without ever answering my question.

After some time of catching my breath, the maid who guided me here arrives in the hall. She bows deep and congratulates me for passing the examination. Then she hands me a golden plate.

I quietly follow her back to the front desk.

When I arrive, Miles is leaning against a pillar in the middle of the room.

I look around and see many of the men from before.

But almost none of them look at me with this hateful look from before.

They look at me kinda weird. Some of the men seem respectful, while some don't even dare to look at me.

"Miles, what have you done to them to make them this scared?"

He raises an eyebrow.

'I didn't do anything. You did something to make people respect you.

Not everyone manages to pass an examination from the strictest examiner in this town. Beorn once was close to being an adamantine mercenary. Getting acknowledged by him isn't easy.'

"Oh, but why were they enraged in the first place?"

'Because they thought you'd get the rank for free from me.

But they probably see your broken sword and the wounds on your body.'

I guess being hurt here is even better than being unhurt.

We quickly finish up here, say our goodbyes and return to the hotel.

When I finally get back "home", I fall onto the bed.

My thoughts wander back to my fight with Beorn. I look at my hands. It felt so amazing when my skill improved. And then there was my last question. He never answered it. But, why? Is he still suspicious of me?

[I know you are deep in thought, but I think it would be good to practice your magic a bit. This room isn't fit for fighting-practise or attack spells, but you should be able to train in simple magic control here.]

I heed his advice and start practising. I wonder what it feels like to upgrade my magic skill. With this, I begin to put my whole into practising.

My skill improves faster than ever before. At the end of the day, I managed to improve my control skill as well as my illusion skill A LOT.

After that, my stats look like this:

Name: Civitas

Race: [Error]

HP: 390/390 | MP:60/60

Class: none

Level: 11

XP: 455/1100

Vitality: 39 | Strength: 39 | Agility: 35 | Dexterity: 35 | Intelligence: 10 | Willpower: 10 | Magic: 6

Available Stat Points: 0

Skills:

Uncommon Sword-mastery (3%),

Dragon's eye,

Common Magic Controlling Skill(92%),

Common Illusion Image Skill (34%)

Innate Talent: [Error]

Evolution Progress: 6.955/10.000 XP

What will I do with the evolution progress? I want to get stronger so much, but what will I do if no one will recognize me as a human anymore? It's already hard with just these eyes...

After practising until late at night, I go to sleep.

_________________________________________________________________________

The next day, I wake up sometime around noon. Nothing woke me up early. The mattress was really soft, and I had nothing to fear.

I first go wash up and then put on some clothes. They are light grey with some black accents. They look decent and feel expensive to the touch.

Yesterday the maid told me before I left, I could go to a blacksmith and take whatever sword I liked, and Beorn would pay for it.

So I set off to buy a good sword.

I did not know where to go, so I just started to randomly wander anywhere in the city, hoping to find a marketplace.

Luckily I find a blacksmith relatively quick. The outside of the shop looks surprisingly clean for a blacksmith. Nonetheless, I don't hesitate to enter.

Inside I see a hulking figure of a man just sharpening a sword with a grindstone. He notices me and stops. He looks me up and down for a bit before asking.

'Are you perhaps the new gold mercenary I heard of?'

How could he recognize me this quick? I haven't even been in this city for long.

"Yes, I am. My name is Civitas, and I am here to purchase a weapon. A sword, to be precise."

'I thought so. I heard from Beorn you'd be coming because he broke your weapon. You're free to look around and take whatever you fancy. And don't pick something cheap. Paying for you is just right for that son of a bitch, Beorn.'

There seems to be some tension between them. But somehow, this man right in front of me doesn't seem to hate Beorn.

"Ok, I'll look around for a bit."

There are lots of weapons here. Especially many swords.

They are all different sizes and forms, but they have one thing n common.

They all are decorated with symbols, golden inlays and stuff like that.

None of these fancy weapons caught my eye. They all seem too flashy and glaring. I want something discreet.

Just as I thought, I couldn't find anything suitable, I spot a particularly exceptional sword. It is in a glass vitrine. It is long, even longer than a longsword, and it is pitch black. The hilt looks like it would fit right in my hand, and the handguard is just a small protrusion that reminds me of a star.

The blade is straight and seems incredibly sharp. I want this sword.

"Mister smith, I'd like to buy this sword here."

The smith looks at me and tells me his name was Olf. he then walks over to me and looks at what I chose.

He seems surprised.

'Oh boy, are you sure? This isn't one of mine. We don't know exactly where it originated from, but its prior owner must've been very impressive.

Some people tried wielding it before, but no one managed to fight with it.

Everyone thinks it is cursed because even the most capable fighters lose all their skill when wielding this.'

{I know what this is. It belonged to one of our generals and is indeed enchanted, so no one except a demon can wield it. So, technically you should be able to use it.}

After Zabula encouraged me, I no longer hesitate.

"Yes, I am sure I can feel a connection to it."

He looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

'Well, I won't stop you then, but remember, no refunds.'

I nevertheless buy it and quickly make my way back to the hotel because my time almost runs out. My mana runs very low already.

When I get to my room, I inspect the sword and get excited when the system tells me something about the sword.