Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 5 Chapter 71   Adventurer Girl A: For now, let’s brag about it.

“What should I do? Maybe I’m just not cut out to be an adventurer after all…”

I learned that I had awakened, and my career path took a turn as I decided to become an adventurer. Honestly, it’s still scary.

But that’s probably natural. After all, I used to live a normal life. I’ve never been in a fight, never punched anyone. So, being told I’m an adventurer now just because I awakened, it’s not something I can immediately accept.

Still, I’ve made it to today because there was an adventurer I admired.

Fighting is scary. But if I have no choice but to become an adventurer, I want to become cool like that person, even though it might be too ambitious or beyond my capabilities.

Thinking like that, I enrolled in the same school as that person… But with these half-hearted feelings, it’s difficult to be an adventurer, and the current situation is that I haven’t achieved great results.

I might cause trouble for my teammates like this, but I have no talent, and as I aimlessly wander, wondering about the future…

“Whoa! …Eh. Escaping from those guys is really tough.”

A man who had been running toward me suddenly tripped right in front of me.

Um… Huh! I need to help him, anyhow!

“Um, are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m an adventurer, you know. This level of fall won’t cause any injuries.”

When I spoke to him, he got up with a light laugh. Indeed, his clothes seemed a bit damaged, but he didn’t seem injured.

But wait a minute. This person, wasn’t he just now…

“An adventurer? Are you one too?”

Yeah, this person did mention that. If that’s the case, maybe I can hear something good about being an adventurer or, I don’t know, something that might help with my troubles.

“An adventurer too… Oh, is the young lady one as well?”

“Young lady… We’re not that far apart in age, you know.”

Kind of strange or rather… an odd person. I’m currently fifteen, and this person is probably around twenty… maybe a ten-year age difference, but that’s it. Being called a young lady is the kind of way older guys refer to someone.

When I pointed it out, the man awkwardly averted his gaze and then chuckled.

“Hmm… Yeah, I guess. Well, you see, I didn’t know what to call you.”

“Oh, I see. Then… please call me Akane.”

Even though I initiated the conversation, I felt hesitant about giving my full name to a stranger, so I decided to share just my first name. I could have used my last name, but this one just came out on the spot.

“Well, we’re not close enough for proper introductions, but… I’m Koosuke. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you too.”

After exchanging greetings with Koosuke, who also introduced himself with just his name… What should I do now? I wanted to ask about being an adventurer and maybe get some advice, but suddenly telling a complete stranger such things felt too impulsive, and I regretted it now.

“By the way, about that… Akane, you’re an adventurer?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right. But…”

Honestly, should I be truthful about it…? Ah, whatever! I’ve come this far, might as well go all in!

“I, um, admired this person named Mizuki Miyano…”

“Miyano? Oh… you mean the ‘Hero’?”

Koosuke seemed a bit surprised, but well, I guess that’s understandable. It’s kind of funny that someone like me would admire a hero, even I can’t help but laugh at it.

“Yes, do you know her? Mizuki-san is amazing. Even when she was still in high school, she mowed down high-level monsters one after another and became a super-hero who saved the world! I also have talent as an adventurer, so I decided to attend the school Miyano-san went to… but things haven’t been going well.”

“Well, I guess so. It’s good to have aspirations, but that’s talent for you. Becoming a hero as an adventurer is inborn. It might improve a bit later, but there’s a limit.”

His words made me clench my fists tighter.

I know that. The awakened abilities are a result of talent, and even though there might be some improvement later on, there won’t be significant changes.

“I understand that. But even if I can’t become a ‘Hero,’ I thought maybe I could fight in the same place as Miyano-san if I got stronger… I thought I could manage that much, but I was too naive.”

“By the way, what’s Akane’s rank?”

“I’m a First Class.”

If things go well, I can gain power one rank higher than my awakening. However, there’s a considerable gap between First Class and Hero… more than words can express. So, while I can go from Second Class to First Class, going from First Class to Special Class is… impossible.

“Oh~ That’s still quite impressive.”

But Koosuke, not knowing the depths of my feelings, praised me genuinely. Thanks to that, I relaxed a bit and continued talking, opening my clenched fist.

“That being said, I’m weak enough that I barely made it into the First Class.”

“No, no, from my perspective as a Third Class, you’re way above being just a First Class.”

“Are you a Third Class, Koosuke-san?”

Despite that, he exuded an impressive aura, almost like a veteran…

“Yeah, I’m incredibly weak. I’ve been on the brink of death several times… In fact, just recently, it was pretty much like I died, but somehow I managed to come back to life.”

On the brink of death…

Certainly, being an adventurer involves risks to life, but is he joking when he says it with a laugh? Adventurer humor? After all, just facing an attack is frightening enough; it’s hard to imagine someone laughing after experiencing such a deadly situation.

“Well, whether it’s just barely or whatever, if you’re a First Class, you should have some strength. At least more than me. If that’s the case, even if you can’t become a ‘Hero,’ you might be able to become a comrade to heroes, right?”

“A comrade to heroes…”

I had thought about wanting to be like Miyano at some point, but becoming a comrade to heroes like Miyano’s… I had never considered that.

“Yeah. Miyano also has comrades like Asada, Abe, and Kitahara, but all three of them are First Class. And even Miyano wasn’t strong from the beginning… No, she had the ability from the start.”

“?”

I wonder what it is? The way Koosuke is talking makes it feel like he knows Miyano and the others, but that can’t be true, right? After all, Koosuke said he’s a Third Class, and there’s no way he’d have any connection to the ‘Hero.’

“But you know, even though they had talent, they didn’t understand how to use their power well at first, to be honest, they were weak. Despite that, they worked hard, and eventually, they were called ‘Heroes.’ It’s the same for the others. Understand your own strength and limits, think about how to achieve the best results, and keep striving. If you constantly consider what you can do to survive when you feel danger, research it, ask about it, you’ll find yourself getting stronger without even realizing it. This is from my experience. Because of that, I get involved in troublesome things sometimes, but…”

“?”

The last part was a bit unclear, but it sounded more like a complaint than something he wanted to tell me. I wonder if being an adventurer has its share of difficulties.

“I looked for you, Igami-san.”

Igami-san? Ah, is he talking about Koosuke-san? If he was looking for him, maybe he caused some trouble by wandering off. But wait, come to think of it, he mentioned something about escaping earlier, right? Huh? But I feel like I’ve seen this person somewhere before… Hm?

“Ah? Oh, Miyano, perfect timing. Give me your autograph.”

“An autograph? But I don’t have anything to write with right now.”

“I have a brand-new notebook right here that I just bought and haven’t used yet. Write something cool in it for me.”

“Something cool… I’m actually pretty good at signing. I practiced because it felt embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? Your handwriting isn’t that bad.”

“But isn’t it a bit out of place if the autograph is too neat?”

“Well, I won’t deny that.”

Even though they’re having a conversation right in front of me, it doesn’t register in my mind at all. Because, you see… Wait, isn’t that Miyano over there?

“So, Akane, give it a shot.”

“Uh, sure…”

“Here. Use this as motivation. Oh, and don’t worry about the notebook itself. It’s just some makeshift thing I bought around here. Haven’t used it yet.”

Still not fully grasping what’s happening in front of me, I obediently reach out and take the notebook as Koosuke-san instructs me. What’s going on? Is it really okay for me to take this? Well, I’m happy because I want Miyano’s autograph, though.

“You didn’t want Igami-san to sign it too?”

“She don’t need that. your autograph is just a bonus. Well, that’s the deal. Use it as a charm and do your best.”

Saying that, Koosuke-san casually lifts his hand and starts to walk away. Suddenly, I snap back to reality and shout after him, watching his retreating figure.

“Hey! Thank you so much! I’ll do my best!”

“Do your best not to die, okay? If you die, it’s game over. Cherish your life and act accordingly.”

“Yes!”

Cherish your life, huh? Yeah, that’s right. If I don’t die and work hard without taking unnecessary risks, I might be able to shine like Miyano eventually.

“You’re really kind, Igami-san.”

“This isn’t kindness or anything. I just gave a bit of advice because there happened to be someone who looked like they needed it.”

“If everyone could get advice from someone like Igami-san, they’d probably all ask for it, right?”

“Shut up, superhero. Let’s get back already.”

“Wasn’t it Igami-san who ran away? Ah, wait! Can we stop by that café over there for a moment?”

“I said we’re going back. If you go off on your own to some random place, it’ll be a hassle with Asada and the others again.”

“What if we settle things with them once and for all?”

“…Let’s just go back.”

Wait? Come to think of it, Koosuke-san was called Igami-san? Igami… Koosuke-san? Wait, huh? Isn’t “Igami Koosuke” the hero who, as the only one, closed the gate that would have destroyed the world? But wasn’t he supposed to be dead? Oh, right, there were stories about him being missing?

But if that’s the case… huh? Could it be the real deal? Did he come back? From the gate?

…For now, I got Miyano’s autograph, so let’s brag about it to everyone.