I pushed the door open.
Inside it smelled like leather, ale, and old paper. A long counter with a bored woman behind it. She looked up when I walked in.
Woman at counter: New face. Registration?
_ Yeah. I want to join.
She slid a form across the counter.
Woman at counter: Fill this out. Name, age, skills, any party affiliation. Then you do the test.
I started writing.
Name: Ben Vermillion Age: 13 Skills: Sword basics, math, some magic theory Party: None
I slid it back.
Woman at counter: Thirteen? You look like you'd snap in half if a breeze hit you.
A few adventurers nearby laughed.
Adventurer 1 (big guy with a scar): Look at him! Kid thinks he's gonna be an adventurer with those skinny arms.
Adventurer 2 (laughing): Probably here to deliver letters or something.
I kept my face neutral.
_ I can fight.
Woman at counter: We'll see. Normally we pit newbies against a guild member for the test. You ready?
_ Actually… I want something else.
She raised an eyebrow.
Woman at counter: What?
_ I want to fight a monster. Subdue it. With someone watching to make sure I don't cheat.
The room went quiet for a second.
Woman at counter: Subdue? Not kill?
_ Yeah. Subdue. I don't kill unless I have to.
More laughter from the back.
Adventurer 1: Listen to the kid! Doesn't kill unless he has to! What a hero!
Woman at counter: Fine. We have sea slimes in the tank downstairs. F+ rank. Easy. You subdue one without killing it, you pass. If you kill it or get hurt bad, you fail.
_ Deal.
She led me downstairs.
The tank was big — glass walls, water glowing faintly blue. Inside floated a bunch of sea slimes. Round, translucent, about the size of a large dog, with little tendrils drifting lazily.
Woman at counter: Pick one. You have five minutes to subdue it. No weapons, no magic. Just your hands and wits.
I looked at the slimes.
One of them was a bit smaller, slower. Perfect.
_ That one.
She opened a small hatch. The slime drifted out into a fenced-off arena area.
I stepped in.
The slime noticed me immediately. Tendrils shot out, trying to wrap around my legs.
I dodged.
It was slow. But sticky. If it touched me, I'd be stuck.
I circled it, waiting for an opening.
The slime lunged again.
I grabbed two tendrils — one in each hand — and pulled hard.
It stretched like taffy.
I twisted my body, using momentum to flip it over.
The slime landed on its back, tendrils flailing.
I jumped on top, pinning the main body with my knees.
It tried to ooze out from under me.
I pressed harder.
After a minute it stopped moving. Just quivering slightly.
Subdued.
The woman at the counter stared.
Woman at counter: …You didn't even break a sweat.
I stood up, breathing a little heavy.
_ Told you I could fight.
She shook her head.
Woman at counter: You pass. F-rank adventurer. Here's your tag.
She handed me a small wooden tag with an F carved into it.
_ Thanks.
I walked back upstairs.
The same adventurers were still there.
Adventurer 1: Kid actually did it?
I didn't answer.
I just walked past them, out the door.
Three days until I meet Jhon again.
Time to make some money.