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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills - Chapter 13

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Chapter 13 : At the Adventurer’s Guild

Two days later, we returned to the town of Tansa.

We walked down the main street and stepped into the four-story building that housed the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Alright, I’ll go report the completed quest.”

Almine headed toward the reception desk, holding the signed proof of completion from the mine’s owner.

I left Kinako and Pirun’s side and sat down on a long bench near the wall.

Looks like I’m getting two large gold coins out of this.

My share, after expenses like Almine’s spell reagents, carriage fees, and food, came out to about four regular gold coins—split evenly between the four of us.

And if we manage to sell the Crystal Dragon materials, those profits will be divided equally too. According to Almine’s estimate, it should sell for over fifteen large gold coins.

That means I’ll get more than three large gold coins out of that alone.

If I live frugally, that’s enough to get by for an entire year without lifting a finger.

My throat twitched with disbelief.

To think I’d earn this much—what a world of difference from when I was with the Holy Sword Order. Sure, we were paid per job, but so much of it went into operating costs and other deductions. As a rookie F-ranker, the most I ever got from a job was two large silver coins, tops.

“Well, if it isn’t Yakumo.”

A voice suddenly called my name.

I looked up and saw Albel and Dazzle approaching.

Albel grinned, flashing his white teeth, and slapped my shoulder.

“Still got that gloomy look, huh? Couldn’t find work today?”

“…No. I planned to take a break today.”

I met Albel’s gaze calmly.

“What about you two?”

“We just finished a job and came to collect our reward. Ogre extermination.”

“Ogre? You guys took a job like that?”

“Well, we had Galdy join our party this time.”

“Galdy?”

“Yeah, the A-rank adventurer who took your spot in the Holy Sword Order.”

Albel answered casually.

“The guy’s the real deal. Strength, speed—everything about him is on another level. He even uses dark-element attack magic.”

“So he’s a magic swordsman?”

“Exactly. Thanks to him, we got four large silver coins—easy money.”

“Four large silvers, huh…”

That’s enough to stay at a decent inn with meals for about four days.
Not bad for a day’s work.

“So, what about you? Last I heard, you were doing herb-gathering quests.”

“Hey, don’t tease him,” Dazzle chuckled.

“Solo jobs at F-rank don’t pay much. Even at best, you’re looking at a single large silver coin.”

“Yeah, sounds about right. But hey, at least doing solo work means more freedom—you can rest when you like, without a guild or party bossing you around.”

“True enough, heh heh.”

“Well, I’m not solo anymore.”

I stood up from the bench.

“I’m part of a four-man party now.”

“A four-man party?”

Albel’s brown eyebrows twitched slightly.

“…Huh. Can’t believe someone actually let you join their party. Lucky you, I guess.”

“Yeah. The danger’s higher than with a big guild, but the reward’s higher too.”

“Heh. A bunch of F-ranks aren’t pulling in anything impressive.”

“I’m the only F-rank. Our leader is C-rank.”

I replied in a calm, even tone.

“Everyone in the party is strong, and I trust them.”

“Trust? In your party?”

“Yeah. Our leader says trust is more important than raw power. I’m starting to believe that myself.”

“Hmph. What good is trust if you're too weak to back it up?”

Albel scoffed and shrugged, clearly unimpressed.

That’s when a commotion started near the reception desk.

“Hm? What’s going on?”

Albel turned his eyes toward the crowd.

We heard the murmurs of the nearby adventurers.

“Hey! Word is, a party took down a Crystal Dragon!”
“Seriously? Not a guild—a party did that?”
“And it was just a four-man party, apparently.”
“Four!? That’s insane. Whose party was it?”
“No clue about the leader, but I hear A-rank Kinako was one of them.”
“Ah, that explains it. An A-rank in the mix.”

“The Demon-Slaying Kinako, huh…”

Albel muttered the name.

“You know Kinako?”

I asked.

Albel nodded.

“Only one A-ranker among the catfolk. He’s got the unique Skill [Unarmed Enhancement], right?”

“You know even that?”

“You’ve gotta keep tabs on the A- and S-ranks active around Tansa if you want to move up the ladder.”

He tapped his own temple with a finger.

“I’ll rank up soon enough... and start raking in way more—hm?”

Albel’s gaze shifted. He was staring at someone walking toward us.

It was Kinako.

He passed Albel without so much as a glance and stopped in front of me.

“Hey, Yakumo. Let’s go sell the Crystal Dragon materials.”

“Got it. Where’s Pirun?”

“Already outside. She’s eager to split the money and start the victory party at the tavern.”

“Are you joining too, Kinako?”

“Of course. I can drink, after all.”

“Just don’t overdo it. Drinking too much is bad for your health.”

I glanced over at Albel, who stood there speechless.

“Well, see you around.”

“W-Wait!”

Albel grabbed my jacket.

“Y-Y-You’re in Kinako’s party!?”

“Yeah. Though we’ve got someone else as the leader.”

“Then… the party that defeated the Crystal Dragon…”

“That would be our party.”

Albel’s eyes went wide.
Dazzle, standing beside him, stared at me in open shock.

Leaving the two of them frozen like statues, I turned and walked off with Kinako.

📝 Translator’s Notes:

  • Holy Sword Order: Former guild Yakumo belonged to; probably elitist or hierarchical.

  • A-rank adventurer: A top-tier rank. Characters like Kinako and Galdy are exceptional in strength.

  • [Unarmed Enhancement] (無手強化): Kinako's Unique Skill, enhances strength in hand-to-hand combat.

  • Large Gold Coin (大金貨), Gold Coin (金貨), Large Silver Coin (大銀貨): Common fantasy currency system. Approximate conversion is: 1 Large Gold > 10 Gold > 100 Large Silver.


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