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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills - Chapter 26

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 A-Rank

"Hmm? Isn't that Yakumo?"

A large man clad in magical armor and wielding a shield pointed at me.

"Adol-san,"

I spoke the man's name.

Adol was a member of the Holy Sword Order and a B-rank adventurer. The two standing beside him were... C-rank Ugo and Ramon. And the one behind them...? I didn't recognize the face.

The man looked to be in his mid-twenties, with wolf ears on his head. His hair was red, and he had sharp, fang-like double teeth. His clothes were dark blue, with a silver plate fastened to his belt.

A silver plate means A-rank. Could this be Gardi, who joined the order in my place?

Gardi tapped Adol on the shoulder.

"Is he someone you know?"

"Yakumo was a rookie in our order. But Kilsus kicked him out."

"Ah, so you're the paper user Yakumo."

Gardi’s gaze shifted to me.

"I heard your party is involved in this mission, but I didn't expect a party with a useless member who only has a trash skill. What is the Adventurer’s Guild thinking?"

Hearing those words felt like a needle stabbing deep into my chest.

"Well, whatever. You guys can handle killing weak monsters around here. We'll take care of rescuing the investigation team."

"That sounds easy enough, but..."

Kinako, standing next to me, spoke up.

"You guys don’t have the insight to pull that off."

"Huh? You’re just a weak catfolk, yet you’ve got a big mouth... huh?"

Gardi turned his sharp gaze to Kinako.

"You... are you Kinako, the demon slayer?"

"Looks like you know me."

"...Yeah. You're known as the strongest catfolk."

Gardi pushed past Adol and stepped forward.

"So, what do you mean by 'no insight'?"

"You guys kicked out Yakumo because you thought he was useless. Like throwing a gold coin into the sea."

"What are you talking about?"

Gardi furrowed his red eyebrows.

"I heard the rookie who got expelled only had the ability to manifest paper, a useless skill."

"Y-Yeah."

Adol nodded.

"Yakumo can’t use offensive or defensive magic, isn’t good at close combat, and has no combat skills. So Kilsus kicked him out as the least useful rookie."

"See? He really was useless."

Gardi smirked, one corner of his lips curling up.

"And you're blind for taking in a useless rookie into your party."

"I was the one who let Yakumo join the party," Almine said.

"Perfect timing. If you’re from the Holy Sword Order, I want you to tell the leader something."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Thanks for expelling Yakumo. Thanks to that, my party got a strong comrade."

"...Oh? So you’re the leader?"

Gardi appraised Almine with a calculating gaze.

"A C-rank adventurer, it seems."

"Yeah. And I also hold a senior qualification as an alchemist."

"I see... So you just don’t understand."

"Don’t understand?"

"Yeah. You don’t have the ability to judge someone’s real strength. That’s why you mistakenly thought Yakumo was useless."

Gardi glanced at me briefly.

"You probably think anyone with a unique skill is strong. But a useless ability is meaningless."

"Hmm. You’ve never seen Yakumo’s abilities, but you’re so quick to decide he’s useless?"

"There’s no need to watch an ability that only produces paper."

"...I see. You might be A-rank, but you don’t seem fit to be the leader of an order or party."

Almine’s words made Gardi’s wolf ears twitch.

"You’re picking a fight with me even though you’re just C-rank?"

"I’m just speaking my mind."

Almine calmly met Gardi’s sharp gaze.

"I think you’re the one who can’t properly assess strength."

"..."

Gardi fell silent, and the atmosphere grew still.

Translator’s Notes:

  • Ranks (A, B, C): Reflect levels of adventurers' strength and status. A-rank is stronger than B, and B stronger than C. The silver plate on the belt denotes A-rank status.

  • Holy Sword Order (聖剣の団): A formal adventurer guild or party known for wielding holy swords and holding significant authority.

  • Kilsus: Mentioned as the person who expelled Yakumo; likely a leader or high-ranking member in the order.

  • Unique Skill vs. Practicality: The dialogue highlights a common fantasy trope where a unique or flashy skill does not necessarily equate to usefulness or strength in battle, emphasizing practical combat abilities.

  • Character dynamics: Gardi represents arrogance and a narrow view of strength, while Almine counters with calm confidence and insight into real value beyond surface-level judgments.

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