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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills - Chapter 9

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Chapter 9 : New Ally – Part 2

The bulletin board at the Adventurers' Guild was plastered with request papers.

【Goblin Extermination – Approx. 30 targets – Location: Near Ejin Village – Reward: 2 Bronze Coins】
【Escort to Uochi Village – Seeking 2 D-Rank or higher adventurers – Reward: 3 Large Silver Coins】
【Collection of “Rotten Flesh Mushrooms” – 7 Silver Coins per mushroom】
【Support for dungeon exploration at the Nakomi Highlands – Reward: 4 Bronze Coins】
【Missing pet cat – 5 Silver Coins】

Almine leaned in close to the board, reading through the postings.

“Hmm… dungeon support at Nakomi Highlands comes with a gold coin reward, but it’s so far away. Would take us over five days just to get there. Hm? Oh, this one’s guild-only. That means parties can’t take it on…”

“If we took on the Demon King Zezuz, we could get ten thousand gold coins!”

“Like that kind of request would ever be posted here!”

Almine gave Pirun a sharp retort.

“Well, at the very least, we want something that pays two gold coins or more… Ah—”

She reached out and picked up a request posted at the very edge of the board.

“This one looks promising. And it’ll help build our track record too.”

【Crystal Dragon Subjugation – Location: Megado Mountain Mine – Reward: 2 Gold Coins + rights to Crystal Dragon materials – Requirements: Party or guild must include at least one A-Rank adventurer】

“Two gold coins and the rights to the materials? Nice. Dragon materials sell for a ton.”

“Wait, you’re really going to take on a dragon subjugation quest?”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice in surprise.

Dragons were considered one of the most dangerous monster types—true apex predators. Many grew over twenty meters long, were resistant to magic, and wielded deadly claws and devastating breath attacks that had killed countless humans. There’s no way a party of three C-ranks could take one down.

“This is crazy. And besides, the request says you need to have at least one A-Rank adventurer in your party or guild.”

I pointed to the line in question.

“It’s fine. I’m planning to invite one more person to join us.”

“You’re planning to invite…?”

“Yeah. He’s an A-Rank. So we’ll meet the requirements just fine.”

“An A-Rank, huh.”

If we had an A-Rank adventurer on our team, then we might just have a chance. They weren’t quite on the level of the elite S-Ranks, but A-Rank adventurers were still considered geniuses of combat.

“Alright! Let’s accept the request and then head to the tavern where he usually hangs out.”

Saying that, Almine headed for the reception counter.

◇　◇　◇

We entered a small tavern on the outskirts of town, and the scent of alcohol immediately hit my nose.

There were about a dozen rough-looking men inside, drinking with red faces. Their wooden round tables were covered in grilled bird meat and slabs of cheese.

Drinking in the middle of the day, huh? Well, I guess that’s par for the course. Adventurers without active jobs tend to get lazy.

“Ah, there he is.”

Almine weaved through the tables and made her way to the back.

There, sitting on a small stool, was a man of the catfolk race.

The catfolk were small—about the size of a five-year-old human child—and had feline faces. His fur was a brown tabby pattern, and he wore a large silver bell around his neck. His pants were oversized and dark green, and hanging from the side of his belt was a red-brown gourd-shaped canteen.

A catfolk A-Rank adventurer? That’s rare. They’re a small race, not usually suited for combat.

The catman looked up at Almine with golden eyes.

“Almine, huh.”

A deep, gruff voice rumbled from his fanged mouth.

“You here to invite me again? I already told you, it’s a waste of time.”

“Aw, come on. We really need you, Kinako.”

She called him by name—Kinako.

“With you, the strongest martial artist and the one known as ‘Kinako the Demon Slayer,’ our party would be unstoppable.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Kinako took a wooden mug from the table and raised it. It was filled with deep red wine.

“But like I said before, I’m not joining your party. I gain nothing from teaming up with weaklings.”

“Well, actually… that might not be true anymore.”

“Oh?”

“Yup. We’ve got a promising new recruit.”

With that, Almine clapped a hand on my shoulder.

“This is Yakumo. He’s just joined our party. He’s F-Rank, but he’s got a powerful Unique Skill.”

“A powerful Unique Skill, huh.”

Kinako glanced at me briefly.

“Having a strong Unique Skill doesn’t automatically make someone strong. There are those who rely on their Skill and neglect training, and others with no sense for combat at all.”

“Yakumo-kun has good combat instincts too.”

“…Hmm. Then perhaps you might be worth some attention.”

Kinako drained the rest of his wine and stood up from the stool.

“Alright then. I’ll test you.”

“Eh? A test?”

I blurted out in surprise.

“Yeah. Come with me.”

Kinako swayed slightly as he walked toward the exit, shoulders relaxed.

📝 Translator's Notes:

  • Currency:

    • 銅貨 (Bronze Coin)

    • 銀貨 (Silver Coin)

    • 大銀貨 (Large Silver Coin)

    • 金貨 (Gold Coin)

    • 大金貨 (Large Gold Coin)
      This world uses a tiered coin system. The Large Gold Coin is one of the highest denominations.

  • Kinako: A catfolk martial artist with the nickname "Demon Slayer." The name "Kinako" is also the name of a roasted soybean flour in Japanese, which makes it a humorous contrast to his fierce reputation.

  • Crystal Dragon: Dragons in fantasy Japanese light novels often serve as major boss-level threats. Here, the inclusion of an A-Rank condition reinforces the danger.

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