Chapter 84 - Departure from Azmirin

🟠 Chapter 83:

Three more days passed, and it was finally time for us to leave this place. Haizen and I would continue our journey of hunting monsters to further develop the Factory skill.

Factory had reached Level 22, not 20. I didn't understand how I had suddenly gained two levels, but the system attributed it to Khefi's death.

Technically speaking, I was Khefi's killer. Even though several factors contributed to his death, the system counted it as mine since I delivered the final blow. Well… that's the system's way of thinking, not mine.

I never imagined I would kill someone one day, but at that moment, I had no other choice. Khefi was dangerous, and it had to be done.

The system doesn't distinguish between creatures as long as they're living beings. Khefi was strong, and killing him alone was enough to push me up two levels. Each level becomes harder to climb than the one before it.

Thinking about it now, none of the monsters I'd killed before could have caused a two-level jump past level twenty. Another reason for our departure, of course, was money.

If I stayed here for another week, I'd go bankrupt. I needed money, so we had to leave. We searched the capital for a Hunter Guild branch and found that there was one—but it was closed for maintenance.

That meant there were no missions here for us to earn money from. Inside one of the camps, I was with Haizen and Mirai. I had previously asked Haizen if we would return to Osmara to look for missions at the guild there, but it seemed he wanted to leave this kingdom entirely.

He told me he planned to head to the neighboring Kingdom of Valdera, west of Azmirin. It was a prosperous kingdom, and the Hunter Guild there might offer better rewards.

Amid all this, I had forgotten something—I had promised Mirai to compensate her for destroying her box in exchange for helping us. When she heard we were about to leave, she proposed something unexpected:

"You're both hunters… I know a place that can help all of us make money."

Haizen replied with a grim expression:

"First, you don't have a hunter card. Second, why are you speaking in plural, as if you're coming with us?"

"Because I am coming with you."

"Whaaaaat?!"

I didn't expect that kind of reaction from Haizen. Mirai pointed at me, clearly blaming me for her decision:

"See this idiot? He destroyed my precious project, promised to compensate me, and he also has a skill that lets him create things. Of course I'm coming with you until he pays me back."

Haizen accepted her decision once he understood:

"I see. In that case, I'm also a victim. This idiot destroyed my amazing sword, and until he forges me the best sword in the world, I'm sticking with him."

I never thought I'd become a magnet for trouble. Who's next? Someone whose house I destroyed, following me until I build them a villa?

Then I remembered something—the Elite Exam results. All exam papers for foreign students had been graded so they could return to their countries. The final success rate hadn't been announced yet, since not all local students' papers had been graded, and the exam would be retaken by repeaters after everything that had happened.

Mirai was a foreigner, so she had already received her result. I asked her:

"Mirai, speaking of the Elite Exam… did you pass?"

She smiled proudly and showed a paper that looked like a diploma. When I took a closer look, it really was a diploma of success. She had passed.

I congratulated her, even though I honestly hadn't expected it:

"Congratulations… honestly, I didn't expect a spendthrift like you to pass—especially in economics."

"What kind of congratulations is that, you idiot?"

Haizen joined in, clapping sarcastically:

"Well done, you spendthrift girl."

"Idiots! Stop calling me a spendthrift!"

I asked her what she planned to do with the diploma:

"So… what's your goal now that you have this diploma?"

"Getting a job is almost impossible even with it. Employment opportunities are nearly nonexistent."

"Wait, what? Then what's the point of the diploma?"

"I'll become an entrepreneur. With this diploma, I'll gain more recognition. I'll work independently—and you'll help me become a successful entrepreneur."

Haizen returned to the main topic:

"So tell us about this place you mentioned."

Mirai smiled and began explaining:

"Once we cross Azmirin's western border and enter Valdera, we'll find a range of rugged mountains. In those mountains, there's a castle that opens its gates once a year. Hunters go there to claim treasures."

I couldn't tell whether she was serious or just making things up. She didn't mention the mountain's name, its terrain, or even the castle's name. I needed to confirm her credibility:

"Are you sure about this? You might've heard it from a kid."

"I'm sure."

Naturally, I expected Haizen to doubt it—but—

"Alright. Let's go to the castle."

…He believed her. Honestly, if it were me at first, I wouldn't have gone. But well, why not? Let's try this new adventure.

Haizen quickly went to gather his belongings. I did the same, while Mirai rushed out of the camp to pack as well.

I didn't have many things, so I finished quickly. I stepped outside to wait for them—and found Elnar standing there, eyes closed, smiling. He must've known we were leaving.

"So, this is your departure."

I nodded.

"Yes. Our role here is over. There's no reason for us to stay."

"I see… I had hoped you'd remain longer. Will you visit us again someday?"

"Of course. But next time, make your palace sturdier so it doesn't get destroyed again."

Elnar laughed. At that moment, Haizen stepped out carrying a massive bag, catching Elnar's attention.

"Oh, Prince… you're here."

Elnar's expression grew serious as he stepped forward:

"Takeru, Haizen, thank you for helping us through our nation's crisis—especially you, Takeru. You saved the capital from imminent destruction.

On behalf of my father and everyone else, we are deeply grateful. I also heard that Miss Mirai will be traveling with you. Please convey my thanks to her as well; she helped us greatly."

"Of course, Your Highness. Please send our regards to your brother—and to Brenty as well."

"To whom are you sending regards? We're right here."

Brenty, Elithius, and even Mirai appeared, with Mirai carrying her luggage. She wondered if she had forgotten anything.

Haizen smirked at Elithius:

"I can't believe it. Will the little prince miss us?"

Elithius looked embarrassed. I turned to Brenty:

"Brenty, are you satisfied with being a soldier?"

He smiled calmly:

"Well… it's better than my role in the gang."

"As long as you see it that way, that's fine."

Elithius raised a finger toward us, speaking with ambition:

"The next time you come here, you'll see me differently—and you'll respect me as a prince."

"Is that a promise?"

"Of course."

"Then keep your promise, Prince Elithius."

"Don't forget us. Visit again."

After that, we bid farewell to Elithius, Elnar, and Brenty. This was my first time leaving the Kingdom of Azmirin—the place where my life in this new world began.

From Valoris and prison, to Osmara and the Hunter Test, through Aldea Village, to the capital and our battle with the Numbers… and now, I was leaving this kingdom to see what more this world had to offer.

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🟧 Bonus Scene

A few days after Takeru, Haizen, and Mirai had left, the final results of the Elite Exam were finally released. The document containing the results was presented to King Orik.

He opened it, his heart pounding. The moment he saw the result, his heart leapt with joy:

"Amazing! The success rate this year is 91%!"

His joy didn't last long before the head of the royal bureau interrupted him:

"Apologies, Your Majesty… but the rate is 19%."

"Wait—what?!"

"At this point, I no longer know whether your claimed number blindness is real or not."

The king quickly asked about his son:

"What about Elithius? Did he pass?"

"Of course not, Your Majesty. None of our nation's students passed. The 19% consists entirely of foreigners."

The king covered his head in embarrassment:

"Oh, how humiliating… Don't tell me all our students cheated."

"They obtained leaked exam answers—but they turned out to be fake."

"Fake? Who forged them?"

"The person who saved the capital from destruction—Takashi Takeru. A guard spotted him sneaking around the bureau the night before the exam."

The king scoffed:

"My, what a boy… Well, we planned to redo the exam anyway. Have Elithius prepare himself from now on."