newbobooks #293 - Is there a Grandmaster profession among adventurers?
#293 - Is there a Grandmaster profession among adventurers?
“That's how it is. With the assistance of many companions, I embraced a do-or-die attitude and used my ultimate move with all my might, finally slicing the White Whale in two at the very end. Although, in the end, I only managed to hit the chest cavity, and had to rely on Cherry Bomb to prevent it from exploding.”
Zun Zun said this in a lighthearted manner.
The way he spoke made it sound less like a desperate, last-ditch adventure and more like he had steak and crispy crepes for lunch today.
Considering that a passionate and vivid account might be suspected of exaggeration, and that a nonchalant tone is the essence of showing off, he chose this approach.
Looking at Alice's reaction, it's clear it worked.
Upon hearing Zun Zun's adventure story, her eyes sparkled like a child's.
She might even want to go on an adventure with him.
…That's really not necessary.
“Just a moment, Lord Zun Zun.”
For the first time, Claire didn't relay Alice's words but spoke up herself, “The exceptionally skilled assassin—Elsa the Gut Hunter—aside, I've never heard of the Three Great Monster, the White Whale, you just mentioned. From your words, it sounds like that monster has the power of a mobile fortress destroyer, so why isn't it more famous?”
Can I say it's a monster from another world?
“Also, if I remember correctly, Lord Zun Zun wasn't present when the other members of your party were resisting the mobile fortress destroyer, was he?”
Rage!
Claire didn't say it explicitly, but what she wanted to express was simple.
—You ran away from fighting the mobile fortress destroyer, so how could you possibly display great power against a White Whale of similar strength?
You little…
Why don't I ask the princess next to you where I was when the mobile fortress destroyer attacked!?
“Princess Alice! My comrade is very strong. He just resolved the crisis in the Crimson Demon Village. In terms of strength, he is the strongest in the party!”
Darkness stood up and said this.
It was rare for her to contradict royalty, and she was even defending a comrade.
Claire frowned slightly. Although she was also the eldest daughter of the Symphonia family, a great noble family on par with the Dustiness family, the latter was slightly superior.
Not only Darkness, but Megumin, Yunyun, and Kazuma Sato also had a very bad impression of her, glaring at her with anger.
Only Aqua.
This idiot goddess was still yelling and screaming, as if oblivious to everything and focused only on drinking sparkling wine.
“Sir Dustiness, are you questioning my judgment? …Although I'd like to say that, I'm not in a position to. Then—”
“Prove it to you, right?”
Zun Zun slowly stood up.
Should I say she's an idiot, or that she's blinded by jealousy?
“Come on, I'll let you know that a grandmaster cannot be humiliated!”
“…Um, is there a grandmaster class among adventurers?”
You little…!
Hearing Claire's slightly innocent question, Zun Zun's face instantly fell. Was this person deliberately picking a fight?
“Princess Alice.”
Claire looked at the princess on the seat with a pleading expression. After all, she was a guard, and her duty was to protect the princess. Such a quarrelsome behavior would require Alice's consent.
And Alice naturally agreed.
If Zun Zun couldn't defeat Claire, she would definitely stop it, but having adventured together, she naturally knew Zun Zun's strength.
So, in front of the princess, the two slowly moved apart.
Claire drew the longsword from her waist and said confidently, “If I remember correctly, Lord Zun Zun's class is Archmage, right? To choose to fight a Crusader, and at such close range.”
“I think I've heard this before. Some sword masters said the same thing, but their ending wasn't very good.”
Zun Zun smiled wickedly.
Kazuma Sato's butthole tightened first. He knew that Zun Zun's smile meant that someone was going to be unlucky.
But he heard that Zun Zun relied on an underhanded sneak attack when dueling Kyouya Mitsurugi. If he were to replicate it in front of the princess, wouldn't that be…
The past is the past, the present is the present.
The current Zun Zun can confidently say that he can let her use one hand, let alone that the opponent is not Kyouya Mitsurugi.
“Then I will be the referee for this duel. You two, this is still within the Dustiness family mansion, please restrain yourselves a little.”
Darkness said this.
Then the signal to start came, and Claire instantly took a step forward, arriving in front of Zun Zun in just one second, lunging forward and slashing horizontally at Zun Zun's neck.
No need for a fierce battle, it will end quickly!
As the blade cut through the air towards Zun Zun's neck, Claire found that the person in front of her was unmoved.
Could it be that he couldn't react in time?
That's right, after all, he's a physically weak mage. Even an advanced class has a big gap in speed and strength compared to warrior classes.
However, just before Claire subconsciously wanted to hold back, her longsword stopped 5 centimeters away from Zun Zun's neck, unable to advance an inch.
Looking down.
It turned out that two fingers were pinching the longsword.
Not directly blocking it, but arriving first, following the trajectory of the sword and grabbing the blade aimed at his neck from behind. The difficulty of this can be imagined.
What! ! !
Not only Claire, but even the others in the party looked at this scene with incomparable astonishment.
One is a Crusader, the other is an Archmage.
If the classes were switched, such a big gap would be understandable, but Zun Zun is an Archmage! You're telling me this is a physically weak Archmage!?
“Mon… Monster…”
“Calling someone a monster is rude.”
Zun Zun casually released the longsword, took a few steps back, and said calmly, “Is the warm-up over? Knight, you don't need to hold back at all, just use your true strength.”
“You… You dare to humiliate me like this…!”
Claire's expression was slightly ferocious.
But in Zun Zun's view, she was just using anger to cover up her fear. And the performance was that she was already randomly slashing in a frenzy.
Normally, there wouldn't be such a big reaction after a failed attack. She should regroup and try again, but only after a real battle would she realize how big the gap between the two sides was.
It was a desperate chasm.
Claire used all her strength in every attack, which would be difficult for ordinary people to resist, but conversely, Zun Zun stood in place and allowed her to slash at him, and each attack was only casually blocked with his little finger.
This crushing situation lasted for a full 5 minutes.
Until Claire knelt on one knee, panting, with her longsword stuck in the wooden planks.
Zun Zun didn't have any thoughts of cherishing women and deliberately mocked, “Oh, could it be that Miss Claire has already used all her strength just now?”
“…Ugh!”
“Sorry, I had too much expectation for you. But the intensity I measure is in meters, I can't judge differences of 1 or 2 centimeters.”
“…………”
Claire's pupils were shaking.
A lot of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed unnaturally, her chest rising and falling rapidly, obviously stimulated to the breaking point.
“Wow…”
“Zun Zun is so mean.”
“He doesn't show mercy to girls, he's a true gender equality advocate.”
The companions muttered behind him.
Megumin said he did well, and Claire should be taught a lesson; Yunyun sympathized with Claire, but did not rashly dissuade him.
What they both cared about was naturally Zun Zun.
Claire opened her mouth wide and her pupils kept moving, looking like her Dao heart was collapsing.
In that case, I'll add another stab.
Harshly commenting:
“—You're as weak as Kyouya Mitsurugi.”
Of course, Kyouya Mitsurugi without the Demon Sword. Besides, if Kyouya Mitsurugi had the Demon Sword, Zun Zun wouldn't dare to guarantee that he could win against him. That's right, able to cut through everything—whether it's magic, physical skills, or even curses, the effect is so exaggerated.
Originally, it was a spicy comment, but unexpectedly, Claire calmed down.
“Lord Zun Zun doesn't need to comfort me, my capabilities can only reach this level, not comparable to Lord Mitsurugi.”
Huh? ? ?
Who's comforting you, don't just make things up, okay?
“Moreover, Lord Mitsurugi also praised Lord Zun Zun highly. I was skeptical at first, but now it seems that's not the case.”
You little…
You'd rather believe Kyouya Mitsurugi than believe me, right?
Zun Zun glared at her with unkind eyes.
Afterwards, Alice tugged at Claire's hem, whispering something in her ear.
“I didn't expect Lord Zun Zun to be so powerful, it's truly admirable. Please allow me to make an unreasonable request, could I borrow Lord Zun Zun's adventurer card to take a look? I'd like to see Lord Zun Zun's skill distribution, as a reference for the future… That's what the princess said. Also, I'm also very curious and hope to see your adventurer card.”
“Well…”
Zun Zun hesitated.
Claire tilted her head and asked, “We are not in the same profession as adventurers, but nobles of the kingdom, and we will not arbitrarily leak Lord Zun Zun's information. We just want to refer to your skills, which will help strengthen the combat power of our country's soldiers. Or, do you have any reason why you can't let us see it?”
“…No, since you want to see it, please feel free.”
Stopping Darkness, who wanted to speak up for him, Zun Zun tossed the adventurer card to Claire.
His adventurer card wasn't as unique as Kazuma Sato's, and being stared at by Alice with expectant, sparkling eyes, he was a little softhearted.
When Alice and the others saw the adventurer card, they both exclaimed at the same time.
The achievements were too luxurious!
In addition to the White Whale just mentioned, there were also the Demon King Army executives Vanir, Hans, Sylvia, and various powerful monsters such as griffons and White Crystal Magic Tigers.
Huh?
Claire suddenly saw the name of a familiar monster.
—Chimera?
She suddenly remembered that after the princess escaped from the palace, she said that she had infiltrated the underground city of the royal capital, where she encountered the Chimera. After investigation, it was found that they had entered through the secret passage in Viscount Schneider's courtyard, and there were two other companions…
Looking at Alice, who was very close to Zun Zun, and then at Zun Zun, who was equally intimate.
Claire only had one thought in her heart at this time.
I've been NTR'd!?
No!