The Exiled Knight Takes Up Life as an Adventurer — A Former Captain's Secret Power and His Carefree Days in a Distant Land - Chapter 7

“Mardin, welcome back!”

“Ah, I’m home.”

As I walked up to the guild’s reception counter, the receptionist greeted me with a bright smile.

“I didn’t think you’d complete the exam on the first day! Looking at past records, I think this might be the fastest ever.”

“Just got lucky, that’s all. Haha.”

“That’s amazing. Oh, it looks like your results are in!”

She stepped briefly into the back office and returned with a sheet of paper in her hand.

“Mardin, the results for your subjugation exam are in! You passed!”

I signed the document she handed over.

That was the final step—everything was now complete.

“We’ll issue your adventurer card tomorrow at noon, so please come back then.”

“Got it. Thanks for everything.”

“Normally, we don’t reveal details of the subjugation exam, but… Mardin, you got a perfect score. That’s really impressive.”

“Haha, it was just luck. I guess I worked well with the Snow-Swimming Lizard, Cagwell.”

“Fufu, you’re too modest. Here, let me pay you for this.”

The receptionist placed several gold coins on the counter.

“What’s this?”

“Even though it was part of the exam, the guild still buys Cagwell materials. This is your payment.”

“That’s much appreciated.”

I took the two gold coins.

“Two gold coins for three Cagwells, huh? That’s a pretty good reward.”

“Their scales are popular for making affordable armor, and since their meat is harvested right after entering summer hibernation, it’s rich and flavorful.”

“Makes sense. Cagwell meat is definitely tasty this time of year.”

“Also, the condition of the ones you captured was excellent, so the price went up.”

“Glad to hear it. Well then, I’ll head back to the inn.”

“Alright! We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you.”

I stepped out of the guild and walked down the main road.

“All these exams day after day… No wonder I’m exhausted. Ugh, my back is killing me.”

Grumbling, I rubbed my lower back and made my way toward the inn.

The next day, I returned to the guild and picked up my newly issued adventurer card.

This would make crossing borders much easier.

“Congratulations, Mardin.”

“Thanks for all your help.”

The receptionist, now a familiar face, gave me a slightly lonely smile.

“…Mardin, you’re leaving soon, aren’t you? Um… even if you go abroad, please keep working as an adventurer.”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it. Haha.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing about your success!”

There were still a few days left before my official exile, but I went ahead and boarded a carriage bound for the airport.

As the carriage rocked along the road, I looked down at the adventurer card I’d just received.

“So I’m an adventurer now… C-rank quests aren’t too dangerous, and they pay well enough to get by. Hmm…”

I had only gotten the card so I could leave the country. But now I was starting to think—maybe being an adventurer wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

I had no talent for business.

All I was good at… was fighting.

In that case, I could make a living by doing relatively safe C-rank quests and live a peaceful life.

“Maybe I’ll try living as an adventurer for a while.”

I pulled out a world map from my bag.

“Now then, where should I go?”

I had no family. I wasn’t married. And I had no particular destination in mind.

I could go anywhere I wanted.

If I was going to leave the country, I wanted to head somewhere warm.

“The south, then. That would be the Emarepa Empire.”

The Emarepa Empire was the southernmost nation on the continent.

It was one of the Four Great Nations and had branches of the Adventurers’ Guild as well.

“I heard it’s warm, though they get a lot of typhoons. Still better than snow. Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

Traveling from the Kingdom of Jeneth to the Emarepa Empire would take three or four months by land.

But with airships, the journey could be made in just four days.

After arriving at the airport, I bought a ticket to the Emarepa Empire.

Even in standard seating, it cost ten gold coins—ridiculously expensive. But compared to months of travel by land, it was safer and ultimately more cost-effective.

Traveling by airship was the better option in every way.

To start the departure procedures, I showed my newly issued adventurer card at the counter.

“Mardin Lutréze… Huh? Wait—Mardin…?! P-please wait just a moment!”

The staff member rushed into the office in a panic and soon returned, accompanied by several knights.

Border control in this country was handled by the knights.

“Captain Mardin!”

“Huh?! You’re… Sub-Captain Wales?”

It was Wales, one of the knights who had once served under me.

Serious, sharp, and skilled with a sword—he was one of the most reliable men I had, and I had appointed him as a squad leader.

“Ah, Wales. You might’ve already heard, but I’ve been exiled from the country. Permanent exile, at that. Things happened fast, so I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Sorry about that.”

“Yes, I was informed…”

“I’m heading to the Emarepa Empire.”

“To the south, huh. When you live in a snowy country, it’s natural to dream of the warm south.”

“Haha, exactly.”

Wales suddenly took my hand and gripped it tightly.

“I will never forget the kindness you showed me, Captain Mardin.”

“Come on now, don’t be so dramatic. Just forget it.”

Wales’ eyes welled up with tears.

I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Take it easy with work, alright? Being too serious is your one flaw.”

“Ha ha… Thank you. But Captain, you’re even more serious than I am. I’ll return the advice as it is.”

“Watch it.”

“Haha. Please take it easy for a while and get some rest.”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. Thanks. Take care of yourself.”

“You too, Captain. Please stay well.”

After saying farewell to the knights, I boarded the airship.

Passing through several countries and cities with a few transfers, I arrived on schedule—four days later—in Taluska, the imperial capital of the Emarepa Empire.

As expected of a capital in one of the Four Great Nations, it was an astonishingly large city.

“This place is way too urban. I think I’ll head somewhere more rural.”

I stayed overnight at an inn in the capital, and the next morning, I made my way to Taluska Airport.

With a map of the Emarepa Empire spread before me, I pondered my next destination.

“If I’ve come all the way south, I might as well see the ocean. That would mean the Marsole Inland Sea.”

My homeland, the Kingdom of Jeneth, faced the Northern Sea—known to be the roughest sea in the world.

The North was constantly swept by icy winds and violent storms most of the year.

In contrast, I’d heard the Marsole Inland Sea was a stunning emerald green.

I bought a ticket to Jeremi, the empire’s third-largest city, which lay along the shores of the Marsole.

“Spending my days peacefully by the southern sea… not a bad idea.”

I boarded the airship bound for Jeremi.

“All right. This is the start of my new life.”

As if to bless my future, the airship soared into the wide, clear blue sky.

It was Wales, one of the knights who had once served under me.

Serious, sharp, and skilled with a sword—he was one of the most reliable men I had, and I had appointed him as a squad leader.

“Ah, Wales. You might’ve already heard, but I’ve been exiled from the country. Permanent exile, at that. Things happened fast, so I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. Sorry about that.”

“Yes, I was informed…”

“I’m heading to the Emarepa Empire.”

“To the south, huh. When you live in a snowy country, it’s natural to dream of the warm south.”

“Haha, exactly.”

Wales suddenly took my hand and gripped it tightly.

“I will never forget the kindness you showed me, Captain Mardin.”

“Come on now, don’t be so dramatic. Just forget it.”

Wales’ eyes welled up with tears.

I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Take it easy with work, alright? Being too serious is your one flaw.”

“Ha ha… Thank you. But Captain, you’re even more serious than I am. I’ll return the advice as it is.”

“Watch it.”

“Haha. Please take it easy for a while and get some rest.”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. Thanks. Take care of yourself.”

“You too, Captain. Please stay well.”

After saying farewell to the knights, I boarded the airship.

Passing through several countries and cities with a few transfers, I arrived on schedule—four days later—in Taluska, the imperial capital of the Emarepa Empire.

As expected of a capital in one of the Four Great Nations, it was an astonishingly large city.

“This place is way too urban. I think I’ll head somewhere more rural.”

I stayed overnight at an inn in the capital, and the next morning, I made my way to Taluska Airport.

With a map of the Emarepa Empire spread before me, I pondered my next destination.

“If I’ve come all the way south, I might as well see the ocean. That would mean the Marsole Inland Sea.”

My homeland, the Kingdom of Jeneth, faced the Northern Sea—known to be the roughest sea in the world.

The North was constantly swept by icy winds and violent storms most of the year.

In contrast, I’d heard the Marsole Inland Sea was a stunning emerald green.

I bought a ticket to Jeremi, the empire’s third-largest city, which lay along the shores of the Marsole.

“Spending my days peacefully by the southern sea… not a bad idea.”

I boarded the airship bound for Jeremi.

“All right. This is the start of my new life.”

As if to bless my future, the airship soared into the wide, clear blue sky.