"A written exam?"

"Of course. You'll have to pay the fee to take the test first."

"A fee?"

Rusty tilted his metallic head at her. His voice carried the curious tone humans often used when they were confused.

"How much?"

"Two silver."

She answered while already pulling out the necessary forms. There was a strange glint in her eyes, the kind that suggested she had just roped in a sucker. Rusty would soon realize that passing the adventurer test would cost more than just two silver.

"This is only for the initial written exam. You'll have to pay another two for the combat portion later. That's standard procedure."

"Standard procedure? Are there any more fees?"

Rusty sensed something off about the conversation, and as he suspected, the payments were far from over.

"Oh, silly me. I almost forgot. After the test, there will be a fee for issuing your new adventurer card."

"Let me guess. Another two silver coins?"

"Oh, how did you know?"

"It was a guess…"

Rusty muttered his answer while touching the satchel where he kept his coin purse. He had spent most of his money acquiring his lair and had only received a single silver coin for defending the city. Fortunately, he still had just enough to cover the fees, though it would leave him with only a few copper coins.

'I won't have anything left to buy materials for my smithy.'

'I have to hand it to these adventurers. They're truly ruthless when it comes to things like this. No wonder the only requirement is money.'

Aburdon commented with a cackle. Before coming here, Rusty had been worried he might be turned away. In the previous city, the adventurer's guild evaluated a person's level to determine whether they were a worthwhile candidate. With his possession skill, he could display the status of his human head, which was still only at the level of an E-rank adventurer. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any such requirement in this city. As long as he paid, he was allowed to take the test.

'So they just let anyone sign up without limits just to collect all these fees?'

'Of course. That's the entire scheme, dear Rusty. Look how pleased that woman is to take your money. These tests aren't really about finding capable adventurers. They're about generating income for the guild. I wouldn't be surprised if they deliberately made the tests harder than necessary.'

Rusty already knew the humanoids leaned heavily into their obsession with money. As a monster, he saw currency as nothing more than a tool. But to these people, it seemed to be their entire purpose. He didn't really understand why so many of them hoarded vast amounts of coins without any intention of spending them or using them to improve themselves. For him, money had value only because it could be traded to enhance his weapons, strengthen his body, or expand his magical abilities. It had no other meaning, and he didn't need it just to survive.

'That's not true. The guild needs money to operate. These fees are just a way to make sure adventurers take it seriously. Not every city has enough funds for identification devices.'

At last, Alexander had heard enough and chose to speak up. It was true that the Identification skill was rare and usually had to be replicated through magical means. The higher a person's level, the more advanced the magical device needed to verify it, and those devices were quite expensive.

'This is just the lesser evil. The guild already employs adventurers, and this system gives them a chance to guide new prospects and help train them.'

'Hah. Of course you'd defend these greedy lesser races, hero, but we both know that's not the real reason.'

Rusty wasn't sure whether it was simple greed or a calculated precaution, but either way, this was the only path forward. He had just enough money to get through the process, yet the first hurdle already felt steep. Compared to him, everyone else seemed older and more experienced. He had spent time in the Soul Forge reading books, but most of his study had been focused on crafting and magical research. When it came to adventuring, he still knew very little.

"Should I sign you up for today's test then, Mr. Edmund?"

"Today?"

As Rusty considered whether he should study for the test, the woman's next words hit him like a bombshell.

"The test is today?"

"Yes. Isn't that why you're here, to take the test?"

"Um… when does it start, exactly?"

"In about four hours. If you'd like to use the guild library to review the material, you may enter after paying the fee."

Rusty looked in the direction she pointed. A door stood there with a drawing of a book on it.

"What if I fail the test? When would the next one be?"

"Oh, if you fail, you may retake it next month."

"A whole month?"

"Yes. We're understaffed here, so that's as often as we can administer the tests."

The woman replied while fixing her glasses and soon continued while hovering with a pen over some paper.

"So, should I sign you up?"

She asked again with a smile. Rusty hadn't expected this sudden turn of events, and the situation was far from ideal. As things stood, he doubted he would pass the written exam without at least some knowledge of the material. Just as he was hesitating, one of his guides raised his voice.

'Have you forgotten in whose presence you are, my dear Rusty?'

'Hmm?'

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Aburdon was hinting at something, and after a moment, Rusty understood what he meant.

'Oh right, there was that way. Are you confident you can do it?'

'Hah, who do you think I am? One glance is enough!'

'What are you two talking about?'

Alexander didn't seem to realize what Rusty and Aburdon were talking about, but a decision had been made. Even if Rusty failed, it would only cost two silver coins, and the next test wouldn't be available for another month. Earning money through selling monster parts was an option, so there was no reason to turn it down, especially since he had a way to get through it right away.

"Sign me up."

The woman nodded and used his card credentials to add his name to the list. From a quick glance, he could tell there were a few other participants already signed up.

"Very well. You have four hours. You'll find the study room past that door. Also, if your tamed monster eats any of the books, you will be held accountable."

" ( •̀ ᴖ •́ ) "

Gleam, who had been poking her head out, did not seem amused by the comment.

"Don't worry. Gleam won't do that. Right, Gleam?"

"(•̀ᴗ•́ )و"

"Hear that?"

Gleam wiggled her antennae, but the guild receptionist clearly had no idea what she was saying.

"Take this, and good luck. The test will be through that door, so make sure to return in four hours. Now, please move along, other people are waiting behind you, Mr. Edmund."

Rusty glanced over his shoulder and saw that a small line had formed. The adventurers behind him looked rather grumpy, so he stepped aside and took the piece of paper handed to him as confirmation of his test registration. Then he headed straight towards the library and grabbed the door handle to open the entrance.

The library door creaked as it opened, letting out a faint cloud of dust that tickled Rusty's non-existent nose. Inside, the scent of old parchment and dry wood filled the air. Books were piled on every available surface: tables, chairs, even the floor, like someone had once tried to organize them and simply given up halfway. A few flickering candles dimly lit the room. Gleam scuttled ahead of him, her silvery carapace reflecting the faint light as she inspected the room with curiosity.

"( ╹ -╹)?"

"I'm not sure. It doesn't look like anyone has used this in a while. Are these books really going to help me?"

Rusty spoke as he followed his friend to one of the tables. The room had clearly been neglected. Dust clung to the shelves, and many of the books were falling apart. It seemed the adventurers rarely used this place for study. Still, he had already paid the two silver coin fee, so there was no turning back now.

"How does it look? Can you read it?"

"Hah. These lesser races have no respect for literature. So typical."

The left side of Rusty's visor began to glow as Aburdon moved closer. The technique they planned to use for the test was straightforward. Rusty intended to rely on Aburdon's photographic memory. He had already demonstrated his ability to memorize maps at a glance. All they needed to do was flip through every book and scroll they could find. In theory, that should be enough to get Rusty through the exam. They also had Alexander, a former hero and someone familiar with the guild, who could help fill in any missing knowledge if needed.

"Well?"

"What do you think? Just keep flipping through them. This is nothing for a demon lord!"

Rusty didn't waste any time. He grabbed the first thick book from a nearby stack, its spine cracked and faded. Gleam hopped up beside him and tilted her small ant head in curiosity. Although she was well suited to learning magic, she couldn't understand the written language in regular books at all.

" ( –ᴗ– ) "

"You can't read it, but you want to? Maybe after we're done here, I could try to teach you."

While Aburdon scanned the books at a steady pace, Rusty found himself considering Gleam's question more seriously. Thanks to his merging with Alexander and Aburdon, he was able to understand the contents in front of him, but Gleam could only recognize a few of the larger symbols used by humanoids. Perhaps later, he could teach her the basics of reading. It might prove useful one day, especially if she ever wanted to dive into magical research.

"Good, next."

Aburdon's voice brought his attention back to the task, and he turned to the book in his hands.

"Already?"

"I said next."

The demon lord replied, as smug as ever.

"I don't need to read it. I just need to see it, so keep moving those pages."

Rusty didn't argue. He flipped to the next page, then the next, until his hands became a blur. He moved from one book to another, flipping rapidly, barely glancing at the ink before tossing each volume aside and grabbing the next.

Books hit the floor with heavy thumps. Scrolls unraveled. Gleam tried to help, dragging parchment across the floor and using her antennae to hold pages open. The small candlelit room quickly descended into chaos, filled with fluttering paper and the strange rhythmic clanking of Rusty's joints. After two hours, it looked as if a storm had torn through the space.

Rusty never stopped. His arms moved faster and faster, one book after another. He darted between shelves like a wind-up toy pushed to its limit, flipping and shuffling, occasionally muttering to himself or to his guides.

"What is this nonsense? Tactical formations against goblin attacks?"

Eventually, Aburdon started complaining. The books he was forced to memorise were filled with information he had no desire to remember.

"Stop complaining. This was your idea."

"Be quiet!"

Alexander laughed at him while Rusty flipped through a badly drawn bestiary that barely made any sense.

******

A few hours later, the receptionist sighed and stretched behind the front desk. The written portion of the D-rank test was approaching, and she, along with other guild members, would soon be responsible for overseeing it. Once the test ended, participants would receive their results the following morning. Those who passed would move on to the next stage, a duel against a D-rank adventurer. She didn't know who the chosen opponent would be, but she was aware that the guild was making things difficult for new recruits. They were trying to squeeze out as much funding as possible.

"Is that person still in there?"

She stood up and peeked over the desk toward the library door, which had remained closed since the armored man entered. Curiosity got the better of her, and she stepped quietly toward the door. When she reached it, she grabbed the handle and opened the door just enough to see inside.

What she saw made her blink in disbelief. Books and scrolls were scattered across the floor, some piled in corners and others stacked into towers of paper. Her eyes soon fixed on the only human there, a large man in armor, rushing back and forth between bookshelves. He wasn't reading anything; instead, he flipped through pages faster than seemed physically possible.

He would grab a book, open it, flip through every page in a second or two, then toss it aside without a second glance. At times, the ant monster that had come with him would drag a few scrolls over and spread them across one of the tables. Neither of them spoke. The only sound was the constant rustling of pages. She slowly backed away and closed the door behind her, careful not to make a sound.

"I'll pretend I didn't see that."

For a moment, she considered saying something, but the man's bizarre behavior unsettled her. She wasn't paid nearly enough to deal with strange adventurers who might explode without warning. As far as she knew, the man named Edmund had recently charged into a forest full of orcs and returned alive. He was far too dangerous for her to reprimand and was best left alone.

"Not my problem…"

The library was rarely used, and its upkeep wasn't her responsibility anyway. She began whistling and moved on to the next room. The hour of the test was approaching, and she needed to prepare the space for the other participants.

"The test will start in around thirty minutes. If I'm lucky, this person won't show up and the more of them fail… the more money for the guild! Maybe I'll get that raise…"

She walked away slowly and disappeared through the next door. The heavy ticking of the old clock in the guild hall echoed through the corridor and soon started ringing, marking the approach of the test hour. Outside, murmurs of suspense hung in the air as adventurers stretched and exchanged last-minute advice. The test was about to begin, and everyone was gathering. People began filing in and were told to take their seats, but the armored man was still nowhere in sight.

"Has everyone gathered?"

The woman with the glasses asked while glancing around the room. When no one responded, she reached for the door handle and was about to close it. Suddenly, someone came running down the corridor. It was the strange man she had seen earlier, and it seemed she wouldn't be rid of him so easily after all.