Chapter One - Finding Companions For This Failure of a Crimson Demon

In the blink of an eye, Ryobiru found himself standing in the heart of Axel, amidst the familiar hubbub of the beginner town. Curious glances from passing adventurers greeted the crimson demon, who seemingly appeared out of thin air.

A surge of purpose surged within him as he absorbed the novel sights and sounds of this unknown city. As a crimson demon, it marked his very first visit to the starting point of countless adventures. The towering walls, the bustling market, and the lively chatter of fellow adventurers felt both strangely recognizable and distinctly foreign.

Undeterred by the curious onlookers, Ryobiru adjusted his cloak and took a moment to absorb the atmosphere. Despite the setback of being demoted to level one, a glint of determination flickered in his eyes. Axel might be a beginner town, but Ryobiru was well-acquainted with the capricious nature of this fantastical world.

With newfound resolve, he ventured into the lively streets of Axel, prepared to embark on a fresh adventure. Unbeknownst to the crimson demon, this unforeseen twist of fate would guide him through a journey filled with novel challenges, peculiar companions, and the unpredictable humor that defined the world he called home.

Under the morning sun, Ryobiru left the bathhouse after an extended stay in the dungeon. Eager not to make a poor first impression, especially given his reliance on allies for leveling up, he mulled over his thoughts as he approached Axel's bustling adventurer guild. The familiar scent of parchment and the lively hum of chatter welcomed him as he pushed open the creaking wooden door. Navigating through a sea of adventurers, each sharing tales of exploits and boasting of conquests, or lack thereof...

The guild remained relatively quiet this early in the morning. At the registration counter, Ryobiru glimpsed Megumin and Yunyun engrossed in conversation. He hadn't seen these two since he left the crimson village over a year ago. Megumin's crimson eyes sparkled mischievously as she noticed him. "Well, well, if it isn't 'The Failed Crimson Demon'. Did your adventurer skills betray you, or did you simply stumble your way back here? I thought you said you'd be a powerful adventurer by now. What are you still doing in this town?"

Beside Megumin, Yunyun shot a shy glance in his direction. "M-Megumin! That's not very nice!" Ryobiru, well-accustomed to Megumin's playful teasing, approached calmly and fired back, "I'm just here for the excitement of starting from scratch. Maybe I'll show you a thing or two about efficiency, Megumin."

Perplexed, Megumin inquired about what he meant by "leveling from scratch."

"Hmm, by the way, when did you two arrive here? You ridiculed me for being in this town, but it seems you're in the same boat."

"Don't compare the number one genius of the crimson demon clan to a failure like you! I just got here to find a party. If you ask nicely, I might consider letting you join me." Ryobiru skillfully sidestepped her questions, leaving Megumin entangled in his provocation.

Yunyun, observing the unfolding spectacle, regarded her rival with a hint of pity. "Megumin can't find a party, so she's hoping you'll team up with her."

Upon Yunyun's revelation, Megumin lunged at her, and the two engaged in a playful wrestling match on the ground. Given their recent arrival, it seemed they had graduated not long ago. The crimson demon village retained its usual dynamics.

Turning his attention to the busy receptionist behind the desk, Ryobiru marveled at her efficient multitasking, her presence and large personalities commanded attention as she juggled paperwork as well as "other things" effortlessly.

Feeling the need to formally announce his presence to the guild, Ryobiru turned toward the reception desk and politely asked, "Excuse me, I'd like to register in the guild." Internally amused, he realized that despite his extensive travels, he had never officially joined the guild.

Having attended the village's academy, he was already quite skilled when he left. His focus on magic, alchemy, enchanting, and crafting reflected his aim: to accumulate wealth. Delving into dungeons was merely a means to gather materials.

As he filled out the registration forms and handed over his adventurer card, the receptionist, sporting a captivating smile, questioned his class choice. "Why stick to the basic adventurer class when you could go for something more specialized, like a mage or swordsman?"

Megumin's inquisitive gaze and Yunyun's attentive demeanor fixated on Ryobiru, anticipating his response. Raising an eyebrow, he pondered the question. Wasn't he level one? In the Crimson village, when his card was first created, the only class available to him was adventurer.

A sudden realization struck him. Seventeen years of daily physical and magical training had molded him into more than a typical adventurer. In this magical world, leveling up wasn't the sole route to enhanced stats. Rigorous physical training yielded superhuman strength, and constant mana use contributed to increased magical abilities.

Examining his stats, Ryobiru found them all above average. Though high enough to choose any basic class, an advanced class still remained just beyond immediate reach. Yet, it wasn't an insurmountable goal. By reaching level 20 or so, he could unlock the possibility of an advanced class.

After a moment of silence, he replied, "I'm just used to the basic adventurer class. It allows me to use skills from all classes. I can't bear limiting myself to just one." The three girls exchanged glances, their faces expressing a mix of curiosity and confusion. To them, Ryobiru might have appeared as an eccentric enigma.

Hidden behind his logical reasoning was a strategic choice. As a level 1 adventurer, his only advantage lay in prior experience. Opting for an unfamiliar path would render him a novice once again. It wasn't solely about comfort; it was a calculated move in a world fraught with uncertainties.

With his registration complete, Ryobiru, the failed crimson demon skilled in underhanded tactics, officially secured his status as an adventurer in Axel.

After parting ways with Megumin and Yunyun, Ryobiru's discerning eyes noticed a figure in a green tracksuit nearby. Suspicion gleamed in his gaze as he approached, suspecting that this newcomer might hail from another world. In a world where cheat items were possible, having connections with this person could prove invaluable.

Kazuma, immersed in his adventurer card, looked up, and Aqua, fully embracing her usual antics, greeted Ryobiru with an exaggerated wave. Drinking in the morning? Classic Aqua.

Ryobiru extended a hand toward Kazuma, invoking a sense of camaraderie. "Hey, my friend. I've been around the block in this world. Let me share a piece of advice." He greeted Kazuma in Japanese, their native language, and Kazuma, catching on, reciprocated the gesture.

Despite being just a level one adventurer, Ryobiru exuded a veteran's confidence, his high-quality worn out equipment hinting at a rich history. Playing the part of a seasoned pro shouldn't be too challenging.

Kazuma introduced himself, and after a moment's hesitation, Ryobiru followed suit. Despite hailing from Earth, his crimson demon nature still influenced his speech patterns.

In a cringeworthy personal introduction, Ryobiru shared a brief summary of his journey in this fantastical world. Choosing to reincarnate as a baby instead of opting for a cheat item, he recounted tales of growing up in the amusing Crimson Demon village and embarking on sporadic adventures post-graduation, only to regress back to level one.

Kazuma looked at him with pity. "This world has already corrupted your mind," he thought. Then he, in turn, disclosed the pitiable circumstances of his own situation. Bringing the seemingly goddess of water with him instead of a powerful cheat item, only to discover she was a useless liability, and ending up broke.

A brief bonding session unfolded, as they discussed their circumstances in both the old world and the new one. Sensing a shared struggle, Ryobiru imparted some wisdom, offering tips on skill point usage and efficient leveling tactics, drawn from his own experiences. Then, with a sly grin, he produced a small pouch of coins, roughly 100k in value.

"Consider this a loan," Ryobiru said, his eyes gleaming with an understanding of the hardships that often befell adventurers. "You might need it sooner than you think."

"Uh, thanks?" Kazuma, initially surprised, accepted the pouch with gratitude. A shared understanding passed between them—the struggles, the uncertainties, and the occasional need for a financial boost. As the two continued their conversation, Ryobiru couldn't help but sense a kinship forming, a connection born from the shared experience of navigating a world that frequently threw curveballs their way.

Interrupting their conversation, the demanding cries of Aqua for money resonated through the guild, capturing the attention of both Kazuma and Ryobiru. With a resigned sigh, Ryobiru acknowledged her materialistic tendencies and handed over a small amount to pacify her. "Remember, Aqua, true wealth lies in the camaraderie of adventurers, not in hoarding coins." The crimson blood was seriously messing with him.

Leaving Aqua to her whims, Ryobiru continued his rounds in the guild, effortlessly striking up conversations with the diverse crowd of adventurers gathering. His talkativeness and social skills, honed by the experiences of two different lives, quickly made him a familiar face. Dust's party, in particular, had left a lasting impression on him.

Now, having solidified his social position in the guild, it was time to search for companions. With a keen eye on leveling up safely, Ryobiru sought out either a tank or a thief skilled in the art of lurking.

After some inquiries, he decided to try his luck with Chris, a popular adventurer in the guild. She didn't belong to any party and only teamed up with people occasionally. "Hey, my name's Ryobiru. I'm a crimson demon and I'm looking for a thief. How about we team up for a goblin kill quest?" With an inviting smile, he introduced himself and proposed a quick Goblin kill quest. Simple and straight to the point.

Goblins were indeed the safest bet. Beginners often flocked to giant frogs for their initial quests, but without a proper strategy, they'd just end up being covered in slime. Goblins, however, were more manageable, especially with a skilled thief in the party. Enemy sense and lurk would ensure they easily avoided rookie killers.

"Hmm, sure. Why not? But, only if my friend can join us." Chris, sensing his apparent confidence, agreed to his proposal.

"Perfect, who's your friend?" Having been received positively, Ryobiru asked about this new addition to their group.

"You'll meet her in a bit. Sit down. I'll treat you to a drink."

"Sorry, I don't drink."

"Huh? That's rare. How come?"

"It's a huge waste of time, money, and calories. I'll take a glass of milk instead."

"Hmm, sure, whatever floats your boat."

Their group expanded as Darkness, a crusader with an air of nobility, joined the party.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Darkness, a Crusader. You can leave the frontlines to me. I promise I will protect you no matter what."

"Ryobiru. I'm counting on you." Resisting the primal urge infused in his bloodline to introduce himself in a flashy way, they exchanged introductions and immediately headed outside the town.

Observing their assembled party, Ryobiru couldn't help but think, 'This is a perfect combination!' He was well aware of Darkness's tendencies after his previous inquiries around the guild, but her toughness made her well-suited for handling weak mob groups. Additionally, her lack of attack accuracy would allow Ryobiru to maximize his experience gain by hogging all the kills. Looking at the bright side and focusing on the positives was the cornerstone of successful adventuring.

As the makeshift party ventured forth, Ryobiru felt a surge of optimism. They hadn't yet inquired about his class. They must have thought he was an archmage, considering he was a crimson demon. If he displays his competence, they won't be able to disrespect him when he reveals his real class.

The party walked in silence. "By the way, Darkness, are you perhaps a noble?" Wanting to learn more about his temporary partymates, he inquired about Darkness's blond hair and blue eyes. The complicated expression that crossed her face confirmed his suspicions.

"Um, your equipment looks pretty expensive, are you sure you're fine with just killing goblins?" Darkness said, wanting to change the subject.

"Yeah, my level isn't that high. This is the most I can safely manage right now."

"Hmm, I could have sworn you were a veteran adventurer. How come you have such equipment if you're low level?" Chris asked.

Explaining his equipment's origin was a hassle, so he casually mentioned that his friends in the Crimson Demon village crafted the equipment as a gift. "Wow, the Crimson Demon village has such talented individuals. I can tell just how powerful it is from first glance," she remarked.

Reassessing the gear he personally crafted, Ryobiru couldn't help but notice how conspicuous it seemed. Accustomed to the surroundings of the capital, he now stood out even more in this humble beginner town.

"This is the 'Shadow Caller' Spear Staff," he explained, showcasing a smooth black pole made from refined black dragon bones linked to a spiky golden semi-circle orichalcum gem holder. In the middle, a red gem with an eerie black aura caught their attention.

"If you channel magic power through it, it'll conjure up a spear head with magic. I'll show you." With those words, a glowing ethereal crimson red spear head materialized at the tip of the gem holder… or not.

"I don't have enough magic power to activate it," he admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed. Darkness and Chris looked at him with a deadpan stare.

They continued chatting until the trio reached their destination swiftly. Ryobiru intended to discuss their plan before taking action, but Darkness, with what can be called "enthusiasm," charged into battle unceremoniously.

"Way to go! That's the spirit!" Ryobiru couldn't help but commend her dedication to her fetishes.

Chris, however, smiled wryly as she cast her bind skill. To everyone's surprise, Darkness jumped into the bind spell, offering the excuse, "If you attack them, they might flock to you, and you'll be in danger."

'I didn't think she was this bad!' Ryobiru thought. 'Seriously? If you get caught in the bind, you won't be able to draw aggro properly, and how are we supposed to fight if we can't even attack?' As the chaotic battle unfolded, it became apparent that dealing with Darkness's "enthusiasm" might prove to be more challenging than the goblins themselves.

"Chris, keep an eye out for any goblin archers," Ryobiru directed, laying down his weighty staff and drawing his trusty enchanted dagger. Swiftly, he dashed forth, his enchanted boots allowing silent movement, and his jet black "Nightingale Cloak" hiding his presence as he circled around the goblins using the trees as cover.

Chris, taken aback by his nimbleness and stealthy movements, observed as Ryobiru drove his dagger into the back of a goblin's head. Two others turned to face him, but he swiftly sliced through their throats in one fluid movement. Goblins possessed the strength of a 14-year-old human. Despite their individual weakness, they were still a hassle to deal with due to their strength in numbers.

Confronting four more goblins, Ryobiru's assault continued, blocking their makeshift rusty weapons with his arm and countering with his dagger. As long as their attacks avoided his torso, the goblins' weapons were ineffective. Sneaking in the final blows, Ryobiru hogged the bulk of the experience points for himself.

Crouching down beside Darkness, who wore an ecstatic expression after being pummeled by 7 goblins, he cut the ropes with his dagger, choosing not to comment on her masochistic antics. Such peculiarities were better left alone, and having lived in this world for fifteen years, Ryobiru had encountered his fair share of magical fantasy weirdos—from the Axis Cult to the crimson demons.

Retrieving his staff, Ryobiru urged his party to continue, reminding them of the quest's objective: to eliminate 30 goblins. They had 23 more to go.

Repeating the same process, getting more efficient each time, they advanced through the quest… A little past mid-day, they successfully dispatched the goblins. Remarkably, luck favored them, as they never encountered any archer goblins, much less a rookie killer, throughout the entire quest.

Taking a break to enjoy their packed lunch, the trio sat in silence. Sensing an awkward atmosphere, Ryobiru felt the urge to break it. "We make a pretty darn good team, don't you guys agree? Would you be fine with teaming up again?"

Darkness, despite her quirks, brought substantial toughness to the table, and being able to hog all the XP was a pleasant bonus. Ryobiru considered teaming up with them until he reached level 20 or so, acknowledging that venturing out solo was still unwise.

"I understand if you don't want to work with me aga-" Darkness began, but both of them had surprised expressions. Darkness looked as if she had just witnessed the Axis Cult praising the goddess Eris. "Eh? Really? I-I-I would love to!" She stumbled on her words, seemingly unaccustomed to being accepted so readily into a party.

However, Chris voiced her suspicion, asking, "But are you sure? Do you really want to work with this person?"

"Chris! What are you saying?!" Darkness protested.

Ryobiru understood the suspicion. Teaming up with Darkness might have seemed dubious, akin to being overly nice to someone who starts questioning your motives.

"Even if she's quirky, her toughness is the real deal. As long as she can distract the monsters, I can deal with them without an issue," Ryobiru provided a logical argument, effectively shutting down Chris' suspicions. Meanwhile, Darkness blushed in shame at being called quirky.

Chris, intrigued, inquired about Ryobiru's combat style. "By the way, you're pretty good at close combat for a mage."

"Yeah, what's up with that? I thought mages use magic, but all you've been doing is stabbing them with a dagger?" Darkness joined the inquiry.

"Hmm, well, I'm not even a mage."

"Wha!" "Huh!?"

"Although I am a Crimson Demon, my stats weren't high enough to become an archwizard, so I am using the most basic class right now."

"Oh… That makes sense." Seeing their facial expressions, It felt like their respect for him dropped a little, but that's a good reaction compared to the ones he got in the royal capital.

After finishing their lunch, the trio continued chatting as they made their way back to town. Upon reporting back to the guild, Ryobiru handed over his share of the reward to Chris, jokingly stating it was compensation for his "dagger proficiency."

He claimed to feel bad for hogging the XP (he didn't) and mentioned that he wasn't hurting for money right now (he was). Although he had a considerable sum saved up in his hideout, he no longer possessed the teleportation skill, so all he could access was a measly 130k left in his backpack.

Regardless, currying favors and building an excellent reputation in society was a wise move. As they parted ways amid the bustling activity of the guild, the foundation for future adventures and camaraderie in this wonderful world had been further solidified.

"Now, let's make some money!

Chapter One - End