Chapter 15

In one corner of the dimly lit training grounds, instructors and assistant collectors were busily sorting through documents.

The papers scattered across the desks contained lists of delinquent debtors. These were the lists the trainees would choose from for the upcoming mock collection battle.

The instructors quietly sorted the documents, occasionally exchanging brief remarks.

“This batch of trainees is supposed to be pretty impressive.”

“Everyone has high expectations for Ethan, who discovered former Count Lloyd’s secret vault this time around. Then there’s Nicholas, who demonstrated outstanding combat prowess; Rebecca, who’s sharp and cautious; and Coren, who excels at unorthodox tactics.”

“Wow, there are quite a few of them.”

“But we’ve had one or two talented individuals like that in the past, and it never really had anything to do with whether they passed or not.”

One instructor nodded in agreement.

“True. The pass rate is usually less than fifty percent. I wonder how things will turn out this year.”

Countless trainees had dropped out during their training, leaving only a tiny handful behind.

However, compared to previous batches, the trainees of the sixty-fifth batch were exceptionally talented.

The instructors were both eager and apprehensive to see how they would respond in actual field conditions.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

Just then, the door to the training grounds burst open, and a man came rushing inside.

It was Langston, a second-rank collector.

With a panicked expression, he began rummaging through the documents on the desk.

“Damn it! I thought it was here…!”

The instructors stared at him in bewilderment.

“Sir Langston, you can’t do this. We’re in the middle of an important sorting process.”

One instructor spoke with a frown.

The others also shook their heads, unable to hide their displeasure. The mock collection battle was a procedure that required careful preparation, and they were currently selecting only those whose outstanding debts amounted to ten gold coins or less.

“I know, I know! But I left an important document here!”

Langston hurriedly scanned the piles of papers before picking up several sheets and tilting his head in confusion.

“Are you finished?”

The assistants watched him with visibly displeased expressions. Langston wore an awkward, uneasy smile as he replied.

“I-I think so.”

“Then could you please leave? We’re preparing for the mock collection battle for the sixty-fifth batch of trainees.”

“Oh, is it that time already? Hahaha. I hope they survive.”

Langston laughed awkwardly, opened the door, and stepped outside.

He glanced through the stack of papers in his left hand, flipping through them with a puzzled expression.

“What the hell? Was it always this thick? Ah, whatever.”

He soon shook his head and dismissed the matter as unimportant.

Meanwhile, after Langston left, the instructors returned to their sorting.

“Honestly, Sir Langston gets good results, but he’s terribly absentminded.”

“Tell me about it. There have been more than a few times when he’s made me nervous.”

“If you ask me, every collector seems to have some kind of flaw.”

“Shh!”

At that remark, two instructors simultaneously clamped their hands over the speaker’s mouth and glanced around nervously.

The instructors who had covered the sweating man’s mouth proceeded to give him a stern scolding.

“You idiot! Is there anyone here who doesn’t already know that?”

“Do you have any idea what might happen if you offend the collectors?”

“Mmph! (I-I’m sorry!)”

And so, amid all the frantic activity—

Rustle.

Without anyone noticing, one of the documents Langston had brought with him became mixed in with the lists for the mock collection battle.

[Name: Vatica Occupation: Bandit Alias: Red Fang Outstanding Debt: 65 gold coins]

“Anyway, we’re done sorting, so let’s get out of here.”

“You can carry these as compensation for all your hard work.”

“…Fine.”

The instructor who had been saddled with the remaining stack of documents let out a deep sigh and trudged away.

And soon, the time had come for the trainees to choose their lists.

In the center of the training grounds, the trainees stood in a straight line, facing Walter.

As usual, he surveyed them with an impassive expression before beginning his brief explanation.

“All right. Everyone, listen up.”

At his words, the chattering trainees immediately fell silent.

As though accustomed to this routine, Walter slowly recited the rules.

“There are three rules for the mock collection battle.”

First. You must not share information about the individuals on your lists.

“This is basic. It’s to prevent cheating through cooperation. Anyone who violates this rule will be disqualified.”

“…”

Everyone silently acknowledged the rule.

Having chosen to become collectors, every person standing here had already accepted that they would have to walk a difficult path alone.

Second. You must not inflict unnecessary harm on debtors during the mock collection battle.

“Physical altercations may occur during the collection process. However, unnecessary violence is strictly prohibited. The severity of any injuries will determine how many points you lose, so be careful.”

Several trainees exchanged slightly startled glances.

Although they had been told this would be realistic training, there were still restrictions.

Nicholas, looking unconvinced, raised a question.

“What are we supposed to do if a debtor tries to harm us with the intention of killing us?”

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Beat them until they’re just short of dying. Your safety comes first.”

The trainees nodded slightly, relieved to learn that there were exceptions.

The fact that they were permitted to retaliate seemed to put them at ease.

Third. You must strictly adhere to the time limit of 100 hours.

“Fail to complete your assignment within the allotted time, and you’ll be disqualified. Additionally…”

Walter continued, his expression growing meaningful.

“If you exceed the time limit by too much, we may have to send out a rescue team.”

At these words, the expressions of several trainees stiffened.

Others, by contrast, looked thoroughly confident.

“That’s all for the rules. Now, distribute the lists.”

At Walter’s signal, the assistants began handing out lists to each trainee at random.

Ethan accepted his list and casually unfolded it.

The moment he read it, his expression froze.

[Name: Vatica

Alias: Red Fang

Outstanding Debt: 65 gold coins

Location: Forest of Illusions]

“…?”

Ethan’s eyes widened.

‘What? Sixty-five gold coins?’

Instinctively, he checked the list again.

He had expected the mock collection exercise to involve debtors who owed ten gold coins or less.

In any world, surely they wouldn’t make things so difficult for newcomers that they’d be discouraged right from the start.

That was how naively he had thought about it.

But the threshold was far higher than he had anticipated.

‘Wait, is something wrong here?’

Ethan’s gaze shifted to the bottom of the list.

[Location: Forest of Illusions]

“…Ha.”

Ethan felt like tearing his hair out.

The Forest of Illusions was two days away just for a round trip from the training center. If he wanted to travel at a reasonable pace, he would have barely twenty-four hours left to collect the debt.

‘This is insane… This is going to be fucking brutal!’

Ethan screamed inwardly.

However, when he looked around, he saw that the other trainees were also taking things very seriously.

Some clenched their fists and took deep breaths. Others nervously bit their lips. Nicholas, on the other hand, regarded his list with apparent interest.

Still, for some reason, the atmosphere seemed a little more relaxed than Ethan’s own state of mind.

Or was that just his imagination?

‘…Right. They’re all first-timers, too. They must be nervous.’

Ethan pressed his lips together.

All sorts of thoughts were already racing through his mind.

‘So this is why the pass rate is less than fifty percent.’

Ethan quietly sighed and folded his list.

“Fine… I have to do it either way, right?”

He glanced around once more.

Sure enough, the other trainees looked completely unconcerned.

And just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, a message of death arrived to drive him further into despair.

[Quest: Pass the Mock Collection Battle]

Success: You will be permitted to work as a provisional collector.
Failure: Under the terms of your contract, you will lose your life.

“…I’m so fucking dead.”

As Ethan’s expression grew darker by the second, the mock collection battle was officially getting underway.

“Hurry up! Move!”

“Run! If we exceed the time limit, this entire year will have been for nothing!”

As soon as the mock collection battle began, the trainees of the sixty-fifth batch scattered in all directions, each heading toward their respective targets.

‘Aaaagh! This is driving me insane! Why is it so far away?!’

Ethan was briefly at a loss when he realized he had to get to the Forest of Illusions.

Walking all the way there would take far too long.

The other trainees were probably already on their way by whatever means they could find.

That was when he spotted Coren in the distance, sprinting toward a carriage at full speed.

‘Perfect! That’s my ride!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ethan sprinted after him.

Coren had already grabbed the carriage with one hand and was swinging himself aboard.

But at that very moment, Ethan’s hand shot out and seized Coren by the scruff of his neck.

“Ghk!”

Caught off guard, Coren lost his balance and came to a halt.

He turned around with an irritated expression.

“What the hell, Ethan? What do you want?”

Ethan flashed him a shameless grin.

“I’m hitching a ride. For free, of course.”

For a moment, Coren looked utterly dumbfounded.

“No way.”

He replied firmly and climbed into the carriage.

The horse stamped its hooves against the ground, snorting fiercely as it prepared to surge forward.

Its powerful muscles rippled magnificently, and the force of its hooves pressing against the earth was palpable.

Tendons bulged beneath its sturdy legs, brimming with energy as though it were about to explode into motion.

‘Not so fast!’

Ethan had no intention of letting that happen.

He drew Heavystalker from the back of his waist.

The sharp dagger sliced through the air and plunged into the space between the spokes of the carriage wheel.

In an instant, Heavystalker’s weight began to increase until it reached one hundred kilograms.

Krrrreeeeek!

Under the weight of Heavystalker wedged between the spokes, the wheel wobbled violently and sank downward.

At the same time, Ethan activated Hittite Body-Strengthening Technique, drawing out his body’s full vital energy to keep Heavystalker from being dislodged.

“Neigh!”

The horse reared up on its front legs, unable to move forward.

Crushed by the overwhelming pressure bearing down on it, it could no longer extend its body forward and came to a complete stop.

Coren’s face twisted into a scowl.

“What the hell are you doing, Ethan?!”

Ethan answered with shameless confidence.

“Give me a ride. If you don’t, you’re not going anywhere either.”

Coren glared at him coldly and spoke in a low voice.

“…I don’t let people who get in my way live.”

Ethan retorted even more brazenly.

“I don’t let people who abandon me live, either.”

“Ha! Unbelievable.”

Coren clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Then, after letting out a deep breath, he glared at Ethan and asked,

“What can you do for me if I help you?”

Now that Ethan had committed himself to being shameless, he decided to take it even further.

He puffed out his chest proudly, pointed at himself, and declared,

“I’m the most outstanding trainee here, aren’t I? Someday, when you’re working as a collector and find yourself in a situation where you can’t figure out what to do, I’ll help you out.”

Coren let out a disbelieving laugh and muttered,

“Haah… I heard you used to be the master of a thieves’ guild. Guess you really are good at running your mouth.”

“Thanks.”

“That wasn’t a compliment!”

Coren scowled, then looked at Ethan one last time and asked,

“What if I say no?”

Ethan replied nonchalantly,

“Then you’re not going anywhere. I’ll smash the carriage.”

“…”

A brief silence fell between them.

“Haaah.”

Coren let out a long, deep sigh.