Chapter 13: Ugh, a mere defeated opponent!

Hero Association, registration counter.

Without a doubt, Timmy, who had endured for five full minutes, and Katy, who had directly devastated the Training Golem, both passed the test with high scores.

Although the staff member in charge of registration looked at the coffin—which was now battered and covered in dents—and strongly recommended that Katy register as a Heavy Warrior or a Berserker, the young girl remained unmoved.

“Priest.”

She resolutely wrote that word in the profession column of the form.

What a joke.

Being a warrior meant rushing to the front just to get beaten up.

Being a priest was much better; it gave off the impression of being a gentle soul, which was perfect for farming favorability.

Plus, she could happily slack off whenever her teammates weren’t losing health.

It was simply too perfect for her, especially since a guy like Gray basically never got hurt anyway.

“Um, Miss Katy?”

Lily looked at the form, a troubled expression on her face.

“With such incredible strength, why didn’t you choose to be a warrior? The pay is better, and it’s much easier to pick up commissions. You should know that female warriors are in high demand, whereas it’s actually quite difficult for priests to find a party.”

“Sister Lily, that’s just a stereotype.”

Katy held up a finger with a righteous air.

“I’m a priest. Isn’t it perfectly normal to have a little bit of strength so I can better protect my teammates? As long as I knock all the enemies unconscious with my staff, my teammates won’t get hurt.”

In the light novels she used to read, whenever the protagonist was a priest, they were always the type of power-monsters that completely subverted stereotypes, possessing even more strength than the warriors.

So, it was perfectly normal for her to be a bit strong, right?

“If you say so…”

Lily looked curiously at Gray, a veteran warrior.

“Gray, just how much strength does little Katy have? I saw that coffin was nearly deformed from her slamming it.”

The young man stroked his chin, recalling the jaw-dropping battle scene from moments ago.

“Let me think. In terms of pure explosive power, she’s just a tiny bit short of reaching the level of a B-rank Warrior. It’s quite astonishing.”

“Then isn’t it a waste for her not to be a warrior?”

Faced with Lily’s question, Gray, as an A-rank Warrior, shook his head.

“A warrior needs more than just strength. Combat techniques, weapon mastery, situational judgment… these all require years of accumulation. Although Miss Katy is strong, she hasn’t had any professional training. It would be too dangerous to let her stay on the front lines with me.”

As Katy listened, she couldn’t stop herself from nodding along.

Warriors only had to worry about positioning, dealing damage, and taking hits, but a priest hiding in the back to provide healing and blessings had so many things to consider.

While Lily applied the stamp, she gave Katy a playful wink.

“In that case, according to tradition, logistics like purchasing supplies and carrying luggage are usually the priest’s responsibility. That won’t be a problem for little Katy, right?”

“Leave it to me!”

Katy confidently patted her flat chest.

“I’m great at haggling! When the uncles and aunties in the Shopping District see me, they always give me a discount!”

Next was the team registration phase.

Team Name: Black Crow.

Captain: E-rank Hero Katy.

Profession: Priest.

Member: A-rank Hero Gray.

Profession: Warrior.

Lily verified the information and looked at Gray with some surprise.

“The captain is Miss Katy? Usually, the veteran leads the team, don’t they?”

Gray nodded and pushed the badge representing the captain toward Katy.

“I’m not good at commanding, and my reputation isn’t exactly great. It’s better to let Miss Katy handle the leadership. But… why the name Black Crow?”

Seeing her only team member puzzled by the name, Katy stuck out her tongue.

“It’s a hint about the first time Mr. Gray and I met. Besides, since it’s just the two of us, we shouldn’t need any complex commands, right?”

“That won’t do.”

Seeing Katy trying to brush it off, Gray immediately entered lecture mode.

“In a Labyrinth, the captain is the brain of the team. Deciding which path to take at a fork, whether to fight or flee when encountering an unexpected elite monster, or even whether to use potions to recover after clearing a floor of trash mobs… a single lapse in judgment could lead to a total wipeout. It’s a heavy responsibility.”

Hearing this string of troublesome duties, Katy suddenly felt like she had picked up a hot potato.

She had originally thought the captain was just in charge of giving orders and enjoying the best loot.

Who knew there were so many chores involved?

The girl immediately put on a timid expression and pushed the captain’s badge back.

“Um, I suddenly feel like Mr. Gray is much better suited to be the captain.”

Seeing her suddenly trying to back out, Gray decided to give his captain a lesson.

“Does Miss Katy want to take it back? It’s not impossible, I suppose.”

He leaned his arm on the counter and waved the girl over.

“Come on, arm wrestling. If Katy can beat me, I’ll take over the responsibility of being captain.”

Katy puffed out her cheeks indignantly.

“Mr. Gray, that’s unfair! You know I definitely can’t beat an A-rank Warrior.”

“This is the captain’s first lesson: once you’ve made a decision, you can’t back down easily.”

Gray raised an eyebrow.

“Give it a try? What if you win?”

“If we’re doing this, don’t cry when you lose, Mr. Gray!”

Not to be outdone, Katy reached out and gripped Gray’s calloused palm.

“Ready—go!”

As Lily acted as the referee and gave the command, the oak counter serving as their arena let out a painful groan as the two exerted their strength.

Gray’s relaxed expression instantly stiffened.

Although he had prepared himself, the monstrous force coming from Katy’s slender, fair hand was a bit too exaggerated.

Was it possible that Angels allocated all their racial stats into strength, leaving nothing but cuteness?

On the other side, Katy held her breath until her face turned red.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move Gray’s palm down even a fraction of an inch.

Guh, is it still not enough?

If she were in her original Noctiluca form, she could have sent Gray flying with a mere flick of her finger.

But she couldn’t do that now!

The strength limit of this body was right here.

If she used any more power, she would have to circulate the Mana in her body to reinforce her flesh.

Once that dark-purple demonic energy leaked out, her identity as part of the Demon Race would be completely exposed!

Between winning a match and keeping her disguise, Katy could only choose the latter with tears in her heart.

Seeing the girl’s adorable state, with even the tips of her ears flushed red from the effort, Gray’s heart softened, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, while the strength coming from her hand was terrifyingly high, it was still within the range he could handle.

After all, if he actually lost an arm-wrestling match to a rookie priest, how could he ever show his face again as an A-rank Warrior?

“Hah!”

Gray gave a low shout, his arm muscles bulging as he applied a sudden burst of power.

Katy’s hand was instantly pinned to the tabletop.

“Well then, I look forward to your guidance, Captain Katy.”

With the winner decided, Gray shook out his right hand and flashed a brilliant smile.

Katy rubbed her numbed wrist, sticking her tongue out with a look of helpless resignation on the outside.

In reality, her inner self was stomping its feet in a fit of rage.

Guh, dammit!!

If it weren’t for the fear of exposing my identity as one of the Demon Race, how could a Weakest Winless A-rank trash warrior like you, someone I’ve already defeated, ever beat me in a contest of strength!

Me, a former Calamity Pillar!

Just you wait.

Once I’ve completed the mission entrusted to me by the Demon King, I’ll make sure you, you trash hero, suffer a bitter fate!