Only I Am A Reader

An adventurer guild-like organization that has the highest number of Swordsmen under its banner within the whole continent, and had an affiliation with every other major guild within the Empire, that was the world's current mercenary company behemoth known as the Gigant Sword Association!

The association, however, didn't start that big. Originally, they were just an information guild that had various trades with the ruling class, but their destiny to rise was only fulfilled at the start of the Sword Epoch.

At the time where the power of the supernatural triumphed over all, the hidden information guild made use of their large information network to secure all kinds of mystical items. Whether it was mutated ore mines, Sword Breath boosters, or even ascended swords, amid the chaos that enveloped the world, almost all products of the phenomena that started everything fell into the hands of this specific information guild!

'Indeed, knowledge is power.'

Between using their collection to groom their own Swordsmen force or tempt those who had made a name in the battlefield, the rise of the information guild was eminent, but so was the Empire's.

As the guild's leaders were more inclined towards brains over brawns, they regarded world hegemony as a meaningless pursuit that would bring more trouble than benefits. Keeping their old style of work, they rebranded their front as the Gigant Sword Association and became subordinate to the Empire that they predicted to come on top.

"Hmm… Yes? How can I help you?"

Upon entering the reception hall of the association, Leo walked up to the counter where a man with a neat mustache was seated and lightly tapped it to show his presence.

Unlike the usual image one would have of an 'adventurer guild', the hall was quiet with only about a dozen people inside, half of which were the receptionist themselves.

'As expected, only the protagonist gets a beauty receptionist…'

Thanks to the correct decisions that the guild leaders had taken, the Gigant Sword Association successfully reached their current status, being only below the imperial family itself. In an endeavor to keep most Swordsmen in check, they were given the privilege to use their information to set up a mercenary network specifically for the employment of Swordsmen.

Their network not only covered the whole Empire but also extended into the land their affiliates controlled, creating a neverending cycle of supply and demand.

Naturally, being a Swordsman was far from cheap, and the Gigant Sword Association made it so they would earn their effort's worth. As such, even Swordsmen outside their domain would immigrate to get their chance at getting a quick buck.

For Leo, however, that was merely one of the many reasons behind his visit today.

"I would like to register for a Sword Identification."

Not all cities were as relaxed as Swordkeep. In order to move around freely, Leo had to receive an identity, something that the nameless town isn't able to issue for a resident, much less an orphan.

"Sword Identification?"

A Sword Identity was just what it sounded like, it was an identification document that the Association had the authority to issue for almost any Swordsman.

'This is?'

The receptionist skeptically glanced at Leo, although he seemed slightly tall, the face of the youth standing before him could barely pass as a 16-year-old. Such a young man wanted to get a Sword Identification?

The reason the hall was mostly empty wasn't that it was a bad business day, rather, that just signified how little Swordsmen existed, let alone qualified to join the association. This was the first time for the receptionist to serve someone younger than middle-aged men.

"Yes. Would it be possible to get it done today?"

Personally, Leo would have liked to finish this chore during his first stay in the city. However, in order to keep their reputation, the Association only presented official membership to those who surpassed grade-1 to filter those with actual skills from those who have just recently come to power.

Those at grade-1 could still join as trial members who were only given simple errands, an identity that was useless for Leo's goals.

"Ah, absolutely! Let me just guide you to the identification room."

The receptionist was perplexed, but in the end, he decided to go with his motto, 'just do your job'. If the youth was just making a joke, then throwing him out was the tester's job, he had to just deliver him there.

"Just get in there, sir, our employee will take care of your identification."

Looking back at the receptionist who ran away as soon as he showed him to his destination, Leo was slightly confused. His situation was indeed abnormal, but wasn't the guy overreacting?

Knock. Knock.

The door simply sprang open as soon as he knocked on it, revealing a buff man half sleeping on a lounge chair behind a plain black desk.

"Excuse me..."

"Uh… Ahem, who is there?"

The buff man coughed before suddenly opening his eyes in alert, looking around before glaring at Leo.

"I came here for the identification?"

'Is this association full of weirdos?'

If the guy just before was strange, then this guy was even stranger, but Leo could instantly feel the intensity the man exuded as soon as he focused on his Sword Breath.

'At least at the mid-grades…'

"Oh! Identification, right. Let's see what we got…"

'Huh?'

The man was drowsy from just waking up, so he only just noticed what the youth before him looked like. He was just about to ask about the guy's age, but he could already sense his Sword Breath after having already entered observation mode. Such a young guy was actually a grade-2 Swordsman!

It wasn't like there were no grade-2 Swordsmen or even higher at his age, but such people usually had a special status, they weren't the type of people who would join the Association like self-supporting Swordsmen would.

"Airen, come here!"

'Is he an expelled student or a royal coming out to play?'

Even as he was suspicious about the identity of this young applicant, the buff man only called out for the worker responsible for the rest of the identification process. If his guess was right, then that only meant that he shouldn't miss with him. He could always do 'that' anyway…

"Alright, you are all good. The one responsible for the next step will be here shortly."

Pushing a chair from his side towards Leo, the buff man's lips formed an awkward smile as he stared at Leo's blank face…