Strongest Existence Becomes Teacher
Chapter 35: Ranks Can’t Measure Me

Chapter 35: Ranks Can’t Measure Me

Zane reappeared in the shadowed alley near the town’s edge, the faint golden shimmer of his teleport fading from his body. His eyes adjusted quickly to the familiar surroundings.

"Hm. Back to the town," he muttered, brushing invisible dust from his shoulder. He paused, his gaze drifting in the direction of the inn. "Looks like those two kids are heading back to grab their stuff. Good—means they’re smart enough not to stay long. That academy might actually keep them safe."

He stepped forward, but something caught his eye—a worn wooden post just outside a nearby building. Two wanted posters fluttered slightly in the breeze.

Zane walked over, tilting his head.

"Well, well... that’s why they were in disguise," he said, a small grin forming. "Both their faces are on here. Pretty decent sketches too. Their siblings wants them badly."

He studied the bounty amounts, then casually waved it off. "Not my business. Though... those two are getting more interesting by the hour."

Stretching his arms, Zane turned down the main street. "Anyway, time to do what I came for—join the Adventurer’s Guild. That was on my list, right?"

He stopped a passerby. "Hey, do you know where Guild building is ?"

The old man pointed down the street with a grunt. "Big stone place with the crest. Can’t miss it."

"Thanks." Zane offered a light wave and continued.

A few minutes later, he stood in front of a large set of open double doors. Stone walls, banners with crossed swords and a flame insignia, and the unmistakable buzz of chatter and clinking armor echoed from within.

"The doors are open?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Tch. In anime, they’re always shut, and the main character walks in dramatically, y’know? All eyes turn, tension thick in the air..." He sighed with mock disappointment. "Where’s the flair?"

Still, he stepped in, soaking in the scene.

Inside, adventurers gathered around job boards, others boasted about hunts or searched for party members. Swords, cloaks, potions—classic sights. Yet it all carried a strange charm.

"No matter how overused this whole adventurer concept is, it still feels exciting," he admitted under his breath.

His eyes locked onto the reception desk. A line was forming, but he made his way toward it, scanning the staff.

"I wonder..." he smirked, "will it be the usual trope? Elf beauty with icy attitude? Or the kind human girl ?"

Zane chuckled to himself, stepping forward just as the next adventurer moved aside. "Guess I’ll find out."

As Zane made his way toward the reception desk, he glanced around, casually activating his mass-mode perception to gauge the battle power of those nearby. Floating numbers appeared subtly in his vision:

120... 186... 165... 232...

The highest he spotted was 279.

"Hmm," he murmured to himself. "Weak... but maybe decent by this world’s standard."

Finally, he reached the reception counter. But contrary to his expectations, it wasn’t a human or elf beauty greeting him. Instead, a calm, composed beastkin girl stood there—black hair, feline ears perched atop her head, and piercing yellow eyes. Her demeanor was professional and unshaken, nothing like the emotionally driven image of beastkin he’d imagined.

It was his turn.

"Hello, miss," Zane said with a polite nod. "I wanted to ask about becoming an adventurer."

She immediately gave a courteous bow. "Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild, sir. How may I assist you?"

"I’m a traveler from a distant land, and I’d like to try becoming an adventurer. Is that possible?"

"Yes, sir," she replied. "As long as you possess a valid traveler’s ID, we can begin the registration process. You will be required to take a basic aptitude and strength assessment."

Zane grinned. "Sounds easy enough. Let’s do it."

He handed over his traveler ID.

She checked it, nodded, and stamped a token. "Alright, Mr. Creed, please proceed to Gate No. 3 for your adventurer examination. The instructors there will guide you through the physical and magical assessment."

"Got it," Zane said, walking off with a confident air.

---

Meanwhile...

A few kilometers outside town, Ron and Lia had packed their belongings and mounted a pair of horses they’d bought just before leaving. The road ahead was quiet, but their journey had only just begun.

Unbeknownst to them, a group of masked figures stood hidden just beyond the horizon—faces covered in stark white masks with only slits for eyes. At the front of the group stood a taller man, his mask carved with a permanent, eerie grin.

In his hand, he held a strange compass-like artifact, its needle locked in one direction.

"Tch... foolish kids," the masked leader muttered. "I don’t know why they dropped their illusion, but the moment they did, they exposed their mana signatures."

He tilted the device slightly, and the needle didn’t waver.

"And that trail won’t vanish for at least two days... No matter how they disguise themselves, we’ll track them."

With a sinister glint in his eyes, he gestured forward.

"Let’s move."

Zane stepped through Gate No. 3, entering a vast training and assessment facility bustling with activity. His eyes scanned the scene—people lined up for punching machines, others casting spells into glowing orbs, and a few sparring against instructors under supervision.

As he looked around, a man in uniform approached.

"Are you Mr. Creed?"

"Yes," Zane replied.

"Please follow me. I’ll be guiding you through the tests today."

The man led him toward one of the punching machines. "This will be your first assessment. The machine can measure up to D-rank strength, so feel free to go all out."

Zane almost laughed.

"Full power? If I used even a fraction, your entire universe would disintegrate."

But he kept that thought to himself and simply nodded.

"After this, we’ll proceed to the magic test and then to combat assessment," the guide added.

Before Zane could begin, a sharp voice interrupted.

"Step aside! It’s my turn first."

A young man with purple hair and arrogant green eyes strode in. His expensive attire and puffed chest screamed nobility—and immaturity.

"Insignificant traveler," the noble sneered. "Watch how a real man hits."

With exaggerated bravado, the noble punched the machine. The numbers spiked.

[Power Level: 752]

"Peak E-rank! Congratulations, young master!" one of the other staff members applauded.

Zane’s HUD flickered:

Battle Power: 54

Current: 288 (Temporarily Enhanced)

Zane smirked.

"Trash. A spoiled young master with temporary buffs."

The noble turned to mock Zane, clearly reveling in his performance. But Zane had no time for insects.

The guide cleared his throat. "Mr. Creed, your turn."

Zane stepped up.

"Stand aside," he said calmly. "And don’t worry—I’ll control myself."

He casually threw a punch.

BOOM!

The machine shattered, skidding across the floor, crashing through a wall, and embedding itself halfway into another training room. The noble stared, stunned. The room went silent.

"W-what..." the guide stammered. "That... that’s above D-rank. Way above. I–I’m sorry, Mr. Creed, we don’t have higher-grade equipment here."

Zane just chuckled. "No worries. Let’s move to the magic assessment."

As they walked past the stunned noble, Zane shot him a smirk.

"Is this what they call a face-slap moment? Kinda fun."

---

Magic Test

The noble tried to reclaim pride here. He summoned a ball of fire that swirled neatly within the measuring orb, earning a polite clap from the staff.

Then came Zane’s turn.

The moment he touched the orb, it exploded, raining blue shards across the testing area. The magic guide flinched.

"A-Above D-rank... again!"

The noble was fuming in silence now. But Zane wasn’t done yet.

---

Combat Assessment

His opponent: a seasoned C-rank instructor, the second strongest in the branch after the guildmaster.

"No weapon?" the instructor asked.

Zane raised his fist. "This will do."

The spar began. The instructor lunged with a slash—Zane blocked it with a single finger. Murmurs spread. Everyone nearby paused their own tests to watch.

"What... who is this guy?" someone muttered.

The noble’s hands trembled.

"No way... did he use the same enhancement drug as me?"

Within seconds, Zane casually disarmed and floored the instructor. The man was unhurt—but completely outmatched.

"We can only register you as D-rank due to equipment limitations," the guide admitted, handing him an iron-colored adventurer card. "But you may re-assess your rank in a larger city."

Zane nodded.

"Sounds good."

The sun had started to set. As he made his way toward his inn, Zane murmured,

"Time to check on those kids... but—"

He stopped. His senses flared.

"Not again."

---

Forest – Outside the Town

Zane sprinted into a nearby forest clearing, where two presences stalked him—none other than the noble brat and a masked guard.

They caught up, panting.

"You bastard!" the noble shouted. "What drug did you use?! You humiliated me!"

The guard stepped forward, eyes cold. "Tell us, and you’ll die."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn’t that be ’or you’ll die’?"

"...No," the guard replied.

Zane sighed. "That’s it, huh?"

The noble smirked. "Scared now? My guard is B-rank, you loser!"

Zane glanced at his HUD.

Battle Power: 1245

He raised his hand. In it was a still-beating heart.

The noble’s eyes widened in horror. "W-What is that?!"

He turned—and saw his bodyguard still standing... with a gaping hole in his chest.

The corpse collapsed to the ground.

"What were you saying again?" Zane asked calmly.

The noble fell to his knees, begging. "P-Please! I’m a noble! I’ll give you money, treasures—just spare me!"

Zane appeared in front of him in a blink. The boy whimpered.

"Please—don’t kill me!"

"No."

Zane’s palm shimmered with concentrated mana. A pulse of destructive energy vaporized the noble’s body, leaving only charred grass behind.

He dusted his hand.

"Not even worthy of a side quest."

He teleported away—back to the inn, without a trace.