The street was wide enough for several people to walk side by side. However, the bustling crowd made it nearly impossible to move freely. I bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction, earning a sharp click of their tongue. Towering buildings, at least four or five stories high, loomed over me, their flashy and ornate facades making it hard to guess what kind of shops they housed. The town was undeniably beautiful, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I got lost, I might never find my way back to the inn. This was my impression of the Avangarde Royal Capital.
“Well then, this is where we part ways. Have a good journey.”
“Thank you for everything.”
Seigel waved his hand as he walked away, still managing to be a bit of a show-off until the very end. But Roel seemed to admire him for some reason. I wasn’t going to lose to him, though.
“See you at the festival! I think there will be stalls around here.”
With that, Cynthia disappeared into the crowd.
“Alright, let’s head to the Guild and settle up.”
“Right. I wonder if we can make it to B-Rank.”
That’s right; I needed to become a B-Rank adventurer quickly. If I didn’t reach A-Rank, I wouldn’t be able to enter Ikana Village. Relying on the map Seigel had given us, we set off toward the Adventurer’s Guild. However, we struggled to find it for a while. No, to be precise, we didn’t realize that we had already arrived at the Guild. Unlike Queemil’s wooden door, this entrance was a glass door that stood about three meters wide. From the outside, it looked like a hotel, towering at least five stories high.
Once inside, a large counter stretched across the back, bustling with several Guild members hard at work. In Queemil, there was only Lintei at the counter, but here, how many people were there?
“Hey, Roel. You look like you’ve lost your soul or something.”
Ah, I see. Roel was just as surprised as I was. No, she was still staring at the Royal Jelly. I needed to focus and walk properly…
“Yes, this is the completion of your escort request from Queemil. Here’s your reward.”
I received the promised reward, but I still didn’t understand the crucial details.
“How long until I can reach B-Rank?”
“Huh?”
He started flipping through a stack of papers, looking rather annoyed. Lintei had been polite, but this guy was blunt.
“You just became C-Rank not long ago, right? To become B-Rank, you need to rack up a lot more achievements.”
“What kind of achievements?”
“Yeah, yeah, the people behind you are waiting, so go over there.”
He waved us away dismissively. What was his problem? What had we done to deserve that?
“There’s a lot of people, so we were probably in the way.”
Behind us stood a line of adventurers, and there were similar lines at the counters on either side.
“B-Rank, let’s see… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam” sent a chill down my spine.
“Yeah, but what can you really measure with that kind of exam? As long as you’re strong, it shouldn’t matter. Are the current A-Ranks really that impressive?”
“That’s why you guys are perpetually B-Rank.”
The man who emerged from a nearby Level Checker had a cold gaze. He was big and muscular, though not as intimidating as Grundom. His eyes were narrow, and even when he spoke, his mouth remained in a straight line, giving him a stern expression.
“Ugh! ‘Crusher’ Hecaton…”
“If you really want to become A-Rank, try winning tomorrow’s Combat Tournament. Even making it to the semifinals would give you a shot.”
Hecaton stood behind an enormous hammer that had more impact than Gantetsu’s axe.
“Well, I guess you guys won’t stand a chance.”
The two adventurers didn’t respond. How could they not feel frustrated after being insulted like that?
“There’s a lot of people, so you were probably in the way.”
“B-Rank, let’s check… You can enter the Mithril Mine without any issues.”
“Great! It was worth it to become B-Rank.”
A party of three men and a woman was chatting cheerfully. They were B-Rank, while we were still C-Rank. What kind of achievements did they have?
“Hey, Lua-chan. How about we check your level? Maybe we can find out here.”
“Oh, right. Um, which way should we go?”
There were several corridors leading who-knows-where. Yet, Roel walked confidently without hesitation, even though it should have been her first time here.
“Just look at the sign hanging from the ceiling; it’ll be fine.”
Oh, so that’s where the information was. I couldn’t read the strange characters written there. I had just started to manage reading hiragana, but anything else was still a mystery. Studying was never my strong suit, and I often found myself dozing off.
When we arrived, there were far more Level Checkers than in Queemil. I had thought they were just iron boxes, but it seemed they had actual names.
“Level 34! If it were about strength, I’d be A-Rank…”
The adventurer who stepped out of the Level Checker looked dejected. I wondered if he was B-Rank too.
“This year’s A-Rank Promotion Exam is going to be my chance. I’ve worked hard to avenge last year’s defeat, right?”
I had heard about the A-Rank Promotion Exam before. Just hearing the word “exam”
In the distance, I could see the castle, yet it felt like it was still so far away. Along the road, a few shops were starting to set up. Could it be that they were preparing for a festival?
A tall stone wall extended from the castle entrance, towering many times higher than an ordinary house, captivating my gaze. In front of the entrance, a bridge spanned over what looked like a river below. Two soldiers stood guard on the other side.
“I wonder what that river is,” I mused.
“That’s a drawbridge. If that rope over there is pulled tight, the bridge will lift up. It’s a defense against invaders,” one of the soldiers explained.
“Oh, so it lifts up like that,” I replied, intrigued.
The explanation was simple yet clear. As I crossed the bridge, I glanced at the rope-like mechanism. Roel stopped me before I could just waltz in and asked the soldiers about the Combat Tournament.
“Are you a participant? The registration is being handled inside.”
Upon entering, I found a crowd gathered in the center of a large hall. Is that where it’s happening?
“I’m not participating, so you should line up, Lua-chan.”
“Oh, right.”
Three soldiers were managing the registration. Around them were various adventurers, some looking like the bandits we had encountered before. Among them were women dressed in armor that seemed almost scandalous, with nothing underneath.
“Please fill out this form with the necessary details,” one soldier instructed.
I recalled the first time I cried after coming to this world. I was so different from the girl who couldn’t write back then. I had grown! Now was the time to show my progress!
“Okay, let’s see… L-Lua, is that how you read it? Adventurer? Maybe it’s supposed to be ‘Adventurer’?” I muttered, wishing they would write it a bit clearer.
Someone nearby snorted with laughter. No way, I wrote it correctly! Oh, it was ‘Adventurer’…
“You’re like a child, or rather, you were one,” a nearby adventurer chuckled, trying to hold back their laughter.
How frustrating! I had studied so hard!
“Don’t worry, Lua-chan,” Roel said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. Her kindness was a balm to my spirit. Thank you, Roel. You are far too gentle.
“Well, we’ve managed to register. The preliminaries seem to start tomorrow morning, so we need to hurry.”
“I wonder what the preliminaries will involve?”
“Well, the main event is a knockout tournament with eight participants, and the preliminaries are to determine those eight.”
“Oh, so we just have to fight normally? I was a bit worried for a moment.”
It didn’t seem like there was anything special we had to do. I wasn’t sure if I could win, but I certainly didn’t want to stumble at this stage.
“Wow, so far there are 397 participants this year. That’s an increase from last year.”
“Oh, Captain! Thank you for your service!” the soldiers stood up and saluted sharply.
The man they called Captain mirrored their pose.
Wait, that Captain… He’s the one from that night who took away the strange monster’s corpse! So, he’s a soldier here. But did they really call him Captain?
“Let’s see, is Tiferia participating this year? Knowing her, she’ll probably procrastinate until the last minute to register.”
“If Lady Tiferia enters, victory is practically guaranteed…”
“Oh?”
The Captain seemed to notice me, but quickly averted his gaze. I was curious about that night, so I mustered the courage to speak to him.
“Hey, we met that night, didn’t we?”
“Hmm? I’m not sure, but you must be mistaken.”
“No way, that night…”
I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering the money I was handed that night. The request to forget it. Was that what I was given in exchange for silence?
“Lua-chan, do you know him…?”
“No, I don’t. I’m heading back to the inn.”
It felt awkward. I hurriedly left the castle. Was this the right thing to do? Was there something I needed to hide about that monster? But asking any more felt wrong, especially with that long-faced Captain.
【Lua Lv: 999 Class: Swordfighter Rank: C】
【Roel Lv: 16 Class: Healer Rank: C】
///
“Is that girl going to participate too?” Kirkton watched as the two adventurers exited the castle.
“Uh? Yes, they’ve completed their registration,” one soldier replied.
“I see…”
With that, Kirkton turned on his heel and walked away, his expression a mix of relief and astonishment.
“That’s unusual. Captain Kirkton never speaks like that.”
“Yeah, it was strange.”
Their captain, concerned for a mere adventurer child, was an unprecedented occurrence for the soldiers. It was obvious that anyone here was a hopeful participant. Why did the Captain ask such a basic question? The two soldiers couldn’t comprehend.
“The child who defeated that monster is going to compete…”
Except for one soldier. However, his murmur was drowned out by the commotion of the registration hall, unheard by his two companions.