“Well, I’m off.”
“Yes, be careful. It seems the academy will be on an extended break, so I’ll be returning to the territory for a while. You’re welcome to stay at the mansion when I return, but feel free to visit the estate in the territory as well.”
“Understood. Please be careful on your journey as well.”
“Hmm.”
The day after Mr. Volks departed, my own day of departure arrived. I left the mansion, seeing off the Young Lady, the servants, and the members of the escort team.
I wore the Cybarossa House Knight Uniform that had been remade, with a robe providing temperature control, as well as anti-blade and anti-magic properties over it, and carried a large backpack.
I was carrying quite a load, but there were many others like me. Our destination was likely the same.
After passing through the north gate of the Royal Capital, we were instructed to line up.
I did as I was told, and after showing the tag I received from the academy, I was guided to another location.
“Is this the Adventurer Team?”
It was a group of about eighty people. Were they all Adventurers hired by nobles?
There was a reception-like area, so I went there and showed my tag. After my face and the tag were compared several times, I stated the name of the Cybarossa House and showed my Guild Card.
Being a Rank 6 Adventurer, the procedure was completed without issue. I was told to wait until departure instructions were given.
“Here we go.”
I took off my backpack and sat on the ground like the others. There were indeed many people with large loads.
Those with little luggage were either Magic Bag holders or had distributed their luggage among their team.
As I was observing my surroundings, a large shadow approached me.
“…They even have kids like you here.”
“Huh?”
Standing there was a man who could only be described as huge. Yes, huge. And burly. A man like a rock. He was equipped with scale mail that looked sturdy but wouldn’t hinder his movements. In his thirties, perhaps? A blond man with slicked-back hair.
“Well, it’s a job. You too, right?”
“…Well, yeah.”
I stood up and extended my hand. He frowned slightly but accepted the handshake.
“Oh?”
“Cladfield, Rank 6. Nice to meet you.”
“Grams, Rank 3. Sorry for underestimating you, Cladfield.”
“It’s fine. It’s true that I’m a kid.”
“It seems you’ve been through real battles, not just training.”
“Well, yeah.”
He was a stranger, but that meant there were no ties to nobles, so I could talk normally. That was nice.
“Are you alone?”
“Yeah. I have escort companions from the same noble in another team, but it seems difficult to join up with them at this scale. What about you?”
Mr. Volks, who left yesterday, was there.
“I’m alone too. Would you like to team up?”
“That’s good. I was thinking I needed to find someone to take turns keeping watch.”
We could protect each other’s luggage. However, Grams was wearing armor but only had a short Sword.
“Don’t worry. I have a Magic Bag.”
“That’s nice. But is it okay to say that?”
“If you can steal it, go ahead. If you can.”
Then he smiled nihilistically. It seemed he would protect it with his strength.
“Are you going to call out to others?”
“Yeah. There are a few faces I’ve worked with before. I’ll introduce you.”
“That would be helpful. I don’t know anyone.”
I put my backpack back on and followed Grams. He raised a hand to greet a pair of men and women.
They noticed and returned the greeting.
The woman was also beckoning in another direction. It seemed they were also recruiting for their team.
“Raise Herschel, Rank 5.”
“I’m Mira Herschel. Also Rank 5, nice to meet you.”
The pair were Adventurers, apparently a married couple. A man in his mid-twenties with roughly cut, shoulder-length hair and stubble. And a woman with silver hair and a friendly smile.
“…I appreciate you calling out to us, but why are you with a kid?”
“Brenda, greet them first.”
“Brenda, Rank 6. This is my prey.”
A girl with a bare midriff, a tank top, and denim-like hot pants that exposed her thighs. She looked like she could move quickly. But her luggage was similar to mine, so it seemed cramped.
She showed off the two Swords hanging at her waist. They were the same length, so did she wield two Swords with both hands?
“Grams, Rank 3.”
“Cladfield. Rank 6.”
“6!? How can a brat like you be the same rank as me!?”
“Well…”
“No way!? Did you cheat or something!? I’ve never even seen you before!?”
“That’s quite the greeting… I’ve only been here since spring.”
However, the undeniable truth was terrifying.
“You often talk to Lady Iserina, right? I’ve seen you a few times, so I was curious. Can I call you Claffy?”
“You may. Yes, Iserina-san has been very kind to me.”
Mainly in terms of purchase prices.
“Iserina-san? A kid favored by that person?”
I’m troubled by being stared at so intently.
“Could you be Iserina-san’s secret child?”
“Look at his ears. And are there any similarities? Besides, what would be the point of hiding it?”
The ears of those called Elves are pointed. That’s proof that they have spirits in their ancestry.
Such species are sometimes born near mountain ranges, giant trees, or ocean currents that govern the magical power circulation of the stars. They are said to be a subspecies or evolved species of humans, and they often have longer lifespans and superior abilities. I had seen them several times before my reincarnation. There were even stars where only Elves lived because the spirits were so abundant.
“That’s right, Brenda-chan. And it’s rude to Iserina-sama, isn’t it?”
“Muu, but Rank 6… really?”
“Would you be satisfied if I showed you my card?”
Saying that, I put my hand in my pocket, took out my Guild Card, and showed it.
“It really is 6, I lost.”
“Is it a competition? And isn’t it a draw?”
“This kid struggled quite a bit to get to Rank 6.”
I was Rank 6 from the moment I got it. I’m sorry.