This time, it’s a rare breather chapter.
“You, you know me…”
Feld, who suddenly came to stop the quarrel, looked at my face as I called his name, and after a few seconds, clapped his hands as if realizing something.
“Ah, you’re that young, strong Adventurer I met in the Royal Capital before! It’s been a while, and you’ve gotten a lot stronger since then. I might be in trouble if I fought you now?”
The first time I met him, he was wearing leather armor that you could buy anywhere and carrying a greatsword on his back.
The second time I met him, he was in the middle of a guard duty in the city, wearing well-fitting light armor.
The third time is today. Although he was carrying a greatsword, the clothes he was wearing were the kind you could buy anywhere, but the aura overflowing from his whole body was obvious to anyone, and the surrounding Adventurers began to stir at his words.
“I’m still not up to Feld…”
That large back disappearing into the twilight was my goal. I thought I had become a little stronger after reaching Rank 4, but that back is still far away.
【Feld】【Race: Human Male】【Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 215/225】30Up【HP: 357/370】20Up
【Overall Combat Strength: 1494 (Body Enhancement in progress: 1908)】116Up
His combat strength has also increased considerably compared to three years ago. Judging from the increase value, his magic-related level has risen, and his combat endurance and average status have increased.
Feld’s appearance hasn’t changed from three years ago. He looked older than his age from the start, but considering he was twenty years old three years ago, I should think that he has grown stronger as expected considering his age.
“I don’t think that’s the case… So, what’s the cause of the quarrel?”
“I will explain that.”
When Feld saw the fallen Adventurer and me, his face turned slightly stern, and the receptionist in charge of me interrupted.
“Aria-sama was harassed by that man and retaliated. It is true that Aria-sama made the first move, but there were also provocative remarks, and since the Guild recommends that disputes within the Guild be resolved between Adventurers, the Guild has decided that there is no further problem with a warning to Aria-sama.”
“I see…”
Since the guards cannot deal with disputes between Adventurers with high combat strength, it is desirable for the parties involved to settle the matter themselves if they are both Adventurers.
Of course, if an Adventurer clearly harasses a lower-ranked Adventurer, injures them, or sets a trap for them as a group, the Guild will deal with the situation, cancel their registration, and hold them accountable. However, since I am still in my early teens on the register, it seems that the harasser was judged to be malicious.
I was a little rash too. If I had retaliated after being attacked, it would have been tolerated without even a warning.
As I was giving a cold look to the man who still couldn’t get up, Feld muttered my name.
“Aria… I’ve heard that name somewhere…”
“Ah, that’s…”
“Ah, you! You’re the swordsman of ‘Rainbow Sword’! There’s no way a little girl like you is involved with them!”
The scout man, who had regained consciousness, shouted, interrupting the receptionist who was about to answer Feld’s question.
Rainbow Sword…? Feld is?
“Ah, I remember! You’re Viro’s disciple who was supposed to join our party. He was bragging about his disciple, so I wondered what kind of person you were, but with that combat strength, I understand.”
“What…”
Feld glanced at me with a smile at the man who was speechless at his words.
“If you can’t use Appraisal, use an Appraisal Orb and look at her. Then you wouldn’t even think about harassing her.”
“No way…”
Feld delivered the finishing blow with his innocent words. Perhaps this scout admired the Rainbow Sword. He was depressed that I, who judged by appearance alone, was declared stronger than him by Feld.
“Feld is joining?”
“It seems so. Nice to meet you.”
＊
Feld was a member of the ‘Rainbow Sword’ with Viro.
The other members are the scout Viro, the Elven Spirit User Mira, whom I met before, and the leader, the Dwarf Dolton. These two seem to be the initial members who founded the Rainbow Sword with Samantha.
After all, the lack of a Magician makes the versatility of tactics lacking. The question is how the Spirit User and my Dark Magic can compensate for that.
“Still, Dolton judged that we could operate if we had a member who could use Light Magic. So I also trained the Light Magic and Fire Magic that were at level 1 to level 2, but there are still some spells I can’t use, and to be honest, I’m glad Aria came.”
“I see…”
“Your combat style seemed special for Viro’s disciple, but it seems Aria also had a master for magic. Samantha couldn’t use level 4 Dark Magic, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yeah…”
I am now walking through the Royal Capital with Feld.
I unintentionally met one of the members, but Feld, who came to the Guild to check if there was any additional information from Viro, was able to meet me, the new member, which was one of his purposes, and he also accompanied me to update my rank.
As expected, Feld remembered meeting me in the Royal Capital, but he didn’t remember that the Street Urchin he met on the road before that was me.
I pretended to be a boy at that time, and now my apparent age is completely different, so it can’t be helped, and I don’t intend to say anything.
My appearance has grown to almost an adult commoner, and I have officially become his comrade, so Feld is treating me as an adult rather than a child.
Feld is such a good person that he would teach a child he doesn’t know how to survive without any ulterior motives, and I trust him as a “person” just like my master.
That’s why, perhaps, I don’t want to be treated like a child again if he finds out that I was that child.
By using the level 4 Dark Magic 【Illusion】 to make it rain indoors, I became 【Rank 4】 without any problems, and the Adventurer’s Guild tag was changed to an almost completely black Demon Iron-made one.
Normally, it would take several days to make a Demon Iron-made tag, but it seems that Viro had contacted them in advance to make it… Viro is really capable. He’s a bad adult from a child’s point of view, though.
Once the rank update is complete, there is nothing else to do, but when I told him that I was going to Gelf’s shop to adjust my armor, Feld offered to guide me, who was still unfamiliar with the geography of the Royal Capital, and we headed there with three people.
“You think so, right, Mira?”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it now that Aria has joined.”
The Elven Spirit User Mira nodded, showing me and Feld a gentle smile. She seemed to be curious and came to the Guild, but she happened to meet us outside the Guild and decided to accompany us to Gelf’s shop.
Despite being a proud Elf, she doesn’t feel sharp, and the men walking on the road are captivated by Mira, who is a beauty of about twenty years old.
Surely, this kind of woman is popular with men.
“What’s wrong? Aria?”
“Huh? Mira is beautiful, isn’t she… Mira isn’t Viro’s girlfriend, is she?”
“No, no, that’s not possible.”
Feld, who denied with a strange face, leaned his face closer to me, who was more than 30 centimeters shorter, and secretly told me.
“Mira is an Elf, so she looks young, but inside she’s the same age as Samantha. Frankly speaking, inside she’s a normal “old lady”. She treats not only me but even Viro like a little kid, and she always shoves candy into our pockets. There are many men who approach her because of her appearance, but they usually leave after three days.”
“…I see.”
It seems that her gentle personality is not because she has lived in human society for nearly a century and has become mellow, but because she has become an “old lady”.
Now that I think about it, my master also looked young, but she called herself “old woman”…
“You’ll get lost if you’re thinking in a place like that.”
“Yeah…”
It seems my feet stopped while I was thinking. The Royal Capital has more people than any other city, so when I was told I would get lost, I reflexively pinched the edge of Feld’s clothes with my finger.
“O-oi?”
“Yeah?”
When I tilted my head wondering what was wrong, Feld’s gaze swam slightly for some reason.
“…No, it’s nothing.”
For some reason, Feld, who became less talkative, arrived at the Dwarven Armory Gelf’s shop while I was still holding on to him.
“Gelf, are you there?”
“Oh, isn’t it Aria-chan and Mira-chan? And a handsome man is with you too.”
Gelf, wearing the usual tight leather clothes with a lot of exposed skin, winks with her beautifully groomed long eyelashes.
“Gelf, it’s hard to move my waist and chest. Can you do something about it?”
“…Your reaction is as bland as ever, this child. Well, I thought it was about time for you to grow, so I made some new clothes for you. Show me how they look.”
It seems that Gelf made new armor for me in anticipation of my growth. I was pulled into the back again, my current equipment was taken away, and I was given new equipment.
“This one has been maintained, but you’ve been through some pretty tough battles, haven’t you? Armor isn’t foolproof, so you have to take care of your body.”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“This new equipment has been tailored to your appearance and further enhances your ‘defense.’ The shape hasn’t changed much, but it has a more mature design.”
…What kind of defense?
The new armor’s shape remains a black, high-collared sleeveless dress, but it seems the fire and water resistance have been increased to adapt to harsh environments.
As for the shape, the slit on the left side of the skirt has deepened, and the skirt itself has been shortened from below the knee to above the knee, making it easier to move around.
“Yes, it’s good!”
“Yeah, it’s easy to move in and light.”
For some reason, Gelf and I seem to be praising different aspects, but since we both like it, it shouldn’t be a problem.
When I finished changing and returned to the store, Mira’s eyes sparkled when she saw me.
“As expected of Gelf, Aria, you’re so cute!”
“Really?”
I can’t tell for myself, but if Mira says so, then it must be true. As I took out my knife from the deepened slit to check its usability, Feld slightly averted his gaze.
“Feld?”
“Ah… yeah, it looks good, doesn’t it?”
I feel somewhat relieved when Feld says that. The reason I unconsciously grabbed his clothes was because I had an unconditional sense of security that he would be okay.
Ah, I see… I suddenly realized.
“I feel safe when I’m with Feld.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, like a ‘father’.”
When I voiced my honest feelings, Feld froze, and Gelf and Mira laughed.
…Was I wrong?
Too bad! It was still too early!
Aria is completely oblivious.
Next time, we’re heading to the Fuder Dukedom, where the Dungeon is located.
I’ll update again tomorrow if I can finish it quickly.