Chapter 35

The next morning, when I went to pick up the five at the guard post, they were holding the registration certificates for the guild we had made yesterday and chatting happily.

Seeing their appearance, I remembered my own state of mind a little over a month ago.

In an unfamiliar town, my first job search was filled with anxiety.

But at the same time as feeling anxious, I also felt the joy of working as a full-fledged adult for the first time in my life.

When I was in Japan, I used to doze off all the time, and I was treated as a good-for-nothing by not only my teachers but also my parents. Being recognized as a full-fledged adult was the greatest joy for me.

I was planning to tell the five about the situation in Lastock and give them a stern warning, but seeing their happy faces, I decided to postpone it.

"Good morning, is everyone ready?"

"Anytime, ready to go!"

"Totally prepared!"

"Looking forward to working in another world!"

"Are there jobs suitable for girls too?"

"I don't want to work..."

Yeah, except for one, everyone is ready.

"Yagi, there's a training session for mages at the guild's training ground today. I think the cat-eared lady is participating..."

"Let's go! Kunitake, stop dilly-dallying!"

I incited the glasses-wearing pervert and headed to the guild with the other four.

When we arrived at the guild, it was a little earlier than yesterday, and the bulletin board area was in the midst of the morning bustle.

"Hey, Kunitake, what's that?"

"That's the daily scene where people compete for good jobs every morning."

In response to Kobayashi's question, the other four also widened their eyes.

"Could it be that we have to join that crowd to get a job?"

"While Yagi's concern is valid, there will still be jobs left after the rush is over. Also, if you're not interested in the guild's jobs, there's always the wall construction, which is recruited daily."

"But isn't the wall construction a really physical job?"

"Yeah, but since we're being taken care of by Volzard, it might be good to experience it at least once."

"Ugh, I'll pass..."

It seems I should have given the glasses-wearing pervert a stern warning after all.

"Hey, Kunitake, where can I find jobs suitable for girls?"

"Sakurai and Kobayashi, you should consult with Manon. Uh... Manon is..."

Ah, there she is, there she is. The usual spot by the wall is being lazily occupied by a puppy, and a little away from there, Manon is standing.

This morning, she has the same complex expression as a child who has been caught misbehaving.

"Good morning, Gilik... Manon, good morning too."

"Hmph... You're a pesky little brat..."

"No, no, if you're talking about being pesky, someone with a big build is far more annoying..."

"What did you say, you..."

"Is something wrong? I didn't say anything about Gilik..."

"Interesting, I'll crush you for fun..."

"Hmph, it won't be that easy, so be prepared..."

As I returned Gilik's glare from below, Donovan approached us as usual.

"Hey, you seem to have a lot of energy this morning..."

"Good morning, Donovan. Last week was cut short due to the Rock Ogres, so..."

"Ah, continuing from last week, then. Alright..."

Donovan smiled cheerfully, but it was a smile full of presence, making Yagi and the others shrink back.

"Hey, Gilik, train these five and see how skilled they are."

"Why should I do such a troublesome thing..."

"What? Do you have a complaint?"

"No... I'll do it, I'll do it..."

Hehehe, even if he complains, he'll be silenced, so he should just follow obediently, but this puppy doesn't learn.

"Hey, Kunitake, what's this training about? I didn't hear anything about it."

"Well, it's Donovan's order, so there's nothing I can do."

"You tricked us, where's the cat-eared lady?"

Ah, the glasses-wearing pervert, saying something unnecessary here, of course the puppy reacts.

"Hey, you, don't you dare try anything with Mieu-nee?"

"Ah, no, I... This, Kunitake, it's... This, Kunitake, it's..."

"Gilik, this guy wants to get closer to Muell, so please take care of him."

"Ho... That's quite interesting... You..."

Gilik glared at him with a demonic expression, and Yagi was sweating profusely.

"N-no, I didn't mean to... Kunitake, what are you saying?"

"Gilik is the watchdog for the cat-eared lady, Muell, so you should get along with her."

It seems Yagi has been completely targeted by Gilik.

He should be thoroughly disciplined and have his attitude corrected.

"Hey, Kunitake, do we have to do this too?"

"Gilik is one of the most promising young talents, so you should feel the difference in skill. If you want to delve into the dungeon, you need to be able to fight on equal terms."

"But, Wakahiro..."

"Want to try one round?"

The new and old duo seems to have been incited quite well.

"Sakurai, you should participate too. Manon did last week, so it's fine."

Just as I thought, Manon, who had been looking troubled, suddenly bowed deeply.

"Kent, I'm sorry about yesterday! I didn't mean to... I, I misjudged the distance..."

"It's okay, I was a bit surprised, but it's fine, don't worry about it."

"I'm really sorry..."

It seems Manon made a mistake, but she wasn't angry with me, which was a relief.

"Hey, Kunitake, did something happen?"

"Huh? Nothing... Just a little headbutt with Manon..."

When I told her about the headbutt incident last night, Kobayashi put her hand on her forehead and looked up at the ceiling.

Hmm? Could it be that the凸凹シスターズ (uneven sisters) gave her some advice?

"Alright, everyone to the training ground. Manon, give the five armor and wooden swords, Kent, you're with me..."

I was planning to participate too, but Donovan, who had assigned the five to Gilik, grabbed me by the collar and led me away.

The destination seemed to be the reception room on the second floor.

Last week, Claus was waiting there, but today no one was there.

I was plopped down on the sofa as usual, and Donovan sat across the table from me.

"Kent, show me your guild card."

"Sure..."

I placed the card, which had a large F and a rank carved on it, on the table as instructed.

"I'll be taking this back."

"Eh... But, if I don't have this, I can't work..."

Interrupting my surprised words, Donovan placed another card on the table.

The card had a large B carved on it.

"Kent, this is your new guild card."

"Eh... But, this is a B-rank card, right?"

"Yes, from now on, you're B-rank."

From F-rank to B-rank, that's a jump of four ranks.

"Can ranks really go up so suddenly? And why did my rank go up so much?"

Even the most promising young talent, Gilik, was still D-rank.

For me, who had never beaten Gilik unless he was off guard, to be two ranks higher was a strange story.

"Normally, even those who have achieved great feats can only rise two ranks at a time, but in your case, it's recorded as two separate two-rank promotions for the Rock Ogres and the Gigawolves."

"But, I'm not really skilled with physical strength..."

"Hmph, there's no way I could keep someone who can take down a nine-headed Gigawolf alone at F-rank. There's no one at A-rank who can do that."

"But, that was just because the conditions suited me..."

"Also, to be honest, you can't get a named request unless you're B-rank."

"Named request...?"

A named request is a request that specifically names an adventurer, and it is said to be a difficult or dangerous task.

Because it is a difficult request, only B-rank and above adventurers are eligible.

Once an adventurer accepts a named request, they cannot refuse it unless there is a valid reason, but in return, they receive a substantial reward.

"In cases like the mass appearance of Rock Ogres last week, skilled adventurers receive named requests. Currently, the strongest forces in Volzard are you, Kent, and Reinhardt."

"But, we would fight to protect Volzard even if we weren't asked."

"I appreciate that, but if we neglect such procedures, the town's system won't hold up. While it might be a bit sudden to promote you to B-rank, this way there are fewer formal issues."

The purpose is to prevent the system of named requests from being overlooked and becoming ambiguous.

"So, from today, you're B-rank, but don't show it off too much. It will only attract people who want to take advantage of you or increase your enemies."

"Ugh... So, I shouldn't stand out, right?"

"That's a bit late to say now... You're already a topic of conversation for taking down the Gigawolf and using that attack magic."

"Eh... So, part of the responsibility lies with Donovan, right?"

"Hmph... Even if you say something, just pretend to be clueless."

"No, no, you say that so easily..."

"It's not that difficult, or do you think you have the presence to match a B-rank?"

"Huh? No, I don't have that at all..."

"Then it's fine to say it's a misunderstanding or a case of mistaken identity."

"Ah... Yes, that's true..."

Hmm? It's true that Donovan is right, but why do I feel like crying...

"Also, regarding the Gigawolf, how about 150,000 hert for the largest one and 120,000 hert for the other eight?"

"Sure, that's fine... I don't really know how much it is, so I'll leave it to you."

"Don't worry, I have no intention of taking advantage of you. Also, I might issue a named request soon, so be prepared."

"Eh? Is there a sign of a mass appearance of monsters?"

"No, it's a completely different matter... Just keep it in the back of your mind."

What kind of job would I be asked to do other than a mass appearance of monsters?

Maybe delivering something to Reisenburg since I can shadow travel?

I decided to deposit the Gigawolf money in a guild account.

In my case, even if I receive it in cash, I can safely store it in my shadow storage.

After finishing my conversation with Donovan, we headed to the training ground together.

I thought Yagi would be beaten up and the new and old duo would be holding back, but an unexpected scene awaited me.

"Hey, Kunitake, you finally made it, I've been waiting."

"Choose, me or Tatsuya, who will you fight?"

I was planning to challenge Gilik for a rematch, but the new and old duo, wearing armor, issued a challenge.

"What's going on, Kent?"

"No, I have no idea..."

When asked by Donovan, I had no idea what was happening.

Behind the new and old duo, Gilik was standing with his arms crossed, grinning, and the uneven sisters were standing on either side of him with their arms crossed.

Yagi was... as expected, in a ragged state, unable to speak.

Manon was... looking very troubled, making me feel guilty.

"Uh... I don't understand, what's happening?"

"It's simple, you shouldn't trouble Gilik with your petty challenges."

"That's why we're offering to fight you first, choose, me or Tatsuya!"

I don't understand what happened, but it seems the new and old duo and the uneven sisters have submitted to Gilik.

"Ah... It doesn't matter to me... Then, Nitta!"

"Alright... Be prepared, Kunitake..."

"Wakahiro, don't hold back, go all out!"

I put on the armor Manon handed me with a troubled expression and faced Nitta with a wooden sword.

Donovan casually took the position of referee.

"Kunitake, if I win, you owe me money for a weapon!"

"Huh? What are you talking about, you don't need one