Chapter 158

Welcoming

“… Master, I… will live up to your expectations!”

When I gave Rei the 50,000 DP, she pledged her loyalty again . I cried from her passion .

I planned on something like this, so let’s consider it a good thing .

And then came the next day .

The gate opened in the arena and Haku-san arrived .

“Good morning, Kehma-san… fufu, this room is considerably lacking . ”

“Welcome, Haku-san . Well, even though I tried building an arena, I haven’t finished the monsters yet, so it’s a bit embarrassing . ”

By the way, this area is about the size of a playing field, but it’s as big as it can be without butting into our neighboring [Flame Cavern]’s territory . Ontentoo said we wouldn’t clash with their area if we dig further down, so I plan on digging down to expand next time .

“So, it’s a team battle this time… do you accept?”

“… Yeah, I accept . Still, I want to confirm a few things that I wasn’t able to hear from Rokuko, is that alright?”

“How hasty… is it about the reward?”

Haku-san guessed what I wanted to ask . But that wasn’t all .

“Also, please tell me the penalty for defeat .

“Of course . ”

Haku-san smiled, nodding .

“Concerning defeat, right… I believe that it’s natural to be concerned about that . It will simply consume the items that were brought and DP . Because this time is something of a proxy battle for us, there are hardly any demerits for you all . ”

None? Then in other words it’s fine even if we lose?

No . It can’t be like that . It’s Haku-san .

“I don’t particularly mind losing either . Don’t pay too much mind to it . ”

“And so if we don’t pay much mind and lose, what will Haku-san do?”

“… We will receive permission to educate our juniors . From Otou-sama . ”

Ah, I have to win .

In other words, isn’t the penalty for losing that Haku-san can do whatever she wants?

“To go with that, the reward for the team that wins is that Otou-sama will give two [Things You Want] to each core . ”

“… Can it be any two things?”

“No, they will be chosen by Otou-sama you know? It’s an honor . ”

I don’t see what makes it such an honor since I don’t know this [Father] person, but I feel like I understand it a bit if I change it in my brain to [I’ll give you socks taken from your favorite idol] . I’m definitely the only one that gets that .

… It probably won’t be [God’s Bedding] . I’d love to have it though .

While I thought about stuff like that, Haku-san clapped her hands together .

“Right, we’re in a room like this, so how about we have a match? As adventurers . ”

“I’ll decline . I have work to do as dungeon master after this . ”

“Oh, that’s unfortunate . However, let’s elevate you . ”

With a smile, Haku-san took a card out from her cleavage .

When I glanced at the card, it was one of the adventurer guild’s IDs, an adventurer card . It had my name on it .

“I had it reissued . ”

“… Umm, I don’t remember losing it though?”

“I am the head of the adventurer guild after all . ”

“The rank turned into B though?”

“Congratulations, Kehma-san . You have joined the nobility . ”

Right, I was Rank-B on that card .

And adventurers were treated as nobles started at B-Rank .

However, as for the noble ranks… there were Duke, Count, and Baron, as well as more below those . It seemed there was a unique rank called Venturer for adventurers . It was a noble rank that only lasted for a single generation, but the person was tentatively treated as a noble . It was proof that the person had skill . [1]

Additionally, it they continued and accumulated distinguishing services, they could become a proper noble and pass the title down to their children .

Rather, is it alright to skip over the exam? I guess it’s fine since the head said it’s fine?

Moreover, I’ll have the old D-Rank adventurer card left over too… I could use this for something .

“It normally incurs an obligation to pay five gold coins, but I will exempt it as an exception . If it’s too hard to accept it for free, how about paying with a cream soda?”

“Haah… I’ll treat you later . So, why B-Rank so suddenly?”

“Because I would be troubled if you entered my house as an adventurer . More or less, you need to be a noble . ”

Aah… it is the empire’s ancestor, Haku Raverio’s, mansion after all . Even in Japan, there was an elephant given the position of a noble so that it could meet with the emperor a long time ago, so it’s probably like that .

While on the subject, isn’t B-Rank a huge difference from the D-Rank required to go into Haku-san’s dungeon?

“Alright, here’s Rokuko-chan’s… Ah, there are also some for Kehma-san’s party members . ”

“Ooh, I’m an adventurer…! Thank you, Haku Ane-sama!”

Haku-san handed Rokuko her card personally, handing me the cards for Meat and Ichika as well to give to them . Rather, isn’t it unneeded to make Rokuko into an adventurer since she’s Haku-san’s sister?

“It would be troublesome for me to give Rokuko-chan a peerage… since she’s my sister . ”

Haku-san spoke, practically reading my mind .

Aah, yep, normally, the empress’ blood kin… would be royalty . It would be a high position, but her existence itself would be something troubling . Yep, hard to understand .

“Now then, now that you’ve become a noble… I invite you to my house, Rokuko-chan . ”

“Yes! Hey, stop standing around Kehma, let’s go!”

Saying that, Rokuko-san grabbed Haku’s hands and dove towards the gate .

… Yep, let’s assume I’m supposed to go too .

Footnotes:

Venturer is my interpretation of a play on words used here . The rank is called “Boukenshaku”, where 'shaku” means “Peerage” . This replaces 'sha” from “Boukensha (Adventurer)”, which means person . So instead of “Boukensha (Risk Taking Person)”, you have “Boukenshaku (Risk Taking Peerage)” . I am definitely open to suggestions that keep the pun!