Chapter 62

Happy New Year.

I hope you have a good year.

I'm back.

To the capital of Centakilian.

For someone like me, who was born and raised in the capital, this is the first time I've been away for several days.

I managed to return safely.

Well, if you think about the process, I can't really say I returned unscathed.

But if I can return with all my limbs intact, I'll consider it a safe return.

First, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild upon returning to the capital.

"Great job!!"

Suddenly, I was hugged by Rondaito.

She is the Guild Master, or rather, the branch manager of this capital branch.

"Great job! I knew you could do it! I really knew you could do it! You did a great job!!"

"Ugh...!?"

She hugged me so tightly that my face was buried in her large breasts.

I enjoyed the heavenly pressure, but I was concerned about Noem's cold gaze from behind and Abinion's teasing look, so I pulled away.

For me, at level eight million, it was easy to escape her grip.

The problem was the sensual aspect.

"Master Rondaito, Ryuya, and the alchemist Noem have returned from the A-rank adventurer promotion exam. ...It seems you already know the results?"

"Of course! It's been how many years since an A-rank adventurer was born from our branch! And two at once! It's a great achievement!"

It seems to be a great achievement.

"The urgent report arrived on the same day! I'm familiar with Bisemario, you know!"

"That councilor...!?"

I met Councilor Bisemario at the exam venue and quickly hit it off.

In the midst of the rampant discrimination against those without skills, if that old man hadn't appeared so gallantly, the outcome could have been different.

Councilor Bisemario appeared at just the right time for us, but the fact that he and Rondaito were familiar with each other...

Could it be that it wasn't just a convenient coincidence, but that Rondaito was concerned about us and had been working behind the scenes...?

"The number of A-rank adventurers a branch has directly affects its status. The more A-rank adventurers, the better! And yet, until today, our branch only had me as an A-rank. What have the others been doing all this time?"

As Rondaito's gaze swept the room, a sense of intimidation spread among the other adventurers present.

They must be B-rank or lower.

"Well, everyone is doing their best..."

"To hear that from Ryuya, who passed the A-rank exam in less than half a year, must be tough. Anyway, your passing is a cause for celebration. The more A-rank adventurers we have, the more support we get from headquarters, and my allowance increases too. It's a win-win."

Your pocket will warm up too.

"Especially, there's a motion to promote you to S-rank right away, isn't there!? How can this not be exciting!!"

"S-rank! S-rank! S-rank! S-rank! S-rank!"

Suddenly, the excitement spread to the other adventurers, and a sudden "S-rank" chant broke out.

"S-rank adventurers are the pinnacle of all adventurers! They are in a position to be called heroes! For an S-rank adventurer to be born from our branch... how many centuries has it been... or is it unprecedented? The first in history!!"

"S-rank! S-rank! S-rank! S-rank! S-rank! S-rank!!"

The S-rank chant became even more intense.

"You're a bigger catch than I imagined! I regret not marking you five years ago! How about keeping me as a mistress from now on!?"

"I revere you like a mother...!?"

"So you want to have an incestuous relationship with me?"

"That's not a fetish!!"

It's unusual to see the usually dignified Rondaito get so excited.

The concept of S-rank must be that shocking. As an adventurer, the weight of that fact is overwhelming, and it's impossible not to lose one's mind.

"S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q...!!"

The other adventurers also lost their minds due to the group mentality, and the intonation of the chant became strange.

If this continues, the guild will turn into a sabbath.

This atmosphere is not good for Noem's education. We need to leave as soon as possible!

"Ah, we need to inform the king of our return, so we'll take our leave for now!!"

"Please give my regards to the king."

I carried Noem and escaped from the guild!

That was a dangerous environment...

Now that we've escaped safely, what should we do?

It was a convenient excuse to escape, but we do need to report our return to the king.

We also need to meet my fiancée, Resleza.

So, let's go to the king's place as I suggested.

It's amazing that we can go to the king so easily.

After all, he's the king?

A commoner shouldn't be able to meet him so casually, right?

◆

So, when we entered the castle and requested an audience with the king...

"S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!! S-Q!!"

...he was also excited.

King!

The king has lost his mind!!

"...Ngh!? ...Ahem, well done, Ryuya! I've been waiting for your return!"

"King, you seem to be in a much better mood than the last time I saw you?"

"My good mood is all thanks to you! It's even more evident now that I see you!"

His good mood has made his words sound like rap.

The king has definitely lost his mind.

"The news of your A-rank promotion has reached me through the guild... but S-rank!? To immediately get the opportunity to advance to S-rank after obtaining A-rank, you are indeed the man I believed you to be!"

"So you were excited about that too...!"

It was the same at the guild, and it's the same here at the palace.

The existence of an S-rank adventurer is truly a rare and precious thing.

"S-rank adventurers are the ultimate title given only to those who have performed heroic deeds! It's been centuries, or perhaps it's the first in history, since an S-rank adventurer has been born from our country!"

"We already did that part at the guild...!"

"Anyway, for you to become an S-rank adventurer is the greatest honor for our country! Not just for the adventurer's guild, but for the entire country!!"

"That's a big deal..."

"Having a man like you as my adopted son is even more delightful! My daughter has truly found a good husband!"

...Oh.

I forgot that there was someone I needed to see immediately upon coming to the castle.

Princess Resleza.

The woman who is my fiancée.

"Excuse me, King, where is Resleza?"

"Are you worried about your future wife? You must have missed her a lot, right? Hmm?"

The king is annoying.

"Don't worry. I informed her immediately that you were coming to the castle. She'll be here in the audience chamber soon."

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...

Footsteps heard at the perfect timing.

"Lord Ryuya!"

The one who burst into the audience chamber, opening the door, was a strong-willed woman with a stern face.

However, she must have run in a hurry, as her cheeks were flushed and her face was damp with sweat.

"Welcome back... I've been eagerly waiting for your return...!"

"Y-Yes...!?"

Her voice was seductive.

Was she always this sexy? I thought her voice as a knight was more assertive?

"Ms. Noem, it's been a while. I heard about your promotion to A-rank. Congratulations...!"

"Thank you!"

"Of course, you are the one who will marry Lord Ryuya with me...!"

Wherever I go, Noem is always there.

Even in the palace, she was right next to me without saying a word.

And the content of their conversation...

There were various circumstances that led to the princess, Resleza, proposing to marry me, and then Noem joining in... how did that happen again?

I don't understand anymore.

Is it even allowed in this country for a man to have two wives?

Is it allowed?

"There are many things to talk about, Ms. Noem... but first, I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"During the promotion exam journey... did any women try to seduce Lord Ryuya?"

What are you asking?

"Lord Ryuya is charming and incredibly powerful. There must have been women who tried to seduce him to bring him to their side. As a wife, I must always be vigilant against women who approach him to tie him to the Centakilian Kingdom."

"I see..."

Noem thought for a few seconds.

"...He got along well with the mohawk people."

They're not women.

"Mohawk!? Is that a popular hairstyle for women in the Rubrum Kingdom!?"

Resleza took it seriously.

It took more unnecessary time to clear up the misunderstanding.