Chapter 16

"F needs to be upgraded, huh? Adventurers are such a hassle. You could just instantly make me an E-rank."

"Well, it's the rules. Are you really okay, Noll?"

"I'm fine now! I'm just curious about seeing Estelle use magic."

The next day, we decided to go to the Adventurer's Guild early in the morning to take on a quest. It was to see Estelle's magic and to upgrade our ranks. I thought about letting Noll rest, but since he wanted to come, he's here with us.

"Oh, you're being expected? I'll really try my best. Hehe, how about I go for a big one?"

"Please, just use a normal one, Estelle. Really, I'm begging you."

She held her long staff proudly, with a slightly smug look on her face. I have to stop her because if she goes all out, who knows what will happen. If she uses an explosion spell, we might get blown away by the shockwave.

"By the way, are you changing your image with those glasses?"

"They give a different impression. I look more intellectual, don't I?"

I'm wearing glasses now. I don't have bad eyesight, so they don't have a prescription. These are SSR Monitor Glasses from a gacha. They can display the video from a smartphone screen.

---

●Monitor Glasses

A slightly trendy pair of glasses. Can display the screen of a smartphone.

---

My smartphone is currently in my pocket with a hole, the camera pointing out. This way, I can check statuses without the other person noticing. I've also changed my equipment, upgrading my armor by combining Excalibur and a pot lid.

---

●Excalibur ☆6

Attack +990

Action Speed +75%

●Pot Lid ☆3

Defense +350

●Adamant Armor

Defense +500

---

Hehe, this is much better. But it's a bit tough that I look like a weirdo in sneakers, carrying a bar and a pot lid, and wearing armor.

"Oh, goblins and orcs are already here."

As soon as we arrived near the usual forest, the monsters greeted us. It's a bit pitiful to think they'll become Estelle's prey.

"Here we go. Hey!"

With a lax voice, she waved her staff. A gray magic circle appeared around her, and there was a pop. The upper body of the orc and the head of the goblin were crushed and scattered. The remaining bodies fell lifelessly and turned into drop items.

"Ah! That's grotesque..."

"Hey, Estelle. Can't you use something a bit more restrained?"

Noll, standing next to me, let out a frightened voice. I want to point out that he usually does similar things, but it is grotesque.

"Hmm, this is already a restrained wind spell. Oh, how about this? Hey!"

More monsters appeared from the forest. She waved her staff with a lax voice again, and this time, something liquid-like gathered in front of the magic circle. The moment it formed into the size of a marble, it shot out forcefully, creating dozens of wind holes in the orcs' bodies, killing them instantly.

"...What was that?"

"Hehe, isn't it amazing? I condensed water and shot it through. I can also use it to sweep and cut."

"You can do anything, can't you..."

She puffed out her non-existent chest proudly with a smug smile. It's amazing, but really, anything goes. To cast such a water spell from nowhere... Is she going to do everything by herself again?

"Hey, what's that?"

"That's... a Red Orc! It's rare, very rare!"

Several monsters emerged from deep in the forest. Leading them was an orc with a red body. Noll, seeing it, waved his hands excitedly. It's that rare? I didn't see any during the magic stone collection.

"Could it be that...?"

"Yes! It's said to have three times the attack power of a normal orc. It's dangerous to get close."

Is everything red three times as powerful in this world? I'll check its status with the app.

---

●Red Orc Race: Orc

Level: 30

HP: 10,000

MP: 0

Attack: 1,500

Defense: 300

Agility: 10

Magic Resistance: 0

Special Ability: None

Skill: None

---

It's strong, but not a big deal for us now. However, it might be dangerous for the low-level Estelle. Noll and I should take care of it.

Noll and I prepared our weapons to face the charging orc. Suddenly, a tornado appeared, engulfing the orcs, and rocks from the surroundings were sucked into the wind. When the tornado disappeared, the Red Orc was left with its limbs bent in unnatural directions and its body torn apart, turning into drop items.

"...Hey, what are you doing?"

"Oh? What's wrong, sir? It seems to have sucked in something strange. What was that?"

"When I'm fighting as the front-liner, please don't suck in anything, okay..."

The Red Orc was dealt with by Estelle without us noticing. She looked puzzled at our stunned faces. Unlike Noll, she seems to be going overboard in a different way, giving me a headache.

---

"Hehe, I'm now an F-rank. Let's take an E-rank quest next."

She returned with the green plate, the proof of F-rank, after submitting the proof of the kill.

"Wait, let's do that later. I have a proposal. What do you think?"

"Hmm~? What is it?"

"What is it?"

"Actually, I want to go to Shuting. Estelle can take her E-rank quest in the capital. There will be more quests there, and I'm interested in the dungeon."

"I'm fine with that. I want to see the dungeon."

"I'm fine too! Let's think about how to get to Shuting for the rest of the day."

First, we need to find out which direction Shuting is. If we go, we need to gather information first. The map app only remembers the map after you've been there once, so it's not very useful for the first time.

"Is there a carriage to Shuting? I don't want to walk."

"That's true. It will take a lot of time to walk such a long distance."

There are carriages, right? I was only thinking about going by ourselves, but maybe we can rely on others.

"Hmm, let's look for a carriage."

---

"Welcome."

"Excuse me, is there a carriage to Shuting?"

We asked around and found a store that had carriages to Shuting. Inside, a young woman greeted us. Every store seems to have a young woman as a receptionist.

"Yes, we do. However, the next carriage to Shuting will leave in five days. Is that okay?"

In five days? I thought we could go tomorrow if we hired one, but it seems not. It must be a scheduled trip with several carriages.

"Yes, that's fine."

"Please check this. If it's okay, sign this document."

The young woman handed me a document. It had a section for names and a list of rules for using the carriage. The fare is 50,000G per person. It's expensive. We need to prepare our own food, and we can load our luggage on the carriage. The trip to Shuting will take about ten days, so we need to prepare accordingly.

Well, it's not a problem. I signed the document and gave it back to the woman. I received a certificate as proof of the reservation. We need to show this on the day of departure. I'm looking forward to it in five days.