“So, Douglas, what do we do now?” Miina asked, leaning against me in an overly sweet voice.
Seriously, how long are you going to keep that up? I’d rather you stop before I feel like taking you to a seedy inn right this instant.
Anyway, let me get back on track—
“If my Adventurer Rank isn’t high enough, I think I’ll start by applying for a rank-up.”
“Rank-up application? Come to think of it, I heard you need to take a test to raise your Adventurer Rank. Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
To raise your Adventurer Rank, you typically need to complete two steps.
The first is to successfully complete a certain number of quests of an appropriate difficulty for your current rank. As for me, I’ve already cleared the requirements for my current E Rank without any problems.
The second step is, after meeting those conditions, to apply for a rank-up and have an appraiser chosen by the Adventurer’s Guild assess your abilities and deem you worthy of being promoted to a higher rank.
By clearing these two requirements, you can then raise your Adventurer Rank by one level.
Incidentally, this rank-up application costs a small fee. I clutched my meager gold coins and headed for the Guild’s reception.
A familiar receptionist greeted me with a professional smile.
“Welcome, Douglas-san. …Huh? You look a little different? You seem a bit more handsome than before, and the air around you is… sparkling? Or am I imagining things?”
The receptionist tilted her head. It was probably the effect of the Holy Axe Lombardia’s skill, [Charisma].
“No, don’t worry about that. More importantly, I want to apply for a rank-up.”
“Ah, yes, I understand. …Wait, a rank-up application? That’s unusual. Douglas-san, didn’t you usually apply for a rank-up once a year on a specific date? I think it’s only been about a month since your last assessment.”
“Well, a lot has happened. I’ll pay the fee, so please.”
“I see, I understand. —Well then, the appraiser will be… please wait a moment.”
The receptionist said that and went to consult with an older Guild member in the back.
“Douglas-san wants to apply for a rank-up. Is there anyone who could serve as an appraiser?”
“Douglas wants to? That’s unusual. Douglas is an E-Rank warrior, right? In that case… Ah, there’s a C-Rank adventurer who just arrived from the Royal Capital talking with the Guild Master. I’ll go ask if they can do it. Please wait for a while.”
“Understood.”
The older Guild member who had consulted disappeared into the back, and the receptionist returned to me.
“Um, did you hear that?”
“Mostly. I just need to wait a bit, right?”
“Yes. Please take a seat in that waiting area.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I led Miina to the seats in the waiting area where I was directed. Behind us, the receptionist seemed to mutter something.
(…Haaah. Douglas-san really has become so cool. Just hearing a simple ‘thank you’ makes my heart race like this…)
I couldn’t hear what she muttered, but Miina’s cat ears twitched next to me.
In any case. After submitting the application, I waited for a short while.
Soon, a girl who looked like a swordsman emerged from the back of the Guild and approached us. She had her black hair tied in a ponytail and looked somewhat feisty, with a boyish face, yet she was also a stunning beauty. Her appearance, while different, might be a match for Miina’s in terms of refinement. A bronze adventurer’s card, signifying her C-Rank Adventurer status, gleamed on her chest.
“Hi, sorry to keep you waiting. You’re Douglas, who submitted the rank-up application, right? I’m Elen, and I’ll be serving as the appraiser for this assessment. Nice to meet you.”
Despite her youth, she possessed the bearing of a C-Rank adventurer. This girl, too, was undoubtedly a genius. Being C-Rank at such a young age meant she must possess exceptional talent and be a hard worker.
“I’m Douglas. Nice to meet you.”
I took the hand offered by Elen, the swordsman girl, and shook it. By the way, this should be my first time meeting this swordsman girl named Elen. However, even though it’s my first time meeting her, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen her somewhere before. It’s the same sensation I had when I first met Miina.
“Hey Elen. This is a strange question, but have we met somewhere before?”
“Hm…? No, I think this is our first meeting. I usually work in the Royal Capital, you know. …Wait, are you trying to flirt with me, old man? Sorry, but I’m only interested in people stronger than me.”
Elen flatly rejected my question. It seemed the effect of the [Charisma] skill wasn’t indiscriminate after all. Lombardia had described [Charisma] as a “slight favorability-boosting skill,” and perhaps it truly only had a minor effect of increasing goodwill.
However, for now, I should clear up the misunderstanding.
“Ah, no, no, that’s not it. My apologies for asking such a strange thing.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m sorry for being overly self-conscious. A lot of men try to hit on me, so I make sure to state my preferences upfront. —And you, are you Douglas’s party member?”
“Yeah, I’m Miina. Nice to meet you, Elen.”
“Nice to meet you too, Miina.”
Then, the swordsman girl Elen headed towards the quest bulletin board. Miina and I followed her.
“To assess the abilities of an E-Rank warrior… Hmm, this one looks good. Quest Rank D: Orc Extermination.”
Elen peeled off a Rank D quest from the bulletin board and brought it to the receptionist.
Seeing this, Miina asked me with a puzzled look.
“What’s happening, Douglas? Are we doing the quest with Elen?”
“Yeah. The adventurer chosen as the appraiser accompanies the applicant on a quest to confirm whether they possess the real skill to be promoted.”
“Naruhodo, I see.”
Miina is still a novice adventurer and doesn’t know much about common adventurer practices. The time we spent exploring ruins together was only her second adventure.
Meanwhile, the swordsman girl Elen finished the quest reception procedures and returned to us.
“Alright, let’s go. Since I’m accompanying you specifically, make sure you pass, axe-wielder.”
Elen said that with a smile. While her words could almost sound condescending, her straightforward personality made them not feel particularly offensive.
