Chapter 23: Adventurer Rank Wall
As expected, Yuya and Shizuru were waiting for Jin and Mei when they returned to the reception desk after their conversation with the guild leader. The two had been reserved when they left, but now, at least on Mei's part, they were imposing.
"I'm done talking with the guild leader."
“Yes. I am aware of that. We are making preparations now, so please wait a moment."
"What preparations?"
"Preparation of the guild card. We are registering the information you just filled out, but it's a time-consuming process."
"I see."
Hearing those words from the receptionist, there was a murmur of excitement around the place. The preparation of the guild card, in other words, means that the registration process as an adventurer is underway.
"Mei! How can you two be registered!?"
It was Yuya who asked aloud.
"We need a letter of recommendation."
"I heard that. But I don't know who to ask for a letter of recommendation."
"I heard that there are a lot of people in the church. Why don't you ask them?"
"Who did you two ask?"
"It's Ren-kun."
Jin was surprised by these words. He grabbed Mei's arm and forced her to turn toward him, then opened his mouth.
"Hey, Mei. You promised not to tell anyone about it, didn't you?"
"It's fine. He wrote it with the feeling that he didn't care about it either."
"A promise is a promise"
"Yes, but I've already told them."
"……You."
Jin could not understand what Mei meant by being so careless. He felt more puzzled than angry.
“Would that letter of recommendation from Takashiro have worked for you?”
"It worked for us."
"I see... okay, then let's get him to write one as soon as possible."
"......If we do that."
As expected, Mei couldn't expect Yuya to come like it and was at a loss for words.
"Where's his house?"
"Are you going to his house?"
"Because at this time, he's probably gone home, isn't he?"
"I guess so."
"So we have to go to his house. Where's his homestay?"
"I don't know. Why don't you ask Shizuru?"
"Shizuru?"
"Church cemetery."
To Yuya's question, Shizuru answers.
"...Ha?"
It's a little short of an explanation.
"There is a cemetery behind the church and he lives right next to it."
That's the proper explanation.
"Why is he there?"
"I hear he's working as a grave keeper."
"...I see. Well, that's fine. We should go there."
"But I think it's closed now."
"Closed?"
"The cemetery is open only during the day. After dark, the gates to the cemetery will be closed."
"No way?"
It is a lie. The curfew was a fabrication that Ren made up to prevent Shizuru from coming to the house. Of course, Shizuru, the one who was lied to, does not know that it is a lie.
"You can ask him at school tomorrow. After all, he will attend classes tomorrow."
"...I see. Then let's do that."
Yuya calmed down. However, that is not the case with Jin. Yuya is not the only one asking for a letter of recommendation. It is clear that everyone present here now will be rushing to Ren tomorrow. Not wanting that to happen, Ren made him promise not to tell anyone that he had written it.
"...How should I apologize?"
"It doesn't matter. We just need him to give me a little hard time."
"I hope that's all it takes."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. I just have a feeling."
"Weirdo."
"Jin Takamiya-sama, Mei Katsuragi-sama. Thank you for waiting."
Finally, the receptionist came with a card in her hand.
"Finally."
"Then I will hand out the cards, so please check the contents."
"Yes"
When they looked at the silver card they received, it only had their name on it.
"……Only this?"
"Is the name on the card correct?"
"Yes"
"Then we'll start the registration process. Please return the card."
"Okay"
Next, the receptionist pulls out what appears to be nothing more than a box and places it on the counter. She inserts the guild card into that box and offers it to Mei.
"'Now, could you please put your hand in here?"
"……Yes"
"There is a handprint engraved inside. Could you place your hand in line with it?"
"It's true... Yes, I put it there."
“Then, please keep it there. It's going to sting a little bit, but bear with me.
"...Is it the same as the status board?"
"Roughly."
"I see……"
"Okay. That's it."
While they're talking about this, the registration is over.
"Already?"
"Did you feel any pain?"
"No, just a little."
“Then next is Jin-sama.”
"Yeah."
Jin just puts his hand in the box in the same way. It didn't take long.
"Yes, that's it. Please wait a moment."
The receptionist takes out the guild card she inserted and pats the surface with her finger. After doing that a couple of times, she held out the card to Mei.
"The name on the card. Trace it once with your index finger."
"Understood... ah"
"Can you see your status?"
"Yes"
"Now try again."
"……It disappeared"
"Yes. It looks fine. The status on the guild card appears and disappears when the person traces it with his/her finger. We recommend that you leave them turned off."
"Okay"
"The statuses displayed are Adventurer Rank, Title, Aptitude, Special Skills, Number of Requests Accepted, Number of Requests Accomplished, Currently Accepted Requests, and Amount of Rewards Deposited with the Guild."
"...It can display that much information?"
The guild card is large enough to be held in one hand. They didn't think it can display that much information.
"If there is too much information, please press the arrow that appears. It will move to the next page. You can also use your finger to move it to the side, but if you are not used to doing that, I recommend the arrow."
"……I see."
Mei is probably quite used to that operation. This seems to be the case with most of the summoned hero candidates.
“Other than that, if you have registered a party, the party name will also be displayed. Also, in the case of subjugation missions, you can record the number by touching the guild card with the blood of the monster you defeated.”
"One by one?"
"Yes"
"That's troublesome."
"Is that so? I think it's easier than cutting off the subjugation parts, right?"
"...That's true"
“I will now explain the basics of being an adventurer. If you have any questions, just ask."
"Yes" "Okay"
"Requests are posted on the bulletin board to your left."
The receptionist began by explaining the request. There are two main types of requests. Permanent requests and individual requests.
The color of the request form indicates which is which. White is an individual request and red is a permanent request. Permanent requests are requests that do not require a particular delivery. Many of them are for gathering medicinal herbs or defeating magical beasts. Individual requests require a written request to be submitted to the receptionist for acceptance.
"What kind of requests are there?"
Having heard so far, Mei asked about the content of the request.
“There are almost no restrictions on the content of the request, so it varies. So please be careful when accepting requests. There are some requests that are impossible to accomplish."
"Eh?"
“There are many requests to search for hidden treasures. We don't even know if they exist in the first place, and even if they do, there is rarely a specific place to search for them."
"...But the reward is high, right?"
“Yes, but you have to achieve it to get it. So you have to be a well-to-do adventurer who can cover his or her own living expenses as well as other necessary expenses."
"I see"
"Please consult with us before proceeding. If the request seems problematic, our staff will inform you casually."
"Casually?"
"You can't tell the guild to cancel because they can't accomplish what the guild has asked them to do."
"That's right..."
The reason why they tell them casually is because there is a penalty for failure of a request. If three failures are recorded, the rank dropped. If the rank is F, the registration will be revoked.
It is a harsh penalty, but it is unfortunate for both the guild and the adventurer that an adventurer whose abilities are not commensurate with his or her rank remains in that position. Depending on the request, lives may be at stake.
"Now, this is important, but there are ranks for requests."
The explanation continued. Next, she explained the ranks of the requests.
“Depending on your adventurer rank, the requests you can receive are limited. There are six levels of adventurer rank and request rank, from A to F, and the requests you can receive are either the same as your adventurer rank or one level below it."
"That's for solo adventurers, isn't it? What about when you are in a party?"
"It's the same."
"Eh, is that so?"
“At the request stage, it is specified whether it is a single request or a party request. Let me explain about party rank. The party rank is the rank of the lowest adventurer in the group."
"Eh?"
“If there are three A-rank members and one F-rank member, the party rank will be F-rank.”
"Isn't that strange?"
If three A-ranked adventurers get together, they should be able to handle most requests. It does not sit well with Mei that it can only accept F-ranks.
"It's not right to form such a party."
“But with that kind of party, they should be able to handle higher-ranked requests, right?"
"But that request might cost the life of the F-rank adventurer."
"...That kind of thinking.."
Mei understood from the staff's explanation that they were thinking about the safety of the adventurers, but in reality, that's not all. The reason for this is to eliminate unscrupulous adventurers who raise their ranks without any real talent.
"Adventurer rank is raised by successfully completing requests."
“I wonder how long it will take to go up one rank?”
"That depends on the rank."
"From F to E?"
"About six months?
"Six months? How often do you do requests?"
Six months was far longer than Mei had imagined.
"Let's see. If you complete about two requests a week."
"Is that a lot?"
“In terms of fulfilling requests, it's not a lot. But I can't guarantee that there will always be requests that you can take on that often.
"...From which rank can I receive subjugation requests?"
"You can receive it from D rank."
"How long does it take to go from E to D?"
"About a year?"
"That's... how long does it take to get to D rank if you're a very good adventurer?"
"A year."
"No way."
"It's true. The E & F rank is a trial period. It's a period to test your aptitude as an adventurer, so it won't be shortened drastically."
"No way..."
It was unexpected that they had to keep accomplishing requests that seemed like a chore for a year and a half before they could accept the task of defeating monsters. It was the same for the others. Instead of the discouraged Mei, Jin opened his mouth.
"Wait a minute. Isn't there someone who can do a subjugation mission in a shorter period of time?"
Jin was talking about Ren.
"……I do not know"
“There is someone who is a hero candidate just like us and is already working as an adventurer.”
"I do not know about the identity of the adventurer. Even if I did, I would not tell you."
“…Do you know an adventurer named Ren?”
"Yes, I know."
The receptionist also acknowledged that Ren was an adventurer. It is meaningless to hide it.
"How did he go on a subjugation mission in such a short period of time?"
"I do not know"
"...Is he the only one who gets special treatment?"
"No. The Adventurers' Guild does not discriminate or give preferential treatment to anyone."
"But, it is a fact."
“However, if a person is deemed suitable, he or she may be assigned to a request that is appropriate for his or her abilities, regardless of rank. This is not preferential treatment. It is a matter of aptitude."
A nomination request. Rank has nothing to do with this. And in many cases, accomplishing a request that is more difficult than an ordinary request will cause the adventurer's rank to rise at a different rate than usual.
"...I see what you're saying."
"The opportunity is given to any number of people. And it is up to the adventurer to make the most of that opportunity."
"In other words, we failed."
"I wonder? I don't understand."
"I see……"
Knowing that he had squandered the opportunity he had been given, Jin became depressed. Seeing that, all the hero candidates around him showed disappointed faces.
It was decided that it would be more than a year before they would be able to accept requests for defeating monsters. Everyone knows that until then, they will have to complete a modest number of requests. They see it as a waste of time.
As a result, the Adventurer's Guild was only crowded on this day. Many hero candidates gave up on registering as adventurers.
◇◇◇
The next day in the classroom, complaints and grumblings about the Adventurer's Guild could be heard from everywhere. They were frustrated that they could no longer do the adventuring work they had been looking forward to.
However, this attitude is clearly wrong. In fact, they can work as adventurers. They just don't want to do anything more than a simple job outside of the subjugation mission.
Yuya had complained badly until just now, but now he was quietly waiting for something.
"How was it!?"
When Yuya saw Jin, the person he was waiting for, enter the classroom, he got up from his chair and called out to him.
"Looks like he's been absent for the past few days."
“Is he taking requests by any chance?”
"Well, I don't know about that."
"I see……"
Yuya hadn't given up on being an adventurer yet.
Of course, he has no intention of doing plain work for a year. So what he thought was to ask Ren about how to shorten the period.
"I think it's useless to ask."
“But Hyde says he's been asked to do subjugation request.”
"That's because the guild leader approved it."
"How can someone with no ability be recognized? Isn't it strange?"
"Maybe he really has the ability."
"He doesn't. He was almost killed by a magical beast, wasn't he?"
"...Yuya"
Hearing Yuya's words, Jin shows an astonished face.
"What?"
"Since you came to this world, you've become an idiot."
"Ha!? Don't be rude! It's true that I wasn't good at all in high school, but I was top of the list until middle school!"
Without thinking about the meaning of Jin's words, Yuya desperately rebels. He doesn't understand that it is this kind of thing that makes people say he has become an idiot.
"That's why you've become stupid. The guy who was about to be killed by a magical beast said he could easily defeat a war wolf, and was teaching other students. Don't you think it's strange?"
"...He's just showing off."
"I think it's on the opposite side of showing off."
"What do you mean?"
"Instead of showing off, isn't he just hiding his power?"
"......There's no point in doing that. Jin, even you are being deceived by him?"
"Deceived?"
"He's trying to boost his own reputation by making it look like he has power that he doesn't have. That's his move."
It's Yuya's usual claim. Aside from Ren's ability, Yuya is completely wrong about this.
"Why do you think so?"
Jin, who has the exact opposite idea, does not understand why Yuya thinks this way.
"Everyone says he's not that strong."
"Who is everyone?"
“Both Heinz and Hyde. If it's these two, it's an objective assessment.”
"...I see. I don't understand more and more."
Jin can't deny it when it's said to be Heinz and Hyde's evaluation. But if so, it raises another question.
"What?"
"How can he handle a request even though he's not strong?"
"'That's because he's taking the easy requests."
"Hyde."
Even if he asks Yuya, he won't get an answer. Jin changed who he talks to.
"Ah, yes"
"Why did you pay attention to Ren?"
"That's... because there was information that he was working in the guild."
"Just because he's working?"
"...No, it seems that he only accepts nomination requests."
“Are all nomination requests easy ones?”
"That's... he has a special skill against spirits. I think he is taking advantage of that."
Hyde is also one of the people who doesn't appreciate Ren. As for Jin, he was talking to the wrong person.
"However, it wasn't the spirits that he was fighting at that time, but the magical beasts. Moreover, there were fifty magical beasts, and only the two of them were fighting."
"Jin, that's someone else."
Yuya interjects. Anyway, Yuya doesn't want to recognize Ren.
“Did another adventurer with the same hair color, eye color, and appearance happened to be there? Now that I think about it, don't you think that's a pretty good coincidence?"
"That's……"
"You're so stupid after all. You went all the way to the Adventurers' Guild and didn't check anything out?"
"Check what?"
“When I asked if they knew any silver-haired adventurers in the guild, they all answered that it was Silver Wolf. When I asked what kind of person he was, they answered that they were friends, although there were only a few of them."
If Ren had heard this, he would have been offended. Those adventurers are so talkative.
"Are you saying that Silver Wolf is him?"
"Yeah"
"Is Silver Wolf a nickname or something?"
“It's a nickname given to him by other adventurers. By the way, not a few adventurers have nicknames. However, I have never heard of any new adventurer who has been given a nickname."
"……What about it"
Jin's attempts to convince Ren of his suspicions ended in vain. He spoke too enthusiastically.
"What?"
"In other words, that's all there is to being an adventurer, isn't it?"
"Yuya?"
"Listen. It's true that he's weak. Everyone's been deceived. He's just trying to get the attention of those around him and act like one."
"You……"
Jin knows that Yuya himself wants to attract attention. Jin sensed that Yuya's words just now might have come from his jealousy towards Ren.
"The Adventurers' Guild is becoming unimportant too. At that level, it seems there's nothing to learn."
“…………”
When things don't go his way, he stops immediately. Yuya has always had this kind of thing, but now it is becoming more pronounced. Since he came to this world, it has been rare that things don't go his way. That is why the repercussions of those infrequent times are so strong.
"I'll stop signing up for the guild. I'll think of something for the actual battle to defeat the magical beasts, but for the time being, it's that thing."
"That?"
"Swordsmanship tournament. I'm going to try to win there."
It's about the swordsmanship tournament held in the country. Yuya intends to participate in it.
"Speaking of which, there was such a story. Has the schedule been decided?"
"In two months."
"That's soon."
“That's right. I'm going to start training for it today."
"I see."
"Well, don't say it like it's someone else's problem. Jin will also participate, right?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Jin didn't think anything about the swordsmanship tournament.
"Ha? How can you not participate?"
"I thought you were free to decide if you want to participate or not."
"That's true, but..."
"Well, good, then, right? I'm not saying I won't participate. I'm just saying I haven't decided right now.."
"...Jin, if you give up just because your talent is inferior, that would be it."
"I'm not."
"Even if you can't compete with me, you're stronger than the rest. You should have confidence in yourself."
"...Now is not the time for confidence."
"What does that mean?"
"It's just that we keep trying."
"Oh. That's good."
"Yuya, you too."
"I'm doing my best. Soon I'll be able to fight evenly with Master."
"You're kidding, right?"
"It's true. I can feel the response. The gap with Master isn't that big anymore. If there is, it's the difference in experience. That's why I want to experience as many battles as possible."
"I see."
“I'm looking forward to the swordsmanship tournament. I don't think there will be anyone as strong as Master, but it will be a good experience to stand up against all kinds of people."
"...That's true."
Jin learned that the gap between him and Yuya had widened further. Yuya's master is the head of the Church Knights. He is one of the strongest knights in the Church. In just two years. There is no doubt that Yuya's special skill, "growth correction," has had a large impact.
No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to close the gap. Such hopeless thoughts spread in Jin's heart.
thanks for the chapter
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