Legend

The rank up exam was successfully completed and passed, and the rank rose to D-rank. And after it was dissolved... there was a voice that stopped Ray from trying to leave the conference room. Gran, who was also a rank-up exam examiner.

"Was there anything awkward about ranking up?

Gran shakes his head small to Ray, who asks. Turning his gaze straight to the clerk who brought Chirali and the guild card, he nodded small and left the conference room just knowing that he had accepted.

Dropping that back off, Gran lowered his back to where the Rays were sitting until earlier, making sure the conference room door was properly closed.

"Ray, I need to talk to you about something important."

Ray soon found out that the face wasn't like playing witch mountain. For this reason, I sit in the chair in the front of Grand without saying anything in particular.

"So, what are you talking about?

"Uh, right.... what to say first. Well, at first, I knew it was coming. Congratulations on passing the rank-up exam"

"When you change something, it lights up... but I'll say thank you. So, you didn't leave me wanting to say a word of celebration, did you?

"Naturally. Quickly, but let me get to the point. As you know, adventurers have the means to take a request from the board to receive it, but there are several other types. One of them is a nomination request. Did you hear that around when you signed up for the guild?

I remember what Lenora told me when I signed up for the guild for Gran's words, but I shook my head because I hadn't heard it around there.

"No, you didn't hear about the nomination request. It's just, well, I can predict roughly what it looks like from that name. Instead of leaving it to an unspecified number, like the request board, you're leaving that request to the adventurer you named?

"Mostly that recognition is fine. Naturally, it is difficult to nominate people on purpose and make requests, and some things impose confidentiality obligations accordingly. Or maybe it's a client situation."

With that said, Gran has a slightly bitter look on his face. As such, Ray also felt that he did not have a good impression of the request for nomination.

"So, telling me the story now..."

"Your answer. Ray, we have a nomination request for you."

"... well, in the course of the conversation, I know the area, but why me? I just finally got Rank D today."

"Yes, you are indeed the new America that has just become Rank D. From the eyes of a large number of adventurers, he would be nothing more than a Rank D child. But at the same time, you have the power to defeat Rank B Monster Oak King on your own and Tame Rank A Monster Griffon. I mean, if you look at combat, you can't fit into Rank D."

"You mean you need that kind of special Rank D adventurer?

Gran nodding to that question of Ray.

"Besides, it's the big guys in this city who've nominated Ray for this request"

"... that's what it means to be a nobleman?

There are quite a few aristocrats in the city of Gilm. It is not only the neutral forces to which the Lord of the city of Gilm, Lord Larks Border, belongs, but there are also a number of Kings, Nobles, etc., present in this city. Anyway, this city of Gilm is the only town in the territory of the Larks Borderline Uncle that borders the border. In other words, we need to directly ascertain the threat of a monster living on the periphery, or because it is the periphery, there are competent adventurers, and there is also the purpose of waving that scout. Ray asked Grand if it would be a request from such aristocrats...

"Right, when it comes to nobility, you're definitely noble. You're the lord of the city of Gilm."

"... what?

"That's why I'm asking you to be named Lord of the City of this Guild, Uncle Larks Borderline."

"Why did such a great man take me... no, I don't even have to ask"

Ask Gran and immediately convince him to smile bitterly.

Anyway, like Gran said earlier, I have the strength to follow the Griffon of Rank A monsters and even defeat Oak King. I wonder if it would be strange for someone to report it to the lord.

"I hear you understand how it is. Apparently, Uncle Larks Borderline has been concerned about you for a long time. Anyway, this Rank Up exam itself seems to have been conducted by direct instructions from the lord."

"Are you going to string me up?

For Ray, that's about all I could think of was a reason why someone who was the lord of this city would try to be so convenient to himself.

Anyway, as a newcomer to the guild, I can say I'm out-of-digit, so it's not strange to think about it that way.

"Well, I don't know that area. Anyway, among the aristocrats, he has a top-ranked title when it comes to borderline uncles. There's no way I can understand what such a person is thinking, being only an employee of the Alliance. However, I suspect it is expected to be an important force for this city rather than tied up as a possibility. … the nobility of this country is divided into three main forces. You know that?

"Oh. You were in a book in the library. Three Kings, nobles and neutrals, right?

"That's right. And the smallest of these forces are the Neutralists, and Larks Borderline Uncle, the lord here, is recognized as such among the Neutralists. In other words, pulling a powerful force out of this city of guilds has the same meaning as decreasing the power of the neutrals. I think I'm wary of that... well, it's just an evil push as an official of the Alliance. You don't have to worry too much."

Gran tells me that with a bitter smile, but I snort deeply because it was a helpful opinion if I tried it on Ray.

"You've been out of line. So, regarding the nomination request... in a week or so, there will be a daughter of the Duke of Kelp, one of the central figures of the aristocracy, in the city of Gilm."

"... sending one daughter of a central figure of the aristocracy into a city of factions hostile to themselves?

"Oh. That doesn't mean anything about factional strife this time.... I don't have to worry too much about it because I'm clear about it as far as you're concerned"

"Then why do you come all the way to such a neighborhood with such noble ladies?

"That sounds like a dungeon."

"Dungeons?

"Oh. Remember what Luno was talking about when you rubbed it with the eagle's claws?

Luno, given the name and floating in the back of his brain was the face of a man in good shape who was trying to leave me alone when Eagle Claw and Ray rubbed him.

"Sure, he said he had a demonic eye that could see the magic directly."

"Yes, that's him. So, even when you rubbed the eagle's paw, your quest in the dungeon was successful.

"With that said, you said that.... I mean, is that dungeon the purpose of that duke's coming?

Ray looks at Gran like he said, shuddered.

But Gran shook his head with a bitter smile toward Ray like that.

"I don't know what you imagined, but the Duke and Duke of Keller are not like those aristocratic princesses there. That's the rank B right now if you sign up for the Alliance as an Adventurer... if you do poorly, you have the strength to be rank A"

"... for once, you're a duke's lady, aren't you?

"Oh."

"Speaking of my imaginary aristocratic lady, butterflies. I think of boxed daughters who were raised to be flowers or something... is there something wrong?

"Well, it's not wrong with the big muscles. As a matter of fact, most of the noble ladies in Wangdu would be as they imagined. But the Duke of Kelp is different. In a skirmish with the Bestian Empire two years ago, he led the Knights of the Duke of Kelp through the battlefield and eventually took over the enemy general with a single horse."

The Bestian Empire. It is one of the countries adjacent to the Kingdom of Mireana and at the same time has the greatest national power on this continent. Its national power is above that of the Kingdom of Mireana, which is both a continent and one of the leading powers, and its enlargement policy will be seen where it is still gradually adding small neighbouring countries to its own control.

Naturally, I also know that the Bestian Empire has been in conflict with the Kingdom of Mireana for many years because I have learned about the country I am in in the library, even for Ray.

But it was the first time that a presence, which would also be the Duke's Lady, ran over the battlefield.

"Is that really the Duke's Lady? It's too different from the image I have."

"Well. In fact, it must be true that it's quite rare. Even in the Bestian Empire, they call me a princess general or something and they're afraid. But the name also extends to the Kingdom of Mireana."

"Princess General, hey... can the nobles call themselves princesses?

"You can tell me that. Tell the people of the Bestian Empire if you say so. But, well, I'm a noble princess, and I don't think I'm wrong. So, let's get back to it. I don't know why, but it seems that the princess general is coming to the dungeon with only a few confessions. So the Duke of Kelp asked for Uncle Larks."

I frown small as I was convinced by Gran's words.

"Then it doesn't have to be Rank D, but that's why we should hire people from Rank A and B? Or bandits like Cullot because it's a dungeon."

Naturally, naturally. Send your daughter somehow to a dangerous place called the Dungeon. If we were to hire an adventurer in the sense of that escort, it would be more reassuring for a higher-ranking adventurer with proven strength. There's no need to hire Ray, who just became Rank D.

"I haven't been given much detail around here either, but apparently no adventurer of rank C or higher."

"... you're obviously suspicious, it's"

"Well. But if the Duke were asked to exist, he wouldn't be able to say no without a clear reason."

In fact, in terms of the magnitude of power, there is a considerable difference between neutrals and aristocrats, so there is no doubt that a far-fetched imitation will hunt down the neutrals as soon as possible. Also, there is a difference in status between Uncle Borderline and the Duke, so as Larks Borderline Uncle, I had to accept it.

"So, Larks, the border ambassador couldn't help but decide to take that request, but if the Duke's Lady, also known as the famous Princess General at home and abroad, dies in his own territory in case... you can predict what will happen?

"Worst case scenario, can't a nobleman named Larks Borderline Uncle himself exist?"

"Oh. Even if it's the best result, they'll cut off quite a bit of territory.... Well, since the city is essentially the only one in the realm of the Larks Borderline Uncle, there won't be that many problems no matter how many other places they take. But if they take away this city of Guild..."

Exhale deeply into Gran's words.

"So, despite rank D, I was chosen as an armed escort."

"Exactly. He's the one who's called General Princess in the first place and also goes out on the battlefield, and I'm pretty sure his arm stands even considering he's knocking down an enemy general with one horse. So I guess it's only for when Ray exists. Besides, in your case, it's a big deal to follow a griffon."

"Let me ask you something, can you say no to a nomination request?

"That's the way you're asking me, I guess it's largely predictable, huh? Normally, it's possible to refuse a nomination request, and that's not so uncommon. But this time, my client is the Lord of this city, the Larks Borderline Uncle. There's no way I can say no."

Listen to Gran and think about the request with all your heart.

(Can't you say no? But I wanted to go to the dungeon once, and I can tell you this is a chance. They also have fairly high ranked monsters in the dungeon, so you can expect some quality and quantity about the Demon Stone.... The question is whether they suspect me of not selling that demonic stone... No, it's the Duke's Lady of the King's Capital. I don't know what kind of errands I have to go to the dungeon, but I'll be back from this neighborhood once I've done my errands. Then you're unlikely to notice the unnaturalness of me not selling demon stones)

"By the way, can you bring Seto into that dungeon? More precisely, is there a vastness in that dungeon that can be fought in Seto's giant?

"There's nothing wrong with that area. Basically, some of the dungeons have been identified as monsters bigger than your griffon, Seto. The breadth is ensured to the extent that they are not incapable."

"I see. Then we can work it out"

"That's the kind of word that came out, is that okay with the decision to take the request?

"Who said I couldn't say no more than I could?

To Ray's words, Gran had no choice but to smile bitterly.

"That's true, too, but I knew it was important that the will of the person. So, you're just gonna take it, right?

"Oh. So, what do I do? Should I come to the guild in a week's time with that princess general?

"It will. Well, we'll be able to talk more soon. You need to stay fit. He was injured when he asked for it, and he didn't become a fighter. That doesn't mean he won't sprinkle. It would be helpful if you didn't take the crusade request this past week."

"... do we need to get that far?

Gran nods in great seriousness at the unexpected question.

"Oh, the safety of the Duke's Lady and the fate of the city of Gilm depend on it. You're going to do that, too."

"... ha, I get it. What's the reward, by the way?

"Success reward, but two light gold coins"

"... are you serious?

2 bare gold coins. When a request is made for as much reward as a single request, it is a rare substitute for Rank A.

"Like I've said many times, that's all an important request. Remember the liver."

Ray, who had just risen to Rank D in this way, would be the wingman who would suddenly be half-enforced to accept a nomination request.

And this request is what makes it a serious branch for Ray, but there was no reason for him to know that.