Mr. Natalie calls me and I head to the guild.
I'm bored to go alone, so Tania's with me.
I walk the city shoulder to shoulder...
"... hey Tania?
"What?"
"Isn't it a long way?
There was a distance between me and Tania for each person.
Usually, I usually line up my shoulders...
"Kee, it's not your fault?
"That doesn't seem to happen..."
"Beh, that's not why I'm embarrassed to be beside Rain or because I'm aware of it!? No, don't get me wrong!?
They say things I don't really understand.
Tania dyed her cheeks and was slightly out of sight.
My tail was shaking restlessly and loosely.
It's lit...... is it?
We spend all the time together, so somehow, but now I know Tania's emotions.
But I don't know what it's lit up against.
I didn't do anything, did I?
"Hey, hey Rain... don't stare at me so much"
"Huh? No?
"Oh, of course. It's a violation of manners to stare at a girl."
If you ask me, so is that.
"Bad. Something's wrong with Tania, so follow me."
I don't feel ill or anything like that, so I guess, I'll be fine.
If you do more than you have to, you may be deluded.
"Ugh... I can't believe you took your gaze off right away just because I told you... BE, nothing, if you want to see me say so..."
"What's going on, Tania?
Stopped at the back, Tania was snapping something up with the bumps.
It's nothing.
"Look, let's go. At this pace, we'll go around noon."
"Ugh... I just don't care about that, I want you to be more aware of what's around you"
"What do you mean?
"Rayne, think for yourself."
Somehow they got mad at me.
It's unreasonable...
――――――――――
"Congratulations"
When I arrived at the guild, I was greeted by a smiling Natalie.
Congratulations, I don't even know what to think.
Or this pattern, somewhere I seem to remember...?
"This time, Mr. Shroud's Adventurer Rank is up to B-Rank"
"Huh? To B-rank?
"Yes, Mr. Shroud here recently solved a big case to keep you up."
Natalie speaks as happily as she does about herself.
"First of all, you're the devil's crusade that showed up in Pagos."
"That's..."
I didn't take it down to take down Illis.
It's a result I don't want for me.
But they don't see the surroundings that way...
The Iris case was supposed to be solved by me.
"I was hostile to other adventurers..."
"Isn't the matter already explained and resolved? Mr. Shroud noticed the devil's strained trap. Deciding I didn't have time to explain, I dared to stop the others from legging by fighting. What would have happened if the Crusaders had broken into the ruins..."
"Well... for some reason, that's what's going on"
Really, it's my discretion...
The situation meshed into exquisite condition, and it was to be judged so.
"Then the dragon raid the other day. Thanks to Mr Shroud, there will be no serious harm and we have been able to resolve the case. Oh, of course, thanks to Mr. Tania. We at Adventurers Guild are grateful."
"As it were, well... it's just a whim? Don't you have to be so grateful?
Tania was lit.
"Any feat is a great one. Therefore, our Adventurer Alliance has decided to promote Mr. Shroud to the B-Rank. Congratulations."
……
"Is that it? Aren't you happy? It's B-rank, B-rank. If you become a highly-ranked adventurer, you'll get more requests you can contract, and you'll get a lot of different treatment, right? For example, the toll on the bridge will be free."
"If you ask me if I'm not happy, that's not true..."
I was feeling a little complicated.
Regardless of the dragon raid...
The Iris case, I couldn't get the results I wanted.
And yet even if they celebrate...
"Ko La"
"Stay."
Kotsuki, and Tania slapped him gently in the head.
"Rayne, you're thinking a lot of extra things again, aren't you?
"Nothing extra..."
"It's too much."
Tania breaks.
"I don't know how Rain feels about honestly not being happy. I've been with you, and I've been asking you what Rain's thinking."
……
"But yeah. Can't you change the past? You can't overshadow what happened."
"It's..."
"So look forward. If you turn around forever, one day you'll step off the road and fall. Walk forward so you don't."
……
"Forget it, I'm not saying anything. You just have to remember. That's all I need. Okay?"
"... oh yeah"
Tania's words enter my heart softly.
I felt like the moist thing I had in the back of my chest had disappeared slightly.
"Thanks, Tania"
"Huh!?
It strokes Tania's head like it does to Canade.
"Oh, bad. I wasn't going to treat you like a child, I was just going to express my gratitude... mad at you?
"Oh, shit, that's...!?
"You don't like that?
"... nothing"
Tania turns red and turns that way...... still, she doesn't try to leave.
Instead, I've offered my head more like that.
"Shh, if you like?
"Well, I will."
I stroked Tania, who turned red.
"Um... I'm in the middle of a conversation, will you not flirt with me in front of you?
Natalie pissed me off with her jitsy eyes.
"Anyway...... that's why Mr. Shroud is going to be promoted to B-rank. If he refuses, he can also revoke his promotion…"
"No, I wouldn't do that."
"Good. I was wondering what I would do if they refused."
"Who says no?
To Tania's inquiry, Natalie tells her like she's tired.
"You're here sometimes, aren't you? Rank it up and you'll get a lot of perks, but for that matter, you'll be more responsible. Some people don't like it and want it to remain low ranked."
"Heh, you have someone like that. I'm not sure. If it's up there, I'd really like to see it."
"All adventurers would love to think like Tania."
Natalie smiled bitterly...
Then continue with the words as you recall.
"That's right. Mr. Shroud, aren't you going to take an A-rank promotion exam?
"Promotion exam?
I just got B-ranked right now, but I can't believe I'm talking about A-rank... what does that mean?
Natalie begins her explanation so that she can answer this question.
"Until B-rank, you can be promoted at the discretion of the Adventurer Alliance. But in order to be promoted to A-rank, you have to take certain merits and special exams. In Mr. Shroud's case, it's impeccable about merit, so if you take the exam and pass, you can be A-ranked."
"I see, that's how it worked"
"If you are promoted to A-rank, you will benefit from many more benefits."
"For example, what?
"Well...... there's a lot going on, I can't explain it in a nutshell, but to sum it up, you can have the power of a nobleman"
"That's what...?
"There are requests that cannot be accomplished just because they are strong. To deal with such cases, A-rank adventurers are given equal power over nobility. Well, since you're only an adventurer, you can't govern the city or get involved in municipal affairs like nobles... but there's talk of A-rank adventurers becoming real nobles and exchangers."
It's a hell of a story, but I didn't know. But it wasn't.
Sometimes I see a case that can't move without power, not just power.
The case of the lord and his son Edgar, who previously ruled this city, would be similar.
"But is it such an easy thing to empower?
"The King is also involved in the certification of A-rank adventurers. So it's not a problem at all."
"Heh. That's what the top of the human race dictated. Think of the worst thing you can do for a human."
I was nodding like Tania was impressed.
"When is that exam going to take place?
"Good timing, we're almost there. This isn't the place, it's the king's capital."
"I see."
"What do you want to do? If Mr. Shroud is going to take the A-rank promotion exam, I will contact Wang Du immediately to that effect... and I will also prepare a letter of introduction. What will you do?
"It's..."
I can't answer Natalie's query right away.
It seems to have a lot of benefits, but of course, it's not all about benefits.
The responsibility will be greater, and we will not be able to act in a far-fetched manner.
What should we do?
I've been thinking seriously.