Chapter 189: Look, Look!
Guided by Blogger into the reception room, I was sitting on the sofa.
Across the low table Blogger sat, with Folia on my left and Hilbyid on my right.
After taking a sip of the tea the staff had prepared, Blogger readjusted his glasses with his index finger and began speaking.
"I’ll get straight to the main topic. Raide, please take the rank promotion exam."
"Haa... Blogger, I should have refused that? In the first place I’m no longer an adventurer. You should know, but for the instructor position a rank isn’t necessary, right?"
"Yes, originally it wouldn’t be necessary. I heard about going to other cities and taking students to the mountain. From what rank one leads people, Raide knows, right?"
"As an instructor, not as an adventurer, though..."
"Even if Raide thinks that, the surroundings won’t take it that way. I think there are cases where if the rank is high things progress quickly, you know?"
Blogger glanced at Hilbyid then looked at me and let out a small sigh.
The guild’s information gathering power is quite amazing; they probably know about Hilbyid who came for inspection as well.
...Or rather, Hilbyid herself doesn’t give off an atmosphere of hiding.
Earlier she even said "In Yulral...", and when not placing escorts around I’d like her to hide for safety’s sake as well.
Folia who had been listening to my and Blogger’s conversation leaned her body a little toward me and asked in a reserved voice.
"Raide-san, what is your rank?"
"...D-rank."
""D-rank?!""
Hearing my rank Folia raised her voice in surprise, and even Hilbyid who had been eavesdropping raised her voice.
It can’t be helped... it was right before the promotion exam, and then I headed to the war.
So won’t you stop looking at me with such drawn-back eyes?
Folia and Hilbyid almost simultaneously let out sighs and directed exasperated narrowed eyes at me saying,
"D-rank is really bad. Since I heard you were an adventurer, I thought in terms of strength and knowledge you would at least be C-rank..."
"You said you go to other cities, but just being an instructor won’t make people listen, you know? It’s something for me to say, but if you’re registered as an adventurer you should raise your rank."
"Rather, it’s amazing the adventurers have been listening until now."
"Folia-san, probably it’s not by force? That... looking at today’s events?"
"...There are many points that come to mind."
Being blamed from both sides is unbearable, so won’t you spare me?
Blogger who was watching that slightly raised his glasses with a finger and was smiling faintly.
No matter how much I think I can’t see the need for a rank, but why is it that necessary.
If using adventurers one just needs to post a request, and there shouldn’t be any directing from me.
...But this time the atmosphere seems like he won’t give up.
I folded my arms with a difficult face and thought, then suddenly had a flash and said to Blogger,
"Is the content of the rank promotion exam combat?"
"Yes, one of the staff will be the opponent. But this time I’ll be the opponent. I also want to check Raide’s ability, you know?"
"It’s just that Blogger wants to fight, right? Haa, well fine. About the place—tomorrow at the academy’s training ground in front of the students is okay?"
"...May I hear the reason?"
Blogger’s strength is quite something.
For the students who have little experience and have only seen those said to be strong in books, there is no better teaching material than this.
Moreover this time since it’s my rank promotion exam, Blogger won’t hold back.
Well, I don’t know how well I can fight against Blogger, but for the students just watching should be good experience.
When I explained this far, starting with Blogger the two on both sides also made slightly surprised expressions.
"...As an instructor, it seems you’re fulfilling your duties splendidly."
"Why does it only sound like sarcasm when said by Blogger?"
"Half is sarcasm. How much do you think I was troubled during Raide’s adventurer days?"
The original Raide before I reincarnated also did quite some actions, so Blogger’s reaction can’t be helped.
What the instructor Raide really lacked was only knowledge and strength.
To supplement that the pre-reincarnation Raide did reckless things... no, even I can declare I would do the same.
That’s why I was able to inherit everything of instructor Raide.
It’s said there are three people similar to oneself in the world, but to think one was inside the game is surprising.
When I floated a troubled smile at the narrowed-eyed Blogger, Folia and Hilbyid sandwiching me began conversing in small voices.
"Hey, Hilbyid. Are academy instructors in every country like this?"
"No no, there’s no way they exist. If there were many instructors of the same standard as Raide, the world should be more peaceful."
"That’s right~... Shall I also go observe tomorrow?"
"I’m also curious so maybe I’ll negotiate with the academy side..."
Hearing the two’s conversation I continued with a troubled smile and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand.
Strange—it was an opinion thinking for the students, but it seems to have also drawn the two’s interest.
Blogger made a slight thinking gesture but immediately nodded and consented.
Tomorrow when I go to the academy I’ll go right away to get permission from Croana.
...Maybe I should post a guard request for the academy to the [Bell House] adventurers?
If during this gap strange fellows enter inside the academy, it wouldn’t be funny.
Sagua and the others said they had a bit more to talk about at the guild, so we separated at the guild and walked toward the inn with Folia and Hilbyid.
The time had passed 15:00, a time with many passersby on the way home.
For Hilbyid’s safety for the time being, we walked in a form sandwiching her from both sides with me and Folia.
Hilbyid smiled wryly saying she’s fine, but I explained that since one doesn’t know what will happen it’s better to be cautious.
When Nifa Inn came into view, from the opposite street a group that seemed to be Erika and the others was walking happily.
I said "seemed" because Erika’s characteristic vertical rolls weren’t visible, and more than anything everyone’s hair was shining giving an atmosphere like different people.
While looking at the group I tilted my head and asked Hilbyid and Folia.
"Erika and the others... that’s correct, right?"
"I have good eyes—it’s Erika-san. But, well... to the point of feeling envious, the hair is beautiful..."
"I ran into them when leaving the Filim Fountain... this is certainly enviable. Maybe I’ll have them let me use it later."
"Folia-san, ’let me use it’—use what?"
"Um, it would be faster to ask Raide-san? According to Erika-san’s talk, it seems to be something Raide-san made..."
To Hilbyid who looked at me with an interested face, I smiled troubledly while talking about the Shipua grass.
Hearing the talk Hilbyid’s eyes sparkled a little, and she asked where it grows, the refining method, and so on.
Folia who smiled wryly at Hilbyid’s appearance said as if lightly scolding,
"Hilbyid, you mustn’t ask that? If you want it you have to purchase it."
"...Ah, I see... that’s right, sorry Raide."
"No, I don’t mind. Hmm... it’s better to hear impressions from more people. I also want to hear a ’male’s’ opinion, so I’ll give it. Please tell me the impression after using it."
While walking I handed one small bottle containing shampoo from the magic bag to Hilbyid and two to Folia.
When handing to Folia and saying it’s for Shinku, she smiled happily.
Hilbyid also held the small bottle in one hand, raised it a little in front and gazed at it smiling happily.
...Please really make it so she’s not noticed as a woman?
The actions are those of a woman... really.
As we approached the inn, Erika and the others who had been walking from the opposite side also noticed me and ran up at a quick pace while letting their shining hair flutter.
The shampoo’s effect is amazing... probably they’re also using rinse, but the shine is completely different.
It’s not that their usual hair care is poor; it’s shining even more.
The sunlight reflects on the hair and it sparkles as if emitting some effect.
I recalled it was the Angel Ring, I think...
The first to run up was Rain; she clung to my body and looked up while bouncing pyon-pyon.
Today she’s not in twin tails; her red hair reaching her waist flutters matching her body’s movements.
I wrapped one arm around the bouncing Rain’s body and looked intently at the condition of Rain’s hair.
"Raide-san, look look!! It’s amazing, right? Amazing, right?"
"Ah... this is surprising."
"We were also surprised."
"Really~. Not just Rain~, please look at us too~?"
When I raised my face from Rain, there were Aurora and Win following behind.
Both like Rain were reflecting their hair in the sunlight and deliberately touching and fluttering their hair.
...Being captivated is probably saying something like this.
While looking intently at the two’s figures as well, from behind them Porte and Rinelle with embarrassed faces, and the twins walked up.
Man, it’s beautiful beyond words.
"Everyone is beautiful..."
The mutter that came out involuntarily was heard by everyone, and everyone blushed and looked embarrassed.
Pafa ran into the tavern at a small run as if to show Nimi, and at that time she smiled softly at me and fluttered one hand.
Thinking Erika’s figure isn’t visible, I found Erika hiding as if behind everyone.
What is she doing? Tilting my head, Rain who had left me smiled troubledly and told me.
Apparently after using shampoo and rinse, no matter how many times she set them the vertical rolls wouldn’t form and she’s embarrassed.
Pulled by both hands by the twins and appearing in front of me, Erika looked away embarrassed and said,
"S-say something please!!"
"Ah... yeah, I fell in love again."
"Nguu~~~~"
What kind of voice is that...
It was explained that the vertical rolls couldn’t be set, but looking at the tips of the hair there were slight traces as if about to roll.
Looking like this one can clearly tell she’s Elysia’s daughter, and if she stays silent she’s a graceful young lady.
...It’s a figure of speech; it’s by no means noisy.
While staring intently at Erika’s figure, she approached me and lightly tapped my chest area with both hands.
By the way from Hilbyid and Folia who were watching that scene, warm gazes were directed and I felt a little embarrassed.