Chapter 181 – Silver Rank Advancement
My life was a gutter. Because I lived by picking up and eating what others threw away. Things that were commonplace to others were invaluable to me.
“…Has made a mark, especially this time…”
After picking up abandoned things for a long time, I can see people when I look up. People who, unlike me, don’t have a gutter life. When they see me, they frown as if they are dirty and then follow my path again.
Your own way.
“…Made a contribution. This is…”
At one time, I too had a way forward. But the end was a bottomless cliff. I had to turn sideways to avoid the cliff, and that’s how I got lost and wandered.
That’s why I was envious of those who followed my path. I wanted to punch them once I saw them complaining that the road was too solid and not interesting.
If that’s the case, I wanted to ask him to hand over the road to me.
But it was impossible and I still lived in the gutter.
He wasn’t just sucking his fingers, though.
We made our way through the stinky garbage.
Even though he was scratched and bitten by the gutter rats, he did not back down.
It was so earnest. Longed for a way
And after years of rolling in the gutter, I think I finally found it again.
“In the name of the head of the adventurer’s guild, Kalita, Yuseong Han will be promoted to silver rank.”
My way
I looked at the adventure certificate given to me by a man named Kalita, the branch manager of the adventurer’s guild. Unlike the previous wooden shield, the newly received silver grade adventure certificate was coated with silver.
Along with a nice pattern on the top left, phrases proving that I am a silver rank are engraved.
I thought it would someday. However, after receiving the adventure certificate, the feeling is new.
It wasn’t a bad feeling to have something tickling in my chest.
– Clap clap clap clap.
The sound of applause from the adventurers watching.
For some reason, the guild was crowded with more adventurers than usual. What wind is blowing? Is a silver rank promotion such a fun spectacle?
It didn’t take long for my doubts to be answered.
Branch Manager Kalita shouted.
“Today is a happy day. A strong new pillar has been erected at the Kalita branch. To celebrate such a happy day, all food and drinks provided by the guild are free!”
-Waaaaa!!!!!
The adventurers clapped and cheered louder than when I was promoted. Some even went up to the table and praised the branch manager, Kalita.
Among them were Seris and Kara, who liked that they saved money on food, so I swallowed a laugh.
* * *
“Bastard, he treats promotions as if he were eating them.”
It was in the middle of a noisy banquet, drinking lukewarm ale. Damn! A tingling pain rose from the back along with the sound.
It’s a pain I’ve gotten used to. I turned around and saw Belita grinning.
“Do you really have to hit me on the back when I come to congratulate you?”
“It’s because my stomach hurts. How long have you been an adventurer and are you already at the silver level?”
“My stomach hurts. You can do it if you want to, can’t you?”
If Belita is hiding her skill and fire, she can easily enter the silver rank.
“Shut up.”
But for some reason, she desperately hides it.
“It’s a joke, a joke. What are you so serious about?”
“You… Ha… Fuck it.”
“Where? Are you crazy?”
“Fuck you.”
Belita raised her middle finger and walked over to where Patrick was sitting. Looking at that temperament, it reminds me of Mr. Patrick’s joke that he won’t be able to meet a single man. Maybe that will become a reality.
‘Come to think of it, it was the first time we kissed, right?’
The kiss you gave to me as I collapsed in the dungeon.
She insists that kissing is not an act of healing. Considering that I felt better immediately after that kiss, it is a valid argument to some extent.
I smiled and looked around.
The banquet is in full swing. The faces I knew were also enjoying the banquet.
Seris and Kara eagerly forked in admiration every time they saw a dish they had never seen before.
Belita and Patrick drank ale with adventurers they knew, and Daisy was chatting with her friends.
‘There is no orca…? Didn’t you come?’
Are you busy with work? Looking around the guild, I felt a strange person approaching, not an Orca.
“Long time no see. Do you want to remember me?”
“I remember. Aren’t you Allen?”
Allen. A man with a silver rank and a place in the Red Heart Adventure Squad before me, with whom Orca has a sense of rivalry.
Why did that person come to me?
Although they had gone on a quest together the other day, they weren’t close enough to meet in person.
“What? Why are only two handsome men having a conversation? Too bad~.”
This time a female voice.
With a smirk, she, like Allen, is a silver rank Joanna.
Her face is quite familiar, as she has seen her quarrel with the orca a few times.
“Juana, you were here too.”
“Of course. A new silver grade has appeared, but shouldn’t you look at your face?”
The two of them started to talk in detail, probably because they knew each other. At the same time, he also talked to me and tried to put me naturally into the flow of the conversation.
“By the way, what did you two come to see me for? I don’t think you came here just to say hello.”
I moderately cut off the flow of the conversation. Because I didn’t want to lose my nerves with useless psychological warfare or search warfare.
Then Juana narrowed her eyes and Allen smiled bitterly.
“Not ignoring it… No, is it fast considering what you said on purpose? Anyway, I didn’t want to talk in this atmosphere.”
Gianna sighed as if she couldn’t help it.
“You’ve got a silver grade. What are you thinking about in the future? Surely you don’t intend to stay under Orca like you did before?”
As soon as Juana heard her main point, my eyebrows narrowed.
What is my point of bringing up that story?
Juana is telling me that she is now telling me to be independent from Orca.
Then, what are the benefits that Juana gets from my independence?
In my opinion, there would be no benefit to Juana. Then, is it because the orca that he hates is doing well because his stomach hurts?
When she had such doubts, Allen gave her a detailed explanation with a wry smile.
“I don’t know about other places, but here, the silver ranks of the Red Heart Adventure Corps each have their own party. It’s a structure where each party competes and the adventure team develops. Haven’t had any major problems so far. The balance between each party was somewhat balanced.”
“Is it balanced? Do you have a conscience?”
Juana narrowed her eyes.
“…Not perfect, but at least there was nothing to complain about. But Yuseong Han, your case is different. You are now silver grade. If you stay under Orca all the time, the balance between the parties collapses. If that happens, Orca will probably be subject to intensive checks from other silver ranks.”
“…”
“Originally, it was a story that Orca had to tell you before you reached the silver rank. But Orca doesn’t seem to want to let you go. They ignored our words. So she was forced to come to you. If it’s your will, even Orca won’t be able to oppose it.”
“…”
“…It seems like you need to think about it. We’re leaving, so think carefully. What is truly the path for you and Orca.”
The two of them left as if they had said everything. After they left, I sat down and thought.
‘They say that when I’m under Orca, Orca gets tough…’
I hadn’t thought of that. I just thought of keeping it because my life is convenient now.
However, if it becomes a nuisance to Orca, I will have to think differently.
As they say, she will have to build her own party away from her.
‘…I think it would be very annoying.’
As the two said, if you organize a party, you will be responsible for it. I have to take care of my party members.
But I had no desire to pay attention to them.
My head is about to explode just thinking about what I should be concerned about right now. But where is the time to pay attention to other guys?
I don’t know if they’re worth it…
‘…Hmm? For a moment. You must have said that Orga Seris and Kara’s promotions were close, right?’
Kara and Seris are not good enough to stay at the iron level. It has already surpassed most of the same ratings. It’s been a while since I’ve been steadily building up, so it’s not strange if it’s the same grade at any time.
‘Because the Adventure Corps accepts those with the same grade or higher…’
When they reach the same level, I can bring them to my party. That way, you won’t have to bother with responsibilities.
Because from the beginning, I decided to take responsibility for the two of them.
If only two people were accepted, the party size would be smaller than other silver ranks, but it didn’t matter. Because I have no interest in politics within the adventure team.
‘I’ll just have to continue to have a favorable relationship with the Orca.’
Orca has asked me to open the barrier of the elven ruins. It is said that there is nothing good because things have gone bad. Besides that, her personal liking for her is enough reason to maintain her favorable attitude.
‘Okay, then let’s do that.’
After organizing my thoughts, I ate my ale and food again. You must eat well. I have to go negotiate with Marlton about Orichalcum in a little while.
* * *
Unlike the noisy banquet, Orca’s office was quiet. I can’t even hear the sound of the pen that always filled the quiet room.
It’s not like that, but there was a small breathing sound of Orca.
“…Hmm? Did you fall asleep?”
Turn it off!. Orca woke up and got up with a simple stretch. Perhaps it was because she stayed up all night, she seemed to have fallen asleep as if she were dead.
“Looks like there was still a lot of work to do… What is it? Why are you here?”
Orca looked towards his desk and saw an unwelcome face. A promiscuous girl who always sings boyfriend and boyfriend songs. It’s juana
To Orca’s question, Juana answered with a shrug of her shoulders.
She said “I knocked and she didn’t answer. The door was open, so I opened it, but for some reason you were taking a nap. I was curious so I took a look. Rather, why is the room like this? Nothing is fine.”
Currently, Orca’s room is cluttered with objects she toppled or threw and broke. Orca didn’t care that the room looked like this.
It’s just unpleasant that her Juana is in her own office.
“…Now that it’s okay, can you tell me about your visit? My eyes get tired from looking at your disgusting face.”
Juana’s eyebrows twitched. She soon regained her composure and opened her mouth with a smirk.
“Why did I come here on purpose? I want to know?”
“…I’m not in the mood to accept your jokes, so if you’re not going to tell me, shut up and get out of here.”
“Um, can I really not listen? It’s about your favorite subordinate, Han Yoo-seong, isn’t it?”
“…Why did that name come out of your mouth?”
“Oh, why are you wearing a straight face?”
“Shut up. Tell me why you mentioned him.”
Orca glared with her ferocious eyes and fired. That bitch, who was always cool, mentioned a man’s name.
How will you react if you hear what you have to say next?
Juana could not stand the anticipation.
“Why do you mention it? Now they’re colleagues with the same silver rank. Can’t I just make a comment?”
“Busssing… Wait, did you just say silver?”
“Huh! Silver grade. Today is the day he gets promoted. I did not know?”
“…Uh?”
In an instant, Orca’s mind went as white as a sheet of paper. I forgot about it for a while because of the shocking thing that happened the other day, but today was Han Yoo-seong’s silver grade promotion day.
It was an important day, so I even marked it on the calendar…!
“Oh, no!”
“Would it be too late now? The banquet is almost over, and Han Yoo-seong has left midway.”
Juana’s voice caught Orca as she hurriedly grabbed her coat and ran out.
‘..It’s over?’
Then you can’t..?
The day he was promoted to silver would be a monumental day for Han Yoo-seong. It will be one of the things that will always come to mind when I look back on the past someday.
On such an anniversary, she fell in love. In the future, Yuseong Han will remember the silver grade promotion banquet without her for the rest of his life.
Her broken heart and anger filled her heart.
How long has it been since you made up your mind to make this mistake?
A fatal mistake…
“I also talked to Han Yoo-seong, didn’t I?”
Juana continued her words. Orca listened to her even as her irritation soared.
“I thought he was probably thinking of going independent.”
…?
Did I hear you wrong?
“…What?”
“What? To get away from you and become independent He is no longer your subordinate.”
Juana didn’t even give Orca time to soak up her gloom before driving a wedge into it.
