23-Episode 22: The level has gone up.

I'm not sure what to say.

After defeating 1,000 Red Wolves, my level has increased.

The experience of the otherworldly demons is quite horrible, from Lv1 to Lv5.

As far as I could tell, there was no noticeable change in status, just an increase in HP and MP.

The main benefit of leveling up, however, is not that, but that it raises your skill level.

I'll check that later.

Return to King's Landing and report to the guild that you have accomplished the request to kill the Red Wolf.

The number of Red Wolves you have killed will be automatically recorded in your guild card, and this will be your proof.

'Oh, you're reporting, Yuki! What kind of crazy thing did you do this time?

Before I knew it, people began to think that I was the kind of person who did crazy things.

I haven't done anything special in the past and I never will. .......

'Today is a normal day. A request to kill a Red Wolf. As you can see, there's nothing special about it.'

The receptionist who received the guild ID confirms the request and the number of kills.

'It's getting ridiculous again, isn't it? What is it, 1000! The digits are wrong. It's usually two digits or something like that!

'Oh, is that so?

It was true that it was troublesome to deal with them one by one, so I proceeded efficiently with Sui's help, but I thought that if I took my time, I could get at least three digits.

'That's right! I've probably broken the record for the number of Red Wolves killed in a single request!

'Is that so. Sorry for being so naive.'

'Haha ....... You've finally noticed the anomaly. Well, I'll take care of it. ......, won't that raise your rank?

'I've got the numbers to match.

'I see, so that's a thousand of them. ......'

The receptionist seemed to have understood my intentions.

'Then, I will prepare new guild cards for both of you, Arelia-san, may I take your guild cards?

The receptionist asked Alelia to return the old guild card.

But--

'No, I haven't defeated any demons and I'm sorry ......'.

For some reason, she didn't comply.

'What ......? Then what should I do ......?

The receptionist looked confused.

She probably didn't think that I would refuse to return the item to her for a rank up.

'According to the guild's regulations, you have to collect your old guild card in order to improve your rank.

'There's no point in raising my rank when I haven't even killed a single demon! I'll just stay at D.''

'...... What? This is the first time I've been rejected when I had the chance to increase my rank. ......'

'What's going to happen in this case?'

'If the adventurer refuses, the current rank will be maintained in principle. However, there has never been a case where an adventurer refused. Requests from lower ranks can still be accepted as before. ......'

'I see. ...... Is this the only time I get a chance to improve my rank? Can't you give me some time to think about it?

'You don't have to make a decision right now, it should be fine. However, if you don't rank up within three days, your rights will be forfeited. If you want to move up to the next level, you'll need to fulfill the conditions again from the beginning. ......'

'I see, I understand. Three days should be enough. Also, you can put my rank up on hold.'

'Okay, ......, what?

Rank advancement is a blessing for a party of adventurers.

I can't honestly be happy if I'm the only one who gets a rank up.

'Aleria, let's change things up a bit.

I'm going to change my mind.

I went outside the guild building and asked Aleria.

'Why don't you want to rank up?

'I don't want to annoy Yuki. I'm sorry.'

'No need to apologize, and I don't mean to blame you. I just want to know why.''

Normally speaking, rank is not something you lose by going up.

You can receive higher-level requests, and you can still receive requests for lower ranks. If you think you're not ready, you can accept D-rank requests.

'My rank is different from Yuki's. I don't think you need to win. I don't think you need to win. I don't think you need to win. ...... But I don't think it's right that my rank should be raised by a request that Yuki completed by himself. Even if that's the way it works,......'

'Oh, I see. ......'

I wanted to raise my rank as soon as possible for my own sake, but also for Arelia's sake, to receive a request with as high a reward as possible, and to leave the capital as soon as possible.

I can't deny that because of that, I was forced to take a strong stand in defeating the Red Wolf earlier.

It was a well-meaning thing to do, but it ended up causing Aleria's atrophy.

'In other words, you think Arelia doesn't have enough power to reach the equivalent of C rank. So, if it turns out that she can handle C-rank requests normally, it won't be a problem to raise her rank.''

'...... Is that right?

'Because, if you're capable of handling C-rank requests, then, in extreme cases, you can proudly call yourself an adventurer even if you suddenly start at C-rank, right?

'That may be true. Even I haven't been able to sort out my own feelings. ......'

''You should be aware that Aleria is stronger than you think. Let's go kill a C-ranked demon now.'

'Yeah, but Yuki is on hold. ......'

'There's no request or anything to do with going out and defeating demons on your own.

'Then you won't get any money for defeating them, will you?'

'It's not like we can weigh which is more important, money or Aelyria, right? I'll get it ready as soon as I can.