CH 4

“Is this the Guild’s Main Building? …I mean, Ma’am!”

I followed Riff to the Guild.

It was a building near the Capital’s central part.

As if to flaunt the first-rate land they bought, the big building that looked like it had seven floors, seemed wide enough to fit ten whole houses.

The land price near the central part of the Capital is bound to be high…

And they just generously gave me a hundred gold coins. Just how rich is this organization?

“Hm! Nice, innit? And it’s not our Main Building but our Headquarters. …Rather, would you drop the honorifics? It ‘s creeping me out.”

“No need for ceremonious courtesy, huh? As expected!”

“Stop it! It reminds me of those glib and unreadable upstart merchants. As soon as they learn that I’m not a child, they start getting all giggly. It’s disgusting!”

“O-oh!”

Well, if she says that much, I’ll just have to fix it.

Plus, I don’t really want to use honorifics on someone who has a child’s appearance like Riff.

“Must be a pain, looking like a child like that.”

“Totally! And I even used to be a beauty with a nice body…. Look! Just like that.”

“Used to… ? Li-…. My~ She sure is!”

Riff said what seemed to weigh on her mind but since the woman she just pointed at was so beautiful, I couldn’t care less about that. She’s a woman that attracts the surrounding gazes even when she’s just looking at the Guild’s large display board.

Long red hairs and red irises that look like they’re bursting into flames and a very womanly build. Since her face is also good, she would attract people’s attention just by wal— She’s looking at us, isn’t she?

“Isn’t that person kinda looking this way?”

“Mkay! Time for the Guild’s tour!~”

“She is looking at us! What’s that, such an intense glare!”

“’Kay, we’re leaving! She hasn’t found us yet!”

“Don’t say something so ominous! Plus, she’s already kinda coming anyway.”

‘Staring at a hungry prey’ is her fitting description right now.

We’re on display… She just so happened to look this way when my stomach grumbled due to excessive hunger. Then she immediately headed for us.

“This is bad! We’re leaving, Jeed!”

“Uh? Uh? Wait what?”

Riff grabbed my hand.

A storm of magical energy overflowed from the soft small hand that could barely hold my little finger.

“『Teleport』, yon!”

A chant. And a single word at that.

Ah, I have to admit it.

This certainly is at the level of a multinational organization’s “Master”.

…… That’s why I’d rather you not glare at me too.

“It was an accident …..”

“An ac.ci.dent?”

“Yes….. I really am sorry ….”

I lightly lowered my head while giving the apology.

The little girl looked at me with a reproachful gaze.

“An slip …. is all it took to cancel my 『Teleport』?”

The 『Teleport』 spell that was meant as a way to escape the red-headed beauty was canceled.

It’s probably because she wanted to take me along. When the magical power coiled around me…. .

It was an instinctual defense. So, please forgive me.

“Argh! We can’t flee now, can we?”

There should’ve been quite the distance between us and her or the outside. But she appeared in front of us in less than a breath.

“What is it, Cuena? Do you have business with me?”

“Don’t give me that, Riff! That guy you brought is Jeed, right?”

The beauty called Cuena pointed at me.

“Yeah, I am Jeed!”

“’Sup! Fell for him?”

“F-fell…? …! Like love at first sight!? O-obviously not!”

Instant rejection. My heart ached since the other party is a beauty.

“Don’t play dumb, Riff! You’re disregarding me and making him S-rank, aren’t you?”

“If it’s that, then it’s already been decided over a meeting. Still wanna complain about it?”

“Meeting!? You mean the highly exclusive S-rank gathering and Guild officials meeting? Why are we, A rankers, not even taken into account?”

“That’s obvious! Did you think you could butt in a conversation regarding a promotion to an S rank which is above A rank?”

“If it were one of the current A rankers, there’d be no problems but it’s definitely weird for someone that popped out of nowhere!”

Seems like Cuena is opposed to my promotion to S-rank.

I’ve heard something. In the Guild’s ranking system, S is the highest. Moreover, you have to pass the annual exam to get admitted, and only one person can pass.

Well, they say that it actually takes several years for anyone to be admitted.

“So you at least want a proof of strength, right?”

“Exactly! At this rate, even the other A rankers would object as well!”

“But Jeed already received the S-ranked Soria Aiden’s referral. Not to mention several Executives.”

“Lady 『Starlight Saintess』 Soria Aiden…. Well, if she’s fervently recommending him, a lot of Adventurers will comply.”

What!? I’m lost!

I received a referral from “Lady Starlight? Saintess….? And even from a lot of Executives…. ?

It’s not just Riff that wants me but actually a bunch of people?

But why? I shouldn’t have any personal connection that could have recommended me.

“But I cannot acknowledge him if I don’t see it myself.” (Cuena)

“*Sigh*, enough! Hit him then! Try and kill him.” (Riff)

“Are you nuts!?” (Jeed)

TLN: Just in case ‘cause it got me confused a couple of times.

Riff just casually dismissed my life.

That’s extremely awful. Cuena too, please don’t give me that bloodlust eyes. And please, don’t reach for the sword on your waist.