Chapter 36
About ten days had passed since the Battle of Seil Bridge.
During that time, there had been no major battles.
The Dran Empire's army had gradually retreated west, and yesterday we confirmed that its main force had crossed the border.
First Squad had also gone out several times to scout the area and guard the roads, but we hadn't crossed swords with the Imperial army.
Today, the eight members of First Squad had been summoned to the headquarters of the Duke of Scotty's army.
"We've confirmed the withdrawal of the Imperial army's main force."
The Duke of Scotty said from across the large table.
"There may still be a few scouts or stragglers left behind.
But for the time being, we don't expect another large-scale invasion."
"Then..."
Claude-san looked at the duke.
"Yes."
The duke nodded.
"The mission of the adventurer mobile force dispatched by Count Belgrant ends here."
The atmosphere in the tent relaxed a little.
"It's over, then..."
Raoul-san murmured.
"Finally."
Bork-san let out a breath, too.
I felt the same way.
The conflict with the Dran Empire itself hadn't been resolved.
Even so, we no longer had to keep fighting here.
"You've been a great help to us."
The duke looked at us.
"Especially First Squad."
"We only did the job we were asked to do."
Claude-san replied.
"Do you have any idea how many soldiers that job saved?"
"............"
"You brought down Lahn Bridge, defended Seil Bridge, and defeated the Twin Sword Saints.
Without you, we wouldn't have been able to force the Imperial army to retreat so quickly."
The duke paused for a moment.
"That's why there's something I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Claude."
"Yes, sir."
"Would you and all of First Squad be willing to join my household?"
"............"
Claude-san blinked.
I looked at the duke, too.
"All of First Squad?"
"Yes."
The duke nodded.
"I'll find each of you a position suited to your abilities, primarily within the knights' order."
His gaze moved from one person to the next.
"A swordsman. A shield-bearer. A spearman. A scout. A mage. A healer. And Allen and Felicia."
"............"
"First Squad is already a well-rounded small unit. It would be ideal if I could officially bring you into my service."
It was a significant offer.
Serving the ducal house.
And not just one of us—the duke wanted all of First Squad.
"I'll guarantee your terms of service, too."
The duke's gaze settled on Claude-san.
"What do you say?"
"It's a generous offer."
Claude-san replied.
"Then—"
"But I must decline."
His answer was immediate.
"I see."
The duke didn't seem surprised.
"May I ask why?"
"I've already left the knights' order once."
Claude-san gave a wry smile.
"I feel more at home as I am now."
"As an adventurer?"
"Yes."
"It's work where you never know when you'll die."
"Being a knight isn't much different, is it?"
"...I suppose not."
The duke laughed.
"And the rest of you?"
"I'm fine staying an adventurer, too."
Bork-san answered.
"That was quick."
"I like the life I've got now."
"You seemed pretty torn over whether to throw away a single shield, though."
"Even you know about that, Your Grace?!"
A knight standing near the duke struggled to hold back his laughter.
"Raoul?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
Raoul-san thought for a moment.
"I'll stay as I am, too."
"Why?"
"The knights' order seems too strict for me."
"Looking at you, I doubt you'd fit in."
"That hurts when you say it so quickly!"
"Ena!"
"I'll keep adventuring."
Ena-san didn't hesitate, either.
"I'm better suited to having the freedom to move around."
"Me, too."
Lydia-san chimed in.
"Why?"
"I bet the knights' order gets up early."
"That's your reason?"
"It's important."
Cecil-san nodded slightly.
"I want to keep adventuring with my companions as we are now."
"I see."
The duke turned his gaze to Felicia.
"What about you?"
"I'll keep adventuring, too."
"You don't need to think about it?"
"No."
Finally, he looked at me.
"Allen."
"Yes."
"What will you do?"
"I want to stay an adventurer, too."
"Aren't you interested in serving the ducal house?"
"...Not right now."
Maybe I'd put that a little too bluntly.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because you went to the trouble of asking me."
The duke smiled.
"You're oddly conscientious about things like that for a fifteen-year-old."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Serving the ducal house.
A little while ago, that would have seemed like an enormous opportunity to me.
But now I wanted to explore more dungeons.
I wanted to fight stronger monsters.
I wanted to visit places I hadn't seen yet.
And I wanted to decide for myself what I would do.
I'd been doing that ever since I left home.
"Understood."
The duke nodded.
"It's a shame, but I won't force you to stay."
"Thank you."
"However..."
The duke looked at First Squad.
"If you change your minds, my door is always open."
We bowed our heads.
"And Claude."
"Yes?"
"First Squad is disbanding today, isn't it?"
"That's right."
Raoul-san looked up.
"Huh?"
"What is it?"
"We're disbanding?"
"We were only formed for the duration of the war."
"Yeah, I know, but..."
Raoul-san looked around at us.
"Doesn't it feel kind of sad?"
"We only spent a few days together."
Bork-san said.
"Those few days were pretty intense!"
"I know what you mean."
Ena-san nodded.
"Even you, Ena?!"
"It's not like we'll never see each other again."
Lydia-san said.
"We're all based in Belgrant, after all."
"That's true, but..."
Claude-san looked at us.
"We might team up again sometime."
"For a job?"
"Yeah."
"Next time, let's make it something other than a war."
Felicia said.
"I'd like that, too."
If we fought together as First Squad again,
I'd rather our opponents be monsters.
◇
It took three days to get back to Belgrant.
Unlike when we'd headed west, the number of people traveling along the road gradually increased.
It seemed the evacuees were beginning to return.
We also saw merchants' wagons.
That alone made me realize the fighting really was over.
Then, in the early afternoon,
Belgrant's walls came into view for the first time in a while.
"We're back."
Bork-san said.
"It's nice to be back."
Raoul-san stretched his arms wide.
"We haven't even gone through the gate yet."
Ena-san said.
"It's the feeling that counts."
We approached the western gate.
The place where wagons and people usually lined up was crowded today.
"What's going on?"
Felicia tilted her head.
A soldier standing by the gate noticed us.
"They're here!"
Someone shouted.
"The mobile force is back!"
The people around us looked our way.
"First Squad is with them, too!"
"Which ones?"
"The ones who defeated the Twin Sword Saints!"
"............"
I nearly stopped in my tracks.
"The news has already spread."
Claude-san gave a wry smile.
"That was fast."
"It's been over ten days."
"I suppose so."
Even more eyes turned toward us.
"Isn't that the boy?"
"I heard he's fifteen."
"Really?"
"They say he defeated a Sword Saint..."
I felt rather uncomfortable.
"Allen-san."
"Yes?"
"Your face is all stiff."
"Are you all right, Felicia-san?"
"Not at all."
"But you're smiling."
"I smile when I'm in trouble."
"I never knew that."
We passed through the gate.
Beyond it, soldiers from the count's household were waiting for us.
"You must be First Squad."
"Yes."
Claude-san replied.
"Count Belgrant is waiting for you. Please come to the manor."
◇
The Belgrant manor.
The first time I'd come here, a large group of adventurers had gathered in this hall.
Count Belgrant had asked us to lend our strength to protect the Duchy of Scotty.
Now, only the eight members of First Squad were in the hall.
Count Belgrant walked toward us from the back.
"You're back."
"Yes."
Claude-san replied.
The count looked at each of us in turn.
Then he said,
"I'm glad you all made it back safely."
His voice was a little softer than before.
"I was the one who sent you to the battlefield."
No one interrupted him.
"I asked you to take on a job that could have cost you your lives, even though you weren't regular soldiers."
"............"
"And yet you chose to take part, and in the end, you protected Belgrant's western territory."
The count continued.
"You brought down Lahn Bridge, defended Seil Bridge, and defeated the Empire's Twin Sword Saints."
Then he lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you."
"Count Belgrant."
Claude-san looked a little surprised.
"It's only right that I thank you."
"We only accepted a job."
"That job kept many of my people from being caught up in the fighting."
The count raised his head.
"That's more than enough."
I couldn't say anything.
When I decided to go to war,
I hadn't known if it was really the right thing to do.
Even now, I couldn't say I was glad I'd cut people down.
But we had managed to protect something because of it.
"Now, then..."
The count's expression changed.
"I don't intend to leave it at a mere thank-you."
The clerk beside him placed several documents on the table.
"Your reward for this mission."
Raoul-san's eyes lit up.
"Here it comes."
"You're so obvious."
Ena-san said.
"We're adventurers. Rewards are important!"
"That's true."
The count chuckled.
"Your regular mission reward and hazard pay will be paid by the House of Belgrant."
"Yes, sir."
"In addition, I've received a special commendation for your military achievements from His Grace, the Duke of Scotty."
I see. The duke was paying us, too.
"We'll pay it all together today."
The clerk looked at the first document.
"Claude."
"Yes."
"Mobile force mission reward, hazard pay, commendation for your achievements in the Seil Bridge defense, and a special reward for defeating the Empire's Sword Saint."
He checked the figures once.
"The total is fifteen million jenny."
"............"
Raoul-san looked at Claude-san.
"Fifteen million?"
"Yeah."
"I've never heard of an amount like that in all my time as an adventurer."
"Neither have I."
Even Claude-san gave a wry smile.
Next,
the clerk turned his attention to me.
"Allen Valdis."
"Yes."
"Mobile force mission reward, hazard pay, special commendation for the Lahn Bridge operation, commendation for recapturing Seil Bridge, and a special reward for defeating the Empire's Sword Saint."
Then,
"The total is fifteen million jenny."
"............"
I thought I'd misheard him.
"How much?"
"Fifteen million jenny."
"...Fifteen million."
The Flamefang Sword had cost 1.28 million.
Which meant...
"I could buy more than ten Flamefang Swords..."
"Is that what you're focused on?"
Felicia immediately reacted.
"It was an easy comparison to understand."
"What would you do with ten of them?"
"I wouldn't buy ten."
"Of course not."
Raoul-san looked at me.
"You're fifteen and you'll have fifteen million jenny?"
"Looks like it."
"Can I borrow some?"
"No."
"That was quick!"
The count chuckled softly.
"There's no need to be surprised."
"But it's fifteen million!"
"Yes."
"Isn't that too much?"
"I don't think so."
The count's expression turned serious.
"The presence of even one Sword Saint on a battlefield can change the movements of hundreds of soldiers."
"............"
"And you defeated that Sword Saint."
The count looked at me.
"If anything, it's cheap."
"...Is that how it works?"
"That's how it works."
The rest of First Squad's rewards were announced as well.
Felicia received a special reward for her magical support at Lahn and Seil Bridges and her achievements in the battle against the Twin Sword Saints.
Bork-san.
Lydia-san.
Cecil-san.
Raoul-san.
Ena-san.
Everyone received an amount they never would have expected from an ordinary job.
"I can buy a shield..."
Bork-san murmured.
"Are you going to replace it after all?"
"I'll repair the one I have."
"Then you don't need a new shield."
"It's a spare!"
"You're going to carry two around?"
"Quiet!"
Laughter broke out again.
"I've arranged for your rewards to be paid through the Adventurers' Guild."
The count said.
"And..."
"There's more?"
"There is."
The count looked at Felicia and me.
"The guild would like to speak with you."
◇
We left the count's manor and headed to the Adventurers' Guild.
The moment we entered,
everyone's eyes turned toward us.
It was quieter than usual.
"This feels kind of awkward."
I whispered to Felicia.
"I know what you mean."
We headed for the reception desk.
The receptionist we'd seen before looked at us.
"Welcome back."
"We're back."
Felicia replied.
The receptionist hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"...Did you really defeat a Sword Saint?"
I knew she'd ask.
"Yes."
"By yourself?"
"Everyone in First Squad helped me."
"But you were the one who defeated him in the end, right, Allen-san?"
"That's right."
"............"
The receptionist looked at me.
"You were F-Rank not long ago, weren't you?"
"That's right."
"............"
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
The receptionist let out a long sigh.
"I think I'll stop being surprised."
"That might be for the best."
"You shouldn't be the one saying that, Allen-san."
The deputy guildmaster came out from the back.
"Allen Valdis-san. Felicia Roth-san."
"Yes."
"Could I speak with you for a moment?"
Two adventurer cards were placed on the counter.
"We've received official reports from the House of Belgrant and the House of Scotty regarding your achievements in the wartime missions."
The deputy guildmaster opened a document.
"Adventurer ranks are normally determined by considering the number of completed jobs, monster-slaying records, contributions to the guild, ability, and other factors."
"Yes."
"We've reviewed all of those again in light of your recent achievements."
The deputy guildmaster looked at me.
"Allen Valdis-san, in addition to your past dungeon-clearing records, you've completed numerous wartime missions and defeated one Sword Saint."
"Yes."
Next, the deputy guildmaster looked at Felicia.
"We've also confirmed Felicia Roth-san's record of reaching the twelfth floor, her magical support in the wartime missions, her work in the Lahn Bridge operation and the recapture of Seil Bridge, and her contributions in the battle against the Twin Sword Saints."
"Yes."
"As a result..."
The deputy guildmaster handed us two adventurer cards.
"Effective today, both of you are promoted to B-Rank adventurers."
"............"
Felicia looked at her adventurer card.
"...B-Rank?"
"Yes."
I took mine, too.
【Allen Valdis】
【Adventurer Rank: B】
"We've ranked up."
"We really have..."
Felicia murmured.
I looked at the deputy guildmaster.
"Already?"
"............"
The receptionist pressed a hand to her forehead.
"You said the same thing when you became C-Rank."
"Did I?"
The deputy guildmaster chuckled, too.
"This time, I wouldn't call it 'already.' It would be a problem to leave someone who defeated a Sword Saint at C-Rank."
"Is that how it works?"
I looked at my new adventurer card.
B.
When I'd only just become an adventurer,
Gareth-san had been B-Rank when he assessed my abilities.
Back then, B-Rank adventurers, who were called first-rate adventurers, had seemed so far out of reach.
Then, when I'd first arrived in Belgrant,
I'd seen Claude-san, an A-Rank adventurer, and wondered if adventurers like him really existed.
Now I was only one rank below him.
"Felicia-san."
"Yes?"
"Does being B-Rank mean—"
"...What is it?"
The receptionist looked like she had a bad feeling about this.
"Can we go deeper into the dungeon than before?"
"............"
The receptionist fell silent.
Felicia fell silent, too.
"What's wrong?"
"You're already talking about dungeons?"
"Yes."
"You just got back from the battlefield, didn't you?"
"We got back today, yes."
"That's not what I meant!"
"Sorry."
The receptionist sighed.
"Now that you're B-Rank, you can take jobs in the deeper floors that you couldn't access before."
"I knew it."
"However..."
"Yes?"
"Don't suddenly go to a floor that's too dangerous for you."
"I won't do anything reckless."
"I'm not sure I can trust you when you say that, Allen-san."
"If it gets dangerous, we'll come back."
"I've heard you say that plenty of times, too!"
Felicia was smiling.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're coming with me, right, Felicia-san?"
"Of course."
She answered immediately.
This time, the receptionist looked at Felicia.
"Even you, Felicia-san..."
"I'm more worried about leaving Allen-san to go alone."
"That's fair."
"Aren't you both being a little mean to me?"
"You need to be a little more self-aware, Allen-san."
I put away my adventurer card.
Only one thing came to mind.
【Swordmaster: 10,000P】
My current balance was...
【6,025P】
I needed another 3,975P.
I was B-Rank now.
I could go to places with stronger monsters than before.
"Allen-san."
Felicia looked at me.
"You're not planning to go tomorrow, are you?"
"It's already late today."
"That's not what I mean. Could you rest for at least a little while?"
"I'll rest today."
"Only today?"
"Yes."
"............"
Felicia pressed a hand to her forehead.
The receptionist did the same.
"You're starting to sound alike."
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
"Mine?"
"Who else would it be?"
Just then,
I noticed a bulletin board I'd never seen before at the edge of my vision.
"...What's that?"
"Oh."
The receptionist noticed where I was looking.
"Those are B-Rank-and-above jobs."
"B-Rank and above..."
I walked closer.
Large monster extermination.
Long-distance escort.
Dangerous-area investigation.
The jobs were clearly different from the ones on the boards I'd seen before.
Among them was one job in a dungeon.
A floor we'd never been to before.
Monsters we hadn't fought yet.
"............"
"Allen-san."
Felicia looked at me.
"You look happy."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
For the first time in a while, I could fight monsters instead of people.
And I'd already decided on my next goal.
I needed another 3,975P to reach Swordmaster.
"Let's go tomorrow."
Total P Acquired = 32,935P