Chapter 101
To be honest, Svetlana Gromadin didn't like this situation at all.
Her closed-door training had started from the day she failed to make the limit point grand expedition roster.
It was already unpleasant when, upon finishing her fairly long training, she heard about the death of one of only four Master-rank Explorers in the guild, though they weren't particularly close.
In that situation, even her father's absence, whom she'd secretly hoped to see, was bearable.
With the Guild Master away, her father was the guild's representative, and the visitors were benefactors who'd recovered and returned Grant Dexter's remains.
Though she felt disappointed, there was no resentment.
She understood and accepted it.
The closed-door training, despite its name, took place within the guild house anyway.
When such distinguished guests arrived, prioritizing them was right from any perspective.
However, this was different.
Unless they're looking down on us...
When she first heard they were creating a guild and wanted to become Conquerors' subsidiary, she felt so pleased it erased her initial displeasure.
Where there were farewells, there were new meetings.
Though Grant was gone, if connections were made through his death, then that death wouldn't be entirely meaningless.
And if they'd received such a favor, Conquerors should show appropriate magnanimity in return.
Knowing her father's tendencies, accepting them as a subsidiary guild would be separate from repaying the favor.
She'd thought it was quite a good route to make them a subsidiary guild, gradually repay the debt, and eventually incorporate them into the main guild.
She'd even considered temporarily acting as their senior and forming a team for one or two Abyss expeditions if needed.
If only not for what followed.
Of all places, Frontier?
Her father who quietly listened to this was also at fault.
What would he say to the Guild Master who trusted and left his position to him?
No. Is that why he left it to me?
After all, Roman was the Conquerors' benefactor.
If Ref, the Vice Guild Master and Master-rank Explorer, personally conducted the test and thoroughly crushed them, it might look strange.
Instead, entrusting it to her who, despite being slightly older, could still pass as a peer?
That made sense.
Even the rank difference between Senior and Expert was just one level.
A quite plausible selection for testing.
Add that she'd be dispatched if they passed, and it was a perfect justification under the pretext of checking compatibility beforehand.
Still, since they're benefactors, should I go easy?
Even while thinking this, Svetlana's hands were diligently gathering her equipment.
"Whoa~ Lana, that's harsh. Full main equipment loadout."
"Is it 'a lion uses its full strength even to catch a rabbit'?"
"Lion? Hmm, isn't Lana more like a bear than a lion?"
"Let's correct that. A bear uses its full strength even to raid a beehive."
"...Quiet."
And bears just mindlessly harvest honey trusting their thick hide, she thought.
Inwardly grumbling at the twins' comments, Svetlana conscientiously removed one piece of equipment.
Right.
What business does A-rank equipment have in a mere test duel?
"But who knows the secret?"
"We don't know."
"Must be those two from Frontier? Pelletier and Carlyle."
"That makes sense. They're classmates. Maybe that's where the Frontier connection started..."
"Wait. Who did you say?"
Carlyle? Arthur Carlyle?
Svetlana's hand, about to put down an artifact, froze at that name.
If they were associated with that Arthur, she couldn't go easy.
Of all people.
The name Arthur Carlyle was like a dragon's reverse scale to her.
Before Arthur emerged properly outside Frontier and rose as the top next-generation prospect.
She had been in the exact same position.
Arthur Carlyle, Pioneer Viola Pelletier's youngest disciple.
Svetlana Gromadin, Pioneer Sullivan Evans's previous disciple.
Even their origins matched as pure-blooded guild members from birth.
Though there were minor differences—Arthur's parents died during an Abyss expedition and he became something like Viola's adopted son, while her father was alive and well as Conquerors' second-in-command.
And ultimately, she, who had been Arthur's senior, failed.
She obtained her Explorer license at 18, earlier than Arthur.
Despite seven long years of activity, she still hadn't broken through to Master.
A performance falling far short of Viola, who became a Master at 20 and a Pioneer before the age of 30.
A poor result that also tarnished her master's reputation, who despite becoming an Explorer at the relatively late age of 22, was promoted to Master in just two years and claimed a Pioneer seat at 30.
Interest in the Pioneer's disciple cooled rapidly.
An indifference that made her almost prefer mockery and contempt arrived.
The names of Conquerors and Sullivan Evans blocked even criticism.
While negative attention was still attention, even that was denied.
The expectations of becoming the next-generation Pioneer that had followed her turned into another.
To the rising star Arthur Carlyle, whom Viola Pelletier had ambitiously nurtured, even giving up her own exploration activities to stay in the city.
So she didn't want to lose.
Even if not to Arthur himself, but to his associate.
Just in case...
She picked up her favorite weapon again.
§
Roman's group was already waiting in the training room to be used for the test duel.
Unlike her who needed to gather equipment, Roman was already fully prepared.
Though Conquerors offered to provide supplies like the scrolls they usually carry, Roman declined.
As per the contract conditions, Svetlana entered alone after accompanying the twins only to the entrance.
Immediately upon entering the training room, Svetlana used her artifact, “Light that Illuminates the Depths”.
It was a kind of lens that determined whether something was from the Abyss or not.
Just one artifact?
The orb attached to the staff.
That's all.
The weak reaction from the grimoire wrapped in a silver chain at his waist suggested it was either made with Abyss materials or a blank grimoire with its Abyss mystery erased and overwritten with a new mystery.
Then Svetlana's second artifact activated automatically.
C-rank artifact “Magic-Detecting Needle”.
True to its name, it detected mana.
Though rated C-rank due to restrictions like needing direct body implantation and pain and sensory disruption during operation, its performance rivaled top B-rank artifacts.
Svetlana had implanted it in her left upper arm.
Pain gradually spread from her left arm.
Feeling unfamiliar magical sensations mixing with her normal senses, Svetlana immediately grasped Roman's magic level.
Innate mana only at Novice level.
But that wasn’t the real issue.
The opponent was a Devil Sorcerer.
For them, it wasn’t about innate mana levels, but how strong a Devil they had formed a pact with and how much price they could pay.
Since this was a test duel, not a death match, the price paid wouldn't be too significant.
Still, it should be higher than what that innate mana level would suggest.
However, even Devil Magic ultimately relied on one's own ability.
With that level of mana, there must be rough limits even for Devil Magic which blatantly ignored personal limitations.
Compiling and analyzing the given information, Svetlana derived an estimate of Roman's ability.
Mid-level magic commonly used by Senior-rank mages should be manageable.
Of course, since this was to demonstrate value, the possibility of using high-level magic as a Senior-rank trump card couldn't be completely ruled out.
If the price wasn't lifespan, he might push himself somewhat.
So?
Still, within Senior-rank parameters.
I'll thoroughly break down and completely crush that proud attitude.
"Shall we begin?"
Roman's quiet question further stimulated her competitive spirit.
Despite obviously seeing her thorough preparations, he was calm?
Either he thought he'd just be a punching bag for the test duel, or he was confident he'd win despite such preparation.
Either way, it was unsatisfying.
"Start whenever you're ready."
A cold edge seeped into her businesslike tone.
Come...
Click.
Svetlana firmly gripped the lance and shield in her hands.
She planted herself firmly on the ground as if binding herself to earth.
Her center of gravity slightly lowered.
And her gaze fixed on the enemy ahead.
Focusing her sharpened senses on the opponent before her, she quietly began kindling the aura honed over more than a decade.
With full equipment and defending at full power, she could block even a Fifth Floor Seismic Drake's stomp.
Not just that.
Her artifact-enhanced keen senses wouldn't miss even the slight air ripples from movement.
Search and blocking.
Then counter without delay.
Dozens of victory patterns already waited their turn in Svetlana's mind.
How will you come?
To that question filled with certainty of victory, Roman answered….
"Huh?"
THWACK!
…with an unexpected strike she had never considered.