arc01 · 037-ep37

Episode 37: Onward to C-Rank

There was the hiccup of the chest coughing up something unexpected, but I'd safely cleared every condition for the C-rank promotion.

The rule is to report to the guild promptly after beating the boss, so I decided to head straight home via the Floor 11 teleport circle.

Step out of the boss room, and a staircase leading down to Floor 11 appears.

Along the way there was another of those small safe-zone rooms, same as always, but I had no business there, so I gave it a pass and made my way down to the Floor 11 entrance. And once down there, right beside the entrance stood something that was plainly artificial—a kind of altar. A magic circle lay inlaid in the floor; apparently, this was what they called a teleport circle.

Artificial-looking as it is, the guild didn't build it or anything. It's a function the dungeon comes with from the very start, supposedly.

Step onto the magic circle, and the floor glows faintly—and just like a status window, the teleport destinations appear floating in the air.

Right now, Floor 1's entrance is the only option, so I tap it.

The display vanishes, the light at my feet flares, and the next instant————

By the time I felt that split second of weightlessness, I'd already teleported to the altar inside the Floor 1 entrance ruins.

"…What a strange sensation."

I wonder—could you analyze this magic circle and get teleportation magic out of it or something? Well, if something this obvious has never actually been pulled off, it must be harder than it looks.

Anyway, first things first—time to get my report in.

◇

When I reached the guild reception, it was busier than usual—apparently a lot of people had come home the same as me.

Figured I should give my report to Sakurai-san, so I headed over to where she was. Several receptionists staff the counter, so unless it's something unusual, there's no queue to speak of.

"Sakurai-san, I'm back. I've safely met all the conditions—could you verify them, please?"

"Welcome back. I'm relieved to see you seem to be unharmed. Then, first, let's confirm your level here. After that, please submit either the assigned materials or the boss's magic stone."

"Roger that."

I hand over the magic stone, borrow the appraisal orb—the same one from my D-rank promotion—and have my level displayed.

『Level 25』

"Yes, confirmed. The magic stone is being appraised at the moment, so please wait just a little."

"Ah, is it okay if I take out everything else I want to sell, too?"

"That's fine. …It's quite a lot, isn't it?"

"Um, well… maybe?"

"…If the sellables are already sorted out, I'll take your whole bag into custody."

"Then, please do."

That flask is stashed in a separate pouch, so I handed over the backpack just as it was—crammed with magic stones, drop items, and the Swordsman's weapon. The weapon was sticking clean out of it, like a recorder jammed into an elementary schooler's backpack.

"It really is a huge amount… You are solo, aren't you…"

"I, uh, pushed myself a little."

"You pushed yourself far too much."

Apparently, hauling back this much solo is a rarity in itself.

Back during my money-making runs I was collecting clubs, so the volume itself was never all that big. This time I didn't gather weapons by plundering, so I ended up with a pile of nothing but magic stones.

I haven't counted, but there've got to be several hundred. Surely not a thousand, though.

"…The magic stone appraisal is finished as well. You have met both conditions for promotion to C-rank, so I hereby certify Kobayakawa-sama's rank as C. I will update your guild card now—please wait a moment."

"Yes! Now I can explore Floor 11 and beyond! Thank you!"

"This goes without saying, but you will be the youngest C-rank solo adventurer. Your promotion came at an exceptional pace, so there may be some resentment. Do take good care, won't you?"

"I will. Thank you for the concern. I'll be careful."

Sakurai-san really does seem to worry about me—she even kept her voice low through our whole exchange, so the people around us wouldn't overhear.

Thanks to that, nothing raised a fuss, and I managed to climb to C-rank quietly and without incident.

After waiting a while, my new guild card and the bag I'd left in her care came back.

"The buyback is finished as well, so please confirm the amount and so on."

"Yes………… looks fine. 550,000 yen in total, huh. The boss's magic stone fetched a good price, but compared to clubs, magic stones really don't earn much, do they."

"Prices climb higher and higher along with level, so as a C-rank I believe you'll be able to earn considerably more. Though I would say you are already earning to an abnormal degree as it is."

"Haha, yeah, I know, believe me. Adventurers burn through consumables too, and those add up."

"That's true. Which is exactly why it ought to be rough going for a student, and yet…"

"I've just been lucky in all sorts of ways, I'm sure."

"…I've decided to simply accept that explanation."

"Well then, I'll call it a day for today."

"Very well. We look forward to your next visit. …Truly, congratulations on reaching C-rank."

We gave each other a little bow, and I left the guild behind.

I snap a photo of my C-rank license on my phone and send it to the Dungeon Research Club group chat.

I've got no intention of trumpeting it far and wide, but a little bragging to the people close to me should be fine.

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Takeru: [image]

Makoto (President): !! Wha—? Takeru-kun, you're C-rank already!?

Midori: Ah, you made it through the promotion safely! Congratulations!

Makoto (President): C-rank makes you a pro adventurer, right? Takeru-kun, aren't you secretly the strongest student there is?

Takeru: Thanks, Aizawa. All those items really saved me. As for strongest student, no idea—but apparently I am the youngest C-rank solo

Midori: Not at all~ I'm just happy to hear I've been of use

Makoto (President): Of course you are! I mean, it's only been a month since you graduated middle school!

Takeru: From here on I'm aiming for world's strongest, so root for me!

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…It's nice, having people you can share news with.

I really should have made more proper friends back in the day. Well, it's not too late even now, I figure.

Oh, come to think of it, I'd forgotten all about that flask.

Better mention it to Aizawa in a private chat.

『Got some kinda unfamiliar item today, so I'll bring it to school tomorrow』

『Not the guild, but school?』

『Yeah, if the wrong someone saw it at the guild, that might be bad news, is the thing』

『Um… that's kind of terrifying, you know…』

Fair point.

But I'm scared too, so what can you do.