Chapter 23

“Come on, get promoted already.”

“Don’t talk to me like my wife, Mistika…”

In the evening at the guild.

After I finished the exchange, Mistika at the reception desk spoke to me.

“Your guild ‘credibility’ is already at the top of the third rank, Jade. You can take the promotion exam without an interview, you know?”

“Well, thanks for that.”

Adventurers have something called ‘credibility.’

It’s not about mental stuff.

It’s about the achievement rate within each rank.

Number of completed requests.

Speed of completing requests.

Frequency of injuries during requests.

Combat power calculated from these factors.

And additionally, personality…

The guild compiles statistics from these factors to determine ‘credibility.’

In short, it’s a measure of an adventurer’s performance within each rank.

“You should be aware that even among adventurers of the same rank, there are disparities.”

“Yeah… Even within the third rank, we have lower, middle, and upper levels.”

“Indeed. Reaching the top 5% within the upper level, known as the ‘highest rank,’ is extremely difficult. You are at that position.”

“Oh, well, that’s an honor.”

…Mistika sure is talkative today.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her talk this much outside of her days off.

“You know I don’t really want to get promoted, right? For adventurers of the second rank and above, there are many jobs involving interaction with nobility. I really hate that…”

I can’t stand being bossed around by arrogant people.

I used to be the type who’d just say ‘Yes!’ and do whatever I was told. In my past life, I was basically my boss’s lapdog until it killed me (one loss).

But things are different now.

My personality might have changed just a bit.

“I’ve said this to a troll before, but to enjoy your meals, it’s best to live a moderately busy life…”

“I don’t care about your dried-up life philosophy, Jade.”

“Dried-up life philosophy!?”

Well, I guess?

I know my lifestyle is far from ambitious, but still…!

When someone puts it so bluntly…!

“It kind of makes me want to get serious…! Makes me want to get promoted…!”

“Yes, please do. So, shall we schedule your promotion exam?”

“Sure! …Wait, wait, wait, wait!? I said I’m not taking it!”

Whew, that was close.

Almost got caught in Mistika’s trap.

“Setting traps like that, how sneaky…”

“You just went along with it on your own. You tend to be easily influenced by people you trust.”

Grr…!

“So, about that promotion.”

“No, I told you I’m not taking it. So, seriously, what’s up with you today? You’re usually all about the job.”

“Am I really?”

“Yeah, you’re so good at it you even have weird fans.”

Somehow, she’s more popular than the usual smiling receptionists.

What’s so great about someone who doesn’t even try to be nice…?

“It’s not part of your job to meddle in someone’s promotion. So, why are you doing it…?”

“Did you figure it out? Yes, the new guild master who was recently appointed here ordered us to encourage adventurers to get promoted.”

“So it’s just work.”

Yeah, I figured as much.

She’s always strictly about work when she’s on the clock.

“Who are you to call me dried-up…?”

“Should I write ‘Jade, insulted a young female guild staff member by calling her ‘dried-up,’ credibility minus’ on your record…?”

“Wait, wait, wait!? Don’t write terrible things on my record!”

“Just kidding.”

Don’t say that with a straight face! It’s hard to tell!

“Sigh… Anyway, sorry, but I’ll stay at the third rank for a while longer.”

“I see. It’s a shame for the new guild master to see such young talent wasted.”

Is it really…?

That makes me feel kind of guilty…

“Yes, she said, ‘I want to hoard top adventurers in our guild and show off to the other guild masters!'”

“That’s just about taking pride!?”

I’m not getting promoted for such a petty reason, damn it!