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7

“Well that means……in the there are scary monsters besides the h.e.l.lbear. Rather, I heard that the is more troublesome. Its strength is not as strong as a h.e.l.lbear’s, but I’m afraid they weren’t able to kill the tenacious at that time.”

Etolam supported his chin with his thumb and index finger while nodding, and muttered “Uh-huh”.

“That’s all. I don’t want to start pointing fingers.”

Gantetsu was implying that someone provoked the and pointed that out for the other adventurers to understand.

“Wa-wasn’t it you!?”

“I wouldn’t go to the ……that place is for A ranked members, and by no means would I try to fight it.”

The Adventurers in the room caused a commotion. And as far as I’m concerned, I don’t care what they do. Earlier, I can’t say I was calm but even so, I still wasn’t okay with talking later. After the group dispersed, Gantetsu called us out. We went to talk at a bar near the guild. Nighttime at a bar, it was already filled with adventurers who just finished their jobs. There were already people drinking alcohol and drunk people singing. We sip the melon soda with a straw that Gantetsu treated us to. I wonder how long it’s been since I was able to experience a powerful stimulus of a carbonated drink, I was totally choked by the bubbles.

“Yo, about earlier, it was my bad. but first of all thank you for saving me. Please accept this.”

He handed over 1750G.it looked like it was the reward from earlier, part of the 3500G. Though now that I think of it, he had shared half of it with Etolam.

“Umm, I can’t accept this…”

Roel was indifferent about it and shoved the gold on top of the table back to Gantetsu. However, Gantetsu blocked it with his arm.

“Well, my life was saved. Something like that, at least to me, isn’t nothing. Please, I beg of you to take it.”

Placing his hands on the table, Gantetsu lowered his head. I thought it was no longer productive to try and fight it, so Roel took the money.

“There are 2 reasons why I wasn’t able to fess up in front of everyone: First of all they would have checked your rank. You wouldn’t have been recognized as the quest clearer and no reward would have been given. And second, no matter how many you guys kill, the quest details are absolute. There are ways to resolve these kinds of things, like what I did, but other methods are more troublesome.”

After have a drink of cold water, Gantetsu continued.

“There is a meaning why adventurers are divided into ranks.”

“What do you mean?”

There are still a lot of things that I want to ask.

“I’m not good at explaining. Let me say it like this: There is a job for low ranks in itself. Some adventurers will take a higher ranked quest than they should. Afterwards, the client will panic when seeing the adventurer is a lower rank than expected. There are people that can be saved depending on the reliability of the adventurer. It may be searching for a pet, or guarding, or escorting, but it’s necessary to understand worries like that.”

We just stayed quiet, listening to Gantetsu talk. We tuned out the commotion from the drunk guys.

“About that, the upper ranks do things that you don’t get to see. As in, you won’t know if they reported the right thing. Towards those people who are thickheaded I have nothing but disdain. For example even if they ranked up to a higher rank, those type of guys will do something completely irresponsible in their jobs. It only gets as good as that, I’m afraid. I wonder if just taking a part of the reward is good enough compensation.” (TL: このくらいでいいだろう、報酬分だけやればいいかなんてな)

“Fuuu~”, Gantetsu took a breath and downed another gla.s.s of water.

“After all, there are some serious cases that leads to accidents. Even you should’ve seen that from Aude, what an example. I don’t think he learned his lesson, to be honest. It may not end well for him the next time. That’s why I brought Aude to this bar earlier, to thoroughly speak to him. Even though he was picking his nose, he was probably listening…”

“Is that so. . . . ”

Gantetsu’s word deeply resounded in my chest. We need to raise up our rank, but the fact about the client didn’t completely get through to me.

“There may be those of the lower status and the so called ‘unrefined’ that you have heard of, but I want you guys to learn about this. For example, you defeated a in one hit. A rank, D rank, does it matter? Each and every person that gives their all is great.”

“Gantetsu-san, I’m sorry. . . . ”

I apologized from the bottom of my heart.

“Well, I didn’t plan to do a lecture but you guys just listened to me speak.”

“Gahahaha” Gantetsu was laughing.

I’ll do what I can do. I’m still at D rank. For a novice beginner, what can I do? Let’s think about that.

“And, let’s end this talk here. I’m sure you guys haven’t had dinner right? Today will be my treat so go and order lots!”

Considering the mood we had earlier, it’s totally the opposite now. Gantetsu excitedly ordered a beer.

“You already gave us the reward money…and to go as far as treat us…this is obviously too much!”

Roel panicked as she refused to receive the treat but it was already too late. Gantetsu’s head was already filled with alcohol. Proof of this was that he was firmly looking at the menu. With writings and pictures of beer. And just now, he even ordered another beer.

“Of course, since you guys are underage, no beers ok?”

Suddenly Gantetsu took his beer and chugged it in seconds. Roel and I also received the food that we ordered.

“If you feel like it, come to the Avangard Kingdom whenever you like. I’ll always welcome you.”

Gantetsu’s face was already red with alcohol. Not wanting to lose, I drank the melon soda directly. For 10 years, I haven’t drank any carbonated drinks. It popped and fizzed inside my throat as if scolding me for being conceited and drinking too fast.