Chapter 19: A-Rank Assessment and Unwanted Company

An A-rank signifies an adventurer’s official entry into the upper echelons of power.

A-rank adventurers enjoy guild privileges, including various discounts on guild items and early access to certain confidential guild information.

The Guild tailors the assessment criteria to each adventurer’s specific role.

For instance, Elara, a vanguard specializing in dual short knives and dark magic, would undergo an assessment heavily focused on combat.

****

At the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Serene, I’d like to apply for the A-rank assessment.”

Elara walked straight to her usual counter, getting right to the point.

“Good morning, Miss Black Rose.”

Serene finished processing the previous adventurer’s quest submission, then lowered her voice.

“Is this… the Vice Guild Master’s idea?”

A hint of difficulty crossed Elara’s face as she nodded in response.

“Ahaha…” Serene let out a strained laugh.

What Elara didn’t know was this:

The day before, shortly after Elara had left the Guild, Sevia had convened a meeting with all guild staff.

During this meeting, she had explicitly forbidden staff from suggesting ideas to adventurers, such as ‘don’t advance to A-rank yet, you can earn more in the dungeon.’

Seeing Elara now compelled to advance to A-rank, Serene instantly understood for whom yesterday’s meeting had been called.

“I’ll go schedule your assessment time.”

“Mm.”

Serene departed, leaving Elara to another bout of tedious waiting.

‘Ah, if only Hilvyn were here.’

Elara sat idly on a stool, glancing around to observe what other adventurers were doing.

“Woohoo! Our team only needs two more quests to reach B-rank!”

“Go, team!” came four enthusiastic replies.

Not far away, a harmonious team cheered excitedly in front of the reception counter.

“Today, I, Rex, am taking the A-rank assessment. Hurry up and get ready.”

A closer voice drifted into her ears.

The words carried a mix of confident pride and an air of command.

Elara’s gaze shifted over.

The man leading the group sported a shiny, slicked-back brown hairstyle, and his features were quite well-defined.

The other three teammates were all women, reasonably attractive, but they paled in comparison to Elara. Judging by their demeanor…

Two of the women each clung to one of Rex’s arms, while another spoke to him in a saccharine voice, clearly fawning over him.

Elara rolled her eyes. ‘Such a ‘perfect’ team,’ she thought.

‘It takes all sorts to make a world.’

“Hey, you over there, what are you looking at?”

One of the women clinging to Rex’s arm called out towards Elara.

Elara instinctively turned her head, only to find no one behind her.

“Yes, you.”

‘So, they were talking to me.’

Elara met the gazes of the four in the team, too disinclined to speak.

Rex, who had initially been frowning, relaxed his brows after following his teammate’s line of sight.

Black hair, brown eyes, delicate features, and an expressionless face, especially that ‘don’t bother me’ aura—she was captivating.

His eyes lit up.

“Hey, hey, don’t be like that,” he said, patting the woman’s hand with a gentle tone. “She means no harm.”

The three women silently exchanged glances, a flicker of displeasure in their eyes, but they remained quiet.

Rex stood up, straightened his collar, and walked over to sit beside Elara.

“Isn’t this Black Rose? I’ve heard much about you.”

Rex flashed what he believed was a perfectly proper smile.

“My name is Rex, my codename is Thundercloud, and I’m advancing to A-rank adventurer today.”

After the Hyena Squad incident, the name Black Rose was known to virtually every B-rank adventurer.

“Hello.”

Elara merely glanced at him, her gaze returning to the door through which Serene had disappeared.

She had always disliked such people, preferring to avoid contact whenever possible.

Besides…

‘Please, big brother, your three teammates’ eyes are practically spitting fire. Can’t you see them?’

Elara silently rolled her eyes inwardly.

If she didn’t speak to him, she’d offend one person. If she did, she’d offend three. Elara knew which side had the greater numbers.

‘These three women, when among themselves, would simply squabble. But with an outsider, they’d undoubtedly unite tighter than a dead knot.’

Seeing Elara’s attitude, the smile on Rex’s face stiffened for a moment before returning to normal.

“You’re also a vanguard, dark elemental, right?” Rex pressed on. “You’ve been stuck at B-rank for a long time, haven’t you? I’m about to reach A-rank, I can share my experience…”

Blah, blah, blah.

The incessant chatter made Elara’s ears ache.

“No need for compensation, we’re all adventurers, just getting to know each other…”

“Miss Black Rose, your…”

Serene emerged from behind the door. She glanced at Rex, then at Elara, whose face was clearly etched with ‘speechless.’

“The assessment has been scheduled,” Serene said, her expression composed.

“When?”

“Now,” another voice drifted from the staircase.

Elara’s brow twitched.

The speaker was none other than Guild Master Sevia.

Rex chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his hands together, and quietly got up to leave.

“Hmph, taking this long to even test for A-rank. Who knows what they’re trying to prove.”

Rex returned to his team, glaring at the black-haired back that was now conversing with Sevia.

Where was his earlier composure? His eyes were filled with utter disdain.

“Um, Thundercloud.”

Hearing someone call his name, Rex immediately straightened up.

“Cough… Guild Master, what is it?”

“You’re also taking the A-rank assessment? Come along.”

****

At the edge of the Whispering Forest.

‘Damn it, why is Guild Master Sevia the assessor?’

Elara had never imagined that the Vice Guild Master herself would serve as an assessor.

Rex shared her surprise.

However, Rex’s mindset was much more optimistic than hers.

Because his magic attribute was the relatively rare lightning element, and his talent was decent, he had always possessed a ‘mysterious confidence.’

He was only surprised for a moment upon learning the assessor was the Vice Guild Master, then quickly adopted an air of inevitability.

This confidence also stemmed from…

Elara didn’t even need to look; merely hearing the shouts of his team members was enough.

“Captain is so handsome!”

“Captain is amazing!”

‘Who brings a cheerleading squad to an assessment?’

Elara silently scoffed, then a thought occurred to her.

‘If Hilvyn were here, shouting, “Go, big sister! You’re the best, big sister!”‘

‘That actually sounds pretty good, hey.’

“Pass.”

Sevia sat with her legs crossed on a stool, marking a check on her form, her face serene.

Rex returned from the open ground to his team, where the three women took turns offering him water, massaging his shoulders, and showering him with praise.

This assessment comprised two stages; the first was an individual magic display.

The standard for A-rank vanguards was the proficient release of two or more high-tier spells, or spells whose effects reached high-tier.

For example, Elara’s ‘Shadow Silk Bind’ could achieve the effect of a high-tier spell.

Rex had just demonstrated three high-tier spells, proving his genuine talent.

“Your turn, Black Rose.”

Sevia gestured for Elara to step forward and demonstrate.

While an assessment ground existed within the city, Sevia had chosen an outdoor location.

Elara understood the Vice Guild Master’s intention.

This was because the city was equipped with an ‘Anti-Spatial Magic Array.’

The array’s function was simple: to prevent spatial magic from being used within the city.

‘Heh, you want me to display spatial magic? Then I’ll deliberately defy your wishes.’

A small smile played on Elara’s lips.