Chapter 54: The S-Rank Errand

The receptionist at the Bigmeluo Adventurer Association had previously given her a rundown on the Adventurer Association’s commissions.

These commissions were categorized by difficulty, ranging from the highest to the lowest: SS, S, A, B, C, D, and E.

However, the pinnacle SS-rank commission was a world-class undertaking, singular in its existence: to join the grand crusade against the Demon Lord upon their emergence.

Therefore, with the SS-rank excluded, S-rank commissions stood as virtually the most challenging and highest-tier quests to undertake.

‘Just what kind of trivial errand could possibly warrant an S-rank rating?’

Anna rummaged through a small pouch secured to the garter on her right thigh. Eventually, she produced a crumpled sheet of kraft paper, which she offered to Eve.

“See, Luosha?” Anna said, “This is the commission we accepted back then.”

Eve, still somewhat dazed, accepted the paper. As she smoothed out the crinkled kraft, a striking red ‘S’ was emblazoned prominently at the top center of the page.

[S-Rank Commission]

[Recently, Madam Stith, the Countess, suffered a devastating attack by the Slime King of the grasslands while her carriage traversed the official road through Xigelili Grassland. She incurred significant losses, including a large quantity of her personal garments. This commission is hereby issued to capable individuals, inviting them to venture into the Xigelili Grassland and recover the Countess’s lost possessions.]

[Recommended for acceptance: Adamantite-tier adventurers, or Legendary Adventurers who have reached Tier Six in strength.]

[Commission Requirements: Retrieve the Countess’s favorite underwear with a little bear pattern, and her wedding dress dowry.]

[Commission Fee: 1 gold coin, 10 silver deposit.]

Eve: ‘Speechless.’

‘Countess, is it truly appropriate to publicly announce your preferences for intimate apparel?! Does your Earl husband even know about this?’

‘And that’s the Slime King!’

‘A Super Slime King, no less, enhanced by the Calamity Domain!’

‘Who are they trying to appease with just one gold coin as a reward!’

‘The risks clearly don’t justify the paltry reward!’

‘Anyone with a modicum of sense could see that!’

‘No wonder no one bothered to accept this commission!’

‘Only a simpleton like Anna would foolishly take on such a task without thinking!’

After thoroughly venting her frustrations internally, Eve carefully folded the kraft paper and handed it back to Anna. “So, Anna, you’ve actually completed the commission already?”

Anna, receiving the paper, casually tucked it into her small pouch as if it were mere scrap. She then flashed Eve an innocent, guileless smile. “That’s right! Madam Stith’s belongings have all been recovered. They’re all in Yulim’s bag.”

Yulim, who had been silently trailing behind them, jolted when her name was suddenly called. She saw Eve and Anna halt, turning their gazes back to her.

With trembling hands, she reached behind her, retrieving a patterned backpack that had been concealed beneath her cloak.

Truth be told, had Yulim not produced it herself, Eve would never have noticed the girl was even carrying a backpack.

But in the very next moment, as Eve watched in utter shock, Yulim dropped to her knees with a soft thud, bowing her head deeply. Like an offering, she lifted the backpack in her hands, presenting it to Eve.

“Th-they’re all here…”

‘Why do I feel like the leader of a mountain bandit gang!’

‘Is this some kind of loot division scene?!’

Eve’s lips twitched uncontrollably, yet Anna appeared completely unfazed. She reached out, plucked the backpack from Yulim’s grasp, and unzipped it.

A woman’s bra, adorned with a cute little bear pattern, emerged into Eve’s view. It was encased in a sealed bag, though still visibly covered in green slime.

Anna, without a hint of embarrassment, explained frankly, “This is the underwear Madam Stith was looking for. When Yulim first discovered it, she saw it draped over a slime.”

“However, by the time I went to retrieve it, that naughty slime had actually swallowed the underwear whole.”

“Good thing I sliced it in half with a single strike, ensuring the underwear wasn’t corroded.”

Eve, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple, murmured, “…How incredibly fortunate.”

Anna nodded, but then a sigh escaped her lips. “Unfortunately, the skirt wasn’t quite so lucky…”

“By the time we discovered it, it had already deteriorated to this state.”

From the backpack, Anna produced yet another sealed bag.

This one was truly something else.

Inside the bag lay what was once a white wedding gown, meant to be as pure as freshly fallen snow. Now, it was corroded to the point of being almost unrecognizable, its fabric saturated with multi-colored slime mucus, reduced to a truly dreadful sight.

It was difficult to imagine anyone ever wearing such a skirt again; even if they could, it would be akin to wearing nothing at all.

Eve averted her gaze, silently reciting, ‘See no evil,’ even as a thought formed in her mind.

‘Considering the pathetic state of these two garments, would Madam Stith truly deem Anna and her companions to have completed the commission upon their return?’

After a moment of profound hesitation, Eve finally spoke. “Anna, these clothes are so damaged. Can this truly count as a completed commission?”

Anna, who was in the process of tucking the two sealed bags back into the backpack, paused. Hearing Eve’s words, a puzzled expression crossed her face. “Why wouldn’t it count?”

“The commission only stipulated that Yulim and I were to retrieve the garments. As for their condition, we weren’t the ones who damaged them. The Adventurer Association can’t possibly deduct our commission fee for that.”

‘Who would have thought? Anna actually has moments where her intellect is genuinely sharp.’

Watching Anna articulate her point so confidently.

Eve, a wave of emotion washing over her, patted Anna’s shoulder. “I apologize, Anna. I admit I underestimated you before.”

“Eh? Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

Anna looked utterly bewildered. She couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind the look Eve was giving her.

‘Had Luosha done something to offend her?’

Unable to make sense of it, Anna simply decided not to dwell on it. After handing the backpack back to Yulim, she reached into her small pouch once more, pulling out a compass and a map.

“Luosha, Luosha, you should be better at reading maps than me, right?”

“Come, help me figure out which way we should head next.”

Although Anna believed Luosha had also stumbled into the Elf Forest by getting lost, just like herself, Anna knew her own navigational ineptitude was the primary culprit for her frequent misdirections. To get lost even with a compass and map in hand was likely a unique talent only she possessed.

Luosha, on the other hand, had gotten lost because the vastness of the grasslands made it impossible to discern direction. With these two professional navigational aids, Anna was certain Luosha could correctly find the way back to Xielan.

Anna’s judgment proved accurate. Had Eve possessed a compass or similar navigational tool earlier, she might well have been enjoying fries in a Xielan pub by now.

Eve readily agreed to Anna’s suggestion that she lead the way. She accepted the compass and map Anna offered. “Alright, let me take a look…”

After several careful comparisons and confirmations, Eve pointed in a definitive direction, officially setting them on the path back to Xielan.

Neither Eve nor Anna, who walked ahead, noticed that just before leaving the Elf Forest, Yulim cast one last, furtive glance toward the forest’s depths.

A flicker of sorrow and reluctance shimmered deep within her dark golden eyes.

‘Anna and her companions are getting too far ahead…’

The girl silently urged herself forward. To avoid being left behind, she suppressed the surge of emotions within her, pursed her lips, and jogged to keep pace.