01x07 - The Night of the Promotion

[bunniefuu]

"The Night of the Promotion"

You're back early.

Our trip went well.

It's good to be back, Stud.

How was Marcade?

It was interesting.

Are you familiar with the Forky g*ng?

It's a stupid-sounding name, but I've

been hearing it a lot recently.

I don't know about stupid-sounding

Actually, never mind.

Were you attacked?

I see. I'll rally the whole

guild to wipe them out.

That's all right. We dealt with

the people who attacked us.

Anyway, what kind of

organization are they?

They're an elusive group without

a set base of operations.

I bet it's hard to learn anything about

them if they have that much fodder.

Well, I don't plan on traveling far for

a while, so I doubt I'll see them again.

By the way

Is something wrong?

No.

I simply thought you could raise

your rank since you've defeated

a subterranean dragon.

Gil basically defeated it by himself.

You contributed enough to its

defeat to receive credit for it.

Contributed?

Fighting isn't the only

way to contribute.

You're also not picky about the jobs you

do, so broadly speaking, it's about time.

I suppose. If I've met the conditions

for a promotion, then I gladly accept.

Very well. I'll get that

taken care of right away.

Now you're rank E.

Up to D should be easy.

Is C difficult?

You'll probably be fine.

And B?

You're not ready for that yet.

Can I join your party?

You want to join us?

Of course.

Could you introduce yourself and

explain why you want to join?

My name is Eleven.

My adventurer rank is solo C.

My strengths are my poison

resistance and honesty.

My weaknesses are mornings and the cold.

I want to join a party capable of

beating a subterranean dragon.

Your strengths and motive

are conflicting. Try again.

I'll be back.

That boy is charming

in all sorts of ways.

He has a distinct personality

and aura about him.

Stop wasting time on what

seems like a pain in the a*s.

I was just curious.

So you rejected him because

he seemed to be lying?

No, that was probably

him selling himself.

He's honest, but he's willing

to lie if it benefits him.

I wouldn't call that honest.

Stud, what do you think?

I agree with your assessment.

He's strong enough to be rank C,

but he accepts few jobs.

His appearance

Is he perhaps a snake beastman?

Poison resistance and weakness to

cold must be traits of his species.

Probably. You don't see

many of them around here.

Will you let him join your party?

I'm not sure I can.

Now then.

Adventurers go drinking to celebrate

promotions, don't they?

Will you join me today?

You can't drink.

No, but I can soak up the atmosphere.

May I join you as well?

Of course.

Congratulations on your promotion.

Stud, can't you be a

little more, you know

Since we're celebrating my

promotion today, I'm paying.

Why would you pay?

Is that odd?

You would like to play host.

Um, I can cover this.

No, I'll pay. Keep your

mouth shut, dullard.

So mean

Look at you drink.

You can't drink, Mr. Lizel?

I'm a little surprised.

It's simply my constitution.

I get drunk off a single sip.

What kind of drunk are you?

Unfortunately, I don't recall.

The first time I drank,

my father, who was with me,

laughed and said I didn't

do anything odd.

But when I next drank with a former

student, I was told to never drink again.

He said I was the opposite

of my usual self.

You demand to be spoiled?

You become terribly cold?

You turn into a horndog?

Gil will be paying today.

Don't hold back, you two.

I'd like something filling.

Let's order some small plates, too.

Hey.

How did the escort job go?

I imagine it was more comfortable than

most, traveling with this dullard.

Stop calling me that.

You didn't do anything

to bother them, did you?

If anything, he took care

of us the whole time.

Literally.

Is that not normal?

I've heard of people being treated like

cargo and stuffed into tight spaces.

They say experience is everything.

Perhaps I'll try escorting someone else.

You can't!

I couldn't bear to see

you treated like that.

But I have to accept all kinds

of jobs to increase my rank.

I'm against it, too.

If you're looking to complete more jobs,

this dullard will submit

as many as you need.

You can take those.

That's not something I'd expect

to hear from a guild employee.

If that's what you want, I'll

submit as many jobs as you need!

It's all right, you two. Calm down.

Come on, drink. Eat.

By the way, I have something

to brag to you about, Stud.

What am I supposed to do with that?

I slept next to Mr. Lizel like family.

Next to him? How close were you?

I got a good look at him sleeping.

We ran into trouble on the way

back, so he even held my hand.

Don't you think you're trying

too hard to charm him?

Merchants are such

black-hearted creatures.

That's discrimination.

Well, you behave yourself when

you're around Mr. Lizel.

I'm simply honest with myself.

Anyway, may I stay in your room tonight?

What?

I don't mind, but it's a single room.

There's only one bed.

I'll sleep with you.

Perhaps there's an available double room.

He wants to sleep with you. Let him.

But it'd be so cramped.

I'll sleep with you.

I guess we'll sleep together, then.

Stud?

He's just asleep.

This is what happens when

he drinks to his limit.

I'm surprised you can hold your liquor.

Thank you.

Come on, Stud. Let's head back together.

I'm going with you.

Let's go, Stud.

I know.

Shall we have Gil carry you?

No.

Well, I'm going this way.

Are you sure you don't need an escort?

Yes. Um, I'd love to

go out again sometime.

As would I.

You really are soft on younger guys.

They're cute.

I don't see it.

By the way, Stud,

you've been particularly

belligerent towards Gil today.

Oh, uh

I expected this to happen,

but not this soon.

The reasons he picks fights

with me are simple.

He doesn't like that I'm

accompanying you, and

He hates men like himself.

I don't know my own origins.

For as long as I could remember, I was

living in the slums of the royal capital.

I k*lled who I was told to k*ll and

lived off the money I made doing that.

I didn't even realize what

I was doing was wrong.

Then one day

An adult I didn't recognize

appeared before me.

You don't have to k*ll anymore.

That adult was the current guildmaster.

I'm grateful that he didn't

turn me over to the police.

I've worked for the guild ever since.

I haven't k*lled anyone

like I did last night.

I'm sorry.

Could you start over from the top?

You have the day off, don't you?

Yes.

You could've slept in a little longer.

Actually, I always wake

up at the same time.

Gil says the same thing. I'm jealous.

Is something on your mind?

Well, won't last night's events

be detrimental to you somehow?

He was clearly a bandit of some sort.

Even if he's found, I can't

imagine it'd be an issue.

I hope not.

If it would harm you in some way, I'd

rather you not get involved in the future.

You'd rather I stand there and watch?

I can defend myself. I have Gil, too.

I'll be careful not to

inconvenience you in any way.

Would it be better if I said losing

you would be more inconvenient?

Very well. I'll avoid doing anything

to inconvenience you or myself.

Good. I appreciate that.

Would you like to get breakfast together?

Yes, please.

Is Gil in his room?

No, he left early this morning.

Good morning, Mr. Lizel.

Good morning.

Did that boy stay overnight?

Yes. Forgive me for not getting

your permission beforehand.

If necessary, I'll pay for my stay.

Oh, it's no problem at all.

I'll throw in breakfast, too.

More importantly

That's an adventurer's guild uniform.

You really are an adventurer, Mr. Lizel.

You still didn't believe me?

That was good.

Yes.

Stud?

The Blade seems to have

returned. I should go.

I'm impressed. I couldn't tell at all.

That man last night was

clearly targeting you.

I don't know why, but please be careful.

Thank you. You, too, Stud.

What?

Nothing.

Don't say we're alike, battle junkie.

Then don't make me say it.

If you want to stay with him,

protect him with your life, Blade.

Well, he was definitely

connected to those bandits.

They were using identical bows.

I don't understand why

they're targeting me.

Do I look like an easy target?

You're the one who shot

the guy who got away.

Maybe they resent you for that.

But we didn't

hear a peep from them for the three

days it took to return after that.

Either way

It's going to continue.

There was another one.

Yesterday?

Yeah. More skilled than the archer.

Then they deliberately

chose to use the same bow

and send an obvious bandit to attack me.

Some guys can be really assertive.

But I don't see what they're after.

They don't hate me, and they

don't want to k*ll me either.

Do they want to weaken me?

Then it's obvious.

They want to ruin your composure.

I see. They're doing this for fun.

It probably would've

worked on anyone else.

How do you feel about running errands?

Don't choose anything weird.

Oh.

This one looks good.

Helping an acting troupe?

Will you let me join your party?

Oh, you're yesterday's boy. Go ahead.

Solo C.

My strengths are my

handsome voice and face.

My weakness is my gangly and

distinctive appearance.

Does he think that'll work?

The two of you stand out,

so I'd receive a comfortable amount

of attention if I joined your party.

You didn't sell yourself as

an adventurer. Try again.

No good, huh?

Are you planning to accept that?

It intrigues me. Do you not want to?

No.

No matter what?

A little more this way!

Thanks!

Excuse—

It's not enough!

This isn't enough, damn it!

Love!

Excitement!

Thrills!

Excuse me

What is it? Who are you?

Are you the troupe leader?

Yeah, that's me.

I'm here about the mana

replenishment job.

You'll replenish our mana? For

two weeks while the show runs?

I have to see what I'm dealing with.

Then look!

That's impressive.

It's passion itself.

I see they're performing an original

play called "The Phantasmal Traveler".

Incredible. The setting is unique,

but it's simple and easy to follow.

You could tell all that from skimming it?

Here's the magic item.

With this single item, we can project

rain, snow, or even thunder.

Can you do it?

I think so.

All right!

I'm counting on you.

Don't run out of mana.

I won't.

Move it!

What's going on?

You can't be serious!

Looks like the captain's

fighting with the troupe.

Get this out of the way!

We can't! It takes time to move!

They've got a wagon, so they're probably

being told not to block the street.

Just do it!

Why do you have to come this way?

We've got permission to be here, damn it.

I'm going to complain.

Why are you stopping me, damn it?

It'd be unfair for me to say I'm looking

forward to your performance, wouldn't it?

Let me make the first move.

Let's go, Gil.

Why?

I was just hoping to say hello to him.

Don't you recognize that crest?

You can just go around us.

We're not embarrassing

ourselves like that.

It's good to see you again.

What?!

That's the viscount in there, isn't it?

I'd like to say hello to him.

Yes, sir!

No, wait. You're an adventurer.

Huh? No, a noble.

No, an adventurer.

Honestly.

If you can just go around

them, then do it.

You've become so stubborn since

you were promoted to captain.

It's good to see you again, Viscount Ray.

It's you, Mr. Lizel.

How was Marcade?

It was a lively city.

I delivered your letter, so don't worry.

I'm glad you managed to find him.

We didn't just find him.

He made him buy us dinner.

Gil.

You made that cheapskate pay? Marvelous.

That said, I think that only

put him more on guard.

Did he say something to you?

He's a rather cautious man.

No, nothing like that.

I wanted him to meet you for his sake.

I'm afraid you overestimate my abilities.

Modest, aren't you?

Ah, yes.

Last night, the body of a possible

bandit was found in the city.

Do you know anything about that?

I'm not sure. I haven't heard any

rumors from other adventurers.

I see. I think the bandit was

a member of the Forky g*ng.

They can be a difficult

bunch. Be careful.

Gil.

Make sure you protect your companion.

Yeah, I've been told already.

Good. If you'll excuse me.

If they know who it was,

they should do their jobs.

Knowing doesn't make it easy.

After all, the g*ng is elusive.

Still, asking you about it won't

help them catch any bandits.

And catching bandits isn't

an adventurer's job.

Let's let the professionals do their job.

You don't care even after

they attacked you?

Shall we continue replenishing

the device's mana?

There.

It's done.

Thanks for the help!

All right. It works.

I see. Rather than projecting weather, it

converts mana into snow and raindrops.

It's beautiful.

Next Time

"The Midday Attack"

Next time: "The Midday Attack."