01x09 - The A-Rank Adventurer Is a Monster

[bunniefuu]

Teacher, we're at the meeting point.

Fran!

Good morning! Did you sleep well?

Did you have a dream about me?

Yes. It was a nightmare.

How mean!

Gather around, everyone.

This investigation of the Spider's Nest

will also serve as a promotion test

for two E-rank parties.

CLASS: DUELIST LV:33

My name is Cruise Riouselle.

I am the leader of the Azure Guardians,

a C-rank party.

A party

led by a handsome blonde swordsman.

I, along with my party members,

Rig and Eizelle,

will oversee this operation

and act as examiners.

I look forward to working with you all.

Now, please introduce yourselves.

The name's Krad.

I am the leader of the Dragon's Roar,

an E-rank party.

VICTOR, BART, GENNEL

We'll sweep through this test.

We came prepared!

That's all from us.

What's his problem?

I am Furion.

A wood elf elementalist

like the guild master.

But he looks rather plain.

I'm the leader of the E-rank party,

Forest Eyes.

The members of his party

look ordinary too.

My turn.

I'm Amanda.

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

I knew it! That person is Amanda!

No way…

Why would an A-rank adventurer

join this quest?

This is a D-rank quest, isn't it?

It's no wonder the people are talking…

No one would expect her

to be here because of Fran.

All that's left is you, young lady.

I'm Fran.

Rank D.

I like curry.

Nice to meet you.

I don't think they know what curry is…

So it's you, after all.

The one who curried favors

with the guild master

to get him to promote her.

The self-proclaimed D-rank brat!

EPISODE 9:

THE A-RANK ADVENTURER IS A MONSTER

Here come the ones

trying to pick a fight with us…

I don't get you two at all.

The A-rank old lady

who just came here to amuse herself,

and the favorite brat

of that lolicon guild master.

Would you care to repeat that?

What did you just say?

What are you doing?

I'm sorry! I'm very sorry…

-She's fast.

-Help…

-She came up right behind him in a flash.

-I see a flower field… What's this?

What? Have I gone to the other side?

Are you all right, Krad?

It's one thing for Amanda…

But I'll never acknowledge someone

who uses their connections

to climb the ranks!

I did no such thing.

What?

Little brats like you

should go back to their mothers!

My mother is dead.

Miss Amanda is only here as an observer.

If she does involve herself,

she'll clear the quest

in the blink of an eye,

and there will be no test to speak of

for you lot.

Now, I will begin the briefing.

Our objective is to investigate

the dungeon under the Alessa guild's

jurisdiction, the Spider's Nest,

retrieve the crystals

generated by the dungeon core,

and eliminate all monsters

we encounter in our path.

They're just F-rank monsters, right?

We might just accidentally wipe them out.

The dungeon absorbs

the powers of the monsters

to sustain itself.

So avoid k*lling all of them.

But this is a dungeon with six floors.

It won't be as easy as you think,

so please be careful.

Without further ado,

let us set out for our destination.

I heard this from Garrus yesterday.

Apparently, a dungeon

without a dungeon master

will use its core

to generate monsters and crystals.

The guild sends adventurers to the dungeon

periodically to retrieve these resources.

It's a source of profit, so other factions

have their eyes on this too.

What is he doing?

Maybe he wanted to take a dip.

Shut up, you old hag!

-Krad!

-Krad!

Curse you!

We made it at last.

It's because you guys kept fooling around

that we arrived much later than scheduled.

Dammit.

I didn't do anything.

We'll head into the dungeon

early in the morning tomorrow.

I take it that everyone

brought their sleeping equipment and food?

We will take turns

keeping watch throughout the night.

Miss Fran will take the first watch.

Got it.

Followed by the Azure Guardians.

Then, Dragon's Roar.

And finally, the Forest Eyes.

What about mighty Miss A-rank?

Keeping watch during the night

is part of the test too.

If we let Miss Amanda take part,

then it wouldn't be a test.

So sorry.

What is it?

Can a little brat who used her connections

to get promoted actually keep watch?

Yes.

And I didn't get promoted

because of my connections.

In that case,

prove it!

Show me if you really have

what it takes to stay in D rank!

Battle me!

Don't mind him, Fran.

It would be best

not to get involved in any trouble.

I knew it!

Are you actually scared

even with that huge sword on your back?

Or is that a toy sword just for show?

If that's true, you might as well

throw that useless sword away!

I can't pretend I didn't hear that.

Fine.

I'll battle you.

Fran, are you serious about fighting him?

He mocked you. I won't let that pass.

A mock duel?

This should be interesting.

No one's stopping this?

Krad!

Teach her a lesson!

Right.

There's no way that brat actually has

what it takes to be in D rank.

I'll tear your facade into shreds!

Those who rely on connections to

get promoted are the worst, aren't they?

So whenever I come across

someone like that…

The dragon inside me screams!

There it is! Krad's roar!

So cool!

I'm in awe!

I remember a time when I enjoyed

getting hyped up like this too…

Let's set up wind and earth barriers

so we can detect the presence

of any monsters, just in case.

You're on watch duty right now, after all.

Okay.

O wind of the sky,

guide us and protect us.

O root of the forest, lend us

the perception of the earth and alert us.

What?

Wind Zone! Earth Zone!

What? Two elements?

Even for a sword mage, that's impressive.

What did you do?

Keeping watch.

What?

Whatever.

Bring it on.

A sword?

I've never lost against anyone

of the same rank with this spear.

A sword is no match for the range

a spear is capable of reaching.

I'll teach this shameless brat a lesson

and show her that my spear

is far superior to her sword!

Spear Technique!

He moved his spear instantly!

There it is! Krad's ultimate skill!

Double Spear!

What? She dodged both strikes!

It was probably just luck.

Spear Technique! Power Swing!

Dang it!

Double Spear!

You're short of breath.

Behold! The power of my super sword!

Be amazed!

Fran, I don't think you defeated him

with the sword per se…

That hurt…

Take this!

Fran, that's not the hilt.

That's the blade…

-Krad!

-Krad!

That'll make them think twice

about challenging you.

That was fun.

That was an excellent battle, Fran.

How about a mock duel with me too?

With you…

How about a mock duel with me too?

It's boring doing nothing all day.

My shoulders are getting stiff.

Okay.

On one condition.

If I win, please stop bothering me.

My, my! Aren't you confident?

Very well. If I win…

You shall call me Mama.

Then, I simply can't lose!

Fran, I think you're digging

your own grave here…

She is an A-rank, after all…

Hey, hey, I think that little girl

is going to fight Amanda next.

Teacher, don't assist me.

Fran?

I want to fight with my own strength

and see how I fare against an A-rank.

All right. Do your best, then!

Have you prepared yourself, Fran?

A whip…

Have you seen a weapon like this before?

Magic Whip of Celestial Dragon Beard.

This whip and I are old friends.

Here I come.

Let's start with something easy.

Take this!

And this!

Not bad.

If she blocked her hits with a sword,

the whip might tangle around it,

and Amanda might just pull the sword

out from her hands.

Did Fran rely on her survival instincts

to dodge her attacks on the fly?

Good call, Fran! Well done!

I wonder how…

you'll handle this?

Krad!

That brat…

Look!

-That little girl is something!

-What?

She used the handle!

That was close.

You might actually get a hit in.

I can't find a single opening

to break through!

Now, then, I think it's time for me

to get a little more serious.

Mana flow!

Whip Technique.

Auger Strike!

So she can control the movements

of the whip with mana.

What's with those crazy movements?

It's as if that thing's alive

and after its prey!

You're incredible, Fran!

This is my one-hit-KO move!

It has been a long time

since someone was able to dodge this!

Oh, no!

The power of the whip

increased significantly

after it was infused with mana.

It'll be bad for us if we drag this out.

I know.

Wind Magic: Wind Foot.

A wind magic-based skill

that boosts your speed, I see.

Parallel Thought!

Fran is using Parallel Thought?

Is she planning to cast chain magic?

Unleash the flames of the red lotus

that burns brighter than fire,

and burn everything it touches!

This has been most delightful, Fran!

But it'll be over with this.

Auger Strike!

She's still going!

Air Burst!

You used a blast of compressed air

to accelerate your speed even further!

There isn't enough time

for her to pull her whip back.

Amanda is now defenseless!

Wind Shield.

I'm not finished yet…

The spell she cast with Parallel Thought…

Flare Blast!

Oh, my…

What… Miss Amanda!

It can't be! An A-rank adventurer was…

What the hell was that battle?

You're magnificent, Fran!

I didn't expect you to do that!

What? No damage?

Spirit's Affection.

No way…

I'm not done yet…

Fran!

I'm sorry! Forgive me!

I overdid it…

You did land the hit.

But my unique skill,

Spirit's Affection, activated by itself.

A skill that can render

an attack completely null?

That's too cunning!

They're both monsters…

Rig, use your water magic

to extinguish the flames!

Everyone else as well. Put out the fire!

That said, it's not good to use fire magic

in a place surrounded by trees.

I'll need to have Fran apologize

to everyone later.

You forced yourself

to use Parallel Thought

just to get Amanda to stop playing around

and fight you seriously.

Besides Whip Technique and Wind Magic,

you even forced her unique skill

to activate.

I suppose you could say

you've gotten her back for it.

Fran…

My dear Fran…

For the future of the Black Cats

and yourself,

you must work hard, Fran…

What? Mother…

Oh, you're awake.

Amanda?

You've been unconscious

for nearly two hours.

Teacher…

It's all right.

You should rest a little more.

Cruise and the others

will keep watch in your stead.

But…

Your wounds have been healed,

but mentally, you're still fatigued.

You're still a child.

You should act spoiled

with adults every now and then.

You're really strong, Amanda.

You're not half bad yourself.

But I fainted… It's my defeat.

How honest.

Do you still remember our agreement?

Oh, that's right!

Now, let's hear you call me Mama.

M…

-Fran wants to keep her end of the deal,

-M…

-but she can't bring herself to say it.

-M…

M…

I went a little too far with my teasing.

I know

your mother is still with you

in your heart.

I don't expect you to trust me right away,

but I'll always be here for you.

You can rely on me.

I've used Truth of Falsehood

to check several times.

Not a word she said to Fran was insincere.

You smell nice…

So this is the Guardian of Children…

I think I might be a little jealous.

I'm sorry for using fire magic

around a forest.

Well, it's all right. We didn't expect

the battle to get that intense either.

So we're responsible as well.

Thank you for keeping watch for me too.

Not at all. Don't mention it.

You're hurt…

Actually, after watching that battle,

everyone was all fired up,

and we challenged Miss Amanda too.

But no one managed to last

as long as you did.

Thanks to this, everyone knows

just what you're capable of now.

We'll be counting on you

in the dungeon investigation.

I'll do my best!

As you know,

the Spider's Nest dungeon is under

the jurisdiction of the Alessa Guild.

Only the executives of the guild

or adventurers holding a permit

may enter this dungeon.

Now, let's go.

Fran, let's take care of this

and get the permit

to take on the next dungeon!

Right!