Chapter 214

I watched them drag the thief away from the corner of my eye as we stepped in the line in front of the counter. Other Adventurers stole glances at us, but I decided it wasn’t worth caring about such things. That being said, I was very embarrassed about not noticing the pickpocket myself!

“Hello.”

“Excuse me. I would like to rank up.”

“Oh, you want to go the procedures counter over there. Next.”

Ouch. I had thought I might look a little intimidating, now that I had a scar on my face and everything… We left the line and went to the correct counter. There were signs just like in the central guard-house. That was nice… This place had counters I had never seen in any other guild, which made it difficult to navigate. But I guess they had to spread the work out more in places as big as this one…or so I told myself.

“Hello there! I’ve been watching you. You really should be more careful.”

An older man said. He was waiting in front of us and laughed with amusement. Hmm.

“I was being careful. I was just testing his skill.”

“Haha! Well, we’ll pretend like that’s the truth then!”

Condescending…and very tall.

“I’m Sargas. You’re that Asagi fellow, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know if I’m ‘that’ Asagi, but that is my name.”

“Yes. And this lady must be Daniela.”

“I am.”

Oh, this was annoying. To be recognized before you have a chance to introduce yourself. Will I ever know peace again? I won’t forgive you, Bordow.

“The rising stars. The Platinum Wind! I am so lucky to be able to meet you two.”

“That’s nice. Now move forward.”

“Oh, sorry. Don’t look so upset.”

He stepped forward and filled the break in the line.

“So, are you fighting? In the tournament, I mean.”

“I am. That’s why we came here in a hurry.”

“I see. Yes, you should hurry. There are preliminaries after all.”

“There are?”

Sargas then explained that you are separated into groups that you fight in, and the winners get to move on. A battle royale.

“Well, it shouldn’t be any problem for you two.”

“I’ll keep my guard up.”

“Indeed. Or we will have a repeat of what just happened.”

“Daniela…”

Let’s just forget about that.

□ □ □ □

“Next.”

“Ah, it’s me. See you later then. I’m just a spectator for this tournament. But good luck.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“We are grateful.”

He had given us some useful information in the end. He waved and then moved over to the counter, where he was promptly berated for taking too much time.

“Now that I think of it, didn’t we get some kind of recommendation? What is that for?”

“Perhaps it says we are so strong that we do not have to join the preliminaries.”

The letter that Kiralika had given me was sealed, so I hadn’t read it. I could not see it with Eyes of the God Wolf either. It was like the difference of looking under a skirt versus pants. There needed to be an entrance.

Not that I would do such a stupid thing. After all, I had Daniela.

“Hey, Asagi.”

“What, Daniela?”

“You sounded like you could see what was happening behind the thief… Is that what I think it is?”

“Yeah. My other skill. Eye of the God Wolf.”

After traveling the world and seeing everything, the God Wolf’s eyes were able to see through all.

“I see. That is why your eyes had changed color.”

“What? They did?”

“Aye. They had turned a pretty, silver color.”

I didn’t know that. But I guess I wouldn’t if I couldn’t see them. I wondered if it was the same with Night Eyes.

“Daniela.”

“Hm? Woah. They are yellow now.”

“I’m using Night Eyes.”

“I never noticed it before, as it was always night when you used it.”

“I think I should call it Demon Eye! The Nightmare Seeker!!”

“You better not.”

“…”

I always liked the idea of a demon eye, but Daniela rejected it quickly. Well, maybe ‘Distance Sight’?

“Next.”

Oh, we just got called. I allowed my feelings of sadness to disperse and stepped forward. Sargas had already left.

“I’d like to rank up. Both of us.”

“Very well. Please give me your status cards.”

“Here.”

I took them out of the bag and put them on the counter. Daniela also needed to rank up. Neither of us had done this for a long time. We were both a little negligent, I guess.

“You will be A-Rank, Mister Asagi. And you as well, Miss Daniela.”

“Oh, I caught up.”

“Took you long enough.”

There were quite a few times I racked up a ton of points while alone…still, the day had come…I was quite moved by the thought.

“I will process this right away. Please wait in the waiting room over there.”

“Waiting room…right.”

I remembered it now. That claustrophobic space that resembled a smoking room. I had played with some magic as a way of killing time. It caused a little scene. I wouldn’t repeat it.

We left our status cards with the guild worker and went to the waiting room with its stuffy air. I realized then that these rooms were the same in any city. I could hardly breathe.

“Here are your status cards. Congratulations. You are both A-Rank.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Thank you.”

We accepted our status cards and moved away from the counter. I was finally the same rank as Daniela…yes, that made me quite happy.

“We must celebrate today.”

“Let’s go eat when this is all done.”

“Aye.”

“What do you want?”

I had a big smile on my face as I waited for Daniela’s answer. She looked at me very seriously and whispered.

“…Meat.”

“…”

□ □ □ □

After leaving the guild behind us, we followed our map and walked northwestward. After a few corners and streets, the number of Adventurers began to increase. We were almost there. Just one more corner…

“Woah, that’s huge.”

“Astonishing.”

The Imperial Arena. Its official name was the ‘Radelia Shvein Arena.’ A huge colosseum of sorts. A little plain compared to the colosseums I was used to seeing. Its walls showed engravings of swords and shields. The pillars were men with bulging muscles who held up the roof. It was all very overwhelming.

When I looked away from the area, I saw a small building to the side. Adventurers and military men were going in and out of the doors. I suppose that was where we needed to go. As we walked towards it, I rummaged in my bag for the letter of recommendation. I could not forget that.

We passed an angry, stiflingly formal-looking gentleman and an immodestly dressed lady by the entrance and went inside. It was still hot. And it was very crowded.

Several tables had been prepared inside, and everyone seemed to be writing. Those who could not write had someone write for them. So they must be entry sheets of some sort.

And so Daniela and I picked ours out of a basket and began filling them in with a pen. It was like a resume.

Once we were done, we looked around the room. Where were we supposed to submit them…

“Asagi.”

“Hmm?”

Daniela tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the back. There was a door and a man holding the sheet had just gone through it. At the same time, others were coming out.

“There must be something there.”

“Pretty obvious what that is.”

There would be some kind of screening, I bet. And so Daniela and I headed towards the door, slowly, so we didn’t disturb the others.