"Bleeuuurgh!"

Najin, who had been patting Roselin's back, hastily retreated several steps. Dieta, who had just called Roselin's name, grimaced as though she had bitten into a bug.

One of the pinnacles of Cambria, the City of Opportunity. One of only five White Horn adventurers in the city.

Several seconds passed that could have done serious damage to that glittering reputation. Once the sounds attesting to last night's drinking frenzy stopped, Roselin pulled a handkerchief from her clothes, wiped her mouth, and rinsed it with water from her flask.

"Ah, now I feel alive again."

Roselin raised her head, looking utterly refreshed. She thumped her chest and kept letting out relieved breaths.

"Oh, what? It's the snake bitch."

Recognizing Dieta as the girl who had called her name, Roselin tilted her head. Normally, even when their eyes happened to meet, the two wouldn't so much as greet each other. They would simply click their tongues and walk past.

In a way, it was the loathing of two people who were too much alike. Their differing affiliations also played a part.

Roselin's mercenary company was sponsored by the Garchea Trading Company, which competed with the Dieta Trading Company for first place in Cambria, the City of Opportunity. Naturally, relations between the two trading companies were poor.

As a recipient of Garchea's support, Roselin could hardly be on good terms with Dieta, the head of its rival.

"Where exactly is it considered polite to call someone a snake bitch to her face? Were you never taught manners, Red-Eyes?"

"Seems the young lady who casually throws around slurs is no better than me."

Dieta smiled behind her hand, while Roselin twisted her lips into a look that said, What the hell are you staring at? Then Roselin noticed Dieta's gaze shift.

"Aha. So that's it."

Roselin grinned. Dieta was looking at Najin, who stood a step away—the young man she had guaranteed. Seeing him so close to Roselin must have puzzled her.

"Hey, Ivan."

Making a show of it, Roselin swung an arm around Najin's shoulders. His expression instantly soured, but he merely sighed and remained silent. He did need Roselin to report to the Central Guild, after all.

"Last night was fun. Want to have another drink sometime?"

"I'll pass."

Najin's refusal was firm. Last night had taught him that Roselin's idea of 'a drink' did not mean a single, literal drink.

"Let's head inside. I want to get the report over with and find something for this hangover. I know a good restaurant nearby. Want to come?"

"I'll think about it."

"Their meat soup is seriously good."

Talking loudly enough to make sure Dieta heard, Roselin quickened her pace. As she entered the Central Guild building with Najin, she glanced back. Dieta stood there glaring, her bright yellow eyes bloodshot.

Roselin sneered at those eyes. Though she said nothing, Dieta could almost hear her voice.

That adventurer you sponsored is damn impressive.

"Aha."

Dieta laughed. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were not smiling at all. Watching Roselin walk away with an arm around Najin's shoulders, she muttered,

"So you want to play that game...?"

2.

The moment they stepped into the guild—

"..."

The hall, bustling with gathered adventurers and merchants, fell abruptly silent, as though someone had doused it with cold water. In that stillness, Najin could feel the gazes settling on him.

Countless eyes were turned his way.

At first, he thought it was because he had entered with Roselin, a White Horn mercenary. Soon, however, he realized otherwise. They were looking at him, not her.

"That adventurer..."

"Judging by the Black-rank nameplate, I think that's him."

"The highest score ever in the Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation..."

Whispers reached him through the silence. Then the stillness broke, and the guildhall filled with the adventurers' murmurs.

"That Black-ranker who killed the Bloodred Troll..."

"Yes. I'm telling you, I saw it."

"That Bloodred Troll? His promotion's guaranteed, then."

Word of his exploits in the Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation had already spread through the guild. Come to think of it, some adventurers had returned early. The rumors must have spread through them.

... The Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation was an influential enough commission to be called a debut stage for adventurers of Blue rank or higher seeking to rise further. Naturally, it drew adventurers' attention.

There was no way word would fail to spread that its all-time record had been broken—and by a Black-ranked adventurer, at that. The news was that shocking, and that far-reaching.

'These stares really sting.'

-That's what drawing attention means.

Merlin spoke calmly.

-It's also a weight you'll have to bear from now on.

If he was determined to stand at the pinnacle, he would have to endure at least the weight of the gazes upon him. That was a burden anyone seeking the summit had to carry.

"... Isn't it a lie?"

Naturally—

"He must have pulled something. Does that even make sense?"

"The Dieta Trading Company guaranteed him, didn't they? He must be someone they've been deliberately cultivating. He never started where we did..."

Not all those voices and gazes were kind.

Those who hadn't witnessed Najin's exploits with their own eyes tried to belittle his accomplishments and discredit the starting point from which he had achieved them. Even as their voices rang in his ears, his expression didn't change in the slightest.

He had already heard such things until he was sick of them. Not here, but in Atman, the underground city.

"Whew..."

Najin let out a short breath and straightened his shoulders. There was no reason to hunch over.

"That's right. That's exactly it."

With her arm still around his shoulders, Roselin murmured quietly enough for only Najin to hear.

"Those voices aren't worth your attention, let alone remembering. Why bother looking down?"

Roselin curled her lips into a grin. Seemingly pleased with his confident bearing, she patted his shoulder and headed toward the guild's VIP counter, reserved exclusively for White Horn adventurers.

There was no need to take a number or wait for a turn. It offered a direct line to the Central Guild's highest authorities—a counter truly meant for those at the pinnacle.

"I'm Roselin, commander of the Red Eye Mercenary Company."

From the moment she entered with Najin, her expression and manner changed completely. She was no longer the local older woman who had gotten absolutely plastered, but Roselin Ascalo, commander of Cambria's largest mercenary company.

Najin watched that side of her from closer than anyone.

* * *

The commission report itself was completed quickly.

What took time was Najin's achievement in the Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation and his slaying of the Bloodred Troll. The monster materials the company's members had carted in early that morning were enough to establish that the Bloodred Troll had indeed been killed, but...

The adventurer who had contributed most to its defeat—Najin, whose achievement effectively amounted to a solo kill—was Black-ranked. That was the problem. If it was true, having completed a Red-rank commission, he would have to be promoted.

"If you really can't believe it, ask the adventurers who participated. They'll all tell you much the same thing."

The supervisor's hesitation didn't last long, however.

"I guarantee him. I, Roselin Ascalo, acknowledge this kid's skill. What else do you need?"

Roselin Ascalo, known as one of the city's pinnacles, was vouching for Najin. More importantly, he demonstrated his sword aura before the guild supervisor responsible for promotions.

What Najin produced was still only a fragment of sword aura. Yet that alone told the supervisor, who had observed adventurers for many years, that Najin was exceedingly close to the realm of a Sword Expert.

"There will be no need for a promotion test."

The supervisor's statement was brief.

Normally, for promotions to Blue rank or above, a supervisor would score various factors—the commissions completed, the clients' satisfaction and assessments, and so on—before deciding whether to approve the promotion.

Najin's case, however, was exceptional.

A Black-ranked adventurer had placed first in the Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation and slain a Bloodred Troll with a Red-rank threat level. The supervisor judged that an exceptional case warranted an exception.

"Your nameplate."

Najin handed it over. The supervisor went off somewhere, then returned and gave him a green nameplate.

Black, Purple, Blue, Green.

A three-rank promotion from Black to Green.

It was the first since the three-rank promotion of Kaufman Theosis, a Ranger from the Techel Mountains who was now a White Horn adventurer. An extraordinary promotion indeed.

'I didn't expect to be promoted this quickly.'

Dazed, Najin stared at the nameplate in his hand. A Green-rank nameplate. A rank that firmly qualified him as a high-ranking adventurer in this city.

"Congratulations, rookie."

Roselin slung an arm around his neck.

"At this rate, you'll reach Red rank before long, won't you? Considering your age, I think you'd be the youngest."

Even with his assumed age of twenty-eight, he would be the youngest adventurer to reach Red rank. That was what Roselin was telling him.

"White Horn will probably take a little longer... Still, if you make it within ten years, you'll pretty much be the youngest, right? I became the youngest White Horn at thirty-nine."

Thirty-nine. That was the age at which Roselin had reached the Sword Seeker realm and attained White Horn rank. Listening to her, Najin answered briefly.

"I don't think it'll take that long."

"Well, look at this cheeky little rookie."

Roselin chuckled.

"All right, then. Give it your best shot."

Patting his back, Roselin left the counter area with Najin. He had entered as a Black-ranker, but now a Green-rank nameplate hung around his neck.

The moment he emerged—and the gathered adventurers saw that nameplate—their eyes widened.

A Black-ranked adventurer had skipped Purple and Blue to rise straight to Green. Just days ago, no one had paid the young man any attention. Now everyone knew his name.

Through rumors, newspapers, and countless other channels, his name would spread throughout the city.

Ivan, the Green-ranked adventurer.

Najin's goal of distinguishing himself was as good as achieved.

3.

Several days passed after Najin became a Green-ranked adventurer, and he kept himself quite busy. First, he left his affordable inn and moved closer to the Central Guild.

The monthly rent was several times higher, but he could easily afford it. He had more than enough money.

He still had money left from Dieta's commission, along with his pay for the Dochenberg Forest Clearance Operation and the bounty for slaying the Bloodred Troll. It seemed he wouldn't need to worry about money for a while.

'Now that I've earned some money...'

After finishing his usual morning training, Najin washed himself with cold water and mused inwardly.

'Shall we go get some equipment?'

-It certainly would be good to have armor and a spare sword ready. Potions wouldn't hurt, either, would they?

Merlin agreed.

Najin had been too busy to take his time shopping. Now, though, he had some breathing room, and he had raised his rank sufficiently.

Green-ranked adventurers were considered high-ranking. That meant he could freely enter the Artisans' Street, where Black-ranked adventurers couldn't even set foot. Dressed lightly, Najin headed there.

'Alchemists, renowned blacksmiths, shops selling magical devices, and so on...'

He was thinking of taking this opportunity to equip himself. Even if he didn't buy the finest goods, he needed the basics. Having a weapon or two he could use in an emergency wouldn't hurt.

'... Come to think of it.'

Najin looked at the sword buckled to his waist. The longsword old Hogel had forged for him. He had used it against pursuers in the underground city, in his duel with Ivan, and even against the Bloodred Troll.

Honestly, he knew he had been treating the sword rather roughly. He wouldn't be surprised if it broke at any moment, yet it still had no visible flaws. He checked it every day while oiling it.

Still, there might be a defect he hadn't noticed. If there was, he could have it repaired. If repairs were impossible, buying a spare sword would be a good idea.

With that in mind, Najin visited a smithy first. It was run by a renowned Cambria blacksmith and sponsored by the Dieta Trading Company. With Dieta's introduction, arranging a visit was easy.

When Najin arrived and showed his sword, the blacksmith turned it this way and that, then tilted his head.

"We'll need to call old Hughes for this."

The blacksmith rose with Najin's sword in hand and walked deeper into the smithy. A few minutes passed.

"Hey, kid."

An old man came back with the blacksmith. Known as old Hughes, he was the most skilled blacksmith in the city. Holding Najin's longsword, he asked,

"Where'd you get this sword?"

"A blacksmith I know made it for me."

"Bullshit. You must have picked it up somewhere or taken it from someone."

Old Hughes frowned fiercely.

"What blacksmith would make a sword supplied to the Atanga Knight Order for a kid like you?"

He ran a finger down the flat of the longsword's blade and continued.

"You might fool other people's eyes, but you can't fool mine. This is a master artisan's work. A blacksmith skilled enough to have a contract forging swords for the Atanga Knight Order made this. Not just anyone can make something like it."

Master artisan.

A title granted to only a select few blacksmiths.

"If someone really made it for you, tell me their name. Let's hear whose work this is."