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Chapter 354

Three nobles and an escort. Along with the guild examiner, a total of five people stood before Rei in the meeting room.

After Marka’s introduction……Stee had an expression of astonishment when she heard the name Quent. On the other hand, Roble frowned uncomfortably at the attitude of the noble called Alnicht.

Rei and Ons were far apart in age, one a teenager and the other in their 40’s. However, the both of them showed no change in emotion.

That said, Rei was slightly surprised to see both Marka and Coan appear, both of whom he knew.

Residence, the guild examiner, looked at the four test takers and spoke as he collected his thoughts about each of them.

「Well, that’s the introductions for the four people you will be working together with in this rank up test. Now, I will announce the test details. A few hours walk from Gilm, a herd of a monster known as Bicorns has recently appeared on a grassland……just to check, you all know what Bicorns are?」

Everyone in the room nodded to say they knew.

Rei, like everyone else, nodded as he recalled what he had read in a book previously.

A 『Bicorn』 was a monster that could be considered a variant of the Unicorn. It had two horns on its head as opposed to the single horn on a Unicorn. Unlike Unicorns, Bicorns were a fierce horse monster that was carnivorous. They were intelligent and hunted in groups like wolves. Alone, they were considered a D rank monster, but in herds, they were classed as a C rank monster. The horns from their head were extremely poisonous and it was said that you would die within three hours if you were injured by a horn and not treated. On the other hand, the horns were also a useful material and were almost as valuable as magic stones. Other than its horns, it’s skin was also a material that could be used. You could eat its meat, but it wasn’t particularly delicious, so it was quite reasonably priced. Its proof of subjugation was its tail, which was worth five silver coins each. It was quite a lot for a proof of subjugation from a D rank monster. However, that was because of the Bicorn’s ferocity and poisonous horns.

Rei raised his eyebrows as he remember information about Bicorns.

(The B rank test is to subjugate a D rank monster? Even at worst, they are only C rank in herds. ……This is strange.)

It was clearly strange that the test to get to B rank, which was considered the first of the higher ranks, was to hunt C or D rank monsters. Rei turned to Residence, the examiner. However, Residence simply looked back at all the participants without correcting anything he had said regarding the Bicorns.

「Hey, hey, hey, hey, are you serious? Do we really only need to hunt Bicorns to reach B rank? Or is it a service provided to the guild because they know how good we are?」

Roble started to mutter to himself in a excited manner, he seemed to be happy as the tail extending from his waist was swinging rapidly.

「Hey, Roble. Don’t you think it’s strange? Why would it be that easy to get to B rank……」

「That’s why I said it was a service. In fact, we’ve gathered a lot of experience in C rank, so the guild must have taken that into account. Rei and that old man must be lucky to have ended up in the same test as us.」

「……」

Ons stayed silent at Roble’s words. Even after hearing about the Bicorn subjugation, he just looked back at Residence without saying a word.

Rei also looked towards Residence without saying anything in particular to Roble……no, he looked towards the nobles instead.

(If hunting Bicorns was all there was to the test, why would nobles be involved? There must be some other meaning to have to deal with C and D rank monsters. In the first place, since I was told that at B rank requests and above, I might have to deal with nobility or royalty……I have a bad feeling about this.)

Rei glanced towards Coan and Marka.

Rei wasn’t particularly concerned about those two. One was a former A rank adventurer while the other had extraordinary magic power.

(So, the problem is those two, is it?)

With a small sigh, he looked towards the haughty Alnicht and the annoying looking Orkide.

As Rei came to his own conclusion, Stee similarly came to her own as she also looked towards the nobles.

Residence, who had been quiet until now, seemed to have noticed that and spoke up again.

「Some of you seemed to have noticed it. These nobles will be following you on this request.」

「Hah!? Wait a moment! That former A rank adventurer aside, there’s a kid and two typical nobles. No matter how you look at it……」

「Hey, you. What did you just say? We’re from beasts like you. You should watch your mouth more.」

Alnicht immediately responded to Roble’s words with a frown.

Hearing that, Roble, who might not have liked Alnicht referring to him as a beast and glared back with a murderous expression.

「Hey, Roble!」

Stee panicked at the series of events and immediately held Roble down while Orkide, who was next to Alnicht, told him it wasn’t worth the trouble.

「Come on, let’s not bother with something so troublesome here? Our aim is to hunt Bicorns. Let’s consider that first.」

「……If you say that, I guess I will let them off. You should thank me, beast. Normally, your words would be enough for me to behead you, but I will forgive you this once.」

「Grgh-!」

Glancing towards Roble, who was growling,out of the corner of his eye, Rei felt uncomfortable with the series of events that had just occurred.

(Hmm, although they’ve only met once, I don’t think Marka would ever allow a noble like Alnicht to act like that. In fact, Marka’s popularity within Duke Quent’s territory is because of her personality. Why isn’t she saying anything? I don’t know why Coan isn’t saying anything either, but that might be because he’s Marka’s subordinate……)

Thinking to himself, they were hunting Bicorns, a D ranked monster. Nobles would be accompanying them. B rank adventurers may receive requests from nobility or royalty. Putting that all together……

(I see. Could that be it?)

Rei came up with a hypothesis.

That was to say, the main purpose of the test was not to hunt Bicorns but to work together with nobles……including typical nobles like Alnicht.

(If I think about it, maybe these nobles were picked with that consideration in mind. No, could it be possible that they are even deliberately faking that attitude?)

Margrave Daska was the lord that ruled Gilm. He didn’t have the character to allow nobles to use their status to act tyrannical. Of course, not all the nobles in Gilm were the same, but Rei didn’t think he would have let a noble like Alnicht look down on others so blatantly in a public place like the guild.

However, Rei’s guess was only because he had met with Marka and Coan before. As for the other three, Roble was grumpily silent while Ons remained the same and didn’t say a word. The only one glancing back towards the nobles was Stee.

「Well then, this request……or rather, this rank up test, has everyone understood the details? The rest of today can be spent preparing for it. We will leave from the main gate at 9am tomorrow morning. Any questions?」

At Residence’s words, Stee, who seemed to be the one with the most common sense, was the first to raise her hand.

「How are we getting to where the Bicorns are located?」

「We will prepare a carriage for that. However, if you have your own means of transportation, you may use that.」

As he said that, he looked at Rei as he knew that Rei would likely be travelling on Set.

The speed of Set, a Griffon, was significantly faster compared to animals running along the ground. If you compared him to a carriage, the difference in speed would be even greater.

「However! Don’t forget that is a rank up test.」

In other words, Rei and Set couldn’t go ahead and exterminate the entire herd of Bicorns.

However, Rei just nodded in understanding without any change in his expression.

(So, we have to work together with the nobles. Looks like my expectations weren’t too far off.)

He thought to himself in his mind.

「It’s just a few hours walk from the city, can I assume we will complete the test and return on the same day?」

The next person to ask a question was Roble. He asked Residence as if intentionally ignoring the nobles……or rather Alnicht. However, Residence shook his head.

「That is up to your own discretion. If you think you need to stay the night, you should prepare for that, if you think you don’t need to, then you don’t need to prepare for that.」

「……Got it.」

With that answer, Roble understood that they would also be evaluated based on what they prepared.

However, the answer was completely meaningless to Rei, who had the Misty Ring. No matter how much he had to bring along, he could just store it into the Misty Ring. He also had the magic tent that was given to him by Daska.

(But, I could do that. Should I improve my evaluation here?)

Thinking to himself, Rei looked around before speaking.

「As you know, I have an item box. You don’t need to worry carrying things, so prepare whatever you think you might need.」

「Seriously!? Then, Rei can carry most of what we prepare!?」

At that moment, it was Roble who shouted out happily.

As a front line fighter and a spearman who wore light armour, he didn’t want to slow his own movements down, even if he could put most of what he brought in the carriage.

It seemed to be the same for Stee, the archer, and Ons, the thief, who both looked at Rei.

That said, in Ons’ case, there was little change in his expression as expected.

「An item box? I was told that there was an adventurer in this city who had one. I see, so it was you.」

As Alnicht said that to Rei, he reached his hand unexpectedly.

「That item box, let me take a look……no, give it too me to take a look.」

Marka spoke up before Rei could say anything in response.

「I think you should stop there. The Rei’s item box has some sort of magic on it. If someone either than it’s owner touches it carelessly……well, I wonder what would happen?」

「What!? I-Is that true?」

Hearing what Marka said, Alnicht’s complexion changed as he quickly asked Rei.

He knew that Marka was a talented mage, so he couldn’t just ignore what she said.

Rei nodded without denying it.

「Yes, this item box can’t be used by anyone either than me. If anyone else tried to use it, the defence system will kick in and you’ll probably have a rough time.」

To be exact, it was the magic Rei had placed on it that had that effect, but he wasn’t going to explain.

Alnicht was quite scared of the potential curse that might be on the item box and didn’t reproach Rei for his response or force him to hand it over anymore.

In the first place, as long as he was in Gilm, Alnicht would definitely know about someone as well known as Rei. That was why he naturally had information that Rei didn’t care for who you were……noble or not. Understandably, he didn’t want to push too far against such a person.

「Well then, that’s all I have to say about the rank up test. We’ll disband here. Gather in front of the main gate before 9am bell rings tomorrow morning.」

As if he didn’t want to see any more commotion, Residence left the meeting room after saying those words.

After that, Alnicht and Orkide looked at each other before they both left as well……

「I’m expecting you to play an active role.」

Marka said that as she looked towards Rei for a moment before leaving the meeting room with Coan.

After that, Rei bought everything he needed……the next day, the rank up test finally arrived.