The rank-up exam had concluded successfully. Rei had passed and officially risen to D-Rank. The party was meant to disband then and there, but as Rei turned to leave the meeting room, a voice called out to stop him. It was Gran, the man who had served as the lead examiner.
"Was there a problem with my promotion?" Rei asked.
Gran shook his head slightly. He shot a quick glance at the staff member who had brought the Guild Cards; the employee gave a sharp nod of understanding and promptly exited the room.
Watching him leave and ensuring the door was securely closed, Gran sat in the spot Rei and the others had occupied just moments ago.
"Rei, we have something important to discuss."
Rei could tell immediately from the man’s expression that this was no trivial matter. Without a word, he took the seat opposite Gran.
"So, what's this about?"
"Ah, right... Well, where to begin? I suppose I should start with this. Congratulations on passing the rank-up exam."
"Being told that so formally makes me a bit self-conscious... but thank you. I assume you didn't keep me here just for a congratulatory speech, right?"
"Of course not. I’ll get straight to the point. As you know, adventurers typically take on work by picking up forms from the request board, but there are other avenues. One of those is the Nominated Request. Did they explain that to you when you registered at the Guild?"
Gran’s question made Rei search his memory for the explanation Lenora had given him during his registration, but he didn't recall hearing about this. He shook his head.
"No, I haven't heard of a Nominated Request. Though, given the name, I can guess how it works. Instead of leaving a task to the general public through the board, the client entrusts it to a specific adventurer they’ve named personally, right?"
"That’s essentially it. Naturally, since a client goes out of their way to name someone, the difficulty is usually high, or there are strict confidentiality obligations involved. Sometimes it’s simply due to the nature of the client’s circumstances."
Gran’s expression soured slightly as he spoke. Rei could tell that the man didn't exactly have a glowing opinion of the system.
"And since you're bringing this up to me now..."
"Bingo. Rei, a Nominated Request has come in specifically for you."
"...Well, I saw that coming, but why me? I literally just became a D-Rank adventurer today."
"True. On paper, you’re just a fledgling rookie who hit D-Rank this afternoon. To the established veterans, you're nothing more than a greenhorn. However, you also happen to be the man who single-handedly defeated an Orc King—a Rank B monster—and tamed a Rank A Gryphon. In terms of combat power alone, you don't fit into the D-Rank mold."
"So they need a D-Rank adventurer with an abnormal level of strength?"
Gran nodded in affirmation. "Furthermore, the person who nominated you is the highest of the high-ranking figures in this city."
"...If you're phrasing it like that, I assume it's a noble?"
There were a fair number of nobles in the City of Gilm. Beyond the Neutral Faction led by the city's Lord, Margrave Larkus, there were also representatives of the King's Faction and the Noble's Faction. After all, Gilm was the only town in the Margrave's territory that directly bordered the frontier. It was the only place where one could directly monitor the threat of the monsters living in the wilderness, and as a hub for powerful adventurers, it was a prime location for scouting talent. Rei assumed the request came from one of these aristocrats, but...
"You wouldn't be wrong to call them a noble. In fact, they’re the Lord of the City of Gilm himself."
"...What?"
"I'm telling you, the client who nominated you for this job is Margrave Larkus."
"Why would someone that important want me...? No, forget I asked. I can guess." Rei let out a wry smile.
As Gran had pointed out, traveling with a Rank A Gryphon and possessing the strength to fell an Orc King made him an anomaly. It was only natural that someone would report such a strange newcomer to the Lord.
"It seems you've figured it out. Margrave Larkus has apparently been keeping an eye on you for quite some time. In fact, this very rank-up exam was carried out under the Lord’s direct instructions."
"Does he intend to put me on a leash?"
To Rei, that seemed like the only logical reason the Lord of the city would go to such lengths for him. Given his overwhelming strength for a new Guild member, it wasn't a far-fetched conclusion.
"Well, I wouldn't know about that. A Margrave is one of the highest ranks in the nobility. I’m just a Guild employee; I have no way of knowing what a man like that is truly thinking. However, if I had to guess, I’d say he views you as a vital asset to the city's defense. ...The nobility of this kingdom is divided into three primary factions. You know of them?"
"Yeah. I read about them in a book at the library. The King's Faction, the Noble's Faction, and the Neutral Faction, right?"
"Exactly. And the Neutral Faction is the smallest of the three. Our Lord, Margrave Larkus, is recognized as a titan within that group. In other words, if a powerful asset were to be poached from the City of Gilm, it would be a direct blow to the Neutral Faction's strength. I suspect he’s being cautious... but then again, that’s just my own speculation. You shouldn't worry too much about it."
Gran offered a self-deprecating smile, but Rei took the information to heart, giving a deep nod.
"Anyway, I'm getting off track. Regarding the request... In about a week’s time, the only daughter of Duke Kerebel will be arriving in the City of Gilm with her entourage. The Duke is one of the leading figures of the Noble's Faction."
"...Sending his only daughter to a city held by a rival faction?"
"Yeah. That said, it doesn't seem like they have any intention of stirring the political pot this time. ...At least, that’s what they've officially stated, so we shouldn't have to worry about that aspect."
"Then why would a noble lady come all the way to the frontier?"
"The dungeon. That’s her objective."
"The dungeon?"
"Yeah. Do you remember what Luno said when you were dealing with the Falcon's Claws?"
At the mention of Luno, the image of a smooth-talking man who had carefully stayed neutral during Rei’s conflict with Vargas came to mind.
"If I remember right, he was the one with the Magic Eye that could see magic power directly."
"Right, that’s the one. When you clashed with the Falcon's Claws, they were celebrating a successful run in that dungeon, weren't they?"
"Now that you mention it, I think he did say that. ...So, the Duke's Daughter is coming specifically for the dungeon?"
Rei looked at Gran with an exasperated expression. However, Gran simply shook his head with a tired smile.
"I don't know what you're imagining, but the Daughter of Duke Kerebel isn't your typical princess. If she were to register with the Guild right now, she’d easily be Rank B... maybe even Rank A."
"...Just to be clear, she really is a Duke's Daughter, right?"
"She is."
"My image of a noble lady is a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse... Am I missing something?"
"Well, normally you’d be right. Most noble ladies in the Royal Capital are exactly as you imagine. But Duke Kerebel’s Daughter is a different breed. Two years ago, during the skirmish with the Bestia Empire, she personally led Duke Kerebel's Knight Order into battle. They say she even defeated an enemy general in single combat."
The Bestia Empire. It was a neighboring nation of the Kingdom of Mireana and possessed some of the greatest military power on the continent. Its national strength surpassed even that of Mireana, and its expansionist policies were clear as it gradually brought smaller neighboring states under its rule. Rei had studied the history of the country at the library and knew that Bestia and Mireana had been at odds for years. Still, hearing that a Duke's Daughter was a veteran of the battlefield was a shock.
"Is she really a noble lady? That doesn't match my image of one at all."
"I agree. She’s an outlier, to be sure. Even in the Bestia Empire, she’s feared as the Princess General. Her reputation has spread throughout the entire kingdom."
"Princess General, huh... Is a noble allowed to call themselves a princess?"
"Don't ask me. Take that up with the people of Bestia. Though she is a lady of high nobility, so the term isn't exactly wrong. Anyway, the point is this: for reasons unknown, the Princess General is coming here with a small group of attendants to enter the dungeon. Consequently, Duke Kerebel sent a request to Margrave Larkus."
Rei frowned as the pieces came together.
"In that case, wouldn't it be better to hire high-rank adventurers? Rank A or B? Or even a thief like Culotte, since it's a dungeon mission?"
It was a logical question. If a father was sending his daughter to a dangerous place like a dungeon, he would surely want the most experienced guards possible. There was no obvious reason to hire someone like Rei, who had just attained D-Rank.
"I wasn't told all the specifics, but apparently, adventurers of Rank C or higher are forbidden from joining."
"...That sounds incredibly suspicious."
"Maybe so. But when a Duke makes a request, even Margrave Larkus can't refuse without a very good reason."
In terms of political clout, the Noble's Faction was far more powerful than the Neutral Faction. A single misstep could leave the Neutrals completely cornered. Furthermore, since there was a significant gap in status between a Margrave and a Duke, Margrave Larkus had no choice but to comply.
"The Margrave accepted the request out of necessity. But if a woman as famous as the Princess General were to die in his territory... you can guess the fallout."
"At worst, the title of Margrave Larkus would be stripped away entirely."
"Exactly. Even in a best-case scenario, he’d lose a massive amount of his land. ...Well, since Gilm is practically his only major town, losing other territory might not be a death blow. But if the City of Gilm itself were seized..."
Rei let out a long sigh. "And so, despite being D-Rank, I was chosen because I have the strength of a high-rank guard?"
"Precisely. Since she’s a warrior herself—one who defeated a general in single combat—she’s more than capable of handling herself. Rei, your presence is likely meant to be a trump card for emergencies. And having a Gryphon under your command is a massive advantage."
"I’ll ask just in case: can I refuse a Nominated Request?"
"The way you're asking tells me you already know the answer. Normally, refusing a Nominated Request is possible and fairly common. However, the client this time is the Lord of the city. You can't say no."
Rei considered the situation carefully.
(Refusal is impossible, then. But this request is also a perfect opportunity for me to finally visit a dungeon. I've heard there are plenty of high-rank monsters inside, so I can expect a decent haul of magic stones in terms of both quality and quantity. ...The only issue is whether my refusal to sell those stones will look suspicious. No, she’s a Duke's Daughter from the capital. Whatever her business in the dungeon is, once she’s finished, she’ll likely leave the frontier as fast as she can. She’s unlikely to care or notice if one guard keeps his spoils.)
"Can I bring Seto into the dungeon with me? Specifically, is it wide enough for a Gryphon of his size to fight effectively?"
"That won't be a problem. Monsters even larger than Seto have been confirmed inside that dungeon. The passages are maintained at a width that allows them to move freely."
"I see. Then it should work out."
"Hearing that, I take it you're accepting the request?"
"Who was the one who told me I didn't have a choice?"
Gran could only respond with a wry smile.
"True enough, but a man's own will still matters. So, you're in?"
"Yeah. What's the plan? Should I just show up at the Guild in a week when the Princess General arrives?"
"That's right. I should be able to give you more details soon. In the meantime, keep yourself in top shape. It would be a disaster if you were too injured to fight when the request actually starts. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you didn't take on any other subjugation requests for the next week."
"Is it really that critical?"
Gran nodded with absolute gravity.
"Yes. The safety of a Duke's Daughter—and the fate of the City of Gilm—depends on it. Treat it with the weight it deserves."
"...Hah, fine. I understand. By the way, what’s the pay?"
"The success reward is two light gold coins."
"...Are you serious?"
Two light gold coins. A reward of that magnitude for a single mission was a rarity even for Rank A adventurers.
"As I’ve said, that is how important this job is. Make sure you don't forget it."
And so, Rei, having only just risen to D-Rank, found himself practically forced into a high-stakes Nominated Request.
He had no way of knowing at the time, but this single request would become a major turning point in his life.