"Your B-Rank Rank Up Exam."
Rei gave a small nod as Marina spoke those words in the Guild Master's Office.
"Come to think of it, that had been mentioned before," he remarked.
Rei had distinguished himself in the war with the Bestia Empire to the point of earning an alias, and more recently, he had subjugated the Lemures—a monster considered a B-Rank or even A-Rank threat. Given his accomplishments, it was only natural for the topic of a promotion to surface. In fact, by the time the war had concluded, Rei already possessed the strength and track record required to challenge the exam.
The only reason it hadn't been held immediately was the influx of the rabble into the City of Gilm looking for him. Had they proceeded with a public exam then, it undoubtedly would have sparked significant unrest in the streets.
"Oh dear, did you happen to forget?" Marina asked with an alluring smile, brewing a cup of tea for herself using the tools nearby.
While Rei admired the grace of her movements, he gave a small shrug. "I wouldn't say I forgot. It’s more that the Lemures incident kept me occupied. I just hadn't given the Rank Up Exam any thought lately."
"Hmm... Well then, what do you want to do? Shall we call it off?"
"No, I’ll take it if it's available. Raising my rank is exactly what I was hoping for. Subjugation requests for rare species or high-rank monsters are often restricted by rank, after all."
"I see. Then in a sense, the timing is perfect."
"How so?"
"Consider your current situation," Marina said, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she pressed her moist lips to her teacup. "You visited Duke Quento's Residence yesterday, so you can surely guess where you stand now."
Rei understood what she was getting at.
He was being watched. Numerous gazes followed him wherever he went. Some were friendly looks from the citizens of Gilm who were fond of Rei and Set, others were looks of admiration, awe, or even fear from fellow adventurers. Then there were the measuring glares from newcomers who had arrived while he was away, trying to gauge his power. But beyond those, there were also gazes that were biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to approach him.
Combined with his conversation with Maruka the previous day, the intentions of those watchers were obvious.
"I have no intention of entering anyone's service, though," Rei stated.
"I'm sure they realize that, but they still want to pull you over to their side. They’ve likely prepared offers that would sway any ordinary adventurer." She took another sip of tea before returning to the main topic. "But back to the Rank Up Exam. The requirement is simple: you are to carry out a subjugation request alongside a noble."
"What?" Rei asked, taken aback by the unexpected condition.
His exam for Rank D had focused on his willingness to kill and his ability to coordinate with a temporary party. Now, he was being told to work with nobility.
Ignoring Rei's surprise, Marina continued. "You've likely heard this before, but once you reach B-Rank or higher, you'll start receiving requests from nobles, the state, and even the royal family. You need to prove you can handle the social complexities that come with them. I'll judge your passing based on the result. Normally, we’d ask a noble residing in the City of Gilm to assist, but since so many influential figures are here specifically for you, I decided to let them help."
"May I ask why?" Rei asked.
He was being asked to work with the very people trying to recruit him. To Rei, it seemed like a recipe for trouble—at least for him.
"They've come all this way just for you. Whether you refuse them or not, meeting them is a matter of their social standing. Besides, out of the many currently in town, you'll only be dealing with a few."
"A few? Am I not the only one taking the exam?"
"Correct. There are others taking this Rank Up Exam alongside you. They’ve already been notified."
"I see. So this has been in the works for a while."
"Precisely. The formal explanation for the exam will be in three days. Come to the meeting room on the guild's 2F by the time the 9 o'clock bell rings."
Rei let out a small sigh as Marina gave him a cheerful smile.
Since the preparations were already so far along, he really didn't have the option to refuse. Even if he did, he knew it would only create more headaches down the line.
"Understood. Nine o'clock in three days. One more thing—can I bring Set? I was told no during my last exam."
"Yes. Last time the focus was on your cooperation with other humans, so Set was forbidden. This time, there’s no problem. However, you must understand that if your tamed monster causes any trouble, you will be held fully responsible."
Rei's brow twitched.
It was common knowledge that a master was responsible for their tamed monster's actions, but the way she emphasized it suggested a deeper meaning.
Is she worried the nobles might do something to Set? Or will I be put in a position where trouble is inevitable? No, there’s no point in overthinking it now. This warning might be part of the test itself.
"By the way," Rei added, shifting his gaze back to Marina. "How many others are participating in this exam?"
"Three others besides you. I expect you'll be expected to cooperate with them to complete the task."
"Understood."
He was glad he wouldn't be alone, but he felt a different kind of unease. Those taking the B-Rank exam were bound to be highly capable, and Rei wasn't sure how well he would get along with them. As someone who wasn't particularly social, that was a bigger concern for him than whether they would be a burden in combat.
"Well then, that’s all from me. You'll hear the detailed brief from the examiner in the meeting room in three days."
"Right. I’ll be there."
Rei finished his now-cold tea in one gulp and stood up from the sofa.
"Oh dear. Such a waste to let delicious tea get cold before drinking it," Marina teased.
"It’s summer. Cold tea isn't so bad."
With that, Rei pulled several overnight-dried fish from his Misty Ring and placed them on the table.
"...What are these?" Marina asked, tilting her head.
Rei gave a small shrug. "A souvenir from Emocion. They're overnight-dried fish from a shop with a stellar reputation."
"...I see. Thank you."
Marina offered a brief word of thanks, though her expression was hard to read.
Ever since he had entered the room, Rei had felt like he was being danced around in the palm of her hand. Finally seeing her brow furrow slightly at the smell of the fish gave him a sense of small victory. He left the office with a smug grin.
Rei hadn't given her the fish purely out of spite; they really were delicious. In fact, they were premium goods, costing about 5 Copper Coins each.
"...What on earth am I supposed to do with these? I've never liked the smell of sea fish," Marina muttered to herself.
As a Dark Elf born in the forest, "fish" to her meant river fish. She stared at the gift, genuinely troubled. In port towns like the City of Emocion, the locals often complained that river fish tasted like mud—it all came down to how one was raised.
"Ah, Rei-kun! Are you finished with the Guild Master?"
Kenny spotted him the moment he stepped downstairs, her ears twitching as she called out. She was always on guard against Marina, recognizing her as a rival for Rei’s attention even if she was her superior.
However, her eyes went wide at Rei's response.
"Yeah. We were discussing my Rank Up Exam."
"What?! Rei-kun, you're taking the Rank Up Exam already?!"
Her shout echoed through the hall, drawing immediate attention now that the morning rush had ended. The staff behind the counter, Lenora, and even receptionists Rei had never spoken to all turned to him with shocked expressions.
The adventurers remaining in the guild were equally stunned. It was a well-known fact that Rei held the record for reaching Rank C in the shortest time; if he passed this, he would break the record for the fastest ascent to B-Rank as well.
"Rei-san, are you truly taking the exam?" Lenora asked, her voice laced with worry. She had always looked out for Rei as if he were a younger brother.
"Yeah. I have more than enough achievements, so they gave me the green light."
"But... isn't it too soon? You could probably use more experience as a Rank C first."
"Oh, hush, Lenora," Kenny interrupted. "The guild offered him the exam because they judged his strength is already at B-Rank, right? Then there's no issue!"
"That may be true, but..." Lenora trailed off, her gaze still lingering on Rei with concern.
Rei knew she was only worried for him, so he gave her a reassuring smile. "Besides, Set will be with me this time."
"...That’s part of what worries me," Lenora sighed. "From what I've heard, the B-Rank exam focuses less on raw power and more on other qualities. Strength is evaluated, of course, but having Set-chan with you... I can only imagine the commotion that might cause."
She let out another long sigh. Anyone who worked with adventurers knew how incredibly valuable a Gryphon was. It was precisely because she understood his worth that she was worried.
Noble involvement was common in B-Rank exams, and it wasn't rare for adventurers to end up clashing with their noble "partners." While the guild preferred to avoid such friction, they couldn't simply ignore the influence nobles held. Fortunately, Gilm was ruled by Daskar, Margrave Larkus, a man of pragmatism and integrity, which made things significantly better than in the Royal Capital where noble factions ran rampant.
"Rei-san, I still feel it’s a bit early, but if you’re determined to take it, please be extremely careful in your dealings with the nobility."
"I will. If it worries you that much, Lenora, I’ll be on my best behavior."
Rei said the words, but in truth, he had almost no respect for the nobility. While he held a select few in high regard, he felt nothing but cold ruthlessness toward those who cared only for themselves.
And so, Rei was set to challenge the Rank Up Exam.
As a side note, the staff was absolutely delighted by the seafood sandwiches he had brought as a souvenir for the rest of the guild staff.