kscans

Chapter 147 - An Invitation to B-Rank

That evening, on the same day I found myself agonizing over 'human good, evil, and true intentions' so soon after the start of the school term, a certain piece of news was making waves.

The trial introduction of 'B-Rank Adventurers.'

The Dungeon Law was to be partially revised, adding a new rank above the existing 'F' through 'C' for adventurers.

Naturally, the difficulty would rise accordingly, increasing the risk of death for adventurers.

I had heard about it in advance from the professor, but the general public had not. Both TV and the internet were buzzing with heated debate on the matter.

The 'Dungeon Countermeasures Minister' was holding a press conference about the sudden revision.

...Now that I think about it, the mismatch between the word 'dungeon' and the title of 'minister' is pretty incredible.

'B-Rank Dungeons were previously managed solely by the Self-Defense Force. What are your thoughts on the danger of entrusting this to civilians?'

'The Dungeon Agency's website states that many monsters in dungeons of this rank cannot be defeated without heavy firearms. Is that truly a level of strength that general adventurers can handle?'

'Does this mean that the Self-Defense Force alone is no longer able to cope with the disaster known as dungeons? Is this a de facto declaration of defeat!?'

'What kind of discussions were held with the Minister of Defense regarding this matter?'

'Minister! It is said that an Awakened Person's level is influenced by the rank of their hunting grounds. Doesn't the opening of B-Rank Dungeons increase the potential for Awakened crime to become more heinous!? Are there any proposals to counter this!?'

'The Dungeon Law previously stated that B-Rank Dungeons would be under complete government control. To revise the law so soon after its enactment, was your foresight not far too poor?'

'There are rumors online that Self-Defense Force equipment will be loaned to adventurers. Is this true? Have there also been changes to the Dungeon Law regarding the use of firearms?'

'What are your thoughts on the 'Turohorse Incident,' Minister? Also, please tell us the reason for pushing through with this revision immediately after that incident.'

'B-Rank Dungeons have been under the jurisdiction of the Self-Defense Force until now. Does the involvement of adventurers mean that they may also be involved in national defense in the future?'

And so on. The press conference was a flurry of voices, from questions that sounded more like insults to questions that I myself was curious about.

The minister, who kept wiping away sweat with a handkerchief while giving non-committal answers, offered this response to the question of whether adventurers could handle B-Rank Dungeons:

'A video of combat exercises by B-Rank adventurer candidates has been uploaded to the Dungeon Agency's official website. As to whether their abilities are lacking, I would like you to watch it and judge for yourselves.'

So he said.

Hearing those words, I immediately went to the Dungeon Agency's website myself.

"...Everyone's thinking the same thing, I guess."

'It's only natural for everyone to be curious. I expected the servers to be congested.'

I conversed through the earring while staring at my phone.

All that was displayed was the text, 'Please wait a moment.'

'Well, if we wait a little longer... oh?'

As we were talking, the Dungeon Agency's website finally loaded properly.

'Their response was faster than I thought. That Director Akasaka fellow must have some skilled subordinates or connections in the computer field.'

'It must be a cyber ninja! A super hacker ninja adapted to the modern age, no doubt!'

"Right..."

I tuned out Erina-san's delusions and immediately played the video.

After a few warnings and notices, the screen showed several Awakened Persons lined up in what looked like a former quarry.

Hmm? That short girl with the twin tails among the candidates... isn't she...

"That short girl with the twin tails who was just on screen, is she the one who took second place in that Awakened-only marathon before?"

'Hm? Which one?'

'...Ah, you're right. I too remember that heated dead heat well.'

Hearing Mia-san, who had unusually joined the telepathic conversation, I nodded in confirmation.

The girl, who had a beauty rivaling Erina-san's and a radiant smile, slammed a greatsword taller than herself into the ground.

Just from that, a cloud of dust billowed up as if a cannonball had landed. A huge crater had formed in the earth where the rugged rock face had been exposed, and the one responsible for it was cheerfully hoisting her sword high.

—This girl is strong.

Her destructive power was, of course, immense, but I was more surprised by the lack of 'wavering.' With a small frame like that, she should have been pulled off balance by the weight of the sword, yet she drew a very clean arc.

"Erina-san. That slash just now."

'Yeah. You can't just explain that by saying she has a strong core. She's probably gripping the ground firmly with her toes. To do that through her boots is incredible.'

"It's [Arcane Gear], so it should be plenty sturdy. What monstrous strength... And on top of that, she's so skilled."

She has probably swung that sword hundreds, thousands, or perhaps even more times—a number so large it's foolish to count. Not recklessly, either. She thinks carefully about how she swings her blade.

It wasn't just a brute-force push of specs like mine. I could clearly feel 'experience,' 'technique'... and 'talent' in that single strike.

Maybe that's what you call a genius. No, a 'hard-working genius.'

'Mhm, mhm. That's it. It's that feeling where your abs and back muscles just, like, clench up.'

'Nee-san, please don't overdo it.'

'No! I want to act like a smug support character too! I want to pull that enemy-executive move where you condescendingly evaluate the protagonist's fighting style!'

"This pathetic college girl..."

When she puts it like that, it makes me feel like I'm some kind of embarrassing person, which is painful.

Ignoring our foolish exchange, the video continued.

The adventurers shown were all incredibly skilled. 'B-Rank candidates'... in other words, the cream of the crop among 'C-Rank Adventurers.'

This world is vast, indeed. These people could certainly carve a path through a swarm of Cuelebre. The government didn't introduce a new rank without thinking it through.

'Hmm... all of them are amazing, but why aren't you in this video, Kyouta?'

"Huh? What's this all of a sudden?"

I raised an eyebrow at Erina-san's words, but I quickly understood what she meant.

"I do think... I have enough skill to be out there too. But, I never got an offer or anything."

True, the people in this video were strong. But I didn't think for a second that I... that we were inferior. I was confident that we had accumulated enough experience to say so. ...I hope that's not just arrogance.

But at the very least, it was certain that in terms of pure combat ability, we had the upper hand in many aspects. Of course, I had no intention of being conceited enough to think we were the strongest.

Especially that girl with the twin tails and the two girls beside her. I didn't feel like we could win against those three, even as a party.

Even among a group of eye-poppingly skilled warriors, their eyes and abilities shone with a dazzling confidence. They might be a head above the rest even in that group.

'I wonder why you weren't called. The only people who could withstand your attacks if you got serious about killing them are maybe three... no. Considering matchups, maybe two? The twin-tailed girl and the person with gray hair in a ponytail.'

"What kind of morbid standard is that?"

First of all, I can't even imagine myself seriously trying to kill someone. And I don't want to.

Why on earth would I have to become a murderer? Living with the guilt of killing someone is just plain awful.

'It's true that in terms of technique, there are many people more skilled than you, Kyouta, but in terms of pure brute force, you're superior. You didn't get an offer or anything, right? Why? Did you accidentally throw away the invitation letter?'

"Why, you ask... Maybe from a professional's perspective, I was lacking in some areas? In the first place, if you're going to say that, it's strange that you girls didn't get an offer either."

If it were just me, I could understand not getting an offer for reasons like 'lacking flair.' But Erina-san and the others are beautiful women who stand out in both looks and behavior. And on top of that, their skills are more than sufficient.

The fact that they weren't called was indeed incredibly strange.

...Correction. It wasn't strangeness, but a feeling of displeasure. No, it's not that I wanted them to appear, but it was more like a 'don't you underestimate us' kind of feeling.

This is bad. That thought process is creepy, coming from me. So gross it makes me want to puke. I'm just their friend and party member, so thinking like that is just... no.

'Hmm... ah, I get it!'

'Mm. That's probably it.'

'I understand as well this time.'

"Huh?"

While I was wallowing in self-loathing, the pervy clan seemed to have come to an understanding on their own.

I tilted my head as I watched the video. What did they figure out?

'We weren't called because they think Kyouta and us are part of the same ninja organization!'

"But we're not ninjas?"

'They probably thought that you, Erina-kun, Mia, and Grandma have been collared by Britain.'

'Either through Grandma's family or Erina-san's parents' trading company... In any case, we were likely excluded from the PV due to our deep connections abroad. Every country wants skilled Awakened Persons right now. This can lead to international incidents, so they likely avoided the risk.'

"Ahhh."

I clapped my hands in understanding at Aira-san's and Mia-san's words.

I see. Regardless of the actual situation, looking at the circumstances, it's not unreasonable to think that. In the first place, since I'm employed by Professor Arisugawa, it's not entirely off the mark.

The professor herself is no longer a noble, but she apparently still corresponds with her family. Furthermore, the buyers for our dropped items are often old acquaintances of hers... in other words, people connected to her family.

That must be the reason why not only me, but also Erina-san, Mia-san, and the professor herself didn't receive an offer.

'I said the same thing, but you're so cold to me, Kyouta.'

"In what way was that the same...?"

Through the telepathy, I could tell Erina-san was pouting. Seriously, where was the ninja element in any of that?

"Getting back on topic, from the looks of this, it really seems like these people can handle 'B-Rank.'"

'Well, that's why the government... or rather, the Dungeon Agency, decided to release the PV. By showing off their skills, they intend to silence those who are worried about a lack of strength.'

'But it seems like it will just raise different problems and anxieties...'

'Don't worry. You can never get zero negative opinions on things like this. In fact, if you did, it would be a sign of an unhealthy democracy. Sometimes, you just have to let things go in one ear and out the other.'

"More importantly, that letter the minister mentioned during the press conference that's supposed to be sent to candidates... do you think we'll get one?"

'Of course. We were excluded from the PV because they think we're collared, but your skills have already been proven to be effective at the 'B-Rank' level. If they don't reach out now, there's no point in them having pushed for the revision in the first place. The government is in a situation where they're desperate for any help they can get right now.'

"Right. ...I'm anxious, but as I said before, I think I'll take it. The promotion to B-Rank. Well, it's apparently still in a trial phase."

'Me too! There's nothing but training until I master the way of the ninja!'

'Then, me as well. I don't want to be left behind at this point.'

'Grandma said she would if she has the time. Things have gotten better recently, but she's still as busy as ever.'

The letter concerning the briefing for the newly established 'B-Rank Adventurer' was delivered to my house the next day.

It seems it will be held in Tokyo next Sunday. After confirming the letter was authentic, I sent an email to the listed contact person's address to confirm my attendance.

A new school term, a class of only acquaintances that feels like segregation. And a new realm of adventuring unlike anything before.

I clenched my fists tightly to suppress the anxiety I felt inside about what was to come.

...That aside.

"Mooom! How do I get tickets for the bullet train to Tokyo!?"

Isn't the briefing location a bit far? And it's pretty short notice, too. It says they'll cover travel expenses up to 100,000 yen per person, but money isn't the only issue here.

Don't assume everyone lives in the Kanto region, Dungeon Agency!