Chapter 265: Conversation with the Guildmaster

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{Sword}

The guildmaster kept sighin’ all the time. Somehow, he sure looks troubled, I gotta say.

And just as I thought that, he suddenly asked, “Are you going to open a bar?”

“Hmm? That was the plan, yeah. We also ran one in Seay, and my partner scouted the folk who helped us out back then. So, she built ’em a golem that makes it easier for ’em to run a bar. Since she went out of her way to make it ‘nyway, we’re gonna run a bar in any town we visit unless somethin’ makes it absolutely impossible.”

“……Built them a golem……?” The guildmaster muttered while being clearly at a loss here.

“My partner possesses abilities that go way beyond ‘nythin’ some S-Rank adventurers can do. Or rather, it feels like she becomes the best in this country, no matter what she touches. Things she can’t handle…well, they exist. Everyone got stuff they’re bad with, but basically, it’s negligible in her case.”

She can’t be a simple yes-man and she hates goin’ easy on folks, but no need to tell him, is there? I mean I’d be troubled if the guildmaster became even more confused.

I shrugged my shoulders, “I mean, even that snobby guy might become an S-Rank adventurer someday. Well, I guess it might remain out of reach as long as he doesn’t participate in defendin’ ‘gainst the next demonkin attack on the capital and survivin’, but if he becomes an A-Rank as solo adventurer, I’ve got no doubt that he’ll have the power to be an S-Rank as well.”

The guildmaster remained silent for a while.

“…Do you believe that guy to have such ability?” He abruptly asked me just when I had almost forgotten about the topic.

“No clue! I’ve only faced him for a short time, you know? Moreover, he only tossed lame phrases at us while scarin’ Indra. …In such a sense, I s’pose he’s a tough guy for frightenin’ Indra. After all, that girl’s scared of almost nothin’. ‘nyway, if we talk ’bout him and compare him to my partner, it’s like he doesn’t exist.”

The guildmaster’s face cramped up.

“My partner is more powerful than me, too. She’s the one shoulderin’ all the reputation of 【Allrounders】. But you see, I also had a time when I was a B-Rank. Indra didn’t, however! Either way, 【Peerless Strength】 and 【Bloody Witch】 also had such a time. Indra didn’t, however!”

――In short, he loses out compared to my partner, but if he’s a B-Rank as a solo adventurer, he can still aim higher, I think. You also know about the demon summonin’, right? I don’t know whether he can use light magic, but he can prepare tools allowin’ him to defeat the demon and succeed in becoming an A-Rank like that. In the first place, even requests are hit-and-miss, aren’t they? So you can handle most of stuff one way or ‘nother, if you prepare properly.”

Havin’ talked up to that point, Indra’s face crossed my mind. I moistened my throat with ale, and said somethin’ soundin’ like advice, “Well, as far as I’m concerned, I’d tell him to hurry up and get some comrades, though. I was actin’ as solo adventurer involuntarily to begin with. I just wasn’t blessed with any good partners, although I actually wanted to adventure with a party. But now, at long last, I found someone who said that she wants to party with me. Finally! Even so, she’s a truly crazy girl…”

I laughed out loud while rememberin’ all her antics.

“…She cherishes me and covers for the parts I’m lackin’, so she’s the perfect partner for me. We’re the strongest party. So I’d recommend him to form a party as well after findin’ folks fittin’ with him. However, don’t ask me to meet him directly to give him that advice in person since he’s regardin’ me as some sort of rival…or rather, would hate it for me to act as bein’ above him.”

The guildmaster’s shoulders trembled as he apologetically asked, “…So you noticed after all?”

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded, “Of course I did. It’s not like he’s the only one either. The majority of folks either want to revere me as some sort of projection for their own wishes or they want to look down on my titles as bein’ too exaggerated. I’m just a simple adventurer, though.”

Indra had said that you don’t need some hero titles if you want to be free of hindrances back in Seay. Hearin’ her say that took a load off my shoulders.

She’s totally right. I’m free. And she’s free as well. That’s why you just need to become an excellent adventurer if somethin’ stands in your way.

Even without bein’ an S-Rank, you can still go on adventures. You don’t need the title of S-Rank to explore the unknown or defeat formidable enemies.

I just need to increase the number of friends, stop by towns, eat and drink as we open bars, hunt as fits, and explore everythin’ that’s new.

＊

When I looked at the guildmaster, he was starin’ at me with a face full of surprise.

“…You’re saying you’re a simple adventurer after having clawed your way all the way up to S-Rank?”

I shrugged, “You got it. My partner and I are adventurers who simply explore the unknown and defeat formidable enemies. We’ll poke our heads into everythin’ that seems interestin’ enough. We’ll kick the ass of ‘nyone gettin’ on our nerves. In the first place, do you think dragons or demons give a shit, if you tell them that your an S-Rank? You think they’ll prostrate themselves in front of me just because of my rank?

Of course that will never happen. I merely use the title sometimes since it’s got its uses. I mean it’s easy to get a seat in a bar if you flaunt your S-Rank title a bit. However, even without it, it just makes the formalities a bit more troublesome, but otherwise doesn’t change ‘nythin’ much. That’s the level of worth that title got.”

All light vanished from the guildmaster’s eyes while he still looked very surprised.

Why?

“…As guild staff you probably want me to feel grateful, I guess. But, there are times when that rank is a pain in the butt as well, you know? Besides, unlike my partner, I’m no big fan of trouble, and bein’ an S-Rank draws all sorts of weird folk to you.”

When I explained that to him, he furrowed his eyebrows and started to brood, apparently havin’ realized somethin’.

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