Wait... Don't tell me....
The thought hit Shin'ya's brain like a physical punch. His internal anime-nerd radar went from a light buzz to a full-blown red alert.
Don't tell me my rank is going to jump! No, no, no, I totally overdid it! Now I'm gonna draw way too much attention! I just wanted grocery money and a place to crash, not a target painted on my back!
Ten long, excruciating minutes ticked by. The silence in the guild hall remained thick and heavy, with every veteran in the room staring at the back of Shin'ya's gray hoodie like it was a ticking time bomb.
Finally, the double doors behind the counter creaked open. The receptionist emerged, looking visibly drained of life. His hands were shaking so violently it was a miracle he could even hold the metallic plate, which he presented using both hands in a highly formal, rigid gesture.
"M-Mr. Arata," the receptionist squeaked, his voice cracking as he forced out the most noble, overly formal vocabulary his brain could muster. "Upon... upon immediate administrative review by the High Elders and the Branch Master himself... your exceptional martial prowess, unparalleled sub-space elemental storage manipulation, and swift subjugation of a mutated high-tier predator have been properly evaluated. We offer our humblest gratitude for your service to Oakhaven."
He bowed so low his nose nearly touched the wooden counter, extending the card.
Shin'ya took it with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He looked down at the new engraving. His predictions were spot on, but seeing it in actual writing made him want to facepalm.
ADVENTURER'S GUILD: OAKHAVEN CENTRAL BRANCH
Name: Shin'ya Arata
Age: 14
Rank: A– ~ A
Affinity: Shadow
Mana Core Rank: [A+ Proximately]
Class: Vanguard
*A-minus to A-rank?!* Shin'ya inhaled sharply. They skipped the entire B-rank tier completely. And his mana core, which they couldn't even read properly before, was now casually slapped with a provisional A+ rating just because they assumed anyone who could pull a boss monster out of a shadow had to be a walking magical battery.
Shin'ya let out a long, exhausted sigh. He didn't say a word. He just scooped up the heavy pouch containing his 45,000 gold pieces, gave the terrified receptionist a brief nod, and turned on his heel.
He walked out of the heavy guild doors with a perfectly calm, unbothered posture. But the exact second the heavy oak doors shut behind him, a wave of synchronized, earth-shattering screams of absolute disbelief erupted from inside the guild hall as the veterans finally saw the updated public registry log.
"HE'S FOURTEEN?!"
"AN A-RANK?!"
"WHAT KIND OF MONSTER—?!"
Shin'ya didn't wait to hear the rest. He knew exactly what happened to make them go wild like that. He absolutely did not want to show off his abilities or get swarmed by a mob of screaming mercenaries, so he just ran. He bolted down the cobblestone streets, utilizing the insane leg conditioning Yuki had hammered into him, weaving through the crowded alleys of Oakhaven like a ghost.
After about twenty minutes of pure sprinting, he finally came to a halt in a quiet, upscale district of the city.
Gasping for air, Shin'ya put his hands on his knees, his chest heaving as he wiped the sweat from his face. He leaned his head back, looking up at the sky to confirm one simple thing. The sun had moved significantly; it was now early afternoon.
He had looked up just to make sure this world didn't have a brutal, endless day-cycle like Yuki's realm. If a single day here lasted as long as it did back there, he didn't even know how his body would cope. Thankfully, the sun was setting normally.
Calming his breathing, Shin'ya started to walk aimlessly through the cleaner parts of the city. As he walked, his mind drifted back to his combat gear.
Wait, I need an Obi or something similar to secure the Ketsugai properly, he thought. I just know a traditional Japanese sash probably doesn't exist in a generic Western fantasy setting like this.
But after wandering around the merchant district for a while, he eventually found a high-end clothier that carried a thick, reinforced fabric wrap used by eastern traveling swordsmen. It wasn't a perfect kimono Obi, but it was close enough. He bought it quickly, wrapping it tightly around his waist to secure the heavy black tachi against his hip.
By the time he finished his shopping and went to find a tavern, the sky was already bleeding into the soft oranges and purples of early evening.
Shin'ya was looking for a good tavern. Not a rowdy, beer-stained adventurer hub, but a high-end, quiet establishment where he could actually get some peace. Eventually, he spotted a grand, clean-looking inn with polished glass windows and an elegant sign.
He walked inside, the atmosphere instantly shifting to quiet luxury. But the moment he approached the front desk, the female receptionist took one look at his dusty Earth hoodie and his young age, her expression instantly turning doubtful.
"I'm sorry, young man, but our rooms are quite expensive," she said politely, though her eyes were telling him to leave. "We cater to wealthy merchants and high-ranking..."
Shin'ya didn't have the patience for the classic cliché. He sighed, reached into his pocket, and flicked his newly minted metallic Adventurer Card onto the counter, face up.
The receptionist's eyes locked onto the bright, glowing [Rank: A– ~ A] engraving. Her breath caught in her throat, her face going completely pale as she looked from the card to Shin'ya's calm, deadpan eyes.
"A-An A-rank adventurer...!" she whispered, her attitude instantly flipping into a deep, panicked bow. "Forgive my rudeness, My Lord! We have our finest luxury suite available immediately!"
"I'll take it," Shin'ya said. The room cost a hefty sum of gold pieces, but with a massive pouch of 45,000 gold coins currently sitting in his pocket, he didn't even blink as he paid the fee.
As the receptionist handed over the heavy brass room key, Shin'ya cleared his throat, leaning slightly forward.
"Also... please send a private maid to my room. I have some stuff to do."
After dropping that casual request, he turned and walked up the grand wooden staircase, completely exhausted and focused on his upcoming tasks.
Down at the desk, the receptionist stared at Shin'ya's retreating back, her mind instantly jumping to a wildly inappropriate conclusion. Her face flushed pink as her thoughts went entirely off the rails.
A kid... a fourteen-year-old boy is already thinking about that kind of stuff?! she thought, her hands flying to her burning cheeks. Oh my goodness... but he's an A-rank powerhouse, he asked for it directly, and we can't afford to offend him... I might as well send someone his age so it's not too awkward!
Upstairs, the hallway was quiet.
A few minutes later, a young girl around the same age as Shin'ya, dressed in a spotless, frilly maid outfit, walked down the corridor. Her hands were trembling violently as she held a silver tray, and her face was currently as burning red as a ripe tomato.
She stopped in front of the door to the luxury suite, swallowed the massive lump in her throat, and slowly pushed the door open.
[To Be Continued]