"You can go," said Ryūshi in an almost bored tone.
Of course, this did little to put the skeptical Kevin at ease.
"Really? That's it? Nothing else?"
"Why would there be anything else? You passed all the requirements. Knocking out the examiner can even count as a pass, though that's rare these days. Speaking of which… has something like this happened before? I think it was around the time of the First Sword Saint."
"Can we please just get back to the subject?"
"Oh, right... as I was saying... what was I saying again? Sorry, but it's always a bother to remember what you were saying last. Surely, you must have experienced something like this."
"..."
What was he even supposed to say?
Ryūshi Kiryū.
Apparently, she was one of the superpowered few known as Saints. To be more specific, her nickname was Dragon Will, or Oni Dragon.
Locals said Ryūshi could slice the hearts of men with a sentence; a metaphor, like swinging a Japanese sword through the air to cut the moon. But her personality was rather peculiar.
Notably, there were multiple candy wrappers littered about in her personal office. The room itself was deceptively ordinary with neat shelves and a polished desk. There was also two comfortable couches for visitors and her odachi had been carelessly kept in one corner.
Kevin noticed the stack of organized reports she had lazily discarded and a single, cracked teacup sitting near the edge of her desk.
It seemed she was a fan of black coffee.
So this is what a Saint's office looks like. I thought it would be more interesting but this would do.
Wait... aren't I getting swept by her momentum? I need to focus!
Clearing his throat a few times, Kevin summoned all his willpower and raised the next question.
"Excuse me… what will happen to my registration?"
Ryūshi's gaze softened just slightly, though her expression remained mostly unreadable. "Actually, that's exactly why I brought you here to discuss it. In general, there are five ranks for registered Hunters: Novice, Vanguard, Slayer, Lancer, and, at the very top, Saint. New members usually fall somewhere between Novice and Vanguard. Talented individuals, those who demonstrate exceptional skill or potential, can be placed higher, though it's rare. Your performance today… was unusual, to say the least."
"Unusual… in a good way?"
"Both. You have exceptional output, but you're also reckless. That is a deduction of two marks. What would you have done if poor Todd had actually kicked the bucket? For that… minus—"
She paused mid-sentence, tilting her head slightly as if reconsidering.
"…well, let's just say you're fortunate he's as durable as he looks."
Kevin felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple.
Fortunate didn't even begin to cover it.
Ryūshi leaned back in her chair, one leg crossing over the other as she tapped a finger lightly against the armrest.
"Even with that deduction, your performance places you far above the standard entry level. Your control is only a bit sloppy, but your foundation is… quite intriguing."
Only a bit sloppy? What is that supposed to mean?
More importantly,
"Intrigued?"
"Yes, intriguing. Or is that the right word? You're a beginner with little experience, yet you produced a result that shouldn't be possible for someone at your level. That contradiction is what makes you interesting."
Kevin wasn't sure how to respond to that. It didn't feel like praise.
Ryūshi continued, her tone shifting slightly more serious. "Under normal circumstances, I would place you at Vanguard and have you build your fundamentals properly. However…you've already demonstrated the ability to harm someone at the Slayer level. That fact cannot be ignored, no matter the angle you look at it."
"So," she went on, "your provisional rank will be… Slayer."
But the receiver's reaction was a bit weird.
"I see… so it's Slayer, huh."
"You don't sound too pleased. Is the rank not to your satisfaction?"
"No, it's not that. Considering what happened, I figured something like this might occur. I'm just more concerned about the rumors."
"'An examinee who defeated a Guild Instructor with a single blow.' It does have a certain ring to it. Come to think of it, I know a publisher. If you capitalize on it, your popularity would skyrocket."
"Wha…? No way! That's the exact opposite of what I want!"
"So you don't like fame?"
"It's not that I hate it… I just don't want attention for the wrong reasons. I barely understand my own ability as it is. If word gets out, people will start expecting things from me that I can't deliver."
"Expectations are inevitable. Whether you seek them or not, they will find you. The moment you stepped into that hall, you forfeited the right to remain unnoticed."
"That's… exactly what I was afraid of."
She reached for another candy, unwrapping it with a soft crinkle before popping it into her mouth.
"If it bothers you that much, then become strong enough to meet those expectations," she continued, as if stating something obvious. "Or fail publicly. Either way, people will talk."
"Then… is there at least a way to keep things quiet? Temporarily, I mean."
"It's possible. Reports can be restricted and certain details can be omitted. Officially, you would simply be recorded as a high-potential candidate assigned a provisional Slayer rank."
Kevin's eyes lit up slightly. "Really?"
"Do not misunderstand," she added. "Rumors will still spread and exaggerations will inevitably grow. That is simply beyond my control."
His shoulders slumped a little. "I figured as much…"
"Don't look so down. Most people would be happy, you know. Not everyone becomes a Slayer on their first day as a registered Hunter. You should be happy, excited and proud, right?"
Kevin let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah… I get that."
Satisfied, Ryūshi leaned back and finally rounded everything up.
"You can pick up your ID card from the administrative wing on the second floor, They'll finalize your registration, issue your credentials, and log your provisional rank into the system. Once that's done, you'll be assigned a temporary access level. That typically means some areas of the Guild will remain off-limits until your status is reviewed."
"Reviewed?"
"Periodic evaluations. Your performance in real assignments will determine whether you stabilize at Slayer… or drop."
Kevin grimaced. "Wow. No pressure."
"There is always pressure. Get used to it."
She reached for another candy, pausing midway as if remembering something.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Something else?
"Yes?"
"Every time you do sit-ups, you shouldn't hold your breath. Apparently, it's not a good method of mana training. Speaking on that training, do you think sit-ups are only useful if you want a big butt?"
"..."
He opened his several times but ultimately closed it.
There were a lot of things that he had wanted to say but the words couldn't leave his lips.