Chapter 90, Recognition

Translator: Barnnn

 

Fieda might be promoted to B-rank.

Hal and Ize lit up at the news, eyes sparkling with excitement — but the man at the center of it all looked nothing short of baffled.

 

“What’s wrong? You don’t look happy,” Wardon asked.

“No, it’s not that… I’ve only been an adventurer for six months. And I only started serious activity after coming to Jasted — that’s just four months,” Fieda replied, frowning. “Isn’t this, you know, too soon?”

“Didn’t you work as a guard with the Union before that? How many years?”

“…Twenty-five.”

“That’s more than enough. Ivern and his lot hit B-rank after about twenty years.”

 

Even so, Fieda still looked unconvinced. His expression remained stiff, as though the number of years alone didn’t sit right with him.

That was when Duris joined the conversation, coming to Wardon’s aid.

 

“Speaking from the Guild’s perspective, Mister Fieda, your evaluation is extremely high.” It wasn’t just Duris’s personal opinion — he made clear that it was the Guild’s official stance. Fieda turned his gaze to him, quietly listening. “C-rank adventurers are expected to handle C-rank floors. That’s nothing unusual. But when two members of your party are barely adults, the equation changes.”

 

Duris glanced briefly at Ize and Hal. Ize perked up, surprised and pleased to hear that their presence had somehow played a part in Fieda’s evaluation.

“That’s… their achievement, not mine. They may still be D-rank, but they have the potential to handle C-rank floors without issue.”

“Even so, you’re the one leading the party — and doing so admirably. There are plenty of other things we’ve taken into account as well. Through Ivern, you’ve delivered materials of consistently high quality and quantity. That includes the Sugar Mandragoras you recently sold to the Guild…”

 

Duris paused to glance at Wardon, then looked back at Fieda.

 

“…About six months ago, we received word that Wardon’s party had been poisoned. Since then, we’ve been working behind the scenes to obtain a remedy — even after Wardon himself arrived here in Jasted. But we came up empty-handed.”

 

That had been five months ago, when Ize and Hal had met Wardon at the city gates. The poisoning must have occurred even earlier.

For all that time, the Guild had quietly scrambled to find a Sugar Mandragora, being the only ones aware of the situation.

Despite their best efforts, they’d found nothing. As time dragged on, weariness crept in, and hope began to slip through their fingers.

 

“Not long ago, word reached the Guild’s upper ranks — via Ivern — that your party excels in harvesting Mystic Plants. We were desperate, and we pinned our hopes on you. The result, as you know, was… astonishing. You solved the problem in the blink of an eye.”

 

Duris’s eyes glinted faintly. His voice softened as he finished the explanation of why the Guild valued Fieda so highly.

 

“I… I see…”

 

Fieda’s voice faltered. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, then slowly shook his head as if to say, “It wasn’t me.”

 

“…Fieda…” Ize murmured, unsure what to say. She could only call his name and fall silent again.

“Hey, Fieda. Are you really thinking you didn’t do anything?” Hal said, casually breaking the tension. “If that’s how you feel, I’m gonna punch you.”

“What!?” Fieda blinked.

“Wait, Mister Hal–” Duris started.

“Yeah, do it, Hal!” Wardon chimed in.

“Whoa, Hal, what’s gotten into you?” Ize added with a nervous laugh.

 

The group reacted in their own ways, but Hal ignored them, his mouth twisting into a smirk while his eyes stayed dead serious.

 

“You’re our leader. D-rank adventurers like us couldn’t have reached the forty-ninth floor on our own. When Ize collapsed from magical energy depletion, and I was running on fumes right after, the only reason we made it through was because you were there.”

 

It was true. The Dungeon run hadn’t been easy by any stretch. But they’d returned without incident — because Fieda had made the right decisions at every turn.

Ize nodded repeatedly, trying her best to show just how much she agreed.

 

“And unlike us, who had no idea what a Sugar Mandragora was worth, you recognized its value immediately. You’re the one who got in touch with Duris through Ivern, right? That’s leadership. You’re a good leader, Fieda. You should accept the recognition.”

 

Hal left it at that and waited for Fieda’s response.

Fieda looked down, his gaze unfocused for a moment. Then he turned back to Hal and gave a small nod.

After a moment, he turned to Wardon and Duris and said, quietly but clearly,

 

“I’ll accept the recommendation for B-rank adventurer. Thank you.”

 

He bowed deeply.

Ize’s face lit up with joy. Hal exhaled in relief, his expression finally clearing.

 

“All right!” Wardon laughed, clapping his hands. “Well, it’s only a recommendation. Doesn’t mean you’re promoted just yet — normally, anyway. But lucky you, Fieda. That Sugar Mandragora job was treated as an A-rank quest. You’re pretty much guaranteed the promotion!”

 

As Wardon cackled, Fieda’s head — still lowered — dropped another notch in disbelief.

 

“…It’s a sure thing, huh?”

“Wait, that was an A-rank job?” Hal echoed.

“Well, we WERE secretly trying to save A-rank adventurers’ lives. The difficulty wasn’t high, but the rarity of the item pushed it into A-rank territory,” Duris said with an apologetic smile. “Just the day before yesterday, the courier with the potion reached the town where Wardon’s comrades are recovering, and we received word that the detoxification was successful. They’re still under observation, but they’re expected to make a full recovery soon. With that, the quest is complete — and Mister Fieda, your rank-up is officially approved. You’ll still be in Jasted for another two weeks, yes? The timing worked out well.”

 

Hearing that the potion had made it safely, Ize finally relaxed, the tension sliding from her shoulders. She’d been worried that after six months of suffering, it might have been too late.

 

“…What about the poison’s effects?” she asked.

“No lasting damage,” Wardon said. “Basilisk venom mostly causes petrification. Once that’s lifted, the worst they’re left with is fatigue. They’ve been bedridden for half a year, so their stamina’s shot. They couldn’t move much with their legs petrified, but otherwise, they’re fine. They’ll be back to normal by the time I meet up with them.”

 

He smiled, his face brighter than they’d ever seen it. After six months of fearing for his comrades’ lives, he had every reason to be joyous — after all, this whole time, he’d never once let that fear show. That, more than anything, showed the kind of strength expected of an A-rank adventurer.

 

[Well, actually,] Ize thought to herself, [when he first burst into the room, he was a walking storm…]

 

Suppressing a laugh, she offered him her congratulations once more.

 

◆

 

With their discussion concluded, Duris returned to his duties. The remaining four watched him go, then reentered the room together.

 

“So? You said you had something to talk to me about?” Wardon asked as he took his seat again.

“We have a… bit of a personal request,” Fieda said, lowering himself into a chair across from him.

“Hey, I can’t promise anything outright — but if it’s for you guys, I’ll give it my best.”

“It’s nothing complicated. We need someone to discreetly ask Odelya to cut someone’s hair.”

“…Odelya?” Wardon’s brow furrowed. “You mean my sister, Odelya?”

“That’s right.”

 

The simplicity of the request only deepened Wardon’s suspicion.

 

“Uhh, lemme ask first — is there some kind of bad blood between you guys and her? Something that makes it hard to ask directly?”

“No. If anything, it’s the opposite.”

“Opposite?” Wardon parroted, glancing in confusion at Hal and Ize.

“Ize’s a favorite of both Miss Odelya and Miss Elene,” Hal explained.

“Both of them? You know them personally?”

“We’re staying at the same inn,” Ize said.

“Then the rest of their party must know you too. All the more reason you can just ask her yourself, right?”

 

Seeing Wardon’s confusion, Fieda sighed and elaborated.

 

“There are… circumstances. We don’t want the request overheard or passed along to others.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Wardon held up a hand as if warding off some invisible pressure, his other hand raking through his hair. “You’re saying there are circumstances so sensitive you can’t even be seen asking someone to cut your hair? Oh no. No, no…”

 

He stared hard at the two younger adventurers.

 

“Think he’s gotten the point?” Hal whispered to Ize.

“Sure hope he has,” Ize replied.

“You two…” Fieda muttered.

“”Yes, sir!”” they answered in unison.

 

Fieda cut in before either could derail the conversation with another round of cryptic banter. He had a talent for that — true leadership in action.

 

“Hal. Ize. You’re both carrying what looked like pretty rare Magic Bags, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Ize replied.

“Sure am,” said Hal, raising a hand to show the bangle at his wrist.

 

Ize, too, held up her ring.

Wardon leaned forward, studying the items with increasing dread.

 

“…These are time-delayed?”

“Ooh, sharp question,” Ize said with a grin.

“And the answer is…” Hal struck a pose.

“”Internal Stasis!””

“GAAAH!” Wardon groaned, clutching his head in both hands.

 

Fieda heaved a quiet sigh of sympathy.

Wardon turned a strained expression toward Fieda, opening his mouth — only for Fieda to drop the final blow first.

 

“Their natural hair color is black. It’s camouflaged right now.”

“That confirms it! What the hell are descendants of the Sages doing here!? And why the hell are you adventurers!?”

 

Hal and Ize grinned.

 

“We just wanted to travel.”

“And eat tasty food.”

“”Livin’ the life!”” they chimed, tilting their heads at identical angles, mocking innocence.

 

Fieda’s hands struck out like blades, chopping down on the crowns of their heads.

 

“Hey!”

“Ow!”

“You’re getting carried away,” Fieda scolded.

“”Yes, sir…”” they muttered in unison, rubbing their heads.

 

Wardon stared, eyes and mouth wide.

 

“Wait — Fieda, are you one too!?”

“What? Of course not.”

“But you just hit nobles on the head!”

“Don’t worry. They’re not one of those.”

“What kind of logic is that? How’s a descendant not a noble!?”

“Don’t ask,” Fieda said flatly.

“Grh…” Wardon groaned again.

 

There was no point digging into noble house drama. That kind of mess only led to trouble.

 

“There’s nothing suspicious about us, you know,” Ize said.

“Huh?”

“We’re just junior adventurers with unusual hair colors.”

“Exactly,” Hal added. “Just a couple of weirdos with slightly off-kilter pasts and skewed common sense.”

“You’re really saying that yourself?” Ize asked, amused.

“Better to hear it from us, right?”

“…Look, you’ve seen enough of what we’re like,” Fieda said. “Adventurers come from all kinds of backgrounds. But once you are one, your status — noble or commoner — shouldn’t matter anymore.”

“…Yeah. That’s true. I guess…” Wardon grumbled, burying his face in his arms with a third, long groan.

 

After a few moments of silence, Hal exchanged a glance with the others, then spoke up,

 

“Sorry for dragging you into this, Mister Wardon.” He bowed deeply. “We’re leaving the city soon. I doubt any trouble will linger. But if you’d rather not ask Miss Odelya, we’ll understand. We don’t want to cause you or her any discomfort.”

“I was ready to give up on finding someone we could trust with this,” Ize added, bowing beside Hal. “Miss Odelya seemed like someone we could ask — but of course, we don’t want to risk ruining our connection with her. I’m sorry for putting you in this position.”

 

Watching the two bowing their heads, Wardon suddenly shot to his feet with a clatter.

 

“Aww, hell no! Lift your heads already! I can’t take this — two kids bowing to me, and you’re the ones who saved my comrades’ hide!” He drew in a deep breath, then roared, “…Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll pass the request over to Odelya!”

 

At long last, Wardon had caved.

From beneath their bowed heads, Hal and Ize exchanged grins — perfectly in sync. Fieda caught it and shook his head.

 

[Never a dull moment with these two…]

 

Still, they’d gotten what they came for.

Smiling despite himself, Fieda narrowed his eyes at the two as they straightened up, their faces full of relief.