Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 277Vol. 1 - - Promotion and Clan (1)

I was visiting a newly built three storey building located at the intersection of 4th Avenue-4th Street in Royal Capital. The headquarter of Yuglia's Explorer Association.

It had been quite a while since my last visit. The eastern branch was much closer to my dormitory, and also Apple's House, so that was my go-to place typically.

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"Good afternoon~."

I took my entry through the cold, iron door at the entrance, raising my voice in greeting. Promptly, the two receptionists at the desk rose from their seats and welcomed me with bright smiles. They're the same receptionist I had met when I first visited this place alongside Riyad-senpai. I think their names were Mika-san, and Maya-san.

"Welcome to Headquarter, Ren-sama. We have heard about your exploits in the Dragreid. Now, the name 'Explorer Ren' is the hot talk of the explorer society."

Right off the bat, Maya-san announced to me a news I would have better off not knowing. There was no mirror, but I knew the muscles of my face must be twitching wildly.

It's because of this exact situation that I had registered myself as Ren, a very common name around, to avoid bringing attention to myself due to my status as a Royal Academy's student. And yet, the name had become a staple of everyone's decision.

Really, what was even the point of all that effort then……

"......What achievement? I am pretty sure we didn't even begin nowhere in the request. All the preparation of Satowa-san was for naught."

I tried to clear the situation, then the two receptionists glanced at each other, their lips forming a wry smile.

"You really haven't changed huh, Ren-san. You're still as humble as when you'd first visited this place. Do you have a business with Vice-President Satowa?"

I just wanted to avoid the hassle of attracting attention. So now they see that as a humbling act? I decided to not speak any further. I knew the discussion would repeat itself in a circle, with no conclusion even at the end of the day, so I quietly nodded my head as Maya-sana inquired.

I had received a summon from Satowa, detailing he would like to have words regarding the Dragreid incident, and that's why I had bothered to detour my way here.

With the coal dust explosion that blew away the very existence of ruins, Satowa's request to investigate the depth of Rootzenia mining ruins also had lost its direction. While I would like to call this force of nature—I wasn't some explosion manic that loves to blast away ruins, after all—there's no saying I wouldn't be held responsible for the incident, and so I decided it was better to go through this conversation.

Besides, it should have been a disaster for Satowa as well. I think he had invested a good chunk of his private fund into this request, making an elaborate plan only for it to be wiped out by an explosion.

He had told me 'purchase anything you deem necessary for the request,' so I kind of went on a window shopping spree for ores to see and gain a hand in ore appraisal. And the payment slip was, well, handed to him. I wouldn't be surprised if he asked me to relieve him of that 5240 rea bill.

We had a contract, so I could refuse from accepting that proposition, but I would be damned if the meeting ended on the wrong foot and they began to question the point of responsibility, that ultimately it was I who had blown the super-valuable ruins to smithereens.

I might be made to shoulder that astronomical debt. And the worst thing of all, the creditor would definitely be House of Dragreid, as the governor of that land. I didn't even want to imagine anything further.

Just the recollection of Fey's sharp eyes glinting in obvious curiosity sent chills down my spine.

Anyway, the total bill was around 5000 rea... I wasn't particularly troubled with money but I must say, I was expecting for something like this to happen. The more you think you’re saving, the more you would find yourself in ‘oh shit’ situations. This was an incredibly important investment, alright. I adjusted my mentality.

My foremost mission was to talk through this conversation somehow, and quickly, and bury the incident of Dragreid six feet under the ground.

Once again, firmly steeling my plan in my mind, I entered the reception room Mika-san guided me to.

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"Excuse me!"

As I took my entry inside the room, Satowa immediately jumped into my vision, sitting on one of the sofas placed at the centre. And, for a reason I wasn't informed about, the president of Explorer Association, aka Uncle Shell, was also present.

The old man was the very example of an outlaw of this kingdom, having crawled his way to the top of the rowdy explorers from the bottom barrel G-rank.

Every gesture of him only helped in portraying his sloven, outlaw-ish nature. There had been not an ounce of grace that would associate himself with the title of 'Association President.' Though, the person himself had said he relied on his excellent subordinates like Satowa, who's much more of a personification of a bureaucrat, for paperwork, while he was more of a muscle expert.

"Whassup, Ren. Seeing yer face after a while, ain't? I didn't expect you to straightforwardly accept the summon. What kind of wind suddenly brought that change?"

Right off the bat, uncle Shell jabbed with a broad grin. I pursued my lips.

"Can you please not lump me with the likes of you, Uncle... I had urgent business to do, so I had to leave abruptly, but I at least made sure to finish my share of work. Satowa-san can attest to that, right?"

I immediately retorted back while taking my place on the sofa. The wrinkles beneath Satowa's deep, intellectual eyes creased, revealing a chuckle against my words.

"Hmm, indeed it is. Reading the reports, the 'Explorer Ren' has been seen to show a polite decorum even when facing staff of other region's branches, has guided troubled explorers selflessly, and even hand out the rations at the camps. He's the textbook example an explorer should strive for."

Nice follow-up, Vice-President! By referring to the data, he had even made sure to display its authenticity too.

"Hmph, you hear him?" I stared back at Uncle with a smug face, my lips curled in a broad smile. I bet my nose must be huffing in pride.

"He, and polite decorum? My ass. Satowa, do you even know this whelp is feared as Mad Hound, and why those ruffian crowds idolise him? He must have gone on rampage against anything he didn't like, and that made him their star. Even my pinky finger can guess that. Then again, never letting others belittle yourself and standing your ground proudly is also a quality that makes a real explorer. In that regard, I certainly can't deny he's an example."

All my pretenses deflated like a punctured balloon as he reminded me of that. I winched, and immediately sought to change the topic.

"I-It's just sometimes some moron decides it's their day and would come looking for trouble. All I did was show them when not to boss around. ...Ahem, anyway, so what's the reason to call me here, Satowa-san?"

I steered the discussion to another topic. Then, Satowa spoke some unbelievable words with a smile laced on his face.

"Ah, the main topic indeed. With the subjugation of Steinberg on an urgent request, it has been decided that you shall be promoted to A-rank, Allen-kun. Congratulations."

"W-w-w-wait a goddamn minute! I sure as heck don't remember accepting any such request!"

I hurriedly demanded an explanation.

"In the aftermath, the subjugation of any formidable monster that either requires an immediate cleanup, or if there's a chance it could lead to monster catastrophe, is classified as an emergency subjugation mission. I believe you are already aware of this rule, Ren-kun. It's a system to make sure the explorers, who have taken extreme risk to clear out anomalies, are properly rewarded for their act."

...Ah. I wasn't expecting myself to plunge into such a scenario so I had completely forgotten about it, but recalling back, there was indeed such a system. After all, saving a few explorers, many would definitely not venture such risk without any formal request or similar in absence of such a system.

"I, I mean I get the point, but do you really have to do the A-rank promotion...? I have barely made any achievement for B-rank, you know! Besides, I didn't go against the monster out of my will. I believe I had explained that it was a natural accident, didn't I?"

I tried to argue, feeling at my wit's end, though then Uncle Shell chimed from the sideline.

"Haa... back down, Satowa. I will handle it from here. I heard your words, and report, but you should also know odds were extremely in your favour. It had taken a party of five kingdom knights, support from a top-rank explorer present at the scene, and a thorough strategy just to bring down that fabled monster. It was a close fight. It was already turned into an Emergency Mission as soon as the monster required an immediate extermination.

In such a dire situation, you turned yourself in as bait to make sure even the general miners can make it out, and ultimately ended up burying in the miner alongside the monster. You not only made it out alive, but you had even defeated another Steinberg. The witnesses were many, and the rumours have already reached the circle of foreign countries too. There are even some who advocate that the Hero of Dragreid should be awarded with a medal, and promoted to S-rank."

At this point, I was already cradling my head into my hands. Satowa then murmured.

"Well, then again, it was the President's push that was the crucial deal. He wanted to have your rank reflect the hidden appraisal, which is A."

My glare immediately bore into Uncle.

"What the heck is that hidden appraisal A...?"

And yet, the old man was brazen in his attitude.

"What? Ah, I was just thinking it's such a waste for an interesting guy like you to rot at D-rank. I was thinking of C-rank or B-rank, but then I forgot that and just went along with A-rank."

"Y-you forgot? Can you, for the love of god, stop with that nonsense already?! So, it's your fault, isn't it?! You know damn well I didn't want to raise my rank!! Anyway, I have no recollection of accepting any promotion request, I can't accept it!"

I immediately raised my objection, that I require no special treatment, and argued against the promotion, and have them stop this, but uncle Shell sat like a stone, paying no heed to my words.

At the end, he slammed his hand on the low table, and snapped off on me instead.

"Damn, shut yer trap! I don't give a shit about logic or reason! If I say you're getting promoted to A, then you're! This is all that matters! You have your search magic, and your combat abilities are on par! More than that, you also knew to take the best approach despite the danger it can put you on! Your survival instinct is just on par if you can return alive from the nest of a calamitous monster, and an extremely unfavourable environment!

Satowa here held the qualification to assess whether someone has the quality to be promoted to A-rank, and you just happened to be at the perfect incident scene that tested your mantle to determine. Satowa informed everything to me as it was! This decides you're going to be A-rank!"

Gee, he's so stubborn... I couldn't say for sure about Satowa, but when uncle Shell took that stance, there's no shaking him off. I bet even force wouldn't do anything.

As my shoulders dropped in dejection, Satowa chimed 'now there, no need to feel so bad', cheering me up.

"If it makes you feel better, I don't think the President simply forgot to take back his hidden appraisal. I, and the second Vice-President Odilon, did recommend to him if it can be lowered to B-rank. 'I will think about it,' he said and didn't make any follow up. The president must have put his thoughts to reach that conclusion. At the very least, you shouldn't feel bad that you're being treated preferentially."

...Tch, that baldy. He's such a liar. I knew it, he must have been intentional...

Once again, I directed my glare at uncle Shell, clenching my jaw. The situation was as unpleasant as if I had ended up eating a bitter bug. Unexpectedly, Uncle showed a confused look however, and remarked while rubbing his shining head.

"R-recommend? .....That was advice?"

.........