Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 278Vol. 1 - - Promotion and Clan (2)

"W-well, seems like we have finally reached a positive consensus. Though I have to say, Ren-kun, you're too hung up on the demerits of A-rank. Have you heard of the benefit it will bring you? After all, saving the S-rank which is more like a medal of service, A-rank is the epitome of explorers."

Satowa-san slightly cleared his throat, and then began to count me the benefits—the reduction on tax at transactions done in marketplace, priority in healing at church or hospitals, the increased limit on remittance, the society's trust, honor, and yada yada that I couldn't even find myself enough energy to argue anymore.

They're the benefits pretty much covered by the Royal Academy after all. I mean, I know it definitely had its lure for the average person, but even if there was no academy in the scene, an A-rank adventurer would rarely be short of money. The only unique aspect that draws in people should be fame, I guess.

Of course, fame came with its own obligation, and I had long decided I wouldn't be bound by any fetters. And then, chiming in between, uncle Shell suddenly remarked.

"......Trying to show him the formal benefits is like singing flute to a cow. Let's see, the obvious pull is freedom."

I couldn't help but raise my dejected face up. A life of freedom—it was what I had been chasing ever since awakening.

"......Please elaborate."

Beyond the benefits, it was like being pressed down by an immovable stone, tied to it. And just the thought of it depressed me, so I couldn't help but ask.

"A-rank is the peak any explorer in this continent could strive for. No nation has enough of them. They're also the prestige of any nation's Explorer's Association, so they're much sought after. They have the right to accept any subjugation request, no matter how dangerous the monster is. As long as you're A-rank, you will definitely attract such requests from all over the continent."

Then, he proceeds to give a thumbs up at the end of his words. My head dropped in dejection yet again.

Why the heck would someone accept life-threatening requests willingly... The thought went through my mind when Uncle Shell chimed in, again.

"Come now, you don't have to make such sour face. So, what I was saying just now, the key point is by accepting those requests, you can travel to a country any ordinary person would be forbidden from, or get the permit to enter even restricted places. They're definitely a kind of unique experience you can't have when milling at low-rank. This is your opportunity to travel around the world while you're still young. Isn't that benefit alone outweighs down the line?"

My head rose up, once more. I had no interest in land, fame, or money. But I did have some of my dreams—experience. I had wanted to experience so many things no matter what.

I had no death wish to throw my life like that, but he was right. There were some colors of life you could only see in those moments, an experience you could experience only in certain moments. This indeed shed another light on the situation.

"...Do you think I can also enter Bearentz Archipalegao?"

It was one of the places I had considered to visit during summer vacation. From the gist, it shared a culture similar to Japan, so I had really wanted to take a look. But, from my conversation with the owner of the soba shop that I was a regular at, they'd restricted touring services for the general populace due to the unsettling time.

"Hmm? Ah, I did hear it placed an imposition on foreigners from visiting it. I think they might allow an A-rank explorer if you apply for it. I heard rumours that the place is recently plagued with disastrous monsters, and in such shortage that they would even borrow a cat's help if possible. Heh, so you want to visit Bearentz?"

Woah!! My tension meter propelled immediately.

"Are you sure? Wait, have you ever visit it? What kind of country it is?"

"Well, I have. I am not a fan of tourism, but it certainly was a beautiful place. They're not that far in their technological advancement from a glance, but nature flourished it, and people are quite able despite the amount of rice they gobbled up. This reminds me of the Red Tough, it has been such a long while, eh.

The locals called that Scorching Hell. The place's soil had all turned red due to the geothermal heat, and heat haze constantly around. It's also riddled with scaling geysers here and there, and they would just spurt out so randomly you can't even guess the timing. It's definitely one of the dangerous place I have been to. And the Rock Dragon that inhibit this place, it's so strong too."

Uncle Shell crossed his hands, his eyes gaining a distant look as he recalled back his memories.

The Scorching Hell?! Now I couldn't help but imagine that place must be a paradise of hotspring. I wanted to jump in one right now... With the discussion, It really made me curious just what kind of scenery there was. ...I really wanted to visit at least once.

Perhaps catching up to my keenness, he immediately doubled down on his explanation.

"Of course, there's more places out there just as wonderful. Like, the Tasmackalan Desert in the Kuwal Republic. It was dangerous in its own way. The temperature at noon was as high as 80 celcius, and then would drop to -30 at night. However the starry sky was definitely a view worth checking at least once in life. Man, the alcohol drawn from their cactus monster was so strong. I remember drinking too much of it, and it took its effect like nothing else. I didn't even know when, and dropped into sleep completely exposed. It landed me with a stinger from the Great Scorpion of Tasmackalan Dessert, which—"

And with one story to another, Uncle Shell narrated the adventurers unaware of the general populace, something that was possible to experience only if you're A-rank adventurer.

Satowa had a flabbergasted expression, but the more I hear, the more smile spread on my face. I was immediately seized by excitement, an intense curiosity to visit them once.

"......Fine, I understand. I will accept the promotion."

It was frustrating, but I had to give in to Uncle Shell here. He definitely saw through me. Besides, if there was nothing I could do, then I might as well look forward to its brighter side.

As soon as I worded out my acceptance, prepared for whatever situation this might lend me, Satowa stroked his chest in relief.

"I am glad to hear this. ...So, it's about the payment of the Dragreid request..."

Then, with his face scrunched as if it was something hard to talk about, he brought out the topic I had forgotten in the conversation. I straightened my posture as I felt jitterness at his awkward expression.

With that preface, he placed a slip quoting an amount—an amount with an absurd number of zero for me to count. My soul nearly slipped out of my mouth imagining this was the amount I had to reimburse, and was just about to faint when he spoke.

"As you had stated in your statement, we indeed confirmed the second Steinberg's corpse in the depth of the Roozenia Mining Ruin. This is the reward from the association against the Emergency Subjugation Request. This also includes the price of materials the knight order had managed to retrieve, but since the corpse was in mangled state, only its huge mana stone was worth."

"R-reward? You mean for me?"

I somehow grasped on my fading consciousness, and inquired. Satowa flashed a confused expression at my phrasing.

"Of course, it's for you to accept... Why would the Hero who saved the city be charged for it?"

"Huh... err, well I thought I would be told to accept the responsibility for blowing away the ruins in that unfortunate incident..."

"Pfft-ahahaha," Immediately I heard Uncle Shell bursting out in laughter. He had been keenly listening to our conversation.

"Ah, now I get it. I did feel you're acting a bit strange, but that was it, eh. You're shaking in your boot, thinking you might be told to reimburse for the blasted ruin, eh?"

"I-I am saying it got caught in unfortunate accident, not blasted!!"

I immediately rushed to deny, though Uncle Shell raised his palm, seemingly saying to listen to the end.

"Hmph. You heard what you're saying? You somehow happened to make it alive from a large-scale mana coal mine explosion due to some sort of incident. No one sane would be believing in it. Ah, but don't care about it. As long as it's determined that you had maliciousness in it, the damage would be written off as outcome to contain the Emergency Request. No one is coming knocking on your door for accountability. —A life takes a precendence. This is the motto of explorers after all."

"...............Are you really sure?"

I inquired with a doubtful expression. The old man thumped his chest in response.

"Come now, I am speaking from experience. I once had an Emergency Request to protect the people of town from stampedes, and while I managed to protect them, I didn't keep a lid on my rampage and the town however was ultimately raged to the ground! I was actually praised after everything was over, you know? After all, as the saying goes, it's the people that make a town. It can be rebuilt anytime."

W-wow... How to put it, it feels strangely convincing coming from him. I could imagine him brandishing his weapon and wrecking violence as if it was the last day of the world.

Just as I was seized by dumbfoundment from the latest information, he leaned his body ahead.

"So, what I was saying, you should be honest and tell us how you managed to bring that stone mountain to its grave, eh? The association would appreciate an honest explanation for the future situation. But more than that, I really need to know it myself. You know, I just can't figure out the whole situation about the monster and explosion since only that part is somehow unclear in the report. I swear I would be losing my hair from all that frustration if I had them."

Uncle Shell's eyes beamed with curiosity, like a child stumbling into something unknown, and urged me to spill the bean now. I could only reveal a bitter smile and nodded.

"Fine. You have told some interesting stories, so I will do the same. However, please make sure this story doesn't leave this room."

At my reminder, he nodded with an unusually somber expression.

"How an explorer makes their living is their trade secret. Rest assured, both I and Satowa take this part very seriously."

With Satowa nodding in tandem, I paraphrased the situation.