Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Soul's Promotion Battle
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After that utterly exhausting ordeal, it was only in the late afternoon that we could finally show our faces at the guild.
"Here, 50 copper for the underground waterway quest reward... Hmm? This?"
"Something wrong?"
The guild staff member handing over the coins checked the document, then looked at my face. Had something gone wrong? Adjusting his monocle, he scrutinized me for a moment before shifting his gaze back to the paper in his hand.
"You'll be promoted to D-rank soon."
And just like that, he said it.
"Pardon? What was that?"
For a second, I thought I'd misheard—the world went dark before my eyes.
Promoted to D-rank?
"I said you're being promoted to D-rank."
"W-Wait, what? No, seriously?"
Promoted? Me?
The shocking truth had come out of nowhere, leaving me thoroughly flustered. Of course, I'd figured someone of my caliber would hit D-rank in no time, but I hadn't expected the opportunity to arrive this quickly.
My heart pounded with tension.
The staff flipped through the document and explained.
"It says you made a major contribution in the ogre subjugation battle. You've racked up quite the points. The ogre subjugation—the one with the young lady?"
"Ah, yeah. That happened."
Come to think of it, there had been that ogre subjugation.
Honestly, I could claim over 80% of the credit for pulling it off (bullshit). Hmm, yeah, that made sense. With merits like that, it'd be no surprise if I'd piled up a decent amount of experience.
"Sounds like you've got some serious skills. Anyway, just complete one more E-rank quest, and you'll be promoted right away."
"Heh, heh..."
The staff started hyping me up.
And then an uncontrollable laugh bubbled up from my throat.
"Heh heh heh... Ha ha!"
That's right.
The truth was, I, Kim Katt, was actually a goddamn talent monster.
Not many knew this, but I had an unbelievable resume: graduated from an engineering program, served on the front lines as an army sergeant and got honorably discharged after full term—not to mention, I'd mastered Taekwondo, the ancient martial art of my Korean heritage, all the way to 3rd dan. I was the hero of reversal incarnate. And surviving in this other world up to now? No need to even mention that.
"Whoa, ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
For someone like me to become a D-rank adventurer at such a young age? Utterly natural.
Of course it was. There's a saying for it: right person in the right place. This was exactly what it meant to assign the proper talent to the proper position.
"Haa—! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!"
Memories of my hard-knock life as a foreign laborer flashed through my mind. Bye-bye, my sweet E-rank memories. And welcome, world of D-rank.
"Katt. Stop laughing like an idiot."
Pouring cold water on the mood, Claudy lightly chopped the top of my head with her hand blade. Snapping back to reality, I looked at the staff—his awkward smile showed he was flustered by my sudden outburst.
"Ahem. You're calm now. Anyway, there's a suitable one available. Care to take it? It's an E-rank quest, and a party's recruiting members right now."
"Oh? What's the quest?"
Toning down my skyrocketing excitement, I resolved to seize this chance and rise to D-rank.
D-rank came with all sorts of perks.
F-rank was just tossed scraps of work—build your resume and trust on your own, like a throwaway rank. E-rank offered some basic protections, but that was it.
Becoming a true 'guild member' of the Adventurer's Guild—qualifying as a veteran adventurer—started at D-rank.
For starters, the guild offered [modest] loans and [savings accounts]. Trust had been built up. That meant they handled high-reward quests paying in silvers.
They were dangerous, sure, but wasn't being an adventurer all about scraping by on risky jobs? That was the deal. For those with experience and trust, they handed out bigger risks—and bigger rewards.
The staff continued explaining.
"Yes. It's a request from the Magic Tower. Collect these bumpy fruits called confeito and bring them back. They're used in magic reagents fairly often. There's a party that hasn't filled their roster yet."
Confeito, huh. I'd heard of it.
These star-shaped fruits were ingredients in all sorts of magic potions. A simple gathering quest—nothing too tough for E-rank.
I'll knock it out quick and get promoted.
"How many spots are they filling?"
"Hm, it's a four-man party, so one spot open. You in? I'll put your name down."
"Huh? Just one spot?"
"Any issues?"
I glanced back at Claudy. One spot meant she couldn't come along.
Seeing my face, she smiled and said,
"I'm fine. It's your chance to prove yourself, right? Go on. It's just a day or two. I'll be waiting."
"Y-Yeah? You sure you'll be okay without me? I'm worried."
"What, you think I'm a kid or something? Hehe. Might get a bit lonely."
She said it was fine, so go ahead.
But I wasn't fine... Without Claudy, I was just Meat Club Man at best. Tch, a little uneasy, but this was my promotion battle. I had to nail it. I didn't want to disappoint her.
Making up my mind, I replied.
"Yeah. Let's do it. Can you tell me the party members' names?"
"All E-rank. Leader's Custo, plus Serca and Roel."
All E-rank? Should be fine.
I accepted the quest on that assumption. Rendezvous tomorrow morning in front of the Adventurer's Guild, so time to prep for the expedition.
Apparently, confeito grew a ways off, so we'd need to camp out four or five nights.
Total confeito needed: 10.
Reward: 60 copper per person. So 24 copper per fruit? Valuable stuff, but the explanation about monsters swarming the area made sense.
Anyway, partying with total strangers for a quest? Been a while.
...Nothing'll go wrong, right?
I'd survived fine on my own without Claudy before.
"Katt, you fail, and you know what? I'll be really disappointed."
"No worries—I'll succeed for sure. Even if it kills me. Don't sweat it."
"No, you can't die."
Yeah, for Claudy if nothing else, I had to get that promotion.
Right away, I hit the general store for my usuals: camping gear, emergency supplies, rations. Grabbed some jerky too... Might as well upgrade my gear while I'm at it, since I'm hitting D-rank.
My current kit: quilted armor—a padded cloth gambeson that looked like long underwear—plus the iron breastplate I'd been using since killing those bandits. A pair of gauntlets from the smithy and greaves from the Brass Celestial Society.
Sword belt with my bastard sword on one side, canteen and utility pouch on the other. Topped with that old cloak I'd bought way back—it'd frayed short from wear and tear. More like a cape now.
If I was buying more, definitely shoulder pauldrons.
"Claudy. Let's swing by the smithy."
"Buying something?"
"Shoulders feel exposed. Need pauldrons. A man's gotta have shoulders."
I found an armor specialist shop. Inside the smithy annex lined with armor, a muscled blacksmith greeted me.
"Welcome, friend. What're you after?"
"Got any decent pauldrons?"
"Everything here's solid. Pick away."
With Claudy eyeing the displayed armor with keen interest, we browsed.
Plate armor, chainmail, leather sets, and mystery mixed pieces everywhere. Plate armor had me drooling—I wanted it bad.
Staring at this stuff stirred an irresistible urge to buy. Men were pathetic creatures; no matter the age, we went nuts for swords and armor.
And while checking out the armor, I spotted something insane.
"Wha—hey! What the hell is this!"
"Hm? Find something?"
"It's bikini armor!"
What caught my eye was legit bikini armor—no cap!
Gray chainmail bra and panties!
Not armor—just perverted lingerie on display.
"Hey, mister! What the heck is this!"
Horrified, I pointed at the ugly bikini armor on the female torso mannequin and called the owner. He approached with a smug, satisfied grin.
"My masterpiece. Like it? Buy one?"
What bullshit!
"No, seriously—who buys this? Any woman wearing it gets shredded by blades or fangs on sight!"
"I hear that a lot, but that's for the weaklings."
"Huh? Weaklings? What're you on about?"
Perplexed, I asked. He explained that sexy armor like this wasn't for regular women—it was for high-level ladies who could use mana to reinforce their bodies.
Mana protected the skin, so armor shape didn't matter. Sounded plausible at first, but why not just wear real armor and use mana elsewhere? More efficient.
"That's why the ladies around here wear 'em sometimes."
He rambled like it was all nonsense, defending his creepy fetish. Bikini armor was just decorative junk with no combat value, but apparently there was demand.
"Claudy, does this make sense? Fighting in that?"
I asked the female warrior right beside me.
"Hm, not unheard of back home. I could fight in it if I had to, but no real desire."
She traced the bra with her fingertip, then flashed a sly smile and looked at me.
"Why, want me to try it on?"
"What?!"
Second shock.
My mind painted Claudy in just bikini armor. Silver chainmail barely covering her brown skin... Yeah. I got the point of bikini armor now.
The chain glinting and clinking as she moved? Way too exciting.
"Hehe, imagining it? Wondered why anyone'd wear this—turns out it's for that. Hoping the opponent's into it? Katt, if it'd make you happy, I'd wear it anytime..."
"Stop."
She looked ready to actually try it, reaching for the mannequin. I halted her.
"Fine if it's just for me, but no way other guys see."
"...Ah."
"Hey, owner. How much for these pauldrons?"
"Five silvers."
"Whoa, pricey. Any discount?"
"Can't for a guy who doesn't get bikini armor's appeal."
"Damn it."
Anyway, I bought the pauldrons. Hardened leather ones—not too heavy, decent fit. Should block monster bites and bandit swords.
Back at the inn, sunset was falling again. I'd slept through morning and afternoon, so naturally tired. Pulling all-nighters was a young man's folly after all.
I washed up first and waited for Claudy. She emerged wrapped in a big towel. Huh? Usually she just comes out naked and I pounce.
"Um, Katt."
"Yeah?"
Her face flushed, she spoke—looking anxious yet shyly embarrassed. Then it happened.
—Rustle.
"Not quite bikini armor, but how's this?"
I screamed like the world was ending. She wasn't naked under the towel.
"No!"
Just underwear.
Incredibly lewd underwear!
Pure white!
The frilly panties had lost all right to be called panties—barely any fabric, fully exposing her privates. The bra, whether too small or designed that way, had her nipples half-peeking out. Even see-through inside.
She murmured softly.
"...What do you think?"
Fidgeting, her face beet red despite showing off, Claudy started avoiding my gaze like she was mortified.
"Wh-Where'd you even get that?!"
"...It's old. Remember when you were deep in sword guild training? I went out alone once, wandered the city... Spotted it and thought you'd like it, so I bought it..."
Shivering in that outfit, shoulders trembling, she said,
"B-Bbeen too embarrassed to wear it till now... Um, does it suit me? You like it?"
I quietly raised my thumb and declared, "Perfect."
The ultimate cheer.