12. Promotion Exam - Conclusion
"D-don't come any closer!"
"Aw, come on, why're you freaking out and backing away? I just wanna talk."
"Then lower that damn crossbow!"
"A fine tool for conversation."
"You crazy bastard!"
"You can shoot! You can shoot!"
"W-what the hell are you...? I'm a noble! If you shoot me here, you'll be committing the grave crime of noble slaying!"
Rudy panicked as every adventurer he'd brought lay collapsed around Dina's feet. I approached step by step, still aiming the crossbow at him, and he started stumbling backward in terror.
Freaking out over a little movie-line imitation... What was he so scared of? Who said I was gonna eat him?
He retreated one step, two steps from my advance, but didn't get far before tripping on a rock and falling flat on his ass.
"Urk...!"
Oof, that had to hurt. Why backpedal when he could've just stood still? Tsk tsk.
I stopped in front of him, crossbow still trained on target, and said,
"Eek...!?"
Rudy yelped in fright. I grinned and extended my hand.
"Enough playing around. Hand it over."
"W-what're you talking about?"
"What else? You know exactly what. That thing. That."
The magic pouch in his hand, stuffed full of goblin ears.
I pointed at the pouch he clutched, and after a moment's hesitation, he shouted,
"L-let's negotiate!"
"Negotiate?"
Hated giving up the pouch that much? What negotiation now?
I lowered the crossbow and tilted my chin, gesturing for him to speak. He blurted desperately,
"I'll hand over the pouch. But in exchange, pass me on the guild exam too."
"Hmm...?"
I stroked my chin, urging him on, and thinking I'd taken the bait, Rudy pressed eagerly.
"Do that, and I'll make sure you get properly rewarded. Plus, I heard you have a party. I'll talk to my father—cut these useless losers and hire your party instead. How's that? Sound good?"
"Oh, hiring us, huh."
At my response, his trembling stopped, replaced by that sleazy, arrogant smirk—the one that pissed me off so much.
"Yeah, hire you. Your party joins the Jefferson family directly. Other adventurers line up begging for it. Not just anyone gets the gig."
"Hey, but listen."
"What?"
"Seems like you're misunderstanding something."
"Misunderstanding what?"
"Our party's got two Platinums."
"Platinum? Oh, higher than Silver-rank, right? Those idiots told me. Fine, got it. I'll personally tell Father to pay you more than these losers..."
"No, this fucking moron still doesn't get it."
"Fucking moron? You dare...!"
Thinking I'd toyed with him long enough, Rudy reverted to his cocky attitude. I clenched my fist, blew on it lightly, and raised it to my lips.
"Listen up, noble boy. You might not know, but Platinum-rank? It's not something any shitty employer can just 'hire.' They beg on their knees for it. Got it?"
"What nonsense is...!"
"Shut it!"
Where does he get off interrupting? Whack!
A solid knuckle-rap to the crown of his head. My fist swung fast enough to create an optical illusion—his skull caving in for a split second.
Not Dina-level nuclear knucklerap, sure, but packed with the strength of a sturdy adult male, honed by Cheong-ah's brutal training into something pretty vicious. He clutched the spot with both hands and rolled around on the ground.
"Gaaah...!"
While he writhed, I snatched the magic pouch he'd dropped in his agony and inspected it.
"Pretty nice."
Leather material—not monster hide like orc or goblin, but proper animal skin. Clean tanning, fine finishing—high-end stuff. The surface bore typical magic tool runes: spatial expansion and auto-clean enchantments.
A Silver-rank party's gear, huh? Two spells on it. Should fetch at least two digits in gold—starting with a 2.
"At least 20 gold!"
Three weeks' pocket money! Lately, with Cheong-ah handling finances, I'd only window-shopped these, but now it rolls right in.
"Ugh... Guess good people really do get rewarded."
Stopped that NTR bullshit, and look what I score...! Pure love is the truth!
Die, Golden Sun! Vanish, breeding uncle! Rudy, your NTR game's over! Pure love rules here!
"Alright, time to head back."
"You... you bastard...! Think you can touch the firstborn heir of Baron Jefferson and live peacefully?!"
"Yeah, you're right. Can't touch a noble and expect peace."
I turned my back, glancing at him coolly.
"Gotta eliminate loose ends, then."
"W-wait, I misspoke...!"
"They said it earlier, right? Pretty far from Leventen. Even if I kill you here, no one knows who did it."
Click. I loaded the crossbow bolt and aimed at his head. Finger on the trigger, I pulled it ever so slowly, visible in his line of sight.
"Any last words? I'll listen."
"S-spare...!"
"Spare you? You just said it—think you can touch a noble and live easy? Easier for me to just kill you, right?"
"I-I'm sorry. N-no, I was wrong. Please... spare me."
Now he's polite when death stares him down. Didn't plan to hesitate anyway.
"Nah."
I pulled the trigger. Thwang!—like a snapped rubber band, the bolt flew.
"Hiiik...!"
He cowered, arms over his face. Hot steam rose from between his legs—a puddle forming.
"Pissing yourself, kid."
"H-huh...?"
The bolt grazed his hair and embedded in the dirt. Not a miss—I never aimed to hit.
Sure, I said no one'd know who killed him, but anyone who cares could figure it out. Mages with spells, or magic tools. Something about reading spatial memories? Heard of it.
Plus, killing Rudy means offing those guys Dina knocked out too... Not that ruthless. Or cruel enough.
I patted the trembling, piss-soaked Rudy's head.
"Live right, punk. Be good."
Leaving him behind, I headed to Dina and the others waiting.
"Let's go home, Dina."
"Very well."
"Everyone else, head back too. Those guys'll manage, right?"
"Ah, y-yes... Thank you for your hard work, Ian."
"Hard work? Dina did it all."
"Hm... Thou mayest pet more."
Time to head back... Oh, right. Can't just leave like this.
"Hey. You, mister—what's your name? Heidor?"
"Pardon? Oh, Widro."
I pointed at the unconscious Crow Brothers and still-seated Rudy.
"Yeah, Widro. Watch these guys till they wake."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
I'm not that bad, but not saintly either. Ignoring us till now, sidling up for his cut? Nah.
If he'd been friendly like Aaron, maybe. This was a bus I hitched anyway—no need to hog credit or exclude him... But letting it slide chafes.
"You heard me. Guard 'em till they wake. No monster attacks."
"Ah, th-that's..."
"Don't wanna? Fine, say so."
"N-no! Yes, I'll do it."
He bowed obsequiously. Leaving them to him, I returned to the guild with the others.
"Goblin ears, 30. Confirmed. But Ian, what about the other two who went with you? Only three back?"
"Oh, they had business first. Told 'em we'd report, so they went ahead."
Karen nodded with her usual kind, diligent smile.
"Aha... Got it. Processing promotion for all five, then. Congrats on reaching Bronze-rank. Badges in about three days."
"Thanks. See ya, Karen. Take care."
"You too. Great work, Ian."
Heading home after leaving the guild, Aaron and Skully approached with thanks.
"Really, thank you, Ian. Rumors ain't worth shit."
"Huh? Wh-what'd I do?"
"No, seriously. Thanks to you, that Rudy jerk didn't do jack."
"Oh, that."
Just stopped blatant NTR in front of me... I scratched my head sheepishly. Kinda embarrassing.
"We'll repay this favor."
"Take care. Thanks again, Dina!"
"Hee hee, fare thee well!"
Aaron and Skully left after goodbyes. I extended a hand to Dina, who'd been waving.
"Ready to go, Dina?"
"Aye... Oh! But Yeonja."
"What's up? Something wrong?"
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up.
"When wilt thou contract with me?"
"...Huh?"
"The contract. Target registration. When for this body?"
"Uh, well..."
What now? Troubled and speechless on the way to the inn.
"Wh-when you're bigger, Dina?"
"Yeonja, this is fully grown."
"Ahem... R-right?"
"Thou contractest with the shrew and beast, yet not this body? 'Tis discrimination."
"Sorry."
"So when?"
"Wh-when do you wanna?"
"Anytime for this body. Even now."
"R-really? But not right now. Hungry. Bad breath too."
Flustered, dodging her eyes as we neared the inn. The door swung open, a familiar voice calling happily.
"Ian!"
"Huh?"
A blue-haired beauty stood there. Unforgettable looks... Memory clicked.
"Lady Sierra?"
"Yes, Ian. Long time no see."
Hildenheim count's daughter, Aria's retainer knight we'd escorted to the capital. Mage-knight, whatever.
I smiled warmly.
"Whoa, seriously forever. What brings you here?"
"Waiting for you."
"Me?"
Why me so suddenly? Puzzled, she put on a stern face.
"By order of Princess Aria. Ian."