Weekend Date: B-Rank Monsters
Those who fill their bellies with sword rice are mostly simple and crude. When they're horny, they buy a whore. When they're hungry, they eat. Not all of them, sure, but the vast majority— that's a plain fact.
"Hey, missy. You're nobility, right? This stuff's all about experience. Experience."
"Yeah, that's right. Come with us, and we'll give you plenty of new experiences."
The blond man flashed a grin, baring his pearly whites.
Hierarchy reveals the difference in status.
"If she says no, forcing her along won't fly."
His tone grew colder as he stepped forward slowly. With every step, it felt like every eye in the place locked onto him.
"What the hell? Fuckin' noble brat finally shows up? We're taking the girl."
"Take her if you can. She's not someone trash like you can touch."
The blond's pupils shrank for a split second.
"Bullshit. You know who we are before you run your mouth?"
"Does that matter?"
"Figures. Just a punk kid who doesn't know shit and thinks he can act tough."
The middle-aged guy next to him joined in, flashing a nasty smirk. Looked like he fancied himself some hotshot adventurer...
"Know your place."
"A fresh registrant dares to—?!"
In an instant, the blond swung his fist. His stance was seasoned enough—experience wasn't a lie. Not terrible, but...
Just that.
Heavenly Martial Body assists your physical form.
Dante easily sidestepped the telegraphing punch and shoved his palm straight into the guy's gut.
Thud!!!
A clean palm strike to the ribs sent him sprawling. The cocky thug from moments ago looked pathetically ridiculous now.
"Master! Behind you...!"
"I know."
Maybe it was the aura training. He sensed it instinctively—the middle-aged lackey drawing his weapon for a swing.
'As if.'
He spun quickly, hand reaching for the sword at his waist—
"How about we stop there?"
A deep bass voice made his body tense on reflex.
"E-Evan, sir...!"
"Yeah. I get it—you're excited about fresh meat. But that's enough. Any more, and it'll get noisy."
"...B-But that punk hit my buddy...!"
"Enough."
One word from the man called Evan, and the middle-aged thug's glare faded. Not just losing hostility—it was utterly crushed.
"More importantly, you lot."
"...Pardon?"
"It's your turn for screening, but you haven't come in."
"Ah... Sorry. There was a commotion."
"No worries. Come on in."
Evan led them inside the guild with a kindly smile. The tense atmosphere evaporated, returning to its initial bustle.
"Shall we go in too?"
"Y-Yeah! And... thanks for just now."
"Thanks? That's just obvious. I brought you here."
Belloa's blushing smile drew one from Dante too, unbidden.
Inside the adventurer's guild's detailed rank examination room, surrounded by reinforced stone walls, three figures stood.
"So, you're the new registrants?"
"Yes. Name's Dante."
"I'm... Belloa."
"Good, good. New blood is always welcome. We need talent."
Adventurers were in high demand, with plenty of supply... but unfortunately, their numbers fluctuated wildly. High mortality came with the territory of taking dangerous commissions.
"Do you know about detailed rank screening?"
"Yes. It's for assigning a basic rank before official requests."
Not all adventurers did the same jobs. Skill gaps existed, so requests matched ability. The divider? Rank. This screening set the initial rank right after registration.
"Initial screening goes up to max B-rank. Keep that in mind."
"Got it."
"Both mages?"
"Y-Yes. I'm a mage. He's... sort of."
Evan's gaze swept over Dante and Belloa.
'Girl's frail build screams it. The guy's ambiguous.'
Dante had that mage vibe, but his physique was elite—beyond most aura users.
"Whatever. Planning to party up?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Both rush me at once."
"...2-on-1?"
"Guild tradition."
Guild exams differed from academy tests. Schools judged knowledge and application. Guilds? Pure combat prowess—how strong and battle-ready you were. Just spar a pro and gauge.
"Belloa, support me."
"Got it... I'll focus on buffs over attacks."
"That's plenty."
In a flash, an aura unbecoming rookies rose from them both.
'Maybe I misjudged.'
Evan had pegged them as prospects. But their stances screamed veterans.
"Give us high ranks."
"Depends on your show."
Dante drew his sword and lunged at Evan.
'Mage? Nah, swordsman.'
Easy then. Aura battles favored core count.
Vmmm!!!
As Evan channeled aura into his right fist—
"Illusion."
Belloa's word split Dante into multiples. Vision chaos via phantom magic.
'The one that feels strongest is real.'
Aura users trusted instinct. He punched at the vibe—
Boom!!!
His fist hit an invisible wall.
"Magic...? No buildup."
Aura sensed mana flow. He'd watched Belloa closely—yet it deployed blindingly fast and precise.
"That's one hit."
"Damn, you two exceed expectations."
Dante swung. His most-practiced move lately: Dragon Slayer Style, Overlapping Scale Slash. It targeted Evan's gut perfectly.
Krunch!!!
Evan minimized with aura-focused arms. Still, the agony twisted his face.
'At least B-rank.'
What a monster rookie duo. Backlash might come, but Evan didn't care. Their skill was real.
"B-rank."
"Pardon?"
"Both get B-rank."
Right after screening, Evan sat in the break room, icing his swollen arm.
'Six cores, and he did this to my arm.'
It didn't look that bad. But facing him? Like battling a war-hardened vet.
"Ugh... Should've held back."
Sighing over Dante and Belloa—
"Evan, sir!!"
The door burst open. The blond thug entered.
"Hm? You. What's up?"
"Heard you helped those kids earlier."
Oh, right. Evan had forgotten the incident—barely an hour old. The screening shocked him that much.
"Didn't help the kids."
"...Huh?"
"See my arm? His work."
The inflamed limb horrified the blond.
"You're saying a newbie did this...?"
"Yeah. I helped you lot."
Evan sighed at him. A-ranks like this?
'B+ skill at best. Connections are scary.'
That's why they roamed as A-rank.
"Didn't feel that vibe earlier?"
"Pardon?"
"Without me, your buddy's arm would've flown."
Dante's sword-aura wasn't playful. Ghostly eyes craving blood—Evan couldn't shake the overwhelming pressure.
"Even without him, the girl would've ended you."
Dante overshadowed her, but Evan clocked Belloa too. Perfect support, plus transcendent casting speed and mana control—beyond normal mages.
'Monsters incoming.'
Evan was sure Belloa alone could've handled those two.
"Grow up already. Sigh..."
He kept icing his arm.