Welcome to Rimhold!
“This is Rimhold, Sir Evan!!”
Rapi swung her staff around wildly as she dashed ahead.
“Oh. Even the entrance has changed.”
The border city of Rimhold, fifty years later, was completely different from what I'd imagined. After all that time—enough for mountains to shift five times over—the rural backwater vibe was gone, replaced by a massive city gate welcoming us.
“It used to be a rundown dump.”
“Huh...? But Rimhold's a prosperous city now. Aren't you mistaken, sir?”
“Something like that.”
I ignored Rapi's baffled look.
I pushed aside my worries about the Dark Lord, Hayes, for now. I'd learned a hard lesson back when I was busting my ass like a dog to stop the dark fantasy ending. Don't dwell on the past—prepare for what's ahead.
Countless plans pieced together from scraps of future info had fallen apart because of that. Every time, I'd get pissed, freeze up, panic, and get smacked by the incoming threat.
And seeing Rimhold's grand state now made me feel a bit better, at least. A thriving city meant Hayes was okay. If she'd truly become the dark fantasy boss her title implied, Rimhold would've been ashes by now.
So. This wasn't the worst-case scenario.
Not yet, anyway.
As I sorted through my thoughts and walked, we reached the entrance to Rimhold before I knew it.
“Hello...!”
Rapi greeted them brightly. The two guards in polished greaves gave her a casual nod in return.
Their armor was in great shape. The swords at their waists looked high quality—damn good, even. The gear at the checkpoint was rust-free and well-maintained.
Just like Rapi said, Rimhold had become a wealthy city.
“You went out this morning, mage lady, and you're back already? Finished the request that quick?”
One guard asked Rapi kindly.
“Of course! I'm the future archmage, after all. Here's my medal!”
Rapi replied proudly, pulling a blue medal from her pocket and handing it over.
“As expected from an academy grad. Adventurer's Guild emblem confirmed.”
The guard stepped aside for her. So the medal doubled as a pass.
“And this one?”
Unlike with Rapi, the guard shot me a sharp glare.
I had no ID or pass to prove myself. So I had to rely on smiling Rapi.
“Don't glare like that, guard. I'm with Rapi—we finished the request together. Right, Rapi?”
“Yes!! Sir Evan helped me.”
Rapi nodded eagerly. The guard eyed us both.
“Understood. If the mage vouches for you, that should be fine.”
“...Huh? V-vouch?”
The guard nodded.
“Still, I need a name and purpose.”
“Evan. Here to take on subjugation requests.”
I gave a vague answer.
“Noted. You can enter.”
But despite his words, he let Rapi through and blocked me with his arm.
What now?
“Evan, was it? Seducing a naive Solarion Academy student for some shady scheme?”
“Sorry, but I didn't seduce her. She was crying and passing out, so I just helped.”
“Tch. Remember this—if anything happens to the mage, it won't end with you.”
“Oh...”
I glanced at Rapi ahead. Even the Floating Islands mages wouldn't get this treatment. Was it the academy prestige, or Rapi's background?
“Hehehe!! We made it to the city! Time to finish requests and grab something tasty!”
“...”
Guess the academy carried real weight.
Once past the checkpoint, the city's developed streets came into view. Rimhold after fifty years was worlds apart from its old self. No trace of the rundown border town—now packed with advanced buildings and bustling people.
Seeing the prosperity brought back memories of grinding it out with the lord here.
'Gaaahhh!!! Sir Evan!! Please stop!! Hey!! I said stop!! Our hard-earned budget... Nooo!!!'
“That was kinda fun...”
The operation to burn the Great Forest with young lord Amon Cornen had been a blast. Who knew that kid would turn the city into this? Worth every bit of the hell I put him through.
“I'm heading to the Adventurer's Guild. Where are you going, Sir Evan?”
“Dunno...”
I had no set destination yet. Meeting the lord crossed my mind, but fifty years on, Amon had probably handed off to an heir. With my stats wrecked by Drift, sneaking in would be a pain anyway. What to do?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her staff bobbing. Rapi had heard rumors about the Dark Lord. Might as well ask her.
“I want info on the Dark Lord. Where'd you hear about her, Rapi?”
“Uh... it was just a rumor... I just overheard people at the guild chatting, hehe...”
Rapi grinned sheepishly.
“Guess I'll hit the Adventurer's Guild too. Let's go together, Rapi.”
“Ah...! Yes!! This way, Sir Evan!”
Excited since hitting the city, Rapi bounced ahead to lead me.
“Oh! Sir Evan, can I ask something? What's your adventurer rank? You seem super strong—at least Red rank!?”
“Beats me.”
“Eh??”
There were guilds and ranks fifty years ago too, but I had no clue about current standards.
“Never cared for the guild anyway.”
Before gathering my companions, I preferred solo. And the guild was full of useless leeches who just begged for cash. Annoying bunch.
I remembered doing a few requests and getting some pointless black medal as reward.
“Eh...? Why!? Guild ranks are recognized empire-wide...! Even Solarion Academy partners with them!”
Curious Rapi pulled out her blue medal.
“See? Academy students get Blue rank!”
“Is Blue good?”
“Yes!!”
Rapi nodded vigorously.
“If Blue's the level of a girl bawling in front of an orc, it doesn't sound impressive.”
“Hwahhh... I-I'm a Solarion Academy student, sniffl-! disciple of Professor Ariel...!”
Damn, my inner thought slipped out. Her tear ducts burst instantly—Rapi was such a crybaby.
“Alright, alright. I get it. Let's head to the guild.”
“...Sniff.”
Rapi stopped, turning her snotty face away. Clearly sulking.
Like placating a bratty niece. Time for some light praise.
“Smart Rapi. Can you explain adventurer ranks again?”
“...Hmph. No.”
But she twitched at 'smart'—obvious as hell.
“Hmm... No smart mages around? Wonder who could explain adventurer ranks...”
“...”
“The academy's top prospect, future archmage—maybe she'd know... Hmm, probably not in Rimhold.”
“Ahem... Ahem...”
Rapi cleared her throat, glancing sideways.
“Sigh... If only a smart person would guide me... Haah...”
I shook my head with a sigh. Peeking at Rapi, she was grinning.
“Ahem...! Sir Evan!! As a special favor!! I, Rapi Bael! Undoubtedly the future archmage, shall enlighten you!”
Easy mark, this kid.
“Adventurer ranks divide into five: White, Blue, Red, Silver, Gold! White's for newbies—total trash, worthless! Blue's for the highest-potential folks!”
She's hyping her own rank.
“Strength-wise?”
“Uh... Well... Academy students are Blue, grads are Red-level.”
Still vague.
“In knight terms.”
“Um... A knight from a city like Rimhold would be Red-rank-ish...”
Knight meant someone who could properly wield mana. Red and up should be usable.
“Then with my current self, probably Red-rank.”
Drift limited my stats and traits, messing with mana control. But I could still use it—like the minor spells against that orc. Red seemed right.
“Wow!! My instincts were spot on!!”
“Yeah. Lead on, our high-potential Blue-rank Rapi.”
“Yes!”
Rapi nodded energetically, swinging her staff as she went. Following slowly, a weird building came into view.
“See that? The one with the big entrance! That's Rimhold's Adventurer's Guild!”
“Pretty unique design. Bear head with fox ears—what's that about?”
A bizarre statue topped the entrance: a bear head with fox ears.
Fifty years had turned the world's aesthetics avant-garde.
“Uh... That statue's Rimhold—Hiyak!”
BAM!
Suddenly, the guild entrance exploded. A figure flew out with the wooden door.
He crashed into the wall and crumpled. Out cold, no movement.
His chest greave was caved in like it'd taken a hammer blow. Fingers twitched—he'd live.
“This normal in Rimhold?”
Onlookers just murmured—no shock.
“Uh... Not everyday...? But I've seen it a few times.”
“Smells like booze. Drunks fighting, probably.”
Aesthetics changed, but adventurers? Same old after fifty years.
“Uh... Not a fight? Guildmaster calls it 'education'!”
“Education?”
Education that crumples greaves? Guildmaster some barbarian?
BAM!
“Another one's flying. Watch out, Rapi.”
“Yes—!”
I sidestepped the guy easily and entered with Rapi, stepping over the wreckage.
The culprit stood inside.
“...It's a bear.”
A bear in a boxing stance. It snorted powerfully, then sharply retracted its paw.
Sensing my stare, it looked my way.
“What, first time seeing a bear throw punches?”
Whoa. Fifty years later, and bears talk now.