The Good, the Bad, and the Weird One
Kale had laid out the conditions for this promotion quest like so.
1. The Hero picks one role. Warrior, mage, priest—doesn't matter, but no switching mid-quest.
2. The Hero has to hide their identity during the quest, stick strictly to that role's abilities, and cap their power output at what a Silver-rank adventurer could manage.
3. Under those constraints, the Hero joins as a regular party member—not the leader—and pulls their weight on the assigned tasks. Full details and party members get revealed on quest day.
It was all laid out in the prepped documents, and just looking at it filled my head with disgust.
This so-called "promotion quest" was basically a test for the Hero. After rampaging freely in the Vatican Secret Vault without a care for prying eyes, she'd come to the city and started packaging her actions in a more "noble" light. Through this quest format, she was even signaling her intent to play along with the world's current power dynamics.
Facing these contradictory moves, the higher-ups had dangled some bait. Overly unfair, malicious conditions for a promotion quest. Would the Hero swallow it obediently, or flip the table again? They'd gauge her tendencies from the reaction.
[Let's rewrite the quest. New promotion: guild master's head on a pike.]
[Are you insane?!]
[Nah, hear me out. Stick a blade to his throat and threaten him—think he'll refuse whatever we ask?]
The adventurer guild was a global powerhouse with massive influence across the continent, but we'd already turned the Vatican against us. Plus, thanks to her Hero status, they couldn't openly antagonize us either—not if they didn't want the "Demon King's harbinger" label slapped on them.
There'd even been a Hero who declared a nation's king the Demon King, slew him, and claimed the throne. Once a Hero goes rogue, there's no limit to the chaos.
[Carbalt! You dare question the Hero's choice?!]
[Sorry, but I'm no holy roller—your authority bounces right off me. And if my owner's veering off course, a real partner reins her in, you sycophant!]
[S-sycophant?! What outrageous slander...!]
[A true loyalist speaks bitter truths like spitting venom! Just like yours truly!]
I'd basically called myself the loyal retainer and her the scheming toady. The holy sword was so flabbergasted she went speechless.
In the stunned silence, the Hero's hand came down to stroke my hilt.
"Aw, so cute."
Wait, did I just get called cute? Sure, the seal on my hilt meant I felt nothing, but still.
[Grr...! Just you wait!]
Why are you pissed again? Drop the third-rate villain lines already.
Anyway, the Hero's promotion quest was locked in. To back out now, we'd need to do exactly what I joked—take the guild master's head.
That inflexible policy—no exceptions for rank or status—was why the guild had held its neutral ground all these years. Inefficient in spots, sure, but what can you do.
The Hero had made her call, so I had just one thing left to say.
[Your quest, your mess. Tough it out with grit and spite.]
[Don't you jinx it!]
*
Business as usual at the adventurer guild. The first-floor tavern buzzed with rowdy adventurers when the door slammed open.
A robed figure slipped in. Face hidden, but the small, slender build suggested youth.
"What's with all the newbies lately?"
"Ignore 'em. They'll cry and bail soon enough."
Few paid the figure any mind. Brushing off the snide remarks, it plopped down in a dim corner booth—not ordering drinks or picking fights at the quest board, just staring blankly.
"Uh, hey..."
That vibe usually meant one thing: waiting for questmates.
How long had it zoned out? A shadow fell over the table. The figure looked up to see a burly warrior with a friendly grin scratching his head.
"You the mage for the orc village raid, ma'am?"
Right—the Hero's chosen role for this quest wasn't warrior or priest. Mage. Swords or holy power would one-shot everything, no helping it. Magic was more support-oriented by comparison.
She'd rarely needed it before, being OP solo, but her skills were legit. Invisible effects made it easy to fudge in awkward spots too.
"Miss?"
Why's she frozen like a statue? The Hero finally twitched, nodding slowly at the warrior.
I was sheathed at her waist right now. Hidden under the robe, of course—my infamous look was too recognizable. The light-spewing holy sword wasn't along for the ride.
Teasing her solo had been fun, but... ugh. Should've left me behind instead.
Trouble's already brewing.
"Haha, the quiet type, huh."
"......"
"Ha, haha. Shall we head over? The others are waiting."
The sweating warrior pointed, and the Hero finally stood.
We left the guild for a nearby gear shop.
"Thirty silver for this? Cut me a better deal if I'm buying bulk!"
"Don't want it? Scram!"
"Jeez, gramps. Treat regulars like that and you'll go bust!"
A hooded young woman was haggling fiercely with the elderly shopkeep.
"Bit noisy, huh? Haha, my teammate's... eccentric. One sec."
After a brutal bargain, she scored a quiver and tools at a steal—one silver fifty copper off.
Seeing her face, I blinked. Beauty like a finely modeled 3D character, not quite human. And those ears peeking from the hood.
Elf.
"Taka, this the new guy for the quest? Looks scrawny."
"L-Leila, easy on the words... Anyway, I'm Taka, warrior. This is—"
"Leila here. Master warrior, ranger, and Sun priestess."
The redheaded elf was as fiery as she looked. Rude as hell.
Wanted to gouge those condescending eyes, but held back. I'm no psycho killer over every slight.
Plus, group project—no, quest—hadn't even started.
"......Mage."
The Hero finally spoke. Her quest-provided mask warped her voice to a gravelly tone.
Annoyed by it, maybe? The elf yanked back the Hero's robe.
She could've stopped it easy, but didn't. Robe or no, the mask hid her face anyway.
"Advertising 'suspicious' much? Taka! I wondered why we added a rando to our perfectly fine duo."
"Ugh... But you know the guild 'recommended' recruiting."
Seemed they were old partners. As the Hero and I watched blankly, the bickering rolled on.
"And she doesn't seem that bad..."
"Hah? You blind? Wrapped head to toe like a shady creep."
Hero disguise demanded it. That dazzling platinum hair or star-filled black eyes? Instant giveaway.
"Still, too rude to a new teammate we'll sync with..."
"Hey, big lug. Move it."
Poor Taka got manhandled by the raging elf, true to his size yet spineless.
Leila shoved forward, glaring daggers.
"Guild kissed your ass, so you've got backing, but whatever your game's—don't pull shady shit."
She flashed her palm, stamped with a sun stigma.
Sign of what?
"Unless you wanna be roast skewer for my fire arrow."
Ah, power flex—sun stigma sparkling. Utterly harmless, kinda adorable. Bluffing way above her weight class!
Stifled a laugh—quest rules said lay low. Threatening the Hero? Like a candle taunting a volcano.
That level of gap between elf and Hero. In combat, in faith.
"L-Leila, enough..."
"Hmph."
The elf snorted and stormed out.
What a brat. As I grumbled inwardly, Taka bowed apologetically.
"Sorry 'bout that. Leila's not bad, just on edge lately."
One thing clear: this party's doomed.
One's arrogant as if raised by the World Tree itself, the other's nice but spineless wimp. Worst teammates either way.
"What're ya doin'? No buy, get out!"
Chased out by the shopkeep's yell, I snuck a peek at the Hero's mood.
Silent since her "mage" line. Mask hid her face, and with her power reined in tight, even I—clipped close—couldn't read her.
Why'd she take this kiddie quest? No holy sword to ask, so I just speculated quietly.