[Adventurer, Anastasia - 02]
[Adventurer, Anastasia - 02]
"There must be a reason why you're doing this, right?"
"I'm greedy. I want everything. People keep courting me because they think my reputation makes me 'worth a shot.' It's annoying, so I'm going to go far away, somewhere they can't reach. Besides, if I have a track record before entering The Academy, who could possibly look down on me?"
"Even if you just go in as you are, no one would look down on the 'Saintess-nim'."
"Still, I want a track record. I need proof that I'm not just capable of healing, but also have combat power."
"Then it would be better if I weren't there."
It might sound arrogant to say this, but my reputation is quite significant, so if I worked with her, people would definitely say, "It's all thanks to Adrian Valtus."
In that sense, it would have been best for her to go alone, but I couldn't let the Saintess-nim go by herself, so at the very least, it was better for her to go with just Eris.
Because if she went with me, people would start to doubt that honor and track record.
However, the Saintess-nim spoke as if asking what kind of stupid question that was.
"I want to hang out with you."
"......Haa."
"Hey, you two. Don't fight so much. You've already decided to do it. Wouldn't it be fine if she only does it a little bit on the Saintess-nim's days off?"
In fact, the Saintess-nim's track record was steadily building up, and her allies were slowly increasing as well.
Recently, not only the Saintess-nim but other priests had also been helping out with healing more often, and thanks to that, the Saintess-nim was actually able to move around freely like this.
Originally, it wasn't easy for the Saintess-nim to move around like this.
Unless she got legitimate leave, that is.
However, the Saintess-nim had built up a proper track record, and as a result, she made not only herself but other priests work hard at healing, and eventually, it started rotating on a duty roster.
It is permitted to call the Saintess-nim only if it's truly serious, or if the priest on duty that day cannot handle it.
Well, in most cases, people who only the Saintess-nim can cure won't come.
Because they usually only come once every few months, if that.
"We weren't really fighting. I just want Ed to come with me, that's all."
"Is that so....... At the very least, it would be good if you hid your identity."
"If I did that, it wouldn't be my honor, right? Of course, I think that would be fun too. Raising my adventurer rank while hiding my identity, and the moment I reach the highest rank, revealing, 'Actually, I'm the Saintess~.' Wouldn't the shock be immense and become quite a famous story? It's what you call a hot topic."
"Because it was the Pope-nim's condition."
Since being an adventurer was dangerous work, I naturally thought he would oppose it, but he gave permission on the condition that Eris and I go with her, and that she is forbidden from hiding her identity.
The first reason was, of course, for safety.
No matter how strong the Saintess-nim is, 'what ifs' can happen in sudden situations, so if it couldn't be helped, it couldn't be helped.
The second reason is simple.
There's a sort of unwritten rule that hiding one's identity implies doing something suspicious, so it's not viewed favorably.
Setting aside not revealing one's identity, lying about one's identity could be legally punishable in some cases.
I don't know about just doing mercenary work, but to live as an adventurer, you needed an identity.
That's why people without identity cards sometimes become adventurers.
Because if you become an adventurer, you can get an identity card.
Perhaps most people become adventurers for that very reason.
Anyway, that can also guarantee one's identity.
"Anyway, I wanted to try it. In reality, I've never experienced 'actual combat'."
"That's true."
"That's why I'm happy, Ed."
"Why is that?"
"Because you aren't strongly opposing it, at least. You judged that I, as I am now, would have no problem doing adventurer work, right?"
We had talked about the battlefield before, and I had strongly opposed the Saintess-nim going to the battlefield.
It wasn't simply because the Saintess-nim is the 'Saintess-nim', but because if she were in a place swirling with such death, vicious murderous intent, and hostility, it felt like all the education she had received until now would vanish like foam.
However, even though it's better than the battlefield, I gave permission even though she's going to a place where she has to fight in actual combat.
It was a simple story.
I thought the goodness that had become common sense within her was solid enough.
Even if it still needed a little more time, I didn't think she would cause any major problems right now.
Besides, in any case, it was impossible to keep the Saintess-nim, who is full of curiosity and lives based on interest, growing like a flower in a greenhouse for her entire life.
Like it or not, and sooner or later, something would have happened eventually, and in that case, it was better to do it while she was still within my sight.
"Do as you please. You've already decided, so would you even listen if I nagged you?"
"I listen to your words better than anyone else's, more than the King or the Pope....... I can focus on your words more than even a murderer holding a knife to my throat right now."
"Focus on the murderer......."
"Eris, I'm counting on you for my protection."
"Leave it to me! I heard there are many rough people in the Adventurer's Guild."
"Come to think of it, I was wondering, Eris, you have decent skills, so why were you in the slums? Wasn't there a way to go to the Adventurer's Guild?"
Eris thought for a moment and then said.
"I simply didn't have the idea. There are many people who have given up on their current life. Even I, while believing in my own skills, was half-resigned to living like that, just getting by day to day."
"I see, fufu. You should be grateful that I picked you up."
"Of course! A life where I eat such delicious food every day, I've already lived enough."
I didn't know if I should call a life that is fully satisfied with just that happy, or what to call it.
But if there was one saving grace, it was that Eris had skills, and her loyalty to the Saintess-nim was quite high.
There were often people who mocked her as the Saintess-nim's loyal dog, but that was because whenever something happened, she would prioritize protecting the Saintess-nim and wouldn't shy away from somewhat brutal methods.
It is said that there was even a person who, not knowing their place, tried to take the Saintess-nim hostage, only to get punched in the jaw by Eris and have their jawbone shattered right then and there.
It happened when I wasn't there, but anyway, thanks to that incident, the story that 'the Saintess-nim keeps a ferocious dog' is quite famous.
At least to me and the Saintess-nim, she is infinitely gentle and shows a somewhat pet-like appearance.
She is absolutely loyal to those she has opened her heart to, but treats everyone else neutrally, and depending on their attitude, she is ready to bite them immediately.
I thought her personality lacked social skills in many ways, but since she was under the Saintess-nim's protection, there was no major problem, and a job that involves 'bodyguarding' does require some level of wariness toward people other than the person being protected.
"By the way, how is the rank determined? Is there no such thing as 'this much means this rank'? For example, if Eris becomes an adventurer, what rank would she be?"
"A-rank."
"That was an immediate answer?"
"Kk, can't I be S-rank!"
"If you get older and gain more experience, it will be possible."
In fact, the fact that Eris, who isn't even 20 yet, could be A-rank was quite an excellent track record. If Eris were over 20 and had gained proper experience, S-rank would definitely be possible.
"What about me?"
"If you just manage to fix that personality of yours that's prone to letting your guard down, S-rank wouldn't be a problem."
"But this is my identity?"
"Then please just be satisfied with A-rank. Even just being an A-rank adventurer is a level that everyone will acknowledge if you say it. B-rank to C-rank is a level where you can make a living with that job."
Generally, there was even a saying that you're a real adventurer starting from C-rank.
Since the evaluation that you are an adventurer with some experience and skill starts from C-rank, the difficulty of the requests increases, but instead, the types of requests become diverse, and designated requests also tend to come from C-rank if you're lucky.
"No, if I'm going to do it, obviously it's S-rank. I want to hit the top. And while entering The Academy, I want to get the title of 'S-rank Adventurer Saintess-nim' along with the title of 'Perfect Saintess-nim', right? Fufu, there probably hasn't been a Saintess who became an adventurer in history, right?"
"There are people who have the qualifications themselves, but usually, it's just for social experience, so at highest, it's C-rank."
"Oh my, I'm not the first?"
Oh, has she lost interest?
"Then it's even more reason to be S-rank. The second one doesn't have as much impact, right? There needs to be something more amazing. I'm going to carve my name into history, as the most excellent and perfect Saintess-nim that will never happen again in history."
"Don't you think you don't have to go that far?"
"Because that looks more fun."
"Is that so?"
"It is so."
"Haa....... Do as you please."
"Fufu."
The Saintess-nim smiled satisfactorily and raised her head.
"Is that it? It's big, isn't it?"
"Because it's the Adventurer's Guild in the Royal Capital. Naturally, it's bigger than any other Adventurer's Guild."
Because there's a Grandmaster there, too.
"When we go in, there will be people who know the Saintess-nim's face, so there will be people who are surprised."
"That's good. Fufu, it would be perfect if they ignored me, saying my head is full of flowers and I'm just here for a social field trip. Eris, if they try to be violent toward me, don't hit them too hard."
"Controlling my strength is my specialty."
"Then let's go, I hope we find some treasure or something!"
Should I say she's become more honest with her emotions compared to the past?
It was good that she became a lively personality, but.
The problem was that she had become a woman like a bouncy ball who you don't know where she'll bounce off to next, so it was quite troublesome.
"Ed, let's go!"
"Yes, I'm coming."
Lately, my sighs have increased.
Above all, since she's been approaching me more and more actively these days, I felt like I would be eaten if I let my guard down for even a single moment.
She says she'll wait until adulthood, but there's no way that impulsive woman can hold back.
"Haa......."
Seriously.
My sighs have increased.