Ch.262Exploding NPCs. (3)

“Huh? Hey, over there.”

“Oh. She’s a killer. But, don’t you think her chest is a bit lacking?”

“Hmm, boss. She looks like the type who’d appear skinny in clothes. Probably even more killer when undressed?”

When war breaks out on the continent of Eight with its long history, there are several types of people whose value increases. One of them is the wandering mercenary without nationality.

They are people who drift between the borders of small kingdoms—kingdoms in name only, smaller than neutral cities—earning a meal with their lives. However, these same people who normally wander around for cheap prices see their value increase 10-fold, 20-fold, or even up to 100-fold when major nations like Ponia or the Empire go to war. Their battle-hardened experience and war capabilities become considerable assets in conflicts between major nations.

“Miss Ray. How about finally upgrading to white rank? I hear people in the same gold rank feel intimidated when they’re with you.”

“Hehe. Adventurers comparing themselves to other adventurers happens every day. I’ve told you several times that I have no intention of going to white rank. I don’t want to be tied down anywhere.”

“Come on, it would be really great if you’d put down roots here in Nati. A 100% quest completion rate. Plus, you don’t cause trouble and you’re even kind. You’re the type of adventurer we really don’t want to lose.”

“Thanks for the compliment. But I still have no intention of becoming white rank. By the way, what happened with that request I made earlier?”

“Ah, about what you applied for before? I processed it as a guardian status, but… I understand about this child, but who exactly is this person? They were in a party with you, Miss Ray, but their adventurer registration has been deleted. Are they perhaps… stupid? Could it be… Miss Ray, did you get involved with a bad man…?”

“Eek?! W-who said she’s my daughter?! Miss Ira is just our little sister…!!”

“I didn’t go that far…”

After mercenaries, the next most valuable are adventurers. Not just any gold rank adventurers found everywhere, but especially those of the ‘white’ rank, which only true powerhouses can attain. No country would hire them directly for war, but they can be commissioned to handle ‘invading enemies’ and protect territories.

Of course, since neither the guild nor the adventurers are ignorant that these aren’t ordinary defense requests but involve interstate warfare, the price is incomparable to normal times. And because of that…

“Whew~! Miss, gold rank? With that golden hair, it suits you perfectly.”

“From what I just heard, it seems you could even qualify for white rank now.”

“How about joining our party? We welcome married women too! Single mothers are even more welcome!”

Aigram, Ponia, Nati. These three countries are currently overflowing with ‘white’ rank adventurers from foreign countries, unlike usual times. Moreover, there are rumors that in Aigram, the mayor is giving exceptional treatment not only to white ranks but even to gold rank adventurers. However, these are adventurers who chose not to go to Aigram. The reason is simple—it was obvious that many adventurers would gather in Aigram after hearing those rumors, so they came to regions where they could increase their own value more.

“Huh? Who are these people?”

“Excuse me, this person is still reporting on a quest. If you want to apply for a party, perhaps a little later…”

*THUD!!*

“Hey, Miss Receptionist? Don’t you know who we are?! Huh? Do we need to show you this?!”

“…White rank.”

“Look, she’s clearly finished reporting her quest, so let’s not interfere unnecessarily. The guild does guild business, and adventurers do adventurer business. Right?”

“Miss, we’re a white rank party from Ponia. We’re called the [Wind Hunters]. How about it, haven’t you heard of us?”

If they had struck the counter while speaking, they would have been subject to sanctions for threatening guild staff. Instead, they cleverly just stomped on the floor as they surrounded Ray and started shouting, causing nearby adventurers to frown.

“How many times is this just this month?”

“The problem is that Ray is too pretty.”

“Tsk, there are too many idiots.”

“I keep saying men shouldn’t just look at a woman’s face and body.”

“It’s because the Empire started something like a war…”

But no one steps forward to help her. More precisely, no one is worried about Ray. Some click their tongues as if this is a regular occurrence before turning away, while others start betting on how many seconds it will take to end.

However, the white rank adventurers from Ponia, being neither elves nor beastkin, couldn’t hear those comments and mistakenly assumed that everyone was just too intimidated by their presence to intervene.

“My, you’re from Ponia? There must be plenty of work there these days too, so why come all the way to Nati?”

“Heh. That’s true, but Ponia has too many adventurers. Since we’re doing this to make a living, we need to know how to increase our own value.”

“So, sister. What do you say? Won’t you join our party? From what I heard earlier, you seem to have been in a party with some inadequate guy, but if you join us, you’ll have fun day and night, you know?”

Despite the men drooling crudely and even moving their hips, Ray just gave them a smiling glance before slowly speaking.

“I’m already having fun day and night. And as you said, people set their own value. I’m sorry to say this, but the three of you together couldn’t match even the value of one of my fingers. So I’ll politely decline.”

After saying that and shaking her head in refusal, Ray tried to pass through a gap between the men in front of her, but the white rank adventurers blocked her way.

“Come on, why are you being like this? They say you have the ability to become white rank now. We’re offering to be your white rank seniors!”

“I heard earlier that you have a little sister? If the big sister looks this good, the little sister must be beautiful and talented too, right? How about both sisters join us at on—?!!!”

“Huh?!!”

*SHIVER!! TAP-TAP-TAP!!*

In an instant, an incredible killing intent was directed at them, causing the three white rank adventurers to involuntarily let out shrill screams as they stepped back. The blonde woman they had been surrounding was still tilting her head slightly and smiling at them, but the killing intent emanating from her body was more sticky and slimy than any monster they had ever faced, even in Ponia’s Monster Parade. And then.

“Hehe, do you want to die?”

Though her voice was clearly mixed with laughter, the woman’s voice seemed to pierce their ears like it could freeze the air, and at that moment.

*TAP.*

“Eek?!!”

*WHOOSH!!!*

When the golden mass of killing intent rushed at them at an invisible speed, one man reflexively swung the mace he was holding. Of course, his attack didn’t hit anyone.

“Oh my, you shouldn’t swing weapons in the guild. Right?”

Ray, who had simply stepped aside in front of the wrist of the man who swung his weapon, tilted her head toward the staff counter with a smile, and the employee just nodded with a wry smile. After that.

“Urgh…”

“P-please spare…”

“Gah, cough!!”

Without even drawing her sword, Ray made all the white rank adventurers roll on the floor, then dusted off her palms and approached the guild staff again.

“All three of them swung their weapons first. So I restrained them.”

“Yes. I was watching as staff. I’ll be your witness.”

When faced with such terrible killing intent, not just adventurers but anyone would instinctively swing their weapon. But in reality, Ray had only directed killing intent at them without making the first move. Since all the adventurers and staff watching were witnesses, it was natural that she wouldn’t face any sanctions. Moreover…

“Really, wouldn’t you consider becoming white rank, Miss Ray? It’s strange that idiots like them are white rank while you’re still gold.”

“I’m sorry. As I’ve said many times, I have no intention of becoming white… Ah, it’s school dismissal time!!”

Ray, who was helping the guild staff write up the situation report while being encouraged to take the white rank test, shouted after checking the clock, and seeing her reaction, the guild staff smiled wryly and told her to go, saying they would complete the rest.

“Thank you! I’ll buy you a drink later!!”

“Sure~ Take care.”

After Ray left the adventurers’ guild, male staff members collected the fallen fools to take them to the underground prison, and the employee began writing down their names, ranks, and party name.

“Wind Hunters. Were they famous in Ponia? But…”

[Name: Ray Sol. Age: 21. Gold Rank.]

[Quest Completion Rate: 100%.]

[Character: Good.]

[Special Notes: Has 1 party member through guild referral. (Counterpart’s adventurer ID revoked.)]

[Guardian of one protected person. [Name: Ira. Age: 12.]]

While writing down the personal information of those who had been dealt with, the employee couldn’t help but smile.

“It seems the Nati [Golden Wind] was too much for those people to hunt.”

Not feeling particularly sorry for the foreign adventurers who had made the same mistake for the fifth time this month, the employee wrote up the report, wondering who this adventurer with the revoked ID could be to have been accepted as a party member by that impenetrable Golden Wind. And at that moment, Ray, who had left the adventurers’ guild…

“Waaah!! I’m late!! Miss Ira, please wait just a little longer!! I, your big sister, am coming!!!”

She was running with her sword drawn and skills activated toward Ira, who would be waiting alone at the school gate after finishing her final exams today.