"Say, Rath. What do you think about Rize?"
Cane asked Rath as the two rested from having worked a ton.
Because they were boys, they were specifically told by the village chief to lift some heavy stuff. But, they are far from the term muscular, unlike Brod.
Maybe Cane still had some work, but Rath is the opposite of muscular. He is thin and cranky, and he relied more on his speed rather than his strength.
Rath drank his bottle of water and placed it on the tree stump in front of them. He stared at Cane dead in the eyes, and sharply said.
"I think she is crazy. That's what I think."
"Well, I can't disagree with that."
Cane chuckled, while Rath grinned. Meanwhile, a certain pair of ears have already heard enough.
"Hey, you pigs. Are you going to sit around while letting us do the work?"
I called out to the two lazy bums sitting on top of the tree stumps while holding a giant tree log on my shoulder. The two glanced at me very confused, but I still wear my pissed off face.
"One second, we are tired."
"Yeah, the chief gave us so much work."
"Your work is nothing compared to Emily and Fran. Look, they are giving food to the villagers."
That was supposed to be a joke, but the two took it seriously and became genuinely pissed.
I let out a sigh and continued with bringing the giant log to the village builders. They looked super shocked seeing how I am lifting a thousand kilograms of log with only one shoulder, but I simply dropped it on the ground and confirmed with them while grinning.
My scythe is heavier than that, after all.
After that I went to Fran and Emily, who is listing out the requirements for the village.
"So what else?"
"Looks like an all set. Just need to finish the well, but the men from the village are already doing that. Brod is helping them as well, so it should be quick."
Emily answered while reading the list.
We have been doing this for the past three hours and we managed to rebuild the entire village. I helped with the construction using my shadow magic while Brod used his earth magic to do most of the building. Emily and Fran are doing the management while Fran and Cane become one of the workers.
We have done so much work to help the villagers that the village looks better now. The buildings have been rebuilt and the paths were also made. My shadow magic and Brod's earth magic did the most in the construction, and the people there are grateful to us for it.
After a while, Brod returned from making the well, along with the other villagers. We rested for a bit while Brod gave his side of the story after making the well.
After we were fully rested, we went back to the kingdom after bidding farewell.
"Fran, Cane. The master wants to see you two."
Keila said with a rather grim tone to the two strongest adventurers, and the two quickly turned their gazes at one another. They finally landed their gaze at us, who were waiting behind them.
"I guess we'll be back. You guys can head back first if you want."
Cane said, and everyone else nodded.
The two then began walking up the stairs by themselves, leaving us by the receptionist desk.
"What's that all about?"
Emily asked, but then Keila quickly answered.
"The headmaster and the arch mage are currently here. It must've been to discuss the upcoming war with the demons, since Fran and Cane are very important after all."
Keila explained, and everyone else nodded. But then, Brod turned his gaze to me.
"Huh? Then, Rize, why aren't they calling you?"
Hearing that question, I stayed silent.
Everyone else also wondered. I am just as important as them, and yet only Fran and Cane got called.
There's a lot on my mind that might be able to answer truthfully.
But to answer these guys…
"Bah, who cares. I'll just listen to that shit later. I'm too tired."
I turned around while rubbing the back of my head, and everyone else could only watch with confusion and utter surprise.
After I exited the Office, I quickly wore my annoyed expression.
How ridiculous…
They didn't call me. Nor do they give me any information.
Last night too, they only called those two, and left me alone.
Did Veneo fail to convince the king? If so, then how can I prove myself?
But my biggest question is…
Why did Veneo… not include me?
He, of all people, should have understood my capabilities.
And yet, why didn't he?
Something about this is just getting amiss by the second. There's a tingle on the back of my neck to just fly up there and eavesdrop on their conversation on the second floor.
But, not only do I have to conceal myself so well that Veneo won't find me, but I also have to open my wings and fly.
Also, I'm too tired.
So I left all of those thoughts behind, and averted my mind to something else.
Immediately I was reminded of those spiders and quickly turned shivering. How wonderful.
I went straight back home and decided to take a long bath, because today was quite annoying with the spiders.
In two days, there will be the Blue ranking up test, and I will have to join in unless I want to get my ass kicked by Valon.
Hah, this is all so tiring...
.
Two days later, the Blue ranking up test day arrived.
Plenty of Green ranked adventurers are grouping in the Office, waiting for the testers to come and pick them up. I also waited while sitting alone at a small table at the diner. There wasn't anyone else with me, since nearly all my friends had already ranked up.
And there is just nobody else on the Green rank who is also taking the test. Maybe Cony, but… she stopped being an adventurer a long time ago.
And just when I thought there won't be anyone to sit with me, a single person came to me and sat in front of me while holding his tea.
I got my hopes up, and turned my gaze upwards.
It's… Rath.
He must have entered using stealth, because no one else seemed to be noticing him. For someone who is as popular as him, it's impossible for him not to talk with any of the adventurers here when he comes in.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
I asked him, slightly surprised. But the only thing in his face is a simple cheeky grin.
"Seeing my captain before beginning the test. I still don't get why the master wants you to take it, though."
"W-What… Do you mean…?"
Rath turned to the door, and I followed his gaze. As if timed perfectly, a team of adventurers entered the Office's doors and quickly surprised everyone with their appearance.
It was… my own team.
"Is everyone ready for the test!?"
Cane shouted to the adventurers, and everyone shouted back just as energetically.
"""YEAH!!"""
I turned to Rath with a really confused expression, and he simply chuckled.
"We are good at keeping secrets from you, right?"
"Grekek... My own team is handling the test... Why didn't I foresee this…?"
Of course they are…
They are the highest ranking squad… the most powerful adventurer squad.
It wouldn't be weird if they became the testers… if anything, it should've been obvious…
And yet, I failed to foresee this. I was too busy thinking if there's anyone I know, that I forgot the very people I am super close with are becoming the testers.
"Well, Fran and Cane told us to help out. The two were asked by the master around two days ago, when they went to his room. And since then, we have been keeping the secret very well."
I let out a sigh and glared at my own team that betrayed me on the door. I can see Fran and Emily glaring at me, smiling super widely.
DUK!!
I landed my forehead on the table.
"Please... Take care of me."
"Don't worry, captain. Even the master told us to pass you anyways if something happened."
"T-Thanks..."
I felt really attacked, haha…
There are a ton of Green ranked adventurers taking part, since they heard that the strongest team will be the testers.
And also because of the situation revolving around the kingdom, like the many sightings of the dragons and the war with the demons. Their motivation to rank up became higher because of those reasons, and that is why there are twenty two Green ranked adventurers taking part in the test.
This might be the most crowded Blue ranked test ever.
The adventurers left the Office and entered the carriages parked outside. I walked out of the Office with my back bent. Cane chuckled as I walked past him, and I gave him a death glare.
He choked on his own saliva.
I sat with the other adventurers on the final carriage while my friends came to see me off.
"Hey captain. Good luck!"
"Captain, don't be lazy! Do the tests!"
"See you later, captain!"
Fran, Brod, and Emily said to me when I'm inside the carriage. It was at that moment, my blood vessel exploded.
I pulled my head out and shouted at them.
"You little bastards, I'll eat you!!!"
They simply laughed when the carriage started moving. I simply sat down being really ashamed while those eyes at the carriage glaring at me.
It was a complete silence until a person asked me along the way.
"S-Say... Are you actually their team captain?"
The girl next to me asked, but I answered while not moving an inch.
"Yes... And I failed to teach them a lesson as a captain."
"W-Wow... Then how strong are you?"
"I am a Green ranked, don't hope too much from me."
The girl is trying to be friendly, so I might as well follow along. The others on the carriage then started asking some stuff about their testers, my own team. I simply answered what I wanted.
Mostly shit talking about my own teammates, but that's A-Okay.
It's a tiny payback.
And now the adventurers on the carriage know better about the White ranked team thanks to me. The whole trip became an interrogation for me, and I had to suck it up until we arrived. I could just fly there, but I didn't know where it was.
Behind us, I can see another carriage in the distance. Must be where Fran and the others are using. I can tell they must be laughing at me...
We arrived at the test location not too long after, and I glared around to see what kind of place it was after going down from the carriage.
Looks like they really picked a good spot.