Toki POV
Monsters from the Abyss, Grotesque Creatures, and first-class adventurers. Since becoming an adventurer, I've fought countless fierce battles against powerful enemies, and survived until today.
But now, I face a foe unlike any before. Against this enemy, even I, or any first-class adventurer, would be helpless. To make things worse, my skill, Challenger Flux, doesn't activate against this opponent. A true monster, through and through.
The battle lasted three days and three nights. Countless times I felt my knees give out, countless times I wanted to give up. But for the sake of the name Toki Ortyx, I couldn't afford to lose to this enemy.
I poured every bit of knowledge, every technique, every ounce of power, everything I've accumulated in these fourteen years of life, into the fight.
And now, at last, I see a chance to win. Just one more step…
"Hey? Toki, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, a voice called out. Turning around, I saw Bell, dressed in casual clothes.
"Yo, long time no see, three days, huh?"
"Yeah. So, why are you dressed like that?"
"This?" I glanced down at myself. Right now, I'm neither in casual clothes nor adventurer's armor.
I'm wearing a suit, the kind guild staff wear. I think it suits me well enough, but is something off?
"Well, to answer why… I'm helping out at the guild right now."
"Helping at the guild?"
"Yeah, today is the quarterly Divine Assembly Denatus, right? I'm helping prepare materials for it."
"Oh, neat."
"You look kind of happy about something."
Bell's face brightened.
"Oh, you noticed?"
When I pointed it out, Bell beamed like the happiest person alive.
"Did something good happen?"
"Yeah, um…"
After a moment of thought,
"I'll tell you at the guild."
He teased me, unusually secretive.
"Why?!"
"Because I have to report to Eina-san first, so I'll tell you then."
…For some reason, a very bad feeling crept over me.
We walked side by side toward the guild. I noticed my pace quickened slightly.
Inside, the guild was packed with adventurers.
"Wow, so many people."
"That's partly because the Divine Assembly Denatus is coming up, but the hottest topic is the Minotaur's advance into the ninth level."
At my words, Bell's expression grew serious. The Minotaur, the same one we defeated three days ago. But it had advanced upward a month earlier, too.
If a level 2 Minotaur moves up to the upper floors, it's a life-or-death problem for many level 1 adventurers who mainly operate there.
That's why adventurers gather here to share information.
"But with this crowd, it'll be hard to get to Eina-san…"
"What are you saying? If you read people's movements and find the flow, you can get through easily. It's just like fighting."
"Really?"
"You can do it now. Jump in with confidence!"
"W-wait, hold on!"
We weaved through the crowd and reached the counter.
"Misha-san, the interview with Yamato Mikoto-san is done."
"Good work. Looks like we'll make it on time."
"Oh, Eina-san, I just saw Bell."
"Really!?"
"Yeah, she should be here soon."
Looking back, I saw Bell just breaking through the crowd.
"Finally got out…"
"If you struggle with this, you still have a ways to go."
"Don't lump me in with you, Toki!"
I brushed off Bell's complaints and handed Misha the materials I had. After checking them, she placed them on a growing pile of papers, gathered them, and stood.
"Well, the thing is…"
"Go ahead."
Next to me, Bell was smiling widely, about to share his secret with Eina-san.
"I finally reached level 2!"
I heard the floor collapse beneath me. A shock hit my head.
"Are you okay, Toki!?"
Bell's words faded into background noise. I was struggling desperately to process what he'd just said.
Bell leveled up? Meaning, he ranked up?
I glanced at the guild clock. 8:37 a.m. The Divine Assembly Denatus begins at 1 p.m., 4 hours and 23 minutes to go.
Not yet. It's not over yet!
"Bell, what's your plan after this?"
"Well, I'm going to talk to Eina-san about development abilities, then head back home..."
"Then stay here after you talk to Eina-san! I'll be right back!"
I jumped over the counter and grabbed some papers, the base materials the gods will see at today's assembly.
"Misha-san, I'm going to interview Goddess Hestia!"
I vaulted over the counter again and used shadow-assisted parkour to leap over the crowd of adventurers.
I had been overconfident. I never imagined Bell Cranel would be here.
I left the guild and headed straight to the Hestia Familia home. Today was the Divine Assembly Denatus. Hestia-sama would be here, no doubt taking the day off from her part-time job.
I jumped onto a rooftop and dashed straight toward my goal.
I'm not defeated yet. Time isn't going to beat me!
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"Ah, took too long, huh?"
True to form, Hestia-sama, who dotes on Bell, ended up talking for thirty minutes instead of just a word. If I hadn't stopped her halfway, it probably would've taken even longer.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
Having more information is usually better, but this time, I really wish I didn't have so much to deal with. The time was 9:17 a.m. It had taken me about ten minutes to get here, so I'd have to hurry even more on the way back.
Jumping across rooftops, I made a beeline for the Guild. Why was I this busy? The answer was simple: because Misha had absolutely failed to prepare any of the documents three days ago.
Whenever I take on work like this, or any task under the name of the "Wandering Agent of the Abyss." For that matter, I always ensure the quality of my output never falls below a certain standard.
Trust is hard-earned, but once you cut corners, it can crumble instantly. And this time, it wasn't just any job; this was work for the public Guild responsible for managing adventurers and the Dungeon. Even if I was only helping out, there was no excuse for slacking off.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I finally reached the Guild. Just as before, I landed directly in front of the counter. Both Misha and the adventurer she was talking to jumped at my sudden appearance, but I didn't have the luxury of minding that.
"Misha, where's Bell!?"
"H-He's in the interview room with Eina…"
"Thank you!"
I darted over the crowd, landing in front of the interview room door. Knocking, I waited as Eina stepped out.
"Eina, do you have a moment!?"
"Toki-kun, calm down, okay?"
At her words, I realized my breathing was ragged, and my suit's tie was askew. I must've looked anything but professional.
I adjusted my tie and steadied my breathing. There. Perfect.
"Eina, is Bell inside?"
"Yes, they've just finished."
"Got it."
I stepped into the room just as Eina left. Inside, Bell sat at a table, looking deep in thought.
"Bell, got a minute?"
"Oh, Toki. Yeah, sure."
With his permission, I took a seat across from him. Time to switch to Guild staff mode.
"Bell Cranel, congratulations on your rank-up!"
"Uh…what's with the formal tone?"
"…I'm speaking as a Guild employee right now. Bear with me for a bit."
"O-Okay."
I pulled out a pen and form from the shadows and placed them on the table.
"Since this is your first rank-up, I'll need to ask you a few questions. You're free to refuse if you're uncomfortable with any of them. Is that okay?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Thank you. However, please answer as honestly as possible, as these responses will be included in the documents for today's Denatus."
"Got it."
"Let's begin. First, what inspired you to become an adventurer?"
"W-What inspired me?"
"Yes."
"Uh…"
Bell fumbled for an answer. Well, it's not like he could just blurt out "romance and adventure." could he?
"My grandfather…my guardian. Before he passed, he told me, 'Orario has everything. If you want to go, go."
"I see."
"There's money in Orario, and, uh…cute girls, too. He said you could join a Familia led by a beautiful goddess and gain a family quickly that way."
…Who was this grandfather of his?
"He told me I could become a hero if I had the resolve. That's why I came."
"Understood. So, you came to Orario and became an adventurer because of your grandfather's words."
I transcribed his response word-for-word. While I'd later polish the notes for presentation, keeping the original phrasing was apparently a hit during the Denatus.
"Next, how do you feel about achieving your rank-up?"
"Well, more than anything, I'm happy. It feels like I've finally taken a clear step toward my goal."
"And that goal is?"
"Uh…no comment."
"Understood."
Of course, I already knew. I continued writing without pause. With the template questions done, I shifted to my personal queries as a Guild employee.
"You achieved a rank-up in just a month and a half, an extraordinary pace. Do you have any secrets to your growth?"
"Not really… I guess if I had to say, it'd be effort?"
"Understood."
As expected, Bell wasn't aware of the true reason for his rapid growth. It seemed Hestia-sama had chosen to keep it a secret. I made a note of it for the report.
"That concludes the interview. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Man, that was tiring…"
"Don't complain. I still have to compile, format, and print these documents."
I stood to leave.
"Oh, right. We're having a rank-up celebration at the Hostess of Fertility tonight. Want to come?"
"Let me guess, Syr insisted?"
"…Yeah."
"Got it. My work should be done by then, so I'll join."
"R-Really!?"
"Can't let you be the only guy there, can I? See you tonight."
With that, I left the interview room. A glance at the clock told me it was 9:39 a.m.
The final battle was about to begin!
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