The Adventurer's Guild president listened to Morimoto's report.
The anger and shame on his face were hidden behind his hands.
"How could something like this happen right under our noses...?!"
Morimoto responded with equal indignation.
"You're absolutely right, President. It's utterly disgraceful. But legally and morally, we have no right to interfere with our employees' private lives—especially adventurers."
"We'd be sued if we tried."
"Still, after what happened with Getou Kifune, we can't afford to let something like this happen again."
"Especially when we can't even confirm whether this so-called 'Assassins' Guild' truly exists..."
"True," the Guild President nodded. "But what troubles me most is what you just told me."
On the table lay documents detailing Yuuya's information.
"An E-rank defeating a B-rank... and being protected by a C-rank, all without the Guild or government knowing? It sounds like a bad joke."
"But..."
The president's bitter smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression.
"That man had the potential to rise from B-rank to A-rank—no, even S-rank. And you're telling me an E-rank took him down? That's not something I can believe without seeing it myself."
"Our country's last S-rank assassin, Ichita Seisuke, possessed similar abilities."
"And this Yukimiya Yuuya... you're saying his current appearance doesn't match his photo?"
"Yes. He was hospitalized after an accident."
"It's only been a month since I last saw him, but he looks like a completely different person."
"..."
"The truly strange part isn't just his physical transformation in a month—it's that his stats are still Level 1, with no skills or job class."
"No skills or job class?"
"That's correct."
"..."
"President, have you noticed something?"
Morimoto's question pulled President Makiri from his thoughts.
"Masachika-kun... If he had participated in expeditions or missions, his level should have increased."
"And yet, he was involved in the Kishibe assassination attempt."
"...You're right. Something doesn't add up."
The president stared intently at Morimoto.
"...Would you like to hear a story?"
◇
I got ready for breakfast and headed downstairs—only for my plans to be immediately derailed.
"Ugh, look at them all happy and flirty over there..."
"Nobody wants to hear your old man grumbling."
"Woo! Get hyped!"
Yukine was filming herself doing some bizarre dance routine.
"...Uh, morning. What are you doing?"
"...Not now. Making an Instagram reel."
"Got it."
"You clearly don't."
"...Yeah, guess I'll never understand girls' trends."
"Then don't ask."
I moved to the kitchen where Hinami-san offered context:
"She's making a video with that trending song to share with friends."
"Oh, that makes sense."
"Mom! It's not just 'some trend'—it's ERIKA's new single!"
"It broke sales records and is dominating the charts!"
(...I'll never get girls' interests. Maybe Yuuki-san could explain...)
"Hinami-san, what's with the outfit?"
She wore unfamiliar work clothes—a far cry from her usual casual style.
"Convenience store uniform. My shifts usually overlap with your school hours, but today's a full-day rotation."
"So one of you needs to handle dishes."
"You ever wonder how Mom paid our bills before?" Yukine added, finally sitting after finishing her video.
"I'm off. Be good."
"Oh Mom—more mail came. Here."
"...Mail."
During breakfast, I noticed Hinami-san's expression darken momentarily. She crumpled the letter and stuffed it in her pocket.
(Debt collectors, huh? I'd make the same face.)
"W-well, gotta go! Later!"
After she left, we finished eating. Since Yukine's terrible at washing dishes, I took care of it.
Alone together as school time approached:
"Want to walk together? It's been a while, just us—"
"No."
She went to turn off the TV when a news bulletin interrupted:
"Groping incidents targeting female students have surged to crisis levels. Avoid traveling alone when possible."
The screen went dark. Yukine stared at the floor.
"...Come with me."
I bit back a laugh.
"Sure thing."
◇
She sat in the seat while I stood gripping the overhead strap. The car was packed, and I couldn't help noticing how all the schoolgirls had paired up—no one traveled alone these days.
Out of nowhere, Yukine spoke up.
"Hey... do adventurers actually make decent money?"
"Where's this coming from?"
"Just curious. Answer the question."
"E-rank? Honestly, it's rough. But hit D-rank and things change—you get access to high-level dungeons. More monster parts, more magic stones. Payouts skyrocket."
"...Obviously. Nobody even reports on E-rank adventurers."
"An E-rank trying a high-level dungeon would get slaughtered. Heard some idiot actually tried it—died instantly."
"Hah, who'd be that reckless?"
"...Wait. That actually happened?!" My voice cracked.
"They recovered the bodies last week on the news. C-rank dungeon."
"Nobody monitors dungeons. Police won't touch them—'No taxpayer money for suicide cases.'"
"...That's insane."
Yukine stared at me. Before I could ask why—
"You're not stupid enough to try something like that, right? A weakling like you wouldn't last ten seconds."
"Wait... are you worried about me?"
"D-don't be ridiculous! Just because you're not a fat pig anymore doesn't mean you're strong!"
(Clack-clack... clack-clack...)
"My stop. Later."
"Hey, be caref—"
The doors swallowed her mid-sentence.
Alone in the rattling train car, her words echoed.
(...Maybe she's right. Recklessness gets you killed.)
◇
The day passed uneventfully, fading into another quiet afternoon. By force of habit, I waited for nightfall before making my move.
──Infiltration: C-Rank Dungeon
Yukine had been right. The rewards from E-rank dungeons were laughable. That's why I'd been testing my limits in D-ranks lately—child's play. Tonight, I'd push further, trying out my new skills in a C-rank.
The first enemy was a strange deer. Ordinary-looking, except for its antlers—one glowing red, the other blue. It attacked from a distance: fireballs from the right antler, ice spikes from the left. The fire was easy to dodge, but the ice came faster, smaller. Relentless.
"Chronos."
My passive skill activated. Time slowed to a crawl—fireballs and ice spikes hanging midair like suspended raindrops. Weaving through the attacks, I unleashed my newest ability.
"Poison Body."
My palms turned violet as toxins spread through my skin cells. When Chronos deactivated, the deer finally noticed me—too late. It coughed blood, collapsed. I clinically observed its convulsions, timing the death throes until its body disintegrated. Only the antlers remained.
"Could forge these into weapons... but an E-rank wielding these would raise eyebrows."
"Guess I'll have to do it myself."
Drawing my twin flame daggers, I fused them with the antlers. My past life's blacksmithing knowledge kicked in—visualize the form, channel the magic. A blinding flash later, new weapons materialized:
[Frostfire Twin Blades]
Rank: B
"B-rank?! No way—"
Still reeling, I continued hunting. The C-rank dungeon proved easier than expected. When a lion-type monster fell, it dropped something unexpected—a warped dagger-like weapon. The description froze my blood:
[Absolute Counter Lancet]
Rank: UR
"UR? Since when does that rank exist?!"
Frantically, I checked the Adventurer's Manual:
・Drop rate: 0.01%
・No known acquisition method
・Last recorded sale: 70 years ago (¥300 million)
"So this thing's worth over 3 billion...?"
The effects were brutally simple:
[Reflects all physical/magic/spectral attacks at 500% potency]
(Single use only)
"...One-shot wonder. Figures."
As I reluctantly stored it—
CRASH!
A wall collapsed, revealing a hidden passage. The air reeked of mildew. Through the gloom, I glimpsed a crumbling chapel—and at its center, a massive door loomed. Inscriptions pulsed ominously across its surface.
◇◇◇
President Makiri began his tale in a measured tone, his voice carrying the weight of decades.
"In 2032, a German S-rank adventurer discovered a strange passage within a dungeon."
"What he saw in its depths terrified him enough to retreat and gather reinforcements."
"But when he returned..." Makiri's fingers tightened around his cane. "The passage had vanished."
Morimoto tilted his head. "An odd story, but hardly unprecedented."
"The true mystery lay beyond it." The president's eyes gleamed like honed steel. "A crimson gate—the very image of a castle's portcullis. I remember every word of its inscription to this day. My master spent his life searching for it."
Drawing a deep breath, Makiri recited with ceremonial gravitas:
"Hail, chosen warrior"
"Beyond this threshold lies the realm beyond man"
"Glory or ruin awaits"
"Turn back freely"
"But should you seek to break destiny's chains—"
"Prove thy worth..."
"And wrest the Monarch's power from the Herrscher."
Yuuya's voice echoed Makiri's final line in perfect unison. Before them stood an identical gate—the spitting image of the castle doors from his past life.
"A... Herrscher?" Yuuya whispered.
With an ominous groan, the gates parted. Memories flooded back—the grand hall's crimson carpets, intricate carvings, wrought-iron candelabras... all now decayed shadows of their former grandeur.
As Yuuya strained to see into the darkness—
Whoosh.
Dozens of candles ignited simultaneously, revealing a ruined throne room. At its end sat a shattered seat... and upon it, an animate suit of armor.
The gates slammed shut behind him with finality. Runic seals flared to life—no exit remained.
Makiri's voice seemed to echo across time:
"The German adventurer's dying words: 'I opened the gate... but cannot speak of what lay within.'"
"'A single step made my soul tremble.'"
"'Call me coward if you will.'"
"'To defeat that thing...'"
"'You'd need five S-ranks at minimum.'"
Clang.
The armored figure rose, its hollow voice resonating like a death knell:
"Welcome."
Yuuya stood unaware—of the trial awaiting him... or the price of victory.