After hearing about the nomination request a week after Grand in the conference room, Ray is apparently reluctant to accept the request and goes down the steps of the guild thinking about how to spend the week leading up to the start of the request.

"Oh, Ray. I think you were the only one late. What happened?"

　Kenny, who had found Ray, immediately called out to him, but he could not possibly talk about the Duchess in a crowded place, so he just misled her.

"It's a little bit about this up-grade exam.It was my first time as a party leader."
"I see. But Ray is definitely a soloist. ... Now that he's ranked D, why don't you think about a party? You know, there'll be more and more risky requests."
"Wait, you're being rude.Mr. Ray has a lot of things to do with him."

　It's Lenora who talks to Kenny, who insists on forming a party, from the next door.

"What? Then Lenora says Rey can stay solo?"
"I'm not saying that, but I'm saying that it's not good for us to interfere as guild officials."
"...I know.Lenora is too hard.That's why I'm told that my body is hard and I don't have feminine softness."

　Lenora raised her eyebrows in an instant at the murmuring of the words, which were so subtle that people around her could hear.

"A little Kenny,"I can't ignore it.I wonder who's saying that?"
"Bethni. Everybody says it."

　Kenny blatantly provokes Lenora as she approaches him.
　When Lenora saw it, of course, she couldn't keep silent, and a quarrel like the usual joke started.
　Fortunately, this is the afternoon and there are few adventurers in the guild.Also, if there are, most of them are late lunch or a bar.
　though he would not, as might be expected, make a statement to each other in the early morning or evening, full of the day.

"Well, you're busy, too, so I'll let you go soon, see you later."
"Hey, Ray!? Congratulations on your passing the ranking exam..."
"Hey, Kenny! You're still working!"

　Lenora thrusts herself into Kenny's entice, probably because the people who had come down from the conference room earlier told her they had all passed the rank-up exam.
　Ray left the guild listening to these conversations behind his back.

"Grull".

　and it was the cry of Seto, caressed by several children, that greeted Ray.
　If you look closely, you can see a child stroking Seto trying to feed him dried meat on his way to a rank-up exam.

"Oh, brother.You see, Seto has been able to eat dried meat properly."

　A boy who finds Ray happily reports him.
　Ray scratched Seto's head as he listened to it, and smiled, not bitterly."That's great. Now we have to go. Is it about time?"
"Yes! See you again, Seto,"

　As the boy says so and runs into the city, the other children say hello to Ray and Seto, and follow him.
　Ray saw them off, stroking Seto's back.

"You've become quite popular with the city before you know it."
"Glu".
"Well, then, shall we go back to the inn?"but how will we spend the rest of the week?"

　Although it is not said that it is prohibited to accept a request for subjugation, Gran nailed him saying that he wants him to take it as little as possible."Thinking, ""If possible, would it be a request for harvesting?"", one and one of them headed to the wheat-tei at dusk, which had already become a regular lodging place."
　And on their way home, they bought simple food from the open-air bath.
　If you put the leftovers in the mistling, you can always eat the fresh ones, so they don't spoil them.That's why I feel free to shop.
　In this way, contributing as usual to the sales of the stall, he reached the Wheat-tei at dusk, and saw an unexpected scene in Ray's eyes as he broke up with Sett in the stable and entered the inn.

"Oh, Ray. This way.What's the matter with you?"

　he called over a glass of wine.

"It was quite slow indeed,"

　Spelvia said to him, eating a stew full of meat.

「……」

　As much as he saw in the conference room, Schola concentrated on magic books and did not notice anything about Ray.

"...hmm,"

　Alogan turns away and carries the skewered meat to his mouth.

"Are you surprised? It's a surprise."

　Culotte greets Ray with a big smile.

"...what's the matter?"

　He approaches the table, talking to the five of them.

"Oh, congratulations on passing the rank-up exam.It's a good opportunity, so you have to be noisy at times like this."
"No, I haven't heard of it at all?"
"That's right, isn't it?You were still in the conference room when we talked about having a party."

　Ray also sits down in an empty seat, apparently realizing that it was decided when he was left alone.
　Then Lana puts a glass of wine in front of Ray as if she had been waiting."Ray, congratulations on passing the ranking exam".
"Oh, somehow,"
"Well, now that Ray has had a toast, you know, Ray. You're a party leader, so you should organize this kind of course."

　Culotte forces her to lift a glass of wine, exhaling.

"Well, congratulations on the successful passing of all those who participated in the rank-up exam, and wishing us all the best in the future... Cheers!"
"Cheers!"

　Only then did he propose a glad toast, without particular objection.

"But it was tough because it was a rank-up exam.Not physically, but mentally."

　A currotte that frowns slightly but says so.It may be because of the influence of alcohol, but I can feel from his tone that he was able to overcome the fact that he had killed someone.

"Well, that's not a very pleasant thing,"

　I agree with that.
　He didn't show much of his face when he was actually fighting, but it must have been a great deal of psychological pressure to kill people.

"...I'm sorry.I don't want to talk about something dark.Let's change the subject.By the way, what do you do after you get to Rank D? I...

　Culotte hesitates and turns his eyes to the glaring allogans and the scola.

"I'm having a party with these two."

　Then a remark of astonishment was uttered.

"Well, I don't think I have to tell them,"
"What's wrong with you? We've been on top of each other's ranks, so it's not a problem.It's synchronous, so to speak.
"...I think you two were arguing about the reward, but before you knew it that way?"

　Even Ray asks with surprise whether Culotte's remarks were shocking.
　It was not Alogan or Culotte who answered the question, but Scola, who had at last stopped reading the Magic Book and enjoyed his meal.

"That seems to be the cause,"
"Is that it?"
"Yes. I was arguing about compensation, and before I knew it, I was getting along well. So the conversation went on like crazy."
"Is that okay with you? You're a member of the Curotte party, aren't you?"

　Spelvia, who was listening to Ray and Schola's conversation, sticks in, but Schola nods as if there were no problems.

"Look, Culotte and I are wizards and bandits, right? We've been talking about a lack of avant-garde since we're having a party together.If we were to split the two into avant-garde and avant-garde, Currotto would have to be avant-garde... after all, he's a thief.I'm glad to have such a powerful warrior as Arogan in the party, for lack of decisive ability and defense."
"But there's a chemistry between parties, isn't there?"He was arguing with a wry smile at Fierma's question... or rather, he looked at the jesting Arrogans and Currotto.

"You know, they're like each other,"
"...I hope you don't hate your kin."

　muttered Ray, and whether it was the force of alcohol.Schola, Spelvia and Filma almost burst out laughing.

"Moreover, three of us are having a party, but what about those three? I think it's perfect balance with the warrior Spelvia, the wizard Ray, who can play both avant-garde and avant-garde, and the avant-garde Fierma, who can play spirit magic and archery."
"Well, that sounds interesting, but I wouldn't say that if I were to have a party with that face, I'd beat Ray... but I think I'd better be able to compete with him in five minutes."

　Spervia drank up the wine with a wry smile and muttered to the proprietress, ordering a new ale.
　Perhaps because of his pride as a warrior, he can't stand being held by his piggyback in a weaker condition than Ray.

"Well... I don't mind.What about Ray?"

　Ray shakes his head slightly at Fierma's words.

"Whether we have a party or not, we can't do it for a while."
"Oh, why?"

　Feeling the attention of all those present, including Allogan and Curotte, who were supposed to have been teasing each other until a few seconds ago, Ray said, judging that they would not spread the story extensively.

"I'll take on a rather difficult request.I don't know how long it will take, so I guess the party will only be called after it's done."
"Oh, is that why you were alone in the meeting room?"

　nod to Curotte's words

"Yeah. I just got to rank D, but it's a sudden request for nomination."
"...well, considering Ray's strength, it wouldn't be so strange."

　Spervia nods as she says so.
　In this examination, he was asked to go out for training until he reached the base castle of the band of thieves, and at the same time, he saw his ability in the battle against the band of thieves, and on his way home, he was asked to go out for training.For Spelvia, who had been engaged in mock battles with Ray almost every day during this ranking test, it was not surprising to hear that Ray, who had just been promoted to rank D, had received a nomination request, but it was only natural that he was as aggressive as Ray.

"And when I tried to be a party leader this time, I realized that I wasn't fit for group action.At the very least, I don't want to be a party leader anymore."
"It's true that if you're as strong as Ray, you'll be able to do it alone... isn't that a little harsh?"
"I understand his concern, but I have my partner, Set... oh, Gryphon.I'll try to act alone for a while."

　In fact, Gryphon is a powerful monster if you think of Seto as a military force, but there are many more skills that you have acquired by absorbing magical stones.It's safe to say that its strength surpasses that of a Rank A adventurer.

(And considering the possibility of trouble over the Mystery,That's a solo choice.)

　He carried the fried peach meat of poison to his mouth on the table.
　Just then, the door of Wheat-tei opened at dusk, and the two of them came in.
　Then they head straight to the table where Ray and his men are.

"I heard it in the guild. Congratulations on your promotion."
"Congratulations!"One wizard and one archer said so.Ray also has a familiar face.

"Sulnin and Ecclyl?"It's been a long time. It's been a long time since you took care of Seto while I was away."
"No, I'm the one who saved you. ... Oh, may I come with you?"

　She looks at the people around her, but everyone seems to have no objection, so she nods and recommends a seat.

"Well, by the way, are you already.If things go on like this, I'll be caught up in no time."
"Auntie, can you give me and this person ale, too, and I'll have whatever we can pick later on.

　Ekrill also orders Lana while sitting down.

"Ray, by any chance these people..."

　He nods to the scene of the fever, judging that he knows about the scorching wind.

"Yes. Sulnin and Erill in the scorching wind.We knew each other at the time of the Oak-fight. ... Come to think of it, what is wrong with the Mire Dog? Is it another action to-day?"
"Ah... that's it."

　Sulnin scratching his cheek with a wry smile.The mere sight of it gave Ray a rough idea.

"Well, the stables?"
"Yes. I heard that Ray and his friends came back from the guild yesterday, but that made it even harder for me to break up with Sett."
"And you drove into the stables?"If you drink here, you'll come soon."
"Well, I think it's very likely.Well, let us pay here today to celebrate the promotion of all the hopefuls."
"... Is that OK? You said you had no money until a while ago."
"Well, Sett has saved me the trouble of defeating Trent.I have a lot of room now."

　and on that day they snowballed into the banquet.
　During the banquet, the burning wind and five of the fiermas opened up to each other, and after that, they began to pay attention to various things.