Three nobles and one bodyguard. And a total of five people, one examiner from the guild, stood in front of the lay examiners in the conference room.
　The last greeting, Marka...more precisely, the surname Quent, brings Stee's surprise, and Lovre frowns uncomfortably at the behavior of the aristocrat who called himself Arnicht.
　Ray and Ones were very different in age from teens and 40s, but they didn't show any particular emotion.
　However, Ray looked slightly surprised when Marka and Corean, whom he knew well, appeared here.
　Residence, who is also an examiner at the guild, glances at the four candidates and speaks in her head, expressing her impressions of each of them.

"Well, here's the introduction of the four people who will help me with this upgrade exam. Now, I'm going to announce this examination immediately. A herd of monsters called bicorns has recently emerged on the meadow, a few hours' walk from the town of Gilm. -- just to ask you, does anyone know of a monster called Bicorn?"

　In response to the residence question, everyone in the room nods that there is no problem.
　Ray also remembers what was written in a previous book, nodding that there was no problem like the others.

　The bicorn is a monster also known as a subspecies of unicorns, with two horns growing from its forehead, as opposed to the unicorns growing one horn from its forehead. Unlike unicorns, they are fierce, horse-shaped monsters, but they eat meat. They are intelligent and, like wolves, are good at hunting in groups. Therefore, bicorn alone is ranked D, but in groups it is ranked C. It is also said that the horns growing from the forehead are extremely toxic, and if the antiseptic is not used within three hours after being injured by the horns, he or she will die. Conversely, horns as materials are useful and have the same value as magical stones. Other materials that can be peeled off are horns. You can eat meat, but it's not particularly delicious, so the purchase price is about the same. The proof of defeat is tail, and the purchase price is 5 pieces of silver. The purchase price of the vindication site for the Rank D monster is quite high, but it's high because of the ferocity of the bicorn and the danger of poisonous horns.

　Ray frowns slightly while remembering those contents.

(In the examination to be upgraded to Rank B, the target of the attack was Rank D, and even if they flocked to Rank C monsters... strange.)

　It's obviously strange that the examination to advance to rank B, which is usually called a first-rate or a great skill, is to defeat rank D and rank C monsters. With that in mind, Ray turned his eyes to Residence, who was also an examiner, but he thought that there was no need to correct it, so he turned his eyes to the participants who were examining the content of the Bicorn Expedition.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! You're nothing but lucky, aren't you? Is it because I know my ability to win the rank B just by defeating the bicorns, or is the guild a service?"

　It was Lovre, a wolf beast, who muttered excitedly and happily. Perhaps I'm too happy, but the tail that stretches out from around my waist is wagging at a great rate.

"Wait, Lovre. Don't you think it's strange? Why do you want to be ranked B?
"That's why it's a service, isn't it? In fact, we've had a lot of experience in Rank C, so even the guild has taken that into account. Ray and my dad were lucky to be able to take the same exam as me."
「……」

　Onds in silence to Lovre's words. When I hear about the subjugation of Bicorn, I'm staring at the residence without any particular expression.
　Ray, too, turned his gaze to the residence without any particular words... or to the nobles next to him.

(Even if the subjugation of Bicorn is a test, what does aristocracy have to do with it? I see, that's about the meaning of dealing with Rank C and Rank D monsters. I've heard that any request above Rank B could be associated with nobles or royalty, and I have only a bad feeling.)

　Ray glances at Koan and Marka.
　Ray was not particularly worried about these two. One is a former Rank A, and the other has an extraordinary magical talent.

(Then, these are the two men in question.)

　Breathe softly and look at Arnicht with an arrogant expression and Orchide with a troublesome expression.
　Perhaps he had come to the same conclusion as Ray, Stee had a similarly inquiring glance at the nobles.
　The residence, which had hitherto been silent, reopens.

"Some people seem to have noticed it, and that's right. This request will be made with the nobles here."
"Huh!? Wait a minute! Not to mention your ex-Rank A brother, there's one kid for every two typical aristocrats. No matter how you look at it...
"What did you just say? We are not of the same social standing as you are. Be a little more careful in your speech."

　Arnicht immediately reacts to Lovre's words, frowning and glaring at him.
　Lovre probably didn't like Arnicht, who described themselves as beasts. return a sharp, murderous stare

"Wait, Lovre!"

　In a matter of seconds, Stee hastily holds back Lovre, while Orchide, who was next to Arnicht, stops Arnicht, albeit cumbersome.

"Well, what are you going to do with all the trouble? Our aim is to destroy the bicorns, and let's put that first."
"...can't you stand back when the Lord says so?" Thank you, my darling. It's an offense of disrespect that could have been decapitated under normal circumstances, but I'll forgive you this time."
"Giggle!"

　Ray looks sideways at Lovre, but feels uncomfortable with the current sequence of events.

(Yes, I've only met him once, but I still doubt that Marka would forgive the words and deeds of Arnicht and the like. In particular, Marka must be popular with the people of the Duke of Quent for his personality. But why do you say whatever you want? It's not surprising that Coan doesn't talk because he's under the control of Marka...)

　Thinking inside, the next moment the Bicorn of the Rank D monster, accompanied by the nobility, and the possibility of receiving a request from the nobility or royalty from the Rank B adventurer passes through my mind. And...

(I see. Is there a possibility?)

　A hypothesis is drawn out in Ray.
　That is to say, the main purpose of the rank-up examination is not to subdue Bicorn, but to... to see if he can get along well with someone like Arnicht, who is also a typical aristocrat.

(If you think about it, you can see that such an aristocrat was chosen.) No, before that, there is a possibility that he may have been acting this way on purpose...?)

　It was Dusker, Count of Larkes, who ruled the city of Gilm, who did not have the character to tolerate tyranny under the guise of nobility. Of course, I didn't think every nobleman in the streets of Guillum would learn from it, but I still didn't think Ray would do anything that would openly condescend to others in a public place called Guild.
　But it was only because Ray had known Marka and Coan beforehand that Lovre was in a bad mood and Onds remained silent, with only one Stee looking suspiciously at the nobles.

"Now, you understand the…more precisely what the ranking exam is about, right? Today is the time to prepare for the ranking exam, and tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., we will be meeting in front of the main gate. Any questions?"

　It was, of course, Stee, the most common-sense person in the world, who raised his hand first to the words of the residence.

"How do you get to where the bicorns are?"
"For that matter, we will prepare a carriage for you." But if you have another means of transportation yourself, you may use it."

　The reason why she turns to Ray while answering this is probably because she knows he's moving on a set.
　The speed of movement of a set, a glyphon, is overwhelmingly higher than that of an animal running on the ground, and if it is a horse-drawn carriage, the speed difference will widen further.

"But! Don't forget that this is a ranking test."That is to say, Ray and Sett alone would not be allowed to do anything that would destroy the herd of bicorns in advance.
　But when Ray hears it, he nods without changing his expression.

(Do you really want me to act with the nobles?) In other words, I don't think my expectations are completely out of course.

　with a murmur of inward satisfaction

"Is it safe to assume that a few hours' walk would be enough to finish the examination and come back in the same day?"

　The next person to speak was Lovre. The aristocrats... in particular, asked the residence as if they had deliberately ignored Arnicht, but the answer was to be tossed from side to side.

"I leave that to my discretion. If you think it's necessary, you can prepare it, but if you don't think it's necessary, you don't have to prepare it."
"... I see,"

　They probably understood that Lovre would also be evaluated for his prepared luggage. nod softly
　The answer, however, was completely meaningless to Ray, who had the mistrings in store. No matter how much you carry, it can be stored in a mystery ring, and you've got the most nighttime gear ever: a magic tent from a dusker.

(But, yes. Should I give you a little credit?）

　mutter inwardly, and Ray opens his mouth looking around.

"As you know, I have an item box. You don't have to worry about your luggage for now, so please prepare what you think is necessary."
"Really!? Then I can assume that Ray will carry most of my luggage!"

　At that moment, it was Lovre who spoke happily.
　The avant‐garde spearman, who is fundamentally a believer in lightness, probably doesn't want to think that putting most of his luggage in a carriage would slow him down even a little.
　It seems to be the same with the archer Stee and the thief Ons, who are looking at Ray.
　However, in the case of Ons, he had hardly any expression on his face.

"Itembox? Come to think of it, there is an adventurer in this city who has it... I see, are you?"

　Arnicht turns to Ray, telling him so, and suddenly reaches out.

"Let me see the item box... No, let me see it."

　Marca opens her mouth before Ray says anything to the words.

"You'd better stop it, Ray's item box is under some magic. If someone other than the owner touches it carelessly, what will happen?"
"What!? Is that true!"

　Arnicht, listening to Marka, turns pale and asks Ray.
　Knowing that Marka himself had a great magical talent, he probably couldn't get away with it. 　
　And Ray nods without denying it.

"Oh, I'm the only one who can use this item box in the first place, and it's true that if you try to use it too hard, the defense function will work and you'll have a lot of trouble."

　More precisely, Ray's magic had such an effect, but he didn't imitate it.
　Even Arnicht did not force Ray to show any more of the item boxes, perhaps terrified of some kind of cursed effect that had been placed on them before he reprimanded them for speaking.
　Given that Arnicht is in the city of Gilm in the first place, he naturally knows what a celebrity Ray is. He had the information that he was a person... or no, that he had a personality that would not consider nobles as aristocrats. It must have been no use not being able to stand tall against such a person.

"Well, that's all I've got to say about the rank-up exam. Then each of us will break up. Gather in front of the main gate before the bell rings at nine tomorrow morning."

　The residence says so, as if they don't want to make any more noise, and quickly leaves the conference room.
　and seeing him back, Arnicht and Orchide went out with eyes on each other...

"I expect you and others to be successful,"

　Marka tells him so and turns to Ray for a moment before leaving the conference room with Coan.
　After that, each of the Rays bought the goods they needed... and the next day, the day of the rank-up exam was finally coming up.