Two days after dismantling the bicorn. Later that afternoon, Ray was walking down the main street with Seto toward the guild.
　The reason I'm on my way is simple: I got a call from the guild the day before. They also told me to go to the guild the next afternoon to announce the results of the ranking exam.
　In the previous rank-up examination when it reached rank D, it had already been announced whether it passed or not the day after the examination ended. However, in this upgrade to Rank B, there was five days left before the announcement of its acceptance or rejection.
　It can't be helped in a way, since it's about Rank B, which is described as a very talented person or a first-class person.

"Well, rank B?" I don't think there's any problem with my ability, but then I wonder what other places will be judged."
"Grull".

　He caresses Seto's throaty head, saying, "It's all right if it's Ray," and bites at his skewer.
　As soon as you chew it, your mouth is filled with the aroma of savory sauce, and then the taste of meat spreads through your mouth.
　Some people around him seem to have lost their appetite because of the summer heat, but Ray thinks it doesn't matter, buying food from a stall and splitting it with a set.

"Oh, Ray. Seth, too." What's wrong with you today? Do you want something to eat?"
"Sorry, but time is running out. The guild has called me, and I must hurry."

　I bought ham and vegetable sandwiches while telling the owner of the stand where the sandwiches were sold.
　Those around him watched Ray say something about the contradiction of his words and deeds, but he was not particularly saying anything.
　In this way, he says he's in a hurry, but lightens up in stalls and shops -- only Ray recognizes it -- and goes down the main street after finishing his meal before reaching the guild.

"Rolling".

　Ray enters the guild after being encouraged by Seto, who has been lying in the magical space as usual.
　At that moment, even though it's daytime, you find more adventurers in the guild. At the same time, the bar attached to the guild had more customers than usual.
　You can quickly understand what's causing it if you listen to it small.

"If you think only of combat power, Ray is the real thing, and Lovre is the rival."
"But it's rank B." We need a lot more than fighting power. If you think about it over there, it seems like a man of common sense to call him Stee."
"What about the Onz?"
"Who is that? I've been in this city for quite a long time, but I've never seen the Onz before."
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone like Mr. Ons." But in my case, I bet on Mr. Stee in terms of the overall balance of ability, so I am not so worried."
"You've got very little money to do what you really want, haven't you? I've bet on the Ons in the hole."
"...what are you thinking about?" I've never seen him or heard of him. I don't even know what kind of ability he has, but I've been tempted to bet on him. And you finally took the rank-up exam at that age, and it's true that you're more disadvantaged than others."
"Hmmm, that's why. A man must make such a big bet at times. By the way, my bet is three pieces of silver which I received as a reward for my last request."
"Stupid, there's a fool here,"

　Ray, who had heard such voices coming from all around him, eventually turned to the counter. Kenny, who had been trying to talk to him since he entered the guild, waves to Ray, leaving Lenora, who was sorting out the papers next to him.

"Come on, Ray," Everyone who took the rank-up exam has already gathered in the conference room. It's unusual for Ray to be the last one. You couldn't sleep because you were nervous? Actually, I couldn't sleep well last night, either."
"Why can't Kenny sleep?" It has nothing to do with Ray's rank-up exam, doesn't it? Oh, Mr. Ray. Hello. As Kenny said, everyone is already here, so you had better head to the conference room early, though there is a little more time left."
"There you go, there you go," I was worried if Ray would be ranked B."
"So... oh, that's enough,"

　They smile a little at their usual conversation, thank them, and then upstairs.

"Ray, let's celebrate together when you pass."

　with such an invitation from Kenny and the envious gaze of the male adventurers who heard it.





"It was very slow, wasn't it?" I think I'm very confident."

　It was Lovre's voice that greeted Ray as he entered the conference room.
　For some reason, Ray's gaze is somewhat steep.

"But you're still in time, so there's no problem, is there?

　I wasn't this hostile when I dismantled the bicorn two days ago... and I replied with that feeling, and sat down beside the Ons.
　Ray never thought he was jealous when he heard that Lovre had been asked out by Kenny for a good animal ear.
　Of course, Lovre doesn't really want to do anything with Kenny as long as he has a lover named Stee. But it was only natural for a man to be jealous of Ray, who was favored by a beautiful woman like Kenny.
　...without noticing Stee's presence next to him, looking at everything in Lovre's mind.
　In a way, Ray, sitting in a chair, turns to Ons without notice of what could be described as a love affair.

"There was something wrong with me, but today is the last time I've ever been together."

　Rey nods silently.
　Although Onds had been sent from other cities as an examiner for the rank-up exam, he still had a good time while working with the Rays. Therefore, there was nothing to feel about what I was deceiving.

"... here you are,"

　As the four of us spend time talking like that, we soon hear Lovre approaching the conference room.
　At that moment, the atmosphere of the conference room, which used to be rather peaceful, gradually becomes tense.
　Lovre, Stee, Ray. All three of them think they have the ability to qualify for Rank B. But if it's easy to upgrade, there's never been so few Rank B adventurers.
　Knowing that, the conference room is full of tension...

"They all seem to be together,"

　The residence glances into the meeting room and mutters.
　After the residence comes in, four people, Marka, Koan, Arnicht and Orchide, who are already familiar with the Ray's.
　Everyone here understood that these four must have come together this time because they had a side as examiners.
　Residences open their mouths as soon as possible in front of such lays.

"Well, I'm not going to talk about it for a long time, so I'm going to announce the acceptance or rejection of the rank-up exam. The successful candidates are... Stee and Ray. Those who fail will be Lovre."
"I failed!"

　Lovre was the first to react to the simple remark.
　In a way it was only natural for him to say so because he was confident in his ability.

"...yes. In your case, you barely reached the acceptable level in terms of combat power, but other factors forced you to fail.""Wait a minute! What's the other element?"
"First of all, my personality. It's not a bad thing to be aggressive, but I can't control it. As for Mr. Arnicht, you almost ignored him, at least not his attitude toward his client. I tried to be the first to benefit myself when discussing what else to do with my bicorn share. Or he said something more suspicious of Mr. Arnicht than Mr. Marka, who had approached him about the bi-corn issue at the interview. There are many other details, but to put it simply, that's what it is."
「……」

　While listening to the residence's words, the sound of biting teeth echoes around.

"Then next..."

　You've probably decided that this is all right with Lovre. I was about to move on to the next story, but...

"Wait a minute, I have a few questions."
"As for the results of Lovre's exam, it's already been decided after discussion at the top of the guild. You can't reverse it."
"No, not really,"

　For a moment, Stee glances anxiously at her lover, but soon her gaze turns to Ons. Yes, to the silent man who passed or failed.

"Oh, come to think of it, haven't I told you yet?" Onds is not an examiner, he is an examiner."
"...what?"

　Stee looks dumbfounded toward Ons. It's such a shock that even Lovre, who has just been told that he was disqualified from the examination, is so shocked that he forgets the examination results.
　Ray likewise looked at the ons sitting next to him with a look of surprise.

「……」

　Onds nods silently in response to the astonishing gaze of the three.
　Lovre tried to say something about the situation, but he ended up silent.
　However, the look on his face had lost his anger over the exam results. It must have been too much of a surprise to do so.

"Ons is an adventurer from another guild for this examination. He looks like a Rank B adventurer."
"What? Because on the guild card... Oh, I see."

　muttering, quick to understand Stee. Given the guild's request from the examiner, I realized that it would not be too difficult to make a fake guild card.

"You seem to understand," Next. Stee is honestly a bit unsatisfactory for a rank B in terms of combat power. However, considering that he was an archer, he managed to pass the examination. As for courtesy, I have no complaints about it. ...however, Lovre and Ray were too low on civility. Other than that, he claimed to have been followed by Ons when dividing a bunch of bicorns, and his cooking skills at lunchtime were not bad. It was a disadvantage that it took a little time to tell me about the behind-the-scenes transaction that Mr. Orchide approached me during the interview, but it was not clearly a failure. However, since they are ranked B, there are times when urgent decisions are required at the request of the government or nobles. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's a quick decision, but try to make a quick decision. Also, if you're going to do it as Rank B, you'd better train a little more and improve your fighting ability."
"Yes, I will bear it in mind."

　Stee nods softly to the long words of the residence.
　Seeing it, the residence nods satisfactorily, and finally turns to Ray.

"Ray, I have no complaints about your fighting power. No, honestly, I'd say it deviates from my ability as a Rank B. but as long as he is notorious, it may well be."

　Marca and other aristocrats nod in agreement.
　The Onds, too, nodded silently.

"And even though you and Seto beat more than half of the bicorns, I suggested that all parties be equally distributed. I can evaluate this point as well. Next, I'd like to make up my mind. I told you right away at the interview about the behind‐the‐scenes deal offered by Mr. Arnicht. I can evaluate this, too. And, by the way, the water served at the time of cooking was so delicious that the nobles could drink it... or even the royals could drink it."

　You're probably remembering the taste of water produced by a running dagger. Everyone there looks as if they were wrapped in happiness.

"I forbade you then, but you have an item box. There is no doubt that it is advantageous in terms of transportation of goods including food."

　So much praise. Ray himself, and those who heard it, seemed certain that Ray would be ranked B.
　But...

"But courtesy to the nobles. make a big run here You ought to act accordingly in the presence of other nobles, and, as long as you meet Mr. Arnicht and Mr. Orchide for the first time, you ought to deal with them accordingly."
"I don't think the mistress has to worry so much."
"Mr. Marka, then I cannot show you as a noble."

　a residence in which one shakes one's head at Marka's words
　Then again, I turn my head to Ray and open my mouth.

"But it's strange to be in Rank C when you look at Ray's own abilities overall. ...and thus treated him as a limited Rank B adventurer."

　Residential words echo in the conference room.