Because I missed Tuesday, <b>I'll give an extra chapter on Friday </b>(I did just promise to be punctual last week). After this week (and half of next week), my schedule will be free for the summer. That means I'll pick up one more novel or update more for Over Capacity. Now, I'll just go ahead and finish my essay and Latin homework first 😭
And this is unrelated, but yesterday my stomach was like the black hole. I didn't eat much for breakfast but for lunch, I ate a large plate of spaghetti with like FIFTEEN MEATBALLS and at LEAST TWO SAUSAGES chopped up inside with EXTRA tomato sauce. For dinner, I ate FOUR SLICES OF PIZZA with HALF A LITER OF COKE. What the hell was happening to me?! Maybe for some of you maybe this might not be much, but I'm the person who likes to skip breakfast and sometimes lunch. Hopefully this increase in appetite stops soon or at least makes me taller instead of thicker.\n——————
We passed through the busy streets at night and arrived in the guild. When we entered, I saw that the inside was even more crowded than it was in the morning.
"This way, this way. Don't get lost."
"Okay. Prenna, you stay in here."
《 Don't forget, okay? 》
Uuu! O- of course I won't!\nI put Prenna in my shadow and held hands with Gil-san as we navigated through the crowd.
"Ah, we need to line up."
I don't know why, but the area around the counter was very crowded.
"Fufu. You look troubled."
That voice is!?
"Karina-san!"
When I looked in the direction of that voice, I saw Karina-san standing there with a smile on her face. But the real question is, why?
"Right, you're in a group today. Anyways, Guildmaster gave special permission to open up a private room, so could you come?"\n \nHoho, yup we're a group.\nI did as I was told and followed Karina-san. Then, we entered the large room she was talking about.
"Hey, Karina. I don't remember having this type of treatment before, do you?"
Gil-san said with a scary looking face. W- what? Is that true?
"That's enough, you're scaring Marina-chan."
"Eh, a- ah... sorry. But!"
"Yeah, yeah. Just sit down."
Karina-san was going at her own pace. I'm not sure if Gil-san understood the conversation was not going to go anywhere, but he reluctantly sat down on the sofa.
"Now then, what was your commission this time?"
"... slime subjugation. We finished."
Gil-san replied blandly.
"Mhm, and? Marina-chan, what did you do?"
"M- me?"
I wasn't expecting to be asked that, so I was a little confused.
"Ummm... I used a bow."
"What? What about magic?"
"I was thinking of using magic at first, but then decided I want to use something different."
"I see... you're experienced with bows, right?"
"Eh? It's my first time?"
When I said that, Gil-san and Karina-san were surprised for some reason. Why?
"Ha, was it your first time with a bow?"
What does that mean?\nI tilted my head in contemplation.
"You know, you nocked 3 arrows each draw?"
Aah... I did.
"Um, I did?"
"Is that really your first time?"
I didn't realize it until he said that. How? Why was I so good with a bow?
『Oceanis-sama has granted the weapon skill to you』
Not Gran-papa, but Anis onee-chan?
『Yes. She wanted to gain your affection.』
.......un. Well, thanks. I already like Anis onee-chan in the first place?
"Oi, is everything okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine. But, why did you ask?"
There must have a reason for asking that out of the blue, right?
"Right... I should've told you this before but, well, I'm the sub guildmaster here."
...... What?
"Eeh? K- Karina-san, it's you?"
"That's right. I wanted to see your ability, Marina-chan."
"But before... ah."
I remember now. I didn't have a mock battle when I registered. She only saw my magic skills.
"You seem to have noticed and you are right. The commission today is a substitute for that."
I see. So, she measured my ability in a real battle. I wonder if Gil-san knew about this?
"I didn't know about this?"
"Of course not. This is an important secret of the guild."
O- okay...
"S- so, how was I?"
Your ability was satisfactory. What Gil said matches the reports."
Reports?
"No way... you're monitoring me?"
"That's right. I'm responsible for you."
I... didn't realized I was being watched.
"Anyways, judging from your results today, you can ascend a rank. But..."
Karina-san trailed off. What was the problem?
"This commission. Is it your first one?"
"Aah, yes it is."
"If that's the case, you're short... on the number of completed ones."
I see.
"Well, I don't want to stand out too much, so about the promotion..."
""You can't!""
Gil-san and Karina-san stood up abruptly and shouted. That scared me...
"Why?"
"Because... it's like diving into an unclaimed treasure trove."
Uuuun... is that really how it is?
"What happens when I go up a rank?"
I need to hear the advantages and disadvantages.
"Well... first of all, the number of commissions you can accept will increase. And the rewards will increase proportionally, of course."
"However, the danger level increases."
"Also, although we can't really force you to, the guild may request you to do some commissions."
Gil-san and Karina-san explained to me respectively. I understand now. While I can get a lot of money, the risks and obligations increase.
"I understand, but can we continue this discussion at a later date? It's already quite late into the night."
"Oh, yes... yes. Then let's just process today's commission first."
I handed my guild card to Karina-san so she can process it.\nShe operated the rectangular machine with a kachakacha and returned it to me. It was the same Gil-san.
"Okay, it's done. Do you mind getting the reward money tomorrow? There's no money right now for groups."
Oh, no money... I wonder how much I'd get.
"If that's the case, let's sell the magic stones tomorrow too"
"Yes, that is fine. At that time, Marina-chan, you have to come too."
"Okay!"
After promising to do so, I left the room with Karina. The number of people had already dwindled too.
"Here you are at last!"
Lina-san said as she approached me. It seems that we made them wait a long time.
"Sorry, sorry. We should go now."
I left the guild with Gil-san and the others. Of course, we went to the Mistletoe and had a meal there.
"I'll have... soup."
It's impossible for me to eat Hakyu Rolls two days in a row...
"Master! Why won't you eat!"
A man, who I think was called... Dario-san? came out of the kitchen screaming. But why in the world is he calling me Master?!
"Well, um... Dario-san?"
"Aah. Master! Please eat! I made it with all my heart!"
So he really did mean me...... In Dario-san's right hand was a big, I mean big plate of....... Hakyu Rolls.
"Da- Dario-san..."
"What's wrong?"
"...... This is so embarrassing!!"
I raised my voice. Didn't he know there were other customers around? This is so embarrassing!
"I- I'm sorry. But..."
"Haa... I understand! I'll eat, so please don't call me Master!!"
"No, I can't."
Whyyy!
At that moment, someone tapped my shoulder. I looked to see who it was... and saw the woman who was always at the counter of the inn.
"I'm sorry about my husband."
Husband......
"Ah, you're Dario-san's wife?"
"Yes. My husband never listens to what I say."
She said, staring off into the distance... this is bad.
"Haa..."
I sighed for what I think was the second time today.
"I'll eat, so please leave me alone..."
"Ah, aah..."
Dario-san calmly and quietly left.\n......... leaving behind the gigantic Hakyu Rolls.
"Marina... well, good luck."
... Gil-san, you're gonna help me, right? To eat this.