Kain, who had saved the three people, proceeded to the capital at the same pace as everyone else. After being attacked by bandits, they set up camp halfway and entered the capital by midday the next day. At the entrance to the capital, the guards were surprised by the cargo cart without horses and even more surprised by the captured bandits.
"A kid like you catching this many bandits..."
Kain showed them the guild card he had stored. He placed it in his palm, infused it with magic, and the name appeared. The guards were most surprised by the golden glowing guild card.
"I didn't expect... an A-rank adventurer. I apologize for the misunderstanding."
The guard changed his attitude, as the person in front of him was an A-rank adventurer, which could be considered a high rank, even if he looked like a child.
"I also have some bodies. Where should I take them?"
"If you could, please wait here while we confirm, and we'll take them to the back."
One of the guards led them to a place where they could hand over the bodies and received a certificate of transfer for the bandits.
Sabinos and the others had also completed their entry procedures and were inside the capital.
"Lord Kain, I kept you waiting."
"I just finished the transfer, so it's fine."
After storing the self-propelled cart that had been holding the bandits, the four of them got into the merchant guild's carriage and headed to the guild. When they arrived at the guild, Palma was helping in the shop. She had just finished serving a customer and noticed them, heading over.
"Ah, Dad, you're back. Lord Kain, what are you doing here?"
She was surprised to see Kain on her day off.
"Actually, we were attacked by bandits, and Lord Kain saved us. Thanks to him, everyone is safe, and the goods are also intact."
Hearing about the bandit attack, Palma was surprised.
"Lord Kain, thank you for saving Dad."
Palma bowed politely to Kain.
"I'm glad everyone is safe. I was on a bandit extermination quest anyway..."
Kain scratched his head, feeling embarrassed by Palma's gratitude. Sabinos, who had put the cargo cart in the back of the guild, came out.
"That's it for the one-way quest. You're free until we return in two days, so please come to the guild by morning on the second day."
"Understood."
Sabinos informed Miss Mili and Miss Nina.
"Then, I'll go report to the guild."
"We'll go too."
Leaving the Salacan guild, the three of them walked to the guild.
"I heard you became a baron? Should I call you Lord Kain?"
"Cut it out..."
Kain ignored the person who was saying something incomprehensible.
"Since you were my teachers, please just call me Kain."
"Five years really do make a difference. You've grown up a lot, Kain."
Mili hugged Kain's head with her arm, and he blushed at the feeling of her chest.
After walking a bit, they arrived at the guild.
"Leitia, I've finished the bandit extermination. Here's the certificate. I've already handed them over to the guards."
Kain handed the transfer certificate to Leitia.
"I didn't expect you to complete the quest the day after you accepted it. I'll report to the guild master. Please wait a moment."
Leitia took the certificate and went inside. Mili and Nina were looking at the quest board. Kain learned that their guild ranks had risen to B-class during their journey to the capital. As he watched them, three people he recognized approached them.
"Nice girls, are you new to the capital? We can show you around..."
They were the thugs who had bothered him when he registered as an adventurer.
"What? Get lost."
"We're not interested..."
The two of them showed no interest and continued looking at the quests.
"Come on, just a little bit."
Kain gently stepped in between them and stopped their hands.
"They're my friends. Can you leave them alone?"
Kain coldly told the three thugs.
"You're that rookie who registered the other day! What's your problem with us C-rank adventurers?"
"Please leave..."
At that moment, Kain released a killing aura. Instantly, the guild became silent. The adventurers nearby instinctively reached for their swords, and the lower-ranked adventurers started trembling. The three thugs, who had been targeted by the killing aura, collapsed and shook on the spot. Due to his training with Yuuya, Kain's level had risen, and even a small amount of killing aura filled the guild.
"Got it...?"
"Y-Yes... Got it... Sorry..."
The three thugs, still trembling, crawled out of the guild. As they left, a pair of people entered.
"What was with those guys...? Wow, you're emitting a strong killing aura."
The two who entered turned to Kain, who was emitting the killing aura.
"Hey, Kain. Strong killing aura? What's up?"
The ones who entered were Claude and Lina of the Ice Flame duo. Kain retracted his killing aura and turned to Claude.
"Ah, Claude, Lina, it's been a while. Some acquaintances were bothering them..."
"Getting hit by that would be tough for most people. By the way, Kain's acquaintances..."
"It's us... Big Brother."
The voice came from behind, and it was Mili.
"Huh?"
Kain turned around, surprised.
"Oh, Mili and Nina. It's been a while."
"Mili, Nina, it's been a while."
Lina, who was standing next to Claude, also joined the conversation.
"You all know each other?"
"Mili is my sister."
Claude laughed. Kain had recognized Mili's red hair and now knew she was Claude's sister.
"Surprised that Kain knows Mili and Nina?"
"We were Kain's tutors when he was five. I wrote about it in my letters."
"Right, you wrote that you were teaching a noble's son in the Gracia territory."
"That's why I recognized Kain's name."
Claude, Lina, and Mili were confirming with each other. They seemed to have been exchanging letters.
"Kain is amazing, right? He could keep up with my serious training. By the way, Kain, you're a noble?"
Hearing that, Mili was surprised.
"Big Brother reached A-rank with swords. That's equivalent to..."
"Kain... the son of a border baron... already the head of the family... cut it out..."
Nina dropped a bomb, adding an unnecessary comment at the end. Those words made Claude and Lina freeze.
"Should we call you Lord Kain...?"
Claude looked at Kain hesitantly.
"No, no, no, just call me Kain. I appreciate it more that way."
The two sighed in relief.
"Some noble heads might apply the crime of disrespect, but it's fine for their children. However, it's different for the head of the family."
"I have no intention of applying the crime of disrespect."
As the five of them laughed together, a voice came from behind.
"Lord Kain, the guild master is calling for you. Miss Mili and Miss Nina, as related parties, are also requested to join."
"Claude, I'm called. I'll be back later."
"Big Brother, let's talk later."
"Going..."
"I'll be drinking in the back, come join us."
Kain followed Leitia to the reception room, where the guild master, Edin, was already waiting.
"Hey, Kain, I didn't expect you to catch them the day after you accepted the quest."
Mili then explained the situation. Nina remained silent.
"Kain appeared and quickly captured the bandits."
"Thank you. This means Kain can handle A-rank quests without any problems."
Edin took a sip of the tea.
"Thank you."
"That's all. Here's your reward."
Kain confirmed the two gold coins in the small bag he received from Edin and stored them in his item box.
"Thanks, step-brother."
The last word sounded strange, but Kain left the reception room and headed to the drinking area.
Claude and Lina were already drinking.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The three of them joined Claude and Lina.
"By the way, why were you called by the guild master?"
Claude asked.
"We were attacked by a group of ten bandits while on a merchant escort quest. Kain, who had accepted a bandit extermination quest, came and defeated them. We were explaining that."
Mili started talking after taking a sip of her mug. Lina was surprised.
"Kain, you registered at the guild the other day, right? Why were you on a bandit extermination quest?"
Lina hit a sensitive spot.
"Kain... already A-rank..."
Nina dropped another bomb.
"Wh-What...?"
Claude and Lina were genuinely surprised.
"Why are you A-rank right after registering?"
Claude pressed the issue. Kain had no choice but to explain. He talked about entering the monster forest alone in the Gracia territory, defeating a land dragon and submitting it to the knight order, and having a taxidermy of an SS-rank Red Dragon at home.
"SS-rank... That makes sense for A-rank..."
Even for Claude and Lina, defeating a monster of that level would be difficult.
"I didn't expect you to hunt alone. That's why you could make this magic pouch. It's been a great help."
Mili and Nina stroked the bags Kain had made for them. Kain was happy they were taking good care of them.
"Wait... You said magic pouch. Did you get it from Kain? What's the capacity?"
Lina pressed the issue.
"Kain made it. I don't know the capacity because it's never been full..."
Nina's words made Lina stare at Kain intently.
"Kain... Be honest. What's the deal with this?"
Lina's gaze, slightly influenced by alcohol, was intimidating.
"I made it..."
Kain hung his head and confessed.
"What's the capacity? The magic bags we have are about three meters square and cost two platinum coins each."
"About—"
"Fifty meters square, he said when he gave it to us..."
"Oh..."
Kain had tried to dodge the question, but Nina was honest.
"..."
Claude and Lina froze. The magic pouch on Kain's waist was a national treasure-level item...