“Are you okay, Thoma? Maybe I should have intervened. I just thought Elves are kinda your expertise so I’ll watch and see how this goes.”

  “Nah it’s fine. I’m sure had it gone on any longer you would have helped me. Let’s go down to the second floor, we have to do our promotion interview after all!”

  “Are you mentally prepared? These interviews are actually quite scary.”

  “Really? Either way we can do this! I believe in us!”

  “Pfft, I believe in us too. Come on, let's go.”

  Mentally prepared we enter the examination room on the second floor and after a bit of time Sarah, the blonde receptionist, enters the room.

  “Alright, let’s get to it. First of all I’d like to make clear that I’m not the guildmaster and as such you won’t be getting any special treatment from me.I find nothing more sickening than adventurers who think they can just cruise through the ranks on connections alone. Now tell me, why should I let a recently demoted adventurer and someone living off the guild master’s money get promoted?”

  “Because we earned the required points from quests?”

  “So? The points are arbitrary, they’re just a way for us to know when to consider looking into someone’s promotion.”

  Ray then puts her hand on my shoulder, “Let me do the talking from now.”

  “Okay.”

  “First of all, I’d like to refute your cim that Thoma Ahad is just getting by on connections alone. It is true that he is sponsored by the guildmaster and he is lucky that he is. But that’s just it, luck. He got lucky that he got sponsored but it’s not like he is some sort of rich merchant’s kid. Thoma Ahad lived in the slums for most of his time here on a subpar diet with his caretaker taking all his money, he didn’t have his own room nor a bed. He is definitely fortunate for having gotten a sponsorship but in terms of support that is only enough to bance out the horrible treatment he received, not enough to put him ahead of any adventurer from a middle css family. As for the connections he made with the merchants recently, he earned those by doing a xxx job. He managed, by himself, to finish an urgent and dangerous E-Rank quest to the utmost satisfaction of his client. From what I heard because of it, the merchants' faith in the guild has increased in this town. Giving the guild long sting positive advertisement that by itself should be worth a promotion to E-Rank.”

  “You make a good point but if his performance on this quest is his only positive trait then it is still not enough.”

  “It is not his only good trait. He is also a diligent worker training his body everyday. In his short time here, he managed to unlock minor boost endurance, minor boost speed and minor boost strength. He also has learned basic reading and writing.”

  “So? If he reached his physical limits so quickly that just means he is not very talented and you can’t tell me that basic levels of literacy are an achievement.”

  “Even so, it means that on a physical level he managed to push himself so hard everyday that he reached his limits. How talented he is or not does not change the tremendous willpower and effort this takes. Also, how many people do you know that can put this amount of effort into their physical improvement and go to school to learn something they never knew before while also doing their job? You will not find many people as driven as Thoma Ahad. He also is quite popur among other guild members showing that he’s sociable and a team pyer.”

  “Fine, you managed to convince me on Thoma Ahad’s promotion, but why should I allow you to progress so quickly back to E-Rank after you managed to nearly kill your entrusted F-Ranked adventurer on your first quest together?”

  “It is true that I failed my duty as party leader back then and that I deserved my demotion. This does not mean however that I didn’t learn from my mistakes. Most if not all what Thoma Ahad learned in terms of technique, tactics and knowledge of quests he has learned from me. He was a completely bnk ste and only through my leadership was he able to come this far. I believe I have also thoroughly proven during my time as an E-ranked adventurer and now that my combat abilities and customer satisfaction are beyond a simple F-Ranked adventurer.”

  “Perhaps and yet during Thoma Ahad’s most outstanding achievement you were just sitting by idly while he was getting himself into danger.”

  “But that’s not her fault!”

  “Thoma, let me talk.”

  “No! This is such an unfair interview. You constantly accuse us of being worse people than we are. I took on that job because Ray couldn’t due to her fear of spiders. She was actually about to cancel the quest but I said I wanted to try it solo. I did that because Ray constantly helps me out and teaches me things so I wanted to prove my worth as well! She actually kept asking me if I really wanted to do this because the quest was so dangerous but I insisted. Also, the only reason I was able to complete the quest that well was because of Ray’s wonderful advice. And it’s not like she abandoned me either, despite her massive fear she came to the pce of the quest fully armed and ready, only waiting to go in because I insisted I wanted to prove myself. She had trust in me and that’s why I was able to do it!”

  “I see. I’m concluding this interview now. You both pass. You can get your guild cards updated at the counter.”

  “Wait what? Just like that?”

  “You made a passionate and xxx plea for your party leader. The only thing we were doubting Miss Ray on were her abilities as a party leader. You managed to convince me that she is a good leader. It is as simple as that. Now then, good bye.”

  She then leaves the room and leaves us behind.

  “Great job Thoma! You did it!”

  “No, we did it! We’ve finally done it! We’re E-Ranks now!!!”

  —-----------------------------------

  Meanwhile in the guildmaster’s office Sarah enters the room.

  “So? How did they do?”

  “I’ll be honest with you, from the very beginning I intended for them to fail this promotional interview.”

  “I’m aware. But you haven’t answered me yet, how did they do?”

  “They did phenomenally well. Miss Ray showed herself an intelligent and competent leader while Thoma Ahad showed his passion without being overly rude. They made very convincing points and stayed cool despite my obvious hostility.”

  “I see, I’m gd they did well.”

  “One question though, guildmaster. If you knew that my intention was to fail them, why did you ask me to do the interview? Usually that would be your job or at least the job of someone higher ranked than me like Miss Siril.”

  “If I want the rumors of nepotism to die down I need to convince the greatest believer in it. I have full faith in these two. It was a test to see whether you are still to be trusted. If you had failed them you would have shown that you ck all forms of professionality and would no longer be fit to work in this guild or any other. Also, if I find you spreading baseless cims again you’ll be fired. Don’t think I didn’t notice what you were doing.”

  “I understand…But I still believe that your involvement in his life and career is unprofessional, even if he is a good adventurer.”

  “You are allowed to hold your personal beliefs but if I find you spreading them again you already know what I’m going to do.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  “Good, you’re dismissed.”

  —---------------------------------------------

  With a swagger in our step we walk downstairs to the ground floor to get our licenses updated.

  When he sees us Jason walks up to me, “Hey, Charcoal. Sorry about that earlier. There are a lot of guys who wouldn’t care if the Elf is a granny or not but it matters to me, so thank you for helping.”

  “No worries, you’re welcome.”

  “So, what are you up to? Is Ray doing better?”

  “Yeah, we just got our promotion to E-Rank!”

  “Really!? Nice! You deserve it kiddo. That must be why you are here. You’re one of Ray’s retives right? She’s doing a great job at the guild!”

  “Huh? Oh no that’s…”

  Ray then stomps on my foot, “Ara~ Jason dear, do you not recognize me? Have I changed so much in such a short time?”

  “Did we meet before? I’m sorry but I don’t remember you Ma’am.”

  “Oh my, you wound me Jason. It is I, Ray…”

  “Wait what!? R-ray? But weren’t you just a little shrimp a few weeks ago? Wait, is that why you were gone!?”

  “I had my final growing phase so I needed to excuse myself for a bit. I hope my new appearance isn’t a bother to you~”

  “N-n-no! Not all! I…I’m just surprised! You turned into a very beautiful dy and your personality changed a lot too, huh? I guess it’s true that tomboys can grow up to be dainty flowers.”

  “My~ Did my personality truly change?”

  “Yeah totally! It’s a complete one-eighty. You were super hyper and boyish before, sometimes I even questioned if you were actually a boy, ahaha. OUCH! Did you just kick me?”

  “Little old me~? No, you must have imagined it. Are you sure you’re feeling alright? Perhaps the encounter with that Elven woman left you exhausted.”

  “Yeah…I guess that must be it…There’s no way you would kick me, right? Ahaha.”

  “Ohoho, of course not~.”

  “Can I tell the other guys too? They’ll probably be as surprised as I was!”

  “My of course~ I just hope you won’t make me become some sort of spectacle.”

  “N-no! Of course not. A-Anyways, see ya!”

  Jason then runs off to talk to the other adventurers.

  “Was it really necessary to stomp on my foot?”

  “Sorry Thoma but he is literally doing what we were practicing completely unprompted!”

  “Sigh Fine, give me your guild card. I’ll get you updated while you have fun.”

  “Really!? Thank you Thoma! You’re the best!”

  “Yeah, yeah, just make sure you don’t become the next dy I have to report to Uli.”

  “Kekeke, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

  “EEEEEh!? That’s Ray?”

  “That’s my queue, you go ahead and train, I should be done once you’re done.”

  “Alright, have fun.”

  I then get our licenses updated and start my training. At this point I’m able to do it just as Uli told me. 100 pushups, 10km run and 100 squats per day.

  As I finish my ten kilometer run Uli walks up to me and pats me on the back, “Good Job Thoma Ahad. It seems you can do the basic xxx now. As promised I’ll start training you from now on, provided you still want to.”

  “Really!? Yeah! I totally do! What are you gonna teach me!?”

  “Something that will work for you. To be honest Thoma Ahad, most fighting styles won’t work for you. Also most of the type of fighting you have been doing as a frontliner is not sustainable. You might be able to go on like this to maybe C-Rank as long as you work hard but beyond that you’ll become useless.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Hmm, to say it in simple terms your maximum potential is equal to that of a child’s or perhaps of a very dainty woman. Your maximum potential will increase a bit more as your body fully matures into an adult but as it stands now, this is where I see you ending up as.”

  “Hmm, is there something you can do to help me guildmaster? I don’t want to end up a burden for Ray…”

  “Of course I can. What I said wasn’t an insult nor was it an admission of defeat, it was just a fair assessment of your current state. The Southern Lotus, my old adventuring group, was made up of a bunch of female Elves, many of them not very physically capable, and we still made it to S-Rank. You have a good mana pool and most importantly determination, so I’m going to teach you my fighting style but only under one condition.”

  “What is it?”

  “You must not teach it nor expin it to someone that is not an Elf.”

  “Not even Ray?”

  “Not even Ray.”

  “Can I ask why?”

  “The Spirit King Waltz is an ancient and sacred Woodelf technique. Passed down from master to student and steadily improved over millennia. No one that is not of Elven blood may inherit this technique.”

  “Then why are you teaching it to me?”

  “Because…I decided it is appropriate for you to learn it, it is as simple as that.”

  “Hmm…Then what do I tell people that ask me about it? I’m sure Ray will be curious.”

  “You can tell them that it’s a technique you learned from me. But nothing more.”

  “I see…I accept. Please teach me, Uli.”

  “Good. But I will warn you, my training will be difficult and people will ugh and ridicule you when they see you use it and yet despite it I expect you to use it proudly and unashamedly. Are you okay with that?”

  “Well… To be honest, people already point their fingers at me and ugh so I am not worried about what they’ll do and as long as this makes me strong enough to help make Rays dream come true I’m okay with working hard.”

  “Oh don’t worry, it will. Now then, let’s get your friend and the pedo granny. She’s going to teach Ray about magic while we start training.”

  “But won’t I need to listen to her lesson too?”

  “No, for your lesson it is best we wait a week. You will need to participate in a ceremony under the full moon to learn how to see spirits.”

  “Huh…I’ll go get Ray then.”

  “And I’ll get the pedo granny. I’ll meet you in front of the guild.”

  “Are we not training here?”

  “No, I don't want others to see or hear what I’ll teach you.”