The day after the rank up test briefing in the guild meeting room, Rei and Set made their way towards the main gate as they walked through the main city street some time before the 9am bell.

Unlike usual, they had no food in their hands that could be eaten while walking, such as skewers or sandwiches. Part of the reason was because of the seriousness of the rank up test, but the biggest reason was to do with time. Breakfast time had already past, but since it wasn’t 9am yet, many stalls had yet to open.

If it had been past 9am, more stalls would probably have been open.

Of course, that didn’t apply to all stalls. Some stalls had already opened shop, but even so, it was an important day for Rei and Set……most of all, Rei was afraid of getting too absorbed in eating and missing the meeting time. Because of that, even when some of the stall owners called out to them as they made their way to the main gate, Rei would briefly refuse.

When Rei finally made his way to the front gate……

「What is this insanity?」

Sitting there was a carriage that was shining……rather, it had been decorated to the point that it was glaring and could be considered poor taste. Its exterior was covered in gold and silver, and in some places, it even had jewels and magic stones embedded.

If anyone else saw it, they might have the impression that it was luxurious or glamorous, but to Rei it was……

「It’s terrible taste.」

That was all it was.

In fact, many adventurers, merchants and travellers who went in and out of the main gate were surprised and shocked when they saw the carriage before eventually leaving with a bitter smile on their faces.

Rei judged their responses to be quite reasonable and gave an unintentional sigh when he saw a man get out of the carriage.

The man with brown hair and dull eyes was one he had met in the guild’s meeting room yesterday.

Orkide Daphni. He was someone who would be accompanying Rei and the others on their request to subjugate Bicorns as part of the rank up test.

Orkide had just happened to step out the carriage and not because he knew Rei had come……because of that, he called out to Rei.

Yes, all while receiving the curious gazes of everyone walking nearby.

「Uh, Rei, was it? Well, it’s a bit early, but you’re not the first, so I guess you arrived at a good time?」

「You’re not the first?」

「Hmm? Ah, yes. I invited him into the carriage but he refused flatly.」

Unlike Alnicht, he didn’t seem to care about how Rei spoke. As Orkide spoke with some sort of languor, he turned to look towards Ons, who was a fair distance away.

As Rei looked over, he was convinced when he saw Ons’ statue like appearance.

(I can hardly imagine a man as silent as Ons would be willing to ride in such a garish carriage.)

As Rei thought of that, Orkide spoke as if reading Rei’s own thoughts.

「Well, I know you wouldn’t want to ride in a carriage like this.」

「……Then, why bother bringing a carriage that stands out so much?」

Rei asked as he looked at the stunned expressions of the people who passed by the carriage.

Fortunately, Rei and Orkide were currently talking a short distance away from the carriage, so the people just entering the city didn’t assume they had anything to do with it. However, they frowned at the thought of riding a carriage that could only be described as having very poor taste.

However, maybe he had opposite tastes to Rei, Set looked at the carriage with some interest.

「Guru~」

You’re not going to ride it? Set seemed to ask as he tilted his head. Rei gave a wry smile when he saw that.

Rei didn’t know what part of the carriage attracted Set, but Rei wouldn’t hold it against him.

「Well, I have a lot of reasons. ……That aside, it looks like you’ve got company.」

Looking in the direction of Orkide’s gaze, Rei saw Roble, with a large backpack on his back, and Stee, with with two small bags on her shoulders.

「You don’t need to stay here, so head over. I’ll just take my time in my carriage.」

「S-Sure.」

Without even waiting for Rei’s reply, Orkide went back inside his garish carriage.

Seeing Orkide go back inside, Rei went over to the main gate to meet with Roble and Stee.

「Oh Rei. You’re early. I was sure we would be the first to arrive.」

「Some people were even earlier than me though.」

Rei looked over his shoulder towards Ons.

After following Rei’s gaze and nodding, Roble quickly handed his backpack over to Rei.

「We can leave our stuff for you to carry, right?」

「Yes. No problem.」

Receiving the backpack, Rei stored it into the Misty Ring. As he did that, a voice of astonishment leaked from Roble’s mouth. Stee similarly had a look of surprise.

「What’s wrong? You knew I had an item box, didn’t you?」

「No, it’s a big difference between knowing something and actually seeing it. It’s seriously amazing.」

「Y-Yes. That’s right. Um, could you take this as well?」

「No worries.」

As Rei stored both of Stee’s bags into the Misty Ring……he suddenly found Ons standing beside them.

As usual, Ons didn’t say anything in particular, but he had his eyes on Rei.

Then, suddenly, he gave Rei his bag.

「……Please.」

Rei nodded at Ons’ brief words and stored it into the Misty Ring as well.

「So, I can store things, but if they’re in the item box, you won’t be able to take anything out unless I’m around, is that okay?」

「Yes, that’s not a problem. Most of what was inside is either food or equipment to camp out.」

「Same for me. Potions and other items are here.」

Stee lightly tapped the pouches at her waist.

「……」

Ons didn’t say anything and just nodded.

「By the way, why don’t we go through the procedures to leave the city now? I don’t like being near that tacky carriage and don’t want people to think we have anything to do with it.」

Roble said that as he glanced towards the carriage Orkide was in. Rei wondered whether or not he should tell Roble that it actually did have something to do with them, but didn’t say anything in the end as they went over to the guards in front of the main gate.

Of course, Set, who had been staring at the carriage that Roble had called tacky, followed after him.

「Gururu?」

Are we going now? Rei nodded and rubbed Set’s back, as Set seemed to ask with his head tilted.

Stee stared at Rei enviously as he stroked Set’s back. However, she still didn’t quite have the courage to stroke Set without being told she could.

With all the people taking the B rank test gathered, they completed the procedures to leave the city without any particular problems. On a side note, Ranga was on leave and wasn’t at the gate.

Orkide showed no signs of wanting to move his carriage alongside them, so Roble’s ignorance continued for a bit longer.

 

 

「Oh, wasn’t that the carriage……? What? Huh?」

The four of them were waiting for Residence, the guild examiner, and the nobles they would be working with. As the 9am bell rang, Roble raised his voice as he saw several carriages coming towards them. ……However, the next moment, he had a confused and unpleasant expression at the same time.

At the end of his line of sight were three carriages. The first was an ordinary carriage you could see almost anywhere, that was the guild carriage. The second carriage was not as ordinary as the first, it gave off a feeling of solidness and robustness with functionality being the highest priority. As for the last one……it was the very garish carriage that had been at the gate.

Rei had been on a similar carriage to the first one during the time he had participated in the Orc subjugation. As for the second carriage, he had ridden on it when he had visited Marka’s residence. Because of that, Rei was able to determine who the carriages belonged to.

「Hey, hey. That carriage couldn’t be……」

Roble, seeing the carriage that was more glaring than shiny, turned to look at the others, hoping that it was a lie. However, Rei and Ons, who both knew the truth, shook their heads without any expression, telling Roble to give up.

Roble had an unpleasant expression when he saw that, but the three carriages continued to move towards them without care. As the adventurers, merchants and travellers around the gate all looked towards them, the carriages finally stopped in front of Rei and the others.

As all the eyes in the surroundings turned towards them, Roble looked somewhat uncomfortable while Stee looked down in embarrassment, waiting for the gazes to disappear.

Rei was already used to being conspicuous since he had Set, an item box and the Death Scythe. Ons was a silent and expressionless person, so it didn’t seem like he cared.

「Well then, we’re all here.」

Residence got off the first carriage and said that as he looked towards Rei and the others. At the same time, Marka and Coan got of the second carriage while Alnicht and Orkide got off the third.

Ignoring Orkide’s lethargic expression, Alnicht looked tired just from realising that he would have to travel to where the Bicorns were located in such a garish carriage.

(But, if he’s already that tired just getting to the main gate, what will happen from now on?)

As Rei thought about that, everyone got off their carriages as they gathered around Residence.

「First of all, there are four of you and three carriage. It’s time to discuss how you’re going to split up.」

「……Is the carriage we get on also part of the rank up test?」

「Do you think I can tell you? All I’ll say is that I’ll be watching the decisions you make.」

After Residence answered Stee’s question, Rei, Roble and Stee’s expressions twisted slightly.

Ons remained expressionless as he listened to Residence’s explanation.

「Anyhow, you decide how to split up. Apologies to the nobles, but please don’t say anything and just watch.」

Rei frowned at those words.

(Why couldn’t he let us at least decide that somewhere else? No matter which carriage we decide to ride on, it will be troublesome to decide while everyone is listening in.

「I would like to refrain from getting on that tacky carriage.」

Normally, Alnicht would have complained after being told by Roble that the carriage he was riding in was tacky. However, he kept his mouth shut.

It seemed like even he understood how poor in taste the carriage he was riding in was.

「The appearance of the carriages aside, it’s true that Roble and Alnicht don’t get along with each other.」

「Hey, you there. Rei, was it. You should watch how you speak……」

「Alnicht-san, I believe we agreed to leave this matter to them. I’m sorry, but I did tell you advance that we would be doing things the adventurers’ way during this request.」

「……That is right. It’s true that I accepted this matter under those conditions. I won’t say anything here.」

After Residence’s words, Alnicht nodded grudgingly before Rei spoke up again.

「So, what do we do?」

「……I’ll ride in the guild carriage.」

The first to speak was, surprisingly, Ons.

「It can’t be helped then, I’ll take that carriage.」

Stee continued as she looked over towards the carriage Alnicht was in.

「Hey, wait a moment. I can’t leave you to ride that tacky carriage alone. I’ll come with you.」

「Are you sure? You don’t seem to get along with him, Roble.」

「Don’t worry. Besides, if I left you alone, he might try to do something strange.」

At Roble’s words, Alnicht frowned, but he stayed quiet, remembering what Residence had said.

Next to him, Orkide had an expression that seemed to say that it was troublesome to be standing out as the temperature started to rise, even though it was still relatively cool in the morning.

「Then, Rei will ride in that carriage……do you mind?」

「No. For better or worse, I’m acquainted with Marka and Coan.」

「Mm. We are not acquaintances. We are friends!」

Maybe she didn’t like the term acquaintance, Marka immediately protested. But, immediately after, she continued with a serious expression.

「But, rest assured. I will be fair in my evaluation of the rank up test. No, rather, I should be stricter because you are a friend.」

Alnicht seemed like he wanted to say something to Marka, but he didn’t dare say anything to a duke’s daughter. In the end, the carriages were assigned as follows, Ons on the guild carriage, Rei to the Quent carriage and Roble and Stee on the last carriage alongside Alnicht and Orkide.

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