Checking the time, Ian looked back from the door and spoke.

’Are you ready?’

’Yes.’

’Then let’s go.’

Following behind Ian, Rin and Lia stepped out the door together.

The document screening they submitted a while ago had passed, and now only one last step remained for the B-rank promotion.

Today was the day to visit the Guild for that final procedure. The three candidates for this promotion had been summoned and were heading toward the Mercenary Guild.

On the way to the Guild, Rin, who was walking behind Ian, asked.

’Last time we just swapped our mercenary tags and they gave us documents, but do we really have to go and listen to an explanation this time?’

’They said it’s mandatory from B-rank onwards... so it can’t be helped.’

Rin, who had heard in advance what they would be doing at the Guild today, grumbled in a low voice.

It was an orientation by a Guild employee explaining notices and precautions for B-rank promotion. It was a mandatory requirement for the promotion.

Since the distance to the Guild wasn’t that far, it didn’t take long for Ian to arrive in front of the Mercenary Guild.

Ian opened the doors and stepped inside. Since they had come to avoid the morning rush, the interior was quite leisurely.

’You’ve arrived, Captain Ian.’

An employee who had been waiting guided the three of them to a room.

An empty room.

Ian, Lia, and Rin each took a seat in the empty chairs.

The guiding employee left after asking them to wait a moment, leaving only the three of them in the room for a while.

Sitting in her chair, Rin already had a sleepy expression.

’They’re just going to say obvious things anyway... Like maintaining dignity, or following regulations. It’s always written in the notices.’

Rin, anticipating what they were about to hear, leaned back with a face that said she was already bored.

The guidelines provided by the Guild from time to time were all just boring and pedantic stories.

And not long after, the door opened.

’Are these three the last ones listening this time?’

The one who entered the room was Rebecca, a mercenary affiliated with the Guild.

’Gack.’

’Gack?’

Rin flinched after accidentally making that sound when her eyes met Rebecca’s.

Rebecca sat down heavily in the seat across from Rin with a satisfied smile. Receiving that gaze directly, Rin backed away just a tiny bit.

’You’ve grown a lot too, Rin. Already taking the B-rank promotion class.’

Back when Rin was training hard for C-rank, Rebecca was the one who primarily handled Rin’s training at the Guild.

’You haven’t been coming for training lately?’

’I-I’m fine now...’

’Does that mean you don’t need to receive it from me anymore?’

’T-that’s not what I meant...’

Rin broke into a cold sweat while responding to Rebecca’s smirking remarks.

She thought a regular employee would come... This was a completely unexpected appointment.

Rebecca turned her gaze toward Lia, who was sitting next to her.

’Lia is B-rank now too. As expected, it’s good being in a mercenary group, right?’

’...Yes. It’s good.’

Lia answered while avoiding eye contact slightly. It was an answer filled with many different meanings.

Seeing Lia like that, Rebecca’s gaze shifted toward Ian.

It was a somewhat meaningful smile.

Ian also slightly avoided her gaze and lowered his head quietly to exchange greetings.

’By the way, do you handle things like this too, Rebecca?’

’There’s a lot to talk about, so it’s better for a fellow mercenary to explain. There are some guys who get cocky just because they’ve reached B-rank, after all.’

Rin asked Rebecca with a puzzled face.

’Is there really that much to explain just for a rank increase?’

’Plenty. B-rank means you’ve become a vital force for this city. You receive a lot from the city in return, too. And there’s a lot you have to do.’

’There are things we receive?’

Rin asked with an interested face.

Receiving benefits was always welcome. Besides, since she had become B-rank, they surely wouldn’t give her something meager while acting like it was a big favor. Thinking that, Rin’s eyes sparkled.

Even though she looked bored when it started, Rebecca smirked seeing Rin now asking the most active questions.

Since the things mercenaries would be interested in were obvious anyway, Rebecca got straight to the point.

’First, there’s a monthly base salary and a retirement pension.’

’There’s a base salary? A pension too?’

Rin asked in shock.

It was because two words she thought would be the least relevant to this job had come up.

’The amount is...’

And Rin was shocked once more upon hearing the amount. According to those words, she could receive enough money every month to just play around without taking requests.

’After retirement, there are also reserved seats for mercenaries in the City Council, so you can work there. Even when starting a business...’

Ian could vaguely understand the intent behind it. It was a policy intended to ensure B-rank mercenaries stayed in the city no matter what.

’Do we receive all of that just for nothing?’

’In exchange, there are more things you must do.’

Rebecca said, pointing to the stack of documents in her hand.

’Emergency standby.’

’Isn’t that an existing regulation?’

Lia asked back, sounding puzzled after hearing Rebecca’s words.

’Not the usual kind. From B-rank, there are mandatory standby periods, and you have to apply in advance if you want to leave the city for more than a day.’

’We have to apply just to go out?’

’We can’t have too much military force leaving the city empty. We always need a certain percentage to remain in case of emergencies.’

’Aren’t there complaints about being forced to do that?’ 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

’Surprisingly, there are almost none.’

There probably weren’t.

The various benefits given to B-ranks were mostly things tied to this city.

As they use those to increase their wealth, they gradually form an inseparable relationship with the city. The safety of the city becomes the safety of their own authority and property.

The safety of this city, which is always threatened by monsters, is no longer someone else’s problem.

If it’s for the defense of the city, everyone ultimately has no choice but to agree.

Finishing the short explanation, Rebecca looked around at the faces of the three listening to the lecture and asked.

’You all understood, right?’

Putting down the paper she was holding, Rebecca asked Rin.

’Rin. How much did I say the tax benefit was when conducting a defense business?’

’Huh? D-do I have to memorize that?’

Faced with the sudden question, Rin’s face turned pale.

’No. Honestly, you don’t need that...’

Rebecca laughed at Rin’s expression and held out a document she had prepared. Calling them to the Guild and setting up a place like this was ultimately to get their signatures on it.

’In the end, this is why we’re doing it. As long as you follow this, you’re done. Now, sign.’

It was an emergency standby consent form.

* * *

After Rebecca’s orientation ended, Ian and the other two finally received their B-rank mercenary tags from the Guild.

Rin held up her mercenary tag with sparkling eyes.

B-rank...!

Along with Lia, Rin, who became the first within the mercenary group to possess a B-rank tag, grinned.

’Now then, shall I go see the novice mercenaries back at the lodging?’

Muttering so, just as Rin, now a B-rank mercenary, was about to step out the door with a boastful face to tease the novice C-rank mercenaries waiting at the base.

Fray, who had just entered the Guild, met eyes with Rin.

’Hm?’

’Hieek!’

Rin, letting out an Airi-like scream, backed away and hid behind Ian.

Discovering Ian and Rin, Fray waved her hand and approached.

’Oh, what a coincidence. What’s up?’

’It’s because of the B-rank promotion.’

’Was that today? That’s great. I was actually planning to visit you.’

’Y-yes? Why?’

Rin asked in a panic, peeking her head out slightly from behind Ian.

’Since you’ve become B-rank, I came to check if you’re doing properly as I taught you. Nothing happened in the meantime, right?’

Hearing Fray’s words, Rin glanced away slightly. Fray’s eyes didn’t miss that emotional fluctuation.

’What? Did you cause some trouble?’

’That’s...’

Unable to withstand the pressure of that gaze, Rin eventually confessed what happened during the last request.

It was the story of when Ian was briefly kidnapped by the spirit.

’The Captain was kidnapped and you couldn’t stop it! After I taught you so much!’

’No, this wasn’t my fault... It wasn’t even a dangerous place, and it happened suddenly when I wasn’t around, so it couldn’t be helped...’

’I told you not to leave your guard target if you feel something’s off!’

’Only someone like you could feel that... Guaak!’

Rin was subdued by Fray in an instant.

’Hmm. It seems I need to teach you a bit more.’

Fray hoisted the fallen Rin over her shoulder. It was a suddenly decided supplementary lesson.

Then, turning her head toward Ian, Fray suddenly made a strange expression.

’Hm?’

’Is something wrong?’

’No, it’s just a strange feeling...’

Fray approached Ian closely.

’You feel different from last time, did something happen?’

’Nothing much other than meeting the spirit. Maybe it’s because of that?’

Fray, who had approached to a distance where their bodies almost touched, made a puzzled expression, then leaned her face close to Ian’s and inhaled.

’It’s not a spirit. I smell something nice...’

Fray, who was clinging to the flustered Ian, suddenly frowned as if something occurred to her.

’Have you ever met a succubus or something?’

’No. Nothing like that at all...’

’I smell something like that, though.’

’....’

Ian, belatedly remembering that trait he received not long ago, hurriedly backed away.

As Ian’s body moved away, Fray unintentionally made a slightly regretful expression.

’Did you pick up some weird item? Be careful. Getting involved with a succubus is a real headache.’

’...I’ll be careful.’

Ian broke into a slight cold sweat while listening to Fray’s warning.

Having finished that conversation, Fray waved to Ian and turned to leave while carrying Rin.

Lia watched Fray take Rin away and asked.

’Is it okay to leave Rin like that?’

’She’ll be back in a few days...’

Lia glanced back in that direction, but she didn’t have the confidence to take Rin back from her, so she eventually followed quietly behind Ian.