Chapter 24: A New Guild Plate and the Next Destination

After the crowd of onlookers finally dispersed, Rowena and I returned to the reception counter.

Soon, Instructor Vargas came back from the back with a satisfied look on his face.

In his hand was a guild plate that shone with a golden gleam—different from the dull gray one from earlier.

“Here you go. Your new guild plate. B rank.”

The plate he handed me indeed had the letter “B” engraved on it.

Its solid weight felt the same as the G-rank plate, but the shine was clearly different.

“Every now and then, someone like you shows up,” Vargas continued with his arms crossed.

“A cocky upstart who confidently demands a promotion.”

“But most of them are all talk. They end up getting sent back because their skills don’t match their mouth. In your case, though—your ability was impressive. The real deal.”

His sharp eyes then fixed squarely on me.

“But don’t get careless. Real combat isn’t the same as a mock fight. No matter how skilled you are, bad luck can kill you in an instant in this world. Stay alive, build real experience, and aim even higher.”

It was sincere encouragement—from both an instructor and a senior adventurer.

“Yes. I’ll keep that firmly in mind.”

When I bowed my head honestly, the receptionist beside him spoke to me with a warm smile.

“Mr. Edwin, do you plan to base your activities here in Norest from now on? At B rank, we can consistently introduce you to good requests.”

It was a generous offer, but my answer was already decided.

“No… I’d like to travel around with this child and see various places. I don’t plan to settle down in one base.”

The receptionist looked a little surprised at my response, but Instructor Vargas nodded with interest.

“I see. There are a few adventurers who live that way… though it’s pretty rare. Most people eventually settle in one town.”

“In that case, may I ask you something?”

I took out the old notebook and pen the magistrate knight had given me from my pocket.

“Is there any remarkable scenery nearby—some place worth seeing?”

At my question, Vargas placed a hand on his chin and thought for a moment.

Then he suddenly clapped his hands.

“Ah, there is one. About two days west of this city by carriage, there’s a small mountain. There’s a pretty magnificent waterfall there. The road’s maintained, so it’s even become a bit of a sightseeing spot. Around this time of year, the fresh greenery should be beautiful too.”

“A waterfall… I see. Thank you.”

I quickly wrote down the location he mentioned in my notebook.

The knight had once told me about the endless expanse of the sea.

This was different—but a waterfall didn’t sound bad at all.

After putting the notebook back into my pocket, we left the guild.

As we headed toward the exit, Vargas and the other adventurers who had watched the mock battle called out warmly.

“Take care out there!”

“Come back for training sometime!”

Holding Rowena’s hand, I pushed open the large guild doors.

We stepped back into the bustling noise of the city streets and began walking toward the inn.

At least now, our journey had a more concrete direction.

First, we’d go see that waterfall.

As I was thinking that, Rowena—walking beside me—tugged lightly at the hem of my cloak.

“Hm? What is it, Rowena?”

When I turned around, Rowena pointed back and forth between the G-rank guild plate hanging around her neck and the B-rank plate in my hand.

Then she puffed out her cheeks like a chipmunk, looking clearly dissatisfied.

(Ah… I see.)

Apparently, she didn’t like that the guild plates she thought matched now had different ranks.

(Well, that can’t be helped…)

With a wry smile, I gently patted her head.

“Well, someday. You’ll get stronger soon enough too, Rowena.”

When I said that to placate her, she still looked a little dissatisfied—but she nodded.

Watching her small profile, I found myself thinking:

The journey I once thought would be troublesome had, before I realized it, begun to turn into something irreplaceable.

Her annoyed face, her smile, even her tears—

All of it had become part of my journey.

Well then.

Tomorrow, I suppose we should start preparing for the trip to that waterfall.