“Can someone actually drop down after reaching A-rank? Why haven’t I heard of this before?”
Gray’s eyes widened, his expression one of disbelief, as if he had just discovered that a cute girl was hidden beneath Noctiluca’s hideous armor.
“Because it’s a Punishment Clause established by the Association to prevent high-ranking Heroes from monopolizing resources while sitting idle,” Lily explained patiently, pushing up her glasses.
“Actually, the downgrade penalty is rarely triggered. After all, those who manage to climb to A-rank are usually people who love completing commissions and diving into Labyrinths. You’re the only weirdo in the entire Dukedom whose points haven’t moved upward in a year—and have actually been deducted.”
Behind Gray, who felt like his world was collapsing, Katy was burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently.
No, I can’t laugh yet.
If I burst out laughing here, the angelic persona I’ve maintained for two days will crumble!
The girl did her best to manage her expression, then patted the young man’s shoulder, offering gentle comfort.
“It’s okay, Mr. Gray. Didn’t Miss Lily just say? You only need to complete one Qualification Commission that meets the A-rank standard to keep your title.”
At that moment, Lily, behind the counter, noticed Katy, who was almost completely obscured by Gray’s large frame.
Her eyes instantly turned into heart shapes.
“Oh my god, what a cute little girl! Let big sister give you a hug!”
The receptionist, who had been wearing a professional fake smile just a moment ago, looked like she was about to vault over the counter to grab Katy.
That predatory momentum reminded the girl of the Mimics she had set up in the Labyrinth, which would snap their jaws at anyone who approached.
“Stop!”
Gray pulled Katy back just in time, standing in front of her like he was guarding against a thief to prevent the girl from being captured by the obsessive woman who had zero resistance to cute things.
“This is the Miss Katy I mentioned. I want to arrange a Newcomer Test for her. Lily, show some self-respect. Don’t scare the newcomer.”
“Miss Katy, this is Lily. She’s a clerk I’m quite familiar with. If I’m not around in the future, you can ask her any questions you have about adventuring.”
“Tsk, stingy.”
Lily pouted, but her eyes remained glued to Katy, unable to look away.
“Hello, little Katy! I’m Lily, an old acquaintance of this blockhead here. If he’s ever not around, remember to come and ask me if you have any questions. I’m a veteran receptionist, and I know way more than this half-baked A-rank!”
“Who are you calling half-baked?”
Watching Gray and Lily bicker, Katy was actually a bit surprised.
She had originally thought Gray was the type of gloomy loner who didn’t have any female friends in real life.
She hadn’t expected him to be able to talk and laugh so freely with such a young and beautiful clerk.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Lily.”
The girl cleared her throat and gave Lily a harmless, innocent smile.
Since she would need to come here often to become a familiar face, building a good relationship was essential.
She lifted her skirt and performed a curtsy, mimicking the noble ladies of the West she remembered.
Struck by the critical hit of Katy’s adorable face, the receptionist clutched her chest, feeling her health bar drain significantly.
One had to understand that the Adventurers who frequented this place were usually coarse men reeking of sweat.
Even a male like Gray, who could communicate normally, was a rare species.
But the girl before her not only had the face of an Angel, but her etiquette was impeccable…
Lily suddenly whipped her head around, her gaze sharp as a blade directed at Gray.
“Talk! Where did you trick such an angelic girl from? Spit it out, or I’ll stab you to death.”
Gray rolled his eyes.
What kind of image did he have in Lily’s mind?
“The Goddess as my witness! If I tricked her, may I, Gray, never complete another commission or Labyrinth in my life and drop straight to E-level to hunt rats in the sewers!”
Seeing Gray, who was usually so passionate about conquering Labyrinths, swear such a poisonous oath, Lily had no choice but to believe that this guy’s long streak of bad luck had finally been blessed by the Goddess.
She sighed and flipped through a ledger behind the counter that was as thick as a dictionary.
“Today’s Newcomer Test was originally all full, but… here it is.”
Lily pointed to a line, and Katy and Gray immediately leaned in.
“There’s one in ten minutes. The person who originally booked it took a leave of absence, so a slot just opened up. Time is a bit tight, but Miss Katy can go over now. It’s just—”
“I can do it! As long as I can finish the test today!”
Before Lily could finish, Katy raised her hand and answered eagerly.
Gray frowned with concern.
“But Miss Katy, you haven’t received any training. Do you need me to give you a crash course on combat basics first?”
In his eyes, Katy was just a frail girl who didn’t know the first thing about hard labor, and the test he remembered included a practical combat phase.
“It’s fine, I’ve been secretly training on my own!”
Katy waved her small fists with confidence, then before the two could react, she turned and trotted toward the training grounds.
“Then I’ll go line up first!”
Watching the girl’s lighthearted departing figure, Gray let out a helpless sigh.
He was about to follow when Lily called out to him.
“Hey, Gray.”
“What?”
Gray turned his head.
“Your next line is: ‘As an A-rank Hero, remember to look out for her,’ right?”
The girl scratched her head awkwardly, her expression becoming a bit subtle.
“You’re half right. As for the other half…”
The young man frowned slightly at his friend’s hesitation.
This didn’t seem like the Lily who liked to boast about taking him to the red-light district to open his eyes when she was drunk.
“What’s the other half?”
“…In the upcoming test, another ‘acquaintance’ of yours will be present.”
An acquaintance?
Gray’s heart skipped a beat.
Lily looked at him with a complicated gaze.
“I don’t know why a former member of Dawn Blade would show up at a rookie testing ground in Knox City, but… are you sure you still want to accompany Katy during the test?”
Hearing that familiar yet foreign team name, the relaxed expression on Gray’s face instantly froze.
The light in his eyes seemed to be swallowed whole by a heavy shadow.
After a moment of silence, he forced a strained smile at Lily.
“I’m already here. I can’t just leave Katy there alone, right? Thanks, Lily.”
With that, he turned around and walked toward the training ground doors with a much heavier stride than before.
Lily watched the young man’s lonely back and sighed softly.
A year ago, when Gray quit the suddenly transformed Dawn Blade and returned to Knox City, he looked even more disheveled than he did now.
“I hope this little girl named Katy is truly an Angel sent by the Goddess to save Gray because she saw how unlucky he was…”
***
Hero Association, Newcomer Test grounds.
Because it was an indoor venue, it was surrounded by high iron railings.
Katy was leaning over the railing with interest, watching the scene inside.
Several young boys and girls were lining up, guided by experienced-looking staff members toward the center of the arena.
There were several stone pillars standing there, each topped with a crystal-clear Crystal Ball.
As long as the testers placed their hands on the surface of the orb, the Crystal Ball would light up with different colors and brightness according to their magic aptitude and potential.
Red for fire, blue for water, and if it didn’t light up, it meant they failed…
Isn’t this just testing spiritual roots?
Just as she was enjoying the sight of two unlucky souls wailing because their Crystal Balls didn’t light up, she heard Gray’s footsteps behind her.
As a Great Demon with sharp senses, distinguishing people by their footsteps was a basic skill.
For instance, his footsteps sounded much heavier and more sluggish than before, as if two massive lead weights were attached to his ankles.
Clearly, he wasn’t in a good mood.
Katy tucked away the smile on her face and turned around.
Looking at the grim-faced young man approaching, she tilted her head:
“You look pale, Mr. Gray. Are you nervous?”