Two as One Princesses

unt, we should be able to manage by using our magic bag.
If we make haste, we’ll likely reach the capital in a few days.
Although, this being needed as soon as possible is a bit of a bottleneck, it doesn’t say that we need to be there by tomorrow.

Still, this makes no sense.

With a request like this, there shouldn’t be any reason to necessarily designate Ciel.
The guild should have their own magic bags too, so they’d only have to find someone who can either ride a horse or travel fast on foot.
Since I’ve never heard anyone saying that Ciel can travel fast on foot, I have a bad feeling about this.

When I told Ciel this worry of mine, 『That’s true.』 she replied with agreement.

「I don’t see why it has to be me.」
「In the forest near the capital, signs of a coming stampede have been observed.
It’s reached the point where a stampede may happen at any time.
Due to that, it’s been decided that we would assign the strongest hunter in Norvell for this.」
「So there’s a high possibility of getting overrun then.
Still, wasn’t I allowed non-participation during the capital stampede?」
「The promise should have been to not coerce you into joining the battle.
This is only a delivery of goods, so it doesn’t apply.」

Certainly he’s not wrong in saying that the promise was about not making us fight.
The request is to deliver something.
It’s not necessary for Ciel to fight along the way.
And even if she did, then it’ll end up being that Ciel simply fought on her own accord, huh.

『Do we have no choice by to accept for this?』
『Since this is a designated request, there’s sure to be a penalty if we decline.
Still, there’s a lot I want to confirm first, so could I borrow your body for a while?』
『Sure, I don’t mind.』

Receiving her approval, I borrowed her body to talk with the guildmaster.
While I could just tell Ciel and she would tell the guildmaster, playing this sort of telephone game could make the conversation needlessly complicated.
I really wanted to contemplate on why the monster stampede is happening right now.
According to my estimations, it should have been fine for a few more years.
Why at this timing……

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For now, I need to put my feelings behind change my way of speaking, and pull through this exchange with the guildmaster.

「I see.
Then, there are several things I want to confirm and ask.」
「Of course, that’s only natural.」
「Was this designation approved with full awareness that this will worsen my perception of the guild?」
「…… That’s right.」

As I showed exaggerated displeasure, the guildmaster scrunched his brow and nodded.
The situation might be just that dire, but for the ones being used, this is completely inexcusable.

「You can’t resolve one stampede without relying on a wandering little girl?」
「There’s been confirmation of A-rank monsters, but there shouldn’t be any issue in terms of fighting potential.
Still, once the stampede starts, there’s no knowing when it’ll end.
It’ll be great if it ends by day one, but it might not end so early.」
「And that’s why I only have to deliver the supplies?」
「Right.
That’s the only thing this request asks for.」

If I remember correctly, naturally occurring stampedes, unlike those incited artificially, have a tendency of being drawn-out.
As a naturally occurring stampede happens due to the extensive increase of number in monsters, I suppose that’s only natural.
If the stampede becomes drawn-out, the presence or absence of the available supplies can greatly change the course of battle, even an amateur like me can imagine this.

I can imagine it, yes, but this conversation is making increasingly less sense.

「A-rank monsters were confirmed, yet you designate a C-rank?」
「You should be able to handle those, right?」
「That’s not the point.」

This isn’t about whether Ciel can handle it or not.
The issue is that a request that is by all means meant for an A-rank Hunter, or at least B-rank even after undervaluing the details, is being designated to a C-rank.
Of course there are exceptions in some cases, but none of those exceptions are applicable in this instance.
A C-rank hunter should only be required to perform with the ability befitting of C-rank.
The guild is breaking its own rules.
The matter with the golden wolf was already gray enough, yet it seems that they still want to pile more on top of that.

From an outsider’s perspective, this request is practically telling the one doing it to die.

We’ve never fought against A-rank monsters—the golden wolf’s rank is unverified—so I can’t assure Ciel’s safety.

「I know that.
We’ve acquired the approval to promote you to B-rank upon the completion of the request as well.」

I see, I see now.
So this is where they’ll use this one-time use card of theirs, huh.
A great bait for us who are aiming for a B-rank promotion.
I suppose the reason why the possibility of being promoted to B-rank outside of reaching the required age was added at the signing of the magical contract was because of the expectation of this sort of situation occurring; to leave a means of getting us to do their bidding for a single time.

Still, I have no intention of jumping right into it so easily.

「What sort of logic is that?」
「By that you mean?」
「The only requirement I lack to reach B-rank is age.
Everything else is settled.
Yet despite that, you say I’ll become B-rank upon completing this? 」

If we’re only lacking in contribution to the guild, then I can understand how completing this request would make us B-rank.
If we’re only lacking in ability, then I can understand the same happening as well.
However, what we’re only lacking is age.
Yet despite that, what exactly is this request assessing to result in our B-rank promotion on completion?
Do they mean to say that completing this request will increase our age?

「Demotion is likely if you don’t accept it, you know?」
「When that happens, I’ll quit the guild.」

『Oh, we’re quitting?』
『Umm, I’m sorry for deciding by myself.』
『It’s alright.
What you said makes sense after all.
Besides, I agree with that too, Ain.』

I ended up getting Ciel’s approval after the fact, but since she agrees with me, this’ll make things easier.
To be frank, I have a hunch that even if we do just honestly accept this, they’ll probably still find some reason to not let us be B-rank.
I also have a hunch that we’ll be made to do other things outside of the delivery.
I can’t risk having what’s supposed to be a one-time only bait being used on us again and again without us ever getting promoted.
With that said, I want to try my best to have our B-rank promotion confirmed here.

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Hiya~! From one comfy place to another problem we go!

Well geez, Ain is on fire today now, isn’t she? “You can’t resolve one stampede without relying on a wandering little girl?” Ouch.
It is a valid retort though, lol.
But yeah, the stampede flag seems to have been activated prematurely based on Ain’s estimations.
Still, really guild? You force the one hunter that not only realised that a stampede is coming, managing to give you time to fix the result of your people’s negligence before it’s too late, and that is in obliviously in risk of being crucified or burned at the stake just by staying at the capital because of your people’s mishandling, to fight exactly at the one place that she’ll probably get assassinated, if not lynched by the public? *And expect her to just silently nod and agree?* Genius! Well they don’t really seem to expect so, considering all the cards they’re playing right now, but the point stands.

As usual, I really don’t want to be in this guildmaster’s position.
Just, no.
I can say that he’s pretty good at his job though, since he was quick witted enough to add the condition that would allow them to be promoted for special reasons.
Still, he’s a good employee on the wrong side of the coin in my opinion.
But again, really big props to him for not underestimating AinCiel.
As for the small good news, the guild is now probably on Rispelgia’s tail, heh.