After the combat ranking evaluation was completely finished, I was able to obtain the Diamond rank from the guild master as promised.
And if there was one thing that had changed, it was the attitude of the two people looking at me.
Before the practical comprehensive evaluation, they had seen me as a newcomer with overwhelming skills, but afterward, their perception shifted to viewing me as a fully seasoned expert.
Well, after all, not only did I take down a B-rank monster on my own, but I also completely toyed with it as if an adult were playing with a child.
Considering they had witnessed such an incredible scene with their own eyes, it was only natural that their perception of me had undergone a significant change.
Still, looking back, since the process itself had been quite terrifying, I was worried that I might have instilled fear in them.
Thankfully, I didnāt see any sign of that.
Perhaps it was because the opponent was a particularly threatening monster, and they perceived my actions as more of a performance to showcase my abilities rather than anything else.
…But if I hadn’t been wearing a mask and they had seen my expression at that moment, things wouldnāt have been resolved so simply.
In the end, not only had I maintained an unnaturally calm composure at the time, but I had also felt a fleeting surge of rage and madness, followed by uncontrollable brutality and an oddly exhilarating sensation.
Instead of finding a reasonable explanation, I was left with even more unsettling questions.
‘Was that an innate violent nature hidden within me that even I wasnāt aware of? Was the voice I heard back then simply my subconscious muttering to itself?’
Various assumptions filled my head, but at the moment, those concerns werenāt the priority.
Right now, my top priority as a mercenary was to take on a request and earn money.
I could worry about the rest later, once everything was settled.
With that in mind, I calmed my anxious heart and set out to find a suitable request.
But unfortunately, my plan immediately ran into an unexpected obstacle.
***
“…There arenāt any requests that match my conditions at the moment?”
I had gone through all that effort to complete the ranking exam flawlessly and even obtained a Diamond rankāonly to find out that there were no suitable requests available.
The sheer unexpectedness of the situation made my eyes widen in disbelief.
However, as soon as the receptionist calmly explained the detailed reason, I had no choice but to accept the reality.
“Indeed, Karin, your combat ranking came out exceptionally high, but your credit rating is far too low…
Mercenary requests rely heavily on trust due to their nature.
Of course, this can be resolved if you complete a few appropriate requests to build credibility.
But since you want requests strictly within the capital and can only work during the late-night hours, itās quite difficult to find something that meets those conditions.
Additionally, compared to other regions, the capital is relatively well-maintained in terms of security, so there arenāt many requests that would require a Diamond-ranked mercenary.”
***
Even the receptionistās expression showed clear signs of distress, as if she hadnāt expected it to be this difficult to find a suitable request.
She asked if I could compromise on some of my conditions, but I could only shake my head with regret.
Given my restricted environment and the limited openings I had to operate, any further deviation from my set conditions was too dangerous.
If things went terribly wrong, it could even lead to trouble for Yuria, which meant that going beyond my current constraints was practically impossible.
***
As a result, that day, all I gained was a small badge symbolizing my Diamond rank as a mercenaryā and I returned to the Blue Palace with no real progress.
For someone like me, who had intended to secure a job and complete it within the same day, this was a particularly frustrating turn of events.
Still, at the time, I hadnāt given up all hope.
The receptionist also mentioned that, given the capitalās high request volume, a suitable request could come in at any moment.
She advised me to wait for the right opportunity.
I would be lying if I said I wasnāt anxious, but with some time left until the banquet, I tried to remain patient and keep my nerves in check.
But that patience didnāt last for long.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
Four daysā¦
As meaningless time slipped by at an alarming rate, my patience was wearing thin.
***
“Haaaaā¦ Ughā¦ Hwooouuuhā¦!!!”
Late at night, as I sat in the waiting area inside the guildāsomething I had been doing daily as of lateā
I found myself consumed by deep despair, unable to lift my head.
I had really thought I would find a request today.
But the receptionistās answer was once again a regretful shake of the head.
And with that, all the anxiety and restlessness I had barely been suppressing finally erupted.
With the banquet now just around the corner, I couldnāt afford to sit around waiting any longer.
My frustration only deepened.
As the situation became increasingly dire, a choice I had never even considered before started to flicker in my mind.
“This is quite the dilemma… If youāre really struggling, how about this request? It’s a monster subjugation mission in a village near the capital. As for the timing, since you’re a Diamond-ranked mercenary, we might be able to negotiate some flexibility. The reward is also close to the amount you’re looking for.”
Karune’s voice carried a tempting allure, whispering that if I could just let go of the condition to stay within the capital, this was the perfect request.
Having interacted with her numerous times, I had grown somewhat close to her, and her persistent suggestion was enough to shake my resolve.
If it was just outside the capital…
If everything proceeded swiftly and without any unexpected variables, I could barely manage to return before sunrise.
But the real problem was the security checkpoint at the capital’s entrance.
While leaving was unrestricted, re-entering was known to be much stricter.
With my mask and hood covering me, I would undoubtedly attract their suspicion as a potential target for heightened scrutiny.
Of course, I could claim to be a beastkin with a high percentage of human blood, but if they discovered the fake cat ears I had attached for disguise, it would be an irreversible disaster.
Never before had I felt so frustrated about the fact that I was an automaton.
At that moment, drowning in seemingly inescapable despair, a completely unexpected voice suddenly rang in my ears.
***
“Hee~ So this is the rookie Diamond-ranked mercenary you were talking about?”
“W-Wait a minute, Rielā¦ Ah, um, yes, that’s right, butā”
A sudden, unfamiliar female voice shattered the quiet atmosphere of the waiting area, followed by the receptionistās flustered response.
Since I was the only new Diamond-ranked mercenary here, I instinctively lifted my head to see what was happening.
And the moment my gaze landed on the scene before me, I couldnāt hide my astonishment.
Because the owner of the unfamiliar voice had an appearance that was anything but ordinary.
Her enchanting eyes held a charm that could captivate anyone, regardless of age or gender.
Beneath them, her emerald-green pupils shimmered, slit vertically like those of a cat.
Perched atop her head were sleek, black feline ears, and a matching tail swayed behind her.
But what was most strikingāsomething rare even among beastkināwas her flawless human-like skin.
This was a sign of a rare lineage, where a beastkin inherited a significantly high percentage of human blood.
In other words, the exact alternative I had just been considering to bypass the security checkpointā¦
Whether by chance or fate, she had appeared right in front of me.
Caught in a daze, unsure if I was dreaming or awake, I simply stared at the mysterious cat-eared woman with long, flowing black hair.
But my trance didnāt last long.
As soon as I registered her outfit, my mind snapped back to reality, and my face turned beet red.
She wore a loosely fitted black jacket, revealing a white top beneath itāone that exposed an unmistakably deep cleavage.
Additionally, her smooth, slender thighs were completely exposed beneath an extremely short black skirt.
For someone as unaccustomed to such bold attire as I was, the sight was beyond shocking.
“The conditions between the two of you match almost perfectly, but Karin, your credit rating is still low, so handling Rielās requestāwhich requires absolute discretionāmight be difficultā¦”
“Isn’t it fine as long as I donāt mind?”
“Huh? Ah, well, yesā¦ Thatās true. But in that case, please understand that the guild wonāt take responsibility for anything that happens afterward.”
While I was still reeling from the unexpected situation, the receptionist and the mysterious black cat-woman exchanged a few words before she bent forward slightly to meet my gaze.
A mysterious, playful smile lingered on her lips.
“So thenā¦ skilled yet enigmatic mercenary, would you be interested in doing something fun with me?”
It was the kind of offer I had been waiting for over the past several days.
And with no other viable options left, I reflexively accepted itā completely unaware of what was hidden beneath the surface of this request.