[There is no need to recount the specific details of the battle; the adventurers near you at the time witnessed the aftermath of that fight.]
[At first, people thought monsters had invaded the Adventurer’s Camp, but later they realized it was Ailin dueling someone.]
[And this duel ultimately had a winner and a loser.]
[Ailin lost, and you won.]
[But you knew this could not be considered a simple contest of victory and defeat.]
[Ailin had a few shallow wounds on her body, and she wore a satisfied smile.]
[“Not bad, Bell.”]
[She put away her sword and walked up to you.]
[“It seems I worried too much about you. I don’t know where you got a Dragon Clan High God Possession from, but you really are strong.”]
[You did not speak; the battle just now had consumed too much stamina.]
[In any case, after that, Ailin agreed to let you join the Adventurer Group.]
[Starting from the lowest-ranked team.]
…
[Adventurer ranks are divided into Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, and Black-Gold.]
[Adventurers who register at first do not immediately receive Bronze rank; there is an extra rank: Apprentice.]
[“This really brings back memories. When I was still an Apprentice, I was responsible for carrying supplies and loot for adventurers.”]
[Ailin walked with you through the Adventurer’s Free Market on the twentieth floor of the Dungeon.]
[Of course, she wore a mask on her face; otherwise, she would cause a commotion wherever she went.]
[The Free Market was very crowded, and carts pulling goods sped past you from time to time.]
[Trading here was very free; after all, adventurers were a profession that lived by the sword, and slaves were even sold here.]
[Your purpose in coming here was naturally to buy some weapons and equipment that adventurers needed.]
[“I already have the Resounding Scale Sword, so there isn’t much need for another sword. What I need now is some armor and useful accessories.”]
[You had brought two items with you during this crossing, both from the last Simulation.]
[The Resounding Scale Sword, a Gold-quality weapon. The red weapon in Ailin’s hand was not something one could obtain casually. For you now, this Resounding Scale Sword was more than enough.]
[The Ancestral Dragon’s Whisker could block one fatal wound. This item was extremely important, capable of saving your life at a critical moment.]
[“Have you decided what to buy first?”]
[Ailin had not visited the adventurer market in a long time, so she seemed a little excited, but she understood that you were the main character this time.]
[“Actually, there’s no need to buy things right now. After I finish quests and receive rewards, I can buy them myself.”]
[“One thing is one thing. I know you have a lot of pride, but this can also count as my coming-of-age gift to you. Let me buy you a few things.”]
[Ailin shook her coin purse.]
[“Besides, I probably won’t even finish spending my Gold Coins in my next life, so don’t worry.”]
[The thing Ailin lacked the least was probably money.]
[“All right… but I still want to ask one more thing. Can’t you… find a way to make me a Black-Gold adventurer directly? Then I could explore the newest Dungeon area with you.”]
[You still felt somewhat resentful about Ailin making you start from the beginning.]
[“That, even I can’t do. Adventurer rank evaluations must be issued by the continent’s Adventurer’s Headquarters. Even I cannot influence their decisions.”]
[Since Ailin said that, you understood that pulling strings for you was probably impossible.]
[“Just do quests honestly. I’ll be waiting for the day you join Dawn Cross~”]
[Ailin patted your head, making you feel a little embarrassed.]
[“There are so many people here. Can you not casually pat my head from now on?”]
[“I can’t help it. After all, you’re so cute, I can’t resist.”]
[“You woman…”]
[You accidentally muttered a complaint, and she heard it.]
[“Bell, you’ve really grown up now. You even say words like ‘woman.’ You can say that to me, but if you say it to others, they’ll get angry.”]
[“Ah… is that so? I think I heard Uncle Brand say that before. I didn’t expect it had that meaning.”]
[You perfectly shifted the blame onto that Black-Gold adventurer uncle who had once doubted you.]
[“All right, hurry up and choose your things.”]
[“I’ve decided. I want some light armor, and a shield. In short, things for self-defense.”]
[Ailin heard your words and blinked in disbelief.]
[“I thought you would definitely ask me to buy you a really good sword. I didn’t expect you to want to buy armor?”]
[“A very cautious adventuring style.”]
[Ailin nodded in strong approval.]
[You thought that was only natural. In previous Simulations, countless experiences had told you that only by surviving could you deal damage.]
[“I happen to know a pretty good armor shop. Come with me.”]
[Ailin took your hand and walked in one direction.]
[However, after only a few steps, a man over 2 meters tall suddenly blocked the way.]
[“Hello, please let us through.”]
[Ailin said politely, but the other party showed no reaction.]
[You noticed that not only was he very tall, but his muscles were also well developed.]
[‘He doesn’t look like a good person…’]
[His face was cold, and the way he looked at you was not like looking at people, but more like looking at two fish lying on a cutting board.]
[‘Wait, he isn’t thinking of… robbing the two of us, is he?’]
[“Ahem—”]
[The man coughed once, lowered his head, and looked at you with cold eyes.]
[Then, more than ten people walked out from the alley beside him and came to his side.]
[“Miss… you…”]
[The man’s voice was low.]
[“What do you want?”]
[You stepped forward and stood in front of Ailin.]
[The man looked down at you, his expression somewhat baffled.]
[“What do you mean…”]
[“I just want to ask, is this lady the legendary Ailin the Sword Saint?”]
[“Yes, she looks so much like her. I can tell just from her back.”]
[Someone in the crowd behind him also agreed.]
[‘I’m done for…’]
[Ailin took two steps back and tightly gripped your hand.]
[“What’s done for?”]
[Before you finished speaking, someone suddenly shouted.]
[“Look, everyone! That sword is tied at her waist!”]
[“Yes! That’s right, it really is the Snake Sword!”]
[“She is Ailin!”]
[“Lady Ailin, please give me your autograph!”]
[Just as you realized what was about to happen, things had already spiraled out of control.]
[“Lady Ailin, I want to be your dog!”]
[“Lady Ailin, I want to marry you!”]
[With the appearance of these outrageous remarks, the scene began to fall into complete chaos.]
[You had to leave this place quickly.]