The A-rank promotion test was over, and a short meeting was convened.
After I abstained, the elf Refrya continued the challenge the other adventurers. As numbers 1 and 2 were unable to continue battling, Refrya was able to put up a good fight against her opponents once she used her trump card and managed to take out seven adventurers.
After that, the battles between other adventurers continued, though most of them were handled by Teto and so the tournament came to an end. Surprisingly, the promotion test was over in one day.
Selene already went back but I guess the knight left behind in the guild would pass the results to her later.
And when the orange hue of the setting sun was upon us, the results were announced.
"This year's A-rank from the promotion test are一一 Chise, Teto."
It was obvious if you considered our win count in the challenge tournament. And then there was one last name.
"一一and Refrya."
"Whaa, no way! Even though I lost to Teto and Chise surrendered on her own!"
Certainly, it was just as she said, she lost against Teto while I surrendered because I was running out of mana even though I was able to defend against her ace attack.
"In the test, we have checked out the extent of your abilities over the years. So, we judged your fighting spirit and instantaneous burst ability you used against Chise-dono in the end befitting of an A-rank. You should be able to break through any obstacle as long as you have reliable comrades to help you out."
"...... Yes. I will work hard to find one, just like Chise and Teto."
So Refrya-san received her A-rank promotion while bowing deeply but, in the end, this is just a checkpoint. What we have to aim for was the ability even beyond A-rank.
Though I think her rapid-fire attack with spirit magic enchanted arrows could do plenty of damage against the five-headed hydra I had fought before, whose strength rivaled A-rank
"It's over, shall we return?"
"Yes-nanodesu."
Teto and I had our guild cards upgraded, then we did some shopping and when we were about to go back to the «Empty Wilderness» with the transfer gate, Selene was waiting for us.
"Okaa-san, Teto onee-chan, congratulations on your A-rank promotion!"
"We're back, Selene. Your Okaa-san gave it her all."
"We're back-nanodesu~"
We received congratulatory well-wishes for our promotion from Selene who had returned ahead of us and other guests also came to our home.
"The King? And the Premier, even the Knight leader?"
"Otou-sama has something to talk with you about with Okaa-san......"
"I see......"
I wonder what it's about, I thought while urging them to sit on the chairs while I faced them.
"First of all, congratulations on your A-rank promotion. Such excellent personnel is scarce even in our kingdom, with numbers not surpassing 50."
"It's hard to say if that is a lot or not."
There were also A-rank adventurers deployed as the guild masters of each guild but, in fact, only around half of those numbers were active as adventurers.
The remaining ones usually either assume an official post in the guild or get scouted by the kingdom to be employed as knights after their retirement.
For the rest, one such criterion to be judged as A-rank was their strength.
"Roland here, who has been assuming the position of knight leader and the pride of the Iska Kingdom, has the strength rivaling an A-rank adventurer. There are also a handful of people among the rest of the knights and royal court magicians who are just as strong as A-rank adventurers."
If that's to be taken into account, I guess there should be around 10 to 20 such people in the castle, where the nation's greatest force resides.
"And what business do you have with us who have just become A-rank adventurers?"
"I will get straight to the point, how about working for us?"
A-rank adventurers are treated as quasi-aristocrats so I understand why the kingdom suddenly came to scout us.
"I will decline. I'm not the type who can have unwavering loyalty to royalties."
Both the Premier and the Knight leader made a troubled expression at my blunt and unreserved words. In contrast, the King chuckled as if my straight-to-the-point reply amused him.
"Ahaha, I knew it will come to this. Viel, Roland, you lost your bet this time."
"Yes, it's just as Your Majesty had said."
It seemed like they had a bet between them on whether I will agree to work for royalty or not. I guess King won this wager, huh?
"You came here only for this?"
"For the kingdom, it's obvious to look out for any chances of recruiting excellent personnel. The main topic is something else though. The date of Selene's debut into the aristocratic society has been decided. I hope you guys can attend too."
I was surprised by his words, and my eyes widened.
"What do you exactly mean by that?"
"It would be the return of the adventurer who had taught the church about potion-making and paper-making to help out the orphanage ten years ago. As well as the fact that you are now an A-rank adventurer, you have enough qualifications to participate in it."
"Certainly, I would love to see a dolled-up Selene but I'm not fond of being looked at as something rare."
The King put on a troubled expression at my clear-cut rejection and brought up the main topic.
"Actually, there seems to be some movement within the remnants of the Evil Cult."
"...... You mean those who attacked Selene's mother."
It was apparently a group of heretics who used external methods like letting devils possess their bodies to strengthen their abilities.
"I did direct the destruction of the cult before but it seems one part of them had gone underground and is now aiming for Selene once again. Besides, those rouges must be aiming for me, the King, for revenge alongside their goal to summon the great devil."
Because of this, he wanted to tighten security around Selene as much as possible for the event where many royal family members will gather on Selene's debut.
"...... I understand. I will accept your invitation in that case. So, what will be the reward for this confidential escort service?"
Even if I will go to protect Selene, the King was still secretly employing an A-rank adventurer for this. I accepted the invitation but I'm not just going to work for free.
"We have come up with the reward of ten big gold coins to pay you guys."
It should be quite a steep price for a one-day escort request. And there's also the fact that if Selene's debut party ended safely, my ownership over the «Empty Wilderness» would be recognized as well.
Thus, the request for Selene's protection was decided, and the three returned while Selene, who was left behind, looked delighted that we would be coming to her party.
"I'm looking forward to Okaa-san and Teto onee-chan's dressed-up figures!"
"Ahh, there's that too...... Dress, I have to come up with something......"
It was then I realized that I would have to do more than just a bit of preparation to participate in Selene's debut event.
First, I can't attend with my usual attire of a triangular hat, black mantle, and a wand. In this case, I have to prepare an adequate dress.
"What to do........."
"Majou-sama will be adorable in anything you wear~"
"It's not just me, you also have to dress up."
I also have to think about a new dress for Teto who usually just wear her leather armor get-up. But an even more pressing problem was instilling the minimum level of etiquette into her.
"I think I will consult the church's cardinal."
There were people among the sisters of the church we had stayed in who have a firm grasp over the mannerism of aristocrats so it was the perfect place to drum etiquette into Teto before going to the castle. I can also rely on them for advice about my dress.
"I also have to reflect upon my performance in the promotion test today and improve myself."
Even if I'm immortal and have a huge mana reserve of 100,000 units, today's performance proved that I could be injured by attacks piercing through my barrier with instantaneous bursts of firepower and that I have to keep spare mana for emergencies.
"I have to prepare an accessory with a large-capacity «Magic Crystal» and a replacement wand to work as a medium to conjure magic. They also need to have a design that wouldn't stand out unnaturally in a party."
I think I ought to consult with the sisters about this part too.
The following day, we went to the church to discuss dresses and manners as I had decided. Then we talked to a clothing store about the design we came up with, had them make it, and tried them out.
"Majou-sama, you look so cute."
"Teto also looks beautiful."
I was wearing a light-green dress with a subdued design and, to accentuate my long black hair, some accessories that were made of silver.
Teto, on the other hand, was wearing a deep blue dress that goes well with her chocolate skin. For Teto who has a baby face that made her appear a bit childish, the sleeveless design was quite eye-catching and gave her a mature look.
I also had some gold accessories matching Teto's skin prepared and bought for her.
"Alright, time to go. 一一«Enchant»!"
Using the design of purchased dresses and accessories, I created items enchanted with lots of magical effects with «Enchantment Magic».
I enchanted my dress with defensive properties, remolded the gem part of the accessories into large-capacity «Mana Crystals» and turned the other accessories into mediums for magic activation and abnormal status resistance.
As for Teto's dress, I enchanted it to be knife-proof and changed one of the prepared accessories into a small-scale item bag so that she could carry her magic sword and shield anywhere.
Although it was just putting enchant magic on our dresses prepared for the event, it drained 50,000 units of my mana.
They were now loaded with effects that made me involuntarily ponder just how low the performance of the equipment we were using was until now.
Selene wanted to see our dresses for the party but I told her to wait until the day of the party.
Also, the height of Selene, who just turned 11, has already surpassed mine and she's still growing.
I couldn't help but feel lonely thinking that even though we were seen as older and younger sisters up until now, our outward appearance will soon be reversed.
