Chapter XXXI - Purple (part 1)

"What were you thinking, Rize!?"

Oh, god. Why is this happening.

The whole office is now looking at me and the lady in front of me. Hod and Valey is being quiet behind me, while Fran and her teammates are already gone.

Yeah, the one screaming is Klane.

Earlier today, when Klane came back to the Office, she heard from Keila that I went on a Yellow ranked mission.

As someone who knew me best, Klane thought it was fine. Since I have handled some strong monsters already.

Until... the messenger came.

"Dungeon break! There is a dungeon break in the northwest forest!!"

A man in an adventurer outfit came barging through the door and shouted. Everyone in the Office's lobby jumped and looked at the man.

Apparently, he was already there before we came to the location. He was the first to search the area. By the time he realized the level of danger, he immediately ran and went to the kingdom to call backup.

But by the time he arrived, the backup was already on its way.

"Wait, what do you mean dungeon break?"

Fran, who was eating at the Office's diner with her teammates, immediately approached the messenger. She and her teammates were the strongest team in the Office at the moment, and they felt the need to learn more about the situation.

"In... the northwest forest, near a small town... Red orcs... Hundreds..."

He was still catching his breath while sitting on the floor, and both Klane and Keila immediately approached.

"What do you mean, northwest forest? But a Yellow ranked mission was already issued there!"

Klane shouted from her side, not knowing about the mission has already taken. Keila approached and tapped Klane's shoulder. Klane turned her gaze and found Keila looking at her with a serious face.

"It's Rize. She and... Hod took that mission."

"What!?"

Knowing that I went straight to a Blue ranked dungeon break, Klane panicked. She sent multiple adventurers and made Fran the leader to assist me in apprehending the dungeon break. Little did she know that I had already passed beyond Yellow rank in terms of strength, hahaha...

Anyways, she is mad now.

Fast forward to the future. After everyone dropped off the carriage from the northwest forest, we all went straight to the Office. I was already at fifty percent energy, so I can move again. Sleeping really helps regenerate energy.

When my group entered the Office, everything turned to havoc. Everyone recognized Hod and Valey, but not me. They knew that Hod were the one who went to the dungeon, and if he returns, that would mean the dungeon was cleared.

Everyone was cheering when they saw the long blue haired adventurer enter the Office. They recognized Hod because he is strong, and I definitely wouldn't want this much attention.

When we got closer to the receptionist, however... 

Klane immediately ran out of the receptionist room and went to me. She ignored the people around us and immediately... pulled my ears.

"Aaaw-aw-aww-aww-aw!! Klane!!"

"So? What does a Yellow ranked mission feel like!?"

Seeing Klane's reaction towards me, Fran and her teammates immediately blend with the crowd and left us. Hod and Valey was simply standing still, unable to do anything. And dear god, the attention has gone to me.

"Ehhe-yey-ey Klane, it hurts!"

Everyone was laughing looking at me and Klane. They didn't know the details about this, but it seems to be quite funny to them.

"You think you can just run around and kill things? So, you are so strong now, huh?? What were you thinking, Rize!?"

"Klane! I'm fine! I didn't get hurt!"

"Really? Look at your pants and your legs!"

I quickly looked at my right leg, and I have forgotten because I got grazed there a little bit by the Galar's stone spike. It was already closed because I healed it immediately, but the red mark is still there.

"It was healed..."

"But, you did get hurt!"

She stopped pulling my ears and let out a deep sigh.

"I'm pretty sure you are fine thanks to Hod and Valey. Because otherwise, you would've brought home more wounds!"

I looked at Hod and Valey, and the two are just not in the same room with me. Hod is pinching the middle of his eyes, while Valey is looking at the beautiful ceiling. Help me out, guys...

"Like I said, I'm fine! That much wasn't enough to kill me."

I... said, but she started pointing at the holes and blood in Hod's clothes. Hod turned away due to that, and then she turned her face at me.

Yeah... we got into trouble for sure.

"Rize, please."

She said as she held both of my arms, and I can tell the tone in her voice changed.

"You need to stop putting yourself in extreme danger. You are putting me in a very tough spot, you know."

... Crap.

All this time I thought she was being a nuisance when she tried to stop me from getting on dangerous missions. However, it wasn't because she was trying to be one. It's because she was worried.

When I first arrived here, I was as thin as paper. I was weak, fragile, even practicing for ten minutes was more than enough to knock me out cold for an entire day.

Of course, I got better since then. But, those memories of the dark days must've stayed in Klane's memories quite harshly. She took care of me so well during those days, so of course she would get worried if one day I might get hurt or weakened like that again.

It was my mistake. I shouldn't have forgotten about her. Although, in the first place, I would never have thought that someone would worry this much about me. 

She really has become someone who is very close to me, and I cursed myself for not realizing it.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Klane. For making you worry. Thank you for worrying about me."

All that said, this cannot continue. She has to understand that the situation is not the same.

"But, such a thing won't happen. I am always extra careful, and I will know whether or not I can handle a danger."

I said to assure her, but I could feel her hand tremble as I held it. I realized that this must be quite difficult for her to let me go, but it needs to happen.

My job is an adventurer. It is arguably one of the most dangerous jobs in the kingdom, and I have chosen to become one. And Klane, who has seen many adventurers come and go, definitely knows the dangers better than anyone.

It's understandable that she is this sad. Once you are too attached with someone, it's always hard to accept this reality of allowing them to head into danger.

"I am also no longer the same person as when I came here. I am no longer weak. You know that better than anyone."

She let go of her hands and turned around to hide her face.

"Tell me, Rize."

Klane asked while having her back on me, and I'm sure she is already starting to accept it.

"Was the boss difficult?"

I thought about her question. The boss was a God of Orcs, who I believe is beyond the level of higher White ranked. But since we decided to lie and tell everyone it's actually a higher Yellow ranked, I have to think this carefully. Hence, I should answer it the best way to assure Klane.

"Yes! It was crazy strong!"

I answered while smiling excitedly, and Klane let out a sigh.

"I see."

She turned her head and walked away to her desk. I watched as she walked in and returned back to me, and she handed me an adventurer card. 

The card has dark purple colours on the sides and the middle, as well as the big purple box that is right next to my names and stuff. She gave the card to me, and I studied it closely. 

My new adventurer's identification card, and the rank says Purple.

"Congratulations, Rize! You are now a Purple ranked adventurer!"

.

.

.

The rest of the night is just chaotic. 

Fran, the Swordsaint, emerged from the diner with a large cup. She quickly walked towards me, strangled me in her arms, and shouted 'Hail Adventurers!', which I assume is another common term for adventurers to say. All the other adventurers followed her shout one after another, and I looked at them while holding my card dumbfounded.

Fran smiled softly at me before walking away, and another person approached me from the side. Hod patted me on the shoulder and saw the card on my hand, and Valey is grinning right behind him.

"Congratulations. Considering what we went through today... it's worth it, right?

"Hmm, I don't know. What do you think?"

He tried to do pep talk... That's impressive.

He then proceeded to turn quite awkward about something, and he rubbed both his hands together.

"So, eh... Would you like to--"

"Would you like to join our team!?"

Valey immediately cuts Hod and shouted, which surprised Hod because that was too sudden. It appears that they were already discussing this before without me knowing, and it must be after Klane yelled at me.

Hod was surprised by Valey's sudden shout, and he was about to scold her. But, I quickly gave them my answer.

"Sure."

""Eh--??""

They both looked at me with a surprised look, and I'm certain they were already expecting to get rejected considering my personality.

But, if they didn't ask me, I would've been the one requesting them. I think it's a good opportunity for me to finally join a team.

"What? Why would you think I wouldn't accept it if you decided to ask anyway?"

"Ahh... Well..."

"Besides, you guys saved me back there. I owe you guys one."

I patted both of their shoulders, and the two were just laughing awkwardly, not expecting this kind of development. However, this feeling goes both ways.

Having someone else to have your back is very advantageous. If you look at what happened with Galar, having allies to always have your back is very good. That also means I have to protect them, but after seeing what their capabilities were, it doesn't seem like I have to babysit anyone.

Hod is strong. He is definitely one of the strongest adventurers here. And even though his rank is only Blue, even Fran has mentioned that he has the potential of a Yellow ranked. After seeing what he can do against Galar, such a judgement can only be agreed.

Valey might be weak in terms of firepower, but she has the accuracy of a goddess. The arrows she shot at the red orcs, I can guarantee that I could never have that insane of an accuracy. She has her worth for sure.

Then, Hod's other teammates. I don't really know who they are or what they can do, but I can trust them. Their team was already complete without me, so I will only just be an addition to increase their firepower.

Of course, joining them would also mean I have to put up with their personalities. This is not a problem considering I've never once complained about their personalities today. If it's a team like Cane and his guys, I would pass hard.

"I'll join your team. I've been thinking about it for a while, but I really wanted to do more high ranking missions. Plus, it won't hurt to have my back covered the whole time, right?"

"Ah... Haha!!"

Valey jumped and hugged me from the excitement, and I can only hug her back happily as well. She let go of me and held my hand, and she looked at me straight in the eyes.

"Welcome to the team, Rize! I promise you'll have a lot of fun with us."

"Thanks for having me."

I nodded at her, and Valey stepped back to look at Hod. The team captain cleared his throat before speaking.

"Well, it would seem that we have to tell Cony and Barett, but that's no problem."

Hod approached me and lifted his hand for a handshake.

"Welcome to the team."

I grabbed his hand and shook it firmly, and we both agreed that this is the best way for us to move forward.

With me on his team, Hod can take even harder missions. Harder missions can also directly factor into more income, since high ranking missions always pay well. Of course, I am also reaping such profits myself.