Class E

"Onee-chan..."

The cute Dinda hugged her dear onee-chan, Hiyori Catrine, and I couldn't help but turn my face all over the place.

This place was the Adventure Guild, a place where adventurers were given missions. Just like games or movies or whatever, adventurers are also given the task of eradicating the monsters that are troubling humans... and other missions.

Depending on the mission given, they must choose a fairly easy mission—for example, such as killing small monsters or helping the residents of a village to repel animals.

How can I think like that? That's because I'm currently looking at the papers displayed on the board.

There were so many papers stuck to it, and in front of it were several adventurers who were choosing what kind of mission to undertake.

On the paper, I could see the star symbol. There are 5 kinds of stars on the paper, 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star, and 5 star, which means that is most likely how difficult the mission is.

For papers that have 5 stars, there are still so many, and no one wants to take the papers. Perhaps because they knew how dangerous the mission was, they didn't choose the papers, rather than risking their lives.

This place also has a typical medieval interior, has slightly dim lights, and is quite spacious. Therefore, this place is suitable for adventurers who want to stop for a while.

"Onee-chan..."

Dinda seems fine here. She coped well with the trauma, even though she was still young, probably only 7 years old.

The two of them talked to each other for a long time, as if releasing a deep longing.

Well, maybe since that incident she and her onee-chan have never met, and what's worse, she has to go through a period of trauma here, leaving her hometown.

Honestly, it didn't matter, because after all, she was fine, even her injuries were quickly disappearing. Therefore, I didn't want to disturb them, choosing to look around this place.

"Are you eating right, Dinda?"

"Yes, Dinda eats properly. Dinda is full enough to eat here."

"I'm grateful..."

"Are you all right too, Catrine?"

A brown-haired woman in formal attire approached them.

"I'm fine, Carolin. Thank you for taking care of my imouto."

As she approached them, she glanced at me.

"Is that person..."

"Oh, that's right."

She suddenly bowed once, appearing to greet me.

"Good morning. I am Carolin Simon, the receptionist of this guild."

"I see."

When my answer was so short, Hiyori immediately turned to me with an annoyed expression on her face.

"Oi, can-"

"It's all right, Catrine. By the way, did the reception go well? I told you not to overdo it, but adventurers want to welcome you so luxuriously."

"O-Oh, that… We didn't go through the entrance."

"Umph? Where did you come from?"

"Ah… we entered the city through the canal."

"Eh? Seriously?"

"Yeah, and it's because of that guy."

"...Yeah, hahaha..."

She smiled forcefully when she saw me, which meant she didn't expect this.

"Just take it by surprise. Hahaha... So that means..."

"Ah, they're still waiting there."

They will still be there until I come because they don't know that I am already here. Maybe they'll wait for me there until nightfall, maybe until tomorrow, that's what I thought considering their friendly nature to people.

"What can I do, later I will get someone to tell this."

She wanted to tell someone this, meaning they wouldn't wait until night or tomorrow.

"Sorry to trouble you, Carolin-san."

"It doesn't matter, Catrine. After all, it is my responsibility to protect the adventurers."

After she said that, I saw Dinda coming towards me and tugging at my robe.

"Hey, hey... Onii-chan..."

"Why?"

"Would you like to carry me?"

Without thinking I picked her up, and I was like a father holding his daughter.

"How are you, Onii-chan?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Dinda is fine, Onii-chan. Dinda is sure that Dinda can hit onee-chan's ass now."

Like a little girl in general, Dinda also has a shrill voice and a mischievous nature to her onee-chan.

"Dinda..."

"Onii-chan."

Perhaps for fear of being scolded, Dinda immediately hugged me.

"You two are like family."

She meant to make fun of her, but Hiyori overreacted.

"N-No! That's where possible! I-I'm still a virgin."

Leaving them alone, I went from this to that board.

When I got there, I looked at the pasted papers.

"Dinda, can you read it?"

"Of course."

"Do you know what it is?"

"Dinda knows."

"What's that?"

"These papers are a quest, a mission for adventurers. The citizens who are having trouble with something, usually ask the guild for help, and the guild will then act on how to overcome this. Usually when xylophone, the guild will immediately order. But if it's difficult, the guild will stick these quest papers on the board."

"You know a lot like that, Dinda."

"Of course. When Dinda grows up, Dinda wants to be a great adventurer, making Dinda's name famous everywhere. Dinda wants to defeat the dragon, getting a legendary sword from Dinda's colleagues later. Therefore, Dinda learned a lot."

"Oh, I see. You've been studying hard. That's good for you."

"Hehehe. How? Is Dinda already great?"

"Yeah, you're great. Keep on studying, you will be able to achieve your goals later."

***

Go up to the 2nd floor, it turns out that there are several tables available, looks like a restaurant, and has a counter where there are already receptionists and adventurers who are relaxing enjoying their drinks.

"Come here!"

She led us to a table with a transparent ball on it.

Unlike the other tables, this table is not surrounded by chairs to sit on, it looks like it was specifically used to put the transparent ball.

Until she gets there, she explains that the ball is a crystal ball, to signify the identity of someone who wants to live here and detect how much ability that person has.

This ball was deliberately created to tell that person is a resident here or that person is not from here. The magic that will enter later into the person's body from the crystal ball will indicate that the person has become part of the citizens of this city, and will no longer be considered a stranger.

Therefore, I, as a foreigner in this world, must first make my identity known through that crystal ball.

"Now, put your hands on this ball!"

Looking around after she said that, for some reason, I look everyone who was here was looking at me with a tense expression on their faces, as if waiting for this.

Giving Dinda to Hiyori, I then put my right hand on the crystal ball.

The crystal ball started to glow, and I began to feel something enter my body, it was like a low-voltage electric current entering and pricking my veins.

"Finished."

"Oh… that fast."

Without realizing this is over, I even just blinked my eyes 5 times.

"Now, the second stage."

"There is more?"

"Of course. This time, this crystal ball will identify your strength, whether you have great magic or mediocrity."

Hearing that straight from her mouth, it seemed like she wished I had some great magic.

I put my hand on the crystal ball again, and this time I felt something different, like my energy, was being sucked in by the crystal ball.

After a while, the crystal ball turned white, completely white, like freshly squeezed cow's milk.

Seeing their shocked expressions mixed with dazzling expressions, I glanced at Hiyori and Dinda who were staring at me.

"..."

"..."

They and everyone else here fell silent after the crystal ball became transparent again.

After a while, Carolin finally opened her mouth and told me about the white crystal ball.

"Sorry… This is my first time seeing this. You… You don't have any magic, and your abilities are at Class E."

"I see."

"Don't worry, maybe this crystal ball is broken. I'll bring you a new one."

"No need, anyway for what?"

"But..."

"So my abilities are only at Class E? I think it's better that way, so people know that I'm not what they expected."

Turning to the side, I shouted at them.

"There is only one thing I want to say to all of you who are here. I'm only human like you guys, so don't think I'm special. If you're waiting for a miracle, why don't you just do a miracle? You guys are great fighters, but your brains are still not enough. You keep thinking about how dangerous this and that are, making you doubt. Just accept... just accept what has been given to you. Don't complain because life is short, so just accept it."

"...Ryuki..."

"And, never judge something by what you see. If you judge the ability of this crystal ball, you are the same as judging an old grandpa who is walking, looking frail but still strong to walk. So, your abilities can't be measured just from this crystal ball. Give the best for you. Understand?"

"WOOOOAHHH..."

A thunderous voice greeted my speech, even though I was only telling them what had happened.

"Good. Troops, disperse—wait, I'm no longer a major."