Who Am I? Copper Rank.

"Here!"

After returning to the Bearded Cat Inn with Barkal, Serena, who had been waiting for us, handed over several documents.

So you were here.I thought you'd be whining, thinking you'd been fired.

"What are these?"

"You went to the auction intending to sell the special C-rank mana stone, right?"

That's right.

We got tangled up in some incident instead of following proper procedure, but our original reason for heading to the market was to sell the 'special-grade mana stone' and get Barkal's axe.

"I found a buyer for you."

A buyer?

"We were planning to handle it through auction."

"You shouldn't auction it! They deduct a huge commission at the market."

It's not weird that the market or auction house isn't a charity—they need their cut, too, to keep running.

"We can manage the commission."

"I heard the auction house at the market takes 20 percent of the transaction amount."

"Well done, Serena."

Twenty percent.

How ridiculous, just like those guys exploiting the barbarians.

"And I also found a place where we can get Brother Barkal's axe! The arrangements are already finished, so you just need to go and check out the item!"

Serena kept talking cheerfully, her natural smile beaming. I couldn't bring myself to say what I had been thinking before.

If she had left, I would have just treated it as a dismissal.

Dmihtan, to think like that about such a good kid—you're a devil.

But still, how can you call yourself a 'cleric' when you just use your fists? Doesn't it make you mad?

"Sorry, Serena."

"Huh? What for?"

For disappearing all of a sudden.

"Didn't you leave it to me, instead of vanishing without a word? I'm a member of the 'Dungeon God' adventurer party now, you know!"

Serena beamed brightly. My guilt only grew bigger.

* * *

"Branch Manager, this is outrageous."

Periton from the assessment department of the Iushil Adventurers Guild muttered to himself as he stared at the papers in front of him.

Sitting across from him was an old man with a long beard swathing his face.

"As you said, if the 'Dungeon God' party gets promoted to copper rank, it'll be unprecedented."

"You know, right? Even the 'Golden Wind' party, which reached platinum rank in record time, took a month just to be promoted from iron to copper!"

Assistant Orland chimed in, also scowling at the documents.

"I know that better than anyone."

Blaz stood and walked to the window. Beyond it, the Adventurers Guild was bustling. There were notably many barbarians in sight today.

"But we don't have much choice. You're aware, aren't you? This newly formed 'Dungeon God' party and what they've achieved in such a short time."

Blaz clicked his tongue.

"They cleared an iron-grade dungeon—which should take at least three days—in a single day."

"That alone isn't enough to prove the party's capabilities."

"Besides, they've reportedly defeated all the silver rank parties involved in disputes within the guild."

Blaz stroked his beard, adding, "With their bare fists, apparently."

Yet despite Blaz being the Branch Manager, the guild officials listening remained unconvinced.

"Other parties might protest!"

"That's right. 'Dungeon God' is not even ten days old, let alone a month since its foundation!"

Periton, orland, and the others continued to voice their objections, but Blaz only kept stroking his beard, paying them little mind.

Periton's eyes narrowed at Blaz's attitude.

"I can't accept this explanation alone."

The other officials nodded at Periton's words.

"There has to be some other remarkable achievement!"

"Yes, we think so, too."

All attention turned to Blaz as Periton pressed on. A shadow fell over Blaz's face.

"The rookie party 'Dungeon God'. Do you know what they've accomplished recently?"

"The iron-rank dungeon, as you mentioned..."

Blaz shook his head at the phrase 'iron-rank dungeon'.

He pointed at the documents before him and continued.

"There's more than one document here. Listen as you read."

The officials began reading the papers.

At first, it was all familiar. They cleared the 'iron-grade dungeon' with exceptional speed.

They all thought only parties of silver rank or higher could work so quickly.

But it still didn't seem reason enough to bend the rules for a promotion.

Then, as they flipped through the documents...

"The Iushil Market Barbarian Riot Incident..."

Periton's startled voice filled the room.

"The one where the barbarians went wild?"

"On the surface, yes, but in reality, the auction house tricked the barbarians into working as security for low pay—or rather, for free."

"'Dungeon God' resolved the issue and exposed the Head of Security's corruption?"

Blaz nodded carefully.

"I heard from the auction manager, who I'm acquainted with. The exploited barbarians all chanted the name 'Dmihtan Elvar'."

"And what's that got to do with party promotion...?"

"Dmihtan Elvar is the leader of the 'Dungeon God' party, right?"

The guild officials nodded in response to Blaz's question.

"If he really possesses immense power, does that justify this promotion?"

"Power? You mean strength?"

"That's right."

With the most serious expression they had ever seen, Blaz stroked his beard.

"For barbarians, acknowledging someone is based purely on 'strength'."

"We know."

"That standard applies even more harshly to barbarians of other tribes. I've seen them wield weapons at each other just for being from different tribes."

The officials seemed to accept Blaz's explanation. None of them hadn't seen violence from barbarians while working at the Adventurers Guild.

"But Dmihtan made all the auction house barbarians follow him. Do you realize what that means?"

"... No way."

"Indeed."

Blaz nodded with a sigh.

"His power must be overwhelming—enough to subdue all those barbarians."

"But perhaps it's just strong leadership..."

"This Dmihtan reportedly controls Barkal, the barbarian who's always trailing around with him, with just a command. Can you imagine that?"

One official shook his head at the idea of such an obedient barbarian, like a well-trained knight.

"And even if it's just leadership, isn't any ability needed right now?"

Blaz paused for breath before speaking forcefully.

"To deal with the necromancers who are starting to pop up everywhere."

The very mention of necromancers cast a shadow over the other officials' faces.

Evil sorcerers infecting dungeons and spreading their malignancy across the continent.

Some adventurers said they'd joined the trade solely for vengeance against necromancers.

"We're in a situation where as many dungeons as possible need to be cleared. To keep those repulsive necromancers from escaping into the world."

At Blaz's grave words, the previously argumentative officials fell silent.

"For that, we need skilled guilds to work much more widely. That's my belief."

Blaz returned his gaze to the documents.

With a short sigh, he pressed the stamp on the papers in front of him.

* * *

Dark Maple Battle AxeGrade: Rare

【Durability】 2【Cutting Power】 2【Dark Resistance】 1【Heaviness】 1

Headed to the weapon shop Serena recommended in the market, we immediately bought Barkal's new axe.

"Erindal... thank you for everything until now!"

With the new axe—Barkal initiated a farewell ceremony for his old one.

It was less of a ceremony and more like burying the axe and pouring liquor over it.

"Erindal, I'll count on you from now on!"

So he was giving his new axe the same name. Guess you don't need a new name for a new axe.

"Good for you, brother!"

"Now, let's go test out the new Erindal! Where is the nearest dungeon?"

"Sounds great! Let's go to a dungeon right away!"

As if their madness multiplied together, the two started coming out with the most bizarre things.

Naturally, I stopped them. There's no profit in clearing a dungeon without taking a quest.

Leaving Barkal happily admiring his axe, I checked my remaining funds.

After selling the special C-grade mana stone, I had 10 gold coins. Deducting the silver coins I already had, the inn fees, and the cost of buying the axe, I was left with 7 gold and 30 silver coins.

Gear is expensive, as expected.

"Serena."

"Yes?"

"Don't you need new equipment?"

To be honest, I was feeling grateful toward Serena this time.

She went to the market intending to sell the special mana stone, only to get swept up in some weird incident. She couldn't even get the axe and was considered a suspect in the 'Necromancer Incident.'

"No, I'm fine!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

With a spirited answer, Serena clenched her fists and thrust them confidently forward.

"I have the blessing of Liberas, the God of Love and Goodwill! That blessing is the source of my strength!"

Serena—why, when you say that while making fists, does it sound more like your fists are your weapon than your faith?

* * *

After shopping, we returned to the guild and found a crowd gathered in front of the bulletin board.

Did a good quest come in?

Occasionally, the government drafts parties for official missions. Maybe that happened.

If scouted by the government, instead of unstable party incomes, you become a civil servant—a so-called "iron rice bowl."

"Brother Dmihtan?"

When Serena called my name, I looked up.

And then I saw why she'd called me.

The other people at the board shifted their gazes toward us.

Some looked intrigued, as if seeing something extraordinary.

Some wore disgruntled expressions.

Others showed reverence on their faces.

Could it be something on the bulletin board was related to us?

Puzzled, I stepped forward. As if some miracle had happened, people made way, and we easily approached the very front of the board.

I ignored all the old postings and searched for the most recently updated line.

"... Dungeon God party promoted to copper rank party."

So what? It's just a party promotion.

Is this really worth all this attention?

"Barkal."

"What is it, brother?"

"We've been promoted to copper."

"Oh, copper."

What a flat answer. That seems about right.

"W-we got promoted!?"

Serena, at least, responded like the other adventurers.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=I loled at Barkal naming his new axe Erindal as well.He's such a simpleton, he's endearing...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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