Today is the day of the E-rank promotion exam, which happens twice a year.
The central branch of the Adventurers' Guild, called "Central," oversees the four branches in the east, west, south, and north. A large crowd of young adventurers had gathered at the reception counter there.
Among them was me, Rick Gladiator, now in my second year as an adventurer at age 26. I headed to the counter to handle my registration.
"Yes, please present your guild registration card."
A young and beautiful receptionist spoke in a bright voice.
She had a great figure and wore her guild uniform a bit loosely, which made her look unintentionally sexy.
"Huh? Senpai? It's Rick-senpai, right? It's me, Alisa!"
"Oh, Alisa. So you transferred to the central branch."
Alisa was my junior when I worked at the western guild "Tiger Road" two years ago. Even back then, she was the branch's poster girl, mostly for her charm. That had not changed here. Adventurers kept stealing glances at her from all directions.
Alisa herself seemed unaware of it. I kept quiet about the times she messed up paperwork because her side boob distracted her during filing.
"I was so shocked when you suddenly quit, senpai. I was even more shocked when I heard you were becoming an adventurer."
"Yeah, well. Looking around the venue, I do not see anyone my age."
Most of the adventurers gathered were teenagers. There were no middle-aged guys like me. Normally, if someone became an adventurer at a regular pace, staying F-rank until 26 would make them a hopeless failure. People usually start in their teens and reach E-rank within two years.
At that moment, a man called out.
"Hey, hey, nee-chan. Got plans after this?"
A bearded guy in full armor spoke to Alisa.
He looked around 35. So, there was another older guy taking the exam. I felt a little relieved.
"No, um, I'm working right now."
"Come on, don't be like that. I'll show you a good time."
"I-I'm sorry, but that's a problem."
"Shut up! Women just need to follow quietly!"
"Ouch!" Alisa cried out.
The bearded man roughly grabbed Alisa's hand.
"Easy now, easy."
I stepped between them and stood in front of the bearded man.
"Who the hell are you?"
The bearded man glared and threatened me.
He reeked of alcohol. He came to the exam drunk. That took guts.
No choice. Time for the ultimate spell I learned during my reception days: "Now, now, let's calm down for a moment." I say nervously.
I had survived fourteen years of guild work with this spell, followed by apologies and enduring insults until the other person cooled off.
"Now now, let's calm down for a mo—"
"Out of my way. Die."
He swung a punch before I could finish my words. Straight to "die," huh.
The punch was slow. Compared to the attacks I had seen over the past two years, it moved in slow motion.
I dodged the punch and lightly pushed against his armor with my hand.
"Gah!"
Oops.
I reacted on instinct and hit back lightly. If this turned into a fight and got me banned from the exam, that would be bad.
"Gu... (thud)"
The bearded man's armor caved in with a dent shaped like a handprint. He collapsed on the spot.
Wait, what? Down from one hit? I barely tapped him.
"Hey, you okay, Alisa?"
"...Senpai, thank you. You're really strong!"
"No, no. This guy was just too weak." No, maybe not weak, he was reeking of alcohol. Maybe he was merely too drunk.
"Really?"
"That thrust was super slow too."
"I couldn't even see when you started moving..."
"Anyway, is the paperwork done?"
"Oh, yes. Here is your guild card back. Your exam number is 4242. Good luck, senpai!"
Alisa handed me the exam ticket with a bright smile.
4242? That number feels unlucky.
I glanced at the bearded man foaming at the mouth on the floor.
He was weak. Maybe that's normal for F-rank adventurers at this age.
Later, after I left, security guards arrived at the counter.
"Yes, this is the bearded man."
Alisa pointed to the unconscious guy Rick had knocked out.
An older guard who seemed to be in charge asked her.
"You were being harassed. Are you all right?"
"Yes, a friend helped me."
The older man looked at the bearded man.
Then he broke into a cold sweat.
"Amazing... The steel armor is perfectly dented in the shape of a hand. What kind of strength does it take to do that?"
"Huh? Steel armor?"
"And this guy looks familiar. He is Domrud, the former A-rank adventurer 'Tyrannical Knight' who was wanted a year ago for assaulting a protected princess."
"What? A-rank?"
"Who exactly is your acquaintance...?"
"Um, we worked together two years ago... at the guild reception."
"Reception?"
"Yes. He was just an ordinary middle-aged receptionist. He did not have any special magic or martial skills."
"...What kind of two years did he live to turn an ordinary middle-aged receptionist into someone who can knock out an A-rank adventurer?"
Cold sweat dripped down the older man's forehead.