Hell Mode: Volume 6, page 28
Suddenly, Allen recalled that Makkaron had also mentioned that the title carried with it some responsibilities.
“Are there any kinds of hassles I’ll need to deal with if I become a Rank S adventurer? Like needing to attend monthly meetings or something?”
I’m way too busy with my iron golem farming to attend things like that if they exist.
However, Makkaron merely shook his head. “No, there’s nothing predetermined like that. As I mentioned earlier, one person I certified over twenty years ago has been completely out of touch. I do wish that you would remain accessible, though.”
“So what is that responsibility you were referring to?”
“Well, since you would have the same authority as a deputy guildmaster general, that also means that you would have the right to speak at gatherings of the Five Continent Alliance. It would be a good idea for you to simply bear that in mind. Also, in light of everything going on in the world, it’s fairly likely that you’ll run across people who have been hurt by monsters at some point in your travels. When that happens, I would appreciate it if you would help slay those monsters should anyone ask for your assistance. If you could just provide some instruction to the local Adventurer’s Guild and perhaps work with them to think up some strategies, I’m sure they can do the rest on their own. I wouldn’t think of asking you to stay there forever.”
Allen finally felt as if he had a firm understanding of what a Rank S adventurer actually was.
Makes sense. So this is a kind of system to grant both powers and responsibilities to people who are a little bit out there, so to speak.
This seemed like a system created to force a little self-awareness onto people with incredible power who wanted to just live as they pleased, not giving a second thought to nobles or royal families.
Strength notwithstanding, it was difficult for free spirits like those to stand in the face of the tremendous collective might wielded by the rest of the world. Even if they were several or even several dozen times stronger than any normal human, they would still not be able to win against the world. On the contrary, the world would try to control their power. Then again, those without any desire to go against common sense and the rules of the land probably would not even consider leading a self-driven life in the first place. That was probably why people like Helmios and Garara, or even other nobles or military men, would never be certified as Rank S adventurers no matter how powerful they were.
It was a completely different story if someone who possessed hundreds or even thousands of times the strength of a normal human, someone on equal footing with these other heroes, decided to rail against common sense and the rules of the land, however. They needed to keep such outrageous people at arm’s length and interact with them as little as possible in order to avoid tragedy. Therefore, the meaning of the Rank S title was to grant them a certain degree of freedom while making them aware of the expectations of their power and to encourage them to be aware of their responsibilities. That also nicely summed up why Makkaron had hurried here after the Rank S dungeon was cleared.
Allen had been planning to meet with the emperor of Baukis. As had been the case in Ratash and Rohzenheim, there would likely be more opportunities to meet royalty and aristocrats in other countries in the future. Holding the title of Rank S adventurer could prove useful in stopping influential people from trying to restrict Allen’s power while also preventing friction between them, as that could otherwise lead to conflict on a national scale.
With the privileges of a deputy guildmaster general, assuming that the other party knew what this meant, they would likely refrain from making unreasonable demands or otherwise acting rudely. Instead, they would choose silence so as to avoid the threat of Allen pulling the Adventurer’s Guild from their nation. On the flip side, this also served to deter Allen from having the Adventurer’s Guild leave a country.
I guess this is ultimately a lot better than being treated like just some member of the four parties that cleared the Rank S dungeon.
Allen was finally ready to start properly weighing the pros and cons of this offer when Cecil broke the silence, her harsh tone bringing him back to reality. “What’s there to think about?!”
“Huh? What’s gotten into you?”
“Listen, I want to be able to say that the leader of my party is a Rank S adventurer, all right? So hurry up and do it!”
As if issuing a command, she placed one hand on her hip and raised the other, extending her arm and pointing a finger at Allen.
“Sh-She’s right!”
“Definitely, just think about how cool it’d be to be a Rank S adventurer!”
Sophie and Krena quickly voiced their agreement with Cecil. Dogora, Keel, and Volmaar all nodded along as well.
“Hmm, I guess you’re right. If this is what my friends think, then it can’t be all that bad of an offer,” Allen said, finally deciding to agree to take up the role of a Rank S adventurer.
“All right then. Carlova, please get Allen’s ID card.”
Carlova hurried into the back room and returned with a metal chest. Inside was a glimmering gold adventurer’s ID card. They had apparently prepared a Rank S adventurer’s ID card in advance.
“I, Guildmaster General Makkaron of the Adventurer’s Guild, hereby certify you, Allen, as a Rank S adventurer. Please take your adventurer’s ID card.” Makkaron took the simple card with an S on the front and held it out toward Allen.
The whole room erupted in exuberant hollers and applause as Allen’s friends quickly surrounded him to get a look at his Rank S adventurer’s ID card.
“Well, looks like we better get t’ celebratin’!”
Admiral Garara quickly hopped down from his chair. Allen, however, knew that this could only mean a wild night of drinking.
“No, I think I’ll be all right.”
“Out o’ th’ question! I won’t hear another word! Gah ha ha!”
Garara belted out a laugh as he threw his arm around Allen’s shoulders as if to prevent him from escaping. Allen could not help but sigh inwardly at the thought that this was one of the few times where his status as a Rank S adventurer counted for very little.
Chapter 15: An Audience at the Baukisian Imperial Palace
After Makkaron bestowed upon Allen the status of Rank S adventurer, the Gamers returned to the base only to find a servant from the Empire of Baukis waiting for them. The servant confirmed the date on which Allen would have his audience with the emperor and informed them that they would have a few days of downtime after arriving in the capital. More than anything, Allen just wanted to hurry and unlock his King Me skill so that he could spend the time between their arrival and their audience with the emperor leveling up.
In order to get that done, Allen hatched a secret plan that he could carry out while on his way to the imperial palace. By using a Bird A’s Abilities and Awakened Ability, the party would be able to go to and from the Rank S dungeon. Of course, he would spend his time following the servant around as they performed their mundane, time-consuming tasks such as riding the magic ship, landing in the imperial capital, and arriving at the room where he would be waiting until he was finally granted an audience. Meanwhile, however, whenever he was out of the servant’s sight, he would return to the dungeon to farm iron golems and trade at the Adventurer’s Guild. In this manner, he could still give Baukis the impression that he and his friends were observing all the proper formalities on their way to the capital. It went without saying that no one would know that he could travel across continents as he pleased merely by setting up teleportation points.
Considering that Helmios would also be traveling with them, Allen told him about the plan and asked him for his assistance. Helmios merely chuckled to himself and commented that this was a very Allen-like plan before agreeing to keep the servant busy during their travels.
＊ ＊ ＊
Ten days after arriving in the capital, the party was finally granted an audience with Pupun III, the emperor of Baukis.
I know they said it would take a few days, but ten is just a tad excessive. I’m really glad I was able to travel back and forth.
Just as the Gamers finished selling the items they had garnered from their iron golem farming and buying their magic stones, Helmios called out to Allen via the Bird G he had left back in the capital. “It’s about time. You’d better hurry on back.”
“Ah, got it. I’ll be right there,” Allen responded through the Bird G. Then, using Bird A’s Awakened Ability, Return to Nest, he teleported the whole party from the Adventurer’s Guild in the Rank S dungeon to the room where Helmios was waiting in the Baukis imperial palace. The room was quite large and had around forty people inside. In addition to Helmios and his party, Sacred, Admiral Garara and his men, as well as Prince Zeu and the Ten Heroic Beasts, were also sitting at a long table that ran down the length of the room.
The managing guildmaster and deputy managing guildmasters overseeing the Adventurer’s Guild in Baukis were present too, seated near the door. This was the first time that Allen, a newly minted Rank S adventurer, had been invited to an audience with a signatory of the Five Continent Alliance, so they had come along as representatives of the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Oh, ye’re here.”
Admiral Garara was the first to take notice of Allen’s presence. Much to Allen’s surprise, he had done away with his usual tricorne hat and ruffian attire. Instead, he was dressed in an admiral’s uniform, with countless medals and ribbons adorning his chest. Obviously, there was something of a dress code to be observed when meeting the emperor.
Garara was joined by the other dwarven golem pilots, similarly dressed in military garb. Seeing the group sitting in a tight formation around the admiral once again reminded Allen that Garara was indeed a military man.
“I gotta admit, you clean up well, Admiral. You look nothing like your usual slovenly self.”
“Oh, shut yer trap,” Garara replied playfully to Allen’s teasing.
Allen then spoke to Zeu and his entourage. “Have you gotten a response from the Beast King yet?”
Zeu also looked quite regal as he sat there with a relaxed expression. His mane shimmered like a proper beastkin, and he was clad in all white. Allen figured that this must have been how most of the Albahalan royal family dressed.
“I received a message just the other day telling me to return to Albahal. I can’t thank you enough, Allen.”
This was the first time Prince Zeu would be going home in many years. For as long as Allen had known him, Zeu nearly always kept a stern look on his face, but that had been almost completely replaced with a gentle grin now that he was to return home. He must have been quite pleased to finally reunite with his wife again.
“Hardly. We couldn’t have done it without your strength. And what of the Ten Heroic Beasts?”
Zeu chuckled. “Ah, yes. The king said he would like to speak about that as well. I can only hope he won’t get too physical over the matter.”
“Ouch. Good luck with that.” Though Allen assumed that Zeu was joking, the Beast King was known for having a short temper.
“Considering everything you’ve done for us, what do you think about coming to Albahal?”
“Really? Are you sure it’s okay?” Historically, there was a feud between beastkin and humans. Allen had heard that even the great Hero Helmios had found gaining entry to Albahal difficult.
“Absolutely. Of course, we should not force ourselves to forget what happened between our ancestors a thousand years ago, but just as we did in the Rank S dungeon, we should be able to work together as we aim for our shared goal. That is the era I hope to see going forward.”
It was certainly true that Zeu would have never been able to clear the Rank S dungeon were it not for Allen and Helmios’s assistance. According to the Beast Prince, their group clearing the dungeon had made him realize that there were goals that could not be reached if one held on to their hatred.
“I see. Well, perhaps we’ll come visit after Meruru gets her class promotion.”
“Understood. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival, then.”
The class promotion dungeon was going to open up any day now, and Allen wanted to get Meruru’s class promotion so she could start piloting hihiirokane golems.
Besides, I might be able to get my hands on some useful information for powering up. If I could just unravel the secret of the royal family’s Beast Mode, I’d be even closer to getting the Gamers into Extra Mode.
“Apologies for the wait. The emperor will now grant you an audience.”
Guided by a team of dwarves, everyone headed up one floor, where they were greeted by a long hallway. At its end was a set of massive golden doors decorated with red and blue gems, an elaborate design carved into the sides. One of the dwarves used a magic tool clipped to the wall to notify the emperor of the group’s arrival, then asked them all to wait patiently.
Allen stared at the door, lost in thought.
I wonder how many magic stones just one of those doors would be worth.
“Pupun III, the emperor of Baukis, will now see you!” the dwarf holding the magic tool suddenly declared. His voice echoed loudly throughout the large hall, making Allen briefly wonder if he risked going deaf.
With that, the golden doors opened and a blast of light filled the hallway. On the other side, Allen saw an audience chamber with a floor made entirely of gold. Dwarven nobles flanked the entrance, creating a path for Allen and the others. The line of aristocrats led to a throne of the same gold as the floor. On it sat a chubby man in his forties, looking at his visitors from afar with a curious look on his face.
“Beast Prince Zeu and the Ten Heroic Beasts of Albahal; Helmios and Sacred of Giamut; Princess Sophialohne, Grand Strategist Allen, and the No-life Gamers of Rohzenheim; and, of course, Admiral Garara and Stinger of the Baukis Navy. You are all hereby granted an audience with the emperor. You may proceed.” As soon as the dwarven guide concluded his remarks, Allen and the others passed through the golden doors that led to the audience room.
As they had been instructed in advance, the leaders of each of the parties walked in a row, leading the way. The golden floor reflected the light cast down by the illumination magic tools attached to the ceiling, making it look as if they were walking on the sun.
“It looks like this is what the emperor has spent all that money he earned through the blood, sweat, and tears of his subjects on,” Allen whispered over his shoulder to Keel, who was following closely behind.
“He can hear you, y’know.” Though Keel scolded Allen, he had been thinking exactly the same thing.
Allen had witnessed many dwarves trying to earn money in the Rank S dungeon. Those Baukisian citizens were taxed a portion of their dungeon earnings. In addition, Allen had heard that those who did business on Floor 1 of the Rank S dungeon were also obligated to pay taxes, citizens or not. He had no way of knowing what percentage of that tax money went into creating and maintaining this gilded room, but all the same, he could not believe it.
Before long, Allen stopped at a straight line made of jewels embedded in the floor, just as they had been instructed beforehand. He found it rather comforting to know exactly how far he was supposed to go. Garara, Helmios, Zeu, and Allen all then got down on one knee, followed shortly thereafter by their respective party members.
“The emperor would like to first speak to those heroes who cleared the Rank S dungeon!” exclaimed a dwarf—likely the prime minister or in some other such noble position, judging by his appearance—to Allen’s left, his voice booming throughout the room. Allen was impressed at how loud he was considering that he was not using a magic tool.
Everyone in attendance looked up at the seated emperor.
“Thank you all for coming. I am the emperor of Baukis, Pupun III.”
To Allen, who had seen many dwarves who were either in the military like Admiral Garara or working as adventurers, the emperor looked like an unremarkable, chubby old man.
So this is the emperor of Baukis, one of the founding members of the Five Continent Alliance, huh? I’d heard that he was something of a petulant child, and I’ve gotta admit, he certainly looks that way.
The chubby old man let out a sigh before continuing to speak. “Admiral Garara, I would like to formally praise you for having completed your duty of clearing the Rank S dungeon in spite of the losses you suffered along the way.”
“Thank ye, Yer Majesty.”
Despite the kneeling dwarf’s polite tone of voice, it was clear that he was fuming over the comrades he had lost being so casually disregarded. Allen heard the nobles standing in line breathe sighs of relief, perhaps due to the situation or perhaps because they knew that the admiral did not think highly of the emperor.
Seems a bit odd that they’d invite the admiral here despite knowing that he doesn’t hold the emperor in high regard. I guess they just wanted to show and make the most of the fact that Baukis has a hero of their own.
“Please tell me everything you can about Dygragni’s dungeon. What kinds of rooms did it have? What items did you obtain?”
The emperor began questioning Garara. All of his questions, however, were related to the sights and monetary values of items found within the dungeon. This led to the admiral getting even more stressed, and once the questions were finished, he answered the emperor in a frank, direct manner.
“Yer Majesty, I will give a full report at a later date. For now, I would appreciate it if ye would also thank those who joined me in clearin’ the Rank S dungeon.”
“Hmm? Ah, yes. That’s right.” The emperor nodded and turned his attention to Helmios. “Hero Helmios, I assume you are in good health?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I would like to thank you for joining forces with Admiral Garara and clearing the Rank S dungeon.”
“It is truly an honor to receive such a compliment from Your Majesty. Far more than I deserve,” Helmios replied, holding his kneeling position and bowing his head low.
