Solasidor, I'm back!

Karina-chan here! Solasidor, I'm back!

First, the gate check. I figured I'd use my universal ID for Dea if needed, but he apparently has proper ID, so we'll use that.

 

 

"Heya, gate guard. Traveling merchant Karina Shonin here."

"Mm, a Merchants' Guild peddler… Hm? The girl with you? Show her ID."

"Um, here."

"…! M-my apologies! Please proceed!"

One look at the pendant Dea pulled from his chest and the guard's attitude changed from how he treated me.

Probably some noble thing. They didn't even check my baggage. I'd prepared it to be seen, but fine. It's just lotion and massagers.

"Let's head to the Adventurers' Guild."

"Yes, Onee-san!"

I took Dea's small, soft hand and headed for the guild.

 

*

 

When I opened the door, the guild was buzzing with adventurers.

Eyes turned to my chest. Busted… Ah, they're looking at Dea. Well, he's a cute elf girl. Femboy though.

"So this is the Adventurers' Guild. First time."

"Véraldo's looks the same. Oh, Blade-senpai. Hey!"

I spotted Blade-senpai and his crew just as they were drinking. I called out to them.

"Yo, Karina. Back from Véraldo, huh. Didn't worry, but you look fine… Who's the kid? Secret child of yours?"

"Yup, my cute kid — kidding. Do I look old enough for a kid this big?"

"Nope. Looks like an elf… Not a slave — so, 'circumstances'? Is she crazy strong too?"

"Hehe, Dea-kun is — as you can see — super cute! Brilliant and soothing. My companion now."

"R-right. Cute… I'm Blade. Nice to meet you."

"I-I'm Dea. Pleased to meet you."

Dea-kun bowed his head politely to Blade-senpai and the others.

"Let's register and make a party, Dea!"

"Hey Karina. Just wondering, but why are you using '-kun' for a girl…?"

"Ah, I'm a boy."

"… Right. Well. If you get sick of Karina's antics, say the word. I can hide you."

With that one line from Dea-kun, Blade-senpai instantly assessed the situation.

Hey now, don't make it sound like I'm the root of all evil.

Either way, Dea's registration was quick.

He had proper ID and the fee — so F-rank to start.

I spoke to the receptionist to go ahead and form a party as is.

"Could you provide me with the party name?"

"Oh… Dea-kun, any ideas?"

"Hmm. Since we'll mainly peddle, how about 'Fakers' — as in 'Peddlers'lying?"

"Sounds good. 'Fakers' it is."

"Understood. I'll process it."

Once the receptionist stepped away, Dea-kun quietly whispered to me.

"Fakers actually means 'Impostors.' Fits Onee-san's double life."

"You thought that up in a blink? Genius…"

"… Sorry. I've been thinking about party names all day."

"So you were excited to party up with me? Cute…"

And thus, Dea-kun and I formed the party "Fakers."

Now to earn quick coin and bump Dea-kun to E-rank.

Lumberjacking maybe… ah, the buy price tanked — down to half. I'll stop; it hurts real lumberjacks.

Something easy and profitable… ideally hard for others, easy for us. Hm? Wild boar culling?

That boar from the other day? Let's turn it in. Proof: tusks and hides if possible. Hm.

"Excuse me — we've probably culled one already. Can you check?"

I submitted the hide and tusks.

"Yes… Ah, yes. Definitely wild boar tusks and hide… Butchering's rough, lots of meat leftover, but the hide's clean and freshness is recent… Including the hide, reward is two large silver… One per party member, then."

"Oh, then maybe…?"

Earn a silver in a month — E-rank.

"Yes. We can bump Dea-chan to E. Do you want to? It'll look like a boost so I don't recommend it, though."

Power-leveling. Nobles do it to add shine, but rank without skill isn't advised.

And yeah, Dea's noble-ish and I did the killing. It absolutely was a boost.

"Let's match ranks. It's just E — apprentice — so it won't matter. Okay, Dea-kun?"

"… I'll only adventure with Karina-neesan anyway. Please raise it."

"Understood. Congratulations on E-rank."

Thus, Dea became E-rank a day after registering.

Fast? Yes. But boosted ranks happen — not noteworthy at all. Period.