The Mysterious Black Magician

When Yman and the others entered the barracks, the loiters glanced at them. But when the loiters saw him, some narrowed their eyes as he looked familiar to them. And those who were able to recognize him widened their eyes.

"R-RatSlayer…?" A skeptical whisper from someone.

"What? That person is the RatSlayer?"

"Yes, yes! It's the RatSlayer!"

"Woah! RatSlayer, long time no see!"

"How have you been!"

"Dammit! RatSlayer will be exterminating rats once again!"

"What! The RatSlayer came back?!"

"Hide rats baby! The slayer will be hunting y'all!"

The barracks suddenly became lively. The loiters greeted him with enthusiasm, some with a mix of sarcastic remarks.. However, Yman wasn't a bit bothered by it. He was used to these fellas.

But it was different to Yana and Rea, who were both surprised at the sudden uproar coming from the people inside.

"RatSlayer…?" Yana muttered. It was an unusual name to call someone. And that someone was her brother. When she glanced at her brother, she noticed no dissatisfaction from him.

She sighed.

If ever her brother showed a little displeasure, she would be going to punish these people. Although she was crippled for a long time, she still remembered all those abilities she learned from her childhood.

Regardless, Yana never thought many people knew her brother.

Regardless, Yman noticed the atmosphere inside was livelier than before. The ambiance had improved a lot. Not the usual haunted house vibes it used to be when he first came to register together with Bob and Chloe.

Even the painting inside was now more pleasing in the eyes compared to before. They were now using light-colored paint on the walls. Even the tiled floors were shinier, not the usual yellowish and brownish. Now, three new ceiling fans are rotating on the ceiling, producing fresh air below it. The chairs, desks, and tables were new as well. 

Yman was surprised by the improvements. Though, the arrangement was still the same as before. The counter was still at the center, and there was still the pub on their left side.

But when he rolled his eyes, Yman was dumbfounded. Almina and Miss Ice's poster was everywhere, together with him. Specifically, it was the picture of the mysterious black magician.

Almina turned red when she noticed Yman's eyes looking at her pictures.

"Uh, err, It wasn't what you think. I'm not doing a modeling side job!"

Yman just smiled. "That's… a good picture…" After saying it, he proceeded to the counter.

Almina was left standing with fumes coming out on her head.

"Hmph!" Rea pursed her lips at Yman's remark.

Yman handed the parchment to the counter. He was about to leave after handing, but the counter employee called out to him.

"Wait, sir!"

Yman glanced back, "Yes?" The counter girl was a new face. So it was understandable that she didn't know him. He was the famous RatSlayer in this barracks, so most of the old counter people knew him. But this girl was different.

"Uhm, it was a sealed parchment…" said the counter girl while pointing to the golden ribbon, used to tie the parchment.

"Uh, what of it?" Yman asked nonchalantly as he looked at her.

"With this kind of important letter, the identity of the messenger was important to know," she told him.

"I see," Yman understood.

Almina was about to say something but stopped when Yman walked near the counter while pulling something from within his coat.

He was a member of this barracks as well, so it wasn't necessary to get to know him. But then again, it was different for this new employee.

"G-Gold rank!?" Exclaimed the counter girl inside the barracks upon seeing his adventurer's badge. He was about to pull his barrack's badge but looked like he forgot to bring it.

"Gold?!" Everyone stared at Yman in suspicion.

"Wait, Yman, you joined the adventurer's guild?" Almina asked in surprise.

"Mhm!" He nodded. "Well, I need money to live, " he added while wearing a light smile.

He noticed their gaping mouth as they were looking at him with uncertain expressions.

"I-Isn't adventuring a dangerous job?" one of Almina's party members asked in a mutter.

"Yes, it is."

"Regardless, isn't a gold rank an awesome rank?"

"Really?"

They started talking about it. But Yman did not join.

Rea was silently standing beside him, still hiding in her hooded cloak. After what he did, there's no way she chose to be mocked again. It's better to hide her face. But she would surely make a comeback to him for this humiliation she suffered. And to that Almina too!

"....."

Yman did not loiter longer, he left the barracks right after handing the parchment. Now it's up to them to contact the headmaster if they need something. But before Yman could step out of the barracks, someone stepped forward to block the door.

"Oh, a gold rank adventurer? Really? You? Fufufu," A person said in suspicion. With his tone of speaking, it gave off a hint that he was unsatisfied with Yman as a gold rank adventurer.

It was Abel, the junior trainee, who was sponsored by the Sun family. Of course, he worked under Kiko.

Yman squinted his eyes and stopped on his feet. He looked at him. "Junior, do you need something?" He asked calmly.

"Fufufu," Abel chuckled. "How did you fake that golden badge?" Abel asked with a smirk.

"Fake? Sorry, Junior, but this thing is a real one," Yman replied seriously.

However, he noticed the other party twitched his brow.

"Pwe!" Abel spat. "Don't act foolish!" For some reason, he suddenly yelled which caused the others to become wary of him. "I don't mean that. What I mean is how did you cheat your way to get a gold rank in adventurer's guild?!"

Yana knitted her brows. If this guy tried to touch even the hair of her brother, she would make sure to make this guy regret his action.

Well, Yman knew what he truly meant, but he acted he didn't. "Oh, I see, so that is what junior meant. Kuku," Yman smirked. "Well, I did work hard." It was a simple answer.

"Work hard my ass!" Yet again, Abel bellowed. Abel knew that working normally like doing chores would never raise one status in the adventurers guild. One needs to complete mission after mission to rise his/her rank. And also, the higher rank an adventurer had, the more difficult mission he/she had to participate in.

Yet this guy in front of him was a gold rank adventurer? What kind of miracle this man encountered? Perhaps he cheated or fooled his way to step up in the rank.

Maybe he had a high-ranking party member and carried him along. Unbeknown to Abel, the person in front of him knew what is currently running in his mind. 

Yman peered at him, but he wasn't actually staring straight at Abel, he was assessing him. Or analyzing him. A moment later, a smile appeared in his mouth.

"So, what the junior wanted to say?" Now his voice wasn't that of someone who was fooling. He was serious with a glint in his eyes. Also, his question had an underlying meaning. He was inviting him to try him if he wasn't convinced that he was a gold-rank adventurer.

Abel narrowed his eyes and fell silent.

Almina and the others had no idea about the significance of gold rank adventurers. Among them, only Rea and Yman had an understanding of it. And the importance regarding this rank.