What's up? Speaking now is Blaine Skia, soon to be the number one adventurer and hero! Huh? Did I not say I'm planning to be the number one adventurer, too? Psh, do I really have to say it? Of course, I'm going to be the best and greatest hero!
On that note, adventurer rankings are based on two things, the number of requests you've successfully pulled off, and how difficult they were. Although, it also depends on your own strength, really.
Currently, the number one adventurer is this person named Rina Casten, I don't actually know their gender, but judging from the name, they're probably a girl. I really can't say, though...
Anyway, on to the topic of today! After the conversation with Triance, he assigned me a Personal Request. Not to brag, but getting a request from the Guild Leader themself is a pretty rare thing! Just goes to show how I'm rising up in this world.
Right, what're the contents of the request? It's a reconnaissance type, first of all. He wants me to investigate the heroes during the tournament, heh, he even gave me a super rare item and everything! An appraisal tablet! They're this incredibly rare item imbued with the appraisal skill. The reason they're so rare and expensive is because the only way to make them is with the skill 'Imbue Skill', which by itself is already super uncommon for someone to have. It's said that the number of people who have it are in the hundreds and the ones who have both Imbue Skill and Appraisal are even fewer, maybe even in the tens.
And he seriously let me have one! I'm surprised he even has one, considering he has the appraisal skill... I mean, I don't, so having the Appraisal Tablet is pretty necessary for this.
So, he wants me to basically get a sense of how strong they all are at this time. I don't even have to win! But, of course, even against three of them, I'd easily win, definitely, totally.
Okay! For the first step, we've gotta sign up! I'm supposed to sign up at the colosseum... Huh, I've uh, never been there. Not to worry! Triance gave me directions and everything! Alright, northwest from the guild!
... not to be rude to Triance or anything, but those are terrible directions. How is that supposed to help? Okay... I might as well try and go in that direction.
...
Oh, what would you know, the colosseum is directly northwest of the guild. I mean, after walking for just a bit, it was directly obvious seeing how big and tall it is. Hm, I'm supposed to go up the stairs to where the reception room is...
Huh, that's a lot of stairs. I mean, I guess it really is a huge building, but still. Okay, enough of that, let's just get up there!
Dang, it's really fancy up here. I mean, most of the colosseum is made of stone, but all this is some fancy wood. Reminds me of the Guild in some ways, but it's way quieter. Almost silent.
Behind a desk was a person, of course. Wait... is he asleep? Seriously, this guy is totally asleep! Does he even take his job seriously? Fine, I'll just have to wake him up.
"Hey," I shake him a bit, look, I'm not gonna wait forever.
"Eh...?" As he was resting his head on the desk, he looked up at me, "Oh... good... morning?"
"It's the afternoon." Geez, why did they even hire this guy? He doesn't even know what time it is...
"Oh... good afternoon, then," And then he went silent... look, man, do I say something, or do you? Oh, never mind, guess it's him, "What do you need today?"
"Tournament. I'm signing up for the tournament. That is your job, isn't it?" He can't even assume why I'm here, did somebody kidnap the actual person who works here and replaced them with this guy?
"Ah, yes... that is my job, isn't it? Sorry, what is your name?"
Oh? He can't tell who I am just by looking at me?
"You can't tell? Take a better look at me." This has gotta work, there's no way somebody wouldn't know who I am, right?
And so, he did take a closer look at me, for a good twenty seconds before responding...
"... no, I really don't know who you are, what's your name?"
Oh, he... doesn't know after all. Psh, he must be new around here, that's the only explanation.
I let out a sigh, "Blaine Skia."
"Alright... Blaine Skia?" Out of a drawer, he pulled out a long piece of paper, that must be how they keep track of all people registered, "Hm... I'm supposed to ask what level you are... before I register you down, what level are you?"
What level am I? Is it not obvious by just the pure energy that radiates off of me? The power that I exude? Hah, he must be inept at evaluating people's strength.
"Sixty-five."
"Ah... then that would put you in the middle category... hey, are you not participating with any teammates or anything? This tournament is for parties of people, you know..."
Oh, Is it? Psh, that doesn't matter, my strength is more than enough to carry me through to victory on my own! But, what does he mean by, 'middle'?
"Yeah, I don't have any teammates."
"Oh... that's kinda sad. Then, for fairness's sake, I'll be writing you down for lower category instead... is that okay?"
Oh, wait, I'm pretty sure Triance said something about these 'categories'! They're the ranking system this tournament uses. Since there are all sorts of people of varying strength in The Capital, to make it fair, there are three categories for the tournament. Lower, Middle, and High. I'm pretty sure Triance said that the heroes would most likely be in Lower since they haven't had much time to level up and stuff, and category is fully dependent on what level you are.
"Yeah, that's fine."
"Okay..." He probably wrote down my name on the list, but he continued to speak, "Great... I'll see you later, then. After all, we might meet again during the tournament." He smiled, finishing his sentence.
Hm? What's that supposed to mean? So, is he implying that he's participating in the tournament? Huh, well, if that's true, I might as well take a closer look at the guy...
Let's see, he has curly, long black hair that surely makes it difficult to see, a birthmark below his eye that looked similar to a crescent moon, and just a long-sleeved shirt and baggy pants. His clothes seemed a bit big for him, though, poor planning on his part. He seemed young, maybe sixteen to on the high end, twenty. Considering I'm seventeen, we're not so far off in age.
"Okay... then what's your name?" Hey, I'm not interested in the guy or anything, I'm just asking for future reference.
"Eina... yeah, just Eina."
Eina, huh? It's not a terrible name, I guess, but not nearly as good as mine, of course.
"You're not going to tell me your last name?" Look, I'm telling you, I'm not curious or anything, just shut up about it.
"I... forgot it."
Alright, yeah, this guy is a total idiot. One hundred percent an idiot. How does somebody forget something as important as your own last name? Ugh, I'm just going to leave.
"Okay... bye, then." And such, I left, step one of the request is now done!
>Chapter B.4, end.<