2 years went by in a flash.
Archibald couldn't believe he'd already turned 13.
It felt like just yesterday that he had set out on his adventure.
Time had flown by so quickly.
So much so that his sense of it deviated.
Rumia was now 15.
Lamperogue was 16.
And Lutessa was also 16.
His mind wandered to his family back home.
Most especially his little sister Arcelia.
He wondered how much she had grown since he last saw her.
In his last letter from his mother, he learned that Arcelia had become an Advanced magic user in [Water, Fire, and Wind Magic].
Archibald couldn't help but feel proud of his little sister.
It seemed that he wasn't the only one making progress.
Despite his lowered Adventurer rank, Archibald still felt fulfilled in his journey thus far.
After all, he had helped save the Water Spirit Undine.
And although he hadn't received a medal, Undine had compensated him with valuable weapons which he stored carefully in his trusty [Inventory Box].
When they finally arrived at Pantoran in Velvana territory, Archibald sold the weapons to various merchants.
He made a whopping 14 gold coins.
Conversely, you could say he made 140 silver coins.
With the additional 5 gold coins he had earned from quests, Archibald found himself with plenty of money to spare.
However, as a member of a party, he knew he had to share equally with the others.
The camaraderie he found with Lamperogue, Rumia, and Lutessa made it all worth it.
Together, they had braved many dangerous paths and it was fulfilling having trustworthy companions around.
There was still so much to learn and discover in this vast and beautiful world.
Since his time in the Red Desert, Archibald hadn't gotten any more information from Muramasa.
He waited patiently.
But after months of waiting, he eventually gave up.
Now, Archibald focused more on his life.
Finding Sakura Sakaguchi in this world was important.
But it wasn't the only thing he'd live for.
Now, he had a lot more to care about:
His family,
His party,
And finally money.
He'd never thought of the day where a worthless bum like him would have to worry about that.
And yet, he was.
His life was going perfectly.
But what made him the happiest was that he was making the most of it.
The most of his life in this new world.
「Archibaldʼs current stats:
[Thunder God Arts] :: Disciple
[Black Moon Arts] :: Disciple
[Sky Lord Arts] :: Advanced
[Sword Saint Arts] :: Disciple
[Lightning, Fire, Water, Wind] Magic :: Intermediate」
At this point, he was much stronger than General Vorkalth and Rolo combined.
But this wouldn't be an accurate estimation if one factored in experience.
Nevertheless, Roloʼs current standing in the sword arts wasn't revealed.
He could've improved significantly as well.
Still, what bothered Archibald the most was the fact that he would soon reach the limit of his potential.
As a human, the highest one could reach in any sword arts was Master.
It made him feel like he was trapped in a glass wall.
But, he didn't let it bother him.
After all, he didn't believe he'd need to be so powerful.
This world was a peaceful one.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
『Velvana territory — Ivory Forest』
Beyond the walls of Baron and before Pantoran lay the dense, mystical forest known as the Ivory Forest.
The forest was shrouded in myths and legends, with tales of dangerous monsters and ancient ruins that lay hidden in its depths.
It was said that the forest held secrets that could help any adventurer attain their greatest desires.
But only the bravest of souls dared to venture there.
Now, this myth is but a delusional story.
...
In Rumiaʼs cabin.
Rumia finally got enough money to buy a cabin after months of saving.
She purchased it for 15 gold coins.
The cabin was a cozy wooden structure with big windows allowing natural light to seep through.
The outside walls were adorned with carvings of forest animals and mythical creatures that could be found in the Ivory Forest.
The roof was made of thatched straw, further emphasizing the cabin's rustic charm.
Inside, there was a living area with a plush sofa and a small wooden table, perfect for board games and puzzles.
The kitchen was modest but fully equipped with a stove, fridge, and cabinets of supplies.
The bedrooms were snug but comfortable, with warm blankets, fluffy pillows, and a small window overlooking the forest.
As they lounged on the sofa, Mary spoke up:
".....I can't believe how peaceful it is here. It's such a nice break from working at the guild."
Mary was the Tempest Fall Guild receptionist.
A beastwoman who had attractive dog-like features.
Lutessa smiled.
"Yeah, it's been great having you here, Miss Mary. You should come back anytime." (Lutessa)
"And we could explore more of the forest together." (Lamperogue)
Archibald was sleeping in the corner.
Craddled in his lap, was Lobo, his white wolf.
"It's so peaceful today.." (Rumia)
It was nights like this that made Rumia realize how much she treasured her companions, and she hoped they would have many more adventures, whether it be questing or simply relaxing in their cozy cabin.
They were all in casual attire.
At the center table was a teapot of herbal tea.
"So Rumia, have you heard about the news going around lately?" (Mary)
After Mary asked the question, Rumia felt curious.
She had been in the cabin a lot lately, so naturally, there must be a lot of news she hadn't heard yet.
She brushed a few strands of her green hair, which had grown longer over the two years, away from her face and looked at Mary expectantly.
"What news?" Rumia asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lamperogue, never one to show too much excitement, interjected, "Is it the news about Rachel Vaude?"
Mary's eyes widened and she nodded. "Yes, that's it. Have you heard about her?"
Rumia's eyes widened in shock at the mention of Rachel, "Isn't Rachel one of the [Rankers]?"
Mary nodded and confirmed what Rumia had suspected.
"Yes, she is. One of the eleven strongest people in the Eses continent." (Mary)
Rumia remembered learning about the [Rankers] from Larc during their time in Rivelune.
"When did you first hear about her, Mary?" Rumia asked.
Mary rubbed her chin, deep in thought, before recalling.
"It started in the Ferrago town in the Galdruos territory. She's been going from guild to guild, taking on any challenger one on one." (Mary)
Lutessa chimed in, "No one knew she was a Ranker, and so they all wanted to put her in her place, so they challenged her."
Rumia looked curious, "What happened then?"
"What do you think happened? Rachel annihilated every challenger. Not even one of the Rank S adventurers managed to land a single hit on her. But a Rank S adventurer isn't really saying much nowadays, skill matters more." (Lamperogue)
Lutessa sighed, "I can't believe how strong she is. She's beaten every member of every guild in the Galdruos territory, which was what made her come to Velvana."
Rumia looked towards Mary again, "Have any of our guild members challenged her?"
Mary nodded, "Yes, all of them, even Vesta lost."
Vesta was a Rank A+ adventurer in their guild and one of the strongest.
Rumia exclaimed, "How is that even possible?"
Lamperogue raised an eyebrow, "You're surprised? Have you forgotten she even beat Rolo according to what Larc told us."
Rumia shook her head in disbelief at how strong this Rachel was.
Mary cleared her throat and continued, "It's quite impressive how Rachel can end her battles in just three seconds."
Rumia's face contorted in shock.
"Three seconds?!" she shouted, spilling her herbal tea.
Mary nodded.
"Yes, but it's still a good opportunity for most of the challengers to learn from such an experience." (Mary)
Rumia looked puzzled.
"I don't understand why people are so eager to fight a battle they know they'll lose instantly." (Rumia)
Lutessa spoke up:
"Well, there's a good reward on the line. That's why they're so excited to challenge her."
Rumia poured herself another cup of herbal tea.
"What reward?" she asked.
Lutessa explained, "Miss Rachel is no longer looking for people who can beat her. She's just going to settle for anyone who can last thirty seconds against her."
Rumia nearly choked on her tea.
"Is she that confident in her abilities?" she asked incredulously.
Mary shrugged. "Why not? She's a Ranker after all."
Rumia changed the subject. "So, what's the reward for lasting thirty seconds against her?"
Lamperogue's face became serious. "The reward is a position as the twelfth Ranker," she said.
Rumia's mouth fell open. "Seriously?!"
Mary nodded, a small smile on her lips.
"Yes, Rachel is giving people in the kingdom the chance to officially become the twelfth strongest person on the continent." (Mary)
Rumia processed this information. "Oh, I see," she said slowly. "Now I understand why so many people are eager to challenge her."
Curiosity took over as Rumia asked Mary, "What happened when Vesta fought Rachel?"
Mary chuckled.
"Well, besides losing, it was going great for him until the thirteenth second, when him and every other spectator couldn't see Rachel. The next thing they knew, Vesta was on the ground unconscious."
Meanwhile, Lobo, was sleeping soundly with Archibald.
The sun hit their faces, and Lobo yawned, stretching his legs.
Archibald patted him a bit and the two resumed their nap.