Kanna no Kanna - Chapter 73

《ossan=oldman/uncle, shiroyasha=white demon, bro=nii-chan》

100% accuracy and grammatically correct not guaranteed. revisions, corrections and edits are periodically done. only on my site tho. corrections are welcome

obligatory text zombieeee

Meteor Fist will not appear

ryuusei ken?

The content of this course is very similar to social studies class back on earth.

Recent domestic affairs and names of influential aristocrats. In particular importance are aristocrats of the highest rank, the [Duke’s household]. Other than that, we are taught risk management for escort request and when estimating rare material’s price. Also, to what extent can we talk during actual negotiation before being labeled as insolent and how should we respond to such situation as an adventurer.

……………Frankly, it all goes into one ear and out from the other.

In the first place, my brain cells aren’t that hi-spec. My high school grades were somewhere around [below average]. The only high grade I got was from my health and phy ed.

When Faima taught me, I managed to get it all somehow because she spent one whole day meticulously teaching me one by one. That said, my brain isn’t capable enough to memorize the contents of a 2 and a half hour course packed with essential points. The most I could do is to memorize the names of the most influential nobles in this country, just barely at that.

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「………I hate studying.」

In the corner of the diner adjacent to the guild, I’m languishing with my head on the table, cushioned by an ice pillow. The coldness transmitted to my overheated head due to cramming too much feels very pleasant.

「How unexpected de gozaru na. This one thought that Kannshi would smoothly memorize a lesson of that degree de gozaru ga.」

「What I couldn’t memorize was called [only that degree] by this mutt. I’m gonna pull your tail out, y’know. Ya want me to pull every last strand of fur from your tail?」

「Yo-You’re scary de gozaru Kannshi!……No wait, in the first place, this one is from the wolf claーー」

「…………Aaaa?」

「wafu?! Th-This one is fine with being a mutt de gozaru! wafu!」

「Jou-chan. Stand firm a bit more would you.」

「Impossible de gozaru yo! Kannshi’s eyes are so terrifying that he can kill just with a gaze de gozaru you……」

Chloe is tearing up with her ear flat.

《not sure flat part. cant figure out raw 涙目のクロエが耳をへにょらせてる。》

How rude. I won’t deny that I’m in a bad mood but not that much.

Barlhardt ossan shrugs his shoulder at my back and forth exchange with Chloe.

As I unsteadily wandered over to the diner next door, Chloe followed. Her following me, I get but ossan also tagged along. Seems like for some reason he took a liking to us. The feeling is somewhat mutual but with my head heated as it is, I can’t enjoy the conversation.

「Well, I get why bro is in a bad mood. Seeing you gather that much attention, it’s understandable.」

The cause of my languidness is not solely from the content of the course, but also the attention from the other adventurers. Highly curious line of sights sticks onto me, causing me unable to even yawn. To make things worse, even that rank adventurer cum lecturer turned his attention towards me.

Even though I didn’t doze off and paid attention to his lecture, the number of times I got called to answer a question was clearly higher than the other participants. I hardly know jack about this country’s state of affair and the names of nobles inside it, so every time I was asked, I had no choice but to answer with [I don’t know].

「Even looking from the sideline, I could see that Answerer has eyes on you. Say bro, do you have anything in mind as to why?」

「………If I had to say, yes.」

「How so?」

「During my registration exam, I landed a surprise hit on him.」

「…………………………That Answerer? You landed a hit on him?」

「Yea」

Barlhardt crosses his arms while being grim.

「………I don’t know if I should reproach you for doing a surprise attack during a registration exam or praise you for landing a blow on Answerer.」

「How strong Answerer-dono actually is de gozaru ka? Ah no, this one does not doubt that he is a powerful rank adventurer de gozaru ga.」

Barlhardt acknowledges Chloe’s question.

「His alias [One who answers the future (Fragarach)] is not a façade. Back when I undertook a request to subjugate bandits, he was also there for the same reason. Before I noticed it, Answerer who should have been one step behind had already completely crushed the enemy’s first move. It was as if he was reading the enemy’s mind. If Ryuuken is an expert on offense, then Answerer is the expert on counterattack. He is not a guy who will grant a lucky blow to a fresh rookie undergoing the registration exam.」

In retrospect, though he was who he was back then, there was no doubt that the talented Ruks didn’t even graze the examiner with his one-sided offensive.

「My guess is because I hurt his pride, he’s taking this opportunity to kick me down a notch.」

「It is hard to imagine that a man of valor who climbed all the way to rank would take such a petty approach de gozaru yo. Have Kannshi considered that he is genuinely interested in you de gozaru ka?」

「Isn’t that a good thing, bro. If you have a connection with an rank, you might even be able to get preferential treatment in the future, you know?」

「So you say but……………」

「You sure don’t look so happy about it. I think that having an rank as your backer is quite attractive.」

「Honestly, I don’t wanna get tangled with him.」

I’m already beginning to attract attention inside the guild with [shiroyasha]. It’s scary to think what kinda commotion would happen if it is known that I have a connection with an rank.

「Depending on their skill and strength, those who ply their trade as an adventurer can rise up in any corner of the world. In light of that, it’s unusual that you aren’t interested in the satisfaction of getting ahead in life. If you rank up, prestige and money are yours for the taking, you know?」

「Nah I’m good. Just need to earn my daily expenses. I don’t really care about things like fame or getting a successful career. I’m not the type to swagger around.」

Some might think of me as [wasting away] but my circumstance is entirely different from those sorta people. After all, I’m going back to my original world, so why would I pursue a successful life in this one. Besides, it’s scary thinking about the especially troublesome flag that’ll crop up the more successful and famous I get.

At this point, feels like a deadly flag has already been planted but it’s probably just my imagination.

…………I hope it’s just my imagination.

「If you ask me, by all means it would be better to aim for a higher rank.」

「B-rank is certainly within Kannshi’s grasp. This one have faith that Kannshi would even attain rank de gozaru yo!」

「Ou~ jou-chan, that sure is a high opinion of him ya got there.」

「As it naturally should be de gozaru yo, Barlhardt-dono! Kannshi is one’s own benefactor, the gentlemen this one holds in the highest regard de gozaru kara na!」

「Hahaha. Apparently there is a high expectation placed on your shoulder. If a girl expects this much of you, not responding would make you lose out as a man.」(?)

「Hang on there. C-rank is as far as I can get, y’know. I don’t think that I’m going to aim more than thaーーー」

ーーーhn?

「What seems to be the matter de gozaru ka, Kannshi?」

Chloe.

「hn? Is there something on my face?」

Ossan Barlhardt.

「Hi, Shiroyashkun.」

Answerer…………………………tte oi.

「Another one!?」

「「eh?」」

I didn’t notice because his participation in the conversation was so natural but before I knew it, there is another man sitting at the table. The rank adventurer who persistently hounded me during the lecture. [The One Who Answers the Future (Fragarach)] is there, laughing cheerfully.

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「Hahaha. I was wondering when to greet you but your topic seems interesting, so I let myself join in secretly.」(answer)

Chloe and ossan are dumfounded. Their reaction are justified, seeing that the person who was our topic of conversation a while ago appeared out of nowhere.

I’m even more surprised than them.

『No way! I completely didn’t notice him until just now!?』

The fact that my [intuition], which had become sharper ever since I came to this world, was useless, passed through astonishment into the realm of fear. Is this the [power] of one equal to Real, an rank adventurer?

「Color me surprised. Apparently, you are sensitive to hostile intention but when it comes to someone with no [hostility], your reaction would be slightly delayed.」(answer)

Same as before, his piercing gaze seems like it could discern my mind. Still confused, I tighten my mouth.

「ーーーfumu You recovered faster than I expected. ………No, you are good at hiding your agitation, is it? I see, you have quite the mettle for your age.」

He saw through the expression I wore to gloss it over.

「I’ve heard of your active involvement from Lydeal-sama. It’s only been about a month since you registered with the guild, but you’ve been considerably conspicuous, aren’t you? As the one in charge of your registration exam, that makes me very happy. ah Waitress-san. I’d like to ask for some tea. The same as theirs.」

Answerer orders his tea from a nearby waitress. During that time, I took the opportunity to take a deep breath and calm myself down.

「………What do you want, rank adventurer-dono?」(kanna)

「Don’t be so wary. I didn’t especially come here to tease you.」

「Though you say that, your manner of appearance speaks otherwise.」

「Oh, that was my mistake, isn’t it?」

His smile is haughty, unlike basan‘s. It’s hard to grasp his character.

「etto…………Would it be better if we vacate our seats de gozarou ka?」

Chloe, who hadn’t opened her mouth since Answerer appeared, raise her hand timidly. Ossan Barlhardt also seems uncomfortable.

「You don’t have to. After all, I am the one who barged in. Don’t mind me, Chloe-kun.」

「This one’s name!?」

「Investigating the names of adventurers who are often sighted with the rookie I’m interested in is the least I could do. Also, I assume that you are Barlhardt-kun, isn’t it?」

The ossan who was suddenly brought up utters an impressed [hou].

「Even though today’s the first time I’ve ever talked with my bro shiroyasha?」

「We were in the same request for thief subjugation. Besides, you’re a promising adventurer capable of reaching B-rank just 3 years after registering with the guild. Well, I was also interested in your history before you became an adventurer.」

「Got it. I give up. Spare me from speaking anything more.」

Ossan raises his hand to surrender. That aside, ossan is an adventurer for only 3 years huh. Quite the age to be adventuring. A previous profession was it? I guess he was in a different line of work before becoming an adventurer.

「By the way, he is currently 25 years old.」

「「Seriously (de gozaru ka)! ?」」

Chloe and I are astonished at the candid revelation.

A shocking truth. Ossan is not an ossan after all.

「Hold on there damn it! Why are you both surprised at that!?」

「This one thought that you are a veteran adventurer beyond any doubt de gozaru yo.」

Me too. I assumed he’s about to enter 40.

「Damn it. I know that I have an old-looking face but you don’t have to be that surprised, you know.」

「………………Well, enough about that. What are you here for, [One Who Answers the Future, Fragarach-san yo.」

I forcibly steer the mood that became tedious and question him anew.

「Don’t brush me aside oi………」

Barlhardt who is indignantly shaking his fist, is being patted on the back by Chloe alongside her [If you pay undue attention to it, you lose de gozaru].

I’ll leave him alone for now.

「ah Actually, I received a personal request from Lydeal-sama. That is the reason for me being here.」

I have a bad feeling the moment I hear it’s from basan.

「The content of the request is to be the supervisor of C-rank promotion test for a certain adventurer.」

「Whoa, I suddenly remembered some urgent business so I’ll be leaving now.」

It’s urgent for me to escape from this place, that is.

The moment I try to demonstrate the escape skill I honed back on earth, Answerer place his hand on my shoulder.

guh It only looks like he’s placing it gently but I can’t even move an inch! Even though he appears to be exerting no strength at all, I can’t move as if I’m stitched to the chair!

「Now now, would you mind waiting for a while. I haven’t finished talking yet.」

Answerer’s calm voice appears as an illusion of [GAME OVER] for me.

「Originally, C-rank promotion test are divided into two. A written exam to test your knowledge as an adventurer and an exam in the form of a special request while being supervised by a B-rank adventurer or higher.」

「Um………Could you please let go of my shoulder?」

I can’t escape if ya don’t.

「However, instead of the usual, I was tasked to hold a special exam for the adventurer in question.」

「Nuuuooooooooooo, mooooveeeee! !」

「You’re no longer keeping appearance there bro.」(ossan)

Even with my two hands on the table and exerting both my legs, I can’t lift my butt from the chair.

Why isn’t my microcosm shining! ?

Seeing my desperate effort, Answerer indifferently informs me without losing his laid back tone even the slightest bit.

「The content of the test is [proficiency test with an rank adventurer]. Now, Kannkun, let us head to the exam venue.」

「Aaaaaaaaaaa……………」

I got dragged by Answerer and kidnapped to the depths of the guild.

ganbare~ kanna