Act Two - Rolling Thunder

> Kira PoV

It's been a month since I got kidnapped. It became a significant event as expected.

They're even calling it The Night of A Thousand Broken Bones.

What's with that macabre, ritual-like name!? I want to slap the guy who came up with it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad Ellie didn't kill any of those people.

But she maimed over 300 people in one night. Some of them barely looked human.

That's terrifying if you think about it objectively.

Some would argue that criminal scum like that deserve death.

It's hard to refute them, but life is precious. This is something my father taught me as a child.

So I'll say it again - I'm glad Ellie didn't kill anyone.

In the end, a vicious crime ring was disbanded. We received a sizable bounty from the city. Ellie gratefully accepted it on behalf of our team.

She instantly graduated from disciple status. She got a full rank C in less than a day.

What’s with that? Give me back my 2 years damn it!

Haah, but the disciple system exists for just this purpose. Also it was my idea. So I kept my dissatisfaction to a minimum.

Most of the bounty was used to buy a small empty house in the city. It's mostly so we have a permanent address that can get mail.

I installed a [Gateway] inside. It’s an enchanted doorway that allows instant travel between two points. The other end is at our love nest - the tower in the forest.

As expected, those [Red Fang] guys eventually realized what that tower was. They tried to raise a fuss and even took it to the guild branch head.

In the end, they had conceded [First Claim] and we owned the land, so their complaints fell on deaf ears.

We also brought over a few of Nano's golems to keep watch inside the house. Just in case.

There’s nothing of value in there though.

* * *

In the end, I'm still worried about Ellie.

After that night, she blames herself for putting me in danger.

Then, I learned she suffered a lot in her childhood. She was taught to kill, and she was taught well. Her fate was to become a soulless doll, a weapon.

Nano's the one who reached out and saved her.

My problems feel like a joke in comparison.

Therefore, I have to get a grip on myself!

Filling Ellie's heart with love and smiles is my wish!

"Kira, why are you getting pumped up for no reason?"

Ah no good, I was doing a guts pose without realizing.

{You know she gets oddly motivated when she thinks about you.}

"Well, Ellie's the same way though."

We share a smile and keep walking.

Oh, right, rumors of our engagement spread. Even though I only invited a few people to the wedding.

Well, it's not like we're hiding our relationship in public.

People around keep giving us difficult looks. They want to say something on principle, but they can't. Some people oddly enough seem to cheer us on.

* * *

We arrive at our destination - the adventurer's guild. Love and smiles aside, we still need to work.

We just came back from a Rank B escort request. A big-time merchant hired 30 people in total as guards. He was moving a lot of goods through the plains to the east.

Monsters aside, bandits like to ambush carts in that area. Ellie and I took point since our team has an excellent scout. She would let me know when she found something and I would strike it from afar with my magic.

Needless to say, the rest them had a leisurely trip.

We hand over the proof of completion and our guild cards.

I'm a bit excited. Today is the big day!

When we get our cards back a few minutes later-

--------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Kiressara mil Quasse

Titles: Red Sage, Magic Pioneer

Team: Black Flame

Position: Support

Rank: B

Status: Active

--------------------------------------------------------------

Rank B promotion, alriiiight! Now we can do the really profitable Rank A requests!

Ah, I got a new title.

[Magic Pioneer] must be because I demonstrated my original magic - [Null Gravity].

I'm a bit troubled with this since Nano helped a lot with that spell, but I'll gratefully accept it.

Next, let's look at Ellie's!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Ellie

Titles: Silent Shadow, Bonesetter

Team: Black Flame

Position: Scout

Rank: B

Status: Active

--------------------------------------------------------------

[Silent Shadow] would refer to Ellie's infiltration skills. An odd, straightforward title for once.

[Bonesetter] is... not entirely wrong? It's bound to cause misunderstandings, though.

I seriously want to slap the person who names things around here.

Well, at least Ellie's giving off a smile like a hundred dawns, so I'll forgive them for now.

We thank the receptionist and begin to leave.

"Hah, so Crackhead finally got Rank B huh, took ya long enough!"

It's Oliver from [Red Fang]. He has a familiar glint in his eye.

"[Red Fang] officially challenges [Black Flame] to a duel!"

What are you declaring that all on your own? Picorio, your actual leader, will never agree to that you know? Since he only cares about plants.

"Are you an idiot?

You're just a Short Baldy yet you get so cocky?

Short Baldy is seriously an idiot.

I hoped Short Baldy was smarter than he looks.

But now I see the that was a foolish dream.

It turns out Short Baldy is Short, Bald, Ugly AND an Idiot.

I didn't think nature could be so cruel.

I'm seriously surprised at this turn of events.

Nothing less from the Short Baldy!"

Uwah, Ellie's going full force today.

I better stop this before-

"WHY YOU LITT-"

Too late.

*Snap*

"GYAAAAAAA!"

Yep, there goes the arm.

"Brilliant self defense as usual miss Ellie!"

The receptionist girl calls out from behind.

What sort of conspiracy is this?

"Good day Picorio."

"Good day Ellie."

Somehow, she gets along rather well with the actual leader.

I'm the same though.

However, that team is completely incomprehensible.