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THE examiner brought me to a large boulder. According to him, if I couldn’t destroy it with magic, I wouldn’t be able to be a wizard adventurer. That made sense; Frau would have easily shattered a boulder like that into a million pieces.
However, there was one issue: I didn’t know any explosion magic, and I couldn’t think of any other spells that could destroy boulders, either. I tried using a fire spell, but as I feared, it didn’t work.
“Hmph, it looks like you aren’t cut out to be a wizard after all,” the examiner said flatly. Clearly, he’d been doing this for long enough that he could easily tell what I was or wasn’t suited for.
Well, I already knew that.
But if I registered as a warrior or something, my secret could slip out somehow, so I wanted to stay a wizard.
“All right, can I try out another spell?” I asked. I decided to pull a bit of a fast one.
I chanted a wind spell, and as I did so, I raised my staff in both hands like a sword. I would be using Sonic Blade. It would have been impossible with a regular wizard’s staff, but I figured it would work with a metal staff as solid as the one I had. The technique required a certain degree of mana, so it was basically a spell, if you thought about it. This would be no issue…I hoped.
I swung the staff as hard as I could just as I completed the spell’s incantation. A crescent-shaped blade of wind appeared—though unlike when I used a sword, it was slightly deformed—and slammed right into the boulder.
There was a cracking sound, and the top part of the boulder, which had been cut at something of a diagonal angle, slid off. The shock of it made the ground rumble.
Yep, perfect. This should be acceptable.
I turned to the examiner, who for some reason looked dumbfounded.
Did I do something wrong? Did he figure out that I used Sonic Blade?
“…A-rank,” the examiner groaned under his breath.
“Huh?”
“You’re an A-rank wizard. No doubt about it…”
No, no, no, I’ll stand out if my rank is that high.
“Sorry, but I think something like C-rank would be better,” I said. He probably wasn’t allowed to raise my rank, but lowering it should have been fine.
“What the hell are you talking about?” The examiner’s right eye widened, and he drew closer. “A-rank is the peak of adventuring. Everyone and their mother works as hard as they can to reach it. If you’re going to turn it down, then why become an adventurer in the first place?”
I couldn’t say I was doing it to get myself a decent meal.
“No, but any adventurer can break that boulder, surely?” I argued. “I mean, giving me A-rank just for that?”
“That was a lie,” the examiner admitted candidly. “You’re the first one who’s ever broken it. Just shut up, and follow me.”
He grabbed my arm, and we went back inside the building. Then, he led me to a luxurious room on the third floor where he stood me across from a bearded, white-haired, solidly built old man who was sitting in a chair.
“Guildmaster, this is the promising rookie, Marcus,” the examiner said to the old man. “I can give him my recommendation. He’s an A-rank wizard.”
“A-rank, out of nowhere? Is this some kind of joke? Rookies start at E or D, or maybe C if they’re lucky. I can make minor exceptions, but this is unacceptable.” The guildmaster glared at the examiner. He had an imposing presence.
“He cut the trial boulder in half—with wind magic. The boulder that no adventurer has ever been able to scratch, even A-rankers. If he isn’t A-rank, then what is he? Are you going to make him C-rank, and send him out to exterminate Bloodbears? Don’t you think that’d be a huge mistake?” The examiner stood his ground.
“That boulder?” The guildmaster pondered for a moment, then spoke to me. “What do you think?”
I had nothing to say. I just didn’t want to be A-rank.
“I think it’s a bit premature,” I said. “There are adventurers here who have tirelessly devoted themselves to the Guild, and I’d feel bad if they were passed over so I could be A-rank. More importantly, I don’t have enough experience as an adventurer. If anything, I should start from D…no, E-rank.”
“I see.”
The guildmaster seemed to understand my point.
But then he continued. “You passed, Marcus. I approve of your registration as an A-rank wizard.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nice job, Marcus.” The examiner clapped me on the back. “This was the final test, to see whether you had the integrity to be an A-rank adventurer. No matter how skilled someone may be, no one with an ego is fit for A-rank. It requires the proper attitude. And you displayed that attitude magnificently. I won’t let anyone complain about you going forward.”
What about me? I have a few complaints.
“Your modesty is splendid, Marcus,” the guildmaster said. “That heart of yours is exactly what makes you worthy of an A ranking. In that regard, I have a gift for you: your epithet.”
My what?
“Being given an epithet from the guildmaster is a rare honor! Well done!” The eyepatched examiner slapped me on the back and rejoiced as if he were the one receiving the honor.
“You’ll henceforth be known as ‘Breezy,’ like a freshly blowing wind. There’s no more suitable name for a rookie wind wizard.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me.