The Traveller With New Companion?!

As Yuna and Yukki attempted to speak with Aira at the reception counter, their path was blocked by three individuals. A girl who seemed to possess weak mana for a mage, a sword-wielding man with no discernible magic, and a woman dressed as a sister who radiated holy mana and healing magic were obstructing their way.

"Excuse us, could you move aside? We need to report to the Guildmaster," Yuna stood her ground, addressing the trio.

"Don't try to deceive the guild with obvious lies," the sword-wielding man accused them, leading Yuna to wonder what lie he was referring to.

"Lie? What do you mean?" Yuna locked eyes with them, her gaze unwavering.

"It's impossible for a human to live for 200 years. Don't commit such obvious lies! It's a crime!" The sword-wielder's outburst drew attention, and Yuna sighed, realizing what he was getting at.

"Perhaps humans are just too fragile for that," Yuna muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?!" The sword-wielder raised his weapon, pointing it at Yuna.

"Is that how you want to play it?" Yuna met his hostility with indifference, the tip of his sword failing to intimidate her.

"Ah, what do we have here?" Yuna taunted him, unimpressed by his attempt to provoke her.

"A criminal must face justice! You're under arrest!" The sword-wielder's aggression escalated as he pointed his blade at Yuna's neck.

"Wait, Red! We were discussing inviting her to our party, remember?" The mage girl intervened, trying to defuse the situation.

"That's right. Pointing a sword at me won't even leave a scratch. What's your aim?" Yuna advanced toward the reception counter, beckoning for Aira's assistance.

"Didn't I tell you? We're done here," Yuna retorted, flicking her finger against the sword's tip and inadvertently breaking it in half. The mage girl's intervention had caused unnecessary chaos.

"What?! That sword could withstand even dragon's breath!" The sword-wielder muttered in disbelief.

"Well, tough luck. Not even a lizard could scratch me," Yuna boasted, her confidence unwavering.

"Didn't I warn you, Red? Now look at what you've done! You've ruined everything!" The mage girl, who had initially tried to stop her friend, now approached Yuna with a panicked expression and bowed apologetically.

"I apologize for my friend's behavior," the mage girl conveyed her regret, bowing to Yuna in humility.

"No need to apologize. It was my temper that got the best of me. Accept my apology as well," Yuna responded with a bow, reciprocating the gesture.

"Allow me," Yuna picked up the broken sword and approached it with a plan in mind.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing with my sword?" The sword-wielder protested as Yuna examined the broken weapon.

"You're about to find out... Repair," Yuna invoked a skill she had developed long ago, channeling mana from the surroundings to mend the sword. In moments, the broken weapon became whole once more.

"What? Impossible! How can you use magic for that? And besides, I don't need your help!" The sword-wielder declared as he retrieved his sword and stormed out of the guild in a huff.

"Are you satisfied now, Red? Look at the mess you've created. We were planning to invite her to our party," the mage girl chastised the sword-wielder, then turned to approach Yuna with a bow.

"I apologize for my friend's behavior. Thank you for your help," she expressed her gratitude sincerely.

"It's alright. I should have kept my temper in check. Let's put this behind us," Yuna accepted the apology, offering a reassuring smile.

"What's with that commotion? Let's go talk to Aira, Yukki," Yuna called out to Yukki, who had been watching the events unfold.

"Y-yes!" Yukki shook off her daze and followed Yuna.

Approaching Aira, Yuna presented the demonic boar's head, ready to report their mission's success.

"A-A-A-A-A-A... EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?" Aira's surprised exclamation echoed through the room, causing Yuna to jump back in surprise.

"Whoa, you scared me," Yuna chuckled nervously, realizing the sight of the bloody boar's head might have startled Aira.

"It's your fault! How can you suddenly display a red boar's head like that?" Aira's tone was a mix of surprise and annoyance.

"S-Sorry about that... But we did complete the quest, right?" Yuna asked, still unsure about the situation.

"Y-Yes... You've indeed completed the quest... As promised, you'll be immediately promoted to rank S! Congratulations, Yuna!" Aira congratulated Yuna with a mix of awe and astonishment. Yuna found herself questioning the ease with which she had achieved such a high rank.

"W-Wait, Aira! Can we alter that arrangement?" Yuna's voice was laced with panic as she spoke up.

"E-Eh? Is being an S rank not sufficient?" Aira appeared confused and slightly concerned.

"It's not about that! Is it possible to start from the lowest rank instead? Jumping directly to the highest rank like this feels wrong," Yuna muttered, her concern genuine.

"A-Are you sure? You're more than qualified for an S rank, but if you insist, we can accommodate that. Starting from the lowest rank is feasible. However, keep in mind that you're certainly strong enough for S rank," Aira said, looking at Yuna with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"That's fine! It's not as fun to go straight to S rank," Yuna declared with determination.

"W-Well then... Should I explain the basics of being an adventurer?" Aira's hands clapped together as she switched her focus.

"G-Go ahead," Yuna nodded, her anxiety beginning to fade.

"Currently, there are eight adventurer ranks. From the lowest to the highest, they are G to E (Beginner), F - E (Experienced), C - B (Intermediate), and A - S (Expert). Do you understand so far?" Aira inquired, looking at Yuna with concern.

"Yes, it's the basic hierarchy, and it's easy to grasp," Yuna confirmed.

"Good. Now, let me continue. Adventurers must abide by four rules. First, they must not kill each other. Second, they should not interfere with other adventurers' quests unless assistance is requested. Third, never undertake quests that you have not officially accepted, as you won't receive rewards for them. Fourth, and most importantly, never die while on an adventure. That's the essence of the rules," Aira summarized.

"I see. Thank you for the explanation. We'll be on our way now, Aira!" Yuna waved to Aira as they prepared to leave.

"W-Wait! You haven't received your guild card yet!" Aira called out before Yuna could exit.

"Guild card?" Yuna looked puzzled, her curiosity piqued.