A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation (穏やか貴族の休暇のすすめ。)

Episode 7

"The Night of the Promotion"

You're back early.

Our trip went well. It's good to be back, Stud.

How was Marcade?

It was interesting.

Are you familiar with the Forky Gang?

It's a stupid-sounding name, but I've been hearing it a lot recently.

I don't know about stupid-sounding...

Actually, never mind.

Were you attacked?

I see. I'll rally the whole guild to wipe them out.

That's all right. We dealt with the people who attacked us.

Anyway, what kind of organization are they?

They're an elusive group without a set base of operations.

I bet it's hard to learn anything about them if they have that much fodder.

Well, I don't plan on traveling far for a while, so I doubt I'll see them again.

By the way...

Is something wrong?

No.

I simply thought you could raise

your rank since you've defeated a subterranean dragon.

Gil basically defeated it by himself.

You contributed enough to its defeat to receive credit for it.

Contributed?

Fighting isn't the only way to contribute.

You're also not picky about the jobs you do, so broadly speaking, it's about time.

I suppose. If I've met the conditions for a promotion, then I gladly accept.

Very well. I'll get that taken care of right away.

Now you're rank E.

Up to D should be easy.

Is C difficult?

You'll probably be fine.

And B?

You're not ready for that yet.

Can I join your party?

You want to join us?

Of course.

Could you introduce yourself and explain why you want to join?

My name is Eleven.

My adventurer rank is solo C.

My strengths are my poison resistance and honesty.

My weaknesses are mornings and the cold.

I want to join a party capable of beating a subterranean dragon.

Your strengths and motive are conflicting. Try again.

I'll be back.

That boy is charming in all sorts of ways.

He has a distinct personality and aura about him.

Stop wasting time on what seems like a pain in the ass.

I was just curious.

So you rejected him because he seemed to be lying?

No, that was probably him selling himself.

He's honest, but he's willing to lie if it benefits him.

I wouldn't call that honest.

Stud, what do you think?

I agree with your assessment.

He's strong enough to be rank C, but he accepts few jobs.

His appearance...

Is he perhaps a snake beastman?

Poison resistance and weakness to cold must be traits of his species.

Probably. You don't see many of them around here.

Will you let him join your party?

I'm not sure I can.

Now then.

Adventurers go drinking to celebrate promotions, don't they?

Will you join me today?

You can't drink.

No, but I can soak up the atmosphere.

May I join you as well?

Of course.

Congratulations on your promotion.

Stud, can't you be a little more, you know...

Since we're celebrating my promotion today, I'm paying.

Why would you pay?

Is that odd?

You would like to play host.

Um, I can cover this.

No, I'll pay. Keep your mouth shut, dullard.

So mean...

Look at you drink.

You can't drink, Mr. Lizel? I'm a little surprised.

It's simply my constitution.

I get drunk off a single sip.

What kind of drunk are you?

Unfortunately, I don't recall.

The first time I drank, my father, who was with me,

laughed and said I didn't do anything odd.

But when I next drank with a former student, I was told to never drink again.

He said I was the opposite of my usual self.

You demand to be spoiled?

You become terribly cold?

You turn into a horndog?

Gil will be paying today. Don't hold back, you two.

I'd like something filling.

Let's order some small plates, too.

Hey.

How did the escort job go?

I imagine it was more comfortable than most, traveling with this dullard.

Stop calling me that.

You didn't do anything to bother them, did you?

If anything, he took care of us the whole time.

Literally.

Is that not normal?

I've heard of people being treated like cargo and stuffed into tight spaces.

They say experience is everything. Perhaps I'll try escorting someone else.

You can't!

I couldn't bear to see you treated like that.

But I have to accept all kinds of jobs to increase my rank.

I'm against it, too.

If you're looking to complete more jobs,

this dullard will submit as many as you need.

You can take those.

That's not something I'd expect to hear from a guild employee.

If that's what you want, I'll submit as many jobs as you need!

It's all right, you two. Calm down.

Come on, drink. Eat.

By the way, I have something to brag to you about, Stud.

What am I supposed to do with that?

I slept next to Mr. Lizel like family.

Next to him? How close were you?

I got a good look at him sleeping.

We ran into trouble on the way back, so he even held my hand.

Don't you think you're trying too hard to charm him?

Merchants are such black-hearted creatures.

That's discrimination.

Well, you behave yourself when you're around Mr. Lizel.

I'm simply honest with myself.

Anyway, may I stay in your room tonight?

What?

I don't mind, but it's a single room.

There's only one bed.

I'll sleep with you.

Perhaps there's an available double room.

He wants to sleep with you. Let him.

But it'd be so cramped.

I'll sleep with you.

I guess we'll sleep together, then.

Stud?

He's just asleep.

This is what happens when he drinks to his limit.

I'm surprised you can hold your liquor.

Thank you.

Come on, Stud. Let's head back together.

I'm going with you.

Let's go, Stud.

I know.

Shall we have Gil carry you?

No.

Well, I'm going this way.

Are you sure you don't need an escort?

Yes. Um, I'd love to go out again sometime.

As would I.

You really are soft on younger guys.

They're cute.

I don't see it.

By the way, Stud,

you've been particularly belligerent towards Gil today.

Oh, uh...

I expected this to happen, but not this soon.

The reasons he picks fights with me are simple.

He doesn't like that I'm accompanying you, and...

He hates men like himself.

I don't know my own origins.

For as long as I could remember, I was living in the slums of the royal capital.

I killed who I was told to kill and lived off the money I made doing that.

I didn't even realize what I was doing was wrong.

Then one day...

An adult I didn't recognize appeared before me.

You don't have to kill anymore.

That adult was the current guildmaster.

I'm grateful that he didn't turn me over to the police.

I've worked for the guild ever since.

I haven't killed anyone like I did last night.

I'm sorry.

Could you start over from the top?

You have the day off, don't you?

Yes.

You could've slept in a little longer.

Actually, I always wake up at the same time.

Gil says the same thing. I'm jealous.

Is something on your mind?

Well, won't last night's events be detrimental to you somehow?

He was clearly a bandit of some sort.