Chapter 13.7 – Dragon’s First Guild Job

I look over at Nina and I sense frustration from her, worse than before. From what I can tell, she's trying to use only her daggers and no other skills to beat Gerard. The sight makes me chuckle. I guess she thought it'd be too easy otherwise.

However, she's had like a day or two of weapon experience and Gerard is a master. Without magic or bull rushing him with brute strength, speed, and defense, it's no wonder she's having trouble.

Suddenly, Nina jumps back from Gerard and pulls out her bow.

[Tch…Mizuki, I must train more with these weapons. I hate to admit it, but this human is better than me when I match my strength to his. I also saw your attack…very clever, now they'll think I did it. Fufufufu…you'll have to tell me later how you could see him.] (Nina)

I barely contain a 'no shit' response to her comment about Gerard, but I digress. Looking at Nina, it seems that she's decided to end things. She consecutively nocks and fires several arrows into the air with her bow, and there is a brief pause before each firing. An elemental effect, maybe?

After they leave the bow, all the arrows seem to suddenly alter course in the air and converge on Gerard from different directions. Then, they explode.

Nina has already set her bow on her back and redrawn her daggers. As the explosion from her arrows occurs, Gerard is sent flying, and Nina rapidly closes the distance to him.

Gerard hits a wall, and before he can get up, Nina is in front of him, holding daggers at his neck.

Yup, that's a win for us.

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

After the match, Gerard, Levi, Nina, and I are all in Gerard's office at his request. Gerard wastes no time getting to business.

"So, thank you both for helping this old timer get his exercise for the day. I think it's obvious to everyone here that you passed. We'll make it official later, but you're B-rank adventurers. Now, Mizuki, from what I saw it was Nina that incapacitated Levi. However, I told you that wouldn't matter, and I meant it. Levi, do you have any objections to Mizuki's B-rank status?" (Gerard)

Levi has that same good-natured smile on, but he's eyeing me intently. Not breaking his gaze, he ignores Gerard's question and addresses me.

"Mizuki…can you really not use magic? I'm certain that you could see me while I was using my spell, and I've never met anyone, ever, who could do that." (Levi)

He's not mad, or threatening, or even very confrontational, he just looks confused.

[Fufufu…yes, what will you tell him?] (Nina)

I give Levi a soft smile, and shrug.

"You're welcome to ask Melanie directly about my magic exam if you're skeptical. She administered it herself, and her pitying gaze haunts me to this day." (Mizuki)

Levi looks apologetic when hearing the news, so I make sure to let out a short laugh. He also seems…disheartened? Maybe because he was hoping his cheat skill wasn't beaten by a magicless newb.

"As for me being able to see you, you're only partly correct. That spell doesn't hide your sound, I noticed. Without any magic, I had to hone my other senses, so I was using sound to get a vague sense of your location. You also subtly stir up dirt as you move." (Mizuki)

Levi looks like he's thinking it over. He doesn't seem too suspicious, but he doesn't seem convinced either.

[That's not a bad cover, Mizuki. I'm not sure it could really work as well as whatever you did, but it looks like he might believe you.] (Nina)

"Even if that's the case, how did Nina know where to shoot her arrow and when? I didn't see or hear you communicate, and there's no way she would have been able to locate me the same way you're talking about." (Levi)

Levi looks at Nina as he says this, wanting an explanation from her. I'm not worried, I already have an excuse prepared.

[Nina, just say 'I only did as Mizuki signaled'.] (Mizuki)

"I only did as Mizuki signaled." (Nina)

Levi turns a confused gaze to me.

"You are correct again, Levi. I never expected to use it for an invisible opponent, but I'm a cautious guy, and Nina and I have a few systems in place to communicate discreetly. Basically, my weird sword fighting stance was a signal to Nina to fire an arrow towards me from the direction I was facing, to hit an opponent from behind. She's in the habit of watching for such signals." (Mizuki)

Levi is nodding repeatedly and looks deep in thought. He seems to think my explanation is plausible, but I'm not sure if he believes that it's the truth. Eventually his expression relaxes, and he speaks.

"Sorry, Gerard, I've just never been so blindsided in a fight, and I wanted answers. To answer your question, I don't have any objections to their B-rank status. More importantly, I want to know if Mizuki will join our party." (Levi)