Should I reevaluate My Rank?

Seth emerged from the portal, the light of the normal world flooding into his eyes. The fresh, almost sharp air filled his lungs and he stretched, feeling the weight of the battle lessen little by little, although the fatigue was still there, sticking to his bones. His expression was unwavering, but the satisfaction of yet another victory resonated in his smile. 

As he took his first steps, something familiar came into view: Connie's SUV was parked near an open field, the soft lights of its display screen illuminating the surrounding area. Sitting on the hood of the vehicle was Kaguya, Connie's secretary, her feet swaying gently. Her black overcoat contrasted against her pale skin, and she was completely calm, as if she didn't care about the brutality of everything he had just been through. 

"What a delay," she said, her voice quiet and with a hint of sarcasm, not even bothering to look at him as he approached. 

Seth let out a tired sigh, but without losing his ironic tone. He approached without haste and, as he got close to her, Kaguya pulled off her overcoat and handed it to him with a debauched smile. 

"Wear that, there's blood on your shirt," she said, pointing to the remains of the battle that were still staining his clothes. 

He looked at her for a moment, but didn't reply immediately, just picked up the overcoat and, with one fluid movement, put it on. The garment enveloped his body, the smell of leather mixed with that of the rain becoming an additional layer on top of the feeling of tiredness. The feeling of being dressed for something more - something bigger - was not new, but it still gave him a sense of solidity. 

Kaguya watched the movement and, with a slightly cynical expression, wasn't content to just wait for an answer. She was always ready to poke. 

"How was it in there, then?" 

Seth looked at the horizon, his hands in the pockets of his overcoat. The battle in the dungeon, the death of the Boss, all this was beginning to seem like a faint blur in his mind. However, the truth was that something about his status was starting to really bother him. He shook his head, feeling uneasy. 

"This Rank-E is starting to bother me," he said, his voice low, but with a slight frustration. "I'm going to re-evaluate the rank. I think it's about time I stopped playing 'small fish'." 

Kaguya didn't show much surprise, just raised an eyebrow and made a dismissive face. 

"Impossible," she replied with a tone devoid of patience, as if she were just reminding him of a truth he should already know. "You forgot about the second awakening, didn't you? The Hunters' Association is in chaos. Every second that passes, more awakenings are appearing, and you think you're going to re-evaluate just like that?" 

"So... I can only stay stuck at that Rank? There's nothing to do?" He asked, his voice carrying something between weariness and defiance. 

Kaguya crossed her arms, a slightly disdainful smile curving her lips as she watched him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. 

"Wait for Connie to get back from her trip or ask Vixen to schedule the reassessment on your behalf. Those are the quickest ways," she said, her voice soft but with a hint of defiance. 

Seth stared at her with a penetrating gaze, his blue eyes fixed on hers. The tension between them seemed palpable, as if her slight provocation was just another attempt to irritate him. 

"You want me to fuck off, don't you?" He asked without looking away, his tone playful but with a note of seriousness. 

Kaguya shrugged dismissively, unperturbed, her smile widening. "Re-evaluation will take a couple of months, you know." She giggled subtly, as if it were a private joke. Then, with a graceful movement, she opened the door of the SUV and got into the vehicle, the sound of the metal being closed echoing in the night. 

She settled into the seat, looking at him, still with that smile of someone who knows more than they should. "Where are we going, boss?" she asked, her eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and sarcasm.

Seth was about to get into the SUV when a high-pitched scream cut through the air. He turned his head to see a girl running towards him, her wavy hair swaying as she struggled to catch up. She looked exhausted, her steps faltering and her face flushed from the frantic running. When she finally stopped in front of him, she almost collapsed from exhaustion, leaning on her legs to keep from falling. 

Seth looked at her, unhurriedly, one eyebrow arched as he watched her panting. He opened the door of the SUV slowly, as if the situation was nothing out of the ordinary. 

"You'll end up dying if you keep running exhausted like that. Be careful," he said calmly, his tone impersonal but with a touch of pragmatic concern. 

The girl raised her head, still panting, her big, bright eyes fixed on him. She looked completely out of breath, and the way she was trying to regain her composure seemed almost pathetic, but in a way... almost endearing. Seth couldn't help but smile slightly disdainfully, but without malice. 

"I'm sorry," she said, breathing heavily. "But... could you tell me your name?" She looked up at him, and the sincerity in her gaze was so clear that it seemed almost too naive to be real. "You... you saved my life... and I'd like to repay you in some way." 

There was something in the way she spoke that made it clear she wasn't used to the kind of hard life Seth lived. Her expression was pure innocence, with no hint of malice or hidden intentions. She was the exact opposite of what he was looking for or cared about. 

Seth didn't respond immediately, watching the girl with a distant lightness. She was the typical fragile woman, the kind who spent her life hiding behind masks of sweetness, but who had no idea how the world really worked. He could see it in her eyes. 

"Give back?" Seth repeated, his voice still calm, but with a touch of irony. He finally closed the door of the SUV, without giving it much thought. "It's not necessary. Life isn't something you pay back with favors. If you really want to 'repay' me, get stronger and heal me in the future." 

The girl stood there for a moment, completely stunned by his words. The softness he used when speaking contrasted with the coldness of his intentions, and she seemed at a loss as to how to react. She stared at the car as it started to drive away, surprise on her face, trying to process what she had just heard. 

"Get stronger?" She muttered to herself, her eyes slowly filling with a mixture of confusion and, perhaps, sudden determination. 

The sound of the SUV's engine pulling away brought her back to the present. She had felt something strange after he left... 

"...Does he like strong women?..."