“Hey, mind if I sit here?”
“Ah, please go ahead… Ah, it’s been a while.”
The young man froze when he saw my face. But he immediately gave me a cheerful smile.
I also froze for just a moment when I saw his face. It was Ban, a young man I’d been meeting recently, who had come to the knight training school entrance exam as if just for fun.
“You’re here too, huh?”
“Various things happened.”
“Well, whatever. I’m bored. Could you be my conversation partner for a bit?”
“If I’m good enough.”
“Thanks. You probably know, but I’m Rinrin-Frontier.”
“Allow me to reintroduce myself, I’m Ban.”
“Right. So why is Ban here?”
“Ah, my mother’s been saying I should get married soon…”
“Same as me…”
“Heh, so Rin-san is in the same situation.”
Just now, did this guy call me “Rin”? Not many people abbreviate and call me that, except Dan or Sakura… And he’s being so calm talking to me…
He didn’t seem particularly nervous the other time either, and he doesn’t seem to view me as special.
Most people are usually respectful or intimidated…
“Well, yeah… Um, how old is Ban?”
“20.”
“Heh…”
I see, he’s younger… For a moment I thought he might be Dan, but that’s impossible. Dan is about 30, and he’s not this friendly. But that’s what I liked about him.
“You’re young. You should experience various things from now on.”
“Yes. Thank you for the advice.”
“Ah, yeah. You’re really serious, aren’t you?”
Seeing him bow politely, I got the impression of a very earnest young man. It wasn’t the feeling of someone who bows and scrapes like many people do—it was natural gratitude, which made me a little happy.
“What’s Ban’s adventurer rank?”
“I’m still a beginner F-rank.”
“I see… Come to think of it, you need to take a test to become an adventurer these days, right?”
“That’s right. Rin-san is well-informed.”
“Well, I know at least this much. What kind of style does Ban fight with?”
“Um… swords and magic and such…”
“Right. You were good at magic, weren’t you?”
“Just a little.”
“People without talent can’t use it at all. And yours was refined, so I don’t think it’s ‘just a little.'”
“Thank you very much.”
“Could you show me that again?”
“Eh? Magic?”
“Right, right.”
“Ah, if it’s a first-tier Mini Mini Flare…”
“Please.”
When he said that, Ban generated a small flame in his palm. To be honest, since I can use about five twelfth-tier spells simultaneously, I normally wouldn’t be surprised by this level. But the magic he used was strangely refined.
That’s how I felt about it again.
So naturally, my mouth opened.
“Not bad.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah, yeah.”
Strange feeling… He’s suspicious, his magic is refined, and he’s hard to grasp. He’s mysterious, suspicious, and weird.
But when I faced him and exchanged words, I felt like our conversation really clicked. After some time passed and we finished eating, he stood up.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I’ve had my meal.”
“Haha, what’s that? Did you originally come here just to eat?”
“Ah, no. Um, well, something like that.”
“If Ban’s leaving, then I’ll leave too.”
“Is that so?”
I don’t have any other reason to stay here longer. I’ve worked hard enough to make excuses to Mother about marriage activities. And when we went outside, he bowed again and was about to leave.
“Hey.”
For some reason, I called out to stop him.
“Will you come again?”
“Eh?”
“I mean, will you come to this social gathering again?”
“Ah, that’s right… I’ll probably come. My mother nags me about getting married every five months.”
“Haha, I see. Then let’s meet again.”
“Yes. Someday again.”
He bowed and left. He was a mysterious person.
Even though it was the first time we talked, I felt strangely drawn to him… No, no, I have feelings for Dan…
Just a little, watching his back made my chest ache.
After I returned to my room in Frontier Castle from the social gathering venue in the royal capital, my younger sister and third princess Tanya spoke to me.
“Onee-san, how was it?”
“Hmm? What?”
“The social gathering.”
“Ah, that. It was a good way to kill time. I have to make excuses to Mother too, so I might go again.”
“Heh.” (She seems unexpectedly in a good mood. I thought she’d come back with a really grumpy face… Could it be that Dan-san really came?)
“Hmm, I’m sleepy. That place is tiring too.”
“Did Dan-san really come?”
“He didn’t come.”
“Ah, I see.”
(This is… could it be that she really had a fateful encounter?)
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
“Dan! Congratulations on passing!!”
I challenged the adventurer registration exam as Ban and successfully overcame the numerous tests to pass. I’m being handed an adventurer card that looks like it’s made of plastic. When I showed it to my parents, they said they wanted to celebrate, which brings us to now.
“Today we have Dan’s favorite barbard chicken breast karaage.”
“Thanks.”
“Dan really is amazing. There are people who have trouble passing. Well, I guess it’s natural for a hero.”
As I was munching on karaage with my fork, Mother fidgeted nervously and pulled out a piece of paper.
“Dan! Ta-da! Look at this!”
“What’s that?”
“An adventurer mixer flyer! You might find your destined partner!”
Looking at the paper Mother handed me, it seemed that regular social gatherings for adventurers were indeed held. It was also written that future partners were often found at these events. In other words, it was like a group date from my previous life.
“Why don’t you try going?”
“Sure, sounds good.”
Mother probably wanted me to participate. That’s because she wished for me to get married and live peacefully. In that case, there was no reason to refuse. Besides, I felt the same way.
I was starting to seriously think that I wanted a girlfriend soon. I’d participate not as Hero Dan, but as Adventurer Ban, and get myself a girlfriend.
Ah, that’s right—this mixer was on the same day as Tamika’s training. I definitely wanted to go to the mixer, but I couldn’t skip training my successor. Since I only taught once a week, I couldn’t neglect my time with my disciple.
If that’s the case… I’ll just cut the training session a bit short. That’s it. However, if I wanted to cut it short and head to the venue, that guy would get upset about the shortened training time.
She gets really angry when training is reduced. What should I do… I know, I’ll give her the Legendary Beginning Shield. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. That should put her in a good mood.
Now, I had arrived at the adventurer mixer. What’s more, I was in a suit with my iron mask removed.
To tell the truth, I was a bit nervous since this was my first time at something like a group date. I paid the participation fee, showed my adventurer card, and entered the venue.
Whoa, there are so many people. But as a hero, I’m often invited to parties, so I’m used to coming to places like this—there’s nothing particularly fresh about it. However, I somehow felt out of place. Or perhaps you could call it nervousness.
The first thing I had to do here was essentially pick-up artistry. As a man approaching women, getting along with them, and developing romantic relationships—that was incredibly difficult. Because I had never had such experience before.
But since I’d come all this way, let me try talking to that beautiful elf woman.
“Ah, hello.”
“Hello. I’m called Meeting.”
“I’m Ban. This is my first time here—is this your first time too, Meeting-san?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m not very good with this sort of thing… What’s your adventurer rank, Ban-san?”
Adventurer ranks—there are eight types: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, L, with L being the highest rank. It takes considerable time to advance even one rank, and from D upward, you have to take an exam to advance. However, rarely, if you achieve great results, you can be promoted without taking the exam.
That said, right now I’m just a rookie adventurer Ban.
“F rank.”
“F rank, huh… Ah, I see.”
What’s with that look like you drew the short straw… No, wait. I see, so that’s how it is. All the adventurers here are seeking encounters. Naturally, they’d want to meet someone cool and high-ranking if possible.
A plain-looking guy at the bottom tier is out of the question… Damn, I messed up.
The elf woman had started talking to another man. He was incredibly handsome with a gentle demeanor. The two seemed to be quickly closing the distance between them.
“Eh!? C rank?”
“Yes, well…”
“That’s amazing! Why did you become an adventurer?”
“I used to admire Hero Dan, so that’s why I became an adventurer.”
“Ah, me too. Hero Dan is so cool, isn’t he?”
It would be easy to tell both of them to die and go to hell… but when they say they like me, I can’t bring myself to hate them completely. Be happy, you damn bastards.
Ugh, I’m getting discouraged. Plus, it feels like groups are already forming around here. I feel like it would be meaningless to try any harder. Should I come back after at least reaching C rank?
While looking around, I spotted an incredible person. It was Rin. Rin, my former party member, was at the venue.
Wait, why is she here?!
“Eh? Isn’t that Rin-Rin-sama?”
“It’s Great Sage Rin-Rin-sama!”
“Why is she here?!”
“Did Rin-Rin-sama come looking for a partner too?”
“No way, but no one would be able to approach her.”
Perhaps noticing her like I did, the surroundings began to stir. I never expected her to be here. Rin has Sakura, so what happened? Maybe they had a fight or something?
I guessed she came to a place like this out of spite. However, that didn’t mean I would do anything more. The surroundings were making a fuss, but I’m used to commotions, and it’s nothing new for Rin to be surprised by others.
Besides, right now I don’t have the power to say anything meaningful. I have no energy or intention to approach her. Realizing this, I reached for the buffet-style food that was set out. Since I paid a high fee, I at least wanted to eat my fill.
I took a plate and selected an omelet, karaage, salad for balance, and vegetable juice as a drink. Taking these to my seat, I chewed thoroughly, but I was probably the only one eating without talking to anyone of the opposite sex. Also, this was my first time eating in public with my iron mask removed, but it didn’t bother me.
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