Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 325: Promotion
Rumors of the battle spread rapidly throughout the Royal Capital.
What had begun as a quest to subjugate a Goblin General had become a battle against a Goblin King.
The enemy army had numbered more than eight hundred, while the human force had contained fewer than two hundred. Despite being so badly outnumbered, roughly thirty adventurers dispatched from the Royal Capital had reversed the course of the battle and helped defeat the Goblin King in remarkably little time.
Adventurers who hadn’t witnessed the battle naturally assumed that the greatest credit belonged to the B-rank Silver Goblin Hunters, specialists in Goblin extermination, and the teams it had nominated.
“The team that contributed the most was the D-rank Black-Gold Wings! Stop making things up based on your imagination. Black-Gold Wings was the team that killed the Goblin King!”
One of the adventurers who had participated in the operation loudly praised Tauro’s team in the guild tavern.
“Come on. I know Black-Gold Wings has a good reputation, but a Goblin King is a B-rank subjugation target. A D-rank team couldn’t defeat one.”
“I told you to stop guessing! I saw them fight with my own eyes. It’s strange that they’re still in the D-rank band. When our team submitted its report, we recommended them for promotion. A team that strong deserves to advance.”
As more participants recounted Black-Gold Wings’ achievements, the team’s strength became widely recognized.
The guild tavern buzzed constantly with stories about the Goblin King subjugation.
“What happened to Silver Goblin Hunters?”
“Exactly. They’re supposed to be Goblin specialists. Did a D-rank team completely outshine them?”
“No. I heard Silver Goblin Hunters defeated the Goblin General. They were also the first team to break the enemy’s momentum and rally Viscount Danton’s demoralized force. The child leading Black-Gold Wings said so himself, so it must be true.”
Tauro had deliberately spread that account among the other adventurers because Silver Goblin Hunters’ contribution was in danger of being forgotten.
The B-rank team truly had led the first counterattack and changed the course of the battle. Whatever Tauro thought about Hulk’s attitude, that fact remained unchanged.
Because Silver Goblin Hunters had fought so aggressively, Black-Gold Wings had been able to conserve enough strength to confront the Goblin King.
Their victory was therefore not theirs alone.
By emphasizing the B-rank team’s genuine achievements, Tauro preserved its dignity and prevented the battle from being remembered as a victory won solely by Black-Gold Wings.
Every participating team had contributed.
Tauro also understood that allowing a single lower-ranked team to claim all the glory would eventually create resentment and envy.
Perhaps because Tauro’s words had protected its reputation, Silver Goblin Hunters submitted its own recommendation that Black-Gold Wings be promoted.
“This is an unusual decision, but the guild’s upper management has completed its review and approved the promotion. From today, every active member of Black-Gold Wings will be recognized at D-plus. Is that acceptable?”
A receptionist at the Royal Capital headquarters informed them of the decision several days later.
Tauro was already D-plus, but Aeris, Ragune, and Ankh would now join him at that rank. None of them had any reason to refuse.
“This is incredible! I never imagined I’d reach D-plus so quickly. Could I possibly enter the C-rank band before I come of age?”
Aeris was the happiest about the promotion.
Black-Gold Wings was precious to her, and seeing the team’s strength formally recognized filled her with pride.
She was scheduled to leave the team in only a few months.
Even after retiring, however, Black-Gold Wings would remain an important part of her life. The possibility of reaching the C-rank band before leaving—something she had never dared imagine—thrilled her.
“Aeris is right,” Ankh said. “The path to C rank has opened. It isn’t impossible.”
For someone who normally seemed indifferent to rank, he agreed with unusual enthusiasm.
“You’re both getting ahead of yourselves,” Ragune warned. “Don’t become overconfident and trip yourselves up.”
It was unusual for Ragune to admonish Aeris rather than enthusiastically agree with her.
“Ragune is right,” Tauro said. “The three of you only just reached D-plus. First, we need to complete quests appropriate to that rank steadily and safely. What will you do if excitement makes you careless and someone gets hurt?”
“Sorry, Leader. Aeris looked so happy that I got carried away too. Ha ha ha!”
Ankh laughed as though the entire matter had been Aeris’s fault.
“Ankh! Don’t make it sound as though I was the only one getting excited.”
Aeris pretended to be angry and jabbed the exposed part of his shoulder with the butt of her staff.
“Ouch! Aeris, stop that. That really hurts!”
Ankh clutched his shoulder while the others laughed.
The promotion delighted every member of Black-Gold Wings. They continued working actively together as Aeris’s birthday and planned retirement approached.
Even so, the road from D-plus to C rank remained a long one.
‘Consistently outperforming your rank and even taking on threats B rankers balk at? We’ll reluctantly promote you to D+ since so many people are asking us to.’
As rediculous and infuriating as that result is, it’s all too believable for anyone who’s been a part of a large organization.