The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 32: The Report

The two mercenaries arrived at the gate of the guild at night. After the quick security procedure of showing their licences to the guards, they made their way into the guild lobby.

The wide hall was unusually scanty, untypical of the guild Maxwell had grown somewhat accustomed to. But he liked this scantiness nevertheless.

Fewer mercenaries in the lobby meant fewer offensive smells, body odors and the constant heat that always grounded his mortal skin.

He could only see some mercenaries here and there, the ones cashing out their late-night rewards, the others still gazing at the taskboard, checking out tasks to take on this night, and most others still at the receptionist’s desk, reporting one complaint or the other.

The night breeze flowed through the open windows of the guild lobby, touching the skins of both Maxwell and Vin, and cooling their bodies as they breathed steadily, walking to the receptionist desk.

Behind the counter, the ladies that Maxwell saw were quite different from the ones he had met earlier this morning. Even the one who had handled his license and rewards was nowhere to be found.

Maxwell shrugged. Nightshift, it seemed. The receptionists had shifts. It made perfect sense to him.

"Good evening, sirs!" One of the receptionist greeted. A young lady with a bright, cheerful smile.

Maxwell returned her greeting with a short and court bow.

"We’re here to report our task completion."

The young lady’s ears perked up.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "Wait a minute."

Her hands began working immediately, rummaging the drawers of her desk and fluttering through files of papers. Finally, she brought out a paper and a pen.

"Okay!" She looked up, staring at Vin and Maxwell. "What task did you and your partner complete?"

Vin took the lead, clearing his throat as he spoke.

"A-rank task, Slimander Elimination." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The young lady’s cheerful demeanor faltered, her forehead wrinkling subtly as she repeated:

"Slimander Elimination?"

Maxwell nodded.

"As you have heard."

After a moment of brief silence pierced only by the sound of her humming as she tapped her chin, the young lady looked into Maxwell’s blue eyes.

"Can I get a look at both your licenses?"

Maxwell nodded.

"Of course."

The young water mage reached for his pocket, the one that wasn’t filled with golden coins, and he brought out his golden license.

Vin did the same, bringing out his silver license.

Seeing their licenses, the receptionist’s cheerful demeanor changed entirely, and she adjusted her posture, straightening her back as she put on an utterly focused expression.

She bowed.

"I’m sorry for doubting you, sirs; it was just standard procedure."

Maxwell raised a hand.

"It’s no problem."

As she raised her head, her gaze lingered on the blue-haired man who had a warm, fatherly smile on his lips.

Was this man really the seventh S-rank that everyone at the guild had been talking about? He looked so young and so delicate, like a noble boy who’d never seen the darkness that the world had to offer.

How did he even acquire the golden license, something reserved for the top mercenaries of the guild? Besides, as all the gossip and rumors had said, the man wasn’t someone who’d been working in the guild for years. He was a newbie.

The young lady shrugged, sighing softly. Guildmaster Gislow must’ve had his reasons.

"Thank you, sirs." The lady bowed. "Is there any proof of your task completion?"

Maxwell nodded.

"Yes, of course."

The water mage gestured at the large sacks that Vin had kept on the ground.

Vin, understanding Maxwell’s gesture, nodded and reached for one of the sacks, raised it, and dropped it on the desk.

The young receptionist’s eyes widened subtly as she moved her arm, opening the sack to take a quick peek at its contents.

Seeing the contents, her eyes widened more.

Crimson cores. Large crimson cores. The bag was filled with large, quality crimson cores.

She struggled to hold in her gasp, almost covering her mouth with a hand.

Vin reached for the other sack and dropped it on the desk.

Bam–!

This sack was heavier; it made the desk quiver slightly.

The young receptionist checked the contents of this sack.

Seeing it, she drew in a deep breath.

It was filled with packaged Slimander corpses.

She squinted her eyes.

There were also corpses of some other...

The lady looked up at Vin.

"Pardon," her gaze extended to Maxwell, "sirs, but is it not the Slimander task you have completed? I see the corpses of some other beasts here."

Maxwell smiled.

"I almost forgot to mention, but... You might have to call in the officiators."

The receptionist tilted her head, confused.

"We cleared the entire red valley. There are no beasts left there. Only their corpses remain as proof."

The lady’s pupils shrank, jaw slackened. She remained utterly stunned in place, as if unable to speak.

Slowly and hesitantly, she forced out a single word.

"H–how?"

Vin sighed, shaking his head. The man had grown visibly tired, evidenced by the way he yawned every few minutes. It made sense he’d be tired, considering all that’d happened to him today.

"Maxwell is a 7th-circle mage, and I’m a 5th-core swordsman."

Hearing Vin’s words, realization dawned on the receptionist, and her shrunken pupils began to quiver as she nodded frantically.

So that was why he became S-rank. He was a 7th-circle mage. Almost at the level of an Archmage. And... he was young.

No, he wasn’t just young. He was a monster.

"Uh– understood, sirs. But– but your rewards will be delayed until tomorrow, the officiators– no, it might be delayed til the day after tomorrow, if what you said is true, then all the corpses and all the cores would have to be processed then–"

Maxwell reached out a hand into nothing

Consequently, Frilo, who was asleep in Max’s soul, awoke, and it immediately stirred his pocket dimension.

Maxwell’s wrist disappeared as he reached into his pocket dimension.

He pulled something out of nowhere. And his wrist emerged, a material clenched in his grip.

A sack.

He dropped it on the desk.

Bam–!