Chapter 36
"By the way, I still don't understand why you were completely unknown at the academy."
Erika said this about an hour after we left the town, when we couldn't find any suitable requests at the Adventurer's Guild and decided to hunt monsters along the highway instead.
In the Faltarl Kingdom, encountering such weak monsters was a novel surprise, so it felt more like a leisurely outing than actual monster hunting.
Of course, even such monsters pose a significant threat to ordinary people, so we don't slack off.
"Well, I'm just the second son of a poor viscount family."
I said this while sitting in the shade of a random tree to take a lunch break, chewing on some dried meat.
I felt like I'd get scolded if I honestly said I only attended the academy to see your face and had no real motivation, so I made up a vague excuse.
"Is that how it works?"
Erika, the daughter of a marquis family, tilted her head, clearly coming from a different social class than me.
Perhaps my excuse was too flimsy, and she's starting to doubt me.
"Plus, I'm not good with magic, so even if I stood out with a sword, it didn't mean much."
"So, in other words, you were holding back?"
She looked displeased, and I thought it's odd to be upset over something from the past, but I kept quiet since saying that out loud would probably get me in trouble.
"Also, I was busy with adventurer work, so I couldn't focus on my studies."
"Even so, it frustrates me that the man who will become my husband was looked down upon by others."
Back then, you didn't even remember my name, I thought, recalling a past that feels nostalgic despite being so recent.
"Well, anyway, it's all in the past."
As I muttered something that wasn't really an answer, Erika softened her expression and agreed with a nod.
I felt happy knowing that talking about our academy days could bring a gentle expression to Erika's face.
After all, not long ago, I saw her spitting curses inside a carriage.
After those words, we rested in silence for a while.
The newly bought equipment is worth its price, and Erika continues to be her true self.
It's a good day.
"Indeed, from now on, we just need to make the world aware that my husband is no ordinary man."
...It's a good day, isn't it?
*
It might be natural for Erika Solnzari to expect extraordinariness from her husband, given that she herself is a bundle of talent.
However, the person in question is me.
Not to brag, but I'm just the second son of a poor viscount family.
I take some pride in being slightly better than other students who only attended the academy because I had an excellent mentor, but even so, I must pale in comparison to the top achievers there.
Above all, my senior disciple Elsa, who trained under the same mentor, was far more talented than me.
In other words, my talent isn't anything special.
But even so, if that's what she wishes, I intend to do my utmost to meet her expectations.
Even if this farce ends in a year.
"So, let's aim for something big."
I discarded the question of what exactly "so" referred to.
"First, we'll raise your rank to something befitting you."
This happened early in the morning at a diner where I was dragged to in adventurer gear.
At first, I thought I might be overthinking it, but doesn't Erika seem to overestimate me?
I'm just an ordinary human who, by chance, had a good mentor from an early age, even if my personality isn't anything special.
"For now, let's aim for Rank 7, as that guild staff member mentioned."
Rank 7 isn't something you aim for on a whim, though.
By the way, to explain adventurer ranks simply:
Ranks 1 to 4 are within human limits, while Ranks 5 to 6 start to deviate from human norms.
From Rank 7 onward, it refers to people completely outside the realm of ordinary humans.
By the way, Rank 10 is more of an honorary title, given either to the head of the Adventurer's Guild or to high-ranking adventurers who die heroically; it's not a rank active adventurers desire.
Graduating from the academy is said to give you the strength of Rank 4 or 5, so the academy's training ability is the real deal.
After all, commoner adventurers risk their lives for years just to reach Rank 3.
It's also said there's a huge wall beyond Rank 6, and people in this rank range, whether noble or commoner, become exceedingly rare.
In reality, ranks are determined by factors like request completion rates, so raising your rank is harder than one might imagine.
In short, it's not a height you aim for casually.
"As for me, I'd rather avoid drawing too much attention."
The real issue isn't whether I can reach Rank 7 or not, but rather that other concern.
I swallowed the words that I'd aim for anything if it's what you want and thought it over.
I don't mind standing out myself, but if Erika draws attention, I don't know how the Church will react, and on top of that, she's being targeted by assassins.
There's been only one attack so far, but I can't be optimistic enough to think that's the end of it.
Honestly, I'd prefer to stay holed up until we figure out who the organization or client behind it is.
If we can identify either, it's simple—I'd go through any hardship, even in the midst of chaos, to destroy the organization or take the client's head.
If it's too difficult for me alone, I can borrow the Prime Minister's power.
There's no reason to forgive those who tried to steal her bright future.
These are people who impose such unreasonable threats, even targeting her life.
I won't show them any mercy.
"Do you hate it so much that you're making such a scary face?"
Erika's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
Damn, my face must look tense.
Also, my jaw feels a bit sore.
"No, it's not that. I was thinking about something else."
I said while rubbing my jaw, and Erika let out a sigh.
"I can somewhat guess what you were thinking about."
Erika looked exasperated.
Did she think I'm creepy or something?
Does she think I'm too desperate for someone who's just a partner in a farce that'll end in a year?
What should I do? If that's the case, I could just die.
Is there any way to casually say something like, "Hey, I'll just go take the heads of those trying to harm you," in a lighthearted tone?
No, that's impossible. It won't work.
"Well, I understand why you might want to do that, but haste makes waste."
"I just..."
"No, I'm not saying you're not serious about this farce. I mean, I understand."
Erika muttered in a small voice, "You do call me your wife, after all."
Please don't suddenly make me feel embarrassed like this!
I suppressed the urge to shout.
"But even so, it's frustrating. Just because there are people trying to interfere doesn't mean we should take a detour from our path. That's incredibly frustrating."
She looked at me with serious eyes from across the table.
"The path we walk is neither the path of tyranny nor the royal road; it's the ordinary path. When walking the ordinary path, why should we hesitate? If someone blocks our way, we just need to kick them aside."
Is your idea of an ordinary path really this violent?
Thinking about it, I started to feel oddly amused.
Walking the path she calls ordinary together, clearing all obstacles and paving it with golden magic.
I no longer have an ordinary path as a noble.
So, I'll accompany her on her ordinary path for as long as I can.
Ah, what a wonderful story this is.
A plain, timid man who used to steal glances at her profile from the corner of the classroom can now walk her ordinary path alongside her.
Right by her side.
Before I knew it, I was smiling.
"Alright, Erika, let's go. Let's walk that ordinary path."
I don't know how far I can go with you.
But I'll walk with you until the day you say you don't need me.
I don't know if she picked up on those feelings, or if it was something else I couldn't grasp.
Erika responded to my smile with a truly challenging grin of her own.
*
And if it had ended here, it would have been the perfect start to the day.
If it came to it, the two of us could even challenge the depths of the Demonlands together.
Of course, Erika isn't reckless, so she wouldn't do something like that.
The voice that shattered my exhilarated mood in an instant was one I had coincidentally heard every day for the past two days.
"I've finally found you, Mr. and Mrs. Longdagger!"
The one who noisily flung open the diner door and shouted that was Shara, a sister from the Church.