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We weren’t really hiding Mia at all, but I guess Palra didn’t know, huh. Still, she probably understands that Ailneige is a noble child at this point, so she wasn’t really that surprised.

Perhaps she simply didn’t pay attention to Mia since she’s simply not used to people having attendants with them.

「Is she an adult?」
「An adult, yes. She became a hunter after becoming my attendant.」
「Because you were a hunter… right?」
「That’s right. It’s more convenient that way.」
「Is she the only one who came with you?」
「That’s right.」

If we invited Mohsa and Luna, they’d probably come along; honestly, it did sort of look like they wanted to. I’m not really into walking around with multiple people following us, so I’m glad that it was only Mia.

「That reminds me, they say an A-rank hunter recently arrived here at the capital.」
「I’ve heard the rumors talking about it.」

Perhaps realizing something, Palra changed the topic. This new topic sounds awfully familiar. At the same time, we really haven’t heard about the news ourselves, but Ciel managed to tie into the conversation.

「However, is it that rare for A-rank hunters to be in the capital?」
「Who knows? I heard that there aren’t that many of them, though. Apparently, there are always a few around, but most of them are somewhere else handling different requests.」
「Now that you mentioned it, there don’t seem to be many A-rank requests around here.」

To be exact, even if there are high-rank requests available here, their objectives are at a different location. For example, requests to subjugate monsters in a more remote area, or requests from rural villages for aid.

The former generally come from nobles or research institutions and have low urgency, so you can accept the request at the capital, go to the designated area, and go straight home.

「Yeah. And they say that the hunter in question is small, like student small.」
「Other than being small, is there no other information?」
「I heard the A-rank hunter wears a hood and a mask, so no one knows her true appearance. But some did say that she had a girl’s voice, and the hair peeking from her hood was black.」
「Perhaps she’s an elf? If not, a dwarf?」

If we ignore the fact that it’s just us, the information almost certainly hints at the hunter being from a different race. Well, it’s not like I know much about dwarves and elves, so it can’t be for certain. Palra nods in agreement to Ciel’s words.

「Rumors believe that’s the case, but if she actually turned out to be human, that’d be so amazing.」
「That’s… true, yes.」

I guess that’s the only way Ciel can respond. After all, it’s practically about herself, and Ciel doesn’t really think of herself as particularly amazing.
But the fact that she still agreed with it, albeit awkwardly, might be because she vaguely understands the level of the other people around her.

And Palra’s words seem to be not out of suspicion that Ailneige is the rumored hunter but just her honest opinion. She appears to believe the part about having black hair, after all.

「You could probably become an A-rank hunter, right, Ailneige?」
「Who knows? I don’t really wish to proactively raise my rank, so reaching D-rank would be good enough for me.」
「Really?」
「D-rank is enough for herb gathering, after all, and I already earn enough just from that.」

Well, Ailneige can’t reach A-rank, after all. If we perform enough to reach that far, that’d just be Cielmer or Ainsel, which defeats the point of us even getting a low-rank card.
It’s possible to reach D-rank strictly through herb collection requests, so that’s the finish line for Ailneige. I do hope that Mia aims for A-rank, though.

「Is herb gathering really that good?」
「I know a secret trick to it, you see. I’m not going to share it, but I don’t think there are many that can perform it even with the information anyway.」
「You’ve also subjugated monsters, right?」
「That’s right, but I generally go for subjugation requests that have low compensation and have been long neglected; I don’t really prefer it.」

That’s how Ailneige would be. Ciel’s story is starting to sound a bit inconsistent, but it’s not like it reveals anything significant about us. Adding to the explanation, we also mainly choose low-paying herb collection requests.

We’ve been completing the so-called pickled requests, but the main difference between now and our Estoque days is that we also assertively defeated monsters back then. At Estoque, we defeated monsters that are relatively strong for their rank, resulting in our battle prowess being recognized, and this was probably why we were able to quickly rise in ranks, but we haven’t done that as Ailneige.

Even when we accept subjugation requests, we generally make it appear as if Mia defeated the monsters on her own.

And that’s why our rank has stayed the same. Also, there’s the matter of our age. Cielmer is a different story, since she was abnormally strong, while Ailneige only appears to be fairly capable of fighting for her age. Though I don’t really know other people’s actual opinion of us.

「In the first place, why don’t you proactively want to raise your rank?」

Hearing Ciel’s story, Palra tilts her head in confusion. It’s quite rare for her to show so much interest in a certain topic. Still, Palra aspires to be a hunter. Being her senior and already E-rank, I suppose she wants to hear more about Ailneige’s thought process.

Especially since rising in rank tends to be seen as the goal for a hunter, and not many really settle for D-rank just because it’s enough to pay living expenses.

Rather, there are many that can’t quite rise to C-rank but could have still continued living an above-average lifestyle that instead ruined their lives in desperation.

「What does rising in rank get you?」
「*Umm*, the permission to accept requests with better rewards, I guess?」
「I don’t particularly need the better rewards, you see. I already earn enough from safely gathering herbs, so there’s no need to do dangerous activities.」
「*Hm*… That’s a good point.」
「If A-rank can secure safer hunter work, then I’d find it to be a good goal to aim for.」

Hearing Ciel’s statement, Palra’s eyes went wide open before she nodded with understanding.