"A-Rank Adventurers!?"

Did Lilia just say A-Rank Adventurers!?

A-Rank Adventurers… Lilia was a former B-Rank Adventurer, and Lange is currently a B-Rank Adventurer. That means their rank is even higher than those two.

The closest reference I can think of is Rizac, who I believe was a former A-Rank Adventurer. But these two seem much younger. Berna looks just a bit older than Lilia, I’d guess.

As for the other, Ferry, she looks like she could be in upper elementary school, but since she's an elf, it’s hard to tell her actual age based on appearance.

"H-Hey! Could it really be Berna, the 'Scorching Emperor' from the capital!?"

"Then that girl must be Ferry, the 'Verdant Storm'! Incredible! Both of them are famous A-Rank Adventurers!"

The regular novice adventurers in the store also seem to recognize these two. It seems they’re quite well-known. And, adventurers with epithets like that? That’s insanely cool! I love those middle-schooler-esque titles!

...Not that now’s the time to be geeking out. What could such renowned adventurers want at our shop in Al-Flare, a town known as the 'Starting Town'?

Being A-Rank Adventurers means that if something goes wrong, neither Lilia nor Lange would be able to handle them. Of course, since they’re acquaintances of Lilia, I doubt they’d cause any trouble. Still, I can’t help but feel nervous.

"You said you wanted to discuss something. Let me show you to the second floor."

It’s near closing time, so there aren’t many customers left. This way, Lilia and I can step away without much issue.

"No, we arrived without prior notice, so please don’t worry about us. Would it be alright if we browsed the store until closing time?"

"...Thank you for your consideration. Of course, feel free to look around."

It seems they’ve timed their arrival with the shop’s closing hours. In about twenty minutes, the outdoor shop will be closed. Judging by their polite tone, I trust they won’t act as rudely as the baron’s messenger from before.

"Thank you very much!"

The day’s business at the store comes to a peaceful close. …Well, whether it stays peaceful depends on what happens next.

"Thank you for waiting. Please, come upstairs."

"Thank you."

"………………"

"Lilia, come with me. Everyone else, please handle the closing tasks as usual."

Since Lilia knows these two, I’ll have her join the discussion.

"Tetsuya, I’ll come too."

"No, Lange, it’s fine. Please help everyone else with the closing tasks."

While I appreciate Lange volunteering to act as a bodyguard, if it comes to a fight, none of us would stand a chance against A-Rank Adventurers anyway.

"...Alright, got it."

…And I’m sure Lange’s willingness to join has nothing to do with Berna being beautiful and Ferry being adorable.

"It’s not much, but please make yourselves comfortable."

"Thank you."

"………………"

I serve tea to Berna and Ferry, who are seated across the table. Since this shop doesn’t have a proper reception room, I’ve brought them to the living room table where I usually spend my time.

"Berna and Ferry helped me a lot back in the capital. We even teamed up for quests a few times!"

"Oh, really?"

Lilia seems genuinely happy as she talks, likely thrilled to reunite with old acquaintances.

"It’s been about half a year since we last saw Lilia. We owe her a lot as well!"

"There aren’t many high-ranking female adventurers in the capital. These two are really strong. Berna’s swordsmanship is among the top five in the capital, and Ferry graduated at the top of her class from the Magic Academy!"

"Wow, if Lilia says so, they must be amazing!"

For Lilia, a former B-Rank Adventurer, to praise them so highly, they must be incredibly skilled. And, wait—there’s a Magic Academy in this world? If Ferry graduated from there, she must be older than she looks… but it’s better not to dwell on that.

"If you’re going to say that, then Lilia was very strong as well. She’d cut down enemies with incredible speed and overwhelming power."

"…Lilia, very strong."

It seems Lilia was quite formidable in her own right.

"We actually wanted her to officially join our party, but unfortunately, she declined."

"…It was unfortunate."

"I’m sorry about that. It was such an honor to be invited, but I was already part of another party, and besides, you two were much stronger than me."

Whoa, seriously? Lilia was strong enough to be invited to join an A-Rank Adventurer party?

"Lilia was just one step away from reaching A-Rank herself, so there wasn’t much difference in skill. …That’s why the accident was such a tragedy."

"…It was sad."

…So, just as she was about to reach A-Rank, Lilia lost her left arm in an accident. That must have been heartbreaking.

"Haha, don’t worry about it, everyone. I lost my left arm, but everyone survived, so I have no regrets. Besides…"

Lilia swings her prosthetic left arm back and forth, as if to show it’s no big deal.

Then, with a gentle smile, she speaks slowly.

"Though I retired as an adventurer, I’ve found a job here where I can directly help novice adventurers. Every day feels new and exciting, and I’m very happy with my current life