Vol 4 Chapter 41: The Queen and the Sage

“──Now then, Your Majesty, may I ask for an explanation?”

Rin-san stood silently behind the queen, while the rest of us sat. Fana-san, confirming this, turned to the queen with a sharp, probing gaze—far from respectful for addressing a sovereign.

“Haha, what a frightening look. It was just a little jest. I simply wanted to gauge his abilities. …Although, if I could have taken him for myself, I wouldn’t have minded.♪”

“Lady Ramielle, I have advised you countless times to refrain from such behavior…”

“Oh my, have you? How careless of me.♪”

Ramielle deflected Fana-san’s sharp gaze with a composed smile and dismissed even Rin-san’s words of caution with ease. Her personality was something else. What happened to the cold demeanor she had shown earlier? Perhaps that was just a brilliant act of deception befitting a ruler.

“──Well, joking aside. As the queen of this nation, isn’t it natural to want powerful individuals by my side?”

“Your methods, however, are remarkably lowbrow. It’s almost as if you’re mimicking the antics of a back-alley prostitute. Oh my, perhaps I’ve said too much.♪”

Fana-san’s sharp sarcasm pierced the queen’s justification. Ramielle’s smile didn’t waver, but Rin-san’s face stiffened slightly. Meanwhile, Alice, Kaguya, and Nina broke out in cold sweats, clearly uneasy with Fana-san’s boldness.

As for me, amidst this heavy atmosphere…

“Geez, I was so worried about you, Shin♡ You know, as punishment, you have to hug me and never let go♡”

“Y-Yeah… Sorry, Lena. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t say that♡ You’re always trying your best, Shin. There’s no way you could ever be at fault♡ Fufu, Shin♡ Hug me tighter♡”

Seated on the sofa, Lena clung to me, her voluptuous figure pressed against mine as she wrapped her arms around me. I stroked her head gently, our exchange resembling an unabashedly affectionate couple showing off for the world.

To be honest, her sweet scent and soft body made my heart race and my face flush. I was painfully aware of how inappropriate this was for the situation, and the cold sweat on my forehead wouldn’t stop.

“…Your Majesty? Might I trouble you to enlighten us regarding this so-called reward?”

Fana-san gave us a brief glance, her expression unreadable, before quickly focusing on the queen, as if willing herself to ignore our antics.

“Ah, about that… Well, I haven’t decided yet. Tehe♪”

Ramielle tilted her head, her mischievous smile so childlike it was hard to believe she was the ruler of a nation. Fana-san’s eyes narrowed slightly, her quiet anger seeping through. Perhaps it was at the queen’s carefree attitude, or the fact there was no reward. The others, too, stared at the queen skeptically.

“Now, now, don’t look at me like that. A reward… hmm, let’s see──”

With the nonchalance of someone deciding on dinner, Ramielle hummed and thought it over. Her tone was utterly lacking in seriousness. But then…

“──What is it that you desire?”

Her voice turned cold, and the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Despite Lena clinging to me, a chill ran down my spine, making me shudder. Even if she joked, the weight of the queen’s authority was undeniable, far surpassing that of an ordinary person.

Everyone else averted their gaze for a moment, overwhelmed by her presence. Except for one—Fana-san.

“…Let me think.”

Her tone was flat, almost devoid of emotion. It was nothing like the Fana-san we had seen so far—whether angry, teasing, or frustrated. There was calm, yet an unyielding strength in her voice.

Fana-san wasn’t backing down. I didn’t know why, but I could feel it—she was standing her ground.

“…Then, may I make a request?”

“Go ahead—speak.”

Their brief exchange carried a sharp tension, like blades clashing or magic colliding. Everyone else, including Rin-san, watched with bated breath.

Finally, Fana-san exhaled softly, raised her head, and spoke with unwavering resolve.

“…We would like you to raise the rank of our S-rank party, 【White Lightning.】”

A Wish None of Us Could Have Predicted

“Ho… I see.”

The queen’s lips curled upward with amusement upon hearing Fana-san’s request.

“—Neutralizing a high-ranking succubus, obtaining critical information, and exposing rebel elements. With results like these, a rank-up isn’t out of the question.”

The queen paused briefly, as if to contemplate, murmuring as though reflecting on our achievements.

“So, in essence, you’re saying that your party… wishes to ascend from S-rank to SS-rank. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Fana-san’s response was brief but unwavering.

S-rank—a rank few adventurers ever reach. Even now, standing as a member of an S-rank party feels surreal to me. SS-rank, the level above, is a concept so far removed from reality it’s almost unimaginable.

While S-rank parties are rare, most guilds have one or two. If a party consistently completes high-difficulty quests, a guild can grant that status. It’s not something just anyone can achieve, but it’s not unattainable either. That’s S-rank.

SS-rank, however, is a completely different beast. Only a handful of SS-rank parties exist in the world, due to the unique method of appointment. Unlike S-rank, which is determined by guilds, SS-rank requires recommendation from royalty or high-ranking nobles. It’s a title backed by the nation itself.

Those who hold the SS-rank are tasked with duties surpassing S-rank quests, receive numerous privileges, and gain access to information verging on state secrets.

As for the highest rank, SSS-rank… No one knows how it is achieved or even if any parties hold it currently. It’s regarded as little more than a fairytale.

“Hmm… I do acknowledge your accomplishments. However—” the queen said, her tone neutral, “it’s also true that I harbor some doubts about your capabilities.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

Fana-san’s sharp voice cut through the queen’s ambiguous statement, her tone both probing and slightly intimidating.

“It’s simple. Your party includes someone who wields extraordinary support magic. While that magic is indeed part of your strength as a party, individual prowess matters when considering a recommendation for SS-rank. And I believe you need one more push to prove yourselves.♪”

The queen’s cheerful tone contrasted with the harshness of her words, which implied that the rest of the party, outside my support magic, didn’t fully meet the standard. Her statement stung, and I felt an irritation boil within me, my body tensing involuntarily.

“Ahhn♡ Shin, don’t hug me so tightly! Geez…♡”

It wasn’t just me; the others clearly shared my frustration. Nina and Alice kept their lips tightly sealed as though biting back retorts. Kaguya, while maintaining a neutral expression, exuded a frosty aura that silently conveyed her displeasure.

“…Aggressive Shin is the best…♡”

And then, oblivious to it all:

“Ehehe~♡ Shin♡ Hug me tighter~♡”

Lena, snuggling into me and rubbing her cheek against mine. She seemed completely unbothered by the queen’s words, likely not having heard a single one. Well, at least she’s happy… I guess?

With Lena’s dreamy voice filling the air, the conversation pressed on, none of us daring to address her behavior.

“…What exactly do you mean by ‘one more push’?”

Fana-san asked.

“Oh, nothing too difficult, so no need to be so tense.♪”

The queen’s reply, almost dismissive, was aimed squarely at Fana-san, who still carried a subtle rigidity in her posture. Even we, her party members, only barely noticed the slight change in her usual demeanor. Yet, the queen, meeting her for the first time, had picked up on it and commented without hesitation. That alone left us surprised.

“—But let’s leave it at that for now. You must be tired from your journey by carriage from Requille Town, no? Stay in the castle tonight. I’ll provide the details tomorrow. Rin, show them the way.”

“Understood.”

Abruptly ending the conversation, the queen motioned for Rin-san to step forward, effectively blocking any further questions. Fana-san, who had momentarily risen as if to challenge the decision, met the cold, unwavering gazes of the queen and her attendant. Reluctantly, she sat back down.

“…This way, please,” Rin-san said.

We followed Rin-san out of the queen’s private chambers, walking down the castle corridors once again. Frustration lingered like a thorn in our sides as we walked, unsure of what awaited us the next day.