I was a Warrior?

After the combat rating evaluation was finally over…

I managed to get the Diamond rank from the Guild Master as promised.

And one thing that had changed—how two certain people looked at me.

Before the live combat assessment, I gave off strong vibes of being a newcomer with overwhelming skill. But afterward, their perception completely shifted to seeing me as a fully seasoned expert.

Well, after all, not only did I handle a B-rank monster alone, but I also toyed with it like an adult playing with a child—it was an absolutely insane spectacle they witnessed firsthand.

So, naturally, there was a considerable change in how they looked at me.

Though reflecting on it myself, the process had been terrifying enough that I worried if I’d unintentionally instilled fear in them. Thankfully, no such signs were visible.

Probably because the opponent itself was threatening and my display came across more as a performance showcasing skill rather than anything else.

…Had they seen my face without the mask during that time, things wouldn’t have ended so simply.

At the time, my unnatural calmness combined with sudden bursts of anger and madness, followed by uncontrollable cruelty and an accompanying subtle sense of refreshment…

Instead of clarity, only more questions arose, leading to an unpleasant situation.

On another note, I began to wonder if this wasn’t some hidden violent nature within me or perhaps the voice I heard earlier was my subconscious mumbling…

Despite various assumptions filling my mind, what mattered now wasn’t that.

The most important priority was earning money as a mercenary by taking on commissions.

Everything else could be reconsidered later once everything settled down—I consoled my anxious heart and set out to find a mission.

Unfortunately, my plans hit an unexpected snag almost immediately.

“…There are no requests matching your requirements right now?”

Having perfectly completed the rank test and secured the Diamond rank, hearing there weren’t any suitable requests left me wide-eyed in disbelief.

However, upon hearing the detailed explanation from the receptionist, I had no choice but to accept the situation.

“While Karin’s combat rating is indeed very high, your credit rating is too low… especially for mercenary missions where trustworthiness is crucial.

This can be resolved by completing a few appropriate missions, but since you’re limiting yourself to the capital and only available during dawn hours…

Finding suitable requests under these conditions is quite difficult.”

“Also, compared to other regions, the capital has relatively good security, so there aren’t many missions that require a Diamond-class mercenary.”

The receptionist herself seemed surprised by how hard it was to find a matching request, her expression clearly troubled.

When she asked if some conditions could be compromised, I could only shake my head regretfully. Operating within strict limits already, venturing further would be too risky.

Considering the potential complications, putting Lady Yuria in danger was unacceptable. Thus, exceeding the current conditions was practically impossible.

In the end, I returned to the Blue Palace with nothing but the small emblem symbolizing my Diamond rank.

A rather frustrating outcome given my initial plan to wrap things up in one day.

Still, I didn’t give up hope entirely. The receptionist suggested waiting, considering the countless daily requests pouring into the capital.

Though uneasy, I tried to remain patient until the banquet approached.

But as days passed—one, two, three, four—my patience wore thin.

“Haaaahh… Ughhh… Whewww!!!”

Every late night found me slumped in despair on a bench inside the guild.

Today, I truly thought I’d find something, yet the receptionist sister’s reply was merely another disappointing denial.

Thus, the anxiety and impatience I’d barely contained finally exploded.

With the banquet just around the corner, waiting aimlessly was no longer feasible. My despair only deepened.

At this point, even options I’d previously dismissed started looming in my mind.

“This is quite a dilemma… How about this request? It’s monster extermination near a village outside the capital. Given your Diamond rank, we might be able to negotiate the timing. The pay is roughly what you requested.”

Karune-san, who’d grown somewhat friendly over repeated encounters, tempted me with this seemingly ideal offer—if only the condition of staying within the city could be waived.

Though venturing to the outskirts carried risks, assuming everything went smoothly, I might return before sunrise. However, re-entering the capital through security checks posed a problem.

Even with my hood and mask, the intense scrutiny would likely flag me as suspicious. While passing off as a beastman with diluted human blood was plausible, revealing the fake cat ears attached to my automaton body would lead to catastrophic exposure.

Until now, I’d never felt so frustrated being an automaton… cursing my metallic body while wallowing in despair, an unexpected voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

“Hmm… Is this the rookie Diamond-class mercenary you mentioned?”

“Wait! Riel-san… Ah. Um, yes, that’s correct.”

The mysterious female voice breaking the quiet waiting area, followed by the receptionist’s hurried response, caught my attention. Slowly raising my head, I was met with an astonishing sight.

Not far away stood someone whose appearance was far from ordinary.

Eyes capable of ensnaring anyone with their mesmerizing allure, emerald-green irises with slit pupils, black cat ears atop her head, and a tail swaying behind her. Most strikingly, skin rarely seen among beastmen—purely human.

This was one of the rare beastmen heavily infused with human ancestry—the very alternative I’d considered moments ago.

Briefly dazzled by the long raven-haired feline woman before me, my gaze soon shifted to her attire, which shocked me speechless.

A loosely draped black jacket revealed a white top accentuating her ample cleavage. Combined with an extremely short black skirt exposing smooth, supple thighs, it was an ensemble far beyond my comfort zone.

“Both parties’ preferences align closely, but Karin’s credit rating is still too low for Riel-san’s confidentiality-focused request…”

“If I don’t mind that part, isn’t it fine?”

“Ah, yes. In that case, please note the guild won’t take responsibility for any subsequent issues.”

As they conversed, the enigmatic black-furred feline leaned toward me with a mischievous smile.

“So… Mysterious powerhouse? Interested in joining me for some fun?”

The dream-like proposal I’d awaited for days made me instinctively accept without hesitation.

Unaware of whatever secrets lay hidden within the mission…

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