We returned from the disassemble room to the guild hall. As soon as Sally saw us, she ran straight over.
"Lina, Karen, your new IDs are ready!"
Sally handed over our adventurer IDs. Lina and I took them and thanked her in unison.
""Thank you," we said together."
I looked at the new ID. My name, birthdate, and adventurer rank had changed from Orange to Rainbow, and a blank space had appeared next to my name.
"Sally, what's this blank space for?"
Lina asked, and it seemed she was getting more proactive—maybe because it involved a friend? That was a good sign.
"This is for your adventurer title, so it's easier to remember. So, what title will you choose?!"
Hearing the question, Lina looked at me. I didn't know what to pick either. It felt a little embarrassing… better put it aside for now.
"…We'll think of a good title later."
"Ah, okay. I should get back to work before my dad… I mean, the guild master, scolds me."
Seeing the guild master approaching, Sally hurriedly said goodbye. Lina and I cheered her on.
"Good luck!"
"Go for it, Sally."
While we were speaking, the guild master fetched the year-measuring device—the tool used to check the year of magic cores. It looked like an electronic scale.
We stood by counter No. 5 and took out all the magic cores we had collected yesterday, testing them one by one. The highest year was only two, so we sold them all. Then I brought out the corpse of the ape cheif to extract its magic core on the spot.
I didn't put it in the disassemble room because I wanted to know immediately how long it had lived. How many years ago was it born?
"Why did you keep one?"
The guild master asked about the disappearing ape in my hand. I explained.
"Because I care about its age in particular. It can't be mixed with the other apes."
I placed the magic core on the year-measuring device. Numbers scrolled across the screen, and we all looked troubled. I immediately asked the guild master to try another device.
"Guild master, try another year-measuring device."
"…Alright, Jennie, give me your device."
He tested it with the device from clerk No. 5. The result was the same. I insisted on trying a third.
"Guild master, change it again. If it's the same a third time, then we'll believe it."
"Alright! Ruth, give me yours."
He took the device from clerk No. 4. I covered the screen, placed the magic stone on it, and looked at Lina and the guild master.
"Ready? One, two, three!"
On three, I quickly removed my hand. The screen displayed 2018. The guild master murmured in disbelief.
"This… this is real… unbelievable… it's even higher than the Fatelis Year…"
That's right—this year was Fatelis Year 2017. The ape cheif's magic core was 2018 years old, a full year older.
By the second reading, I already had an idea, but I didn't want to admit it. I looked at Lina; she looked back at me.
The ape cheif might have met the first generation's eleventh Brave, Henry(Allen), the founding chief of our village who left behind the ancient magic book.
(Why did I look exactly like Henry(Allen)?)
No, now wasn't the time to think about that! The year of this magic core couldn't be known by anyone else. It was a world-changing number.
"Karen, the other animals."
Lina brought up an even more serious issue. I quickly retrieved the magic stones and grabbed another year-measuring device, waking the stunned guild master.
"Guild master, let's go back to the disassemble room!"
"…Ha, okay."
We rushed to the disassemble room. I immediately extracted the magic stones from four animals and placed them on the device.
"1568, 2003, 1859, and 1046."
Magic cores over a hundred years old were already absurd, but here we had multiple over a thousand years. This had to remain an absolute secret. I grabbed the still-shocked guild master by the shoulders.
"Guild master, listen carefully. This must not be shared, recorded, or reported to any nation. Do you understand?"
"Why?! This is serious, it must be reported!"
He shouted about reporting it, so I quickly covered his mouth and threatened him.
"Shh! Be quiet! Don't shout. Do you want this country to be destroyed?"
I couldn't persuade him, so I had to threaten. If the capital fell, other countries would rush in to claim territory. He immediately shook his head.
"W-w-w!"
"If you report this, the country will fall, and war will break out. Do you understand?"
Without a capital, the king is gone; without a king, chaos ensues, and surrounding nations will invade. The guild master nodded frantically.
"Mm-hmm!"
"You can study whether these animals are usable, but do NOT check the magic core years, including the metal animals—return them directly to us. Understand? This is for world peace."
I released the guild master's mouth and had Lina start counting the animals and metal-type animals. He thought for a moment before speaking.
"…I understand, but I don't believe you won't misuse these magic cores."
His disbelief was understandable—two kids about the same age as his daughter were making threats. We had to offer him something in return.
"From now on, we will unconditionally accept any adventurer quests, are you agree?"
"Fine, I accept your terms."
He immediately agreed. Completion rates of guild commissions were a top priority for him. Now he would likely delegate difficult quests to us.
"Good, let's we return to the front desk to finish tallying the magic cores to sell. Then we'll answer any questions you have."
On the way back, Lina whispered the animal counts in my ear.
"Karen, 157 animals, 41 metal animals."
"Well done… Lina, sorry for not asking your opinion before including you."
I apologized because I should have been the only one making the deal, but Lina was a witness—if I didn't include her, the guild master would still count her in. She smiled.
"It's fine. We're always together."
"Still, are you disappointed in me after seeing this?"
From an outsider's perspective, I had been a villain just now—threatening the guild master and dragging Lina along. She shook her head.
"No, I understand."
"Thanks, Lina."
I felt gratitude toward her. Having Lina by my side made me truly lucky.
After tallying the magic cores to sell, we went to the guild master's office. We sat on the sofa, and his secretary served us tea before leaving.
The guild master took a sip, opened his notebook, and started asking questions.
"How did you capture that white tiger?"
"We used an earthen wall to trap it, then a water cage."
Basically correct, just substituting "Wall" for "Rock Wall."
"Impossible. a "Wall" is a basic magic. It couldn't even stop a normal tiger, let alone this stronger mutant!"
"Make it thicker, then trap it in a water sphere in an instant. That's all."
Thin walls break easily, so make them thicker. One layer isn't enough? Then two, three, four…
The guild master's expression changed to astonishment.
"You could do that… Then why did you stop at Level 81? You could keep breaking dungeon records, right?"
We had defeated so many animals on Level 81 and still had plenty of strength. I explained my reasoning.
"I didn't want the trouble. Reaching Rainbow-rank alone is shocking enough. If we broke dungeon records at the same time, it would be even more shocking—especially since we're only fifteen."
"You didn't even deny it… Indeed, you have such power at your age."
"We'll occasionally break records later. Instead of shocking everyone at once, it's better if they gradually get used to our feats."
First, our Rainbow rank identity would calm them, then we'd refresh records slowly. Over time, they'd take it as normal.
"I still don't fully understand, but you don't want to become too famous, right?"
"Exactly. So we want the guild master to oversee record-breaking, and we'll choose when to keep it secret or public."
Since the guild master knew the secret, it was easier to have him manage it. After thinking, he agreed.
"…Understood. I accept your proposal. But I want you to provide all animals from Level 81 and below for research, and record each level's environment."
He truly loved studying animals—collecting every species and observing environments. Curiosity piqued, I agreed.
"Of course. We'll hand them over without a scratch, like the white tiger. By the way, guild master, what is your name?"
"My name is Dex."
Finally, we knew the guild master's name. Now it was my turn. I took out my broken sword.
"Guild master Dex, do you know a good blacksmith? My only sword broke."
Dex recommended a forge that had existed since his youth. After finishing our tea, we left. Walking downstairs, dozens of eyes followed us—it was painfully noticeable.