The following days went by quickly.
Every morning, at dawn, Violet headed to the Guild with a very practical motivation. The mission board was overflowing with low-rank requests piled on top of one another—jobs no one bothered to take. No surprise there. In a border city like this, low-level adventurers were rare; they preferred safer towns where you didn't risk your life for a handful of coins.
And lately, the Guild had emptied out even more. Most adventurers had already left, which gave Violet much more freedom to move around.
So little by little, she began taking on a few quests, starting with the easier ones.
She had completed several gathering missions—herbs, minerals—jobs that never took her too far from the city walls, and never for too long.
Then she handled deliveries: messages, small packages. She had even escorted an elderly man to a small village just beyond the southern gate.
In a short time, she had become known among the Guild girls, who, over the days, had warmed up to her—becoming friendlier, more open, more welcoming.
And now, with the latest quest she had accepted, Violet was preparing for a rank advancement.
The request came from a cat-woman—a gentle-looking Therianthrope—desperate over the disappearance of her "cat," someone named Lia.
What Violet hadn't understood at first was that the missing "cat" was in fact a Therianthrope child, the woman's daughter.
The mother had been frantic, crying rivers of tears. Little Lia, she explained, was a rebellious, restless girl who refused to listen to her parents or follow instructions.
"She's just a child, ma'am! Don't worry, I'll bring her right back."
Convinced and determined, Violet had set out to track the girl—and now she was on her trail.
She had asked neighbors and the other children in the district, who told her that Lia often slipped into an alley where she could easily climb onto the rooftops.
Violet stepped into the narrow passageway, hoping to find her.
"There she is!"
Right in front of her stood a small child with pointed ears and a long black tail, both pitch-black.
Violet confidently approached.
"…Hi, Lia."
At her voice, the little girl's ears and tail perked up as she turned toward her.
"Who are you?"
Violet continued walking toward her.
"Oh, don't worry. Your mother sent me. She's really worried and wants you to come home."
"No!"
The little girl's tone left no room for negotiation.
What a spoiled child…
Violet stepped closer, smiling gently—only to trigger Lia's reaction. The girl spun around and bolted down the alley.
Violet sprinted after her.
"Hey— wait!!!"
The child leapt over a few crates with quick, nimble movements, continuing to run.
"Stop!!!"
The girl was unbelievably fast, and Violet struggled to keep up, weighed down as she was by her companion.
"You little monster! I said stop!"
Lia darted around the corner like lightning.
Violet reached the turn with a long delay.
The alley continued for only a few more meters before ending in a stack of crates. The child had vanished.
Stopping abruptly, Violet searched frantically.
"Impossible… This is a dead end."
Then a shadow above her.
Lia was perched on top of the building, staring down at her.
"How did you even get up there???"
Violet finally saw it—the girl had climbed the crates and then pulled herself onto the roof.
She really is agile…
From above, Lia grinned triumphantly and put her hands around her mouth, sticking out her tongue at Violet.
"Try and catch me, old lady!"
Violet did not take that well. The words echoed in her ears like a direct challenge.
Old lady???
"I'll show you, you little brat!"
Violet untied the rope around her waist, preparing to chase her.
"Wait here, Nainai…"
Without another thought, Violet climbed onto the crates and—after a fair amount of struggling—managed to pull herself onto the roof.
The chase resumed.
Determined, Violet pursued the girl across a long terrace, then onto another flat rooftop. Lia, still ahead, leapt toward the next gap—only to find herself suddenly stepping into empty space.
No…
It happened in a split second.
The child pitched forward into the void—
Violet lunged, arm outstretched—
and grabbed her by the very tip of her tail.
The girl jerked violently, bouncing back toward safety and whipping around to face Violet.
The look on her face was that of a bloodthirsty little beast.
The yank at the base of her tail sent a jolt of sharp pain through her, and while still dangling in midair, Lia hissed violently, baring her claws.
Then she launched herself at poor Violet, slamming her to the ground and scratching and hitting her with all the strength she had.
Biiip.
"Well, Violet… it looks like you've… advanced in rank…"
Elyune had just updated Violet's guild stone and was staring at her in utter shock.
What she saw before her was a wrecked girl with bruised eyes, a face full of scratches, and the general appearance of an ambulatory scratching post.
After the chaotic chase, Violet had picked up Nainai and gone straight to the mother's house, carrying the still-howling, still-flailing child in her arms.
When the woman opened the door and saw her daughter in tears, she snatched her away from Violet, scolded her thoroughly, and threatened to file an official complaint with the Guild.
"From today on, you're officially a Bronze-Rank adventurer. Congratulations on… the promotion…"
"Thhanksh…"
Violet, still bruised and swollen, struggled to get the words out.
The other two Guild attendants, having heard about the promotion, joined the conversation and stared at her with the same horrified expression as their colleague.
Even Nainai was looking at her face with wide, frightened eyes.
"This is your reward… Starting tomorrow, you'll be allowed to take on higher-rank missions as well."
The three girls, who had gone pale at the sight of Violet's swollen, battered face, tried their best to maintain a professional demeanor.
So, as was customary for any adventurer who received a rank advancement, they began clapping for her.
Clap clap clap.
"…Congratulations…"
Once the short ceremony was over, Violet—still aching all over—headed back to the mission board. She had completed every quest available, and there were no new ones.
Only one remained.