A few hours had passed since the request and examination began.
　There were more than ten people who had left or withdrawn.


　However, here was an adventurer who seemed to be coming out of the forest.
　Kuena.
　A current A-ranked adventurer who was considered close to S-rank. She has hair and eyes so bright red they could be mistaken for flames.
　We're almost there. She understood because she knows the path she came from.
　But I feel a presence. And a voice.


'Ta, help me ......!


　It's a shaking voice.
　When Kåñëa headed towards the voice, she saw a deep-handed adventurer lying on the ground.


'Are you okay?'


　Kuena calls out to him.
　He too was a well-known adventurer.


'I'm sorry, my legs aren't working. I managed to get it back, but it doesn't seem to be working. ......!
Pull yourself together. You're almost there.


　Kuena visually inspects the man's injuries.
　He had lacerations from his chest to his abdomen. There was also a large amount of blood flowing uninterruptedly. There is no significant wound on his leg. His leg was immobile because he was bleeding profusely.
　This adventurer is going to die.
　Kåñëa decided in an instant.


'Why did you do this recklessly?


　It's not that I blame her, I just ask her purely.


It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're going to do if you want to be a brave person.


　The man mocks himself as pathetic.
　A brave man. It's the target of every human race's admiration. If you want to become one of them, it's no wonder you're willing to bet a life or two on it.


　But adventurers are different. Especially the high-ranking adventurers who have reached the A-rank.
　They are able to judge their own situation, environment, and circumstances on the spot, and make sure they don't take any chances to die. That's what an adventurer is.
　You deserve it.
　He deserves to be ridiculed. That's the profession he's attached to.


　So even if Kåñëa abandons him, he has no right to be talked about behind his back. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.
　That said, while Kåñëa has several items that can heal, there is only one way to stop death.
　Only the 'healing water' of this request--.
　Kåñëa is definitely the best. So all that's left is to give it to him and he'll pass the test. It will be the path to bravery. Even if you become a candidate, your fame will grow. You can never be fooled.
　You can even go back and forth. But you don't know if you'll make it out alive next time.


　And yet.
　And yet.


"Drink.


　Kåñëa dripped water over the man's mouth.
　There was a gurgling sound in his throat. Then the wound quickly healed and the blood stopped.


'This ...... this ...... is ......'


　The man loses consciousness from relief when he sees the healed wounds. He must have been at the peak of his exhaustion from the past. The tension has relaxed.
　Kuena makes sure the man is breathing well.


'Are you sure. 'Kåñëa,'


　Suddenly, a man's voice came from behind Kuena.
　It's Zied.


'...... I'm not going to sacrifice my life to eat my title. If I go that far, I'm just like all those people who have made fun of me.
Yeah, I know.
What's wrong with you?


　Quena lowers one eyebrow at Zied, who says it in a penetrating way.
　Zied digs into his pocket and pulls out a bottle. --that's the one with the healing water in it.


'I'll do it,'
What. Ugh, how can I accept that?
Why?　You want to be a brave man, don't you?
Yeah, I'd like to be, but ......!　But that doesn't mean we can't go to ......!
'I don't know much about bravery, but I don't want to live in a world that doesn't reward guys like you who can save people.
......!


　It's a very simple statement, and tears almost spill from the corners of Kåñëa's eyes as she says it so simply.
　I'm not going to be able to get it back," he said, accepting the healing water from Jade with a trembling hand.


You'll get ...... back. Absolutely.
Hmm?
I'll pay you back for this. Thank you.


　It was Kåñëa's honest words.
　Jide uttered, "I was going to return the favor ......," but Kåñëa's ears were no longer on the line.
　Kåñëa went to the examiner with Jide's gratitude in mind.


◆◇


　Kåñëa arrives at the examiner's office.


"I think that completes the job,


　Kåñëa holds out a bottle of healing water.
　There is indeed a sufficient amount in it. There is nothing wrong with it - it was supposed to be.


......


　The examiner doesn't respond.
　He doesn't even look at Kåñëa. Even though all he has to do is accept the bottle that he has accomplished.
--as if Kåñëa did not exist.


'Hey. The request has been completed. ......
......


　He's not sleeping.
　I'm keeping my eyes firmly open.
　But he's not looking at Kåñëa.
　When I thought she finally spoke.


''Ahhh. Who's fit to be a brave person? 'Of high birth. 'A person of high rank, with abilities to match. Who is of high birth, with ability to match, and with great charisma?


　It's so loud that it's as if he's trying to tell Kåñëa that he's flipping out.
　Kåñëa gritted her back teeth just barely.


'This is the Society of the Brave!　This is the bravery test!　Impossible: ......!　Everyone should be able to be a brave man, right?
"Phew!


　The examiner chuckled at Kuena's words. It was the first time he had reacted.
　But the words that jumped out were trivial.


It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what to expect. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it.


　The man continues, picking his nose and fishing his cheeks.


I've been checking up on you guys. I'm not sure of their origins, but they are just a couple of dubious guys who are out of the ordinary. You want them to be the heroes?　Don't get cocky just because you have a little power!


　The examiner tapped the bottle Kåñëa was holding.
　Kåñëa, who was stunned, had lost her strength, and the bottle rolled off easily. The bottle cracks with a crunch. The water inside was sucked into the ground.


'Gather your trash to the light. Don't try to be the light.'


　The priest laughs as he stomps on the broken bottle.
　Finally, Kåñëa looks down in frustration as she understands what has been done.
　There was someone who intervened between them.


''Oh, you don't want this?''


　It was Zied.
　In one hand was a fainting adventurer.
　In the other hand was a bottle of healing water.
　As he looked at the discarded and broken bottle, Jide asked.


'Huh. There you go again.'


　This time the examiner didn't even try to hide it, but said.


'Mr. Bailias. This is what you requested, isn't it?　From what I could see, it looked like you beat Kåñëa.
Oh?　Hahaha. I get it. Money is mean. I'll pay you for the achievement. So don't try to be a hero, get lost.
''Hmm. I don't care for brave men, but I don't understand how they can be treated unfairly.


　He grasped the soil moistened with healing water.
　He then placed it on the hand of the examiner, Bailias, who forced it into his grip.


'The healing water can be used in this state, so go ahead. So, best of all, it's Kåñëa, right?
'What about ......?'　Hey, you!　Mud on my hands: ......!
No, no. It's healing water. ...... Hmm, is it healing mud?
You can check it out at ......!


　The moment Bailias was about to yell at him with a vein on his forehead.
　Kåñëa, who was looking down, said.


'Enough. 'Thank you, Jide,'


　After saying that much, Kåñëa starts to walk away.


'Shit, yeah, yeah!　When you understand your identity, you can get the hell out of--Bubbe!


　Zied silenced Bailias' face with mud as he tried to push Kåñëa into a corner. He was showing by his actions, though he didn't say anything more, that he wasn't going to speak any more.


--The guild's heroic candidate examinations were scattered.