Betrayed, I Knocked Demon Lord's Door - Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Still so shy—adorable!" She pressed a printout into his hand. "Take Leon there. Don't get lost."
"I've worked here two years! I won't get lost!" Bob huffed.
She grinned. "Still a reserve after two years? Study hard, get into Ekavine Academy, and you'll rank up fast."
Bob's ears burned. "I will! Next year, I'll be a Hunter for sure!"
"Yeah, yeah." Saria smiled. "Pass the entrance exams, and I'll grant you one big wish."
Bob locked eyes with her, his gaze wavering. Red-faced, he demanded, "Seriously? Anything?"
"Abso - freaking - lutely anything." Saria cackled, flicking the tip of his nose.
Leon watched the exchange with folded arms, a smirk tugging his lips. 'Hmm… This is getting interesting,' he thought.
"Enough flirting," Saria snapped, suddenly all business. "Move it, Mr. Radford is waiting."
"This way, Mr. Radford." Bob inhaled sharply and strode towards the elevator. Leon fell into step behind him.
As they disappeared into the brass-plated elevator, Saria chewed her lip. "I wonder what his rank really is..."
Suddenly, her expression soured, a cold prickle running down her spine. "Wait… Wasn't there a big-shot Hero named Leon arriving recently? No… Couldn't be."
The elevator hummed. "Mr. Radford," he ventured, "what's your estimated combat rank? It'll help me pick the right testing zone."
Leon scratched his stubble. "S, I guess?"
"Pardon?" Bob froze.
"Hunter ranks mirror the Hero system, right?" Leon leaned against the brass railing.
"Y-yes! If you're a hero, we can fast-track..." Bob answered.
Bob's shoulders relaxed slightly. 'Must be joking. Everyone jokes here,' he thought.
"Then take me to the S-Rank Testing Zone," Leon said.
Silence again.
Bob frowned. "You're… serious, Sir?"
Leon smiled and said, "Won't know till we try, my friend."
"But—" Bob scooped up his papers, voice tightening. "False claims get blacklisted! They'll ban you from high-rank quests if you flop."
'Third braggart this week. All bark and no bite. For such individuals, they may be blocked from accepting certain missions. Overconfidence is absolutely a major taboo in combat,' Bob thought.
Leon ruffled Bob's hair. "Relax, my friend. Worst case, you get front-row seats to my epic fail."
Bob sighed and nodded. "Alright..."
Bob thought. 'Honestly, could've believed A-Rank. But S? Only thirteen verified S-Ranks exist worldwide.
'And almost all S-rank big shots were on record, except for a few recluses. This nobody suddenly claims S-rank...it was exactly like the blowhards I'd met before.
'And yet... That name felt kind of familiar.' Bob frowned. 'Wait… Leon… wasn't that the name in last week's priority alert?
Ding! The elevator shuddered to a stop.
Bob took a deep breath and led Leon toward the S-Rank Testing Zone.
The subterranean testing zone of the Guild of Hunters sprawled beneath Ekavine City.
Though the S-rank testing machine had been activated many times since the guild's founding, fewer than a dozen had ever proven worthy of the designation.
The cavernous space defied logic, its stability maintained by reinforcement arrays — ancient magical frameworks woven into the bedrock.
These structures could endure the full-force strikes of Saint-rank Adepts, holding firm even under sustained assault.
A near-impossible feat, for while both shared the "S" classification, the gap between a Saint-rank and a standard S-rank Hunter dwarfed even the difference between S and D.
"Hey Bob," Leon interrupted, eyeing a nearby mercenary vomiting into a drain, "you've got a thing for Saria, right?"
Bob tripped over his own boots. "N-no! She's… she's practically my senior!"
Leon barked a laugh, clapping his shoulder. "Relax, kid. I believe in you! Train hard, get stronger, and you'll win her over."
"You're teasing me..." Bob mumbled, cheeks still red. "She's almost ten years older than me."
Leon said. "Come on, age is just firewood for passion. Ten years? That's a sky-high score! You're in your prime—go for it."
Dead silence.
Bob said nothing, hurrying toward the S-Rank Testing Zone with a crimson face.
Amused by Bob, Leon followed him.
Curious stares multiplied as they went deeper.
The atmosphere shifted palpably upon entering the A-rank testing zone. Seasoned Hunters paused their drills to fix the pair by measuring gazes.
Bob stiffened, his whisper barely audible over clanging steel. "This sector doubles as a training ground for hunters. Many choose to refine their skills here."
Leon nodded curtly with a faint expression.
As they reached the S-rank testing zone's door, the stares turned hostile.
"Another cocky brat for S-rank?" someone scoffed.
"Place your bets! I say max B-rank!"
"D? Look at those noodle arms! Probably can't even lift a goblin cleaver!"
"I'll take D," a woman purred, her voice as bold as her D-cup figure. "Pretty face though. Shame he'll die stupid."
Leon glanced at her back. 'Pretty? I'm devastatingly handsome,' he mused.
Someone spat. "Got a problem? Prove us wrong, pretty boy."
Leon halted, turning with a razor-edged grin. "How about this? If I am S-Rank, you will buy me an e-scooter."
The room erupted. "An e-scooter?" The riflewoman doubled over laughing. "S-Ranks get castles! Armies! Saints' balls, aim higher!"
"Need something nimble for grocery runs." Leon shrugged. "Deal?"
"Deal," Charlie Smith growled. "Survive or not, you fight all of us. Barehanded."
"Delightful." Leon winked at the blushing mage.
If Caitlyn were here, she'd sigh—she knew his mischief too well. And Alex? One look at that expression would send him into a panic.