After killing the Queen Ant, the two sat on the ground catching their breath because of the exhaustion.
Alex observed Gracier before announcing ''Let rest for few minutes.''
Gracier only nodded her head because she couldn't even open her mouth at the moment, this show how tired she was.
Half of an hour later Alex stood up and checked their surrounding before observing the Queen Ant's corpse.
Truth be told, Its body length was much longer than the Soldier Ants, about 5m in length. It had an enlarged abdomen and a sharp spike grew from it like a stinger.
'It's pretty big. I was shocked for a moment by its sheer size.' Alex mumbled.
From the information Alex heard, the Soldier Ants were about 1m long. Because of that, even if it was larger, he had expected the Queen Ant to be about 3m in length at best, even the Imperial Ant length is 2 meters.
However, after coming in contact with the actual Queen Ant, its size was greatly larger than Alex's expectations.
Approaching the monster's corpses, Alex stored them away before turning his face to face Gracier, the latter had recovered by now. The two have killed 54 monsters today, (42 Soldier Ants, 11 Imperial Ants, and 1 Queen Ant.). It was time now to go back.
''Let's go Little sister.''
''Okay,''
Gracier stood up and left with Alex. They were going back to the Adventurer Guild.
....
Meanwhile, at the Adventurer Guild, the receptionist Karen was playing with her hair, she seemed lost in thought.
''Hah!!"
She involuntarily spat out a sigh. Fortunately, as there was only a little while before the noon bell rings, there were few adventurers inside the guild. There were only several people eating an early lunch.
''What's wrong, sighing like that?''
''Or are you perhaps thinking about your lover?"
The co-worker next to Karen asked curiously. It was Nyora, a cat beast person, she had short black hair, cat ears, and tail, naturally like every other receptionist present here she was really beautiful. Nyora stretched herself, showing of the flexible limbs that were a feature of the cat family.
Karen glared at Nyora, the latter smiled before correcting herself.
''Joke aside. Tell me what is bothering our dear Karen.''
''Nothing, I'm just thinking about the newcomer. He is-"
''You are talking about 'The Rookie'?"
Nyora cut Karen off and asked. The latter nodded her head in confirmation.
''What did he do?"
Hearing Nyora's words Karen shook her head before explaining.
''He didn't do anything. It just how fast he was rising. He just registered two weeks ago and now he's going to get promoted to D Rank. He's talented, so talented that it's odd he is here. Normally, someone, this talented should be in the capital not here. I wonder why he came here. He must be a young Master from a powerful family, yet he's here in this city, this City is not important. There must be a reason he came here. I don't know why but sometimes I have the feeling he is out of this world.''
Nyora contemplating and concluded that Karen's analysis wasn't wrong. She had seen her fair share of Adventurers since she started working here but this was the first time she had seen someone rise in Rank so quickly. The guy killed thirty goblins and a rare species goblin by himself, something a D Rank Adventurer could do, and today morning he bested four Adventurers (A E Rank Adventurer Guild.) He must be gifted that is the only explanation plausible.
''He must be Gifted,'' Nyora stated.
''I know but what kind of Gift did he possess? Nobody knows, not even the Guild Master. He asked me what weapon Alex used on his first day of training. I said knives. We all know that his knives are normal, not Gift. A lot of people were expecting him to use his Gift today unfortunately he didn't.'' Karen explained.
''I see. Not even Big sister Leena know something about it? She is interested in him, they are close after all. The girl Alex brought even became Big sister Leena's little sister. I was surprised when she takes that oath. She is interested in Alex, she's interested in his potential, you look how she behaves in his presence, like a mother protecting her child.'' Nyora said.
Karen heaved a sigh before saying ''You are right. Alex invited her on a date in front of everyone. He's courageous. We are talking about Big sister Leena. Not many dare to ask her out. She had never accepted in the past, yet this time she accepted. How lucky Alex is.''
Nyora smiled before offering her opinion,
''Indeed you are right. However, I think if he asks her to become his girlfriend, Big sister Leena will refuse.''
''Why did you say that?" Karen asked.
''Why? Normally, Big sister Leena is not interested in him romantically. Alex-"
''That not my question, I guess I should reformulate it. Why did you think Alex is interested in Big sister Leena romantically? Why do you think he is in love with her?"
Rolling her eyes as to say isn't obvious, Nyora put on a doubtful expression,
''He asked her on a date. Isn't that Alex guy hitting on Big sister Leena?"
Karen shook her neck slightly at Nyora's words.
However, what Nyora said wasn't wrong at all. After all, receptionists were the face of the guild, they are all beautiful and Leena was most beautiful of all.
The receptionists were idolized by the adventurers. An unattainable object, someone they want to be their lover, someone they wanted to spend the night with, they became that kind of existence.
Nyora was trying to say that in that sense, Alex was trying to chase Leena, he even asked her on a date. But with the contact Karen had with Alex, she didn't feel that he was trying to woo Leena. He must have done that because of something else they were not aware of.
''He isn't. They must be another reason for him to ask her out. Sigh! Only the two or the little girl Gracier must know.''
''Talking about the red-haired girl. She is also Gifted. I wonder where Alex fetches her. She even covers one of her eyes. Is that to act cool?" Nyora asked.
Shrugging her shoulders Karen said, ''I dunno. Ask her or else you'll know.''
''I will. What kind of request did he take today?"
''Soldier Ant subjugation request. Why did you ask? Wait why are you suddenly interested in him all of sudden?" Karen answered before asking.
''Fufufu! You're curious, isn't it? Well, I'll tell you. I want to get closer to that kid as it's certain he's going to rise to the top in the future, I better have a place beside him now before the hyenas will come later, wanting to partake in the feast named Alex. You are not interested in him, so I'm not afraid and even if you were it doesn't matter with this mature body of mine he will easily fall for me.''
While saying so proudly, Nyora placed her arms her breasts to emphasize them, truth be told she was gifted over there, D cup at least.
To that appearance, Katen wore a thin smile and blood vessels appeared in her forehead threatening to burst out.
''Good to know. However, you are forgetting something, Alex will not stay here indefinitely, he will leave for the capital. Or are you planning to go there with him? From what I heard, the capital isn't a place for someone like you. There are lots of Big fish there, you'll be discarded in no time considering that you are planning to use your body to entice him. There are lots of better women over there, you'll lose before it began.''
To Karen's words, Nyora's forehead also started twitching.
''Fufufu! I wonder if you want a fight with me, dear Karen?"
''Are you Nyora? It's won't end well you know.''
An explosive tension. Right when those two people were in that state, the sound of the bell informing them that it was noon, could be heard. They stopped bickering with each other.