146: They say a man doesn’t show tears

I tried to surprise everyone with a happy moment—got nothing but sour faces in return.

...Right, back to business. Let’s watch the mark compatibility test for Moda.

Moda’s been the shield of Raidock’s party all along. Come on, let it be a warrior’s mark!

“Then… ‘Mark Aptitude Judgment.’ …Hmm.”

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Genelis’s verdict.

“Moda shows aptitude for the ‘Warrior’ mark.”

“““Oh!”””

All of them—especially Raidock—lit up with joy.

But here, I suddenly wonder.

“Great news and all, but didn’t Moda… not want the warrior mark when he came of age?”

Moda nodded.

…No, that doesn’t really explain it.

Then Bardack, the mage, sighed and stepped in to explain.

“I heard Moda wanted a crest tied to her family’s trade when she came of age. Then, all sorts of things happened—she ended up becoming an adventurer, apparently. I’m the same way.”

The “all sorts of things” part bugs me a little, but adventurers don’t pry into each other’s pasts. That’s just how it is.

I nodded, understanding.

The Seal Officer smiled.

“Crests aren’t just about innate talent. The kind you can carve depends on your deeds and effort too. Moda must’ve trained hard as a warrior. That’s the result of her effort.”

“…Wait!”

“If you’re set on carving a crest, you don’t need to wait till the day after tomorrow. You could do it right here, right now. What’ll it be?”

Right. Unlike a student, she’s already an adult. No other crests to worry about. No harm in doing it now.

“Please… do it.”

“Hmph. Then, ‘Crest Imprint: Known as Warrior’!”

Morda’s left hand flared bright, the warrior’s crest burned black into its palm.

"...uh."

Emotion cracking his voice, Morda finally managed a bow to the Seal Officer.

"Congratulations!"

"Nice work, Morda!"

"Uncle, that’s awesome!"

"Calling me uncle? I’m not that old."

"Congratulations. I didn’t know you could still get a crest after adulthood. Learned something new."

Everyone cheered Morda.

Ah, Raidock’s gonna cry. Almost made fun of him, but now’s not the time to piss people off.

"Next, Bardack."

"Aah."

He walked up to the Seal Officer with the calm demeanor of a mage, but I’m betting his insides were twisted tight.

If he’d switched careers for the same reason Morda did, he wouldn’t have been chasing a mage’s crest at adulthood. Not like that.

Raidock was a man who wielded countless spells despite having no mage’s crest.

But no crest meant terrible magic capacity and efficiency. Still, he’d thrived as a party member. If his crest were carved here, there’d be no doubt he’d become a first-rate mage.

Please! God! Grant Raidock a crest worthy of him!

While I’m praying inside my head, the Seal Officer chants a spell and finishes the aptitude test.

“Hmm. Raidock shows aptitude for ‘Mage’.”

“…!”

Black-skinned Raidock’s eyes fly open.

“Really? I… I have aptitude for a crest too.”

“Earned through your efforts as an adventurer. Shall we carve it now?”

“Yes. Of course. Please.”

“Hm.”

The Seal Officer slowly nodded, then carved the crest onto Bardack’s left hand, just as he had done with Moda.

"Yeah... I get it. All that knowledge you’ve gathered, using magic with such little power. Nothing was wasted... not a single thing."

Bardack stared at his newly marked crest, his eyes on the verge of tears.

Overwhelmed. I can feel it. I really can.

"Congratulations!"

"Good job, Bardack!"

"Yeah."

"Damn, even the black brother’s pretty cool!"

As congratulations poured in, Raidock’s expression turned serious.

"Hey, once your crest is carved, you’ll be back in our party—"

"No. We’ve already started down a new path. We’re relied on in a different way now. We’re not going back."

"Right. We’ll do it together, the three of us."

"Uh-huh."

Cutting off Raidock’s words, Bardack, Bep, and Moda spoke in unison.

Seems like their minds aren’t changing.

I get it, kinda. Not like we’re never seeing each other again. We can meet anytime in this town. No rush, right?

“Yeah. Got it.”

Raidock looked a little sad, but that was it. Nothing more.

“Then, next up—Bep.”

All eyes turned to the priest, Bep.

“I believe this sigil was given to me by the divine. So I’d like to decline the aptitude test.”

“Wait—what!?”

I blurted it out.

“Bep! If you don’t like the sigil, just don’t engrave it! You might be suited for a higher priestly mark!?”

Bep just smiled and shook his head.

"No. I’m proud that I’ve been given this sigil. But since it’s a reward from Lord Bairoroad, could you check whether the priesthood sigil I’ve been given is appropriate? If it’s like Craft’s—unsuitable—I’ll consider it. Just that."

He looked at Kyle as he said it.

"Understood. If Lord Bairoroad sees it as a reward, then I have no objections."

"Then I’ll only inform you if the assessment finds it unfit—life-threateningly so."

"Yes. Thank you."

The Seal Officer examined it and gave it his seal of approval. Bep bowed in thanks and ended the matter.

"Next, Azul."

"A—ah, really? I’m, well, a beastman, you see…"

Azul stepped forward, hesitant, shoulders low. But it didn’t matter. Prejudice like that had no place in the lands Kyle ruled.

"It's fine, Azul. Not just the students—none of the people in this territory are treated differently just because they're beastmen."

"Kyle-sama..."

Just like Kyle to be this calm.

Azul stood before the Seal Officer, visibly relieved.

"Then let's check it out."

The Seal Officer chanted a spell, a faintly pleased expression flickering across his face.

"You have the aptitude for a 'Priest'."

"Wha— no way... really... this can't be..."

Being a Priest as a profession was different from having a Priest insignia. Plenty of people held the Priest title without any insignia, and some even had insignias completely unrelated to the role.

So few people who served in a religious capacity actually bore the Priest insignia.

"Me— a beastman— have the aptitude for an insignia?"

Jabir, barely above a whisper, nodded firmly.

"Azul's shock is completely understandable."

Jabir clears his throat with a soft cough.

"Generally, it's said that few beastmen possess insignia. There's a reason for that. Beastmen's aptitude for insignia is notoriously unpredictable—few can even bear them at all."

I nod, "Ah, right."

Damn, Jabir, you're the real deal—hits right in the gut!

"Another reason, alas, is that many regions don’t call beastmen to the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. As a result, beastmen who hold insignia are exceedingly rare."

"Ah, I see."

I nod firmly. No wonder, sir—truly well-versed.

"This time, you’ve proven yourself. You’ve earned it, Azul."

"Y-yes... yes!"

Azul’s eyes well up. Damn it, now I’m gonna cry too!

"Well then, you want the insignia?"

"Y-yes, of course! Please, I’d be honored!"

Azul was bowing so hard it was ridiculous, and I couldn’t help but laugh through the tears. Damn it—gotta hold it together.

Nice one, Azul.

“Then, here it is—Seal Officer: Name of the Cleric!”

Azul’s left hand flared, and there it was—a black, elegant clerical insignia rising in the air.

“Aah… Thank you, oh god. I’m so grateful!”

After bowing to the divine, he thanked the Seal Officer and Kyle again and again. The Kendall siblings couldn’t hold back anymore—they all lunged at Azul at once.

“Az-sister! You did it! Congratulations!”

“Wow, Az-sister! The gods really were watching over you!”

“Congratulations~ Az-sister~”

“Congratu… congrat… congratulations…”

All four of them were sniffling, faces all mashed up, tears streaming as they hugged. My own tears gave out completely.

Damn it!

That’s cheating!

And so, a precious priest bearing the sacred seal was born in Goldendown.

You’re showing off, aren’t you? w