I'm A Catgirl (Ch 12) (Patreon)

Tesk and Trel consider for a few moments. Trel is the first to speak, not surprising since he tested me first.

"I can tell that you have good instincts, and you managed to utilize your magic to enhance your close combat capabilities. Many of the C-ranks who can use magic can't accomplish the same."

I preen at his response. Sure, that's mainly due to my ability, but so what! My instincts are on point! And that's all me baby! But then he continues.

"But that's about all you have going for you. Good instincts, and great magic control. From your movements I could tell that you don't have any real training. You didn't try to go for any kind of feints, your attacks were almost always head on, and quite honestly? You fight more like a rogue than a brawler. Not to mention that you got too focused on your attack and stopped paying attention to my own movements. By the way, what was with that ‘slavers would care’ thing earlier? It was a good distraction but still." He has an awkward expression on his face.

I pout, but have to agree with his assessment. It's not like I had any kind of training in my past life. Nor did I go around getting into fights. Honestly, the only kind of fighting experience I had before today was some old karate lessons back when I was a kid.

I let out a sigh. "Well, if a slaver, or slavers, are attacking little ol' me, then they're going to want to make as much money as possible. So damaging my face would drop my value." I shrug, then notice their shocked expressions. "What?"

The receptionist stutters as she responds. "N-nothing. It's just, well, the guild usually has to make it a point to tell adventurers to be careful of other people as much as, if not more than, any monsters they're sent to hunt. Even if someone isn't immediately trying to attack you, that doesn't mean that they won't do so, or try something worse down the line."

I give her a look. "Wouldn't that be common sense though? Don't a bunch of crimes happen in cities?"

She gives me a helpless look. "That is the case, but for some reason adventurers seem to think they become infallible once they register. Honestly, some of them are so bad that we'll put them to sleep soon after they register just to get rid of this mentality. Yes, they become angry once they wake up, but they usually live longer than those who blindly think everything is going to go their way just because they registered."

I nod my head before she continues. "Honestly, it's rare for someone to be as clear headed as you. Might I know where you're from?"

Oh? Might that backstory I concocted on my walk here convince them? Let us see!

"Ah, I actually lived my entire life on the plains outside the city. My father passed away recently, and I’ve alway wanted to travel and see the world. So I made my way here, met the guard, and he brought me to you!"

There you go! Explains why I don't have any identification, any lapses I might have in common sense, and living out in the plains should tell them that my father was a powerful mage based on the fact that I have good control over my magic!

The best thing about this story is that technically everything I said is true. Before I came to Somewhere, I’d only been to the plains. Ignore the fact that my current body has only been around for a day. And my father did pass away not long before I got brought here, so there’s that as well. And my thirst for adventure is definitely tied into seeing the world, can’t have one without the other!

The receptionist gives me a smile, but there's something else there, concern? Ah, right I did just tell them my dad just died. Normal people would still be heartbroken about it. But since we hadn’t had any real relationship, I'm good!

"I see, my condolences." She turns to Tesk. "Your evaluation?"

...

Well she does have a job to do. It's not like she can try to make every person she meets who's lost someone feel better. Hell, she’s a receptionist for the adventurer's guild! She probably has to deal with someone who's recently lost someone on a nearly weekly basis.

I'm taken out of my thoughts as Tesk begins her evaluation.

"Well, her control over her mana is exceptional. Since Trel is a brawler, he doesn't understand how much control her actions actually required. It's easily B-rank."

Hah! In your face Trel, my control is B-rank!

She continues. "The fact that she can use both wind and fire elements is noteworthy as well. While it isn't rare to have an affinity for two elements, it's also not common."

Heh. I wonder how you would react if I told you I could use all the elements?

"However…"

No! No 'however'!

She continues despite my mental protest. "...like Trel said, she lacks experience. Even an E-rank adventurer would have started paying attention to their feet once I revealed myself to be an earth mage. She, though, just put up a half-dome barrier and assumed that was enough. She got too focused on the obvious attacks that she had no clue about what was happening underneath her."

Tesk and Trel exchange glances before nodding at each other. They speak at the same time.

"D-rank." "E-rank."

They look at each other in surprise while I hold back a snicker. They totally thought they were going to say the same thing!

I see their faces tighten, but before they can argue about their decision the receptionist speaks up. "Given both of your evaluations, I've determined that  Miss Seka will be an E-rank. In addition, instead of a magic brawler, she will be classified as a magic rogue. Any disagreements?"

The two hesitate, and I can tell that Tesk wants to argue, but in the end she simply shakes her head and sighs.

The receptionist nods before turning to me. "Are you satisfied with this evaluation as well?"

I nod my head. It's not like I can really argue with any of what they said. Training? Never heard of it!

She nods her head once more before motioning me to follow her. We walk back to her booth where she fills out a form, then pulls out a crystal ball in some kind of lattice holder.

"Simply place your hand on this orb and direct your mana into it. This will be added to the guild card. Afterwards you'll be able to show the guard so he can go back, and you can fill out the rest of your information.

I do as she says, and the orb lights up a bright blue under my hand. Once the light dies down and I pull my hand away, she replaces it behind the desk. I'm quickly handed my card and I rush out to show the guard. I can't help the wide grin on my face. My first step to a life of adventure!

[Guild Card

Name: Seka

Rank: E

Age: 16

Class: NA

Classification: Rogue/Mage]