The Adventures of Rose Hood

Chapter 43: The Meeting of Heroes

It was the day of the meeting, and I was meditating in the forest by a spring, cleaning off more and more of my core.

I noticed my evil aura lessened whenever I removed more dirt. I was supposed to meet with Asura in an hour, so I was taking my chance to meditate. I just finished and concealed my evil then I heard someone.

"Um... did I walk in on something?"

I turned in surprise and saw an unfamiliar person.

"Um, I'm sorry for walking in, but this spring is about to be the meeting place for all of the S ranks, so you may want to get somewhere else."

"Wait... this is the meeting place?"

"Uh, yeah? Are you a guest?"

"I'm the one you guys are deciding if I become an S rank."

"Oh... well this is an awkward meeting."

"Yeah."

"Oh, and don't worry, I'm not going to ask about that rapidly decreasing evil. I already know about your deal with the sin of Sloth."

"Th-thanks."

"No problem, the names Salthos. S rank 13."

Salthos was a mature catkin. He waved at me.

"So, the rumors were right, you do manifest as a catkin."

"Most people underestimate adolescent catkin."

"They do indeed. No one believed I could be an S rank until I did so, then I matured soon after."

"That's very impressive."

"Not as impressive as you taking on 10 godlys and winning."

"No, I just tricked them into a deal that made them leave. Besides I have a bit of a cheat as a dragon."

"Eh, you still killed one of them, and even as a dragon, it's still very impressive that you survived."

"I guess."

"Oh, and not to mention the speech you gave after your recovery, people have been selling transcripts of that you know."

"What speech?"

"The one that people are calling, 'Even the strong are expendable.'"

"Wait, people are buying copies of that talk?"

"Yeah, some people say that you obviously planned it, but I'm one of the ones that thinks you came up with it on the spot."

"I didn't intend to make a speech, I just wanted to call them out."

I was blushing now, then another strong presence came out.

"Hey Salthos, you can't bring girls to the meeting site."

"Ah, Zelethar, this is actually the person we are deliberating about."

"Really? This is the candidate?"

He was a half-giant, and he smiled upon seeing me.

"Hello, the name's Zelethar, S rank 2."

This meant that this man was second to Asura.

"Rose, A rank adventurer."

"Honestly when I heard you were a dragon, I was expecting someone bigger."

"I can be bigger, but it's a lot easier to move in this form."

"I'd imagine, I wish I had a shift ability, but I don't."

"Hey, Rose. I thought Asura was picking you up and bringing you here."

"Oh, hey Oldell and the new guy, Rhedon. She was meditating when I showed up. We picked a spot where she considered a private spot."