The Adventures of Rose Hood

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.”

“Oh, that’s funny.”

“So, only four of us are here? I understand Asura is showing up in an hour, but still.”

“I mean the meeting starts in an hour, so why would more be here.”

“Ah Rose, most of us show up an hour early so the guildmasters can’t stick us with jobs to rig the voting.”

“Smart.”

We waited an hour and slowly but surely more started showing up. At the end of the hour Asura showed up with an annoyed look.

“I couldn’t find Rose anywhe-”

He looked at me.

“How?”

“I was meditating here when Salthos showed up.”

“Ah, that makes sense. I forgot you meditate here.”

“Yeah.”

Climond sat lazily on one of the rocks.

“So, we want the little beast to become an S rank. Terrible idea, but let's let her support talk first.”

_

“So, I believe that Rose should be made the 21st S rank, because she showed initiative in leading the army of Selethon and rallying a sizeable army to face a shard of the evil god.” (Oldell)

“In addition, she is also stronger than all of us, as shown when she entered her bloodlusted state in adolescence, she moved at a speed that even I wouldn’t have been able to react to. Plus, with her connections she would be invaluable as a top ranker.” (Asura)

“Also, you all have heard the rumors, she was able to withstand the will of the sin Envy and had only a week of physical recovery. She also has been reputed as the savior of the slaves.” (Rhedon)

Then the rank 10 stood up and spoke.

“I think we should let the opposition speak now.”

Zelethar was the first to speak.

“I met her earlier this morning, so I can tell you that she seemingly has no ill will, but it is still far too early to make her an S rank, especially considering her bond with the sin Sloth. We have no details of their contract, only that they have one. Also, I still doubt the story that Peace and Benevolence came only to protect her out of spite for Wrath. Unless she sheds light on these questions I cannot, in good mind, support this promotion.”

Climond spoke next.

“To expand, she is a dragon, we know how advanced draconic shift is. She could easily hide her intentions as well as whatever caused Wrath to be so interested in her, and no I don’t believe that it was only her body.”

Asura glared at Climond who only smirked.

“Besides, despite her ‘charming’ and ‘noble’ nature, she is still a beast. Despite what this nation and Calesen have said, many guilds still have subjugation requests for the dragons, so how can we have one of our top adventurers be a beast that is still hunted.”

Some of the S ranks nodded in agreement. Then an S ranked elven woman stood.

“I have heard both sides, and I would like to ask one question that I dislike that both sides chose to ignore. And depending on the answer I will select my choice. Rose, why do you have that aura of evil?”

“My contract with Sloth allows her to rest inside me as a passenger, and she is currently resting after the previous battle.”

“I see. May you give a few more details. I won’t assume you’ll tell us all of it, but a little more will be fine.”

“Alright, we fight together as equals, and she stays inside of my body unless I let her out.”

“I see, but what was her side? What did she gain?”

“The idiot that summoned her and bound her was an idiot. Her term was that I freed her from him.”

“I see, well thank you. I think I have decided on what I shall vote.”

Then Salthos stood.

“Rose, I have another question, if I may, you said Sloth was sleeping, but that doesn’t add up with that massive sense of evil that emanated when I first saw you. At that point I assumed it was because of the contract, but if she is sleeping, then there is no way that she could emanate that level of aura.”

“Okay?”

“I will let you off if you can do one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Touch my shoulder.”

That didn’t seem too hard. I reached out my hand and then pain.

I screeched an inhuman screech that caused my aura to flash out for a moment and the rocks cracked.

When I focused my eyes, I saw that Salthos had his sword to my neck and Asura had his sword to Salthos’.

“Well, that was interesting. So, Rose, mind explaining why my ward considers you an evil entity?”