Although their arrival at the Duke’s mansion had not been exactly respectful.

  The Duke had received them kindly.

  He had even congratulated them on reaching Rank S.

  But despite that, he was asking them for something irrational.

  Mirian broke the silence, unable to understand what reason there could be for requesting such a thing.

  "Please stop joking, Duke August..."

  'That we dissolve the group... what does this Duke intend?'

  "Tsk, nonsense. Don’t mess with me." Helen stood up.

  The Duke turned toward them, looking at them.

  Helen added with an annoyed tone.

  "No matter how much of a Duke or the King’s right hand you are, you don’t have the right to decide about our group."

  "Helen, calm down." Mirian intervened.

  "But Mirian, you say something too, this infe... individual."

  Ryan put on a serious expression and intervened.

  "Helen, let him finish speaking."

  "Tsk..."

  "Don’t misunderstand me, I said I want the group dissolved, but not everyone. I mean... the Rank S members will remain, we will only find more suitable members for you. A Rank C support is not up to the standard. You should already know that."

  'This bastard... and I’m Rank B.'

  "Ha, you say Ryan isn’t up to the standard? You have no idea what you’re talking about, old man."

  "Old man?"

  Mirian stepped in front of Helen, blocking her figure and standing before the Duke.

  "What she means is that Ryan is quite capable. And besides, he’s not a simple support, he is a Priest."

  "Priest? All the more reason... you should have a more suitable member, a healer for example. What were you thinking making him a priest?"

  "Ugh this damn old man is making me angry..." Helen murmured.

  Ryan didn’t want to intervene. In fact, the Duke’s concern seemed logical to him.

  But the fact that Helen and Mirian were trying to defend him only made him realize that there really was camaraderie in that problematic group.

  Deep down, that made him feel happy. But he knew the Duke’s request wouldn’t be easy to avoid.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  And as logical as it seemed to him, he didn’t want to separate from them either.

  "Duke, I can understand your concern, but. You see that they even reached Rank S, and that was without me changing class. I don’t see the problem with continuing together."

  "You’re Ryan, right? Don’t misunderstand me, it’s nothing personal, it’s just a matter of efficiency."

  "Efficiency? What exactly do you mean, Duke?" Ryan asked.

  "You see... what I want is to gather the Rank S heroes. Helen and Mirian will join the Rank S Hero William."

  "What!?, I’m not going around with that arrogant loner." Helen grumbled.

  'Of course, and even if they didn’t expel me, I doubt Helen would accept.'

  Mirian remained calm, with her hand on her chin as if analyzing the situation.

  Then she intervened.

  "And why do you want to gather us? He always goes around alone, and we know he hates interacting with other adventurers."

  The Duke approached them. Then he took a brief breath and began explaining the current situation.

  Of the seven great nations, Lunar Veil, the nation where the capital where they are currently gathered is located.

  Is the only one that does not possess an abundance of Rank S adventurers.

  At one time there had been at least four Rank S adventurers. But they left the nation.

  Currently the only one is William.

  And the rest of the nations possess a high number of Rank A and Rank S adventurers, even Rank SS, and because of that they all manage to keep the conflicts with the other nations and with the demons at bay.

  Strategically, the nation of Lunar Veil is at a disadvantage not only because of the demon kings. But also because of the other nations.

  What the Duke proposed was forming a group made only of Rank S members, so that their achievements as an elite team would raise the morale of the rest of the adventurers of the nation, and that the effect of that increase in morale would motivate them to reach new ranks.

  He foresaw that in less than six years, they could double or triple the number of Rank S adventurers in the nation. He made them see that it would benefit them as well.

  "Nonsense, that’s just stupidity. Don’t try to use us for your power conflict." Helen grumbled and pointed at the Duke with her finger, looking at him with contempt.

  Then she paused and added.

  "There is no way I will accept such a request. I will not abandon any of my precious companions."

  "Helen..." Mirian looked at her with shining eyes.

  Ryan stood up and placed his hand on Helen’s shoulder, looking at her with pride.

  'She’s very rough when speaking, but even so, she can say amazing things.'

  Then Ryan turned his gaze toward the Duke.

  "There you have it, Lord Duke. For once I will affirm that Helen speaks for everyone when she says we will not accept."

  The Duke remained silent.

  Then he smiled cynically.

  "Very well, I know you have a mission, so for now I will accept that answer, but don’t think I will forget it or give up so easily."

  "Do whatever you want." Helen responded sharply.

  They left the mansion, they didn’t even say goodbye.

  "That damn Duke, he treated Ryan like he was useless. I should have split him in half with my sword."

  Mirian looked at Helen with a smile while walking.

  "I admit even I wanted to hit him, but I don’t want to make enemies of the kingdom either."

  "...You’re too soft Mirian. If that Duke bothers us again someday, I’ll kick his ass, ha ha ha."

  'Helen is very impulsive. To be honest, I was almost sure she would destroy the place. Good thing she kept her calm.'

  "Ryan, why are you so quiet? Do you feel bad about what that stupid Duke said? Don’t worry, we won’t abandon you, right Helen?"

  "Yeah, besides. If they make me angry, I’ll destroy this nation myself, ha ha ha."

  "Hey don’t say nonsense! And you should know I don’t feel bad about that, I was just thinking."

  "About another perverted order?"

  "No! Anyway, let’s go back to the guild for that mission. We already wasted too much time."

  "Yes!"

  During the walk to the guild, Ryan kept reflecting.

  It’s true that currently his level of power does not compare to that of his Rank S companions.

  Even so, he perfectly understands that he is not a common support member.

  The debt system he now has is a trap with many benefits.

  And knowing that, and the fact that the Duke would not leave them alone.

  Now he had a clear objective.

  To reach Rank S.

  But it would not be simple. So his current focus would be reaching Rank A.

  And for that he needed to level up and become stronger.

  "Stat"