I Have a Military Shop Tab in Fantasy World
Chapter 43: Got the Certificate That Easy

Chapter 43: Got the Certificate That Easy

Morning came quickly—too quickly for Inigo, who had barely slept. The image of the rift was burned into his mind, replaying again and again like a scene refusing to fade.

The spiraling red gate. The silence. The hum. The chill.

It had changed something in him.

So by the time the first light of dawn warmed the stone streets of Elandra, he was already up, dressed, and heading toward the plaza fountain outside the Adventurer’s Guild. That’s where he found Lyra, arms crossed, cloak wrapped around her shoulders. She looked up as he approached.

"You’re early," she said.

"So are you."

"Didn’t sleep much."

"Neither did I."

They entered the guild together. The place was quieter than usual—more tense. Word of the rift had spread overnight. More adventurers were gathered than usual, most of them eyeing the mission board or muttering about rift-class threats.

Elise was already at her post behind the counter. She spotted them and gave a small wave.

"Morning, you two."

Inigo walked up. "We want to apply for rift certification."

The words landed like a dropped weapon. Elise blinked, as did Lyra.

"Wait, what?" Lyra said, turning to him.

Inigo kept his gaze on Elise. "Rift certification. You said it when were having a dinner date—we’d need it to accept any future missions related to that anomaly."

"Inigo..." Lyra’s voice dropped, uncertain. "You’re serious?"

He turned toward her and nodded. "You don’t have to come if it’s too much. I get it."

Lyra’s expression hardened. "I’m not afraid."

"Then let’s go," he said.

Elise stood frozen for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. You’re lucky. The Guildmaster is in."

She led them past the front desk and down the side hall, toward a reinforced door with two guards. One knocked, then opened it without waiting.

The Guildmaster’s office was as stately as Inigo remembered it—lined with weapons, scrolls, and glowing crystal tools of all shapes and sizes. Behind a heavy oak desk sat the man himself: broad-shouldered, silver-haired, and watching them with eyes like a hawk’s.

Elise stood to attention. "Guildmaster, these two wish to apply for Rift Certification."

His brow lifted. "These are the scouts from yesterday?"

"Yes, sir."

Guildmaster Thorne leaned back in his seat. "Certification isn’t given lightly. You understand that, yes?"

"I do," Inigo said.

Lyra nodded hesitantly.

"Do you also understand what being rift-certified means?" he continued. "You’ll be eligible for high-danger assignments. Missions with mortality rates of over fifty percent. This isn’t like hunting bandits or goblins. This is stepping into the unknown."

"I’m aware," Inigo said firmly.

There was a pause. The Guildmaster turned to Elise. "What’s their record?"

"They’ve cleared all their assignments. Two high-difficulty ones. This rift scouting was their third."

He grunted. "Three C-ranks. Normally not enough. But you scouted a rift and returned to tell the tale."

He studied them for a long moment before speaking again.

"Very well. You’re both approved for provisional Rift Certification. You’ll be entered into the guild’s registry as of tomorrow. The Kingdom’s Tactical Division will assess the threat level of the rift by then. Once that’s done, you can make your choice."

He stamped a document and handed it to Elise. "Prepare their provisional tags."

"Yes, Guildmaster."

The meeting was over. As they exited the office, Lyra glanced sideways at Inigo.

"You didn’t even tell me you were planning this."

"I wasn’t sure," he admitted. "Until last night."

"You could’ve asked first."

"I was going to do it either way."

She scowled, then sighed. "You’re lucky I hate backing down."

"I was counting on that."

—

The next day came with a brisk wind and skies darkening over the horizon. It looked like rain was coming.

Inside the guildhall, tension hung heavier than before. New notices had been posted. Knights in blue and silver armor stood near the walls, waiting for orders. A freshly installed board bore a new heading: [Rift Missions – Authorization Required]

Elise met them near the counter, holding a sealed envelope.

"The Kingdom’s assessment is complete. The rift has been classified as a B-Rank," she said.

Lyra crossed her arms. "That’s better than I thought."

"Still dangerous," Elise said. "Most B-Rank rifts aren’t just dangerous because of the monsters—they’re unpredictable. Environment changes, time distortions, corruption fields. One wrong step, and you’re dead."

Inigo nodded. "Still. That’s within our limits, right?"

Elise handed them each a metal tag—silver, engraved with a spiral rift and a sword etched through the center. The Rift Certification.

"You’re officially registered. You can now take on rift-class missions, effective immediately."

She gave them both a pointed look. "That doesn’t mean you should rush in unprepared."

"We won’t," Inigo said.

Lyra tucked her tag into her belt pouch, the metal cool against her fingertips. "So... what now?"

"Now?" Elise leaned forward. "Now, you go get ready. Because the rift won’t wait forever. And neither will whatever’s watching on the other side."

Inigo and Lyra stepped out of the guild together, the wind tugging at their cloaks as the first drops of rain began to fall. The cobblestone streets glistened beneath their boots, and the scent of wet stone filled the air.

Neither of them spoke for a moment, walking in silence through the soft drizzle.

Then Lyra sighed. "So we’re really doing this."

"We are," Inigo said quietly. "But not today."

She glanced sideways at him.

"We prepare first," he continued. "Gear, supplies, maybe ask around if anyone’s been near a rift before. I don’t want to go in blind."

Lyra gave a short nod. "Good. Because I’m not planning to die in some swirling red hole."

A small smile tugged at the edge of Inigo’s lips. "That’s the spirit."

They reached the edge of the plaza, the fountain they had stood by just the day before still bubbling despite the gray skies. Inigo stopped there, watching the ripples spread across the water’s surface.

"You felt it too, right?" he asked. "Like something was watching us?"

Lyra hesitated, then nodded. "It wasn’t just fear. It was like... like it knew we were there."

"I’ve been thinking about that all night."

"You sure we’re ready?"

Inigo looked up at the overcast sky. "No. But I think we’re the best shot this city’s got."

Lyra didn’t reply. But she didn’t walk away either.

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