My D Rank Skill is Actually SSS-Rank

Chapter 6: The Festival Banners and the Unexpected Confessions

Alaric stared at Agnes, his jaw twitching. Ceremonial banners. Of course. Because nothing screams 'overpowered cheat skill' like making moth-eaten fabric look pretty. This is less an adventure and more like being a glorified tailor for a medieval cosplay convention. He sighed, the weight of his 'Special Provisional SSS-Tier' title feeling heavier than any Adamantine armor.

"Consider it done, Agnes," Alaric said, forcing a professional smile. "Just a bit of basic material refinement. For optimal ceremonial aesthetics. And perhaps, for optimal festival viewing." His perverted mind immediately conjured images of subtly transparent banners, revealing more than just the Guild's crest. For better 'airflow,' obviously. And 'light penetration.' Very important for public displays.

The transparent slime, still jiggling beside him, emitted a faint, high-pitched hum that sounded suspiciously like a suppressed giggle. Alaric shot it a warning glare. Don't you dare. Or I'll refine your 'transparency' into 'blinding neon green' and then use you as a giant, indestructible, self-lubricating, perpetually-bouncing stress ball for Agnes. See how funny that is. The slime seemed to jiggle faster, as if accepting the challenge.

Agnes, oblivious to the silent threat, clapped her hands together. "Excellent! They're in the Grand Hall! The festival is in three days, so chop-chop!"

Alaric trudged towards the Grand Hall, the slime bouncing faithfully at his heels. The hall was massive, echoing with the sounds of distant construction and the occasional shout. Piled in a corner were the "ceremonial banners." They were indeed old. And faded. And riddled with so many moth holes they looked less like fabric and more like very artistic lace. The Guild's crest, a roaring lion, was barely discernible through the fraying threads.

System Notification: Location: Grand Hall. Item Detected: [Ceremonial Banners (F-Rank Material)]. Condition: Severely Damaged, Faded, Suboptimal Aesthetic.

"F-Rank, huh? Good. Plenty of room for improvement," Alaric muttered, rubbing his hands together. This was his bread and butter. Turning trash into treasure. And maybe, just maybe, he could sneak in a little 'perk'.

He picked up the first banner. It felt like brittle parchment. He focused his skill, channeling the familiar warmth. The moth holes didn't just mend; they sealed, the fabric weaving itself back together with impossible precision. The faded dyes vibrated, then intensified, becoming richer, more vibrant than new. The rough, ancient cloth softened, gaining a luxurious, silken texture. And then, the subtle 'optimization' began.

System Notification: [Basic Material Refinement] activated. Material: Ceremonial Banner (F-Rank Fabric). Result: Perfected 'Banner of Glorious Display' (SSS-Tier Artifact). Condition: Indestructible, Self-Cleaning, Vibrant Colors (Never Fade), Minor Aura of 'Awe-Inspiring Grandeur', Subtle 'Transparency Effect (Variable)'.

"Subtle Transparency Effect (Variable)?" Alaric whispered, a triumphant, perverted grin spreading across his face. Yes! This is it! Optimal festival viewing, indeed! For research purposes, of course. To study crowd reactions to 'optimized' aesthetics. He held up the banner. It shimmered with an ethereal glow, the roaring lion crest now so vivid it seemed to leap from the fabric. And yes, from certain angles, under specific lighting, there was a barely perceptible, almost shimmering translucence. Just enough to be intriguing, not enough to be scandalous. Perfect. Plausible deniability.

He spent hours meticulously refining each banner. The Grand Hall slowly filled with the soft hum of his skill and the faint, almost musical shimmer of transforming fabric. Each banner became a masterpiece, radiating an aura of majesty that made even Alaric feel a little impressed. Okay, maybe I am a genius. A pervy genius, but a genius nonetheless.

As he was finishing the last banner, hanging it perfectly straight, he heard footsteps. Sir Grady entered the hall, followed by Agnes and, surprisingly, Master Elara, the grumpy mage.

"Alaric! My boy! The Guild Master sent me to check on your progress!" Sir Grady boomed, his eyes immediately falling on the banners. His jaw dropped. "By the Holy Light! They... they glow! They're magnificent!"

Agnes, too, gasped, her terrifying smile replaced by genuine awe. "Impossible! Such vibrancy! Such perfection! And the moth holes... gone!"

Master Elara, however, walked directly towards one of the banners, her sharp eyes narrowed. She ran a hand over the fabric, then her Mana Sense skill flared. Her eyes widened, then narrowed further. "This... this is beyond mere refinement! The mana signature is impossibly pure! And the structural integrity... it's like woven Adamantine! How did you do this, boy, with a D-Rank skill?!" Her gaze swept over the banner, lingering a moment too long on a certain angle. Her eyes twitched. "And is that... a transparency effect?!"

Alaric quickly stepped in front of the banner, trying to block her view. "Just optimal light refraction, Master Elara! For better visibility of the crest! You know, ceremonial aesthetics. Very important for the festival. Wouldn't want any suboptimal viewing experiences, would we?" He winked at her, hoping to deflect with charm.

Master Elara's face flushed. "You... you insolent, lecherous little fiend! Are you telling me you made the ceremonial banners... see-through?!"

"Only from very specific, highly optimized angles!" Alaric insisted, trying to sound innocent. "Purely for the artistic effect! To capture the essence of the Guild's transparency! In its dealings, of course!"

Before Master Elara could unleash a lecture (or a low-tier fireball), Sir Grady, still basking in the banners' 'Awe-Inspiring Grandeur' aura, clapped Alaric on the shoulder. "Nonsense, Master Elara! This young man is a miracle worker! He merely optimized the banners! The Guild Master will be ecstatic! This calls for a celebration!"

Agnes, having recovered from her shock, nodded vigorously. "Indeed! Alaric, you have surpassed all expectations! The Guild Master wishes to personally thank you! And he has a special request for you for the festival's opening ceremony!"

Alaric felt a familiar dread. Another forced side quest. Probably something even more ridiculous than banners. Maybe refining the Guild Master's toupee.

"What is it?" he asked, trying to sound polite.

Agnes's smile returned, even wider than before. "He wants you to prepare the ceremonial drinks! Specifically, the 'Elixir of Heroic Resolve'! It's a traditional, but rather bland, potion. He wants you to... optimize it!"

Alaric's eyes widened. The Elixir of Heroic Resolve? D-Rank potion, probably. And I have the 'Elixir of Unbridled Charisma' that I refined earlier! This is it! The ultimate social exploit! His pervy thoughts went into overdrive. I could make everyone confess their deepest, most embarrassing desires! The Guild Master, the nobles, even Sir Grady! For research! Purely for scientific research into the human psyche under 'optimized' charm! And maybe, just maybe, I can get some juicy gossip.

He quickly hid the vial of 'Elixir of Unbridled Charisma' behind his back, a triumphant, slightly manic grin on his face. This was better than any combat skill. This was a social exploit. A truly SSS-tier pervert's tool.

"Consider it done, Agnes," Alaric said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Just a bit of basic material refinement. For optimal heroic resolve. And perhaps... optimal honesty."

Master Elara, who seemed to have regained her composure, narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do I feel like you're planning something utterly inappropriate, boy?"

Alaric just winked. "Me? Never. Just optimizing the festival experience. For everyone's enjoyment. And perhaps, for everyone's... enlightenment."

The transparent slime jiggled beside him, its faint hum now sounding suspiciously like a full-blown, knowing cackle. Alaric shot it a warning glare. Don't you dare. Or I'll refine your 'transparency' into 'blinding neon green' and then use you as a giant, indestructible, self-lubricating, perpetually-bouncing stress ball for Master Elara. See how funny that is. The slime seemed to jiggle faster, definitely amused.