#1278 Junior’s Adventure – Preconceptions About the Farm Kingdom

It's me, Junior, currently staying in the royal capital of the Human Kingdom. 
I’ve finally managed to register as an adventurer, and I was just thinking I’d start accepting quests. 

But it looks like I’m not quite there yet. 

“Cheers to Junior becoming an adventurer!” 
“Cheers!!!” 

Right now, a little celebration is being held in my honor. 

Joining me are Hibina, a C-rank adventurer who oversaw my exam, Shaldot, an A-rank adventurer, and even Sarimel, the receptionist. 
The first two make sense, but I didn’t think a receptionist would show up to a lively gathering like this… 

“It’s poor form to judge people just by appearances. I do have the minimum social skills required of a guild receptionist.” 

Oh, er...sorry about that. 

“For quests to go smoothly, the relationship between the guild and adventurers must be good. That’s why I attend private gatherings like this, to remove unnecessary walls between us.” 
“Ugh, you really are all seriousness and nothing else.” 

Hibina laughs, cheeks flushed.  
She’s already drunk...?! 

“Adventuring’s a fleeting trade. You laugh when you want to laugh, cry when you want to cry, drink when you want to drink, and splurge when you’ve got the coin. If you hesitate at every step, you’ll be left behind.” 

Shaldot, too, wears a slack smile as he downs an entire mug of ale in one go.  
He’s gone as well?! 

“Anyway, Junior, bottoms up. Tonight’s your celebration, so drink away.” 
“That’s right! It’s on us, so don’t you dare hold back!!!” 
“Yes! It’s all thanks to the generosity of Shaldot the A-rank adventurer!” 
“On our tab, I said! Everyone else is paying their share, only Junior drinks free!!!” 

Uh… I appreciate the treat, but…!  
I’m still underage, so I can’t drink…! 

“Hm?” 
“Un-der-age? What’s that, does it taste good?” 

They don’t get it? 
Are they that drunk already?! 

Can you really get that drunk that fast?! 

“…In the Farm Kingdom, it’s illegal for anyone under twenty to drink or smoke. A person who isn’t yet allowed to drink, someone nineteen or younger, is called ‘underage.’” 

Wow, she’s well informed.  
Wait, does the Human Kingdom not even have the concept of minors? 
You can drink at any age here?! 

Dad always said, ‘Rules and customs differ from place to place.’ I’m realizing that first-hand now. 

“No waaay, you can’t drink until you’re twenty?! Then I’m out, too?!” 

Hibina cries out.  
Yeah, this definitely needs a disclaimer: ‘This is fiction and has no relation to actual other worlds.’ 

“Man, I can’t endure that. I was already drinking tons by the time I was ten. I’m seriously glad I wasn’t born in the Farm Kingdom…!!!” 

Hey now, the Farm Kingdom has plenty of good points!  
Not just alcohol, our food is great! 
And we’ve got juice, tea, and coffee. You can get by without booze! 

“You shouldn’t insult someone’s homeland. Especially not right in front of them.” 
“Ah, right... Sorry!” 

He reaches for a pitcher in apology, but seriously, I told you, I can’t drink! 

“I don’t mean to insult it. Actually, after today, I’m more curious about the Farm Kingdom than ever. If it produced someone like you…” 
“Yeah, I always thought everyone living there was just farmers, given the name. I didn’t imagine there’d be warriors or knights.” 

So that’s how outsiders view us, huh? You’d never learn that staying inside the kingdom. 

Well then, I might as well hear as much as I can about how people see the Farm Kingdom from the outside. 

“Hmm, wasn’t the Farm Kingdom ruled by some saint?” 
“Nowadays people usually call him Saint-King.” 

Yep, that’s right. 

“They say he suddenly appeared in this world and ended the Human-Demon War. Supposedly, he commands a dragon and a Lifeless King, and he himself wields godlike powers.” 
“Whoa, that war was before I was even born, so I don’t really get it.” 
“Same here.” 

Most people these days have never known war. 
I’m one of them. 

“They say even the Demon King and the Mermaid King acknowledge him. There are even rumors that President Ritheseus of our nation was his disciple.” 
“Sounds like an urban legend to me.” 

Actually, that one’s true. Ritheseus really did study at the farm.  
I remember him playing with me when I was little. 

Wait... he’s still president?  
He used to say, ‘I’ll definitely retire after three terms!’ with so much fire. I guess he couldn’t.  
This country must still need him. 

“But I personally think the Saint’s existence is just a legend.” 

Oh? 
That’s quite the bold claim from Sarimel the receptionist. 

“Just a legend? You mean not only the disciple thing with Ritheseus, but the Saint himself might not exist?” 
“Oh, the king of the Farm Kingdom certainly exists. But those stories of him ending wars and commanding dragons and Lifeless Kings are just too outlandish. Sounds like baloney to me.” 
“Then why spread such lies?” 
“Wouldn’t a fledgling nation need a powerful symbol to unify quickly? An absolute figure to rally behind. That’s why they used the Saint. I heard the three great nations—Human, Demon, and Mermaid—helped establish the Farm Kingdom. If that’s true, it wouldn’t have been hard to coordinate.” 
“Whoa, conspiracy theory vibes~” 

I thought she was spouting nonsense, but honestly… I can see why she’d think that. 
Dad’s always been absurd, flashy, and larger-than-life. If you just heard stories about him, it’d sound like pure fantasy. 

“But I don’t think it’s all a lie.” 

Shaldot, still drinking, cuts in. 

“And why’s that?” 
“Because I saw Junior fight today.” 

Wait, me?! 

“Junior’s strength is way beyond the norm. Sure, the system doesn’t allow it, but if I had the authority, I’d promote him to A-rank immediately.” 
“Huh?! What about me?!”  
“You’ve got two more years at C-rank. Good luck.” 

Dreams crushed, Hibina sulks while Shaldot continues. 

“If an ordinary citizen like Junior is this strong, just how powerful must the Saint be?!” 
“I haven’t seen Junior fight myself… is he really that amazing?” 
“You bet! There aren’t many A-ranks who could beat him!” 

Shaldot says it with so much confidence that it’s embarrassing just to listen. 

“If everyone in the Farm Kingdom were as strong as Junior, the world would be doomed. So tell us straight, Junior. Are you average back home, or…?” 
“No way! Junior must be the Farm Kingdom’s strongest warrior! The strongest in the world! I refuse to believe there are hundreds like him!” 
“Same here! Wahahahaha!!!” 

I have no idea how to respond to that. 

Honestly, it’s true that there aren’t many people back home on my level. 
But if I admit that outright, I’ll sound arrogant. 

This is when Dad’s ingrained habit of humility starts nagging at me. 

“I-I’m nothing special, really.” 
“Yeah, rightttt.” 

How do you avoid both lying and boasting? 

“Come to think of it, Junior, you mentioned adventurers used to visit your place. Did they train you up?” 
“Y-Yeah!” 

I jump on Shaldot’s lifeline. 
After all, I did learn a thing or two from adventurers like the former Silver Wolf and Golden Bat, so it’s not a lie. 

“I heard a flood of adventurers once went to the Farm Kingdom. They helped in its early days as pioneers.” 

Sarimel adds, sipping her drink. 

“Although, from what I’ve gathered, many of those adventurers were underachievers, basically ‘problem cases’ sent away. If such failures became teachers, could they really raise someone so strong…?” 
“Exactly! No way such small fry could’ve trained up someone like Junior!” 

Shaldot bursts out laughing, completely unaware that the so-called “small fry” in question is their own guildmaster. 

I see no need to correct her. Instead, I quietly squeeze lemon over my karaage.