#1272 Junior’s Adventure- The Adventuring Profession Experience 

It’s me again, Junior, son of the Saint. 
I decide to give this whole “adventurer” thing a try on a whim. 

One of the adventurers who came to the farm once said: 

—“Adventurers are the ones who truly live, the ones whose lives burn with purpose!!!” 

If I experience that for myself, I’ll surely gain something useful for my future as both Saint and Farm King. 

With that in mind, I rush into the Adventurer’s Guild.  
The moment I step inside... 

“Excuse me! I want to become an adventurer!” 
“Okay.... You’re here to register, right?” 

The woman at the counter answers me in a flat tone. 

This must be the legendary Adventurer Guild Receptionist! 
She’s the face of the guild, handling countless adventurers at the front desk, making everything run smoothly!  
With her graceful manners and striking looks, she becomes the symbol of the guild itself! 

…Or at least that’s what some adventurer who came to the farm once ranted about. Can’t remember who. 

Anyway, Ms. Receptionist. 
She’s young and pretty enough...I think.  
But her aura is distant, almost cold, and she doesn’t feel welcoming at all. 

Is this what guild receptionists are usually like?  
It’s my first time seeing one in person, so I can’t really say. 

When I just stand there staring, she seems to lose patience.... 

“Um, you’re here to register as an adventurer, right?” 
“Eh? ...Oh, yes!” 

Ah, I guess she didn’t like me staring.  
Not good. Mom always told me to be careful around women and Dad warned that you never know what’ll get you accused of harassment these days.  
So yeah, best to stay cautious. 

“There are a lot of people like you, you know. Country kids who think adventuring is an easy way to make it big. Just this month, you’re like the… what, nth one? So yeah, sorry if my attitude’s a bit blunt. You just start thinking, ‘Oh, another one.’” 
“Uh-huh.” 
“I’m not saying you’re like that, so don’t take it personally. Oh, and don’t get any ideas. This isn’t some fantasy where chatting with the receptionist turns into a romance subplot. Just clearing that up.” 
“Right...” 

Her words have a bite to them. Maybe it’s the fatigue of dealing with dreamers every day. Or maybe it’s just her personality. 

But personal quirks aside, she’s still on duty. 
I’ll play along politely. 

“Yes! I’d like to regishter as an adventurer!!” 

…And I stumble over my words. 

“Okay then, please fill out this form. Just so you know, if you can’t write, that’s an automatic disqualification. Recently, literacy has been added as the bare minimum requirement for adventurers. Consider it part of the entry test.” 

I see. 
Apparently, lots of people couldn’t read or do math in the old days. But now, nearly everyone can.  
Schools have popped up everywhere thanks to the long peace, though that all happened before I was old enough to notice. 

Naturally, I got the full set of lessons from Mom, Dad, and Sensei. So yes, I can fill this out no problem. 
Done. I hand it over. 

The receptionist waves the form lightly... 

“...Huh. From Farm Kingdom, are you? I thought only farmers lived there. Didn’t you get a plot of land from your parents or something?” 

... 
Yeah, I don’t like this woman. 

Still, patience. A grown-up handles these little provocations with a smile. 

“Anyway, this doesn’t mean you’re officially an adventurer yet. You’ll need to undergo two or three aptitude evaluations.” 

Aptitude evaluations? 

“Basically, a test. And yes, that’s what we should just call it…” 

—“It’s not about whether you’re talented. What matters is whether you’re suited for adventuring. That’s what these evaluations are for, so the terminology matters.” 

“...Or so the higher-ups say. Honestly, it’s a pain.” 

The moment she says that, I picture Guildmaster...the former Silver Wolf.  
He’s always been thoughtful and thorough, so this kind of system is very much his style. 

“I understand. Please, let me take the evaluation!” 
“No need to get so worked up. ...Hmm, her timing’s just right.” 

She skims some paperwork, then raises her voice. 

“Hibina! C-Rank Hibina!” 

... 

“Hibina, are you not here? If you don’t answer, I’ll downgrade your rank!” 
“Waaah! I’m here! I’m here!!!” 

Pushing through the crowd comes a young woman, maybe in her twenties, her hair tied in a ponytail and a big sword strapped to her back. 

“Come on, Sarimel! Don’t pull that kind of trick! Receptionists don’t even have the power to demote adventurers!” 
“Then you should’ve ignored me. But if you’re that slow to respond, you’re already useless as an adventurer.” 

So, the receptionist’s name is Sarimel, huh? 
Receptionist and female adventurer.  
What’s next, I wonder? 

“Let’s see, Junior, right? According to your form, you’ll be tagging along with this C-rank adventurer Hibina on her quest.” 

Tagging along? 

“You don’t need to do anything. Just watch. When you come back, we’ll ask you again if you really want to be an adventurer.” 

Okay... 
Meanwhile, Hibina rests a hand on her sword. 

“All right, let’s get this over with. Don’t fall behind, newbie. I’m not wasting my time babysitting.” 

Y-Yes, understood.  
I’ll run at full speed to keep up!  
Mach 2 if I have to! 

*** 

When I reach the designated spot,... 
Hibina’s not there. 

What’s wrong? 
Did she get tired of waiting and go on ahead?! 

“Wait… wait up…!!!” 

Fifteen minutes later, she staggers into view, dripping with sweat and panting hard. 

“You! Using teleportation magic is against the rules! And if you can teleport, you should’ve told me first!” 

I didn’t teleport.  
I just ran at twice the speed of sound.  
And besides, teleportation can only go to preset points. You can’t just warp to a random new place. 

“Then how did you beat me here?! How did you even know where the hunting ground was?!” 
“I read your mind with the Force…!” 

Ah, sorry, do you dislike people reading your thoughts without permission?!  
My bad, I should’ve considered that! 

But don’t worry, it’s nothing invasive. It’s just little surface thoughts, like where your attention’s drifting! 

“……..?!” 

Hibina stares at me like I’m some strange alien creature...  
A few seconds later, she rubs her temples. 

“W-Whatever. Doesn’t change what we’re here to do.” 

We’re standing outside the capital, in the middle of vast, untouched grasslands. 

Even though the capital is full of tall buildings and bustling streets, one step beyond the city walls and it’s all wilderness again. 
As Dad says: “That’s how it always is in a fantasy world.” 

So here we are, in the middle of nowhere... 

“And what exactly am I supposed to be doing?” 
“Like Sarimel said. You know, the cold receptionist. You don't have to do anything other than just watching.” 

Cold receptionist…  
Yeah, that nickname fits. 

“If you want to call it something, call it a test of courage.” 

A test of courage? 

“Yes. Adventuring means living alongside death. You’ll wander into uncharted dungeons, face down massive terrifying monsters...” 

Ah, I get it.  
Like when Veil showed her true dragon form, or when Sensei went full death-miasma mode. 

“That’s why courage is essential. If you faint, freeze up, or wet yourself the moment you see a monster, you’re not cut out for this. Worse, you’d endanger your whole party.” 

Yeah, having even one person freeze up in a crisis would make things way harder. 

“Anyway, I’m going to hunt a monster right now. If you faint, collapse, or—well, you get it—you’re out. The decision’s mine alone, so consider this part of your senior’s job.” 

Understood. Please go ahead. 

All right, time for me to show my courage!  
Even if the Lord of Chaos himself crawls back into this world, I won’t so much as scream!!!