#1228 A Hero Becomes an S-Rank Adventurer 

I'm Momoko the Hero. 
…Well, I guess I’m not really a hero anymore. 

The old Human Kingdom that summoned me has long since collapsed, and there hasn’t been a war big enough to need a hero in ages. 

There’s no real “hero’s role” left in this world, so I’ve been just kind of drifting, figuring I’ll live how I want from now on… which leads to days spent aimlessly doing nothing in particular... 

Until one day, the guildmaster called me in. 

*** 
 

“I’m begging you. Become an S-Rank adventurer.” 

The moment I sit down, he slams his hands on the table and bows his head. 

What the heck? 

Sitting across from me is Guildmaster Silver Wolf. 
He’s bowing… to me? I’m just some random adventurer in the guild. 
And Silver Wolf’s not just anyone—he’s a former S-Rank adventurer himself, someone with the highest reputation and career. 

For someone like him to bow so easily…  
Compared to all the people I’ve met before, this is seriously unexpected. 

Naturally, I’m flustered, too…! 

“Um, please don’t just suddenly throw out a dramatic sliding dogeza like that! I...I need context! At least give me a rundown of how we got here…!” 
“You’re right. Dropping a dogeza out of nowhere just freaks people out. Sorry, I got a bit desperate under the pressure…” 

No, that’s a lie. 
There’s no way a guy like Silver Wolf, someone who’s faced countless life-or-death situations, would lose his cool over something that happens in an office. 

You know how they say, “Crises don’t happen in meeting rooms, they happen on the ground”? 

“There’s been a big problem plaguing the Adventurers’ Guild lately…” 

A problem? 

“A chronic shortage of S-Rank adventurers. Honestly, it all started when I retired…!” 

Well, he was one of the S-Rank adventurers. 

Come to think of it, his wife, Black Cat, was S-Rank too, and they both retired around the same time.  
Losing two at once would definitely be rough. 

“There were five S-Ranks originally. After my wife and I retired, that left three. We held promotion exams to fill the gap, but only one person passed. So, the new system launched with just four.” 

Huh, there’s a promotion exam for S-Rank?  
If I took it, I’d definitely pass, though. 

…Hm? 
Actually, why didn’t I take it? 

“S-Ranks are symbolic figures in the guild. They’re essential in major situations, whether it’s commanding large-scale raids or attending big ceremonies. Even just their presence changes the whole vibe. Ideally, we need at least five.” 

Or, if possible, seven, he mutters.  
Is that really necessary? 

“But just when we were already short-handed, another disaster struck! That mass pregnancy and childbirth boom!!!” 

Ah, right… that. 
There was a time when seemingly half the women I knew were suddenly pregnant. 

Not just married women, just adult women in general.  
Of course, a bunch of them ended up getting married because of it, too. 

And me? The brave and beautiful me? 
Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened! 
What? Can’t a maiden dream?! 

“Even one of the S-Ranks, Pink Tonton, got pregnant. Her partner is another S-Rank, Brown Kato. And that had some unexpected consequences…” 

You mean maternity leave? 
Of course she can’t keep working in that condition! Pregnancy and childbirth are serious business.  
You can’t just send her into dungeons! 
 

So that makes the S-Rank roster even thinner, huh… 

“And I get Pink Tonton needing time off. But Kato, too? He just stops working, going on something called ‘paternity leave’ or whatever?! What even is that?!” 

Excuse me?! 
Child-rearing isn’t just the woman’s job! The husband should be involved!  
That’s exactly why paternity leave exists! 
Not supporting paternity leave is so outdated of the Adventurers’ Guild! 

“Wha...?! I’m getting scolded here, too?! Is paternity leave really that normal now?!” 

Still, I kinda feel for Silver Wolf. 

In short, they started with four, and now two are gone because of maternity and paternity leave. 
Can I say “gone”? Is that okay? 

That leaves… just two. 

“We managed to find one promising person and gave them a special promotion to S-Rank immediately. That brings us back to three. But two of them are still green, more of a ‘we’re hoping they grow into the role’ situation.” 

So, it’s basically a total collapse. 
Only one reliable veteran left among the original five? 

“Well, not necessarily... After all, the last one’s Golden Bat...” 

… 
…Oh. 

That guy. 
Even if you’ve never met him, every adventurer’s heard the stories. The epitome of chaos. 

“If he doesn’t like something, he’ll ignore direct orders from the guild. He even left the guild entirely for a while. Cooperation is not in his dictionary...!!!” 

That’s hopeless. 
A total wipe. 

Silver Wolf’s been running the guild under such conditions? 
That’s rough… Honestly, I feel sympathy and respect. 

“So! The Adventurers’ Guild urgently needs a new leadership structure! We need to get back to five S-Ranks at least on paper! Which brings me to...!!!” 

Yes?! 
Silver Wolf’s wolfish eyes lock onto me. 

“Momoko! I want you to accept the title of S-Rank adventurer!” 

So, we’ve come to that, huh! 
I mean, yeah, after this long explanation, it was obvious where this was going. 

Huh? He said that right at the beginning? 
Did he? I… I forget stuff after like three sentences! 

“…You’re basically a birdbrain, huh?” 

Ahh! He’s looking at me with cold eyes!  
Please don’t reconsider the promotion because of that! 

“Ngh, but considering the state of things, I guess we’ve gotta cut birdbrains some slack! Look, you were summoned to this world as a hero! You fought valiantly in the war! After turning adventurer, you cleared countless high-level dungeons! Your skills and fame more than qualify you for S-Rank!!!” 

Ehhh? Ehehehehe~ 
I might just say yes to your proposal if you keep flattering me like that~ 

Hmm…But wait. 
I was totally ready to ride the flattery train at full speed, but thinking back now, there are a few things that just don’t sit right with me. 

If they really wanted me to join the S-Ranks, couldn’t they have done it way earlier? 

I’ve been an adventurer for ages, building up a solid track record the whole time. 
Ignoring all that and only now asking me to become an S-Rank? Isn’t that a bit too convenient? 

“What are you talking about? You’re the one who’s been turning us down all this time.” 

Huh?! 

“The guild’s been watching you long before I even became master. I heard from the previous guildmaster that there were already talks of promoting you.” 

Seriously?! 
Then why didn’t I get promoted?! 
Was this… guild politics?! 

“You turned it down. That’s it.” 

Whaaa?! 
Really?! I did?! 

“You didn’t even take the last promotion exam. We sent you a special invitation. You said you’ve got more important things to focus on than a promotion.” 

Ohhh yeah! 
At the time, I was totally obsessed with finding the Saint’s Farm! Nothing else even registered on my radar! 

Ugh… thinking back, that was super rude, wasn’t it? 
Uh… are you mad? 

“Rude adventurers are nothing new. We’re an outlaw bunch to begin with. If we couldn’t let that slide, no one would last in this job.” 

O-Oh, thank you...That’s a relief. 

“That’s why we stopped bothering you. Figured you’d just say no again. But we’re seriously out of options now. I know you’ve got your own reasons, but please, I’m begging you! Won’t you accept the S-Rank title?!” 

He’s rubbing his forehead against the table while pleading. 
Though, being wolf-faced, it’s more like his snout is touching the table. 

Still, now that I’ve found the Saint’s Farm, I’ve got nothing else tying me down. 

All right! I accept! 
Momoko the Hero will become an S-Rank adventurer!