#1197 A Bat’s Secret Maneuver 

I’m Murshela, an S‑Rank adventurer. 

Then again, I only got promoted a little while ago, so I’m still the new kid on the block. 

Oh, and for the record, I’m a woman. 

My promotion was the very definition of “out of the blue.” 
One day, the guild master suddenly took an interest in me, rushed the paperwork, and before I’d even processed what was happening, I was already S-rank. 

Nobody in history has ever rocketed up the ranks that smoothly. 

Which is why I’ve been nothing but confused about being catapulted to the very top of the adventurer heap. 

Honestly, I still feel unworthy and am ready to hand the title back. 
But the only reason I climbed this far is because Lord Golden Bat drilled me within an inch of my life. 
They said turning my back on those results would be spitting on everything he did for me, so in the end, I accepted the rank. 

It’s been a few months since I became S‑Rank. 
I’ve built up a decent track record, enough to feel like I can handle things. 

And that’s when I marched straight into the guild master’s office for a face‑to‑face. 

*** 

“Is this about Corey?” 

The current guild master is a legendary adventurer once known as Silver Wolf. 
He hasn’t been retired that long, so the aura’s still there. One glare and a newbie like me practically turns to stone. 

But I can't let that scare me off today. I take a deep breath and ask: 

“Yes. When are you bringing S‑Rank adventurer Corey back from that overseas backwater?” 

Corey got promoted to S‑Rank around the same time I did. 

Lately, though, he’s been holed up on the fringe of Human Kingdom and shows zero signs of returning. 

“He’s in the middle of an important quest. It’ll take a while to bear fruit, so don’t expect him back anytime soon.” 
“He’s an S‑Rank adventurer! A face of the guild! You’re really going to chain that kind of talent to farm work in the sticks?!” 

I already knew why Corey’d been sent out. 
He’s leading a pioneer team founding some brand‑new Farm Kingdom. 

Sure, clearing land has its place, but that’s A‑Rank grunt work at best.  
Sticking a headline S‑Rank on it is a monumental waste of resources! 

I wanted to yell “Call him back this instant!” but... 

“The Farm Kingdom is going to hold the key to the world,” the guild master says, pinning me with those wolf‑sharp eyes. 

 Granted, his whole head is literally that of a wolf, but still. 

“Decades...maybe only a few years from now, the Farm Kingdom could be the center of everything. We need a foot in that door. Sending at least one top‑tier S‑Rank makes us look serious.” 

Argh, this is what drives me nuts about our guild master. 

He’s head of the Adventurers’ Guild, yet he thinks like a politician. 
Adventurers are supposed to live outside the law and society’s little boxes! 

Silver Wolf’s a therian. 
Wolves are pack animals, right? Maybe that’s why he values ‘society’ so much. But as our leader? Give me a break! 

“S‑Still, tying up a precious S‑Rank for that long hurts the guild overall…!”  

I managed to squeak... 

“That’s why I’m counting on you. No, really, I’m so glad I discovered talent like yours…!”  

He actually sounds relieved. 

“At first, I figured as long as someone filled the gaps my wife and I left, that’d be fine. But then Pink Tonton went on maternity leave, and Katou somehow decided he needed time off too. Men can take paternity leave nowadays, he said! Can you believe that?!” 

He almost looks ready to cry. 
I can’t help feeling a pang of sympathy. 

“After weighing the situation and shipping Corey out long‑term, the only free‑range S‑Ranks left are Golden Bat and you. I’m really counting on you two, seriously.” 

But if you’d just call Corey ba— 

“I’d love one more S‑Rank, but promoting recklessly could blow up in our faces. Quantity without sacrificing quality is such a headache…” 

Muttering to himself, he slips out of the office. 

Dang it! He dodged me like a pro! 

The guildmaster got me!  
He’s pushy when he advances, but when he retreats it’s like smoke! 

No wonder he climbed all the way to the top. I can’t touch him head‑on. 

But I need Corey back. 
After all, Lord Golden Bat reached the summit thanks in part to his fierce rivalry with Silver Wolf. 

To keep improving, I need a worthy rival, too. 
Corey, who idolized Silver Wolf and made S‑Rank, is the perfect counterpoint to me, Golden Bat’s direct disciple. 

If the guild master won’t budge, I’ll change targets! 
It’s time to deal with Corey directly! 

I’ll round up a bunch of the roughest adventurers I can find, stomp out to the development site, and hammer into his head how pointless his side quest is.  
He’ll realize the best way to grow is to come home and spar with me, Murshela! 

Yep, no time to waste! Adventurers live on quick feet! 

Two dozen wannabe toughs should be plenty for noise‑making duty. 

Wait for me, Corey! I’m dragging you back from the edge of nowhere!!! 

*** 

Or so I thought. I charged into the frontier, faced Corey’s crew, chaos ensued, and then… it was over. 

I was shattered. 
Corey’s growth blew past every expectation. 

When we reunited, he was practically a different person. 
Physical prowess, mental toughness—he’d hit seasoned‑veteran levels. 

How did he power‑up this much in the middle of nowhere? 

Part of me was thrilled. “As expected of my rival!” I thought to myself, but mostly I panicked. 
If I can’t bring him back, we’ll stay separated forever. 

I don’t want that!  
There has to be another way...! 

“Hmm, smells like tangled love to me…” 

Who’s that?! 
I spin toward the voice and see an utterly ordinary woman. 

A local? 
She looks too plain for any other guess, yet she gives off an odd aura. 

“Uh… and you are?” 
“Just a housewife‑in‑training who lives around here... Lost track of time scrubbing a stain out of my husband’s shirt, and I ran into you. I should hurry home and cook something that’ll put pep in his step.” 

Huh. 
What’s a housewife‑in‑training? 

“That aside, you’re taking a pretty roundabout route to get closer to the guy you like, aren’t you? Passion’s great, but mix up the order and you’ll wreck everything.” 

Wh‑What?! Passion?! 
What are you talking about? I’m only trying to grow as an adventurer! 
And Corey’s the perfect rival for that! 

“Yes, yes. A classic tangled mess. Give it a few years and you’ll be kicking yourself: ‘If only I’d been honest back then…’” 

Nonsense!  
Adventurers like me don’t regret! Regret’s the lamest thing ever! 

“Bittersweet regrets are part of youth, you know. People talk about love as a game of strategy, but most of that’s an illusion sold by people who want romance as entertainment. Selling those dreams used to be my job, actually…” 

? 

“But such schemes don’t suit a fresh‑faced kid like you. Crashing and burning is the privilege of the young. Use it while you can.” 

Who are you…?! 

“Just an older lady who can’t resist giving cheeky advice to the youth. If it helps you, my life meant something. Whether your memories end up bittersweet or just sweet is up to what you do right now. Good luck.” 

With that, she walks off. 
Her posture was so regal that the word slipped out before I knew it: 

“Madam…!” 

I don’t understand a single thing she said, and maybe I don’t want to. 

But one truth hit home: I have to keep moving forward. 

No matter what anyone says, I’m not giving up! 
I will drag Corey back to the capital, just watch me!!!