#1007 Hiking Season

This might bring up an old story, but...

Let me tell you about this one time...

Out of nowhere, someone suddenly declared, “Let’s start a mountain club!”

That someone was Golden Bat, an S-rank adventurer. After a bit of drama when he quit the Adventurer’s Guild, he got the wild idea to start a mountain club to compete with the guild.

Silver Wolf and I managed to talk him down and get him back into the guild at the time...

That all happened around winter.

The idea of forming a mountain club and hiking in the dead of winter was just bonkers.

But now?

Well, the mountain club has made its grand return...!!!

You might wonder, “Why now?” The answer is simple...

“Because it’s summer...!”

Summer is the season for hiking.

Sure, the beach is great, but the mountains are also a fantastic summer getaway.

When it was first suggested in winter, we could laugh it off and say, “Are you trying to kill us, you idiot?” But now, with summer here, we have no such excuse.

“Summer! Mountains! It’s hiking timeeeeeeeeee!!!”

And the most hyped up of all is the initiator, Golden Bat.

Even though he returned to the Adventurer’s Guild, his dream of a mountain club never died.

“Of course! Hiking is the ultimate blend of exploration, fun, and training. We can’t let such a wonderful idea fall by the wayside!!!”

Initially, it was all about one-upping Silver Wolf, whom he saw as a rival, but now it’s just a pure, fun hobby.

He put out a call for participants again.

And, surprise, surprise, quite a few people showed up.

We ended up with 47 people.

This is practically a small field trip.

“Okay, everyone, today we’re going to climb a mountain!!!”

Golden Bat said this with obvious glee.

He’s genuinely thrilled to see so many people interested in his idea.

“Heh heh heh... This might be a small spark now, but soon, it’ll grow into a raging fire that will consume the Adventurer’s Guild. Then everyone will see whether Silver Wolf or I am truly superior...!!!”

Dude, cut the ominous talk.

The only reason we got so many people this time was because Silver Wolf fully supported the recruitment effort.

You wouldn’t have gotten anywhere on your own.

Just admit it and put your life in Silver Wolf’s capable hands. You’ll be safe and sound that way.

“...Oh, saint, you’re here too. Have you come to appreciate the majesty of the mountains?”

Yeah, well...

If, after all this effort, no one shows up, it would be way too depressing.

...So, to avoid that disaster, I went ahead and signed up.

But seeing how many people actually showed up, I’m starting to think I could’ve skipped out on this after all.

The mountain club enthusiasts gathered in some part of the Human Kingdom, all in a cheerful, leisurely mood.

Many of the participants are adventurers, but there are plenty of regular folks, too.

The original idea of “competing with the Adventurer’s Guild” was long gone.

“Attention, everyone! I am the founder and leader of this mountain club! Golden Bat! Think of me as a god-like figure!!!”

Whoa, that’s way too overconfident.

I’ve never seen someone call themselves a god so casually.

“Our club’s mission is simple: climb mountains! Mountains are magnificent! Climbing them will strengthen your body, deepen your spirit, and lead to enlightenment! I, the godly Golden Bat, am here to support you and show you the wonders of the mountains!”

The gathered crowd gives a smattering of applause.

Well, anyone who joins a mountain club is probably willing to go along with Golden Bat’s eccentricity to some extent.

“Today, we will climb an actual mountain! This is both practice and a real challenge! Give it your all and engrave the greatness of the mountain into your very being!”

So that’s why we were told to come in comfortable clothes?

And to bring our own lunch?

“Today’s mission is to reveal the name of your first prey... Behold, the name of the mountain is Hightail Mountain!!!”

Hightail Mountain?

Never heard of it before, naturally.

“Also known as Mount Ta-Kao, it’s a two-star mountain dungeon! It stands tall with a decent elevation, but the slopes are gentle enough to give you a good workout! Plus, it’s conveniently close to a bustling town, making it easily accessible! It’s the perfect mountain for beginners to start with, a solid 100 out of 100!!!”

So, that imposing mountain before us is the one...

Well, standing at the base, all we can see is the entrance shrouded by dense trees.

The mountain’s full grandeur is hidden, but its sheer size is evident.

Compared to the highest peak, Mt. Eternity, which we climbed before, Ta-Kao or Hightail Mountain seems far less intimidating.

Even up close, it has this leisurely vibe.

It seems Golden Bat had the sense to pick an easy mountain that even beginners can handle...

“But remember! Even if it’s beginner-friendly, a moment’s carelessness can be fatal! That’s the nature of mountain climbing! From now on, you must follow my instructions to the letter! It’s my duty and obligation as the leader of this mountain club!!!”

Surprisingly, Golden Bat can actually say something responsible.

So, today’s theme is mountain climbing.

We’ll all march up the hiking trail together, aiming for the summit.

Let’s go trekking!

...Or so I thought, but before that...

I spot Silver Wolf.

“Silver Wolf, you’re joining us too?”

“Oh, Lord Saint, it’s tough for both of us, isn’t it?”

The word “tough” seems to sum up Silver Wolf’s feelings.

“Golden Bat was adamant about this. As the Adventurer’s Guild’s master, we had no choice but to support him. If this event keeps our top adventurer happy, it’s a small price to pay...”

Silver Wolf laughs heartily.

I suspected most of today’s event was thanks to his efforts.

“I wasn’t sure we’d get enough participants, so I signed up just in case. I’m relieved we have a good turnout, but it looks like I didn’t need to join after all...!”

He seems to think the same as me.

“Hahaha! Silver Wolf, you’re anxious about the success of this hiking event! Worried someone might challenge your position!!!”

Golden Bat, the host, teases Silver Wolf, showing no maturity.

“This is just the beginning! As we continue hosting these events, their greatness will spread by word of mouth, and our numbers will grow exponentially! We might even surpass the Adventurer’s Guild one day!”

“Right now, this club is technically a subordinate of the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“But I can’t wait around for our duel! How about a little contest right here!”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“We have a good number of participants for this Hightail Mountain climb. That’s great, but the trail is narrow and not suited for large groups. There’s an optimal number for climbing! A nice problem to have!”

I see Golden Bat’s point.

True, it’s rare to go mountain climbing with more than ten people unless it’s a school trip or something.

But we have almost fifty participants today.

“So, we’ll split into two groups! I’ll lead one, and Silver Wolf, you lead the other!”

“Seriously? I came here thinking I’d have a day off...”

Climbing isn’t part of the guild master’s duties.

Silver Wolf, the backbone of the organization, joined the event on his day off to keep the top adventurer happy.

“Enough whining! Let’s see which of our teams reaches the summit first! Of course, I’ll win!!”

And so, another serious showdown between Golden Bat and Silver Wolf begins.