#973 Mountain Climbing Club

It’s still the dead of winter.

Uninvited guests have a knack for showing up at the worst times.

“It’s me, Golden Bat.”

“Go home.”

Here we go again with this S-class adventurer.

Ever since he discovered my farm, he’s been dropping by unannounced whenever he pleases.

S-class adventurer Golden Bat.

One of the strongest representatives of the human race.

He’s one of the few who can find my farm on his own, which means he shows up without a second thought about my schedule, making me wish he’d leave immediately at times.

“Well, since it’s the dead of winter and I’ve got nothing else to do, I might as well entertain you. How about some tea and rice?”

“Such a modest offering for an S-class adventurer, but it’s an adventurer’s skill to turn any meal into strength. I’ll take it gladly.”

And with that, Golden Bat eagerly devours the rice with tea poured on it.

Looks like he’s not familiar with Kyoto customs yet.

I’ll have to make sure he’s aware of them by his next visit.

“Ah, now that my belly’s full, I need your advice!”

Of course, his visit comes with a favor to ask.

This can only mean trouble.

“Uh... Is there an option where I don’t help you?”

“You should know this by now. I’ve left the Adventurer’s Guild and decided to start a new organization.”

“What?”

“You didn’t hear? The grand announcement was made right here on this very farm.”

Oh, right, I remember now.

During the S-class exams, wasn’t it?

Silver Wolf, another S-class adventurer, announced his retirement, which led to the search for a new S-class adventurer.

The exam venue was my farm.

That’s when Golden Bat crashed the party.

As rivals, these two were like two sides of the same coin. Golden Bat begged Silver Wolf not to retire and, in a dramatic twist, threatened to quit adventuring himself.

“You were serious about that?!”

I remember now.

Yep. He did proclaim something like that.

But I didn’t think he actually meant it.

I thought it was just like those annoying lovers’ quarrels where one always threatens to break up.

Damn.

“Wouldn’t Silver Wolf be in serious trouble if you actually left?”

It all started with the recent S-class promotion exam, which was basically held to fill the gap left by the retiring Silver Wolf.

He decided to retire because he wanted to focus on his role as Guild Master, a job he had been doing alongside his adventuring. Following his lead, his wife, Black Cat, also retired from being an adventurer.

Having a power couple at the top of the adventurer ranks is already pretty wild, but...

Out of the original five S-class adventurers, two had retired at the same time, and now, with this guy quitting right in front of me, that would make three empty spots!

That’s a huge gap for the Adventurers’ Guild.

And they only managed to find one new S-class adventurer in the exams.

“With just three S-class adventurers, including the newbie, Silver Wolf’s going to be pulling his hair out. You should swallow your pride and go back. I’ll even go with you if you need support...”

“Why are we talking about me going back?! No way! This is a new chapter in my rivalry with Silver Wolf!”

Silver Wolf has already moved on to the next stage.

You’re the only one still obsessed with this rivalry.

“If he’s building up the Adventurers’ Guild as Guild Master, I’ll create a brand-new organization to surpass the guild and prove my superiority! I will never lose to him! Being unbeaten is the hallmark of the ultimate S-class adventurer!”

But you’ve lost quite a few times, haven’t you?

I’ve seen at least two or three defeats myself.

“That’s why I’ve left the guild. I’m no longer an S-class adventurer, just Golden Bat! Understand that!”

Did you really quit?

Didn’t Silver Wolf turn pale? This troublemaker has undeniable skills as an adventurer, after all.

“Heh heh heh... There’s a trend nowadays where the pillar of an organization gets ousted, and the whole thing falls apart. This could be similar. People will be excited to see my comeback story!”

No, no, no, no.

You quit on your own terms.

That’s hardly being ousted.

And Silver Wolf, being wise and kind, probably opposed your departure.

He likely did everything to keep you around, no?

I can only imagine the stress Silver Wolf endured trying to retain such a talented yet troublesome individual.

That guy has my sympathy.

“Well, he did say, ‘We’ll keep your name on the roster.’“

See? I knew it!

How is that a banishment story?! Apologize to all the fairytale heroes who got unfairly kicked out!

“All right, here’s what you need to do next: Go to Silver Wolf, get on your knees, and beg for forgiveness. Then head back to the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Why are you suggesting something so passive?! A real man sticks to his decisions! That’s how I became an S-class adventurer!”

A guy who’s had mega-success isn’t about to back down now.

“Besides, it’s not just about competing with Silver Wolf! I have a long-standing ambition... a new dream I’ve been chasing since becoming an S-class adventurer. This is the perfect chance to make it a reality! That’s why I started a new group!”

Huh?

What’s he talking about?

A new group?

Is he planning to compete with Silver Wolf, who practically runs the Adventurer’s Guild now? Is that even possible?

The Adventurer’s Guild has been around for generations, way before you and Silver Wolf.

To be honest, Silver Wolf just inherited it.

That’s why he’s busting his chops to live up to the Guild Master’s role, even if it’s a bit much for him.

And now Golden Bat thinks he can take on this giant organization with a new group he just started.

Is he serious?

I get that he wants to compete on the same level as Silver Wolf, but…

So, what’s this new group?

“A mountain climbing club!!!”

...

...Hm?

“A mountain climbing club! By now, you, the wise saint, should’ve grasped the full picture!”

No, stop leaving everything up to the other person’s understanding.

“You’re planning to compete with the Adventurer’s Guild with a mountain climbing club?”

“Exactly.”

“A club for climbing mountains?”

“Precisely!”

No, no, no, no, no…

Let’s get this straight.

Sometimes, organizing thoughts helps calm the mind.

First off, why a mountain climbing club?

Now that I think about it, Golden Bat is more than just a mountain climbing enthusiast—it’s his life’s work.

He’s conquered mountain dungeons all over the world and is the type to say, “I climb because the mountain is there.”

His passion even led him to publish a book about mountains, which became a bestseller and sold millions of copies.

“I thought then... I want to dive deeper into this love for mountains that has become my life’s mission. Free from the bounds of being an adventurer, this is the perfect opportunity to pursue my passion for mountains even more intensely!”

“So, you started a mountain climbing club?”

“Exactly! If I gather enough mountain lovers, we’ll outnumber the adventurers in no time! And surpassing Silver Wolf in the process will only add more glory to my already illustrious career!”

“Uh-huh...”

Sure, okay...

“And so, saint! I’ve come to invite you to join my mountain climbing club! Someone of your caliber definitely qualifies!!!”

Wait, I thought he wanted advice, but it’s actually a recruitment pitch?!

Seriously?!

“Once Silver Wolf hears you’ve joined my club, he’ll be shocked! So, saint, let’s aim for a summit attack first! Any mountain you fancy? Hiking, trekking, climbing, you name it!”

Huh? There are different types of mountain climbing?

I’m a total newbie who doesn’t know any of this!

“By the way... when exactly are we planning this mountain climbing thing?”

“Right now!”

Dumbass.

Do you even know what season it is?

It’s winter!