#934 The Incredible Human Race

I’m Beliard, a demon adventurer.

Once, I nearly achieved the rank of one of the Heavenly Four of the Demon King’s Army.

Given my formidable prowess, I thought becoming an adventurer would be a breeze, and I’d quickly climb to the top. Alas, it all seems like a distant memory now.

The recently held S-rank adventurer promotion exam utterly shattered my confidence!!!

What in the world is this?!

Even the army would think twice, marching into a Lifeless King or dragon-occupied dungeon with the Demon King himself leading the charge.

And to think there are not one, not two, but three such formidable dungeons side by side… It defies all logic!

And you mean to tell me that to become an S-rank adventurer, one must conquer such dungeons? Is the title that incredibly challenging?!

You’ve got to be kidding!

Surely, the conditions aren’t this tough to become one of the Heavenly Four!!!

Could it be that S-rank adventurers are esteemed even above the Heavenly Four?

Impossible! If that’s the case, then this exam is unreasonably difficult! Downright illegal!

I demand a redo!!!

It seems I wasn’t the only one with these thoughts, as a thunderous wave of criticism arose.

Yes, a test that no one can pass is clearly unjust.

If we keep our protest, surely the organizers will acknowledge their mistake and recalibrate the test to a more reasonable difficulty.

At least, that’s what I hoped… but the organizers’ response was unexpected.

“…Pathetic. Complaining to the guild just because you can’t clear it? Is that how you’d behave in a real adventure?”

That was from the top brass of the organizers.

At first glance, I mistook him for a beast of some sort, what with his wolfish head.

Later, I learned he is a therianthrope, a sub-race among humans...!

He’s known as Silver Wolf, an active S-rank adventurer.

It seems today’s test was set in motion because he announced his retirement.

So he’s the pinnacle of all adventurers...!

His mere presence, just standing there, seems oppressive.

“Do you even realize what being an S-rank adventurer entails? Even if it’s a dungeon with a guardian, is it characteristic of an S-ranker to just smash into it, fail, and shamefully flee?”

Silver Wolf continues his stern lecture, and it feels as though his words alone can crush spirits.

Continue through the dungeon even if your limbs are torn off...

Do adventurers really need such a terrifying resolve?

Is a heart as tough as steel required to reach the pinnacle?

“However, it’s easy to talk the talk.”

While I was still reeling from the shock, Silver Wolf pressed on with another proposal.

“I will now attempt one of the dungeons at the Saint’s Farm. Though I’ve announced my retirement, I am still an active S-rank adventurer. I’ll show you firsthand what it takes,” he says.

An S-rank adventurer himself, entering that ultra-high difficulty dungeon?

Even I, a candidate for the Heavenly Four, was expelled from that dungeon in mere seconds.

I imagined that even the strongest adventurer would quickly meet the same fate as us.

But from another angle, perhaps he would pull off something unexpected.

As soon as he entered the dungeon, it was clear that my hopes were not misplaced.

S-rank adventurer Silver Wolf’s agility far exceeded my expectations, easily subduing the attacking monsters!!!

His movements are undoubtedly on par with the Heavenly Four!

I had thought humans were weaker than demons since they lost the war, but perhaps that isn’t so.

Could it be that the power of an S-rank adventurer equals that of the Heavenly Four...?!

“As expected of S-rank adventurer Silver Wolf! He’s got the basics of dungeon exploration down!”

Huh? What was that?

One of the observers next to me suddenly started explaining!

“Unlike loot-hunting, avoiding combat is key to conquering a dungeon. Minimizing unnecessary travel reduces physical exertion! Especially Silver Wolf, with his keen wolf therianthrope senses, he can even discern emotions, allowing him to instantly gauge a monster’s aggression and, if combat is inevitable, he executes a hit-and-run strategy—that’s his strength…!”

I-I see...!

He’s keeping in mind the dungeon-crawling aspect as well.

He’s not just physically capable but intellectually advanced, too...!

But boy, does this guy talk fast…!

“By the way, Silver Wolf’s true potential is far from fully unleashed! Why, you ask? Because he’s a wolf therianthrope! Wolves are pack animals, after all! His adventuring style, deeply influenced by this trait, truly shines when he’s part of a team. Thus, tackling challenges solo is like cutting him off from his strengths! The whole notion of a ‘lone wolf’ is nothing more than a human misconception born out of prejudice!”

I-Is that really the case?

That was quite a lengthy explanation for something said in passing...!

While I was busy digesting that explanation, I suddenly noticed that Silver Wolf had made considerable progress!

Missing the action while listening to an explanation is the height of folly!

“Meow, meow, meow! I won’t let Wolfie be the only cool beast around here, meow!!!”

And then, someone new crashes the party!

Who’s that?!

A woman with a black cat’s head?! Isn’t that a stark contrast to Silver Wolf’s wolf head?!

“And what do we have here? That’s none other than Black Cat, another S-rank adventurer!!!”

The guy next to me jumps right in with a quick explanation!

Moments like these make me appreciate having a commentator around.

“Black Cat, the current guild master’s wife, was rumored to be retiring just like her husband, but she still possesses more than enough prowess to be ranked as an S-rank adventurer. She’s undeniably one of the foremost contributors who has supported the adventurer industry in recent years!”

He sure loves to talk.

“By the way, it’s a lesser-known fact that Black Cat is the actual daughter of the former guild master! Silver Wolf’s assumption of the guild master role was largely influenced by their marriage, not because he fell into a trap set by the entire guild master’s family—a trap, mind you, designed to exploit his abilities to the fullest and keep the adventurers’ guild thriving even through defeats!”

And the “by the way” just keeps coming.

Like, non-stop.

Meanwhile, this so-called Black Cat is tearing through the dungeon with incredible speed.

“The hallmark of S-rank adventurer Black Cat lies in her feline agility as a black panther therianthrope! She can completely conceal her footsteps and scent, attacking without a trace. Hardly any human or monster can counter her, especially at night when her black fur blends into the darkness, making her virtually invisible!”

I see.

“By the way, while we often hear about the two titans, Golden Bat and Silver Wolf, when discussing S-rank adventurers, adding Black Cat to the mix shows that these three have been the stars of the adventurer scene for the past decade! There’s no doubt she’s among the top-tier adventurers!!!”

Indeed, the prowess of these active S-rank adventurers is the real deal.

...Or maybe even beyond real?

I had once scorned humans as the “losers’ race,” but now I understand just how foolish that was.

Though we demons won the last war, a mere slip-up could have easily turned the tables.

I was wrong in my perceptions.

I shall no longer underestimate the humans.

In this system of adventurers they created, I resolve to aim for the top anew.

But as impressive as the abilities of these S-rank adventurers are, the knowledge and comprehensive commentary from the guy beside me were also remarkable.

“Fuhahaha! Surprised, are you? My name is Tamarim, a watcher of adventurers from the twists of distant time!”

Right.

With such extensive knowledge and eloquence in his commentary.

He must hold a significant position in human society, but what exactly does he do?

“I am a home security officer!!!”

...

And what might that job entail?

“My main duty is to guard the home!!!”

...

And does this job, well... does it pay?

“To labor for compensation is a vile act!!!”

He proclaimed this with pride.

...

Once again, I revised my thoughts.

I guess there are baffling humans just as there are remarkable ones, huh?