#928 The True Theory – An S-Rank Adventurer’s Mettle  

Silver Wolf’s steady advance shows no signs of stopping.

He conquered Veil’s mountain dungeon, divided into several levels leading to the ultimate summit, up to the second layer in the blink of an eye, with more energy to spare.

“HUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”

He runs from an onslaught of monsters with a battle cry.

Yes. He ran.

In a real dungeon conquest, avoiding unnecessary battles is key.

“True to form for an S-rank adventurer, Silver Wolf! He’s got the basics of dungeon exploration down pat!”

Adventurers trailing behind him—candidates for the S-rank promotion exam—provide the commentary.

All the while being shielded by our farm’s orc and goblin army.

What’s going on here?

“Avoiding combat is crucial when aiming to conquer a dungeon, not just gathering materials. Minimizing unnecessary steps conserves energy! Silver Wolf’s keen werewolf senses not only detect enemies but are rumored to read emotions, allowing him to instantly discern monster moods. If unavoidable, he swiftly disengages after striking—a testament to his strength...!”

Let’s leave the verbose commentator for now...

Silver Wolf’s pace is so swift it’s almost as if he’s running...

Keeping up is a challenge.

“No way! We got wiped out near the entrance...!”

“He’s still pressing on ahead... Is this the power of an S-rank adventurer...?!”

The onlooking adventurers are astounded.

Silver Wolf, usually just one of the Selfless Workaholics, proves to be an exceptional individual.

He’s one of the S-rank adventurers that all aspire to be, towering over the A-rank as if they were in different dimensions.

“Meow, meow, meow! I won’t let Wolfie have all the glory, meow!!!”

Who dares to interrupt with such a declaration?

Black Cat?!

Another S-rank adventurer, Black Cat?!

Why barge in now?!

“I’m retiring, so I’m going out with a bang, meow! Watch S-rank adventurer Black Cat’s true power, meowww!!!”

Ah.

Hmm?

Just when Black Cat seemed to vanish...

A monster’s head was suddenly severed from its body!

“The true strength of S-rank adventurer Black Cat lies in her aggressive felinity as a black panther therianthrope!”

The commentator with the rapid-fire delivery starts again.

But wait... she was a panther?

Not a cat?

“As a Felidae therianthrope, she can completely conceal her footsteps and scent, attacking with zero presence. Almost no human or monster can counter such an assault. At night, her black fur blends into the darkness, making her nearly invisible, her concealment rate skyrocketing!”

I see. Felines are carnivores, after all.

They probably have a higher aggression level than any other beast.

“While S-rank adventurers often boil down to Golden Bat and Silver Wolf, adding Black Cat into the mix shows that these three have been stirring up the adventurer world for over a decade! Undoubtedly, she’s a top-tier adventurer as well!!!”

Despite the fast talker’s continued explanations, the duo’s rapid advancement didn’t slow, and they reached the final stage in no time.

Before they know it, they stand before the last level, with Veil, the final boss, waiting at the summit.

“...Heh, step forward, and a dragon awaits us. An epic battle is surely on the horizon.”

“A matter of life and death, huh, meow.”

Even for an S-rank adventurer, trudging through Veil’s perilous mountain dungeon has taken its toll, leaving him tattered and torn.

His feline companion, Black Cat, who joined partway, is in a similar state.

“Do you really want to see what lies beyond? Is the view from a path carved by others, in a mysterious land you’ve never ventured into, truly valuable to adventurers?”

He begins to spout some rather perplexing wisdom.

“You all said this dungeon was too tough to crack. But look at us—Black Cat and I, working together, are on the verge of breaking through that ‘impossible’ barrier.”

“This is the kind of prowess expected of an S-rank, meow.”

“And you say the trial is unreasonable? Being S-rank means overcoming the unreasonable. I wanted you to understand that. If S-rank is usually granted based on undeniable achievements, then expect the trials to be this challenging.”

“This rank is not for show, meow.”

His points are valid, but why choose this moment to lecture?

Ah, I’m starting to see Silver Wolf’s game plan.

Venture further, and they’d face Veil in direct combat.

Even for S-rank adventurers like them, facing Veil would mean a 4,000 percent chance of defeat.

He’s probably using sophistry to maintain his S-rank dignity and avoid the confrontation.

And how did the called-upon react?

“Indeed... We underestimated the S-rank...!”

“While aspiring to be S-rank, we completely misjudged its essence...!”

Wow, they’re really buying into this.

Silver Wolf’s speech has struck a chord, touching their hearts profoundly.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to convey in today’s exam. To become S-rank is a monumental task, beyond common understanding, and it requires a spirit that dares to climb ever higher without yielding!”

“So, what’ll it be, meow? If you insist, we can redo the exam with the same challenges, meow.”

Black Cat’s suggestion ignites the crowd.

“We’ll do it! Please, let us have another goooo!!!”

“Thanks to Silver Wolf, my adventuring spirit is ablaze like never beforeeeeee! The biggest blaze everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!”

“My world as an adventurer was so small before! You two have expanded it! With this expanded world, I can finally glimpse the true essence of being an S-rank adventurer! All that’s left is to charge forward!”

“Please, let us retake the exammmmm!!!”

The mood is overwhelmingly emotional.

I bet this was Silver Wolf’s true intention.

By showcasing the unimaginable scale and challenges of being an S-rank adventurer, he aimed to enlighten as many promising individuals as possible in one fell swoop.

By doing so, there’s great significance in elevating their awareness.

Surely, it will raise the overall level of the adventuring industry.

“Hey... when are you going to show up?”

Just then, Veil shows up in her dragon form, slithering into the scene.

“If you’ve climbed this far into my dungeon, it’s only polite to come all the way here. We might as well have our showdown. Hogegeeeeeee!”

This farm dungeon, unlike others in various regions, is a hot topic for its unique features.

One famous difference is that the boss doesn’t always wait at the end.

If you’re late, it’s not uncommon for them to come greet you themselves.

Quite the free-spirited final boss, if you ask me.

“Horyaaaaaaah, behold, my dragon breath that I suddenly remembered to use! Bweeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!!”

“Uwaaaahhhh!!!”

And with that, they all flee en masse.

For adventurers, the most crucial skill is the ability to flee.

“Boo! They’re all so boring. This doesn’t satisfy me at all.”

You may say that, Veil, but you know...

They’re still professional adventurers. Their mission is to explore dungeons and secure their loot for survival, regardless of whether they offer any thrills.

“How about this, Master? Why don’t we show them how it’s done?”

Huh?

Show them how?

What exactly?

“Let us, the farm residents, demonstrate our daily dungeon-wandering antics. These guys make a living off dungeon raids, right? Then let’s show them our style. It’s like those extra-curricular lessons that pseudo-corpse is so fond of.”