#922 More Slots Open Up

“Let me introduce another key figure in this event.”

“Meow, meow, meowwww! It’s me, the guild master’s wife, Black Cat, meow!!!”

From out of nowhere, a cat-headed lady leaps onto the scene.

That glossy black fur is the very epitome of a solitary, majestic black cat.

“And let’s not forget, I’m also an active S-rank adventurer, meow! Yes, I, Black Cat, am also announcing my retirement from adventuring, meowwww!!!”

Wait, what’s happening all of a sudden?

It’s not just me taken aback. The adventurers gearing up for their exams are just as dumbstruck.

Surprised to the point of silence, this is what it means to be at a loss for words.

“Hmm? Perhaps you didn’t see this coming, meow? With my dear Silver Wolf retiring, it would be quite odd for me, his wife, to linger in the S-rank, don’t you think, meow?”

Now that she mentions it...

No, wait.

If Silver Wolf and his wife, Black Cat, are both stepping down from S-rank...

Does that mean not just one but two slots are opening up...?

“As you’ve guessed, the upcoming exam won’t just fill one vacancy. With Black Cat stepping down, we’ll need two newcomers... but there’s more.”

More?

What could possibly follow that?

“As many of you know, the adventurer profession has been booming recently. This expansion is largely thanks to the Adventurers’ Guild venturing into the Demon Kingdom by demand of the Demon King himself.”

Right, of course.

The Demon King, in his efforts to downsize his military, has handed over dungeon management to the private sector, with the Adventurers’ Guild stepping up to the plate.

Thanks to this, not only did the number of adventurers double, but new guild branches sprouted up even in the Demon Kingdom, significantly increasing the number of demon adventurers.

“With the adventurer population doubling, it only makes sense to not keep the S-rank cap as is. So, alongside announcing my retirement, I also declare a rule change on behalf of the guild master.”

And that rule is...?!

“The cap for S-rank adventurers will be raised from five to ten. Do you grasp what that means?”

Nnnnnnyes...?

“It means up to seven people could be promoted to S-rank today! One for each of us retiring, and five more due to the increased cap, making seven!!!”

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!”

An unprecedented cheer erupts.

It’s no wonder.

Instead of vying for a single spot among three hundred candidates, the odds had just improved sevenfold.

The chance for glory has dramatically increased for everyone.

Who wouldn’t be overjoyed by this?

...Yet, the reality of a three hundred to seven ratio is still a brutally competitive trial.

But that’s what it takes to reach the pinnacle of adventuring. It’s not for the faint of heart.

Originally, four thousand applicants have been whittled down to three hundred, making the actual odds even more daunting.

The competition remains fiercely intense.

“But I wouldn’t want those who truly aim for the top to feel complacent just because the slots have increased. Remember, it’s merely an expansion of the maximum number available.”

“The criteria for selecting S-rank haven’t budged an inch, meow!”

“If there are seven individuals deemed worthy of S-rank, we might appoint all of them. But, conversely, if not a single soul meets the standard, then it’s entirely possible we’ll have no one pass... A scenario you’d do well to keep in mind.”

“The path to S-rank is anything but sweet, meow!”

They didn’t forget to tighten their resolve.

As a duo no longer just S-rank adventurers but as the guild master couple, they are dedicated to picking out the young talents who will shoulder the future of the adventuring world.

“Let’s keep the preliminaries short.”

“It’s time to dive into the specifics of the exam, meow!”

And so, the proceedings went smoothly.

“The test for the new S-rank adventurers will take place here, at the Saint’s Farm! A place shrouded in legends, rumored to contain all the world’s secrets, a destination many adventurers dream of uncovering!”

Their hype of the location is off the charts.

Can’t they tone it down a bit?

“The Saint’s Farm has been discovered already...?!”

“Was it Silver Wolf who found it? No wonder S-ranks are not to be underestimated...!”

A murmur spreads among the examinees.

Oh, come now, it’s not that big of a deal, is it?

“To hold the S-class promotion exam in such a place is indeed a stroke of luck. Of course, this was only made possible with the permission of Lord Saint, the farm’s owner. Let’s give a huge round of applause to Lord Saint for this!”

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!!!

A thunderous applause erupts, almost overwhelmingly so!

Stop it, guys, you’re making me blush!

“And you, the examinees, will get to witness the splendor of the Saint’s Farm, which is the talk of the town. ...Or should I say, its ‘terrifying’ aspects?”

Why are we taking a threatening tone all of a sudden?

“Here at the Saint’s Farm, we’re uniquely positioned with not one, but three dungeons nearby: a cave-type, a mountain-type, and an ancient ruins-type.”

The mention of Silver Wolf’s explanation only heightens the murmurs of intrigue.

“...Heh, it seems even a powerhouse aiming for S-rank can be properly bewildered. Yes, it’s rare to find a place where all three of the main dungeon types are present and, even more so, to have such completely independent dungeons located so closely together. There’s never been a location quite like this before.”

Is that really such a big deal?

Living here, I hadn’t realized the convenience of having dungeons nearby.

Is it kind of like a convenience store?

But Silver Wolf’s tone has me second-guessing...

“Hey, hey. Platy.”

I turn to my wife, still beside me.

“Is it just me, or is something off about what Silver Wolf said? Did he say we have three dungeons?”

“Yes, that’s what he said,” Platy replies matter-of-factly.

“Cave-type is Sensei’s dungeon, right? And Veil’s is the mountain... But an ancient ruins-type dungeon? Do we even have that?”

“Dear, you’ve completely forgotten about it, haven’t you? That’s so like you—forgetting such an incredible thing...”

What’s with the astonished look?

“It’s not something one normally forgets... such an immense presence...”

Okay, but what is it?

“The S-rank promotion exam will have you, the candidates, challenge every dungeon. Also, when moving between dungeons, you must use the designated routes without any detours. It’s forbidden to tarnish the exam venues graciously provided by Lord Saint’s goodwill.”

Silver Wolf’s voice is stern here.

A spirit of no defiance allowed, causing candidates below A-rank to break out in a cold sweat.

“Navigate through three dungeons each, and conquer the depths! Only those who conquer all three dungeons can earn the new S-rank title. Should the number of candidates who meet the criteria exceed seven, we will scrutinize the time taken and the details to separate the successful from the unsuccessful. Understood?!”

Wow, that’s strict.

You don’t get to pass unless you make it all the way to the deepest parts of the dungeons.

And you have to clear all three of them.

It’s a fresh reminder of just how tough and difficult it is to become S-rank.

“Which dungeon you start with is up to you. The order is free. I sincerely hope that new S-rank adventurers will emerge from among you! Now, let the exam begin!!!”

It’s as if you can hear the sound of a pistol going off, signaling, ‘Ready, set, go!’

This is where the decisive race for the candidates’ futures begins, breaking free like a flood!!

“...But before we start...”

A sudden halt?!

Everyone went tumbling over simultaneously. What’s with the slapstick comedy effect?!

“Let us now greet the masters of each dungeon. We have Sensei from the Cave Dungeon, a Lifeless King, and Lady Veil, the dragon from the Mountain Dungeon.”

Standing on the stage next to Silver Wolf is a figure resembling a monk practicing austerity to the point of mummification and a tiny girl.

To me, they’re familiar faces, but to the general crowd, they’re like the embodiment of the World’s Two Greatest Calamities.

At least Veil is somewhat less intimidating, disguised as a little girl.

“Hmm, maybe this form isn’t scary enough? All right, time to revert to my true form!”

Any semblance of mercy was absent.

Veil transforms into a colossal dragon, plunging the people into profound terror.

“I am a Lifeless King, known to all as Sensei. I’m delighted that so many have come to visit my dwelling today. I’ve prepared the finest hospitality, so look forward to it.”

For those of us who’ve known Sensei for a long time, it’s clear that this is a gesture of 100% goodwill and genuine hospitality. But for others, “hospitality” might as well mean “interception.”

Adventurers receive what feels like a death sentence in sheer terror.

“Tackle the dungeon with vigor today!”

“Show us all your might!”

Encouraged by the dungeon masters they’re about to face, the aspiring adventurers are quaking in their boots.

So this is the S-rank promotion exam!

Isn’t this a bit too hardcore?!