#917 Those Who Responded to the Exam Part 1

My name’s Shabe.

...Heh, as if anyone would remember that.

Once an up-and-coming rookie adventurer, I was far from the newbie days without even realizing it.

While my juniors leapfrogged to ranks C and B, I was left in the dust.

Every day, I’d take on dungeons with all my might, but success was far from my reach.

A failed quest meant not only a bruised ego but also wasted supplies and a dive into the red. Lose your gear, and you’re deeper in the financial pit.

Venturing into dungeons without weapons or armor is like signing a contract with Death.

Getting new gear meant needing cash, which meant needing to work.

Dungeons like the infamous Mountain of the Sacred White Maiden were surrounded by facilities offering stable day jobs.

So, I’d save up, buy new equipment, and give the dungeons another shot.

But time away dulled my skills, leading to yet another crushing defeat and retreat.

With freshly bought weapons and armor gone again, I was back in the hustle of day jobs for a comeback.

And just like that, time slipped through my fingers in the blink of an eye.

I managed in the countryside’s low-rank dungeons, but facing the Mountain of the Sacred White Maiden skyrocketed my failure rate.

It’s a top-tier dungeon with difficulty to match, after all.

Even when I decided to play it safe, steer clear of the Mountain of the Sacred White Maiden, and venture into somewhat less daunting dungeons, the story remained much the same.

My days were still a string of daring challenges followed by crushing defeats... a relentless cycle of disasters and retreats.

Expenses mounted, income dwindled, and soon, I was spending more time working outside than adventuring.

Before I knew it, I was gambling away the savings meant for gear and drowning my sorrows in drink.

Saving up seemed endless.

Even if I managed to buy new equipment, it would be gone in a day’s adventure.

I might as well enjoy the night with what I’ve got, right?

At some point, I stopped questioning this line of thought.

Those might have been my wildest days.

Yet, a sense of urgency told me I couldn’t go on like this forever.

Maybe that’s the line between ruin and redemption.

First order of business: stabilize my life.

I quit my day job for a long-term gig at a tavern.

A tavern near the dungeons, catering mainly to adventurers returning from their quests.

Work there, and you’re bound to run into familiar faces.

Sure, some looked down on me as a washed-up has-been.

Curiously enough, it was often those very folks who, one day, just stopped showing up.

Lingering in the tavern, catching whispers, you’d hear they’d met their demise in the dungeons, failing to escape their last adventure.

Dungeons are dangerous. That’s a given.

But having survived so many failures, maybe I’m luckier than I thought.

Among adventurers, there were good souls, too, worrying over me and treating me to a drink now and then.

As I worked at the tavern, doing everything from waiting tables to washing dishes and playing bouncer, time passed.

My life gained stability and trust from my employers.

I saved up a decent sum, though the thought of re-entering the dungeons didn’t tempt me.

Then, I started talking more with a waitress.

She was from the countryside, seeking something fresh in the city.

Ending up in the bustling streets near the dungeon was a path that mirrored my own, sparking a sense of camaraderie and making our conversations lively.

We began spending more time together outside of work, and eventually, we moved in together under the guise of “saving on rent.”

As my tavern wages increased, so did my savings.

If I were to strike out on my own and start a business, I now have a solid capital to start with.

And then, the woman I was living with, with a serious look on her face, broke the news to me: “I’m pregnant.”

I felt everything I’d been through was starting to take shape.

What dreams had I chased when I left the countryside?

What did I want to become that made me take the path of an adventurer?

Now, those dreams seemed distant.

But I had a stable life, a refreshing family, and no feeling of lacking.

The tavern’s trusty owner could help me rent a vacant shop cheaply.

Selling weapons and armor to adventurers there seems like a solid business plan.

That could provide for my family and raise my child...

Isn’t this life enough?

The days of burning for dreams feel like another lifetime. Maybe it’s time to face reality at a ripe old age.

With that settled, I am ready to cement my new life.

First, we made our vows before the gods, formalizing our union as husband and wife.

Then, as per our long-held plan, I consulted the tavern master, who, as expected, connected me with the higher-ups and introduced me to a vacant shop on the corner of the street.

It’s surprisingly closer to the main road and promises a good flow of customers. The place is decently spacious, and the rent is significantly cheaper than anticipated.

It seems my years of honest work have earned me a discount.

A recognition of my efforts I’ve never experienced before moved me to tears.

Leaving the countryside, I never imagined my life taking shape in such a way.

I wonder if the younger me would despair...

Either way, my dream has come to an end. Now, I must work harder than ever, earnestly and sincerely, for the sake of my family and the realities of life.

As I pondered the beginning of this new chapter in my life, an unexpected piece of news came flying in.

***

S-rank adventurer Silver Wolf announces retirement.

The shockwave hit the town hard.

He’s one of the five ultimate adventurers in the world.

But now, he’s stepping down?

Back in my days as an aspiring adventurer, I had the fortune of meeting Silver Wolf himself.

We even exchanged a few words.

At that time, fueled by the ambition to climb the ranks of seasoned adventurers, he was the epitome of what I aspired to become.

I admired him so much that I dubbed him “Big Bro” in my mind, acting as if I was his sworn follower.

...Was his time of dreams ending too?

His retirement plan is to focus on his already assumed role of guild master.

S-rank adventurers sure retire in style.

With him at the helm, the Adventurers’ Guild is set for smooth sailing.

As a merchant serving adventurers, this is reassuring.

Hearing about his transition doesn’t stir me. My resolve is firm.

However...

Upon hearing the next piece of news regarding Silver Wolf, my calm was utterly shattered.

With his retirement, it was announced that exams would be held to select new S-rank adventurers.

Due to the expansion of the Adventurers’ Guild into the Demon Kingdom, the selection would be open to all races, and neither adventurer rank nor registration would matter.

I was already impressed by the boldness of the selection criteria, but the information that truly took my breath away was yet to come.

The location for the exams: the Saint’s Farm Dungeon, specially modified for the occasion.

“The Saint’s Farm?!”

I couldn’t help but blurt out.

Right, I had set out from the countryside in search of the Saint’s Farm!

I heard tall tales from an old man in a tavern of a mystical, hidden sanctuary said to exist somewhere in this world—the Saint’s Farm. My aim was to find it and make it my crowning achievement as an adventurer.

Somewhere along the way, I had forgotten all about it.

It got buried under the weight of failure and the struggle to survive day by day.

The fire I thought had died in me began to warm my heart once more.

I no longer yearned for the life of an adventurer, but the existence of the Saint’s Farm, which I had dreamed of, still shimmered brightly within me.

In the days that followed, fraught with restless thoughts, I pressed on with preparations for the opening.

I wished to at least catch a glimpse of the Saint’s Farm I had aimed for that day.

If possible, as the adventurer who once chased after dreams.

But I have a family now. Responsibilities.

Throwing away my present and chasing a past dream seems wrong.

Then, my wife, helping with the shop, said, “Just go. You won’t pass for S-rank with your skills. But at least you’ll settle what’s been smoldering inside, right?”

She knew my turmoil all along...?

“We’ve been through a lot together. I know what troubles you. Let’s start anew, but first, clear your past. The exam won’t take long, won’t it? I’ll hold the fort while you’re away.”

I truly... have an amazing wife...!

Sorry. Just wait a bit longer. I’ll tread that dreamt-of land, shake off the past, and return.

For one day only, adventurer Shabe returns to action.

It’s off to battle!!!