#868 An Adventurer Advances into the Demon Kingdom

There exists a profession known as “Adventurer.”

Everyone loves adventurers.

Independent, not bound by any specific power, they dive headfirst into danger alone.

Their only reliance is their own wit and skill.

Sometimes, they face ferocious monsters, and other times, they navigate intricate dungeons.

Adventurers willingly leap into dangers that ordinary folks would avoid in fear.

Hence, they are known as “those who brave the peril.”

Because everyone loves an outlaw, right?

What’s so exciting about a protagonist who graduated from a prestigious university?!

They deliberately veer off the beaten path of career advancement, charging down their unique road!

Deep down, everyone aspires to such a dream, where glory is seized based solely on one’s merit.

...Anyway.

In this fantasy world, adventurers are the epitome of outlaws.

They’ve even surpassed heroes as the most desired profession among children.

That’s what adventurers are.

In this world, adventurers are currently found only in the Human Kingdom.

In contrast, in the Demon Kingdom, the Demon King’s Army handles monster extermination and dungeon exploration.

It’s a place where employment is strong.

But in the Mermaid Kingdom, witches, who are even more outlaws than adventurers, hold sway, ensuring its safety differently.

Anyway, the Demon King’s Army has been largely responsible for eliminating threats in the Demon Kingdom, but changes are starting to appear.

The major catalyst was the end of the war.

The war between the demon race and the human race, which had been raging for years, finally came to an end just a few years ago.

The sudden conclusion of a war that many thought would last forever has had a wide range of impacts.

Both the defeated humans and the victorious demons couldn’t fully escape its effects.

The most obvious of these effects was military disarmament.

As previously mentioned, the Demon King’s Army was formed to handle all dangers posed by humans. However, with the greatest danger of war no longer present, it is neither necessary nor possible to maintain its current size.

Naturally, they began to downsize, with many already retired and finding new employment.

Take, for example, Batemy and Belena at our farm.

Some, like them, find new paths for themselves, but the majority aren’t that adaptable.

Left to fend for themselves, many would be lost, potentially worsening public order.

In light of this, it was deemed essential to find suitable reemployment opportunities... a new line of work where former soldiers could seamlessly transition without any confusion. This search for alternatives was indeed the responsibility of those in higher positions.

Which brings us back to the initial discussion about adventurers.

For those who had been laid off, or rather, had voluntarily retired from the army, the unique role of being an adventurer seemed like the perfect reemployment opportunity.

The primary areas where adventurers excel are dungeons or locations plagued by monsters.

This significantly overlaps with the Demon King’s Army.

Excluding wars among humans, the army’s job scope and adventurers were almost identical.

Seizing this, the Demon Kingdom’s higher-ups decided to directly import the adventurer system from the Human Kingdom, re-employing some retired army personnel as adventurers.

It was a sort of privatization.

In critical times, these adventurers could be recalled to the military, ready to serve as a reserve force.

How would the Demon Kingdom manage these adventurers?

Would they outsource the administration to the human Adventurer’s Guild or establish their own unique guilds in the Demon Kingdom?

After much discussion, they entrusted everything to the experienced and knowledgeable Adventurer’s Guild in the Human Kingdom.

With the Demon King’s Army stepping back, freelance adventurers began to handle monster control and dungeon management throughout the Demon Kingdom, a transition that’s already underway.

This privatization movement started years ago.

Now, it’s in its final stages, with adventurers overseeing dungeons and monster management across the Demon Kingdom.

Facing the imminent establishment of the Human Republic, I arrived with a keen interest in witnessing their achievements firsthand (vain much?)

Although merely observing felt insufficient, so I decided to attempt an inspection with some inventive twist.

I’ll be assuming a false identity.

Pretending to be an adventurer who’s ventured here from the Human Kingdom, I’ll keep my true status as a saint under wraps and infiltrate covertly.

And with that, I’ll evaluate the work ethic of the adventurers operating in the Demon Kingdom.

If things go well, I might even aid in the Demon King’s governance.

***

And so, here I am.

This place is a region in the Demon Kingdom.

A quaint, somewhat forsaken village far from the capital.

“This place has a surprisingly desolate vibe for the Demon Kingdom. Didn’t expect that.”

“The Demon Kingdom is heavily centralized, so the farther you are from the capital, the greater the disparities.”

My companions in this venture are orcs and goblins.

I could have gone solo, but Platy insisted I take them along out of concern.

She’s such a worrywart.

“The Demon King’s lineage is known for its wise rulers, but it seems in the shadow of their greatness, corrupt officials often run amok. Thus, the further you go from the capital, the more rundown places you’ll find, unimaginable from the grandeur of the Demon Capital.”

“The more competent the king, the more likely local officials are to slack off, thinking things will work out anyway. It’s quite the opposite of the Human Kingdom.”

Arowana, who once traveled the land, said something similar.

In the Human Kingdom, the ineptitude of the former royal family meant that local feudal lords had to be competent to support the nation. In the Demon Kingdom, however, it’s the reverse.

Even with ineffectual local feudal lords and magistrates, the realm somehow manages to keep going, thanks to the exceptional Demon King.

If a careless feudal lord governs an area with a dungeon, poor management can lead to monsters overflowing and causing harm.

This is where the adventurer system becomes vital, preventing such incidents. Adventurers, driven by their own livelihood, take the lead in entering dungeons and dealing with monsters.

This system arose primarily due to the unreliable Human Kingdom’s monarchy, thus expecting it to have effects beyond military downsizing.

“So, what’s this dungeon we’re visiting like?”

“It’s a dungeon on the eastern frontier of the Demon Kingdom, tentatively rated two stars. Full-scale adventurer exploration is just about to start. We’re hoping you can confirm the dungeon’s official ranking and ensure adventurers are functioning efficiently, My Lord.”

“‘We’re hoping’?”

“It’s a message from Silver Wolf.”

Ah, him...!

Silver Wolf has essentially doubled his workload since becoming a guildmaster and suddenly being burdened with managing the Adventurer’s Guild on the demon side.

Just mentioning it highlights the enormity of his task.

Despite this, he still holds the title of an S-rank adventurer and deals with a troublemaker known as Golden Bat.

His prowess as one of the Selfless Workaholics is unmistakable.

“Let’s actively recommend any promising talents we find to the guild leadership for Silver Wolf’s sake.”

“Understood.”

Thus, we arrive at the location, securing the right to stay in the village as adventurers.

This adventurer identity was casually arranged by Silver Wolf.

I’m registered as a B-rank adventurer.

I’ve inadvertently added to his workload, haven’t I?

“All right! Let’s dive into the dungeon right away!!!”

“Um, My Lord...!”

A goblin asks me as I brim with enthusiasm.

“Could it be that you came here simply to experience being an adventurer, My Lord?”

“...”

What are they talking about?

My eloquent silence says it all.

But hey, what’s the harm?

It’s only natural for someone transported to another world to dream of being an adventurer.

The number one profession for those transported or reincarnated in another world is adventurer.

Alchemy comes second.

Agriculture is more of a niche field.

Had I made a different first choice, I might have become an adventurer sweeping through dungeons worldwide, living a “Did I just do that?” kind of life.

Thinking about it, it’s only natural to feel a desire to experience being a real adventurer!!!

So, why miss out on this chance for a light-hearted professional experience?!

“Please consider how Silver Wolf feels about you using this fake identity...!”

Oh, it’s fine, guys!

I’m going to enjoy today to the fullest, basking in a future that could have been mine!!!

Let’s do this adventurer style!