#554 Orkubo’s Castle: Postscript

My name is Serbenhough.

I am one of the coolest adventurers in the Human Kingdom.

And I’m in A-class!

Do you have any idea how incredible A-class is? Out of the tens of thousands of adventurers in the world, there are only less than a hundred of us.

If you don’t have the courage, wisdom, experience, and ability, you aren’t allowed to take the guild’s promotion exam. And even if you were, very few people pass.

In short, we are the chosen ones!

After A-class, there are five S-class adventurers, who are the cream of the crop.

Well, they aren’t exactly human and are kind of eccentric, so...

...A-class is the highest point a normal human being can reach!

Although not as high as the S-class, A-class adventurers are granted various support and incentives by the guild.

If you go to a guild-run dungeon management district, you will be assigned the best accommodations and be provided with the finest food and alcohol.

All on the guild’s dime, mind you!

Above all, it’s nice to feel the respect and welcome that you get wherever you go.

Nobles, merchants, and other important people come up to me and rub my hands just because I’m an A-class adventurer, and all the women love me.

What a privilege!

Being an A-class adventurer is the best!

...But amidst these thoughts, my followers said something to me.

“Did you hear, Sir Serbenhough? There’s an impregnable castle somewhere.”

A castle?

What about it?

“It’s a small castle in a small territory, built on a well-calculated terrain. People say it’s a natural stronghold with numerous traps and is extremely difficult to penetrate.”

“The lord of the castle is so proud of it that he grants access once a year and challenges visitors to conquer it.”

Hmph. What garbage.

It sounds like something some whimsical aristocrat would come up with.

“Those who succeed are rewarded with prizes of great magnificence!”

“As an A-class adventurer, we just know you’ll be able to clear that castle in a heartbeat! What do you think, sir? Would you like to give it a try and show that aristocrat who’s boss?”

My followers gossiped, and it just so happens that I was bored out of my mind with this town’s drinks.

So, I decided to go into this famed castle and get my hands on as much wine and jewels as possible.

After all, I am an A-class adventurer!

Compared to dreadful dungeons, a man-made castle is like a toy to me!

Let’s show them what the pros among pros are made of!

* * *

...And so, I triumphantly embarked on a trip to Orkubo’s Castle at the Wallachia frontier.

I wondered what kind of weird aristocrat would own such a place, welcoming intruders on his own.

And when I arrived, the place was crowded with many people.

“This is... different from what I had imagined.”

It’s almost like a festival.

No, it is one.

Stalls are lined up everywhere, and kids are frolicking.

I hate this kind of atmosphere.

Everyone is so excited that they don’t even notice how special I am.

“Sir Serbenhough! We just got back from the information desk...!”

“We told them you were an A-class adventurer, but they said you’ll be treated like any other visitor...!”

See? This is what I’m talking about.

I’m an A-class adventurer, yet they treat me like the average Joe.

Hearing this piece of information from my followers displeased me.

“No matter. I’m going to give these idiots a lesson. I’ll show them that the shallow ingenuity of amateurs is meaningless against an A-class adventurer.”

“Sir Serbenhough...!”

“Show ‘em what an A-class adventurer is all about!” 

I was about to enter the castle with my followers when...

“This is an announcement to all visitors of Orkubo’s Castle.”

What is that voice?

It was loud enough to be heard throughout the area but didn’t sound like shouting.

“Today, Orkubo’s Castle will be hosting a small event before the main competition. We hope you enjoy it.”

Is this, by any chance, some kind of power amplifying the human voice?

Magic?

I hear that the demon race living in the neighboring country is capable of such a spell...

“I bet it’s nothing special!”

“Yeah! The moment Sir Serbenhough makes his appearance, they’ll be blown away!” cheer my followers.

Yes, it’s not a bad idea to show up and steal the show!

“The competition between the S-class adventurers Silver Wolf and Golden Bat will start in a moment.”

Huh?

Did I hear the announcement right?

S?

S-class adventurers?!

That’s absurd!

Are you saying there are S-class adventurers here in the middle of nowhere?!

An S-class adventurer is even rarer than an A-class adventurer. There are only five in the world, so why would they bother showing up at a countryside festival like this?

“They really are hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Standing side by side in the venue where the exhibition was to be held were distinctive faces that I’d never forget!

After all, most of the S-class adventurers are therianthropes! 

“W... Why are S-class adventurers...”

Their presence will only overshadow mine!

This sucks!

What am I supposed to do now? 

Wait, what if I just go ahead and enter the competition like normal?

If I perform well and get attention, people may start to think that I’m better than them.

Then I might just get promoted to S-class!

Okay, I’m suddenly fired up! Let’s do this!

...What?! There’s an advanced course?!

Well, then, get me on that one. I’m an A-level adventurer, of course!

A requirement? You can’t join the advanced course if you haven’t cleared the general course at least once, you say?!

I’m an A-class adventurer, that’s all I need to qualify!

Let me join the advanced course, no questions asked!!!

* * *

And then...

I was eliminated at the first obstacle.

And I wasn’t even in the advanced course. Just the general one.

In the end, no matter how much I protested, I could only participate in the general course, and when I tried to show off, it backfired on me!

How could I miss my footing on that narrow bridge we were supposed to cross...?! 

Am I even being myself right now?

Did I get upset in front of those S-class adventurers? Maybe I was still under the effects of yesterday’s alcohol?

“You’re a disgrace, A-class adventurer Serbenhough.”

Who dares call me so casually?!

...Eek! It’s the S-class adventurer Silver Wolf?! And he’s been declared the next guildmaster...!

“It seems that years of your indolence have surfaced...You indulged yourself in the A-class benefits, your body dulled from all the pampering you received in various places without ever exploring dungeons. It doesn’t come as a surprise that you didn’t make it past Orkubo’s Castle’s first area in that condition.” 

“W-Why do you know that...?”

“What, you thought I didn’t? A-class adventurers and above are given great privileges, but they also have grave responsibilities. Haven’t you noticed that there is always strict surveillance on you?”

He glares at me with a sharp, beast-like gaze.

“Orkubo’s Castle may just be the perfect event for the Adventurers’ Guild to expose adventurers like you.”

“Uhhh...!”

“Serbenhough, I’m demoting you from A-class to C-class. You can retire, or if you still have the passion for adventure, make your way back up again.”

“Nonsense! You think you have the right to promote or demote the ranks of other adventurers just because you’re an S-class adventurer?!”

“Did you not see how things unfolded today? I’m the new guildmaster now.”

The moment he said that, my body froze.

He was right.

“Look at you, already doing your part as the guildmaster! I’m so purroud of you!”

“To think my first job is to demote such an incompetent adventurer... But with the great influx of ex-mercenaries lately, perhaps this is a good time to start reducing the guild’s workforce.”

“Once the expansion into the Demon Kingdom goes into full swing, there might even be some aspiring demon adventurers! It’s up to you, Wolfie, to ensure that transformation happens without chaos!”

“Stop pressuring me this early in my new career!!!”

And so, I was deprived of my privileges and had to start over as an ordinary adventurer.

If I knew this is how things turned out, I should have just continued earnestly and diligently exploring dungeons...!

----------

phew, caught up with the pending chapters from last week and yesterday,,,, enjoy!