Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Most Problems Are Solved with Firm Resolve (7)
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"These are the ones who passed, huh."
A middle-aged man with gray, shaggy hair—Branch Chief 'Terry' of the Hasler Adventurer's Guild branch.
He was skimming through the files of the adventurers who had finally passed the D-rank promotion exam and the C-rank promotion exam.
C-rank passers: three in total.
And D-rank passers: two.
All three C-rank passers were D-rank adventurers who had been active in Hasler for a long time, so there was no reason to doubt them.
But the problem was those two D-rankers.
"First time seeing these names?"
Their previous activity had been in the capital, Carmen.
They had been promoted to E-rank there a few months ago, and upon arriving in Hasler for an escort mission, they had racked up enough request points.
'That's why they took the exam here.'
They could have gone back to the capital to take it, but since Hasler happened to be holding a promotion exam, they jumped right in.
"Impressive. Taking it on the spot without any prep. And passing on the first try, no less."
The exam reports were incredible, too.
Not only had they aced the written test, but their practical skills were said to be unbelievable for D-rankers.
"One switched from archery to spearmanship and cleared D-rank right away, and the other can even use intermediate healing magic?"
Terry didn't think the examiners had made a mistake or fudged the results.
He knew them best—they weren't the type.
'Plus, these two women handled an escort mission together as E-rankers.'
On the first day, their D-rank leader got booted, and instead of hiring someone else per the client's request, they stuck it out as a duo.
"...They were already D-rank level back then?"
They'd belonged to a party with a high mission success rate before that.
They probably already had the skills and had just joined to grind request points.
"Whatever the case, more skilled adventurers are always a good thing."
That way, they wouldn't drop dead easily and would come back from requests in one piece.
Lately, with the trolls acting weird, high-quality adventurers had become crucial.
'Like a bomb that could go off any second.'
They were as prepared as they could be, but it might not be enough.
If a Troll Lord really showed up...
Knock knock knock—
Just then, someone knocked on his office door.
"Yeah, come in."
As he gave permission, a woman entered.
She had a slender, pretty figure, a crisp blouse and suit skirt, and long legs stretching down, clad in black stockings that gave off a seductive vibe.
Topped off with the click-clack of high heels accentuating her beautiful calves—a woman with long, straight dark purple hair.
It was Iris, Terry's deputy.
"Oh! Iris. Looking beautiful as ever today."
"Yes, thank you."
Terry beamed and complimented her looks, but she responded with cool professionalism, setting down what she held on his desk.
She was always like this—extremely businesslike and cold.
Terry wasn't bothered.
He hadn't said it expecting some big reaction anyway.
'Still, after two years working together, you'd think we'd be friendlier by now.'
He felt a twinge of disappointment deep down.
"Heh."
But he didn't show it.
He'd heard her previous boss crossed a line because of her beauty and got shipped off to the Hasler branch pronto.
'Can't act creepy and risk losing a subordinate like this.'
She wasn't just beautiful; she handled work flawlessly.
A highly capable deputy.
"So, what's this?"
He turned his attention to what Iris had placed on the desk.
It was letters—from someone.
In someone else's handwriting, two of them.
Iris only came to his office for official reports, so this had to be work-related.
"Petitions from the two who just passed D-rank."
"Petitions? For what?"
They'd passed D-rank—what more could they want a petition for?
'No way they're asking to skip straight to C-rank because they're hotshots.'
It was possible.
Lots of adventurers demanded rank-ups without exams, claiming their skills spoke for themselves.
But that was a hard no.
Even if adventurers were rougher and messier than heroes, heroes, or soldiers.
There were procedures for a reason.
The rougher and messier, the stricter the procedures had to be—or the whole system fell apart.
That's why they always rejected those requests.
Just take the damn exam if you're so confident.
'Iris knows that.'
So it couldn't be some nonsense.
At least worth hearing out.
[Greetings, Branch Chief. I'm Reina, who just passed the D-rank adventurer exam...]
The letters started with pleasantries, but the gist was this:
She'd only been E-rank material before and figured the D-rank exam was ages away.
But during this escort mission, she met Kane, a former Hero Academy instructor, and his guidance set her on the right path, letting her grow this strong.
That's how she passed the D-rank exam, and this Kane guy was applying to be Hasler's adventurer instructor, so please give him a fair shot.
Sonya's letter was similar, though her handwriting and wording were a bit more aggressive.
"Former Hero Academy instructor, huh..."
Terry pondered after reading them.
One of their adventurer instructors was indeed retiring soon, leaving a spot open.
They did need to hire someone new.
But with the troll issues in the Ode Swamp lately, he'd been neglecting recruitment.
'The credentials are solid.'
A Hero Academy instructor? Resume gold.
But his hesitation was...
"Hero Academy instructors are... you know. Heroes or hero stock, right?"
They were hero or hero-candidate types with sky-high pride from training the next generation.
Which meant they looked down on others.
Especially adventurers doing similar work.
Sure, commoner-born heroes lacked that arrogance sometimes.
But hearing 'Hero Academy instructor' still raised flags.
'Might think adventurer instructor is an easy gig, just apply and done.'
And he was former.
Maybe quit voluntarily, or maybe got booted for causing trouble.
Either way, no matter how skilled or credentialed, you don't hire someone with personality issues.
Not when they'd be teaching Hasler's adventurers.
"Hmm..."
As Terry mulled it over, Iris handed him a beautifully wrapped envelope.
"...?"
He looked at her quizzically, and she answered flatly.
"Actually, this Kane is downstairs. He gave me this letter from Carmen's Branch Chief Tachi."
"What...?!"
The guy himself was here, throwing him for a loop.
And a letter from Tachi Swail, Carmen's branch chief?
'Why's Senior Tachi butting in?'
Back in his active adventurer days, Terry had gotten tons of help from Tachi Swail.
They'd stayed close, exchanging letters or communications, maintaining that solid senior-junior bond.
"Gimme, hand it over."
A letter from Tachi Swail himself.
Passed via this Kane guy, meaning he had intel to share.
Terry tore it open in a hurry and read.
"......"
The contents hit him like a dagger to the heart.
[...Terry, I know exactly what you're worried about. But don't. He's no hero. Not even close. Just an ordinarily exceptional educator. So...]
It nailed his exact concerns and urged him to consider Kane for instructor.
"...For Senior Tachi to vouch this hard."
Surprisingly, for a gentlemanly guy, Tachi rarely praised lightly.
He analyzed coldly and only hyped people he truly admired.
For him to call Kane an 'exceptional educator'...
"...Might as well meet the guy."
Terry couldn't hold back anymore and stood to see Kane himself.
"Yes."
Iris nodded, and they headed down to the first floor where Kane waited.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Unfortunately, Scarlett's group couldn't help.
But they'd handle their side as fast as possible...
That was some relief.
From what Dayrun's crew said, the territory already knew about the trolls.
And with S-rank adventurer Veronica heading to Hasler, the guild probably knew too.
No big reason for me to worry, then.
I'd done what I could.
What I needed to worry about now was...
"It's fine! It'll totally work out! We pitched you hard!"
"Yeah! If Kane fails, no one in this world deserves to be an instructor!"
"...Haha."
I was in the Adventurer's Guild first-floor lounge, getting cheered on by the somewhat intense Sonya and Reina.
Told the receptionist I was applying for instructor, and she fetched a pretty lady with long dark purple hair.
Handed her Tachi's recommendation, plus letters from Sonya and Reina.
She read them quick, told me to wait, and vanished—ten minutes ago.
Whew, nerves.
Tachi's rec and the girls' letters were nice, but honestly? Not convinced they'd seal it.
Probably an interview, tests, the works?
Worried... What if they go, 'Guild instructors need combat skills!' and make me fight?
As I fretted...
"...Ah, you're Mr. Kane?"
The gray shaggy-haired man came down from the second floor with the purple-haired woman who'd taken the letters.
That must be Hasler's branch chief.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Kane."
First impressions matter most!
I shot up and bowed a solid ninety degrees.
Behold, future boss!
This is how I treat you!
"...?"
No big reaction, so I peeked up.
"......"
His face twisted oddly, like he'd seen something unexpected.
And the purple-haired woman watching with interest.
...What? Did I mess up...?