Chapter 24
Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Most Problems Are Solved with One Firm Resolve (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Most problems can be solved with a single firm resolve.
"Ahem! Sorry about that. You just weren't what I had in mind."
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the branch chief cleared his throat as he spoke.
What image did he have in mind?
Did he picture some Hero Academy graduate strutting around like they owned the place?
No, I know my place and my limits all too well.
I'm just an ordinary commoner with no special talents.
I have no intention of bragging about becoming a Hero Academy teacher through connections and luck.
Especially since I'm not even one anymore.
I'm not like those guys who strut around relying on their minor status and meager talents despite having no real skills or power.
Of course, that's just my opinion.
The other side might see things a bit differently.
There are plenty of commoners who think they're above other commoners just because they have some hero aptitude.
He probably figured I was just another puffed-up fool riding on past glories.
Then I hit him with a proper adult greeting on top of that.
No wonder he made that face.
...Hmm. Thinking about it the other way around, I'd probably be thrown off too.
It's like seeing Scarlett in a dress and thinking she's some pure young lady, only for her to tie her hair back and swing a greatsword around.
"Why don't we head over here and have a chat first."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
I followed him into what looked like a reception room off to one side of the first floor.
For some reason, the purple-haired woman came in too.
"Oh, that's my adjutant. Her name's Iris. I'd originally left the instructor matter to her."
"Ah, I see."
Huh. So she came in to listen to the conversation.
I wasn't expecting a 2-on-1 interview, but... whatever.
"Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet. Name's Terry. Branch chief of the Hasler Guild."
Yeah, I kinda figured.
"Yes, hello, Branch Chief."
I bowed my head once more.
"Hahaha, have a seat first."
People can't help but like those who show them respect.
Terry, the branch chief, smiled warmly and gestured to a chair.
"Alright then... I'll ask a few questions."
As we sat, his adjutant Iris handed Terry a few sheets of paper.
He glanced at them and began the questions.
Guess the real interview starts now.
This is actually my first proper interview.
I just did what Marquis Harkur told me for training his private soldiers, and when I went for the Hero Academy teacher position, they just passed me and told me to start tomorrow.
It was probably because Marquis Harkur was still alive back then and pulled some strings.
I've read plenty of books on how to ace interviews, but... as always, real life isn't like the pages.
I'm pretty nervous.
"Why don't you start with a self-introduction?"
"Sure. My name's Kane. I'm 25. Before this, I handled training for the private soldiers of the Harkur Marquis household..."
Still, talking to people is one of my stronger suits.
#
"......"
Terry and Iris, who had been watching Kane's interview, were quite taken aback right now.
First off, they were shocked by his impressive resume.
They knew he was a former Hero Academy teacher, but he'd been handling training for the Harkur Marquis household's private soldiers since he was just 14.
What kind of place is the Harkur Marquis household?
It's the family of Harkur, a hero so outstanding that he rose from commoner origins to marquis and made history.
Of course, he's passed now from some mysterious incurable disease, and his son Sain now leads the family.
But when Kane was training the soldiers, Harkur himself was still the head.
That means Kane had earned enough of the marquis's trust to handle soldier training.
At just 14 years old!
And then, on Harkur's recommendation, a plain commoner with no hero or noble status became a Hero Academy teacher and worked there for three years?
His career alone makes him a monster.
'Come to think of it, Senior Tachi mentioned it in his letter. He seemed close to Scarlett Harkur.'
Anyone who worked for the Harkur family would naturally have connections.
But the puzzling part was...
Why would someone like that want to become an adventurer instructor?
'He'd be treated well if he went back to the marquis household... Oh.'
Suddenly, it clicked for Terry.
Who holds all the power in the Harkur family now?
'Sain Harkur... Rumors say he despises commoners so much he'd cut their throats just for eye contact.'
Despite his father being a commoner-born hero, he's infamous for his extreme noble supremacist views.
He probably never liked Kane, a commoner, from the start.
So maybe that's why he couldn't go back and was trying to become an adventurer instructor instead.
'But even beyond that... Senior Tachi was right. He really is impressive.'
The second surprise was his vast knowledge.
They'd tossed some questions at him to test his adventurer expertise, and he fluently explained things even they had forgotten or didn't know.
It made sense why Tachi Swail had praised him so highly.
From monster habits to actions in specific situations.
Plant and animal identification, theories on various martial arts and magic.
He was a walking encyclopedia.
He answered every question like a true scholar.
'At this level, there's no issue hiring him as an instructor.'
His personality seemed fine too, at least from what Terry could see.
And hearing from adventurers Sonya and Reina, plus Tachi Swail...
He was probably a good guy.
'Plus, he has proven results, even if not as an instructor.'
He'd guided two E-rank adventurers onto the right path and even raised their ranks.
In Reina's case, he swapped her weapon and got her to D-rank level in just ten days. No problems with his teaching at all.
If anything, it was suspiciously effective.
'Intriguing.'
Adjutant Iris thought the same about his knowledge and results.
Everything was perfect.
And separately, he had some kind of charm that piqued her interest.
She thought.
The interview proceeded in this positive atmosphere.
And finally reached the last question.
"Good. Last one... If you become an adventurer instructor, what goals will you have in teaching adventurers?"
Everything so far had been to check if he had the knowledge suitable for an instructor.
But this was different.
It would reveal his values, how he'd teach adventurers.
And what impact that would have on adventurers and the guild.
This was the key question.
Even if he'd been perfect until now, a wrong answer here meant immediate rejection.
Both Terry and Iris thought so.
"...I..."
Kane's mouth opened slowly.
"Will teach them to put their own lives first, above any request."
"...?"
"Hm?"
The response was completely unexpected.
Usually, candidates talked about raising request success rates.
Or producing more high-rank adventurers to handle the branch's top requests.
Performance-related answers.
Which made sense, since that's what mattered most to the guild.
This was the first time someone said to toss requests aside.
And right in front of the branch chief, for whom performance was paramount!
"From the data, adventurer survival rates are abysmally low. Risk assessment for requests, escape methods in crises—all below par. Even some D-rank veterans who call themselves pros can't tell poisonous plants from edible ones."
He didn't stop there, lumping together adventurers and their managers in criticism.
"Adventurers charge at requests for pay without considering difficulty or completion odds. The guild gives no warnings or training to those types. They don't care about dangers as long as success rates go up."
"Branches are so fixated on creating high-rank adventurers that they shove them into dangerous requests without a second thought. Probably that tired old idea that crises make people stronger."
"If one adventurer fails a request, they just hope another becomes a high-rank to make up for it by passing it off. They don't care how many low-rankers die, as long as one survives to clear high-rank requests and boost performance."
The sharp criticism didn't end.
It even seemed like outrage at the guild's reality.
But Terry and Iris couldn't say a word.
Because it was all true.
Branch chiefs, blinded by performance, don't stop low-rankers from dangerous requests in the pursuit of high-rankers.
Many who survived those dangers used them as stepping stones to climb ranks.
If ten D-rankers die but one survives to reach B-rank...
That's better for performance.
Terry couldn't boldly say he'd never thought that way.
So why was Kane saying this in an interview, risking rejection?
There was a reason for Kane's bold outburst.
'The Hero Academy has exactly that mindset.'
It all started with heroes and champions spreading the warped notion that 'crises forge strength, and only those who overcome trials grow.'
Heroes and champions overcame trials since ancient times to save the world.
Everyone thought that was the natural way.
So they force kids who don't even know their own abilities into monster fights.
Shove them into dungeons.
Demand real combat sparring that causes injuries.
No wonder the normal graduation rate at Hero Academy was less than half.
Hero Academy teachers only know that approach.
Because they grew strong that way and believe it's right.
They tout systematic curricula and the world's top education.
But really, it's just pushing outdated trial-by-fire and grit theories.
They've abandoned true education.
At least the adventurer guild is better—they don't truly believe it's right.
They just ignore it for profit.
'At least there's hope for reform here.'
If it's not a core belief...
A prick of conscience might be enough to change them.
That's why Kane brought it up here.
Even if it cost him the job, plant a seed of guilt.
To change the guild, even a little.
Yes.
Even in this interview, he was an educator.
Even if he failed here.
An educator scolding adventurers and the guild, guiding them right!
"...Hmm."
After Kane's sharp critique ended...
Terry, who had listened silently, finally spoke.