Akatsuki Translations

Isralia Continent, Central Region, City of Sin – Proudia[1], also known as the Sunlit City of Proudia.

Adventurer’s Guild Headquarters, General Assembly Room.

It was a room large enough to easily accommodate dozens of people. The furnishings, chairs, and tables were all quite simple. The hall was not an adventurer’s workplace. That belief was held by many past leaders of the Adventurer’s Guild, who did not spend much money on the guild’s headquarters.

However, the Adventurer’s Guild was now an indispensable institution in this world, and so the work conducted in this meeting room could not be ignored. Today, a regular meeting of the Adventurers’ Guild was taking place, with reports coming in from the branch leaders of each city.

Yet, not all of the top leaders from each branch were present in this room. In fact, there were only three individuals here. One woman sat in the top seat of the conference room, flanked by a secretary taking notes and another woman who served as the secretary for the chairwoman. No one occupied the remaining seats; instead, a spherical crystal, known as the “Farseer Crystal,” capable of long-distance communication, was placed in the center of the conference table.

A hundred years had passed since the existence of dungeons that emerged from underground was confirmed. Due to the monsters pouring out of these dungeons, traveling on the surface became a significant risk. Therefore, the Adventurers’ Guild held its meetings via magical communication. Although the expenditure cost of the magic tool was substantial, it was still more efficient than having everyone travel in person.

《— That concludes the report from the Gradol branch. 》-Gradol Branch Leader

“Good work.”

The woman nodded in response to the report from the branch head of Gradol, the City of Gluttony, which she heard through the magic tool. Her chestnut hair was neatly tied back, and she was dressed in the black-based uniform of the guild. Her lightly made-up skin was taut, and at first glance, she appeared to be in her thirties. Her face could certainly be classified as beautiful. However, the large scar that ran from her cheek to her neck, as though she had been sliced open by a giant blade, erased the impression of her beauty. Moreover, her expression held a sharpness and composure that fittingly earned her the title of “veteran.” Sitting at the center of the meeting room, the chair that represented the pinnacle of the Adventurer’s Guild, commanding the entire world, was a rightful match for her.

Renowned as the【Lightning Empress, 】 the woman who currently lead the Adventurers’ Guild was known as Ikaza Gran Sparkray. She traced her fingers along the wrinkles that seemed to gather on her forehead and let out a sigh.

“The number of bounty targets isn’t decreasing.” -Ikaza

Her mumble was transmitted to the Farseer Crystal, which glowed in response.

《We’ve been targeting skilled adventurers, but the risk is too high… 》-Branch Leader

《The dungeons’re too easy to make a living off of. It’s enriching the world, but… 》-Branch Leader

“It’s more accurate to say they’re dungeon miners rather than adventurers at this point.” -Ikaza

《This isn’t a new issue. Even when you were active, the title of adventurer had lost its meaning. 》-Branch Leader

《Why should we care? City defense has always been the job of each city’s knights order, and it ain’t our duty to hunt down bounty targets neither. 》-Branch Leader

《Try telling that to the city leaders. I bet you already know what type of face they’d make. 》-Branch Leader

At the circular argument that couldn’t find an answer, Ikaza sighed again.

“Well, let’s move on.” -Ikaza

She said, putting an end to the discussion.

“About the promotion of adventurers…” -Ikaza

The promotion of adventurers, in other words, the granting of rings, is always decided through regular meetings. The guild is very careful about promoting ring bearers. To maintain the trust in the proof of strength that the guild acknowledges, the information of adventurers who were sent to the headquarters as promotion candidates must always be delivered to Ikaza.

Ikaza checked the documents handed over by the secretary again.

“Overall, there were no major issues with the initial assessments… but, Greed branch…” -Ikaza

《Yes》

An elderly man’s voice, slightly shaking from age, echoed from the crystal. His name was Jiiro, the long-standing head of the Greed branch, and a veteran adventurer who has a deep understanding of the field. Ikaza recognized him as someone who could handle the city of Greed, a dungeon city that mined a large amount of magic stones, contributing to the entire continent. However, precisely because of that, “this” particular case left her with doubts.

“The party being promoted to copper rings is too young. It’s been only a month since their registration.” -Ikaza

《After registration, they defeated a bounty target within a month. Regardless of whether they pass or fail, there’s a need to at least consider their nomination. 》-Jiiro

“Your tone suggests you’re not particularly enthusiastic about it yourself.” -Ikaza

《It’s Glen, our training facility’s instructor, who recommended them. 》-Jiiro

At the mention of the name Glen, there was a slight stir among the crystals. Glen, also known as the 【Crimson Fist King, 】[2]  was a former Gold-rank adventurer and was well known within the Adventurers’ Guild.

《…That ill-natured Glen? 》-Branch Leader

《The man who even skipped his Gold rank promotion just because it was a hassle…? 》-Branch Leader

《Are dragons going to start falling from the sky next? 》-Branch Leader

However, he was also well-known in a bad way. Nonetheless, if it was a recommendation from a former Gold rank, Jiiro would have no choice but to nominate the adventurer for promotion. Defeating a bounty target within a month is indeed a remarkable achievement. However,

“Shizuku is fine. As a magician, she has great potential. It’s perfect to tie her to us early. But what about this boy?” -Ikaza

Ikaza spread out a document. It was a detailed status of an adventurer’s mana and skills, and at the top was the name “Ur.”

“I can’t discern any particularly notable talent in him. While his achievement in defeating a bounty target in one month is indeed outstanding, it’s a bit weak to make a judgment for awarding the ring.” -Ikaza

《Isn’t that man’s recommendation enough? 》-Jiiro

“I’ve seen wrote he wrote. In Glen’s recommendation letter, all that was written was ‘I recommend him.’” -Ikaza

From beyond the crystal, there was a sense of someone holding their head in their hands.

《I apologize. I should have checked it before sending it. 》-Jiiro

“He’s not a child… really.” -Ikaza

Ikaza sighed. The others, on the other side of the crystal, didn’t notice the slight amusement in her voice. She quickly suppressed it and asked again,

“Did Glen give any reason for his recommendation?” -Ikaza

《It’s a bit abstract to call it a reason, but… 》-Jiiro

“What is it?” -Ikaza

《He said, ‘Because he’s an adventurer.’》-Jiiro

The response to that statement was a mix of confusion and laughter. It was too vague to be a reason to recommend someone, and besides, there were as many adventurers as there were stars in the sky. Most of the responses were along the lines of, “Why is he stating the obvious?”

However, Ikaza narrowed her eyes at those words.

“―――I see” -Ikaza

She looked at the documents spread out in front of her, “Ur’s” file. She looked at his skills.

Average, ordinary. He didn’t have any special abilities or talents. The circumstances of his becoming an adventurer were somewhat unusual, but he himself was an ordinary person. He was a very typical adventurer, one of many in this world.

But he, an ordinary boy, had “challenged” a bounty target in just a month.

The result of the victory was not important. His partner, the young girl, must have contributed to their success. There also must have been an element of luck involved. It wasn’t “enough” to focus on the fact that the dice had rolled in their favor.

What was important was that he had challenged. He had chosen a path of death.

“………”

Ikaza thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Very well.” -Ikaza

《Ikaza-sama!?》-Branch Leader

Surprised voices echoed from multiple crystals. But Ikaza didn’t mind. Picking up “Ur’s” document with her fingertips, she smiled a little.

“Careful composure, calm discernment, and then, ‘abandoning all of that to seize the outcome.’ That too is a way for adventurers to exist. Whether he can continue this path depends on the future, but if he can do it, let’s have him do it, shall we?” -Ikaza

She let go of the document, and with the stamp in her hand and firmly pressed the approval seal onto the papers for “Ur” and “Shizuku.”

“I look forward to your activities as ‘adventurers’.” -Ikaza

TL Note(s)

[1] The raw says 「プライディア」(Pridia/Pridea), but I’m fairly certain this is a typo seeing as how the city is spelled 「プラウディア」(Proudia) right after as well as every time it’s been mentioned previously.

[2] Name changed from “King Crimson Fist” to “Crimson Fist King” because it sounds a bit better I think.