Chapter 19: Victory Celebration Tournament

After Victoria joined, the store regained complete stability.

Victoria’s skill and speed in handling ingredients were so incredible that pre-preparation was unnecessary.

The time saved from ingredient preparation was directly invested in sparring with Victoria, though it didn’t exactly give me more free time.

“Still, sparring is better than preparing ingredients.”

Having grown accustomed to the adventurer’s lifestyle, warming up through sparring proved quite helpful.

As for Steren’s curiosity about the aura emitted by our swords—

“Hmm, I still don’t quite understand!”

“But you seem to be getting closer, don’t you?”

“That may be true, but it still feels like I’ll never completely replicate it this way!”

For once, Victoria showed a rare, sulky expression.

While comforting her, I fell into deep thought.

“Indeed, Victoria’s aura differs from mine.”

I couldn’t quite discern why these differences existed, only speculating that different people naturally produce unique outcomes.

Steren, observing the sword auras emitted by Victoria and me, appeared to realize something but only offered this response when asked:

“I need to observe a bit more to figure it out.”

“I see.”

Since that was all she said, there was nothing more I could press.

Regardless, cheered up by my consolation, Victoria shared exciting news.

“Master! I’ve finally become a Gold Rank adventurer!”

“Oh? Did you complete the promotion task? But you’ve been here all along—how?”

“I had already finished it before coming here! However, the guild delayed sending the results, which finally arrived yesterday!”

Victoria proudly displayed her golden badge, shining in a radiant hue.

The freshly issued badge gleamed brilliantly, filling me with satisfaction.

“Ah, I remember when I reached that point too.”

During my early adventurer days, traveling with Isel, I worked hard to reach the Gold Rank…

Or rather, I didn’t work hard at all.

Now that I think about it, my case was quite unique; I didn’t even have to complete a promotion task.

Since the Adventurer’s Guild initially doubted I would pursue adventuring, persuading them to acknowledge me was the real challenge.

If not for Isel, I probably wouldn’t have become an adventurer at all.

Feeling awkward, I changed the subject.

“Why don’t we celebrate your promotion with a party tonight?”

“A party? What’s that?!”

“It’s like a festive gathering at home. We prepare lots of delicious food and celebrate together.”

“Such an amazing culture… Does this mean there will be chicken cutlets?!”

“Yes, I’ll pile them up like a mountain for you.”

“I want roasted chicken!”

“Sure, we can do that too.”

“Yakitori…”

“Not that. We just had it for breakfast.”

“That’s dragon discrimination!”

Laughing at Steren’s complaint, I began preparing to close the shop.

Today was a happy occasion, so we deserved some time to celebrate together.

As I was about to lock the door, a visitor arrived.

“Ah, there you are, Kyle.”

“Hmm? Branch Chief? What brings you here?”

It was Jackson, the branch chief of the Hilton Guild, his forehead dotted with sweat from apparent urgency.

Without even taking a moment to catch his trembling breath, he cut straight to the point.

“The Demon King is dead. The royal family is preparing a victory ceremony soon.”

Your assistance will be required for the related matters.

I closed my mouth at Jackson’s words.

“So, it’s finally here.”

The victory ceremony.

A festival declaring peace and, at the same time, a battlefield where the powerful vie for influence.

With a heavy heart, I nodded and turned to the restaurant members, who were looking at me curiously.

“Everyone, we’ll have to postpone the party. It seems I have some business to attend to with the guild.”

It looks like the party will be held a bit farther away.

“So, what exactly is it that you need my help with?”

In the office of Jackson, the top-ranking official of the Adventurers’ Guild, I sat across from him and got straight to the point.

At my question, Jackson let out a faint sigh.

“First, let me explain the situation. Kyle, are you aware that the existence of the Adventurers’ Guild is recognized by the royal family?”

“Recognized by the royal family?”

I had heard of some connection to the royal family, but I didn’t realize it was officially sanctioned.

Jackson nodded in response to my question.

“Yes. Originally, the adventurer profession existed before the royal family acknowledged it, but it didn’t hold the same perception as it does now. It was merely an unendorsed armed group without any backing from those in power.”

“So, it was seen as a disreputable mercenary group.”

“Even worse. While mercenaries at least banded together under a banner, adventurers didn’t even have that.”

Jackson, seemingly parched, gulped down the water in his glass before continuing his explanation.

“The royal family began to recognize adventurers because of the one known as the Demon King, who rose up with an army.”

“Because the war increased the need for cheap, disposable armed forces?”

“Exactly. Tasks like subjugating monsters or closing dungeons, which would normally be handled by noble retainers, were left unattended due to the war. Adventurers became an interim solution to address these issues—and they proved to be quite effective.”

But now, the war is over.

The Demon King is dead, and the soldiers tied to the battlefield are returning to their posts.

So, what happens to the adventurers?

An organization like the Adventurers’ Guild, which lacks significant backing and is merely nominally endorsed, faces an uncertain future.

“Of course, the guild has long been aware of this issue. That’s why we’ve tried to build connections with nobles and make notable contributions to secure our position.”

“Doesn’t seem like it worked too well.”

“Unfortunately, no. Nobles desire the strength of individual adventurers but have no interest in supporting the guild itself.”

“Even when we achieved significant feats, they recognized them as individual accomplishments rather than the guild’s collective contribution. As a result, unease within the guild has been growing.”

“From what you’ve said so far, it doesn’t seem like there’s much for me to do.”

“That’s correct. What I want to ask of you comes next.”

He took a deep breath before continuing.

“The royal family has sent an official notice. During the victory ceremony, they plan to hold a tournament to showcase the valor of the heroes who contributed to the war effort.”

“A tournament?”

I frowned.

It’s not unusual to hold a tournament during a festival.

A tournament hosted by the royal family would undoubtedly be an excellent opportunity for individuals to make their names known.

But what does this have to do with the guild?

Are they asking me to win the tournament and then beg the king to guarantee the guild’s recognition?

My question was answered by Jackson’s next words.

“The royal family has stated that if an adventurer wins the tournament, they will formally guarantee the guild’s existence in the name of the crown. However, there’s a condition—they must not be part of the frontline party that helped defeat the Demon King.”

So, that’s how it is.

I recalled the news Martina had shared with me.

“The first prince and the first princess are gathering adventurers under their banners.”

It seems the royal family wants to bring the independent force of adventurers under their influence.

However, the Adventurers’ Guild is merely a piece on the chessboard, used during precarious times.

To change this perception, their excellence must be demonstrated publicly to a wide audience.

That’s likely why they’re using the tournament, a common feature of festivals, to prove their worth.

But this won’t be as simple as it sounds.

“The nobles won’t be oblivious to this scheme.”

While they may not openly oppose something with such clear justification, they will undoubtedly try to interfere.

And they have an easy means to thwart an adventurer from winning the tournament.

“Knights will enter the tournament.”

Knights—the flowers of the battlefield and medieval equivalents of tanks.

As professionally trained instruments of war, their combat prowess is on an entirely different level compared to adventurers.

The mere participation of knights in the tournament would eliminate the majority of adventurers.

This brings us to Jackson’s request.

“Participate in the tournament and win it. That’s the favor I’m asking of you.”

“Do you think I could actually win if I entered?”

“Yes. If not you, then who else?”

I looked into Jackson’s eyes.

They were steadfast, devoid of any doubt.

He truly believed that if I participated, this issue would be resolved.

I stared into his unwavering gaze before slowly shaking my head.

“No, I can’t. I’ve retired.”

“On paper, you’re still an adventurer!”

“True. And on paper, I’m part of Isel’s frontline party.”

At my words, Jackson let out a long sigh, then clung to me desperately.

“Then what are we supposed to do? Even if we gathered all the Gold Badge adventurers, it might not be enough. And most of them are excluded because they’re part of frontline parties!”

“You can win. I know someone who can do it.”

“Someone like that exists? Who could it possibly be…?”

Jackson stopped mid-question as if realizing who I was referring to, his eyes widening.

I nodded, confirming his guess.

“Victoria can win.”

Victoria, who grew at an incredible pace during our sparring sessions.

If it’s her, she can stand her ground against knights and prevail.

Hope glimmered in Jackson’s eyes, which had been filled with despair moments earlier.