Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter SS1

Bonus Short Stories 

End of the Road 

“Not exactly something I’d like to find on a daily basis...” 

This happened back when I still drew breath; back when Rentt Faina was still in the realm of the living. 

Back then, I was more or less known as the thousand-year Bronze-class adventurer, and would head into the Labyrinth of the Moon’s Reflection on a daily basis. My routine was, more often than not, very similar to now: I would hunt a few monsters, collect their materials and magic crystals, trade my pitiful spoils over the guild counter, and go to bed with only a little pocket change to call my own. 

Those were the days, when one day faded into another, each more or less similar to the one before it. 

On this day, however, that sense of regularity was shattered by a certain object I had found... 

“An adventurer’s card, huh. Let’s see... Bronze-class. Gott Rangul.” 

It was a commonly known fact that one’s adventurer card would remain in the labyrinth, especially if one were to lose their life. Even if the labyrinth consumed them, this card alone remained, unscathed. Given enough time, even weapons and armor would vanish into these mysterious halls. An adventurer’s card, however, was eternal. 

As such, an adventurer’s fate was somewhat black and white in nature. One day, someone somewhere would find a card much like this one, and understand that its owner had fallen in battle. It may take days, years, and in some extreme cases, centuries. In fact, cards from as long as tens of centuries ago were occasionally discovered, as far as the legends and rumors go, anyway. 

It was due to this system that adventurers had come to a strange understanding with death. The thought that one’s demise may eventually be discovered and reported by a fellow adventurer after a certain amount of time was strangely reassuring. One no longer felt alone in death, which was a strange privilege in and of itself. 

Ancient adventurer cards aside, most of us didn’t wish to chance upon another adventurer’s card, if only because it would mean that said adventurer had met their end. Usually, surviving relatives often believed their kin was still alive someplace, just lost, or unable to return. The discovery of an adventurer card, however, quashed all those notions. A card found in the labyrinth’s halls symbolized an undeniable death; though there were rare cases in which the owner had simply misplaced or lost it, such occurrences were few and far between. 

Most other adventurers chose to pick up such a card should they ever come across one, the reason being they would be rewarded for their efforts. Although it wasn’t a large reward by any means, it was more than enough for one to have a fancy dinner with. A grim outlook, but finding a fallen adventurer’s card was much like finding loose change on the ground. 

While some may view it as nothing more than that, I felt adventurers had a duty to inform the next of kin. The reward in question was also directly proportionate to the adventurer’s rank, so one would have to find an adventurer card above Bronze-class to be awarded any significant sum of coin. As such, most adventurers did it out of duty and compassion, and I, too, felt the same way. 

This card in my hands was to be delivered to the guild, whereupon I would most likely be tasked with informing any surviving relatives this adventurer may have. This was an official guild request, and one was awarded appropriately for their efforts. But, it was almost always a difficult undertaking, and it was common for most adventurers to refuse the task outright. In some cases, the task was outsourced to another more willing adventurer instead. 

But I felt it was important for me to relay what I had found in person, along with all the relevant details of where I found the card to begin with. 

A heavy atmosphere surrounded me. 

“I should still see it through, though...” 

I made my way back to Maalt. 

“Yes...? Who is it?” 

The small house before me was located outside the walls of Maalt. It was a warm-looking home, with a tidy yard filled with flowers, decorative planters, and a polished, caramel-colored door. 

The woman who greeted me had a homely feel about her, exuding the same kind of warmth as this charming little house did. 

I felt my chest tighten up, in light of what I was about to tell her... 

“I am Rentt Faina...here on an official request from the guild. I have come to deliver this to you on this day...” 

I withdrew a small, wooden box from my bag. These wooden boxes were of a markedly high quality, and were specifically used to house the cards of fallen adventurers. This was common knowledge among adventurers that this woman, presumably Gott’s wife, probably knew as well. 

Her eyes widened at the sight of the box, and before long, silent tears streamed down her face. 

“I... I see. Thank you... For taking the time...to bring this to me. Please... do come inside.” 

Despite her obvious shock and sorrow, the woman promptly composed herself, inviting me into her abode. 

I refused. 

To her, I must be nothing more than an emissary of Death itself. To think she would invite me inside! 

The woman, however, would have it no other way, and I eventually found myself reluctantly relenting. 

“A most lively child you have, I see.” 

The interior of the abode was filled with cheerful children’s drawings, along with some scattered toys and other childish creations. 

The woman—Lily was her name—nodded. 

“Yes. She turns five this year... This was why I told him to stop adventuring, and find a more sensible line of work... Ah, I do apologize, I didn’t mean to offend...” 

I knew more than anyone else she didn’t mean to belittle adventuring as a career, so I shook my head slowly. 

“Please, madam, pay no mind. It is as you say. I...empathize deeply with your loss.” 

“I...” 

For a while, we both sat, an uncomfortable silence between us. I couldn’t stay long, and eventually began explaining the circumstances and details surrounding the discovery. Tears continued streaming down Lily’s face as she listened to what I had to say. 

Finally done with my report, I lowered my head as a sign of respect. 

“Thank you, so much. If you didn’t find him...Gott would’ve been all alone this whole time... With this, I can finally mourn in peace.” 

As I exited the house, I could only think of returning to my rented room. 

“Ah! Hey, Big Brother! Did you need to speak with Mom about something?” 

It was a child’s voice; Lily’s only child, perhaps. 

Turning around, I was greeted by a cheerful looking girl. I suppose she still knew nothing yet. 

I knelt down, patting her on the head. “No...it’s nothing,” I said, vaguely shaking my head back and forth. 

The girl, still cheerfully smiling, began gesturing animatedly as she laid eyes upon my sheathed sword. 

“Oh! Are you an adventurer, Big Brother? Mei’s dad is one, too! He’s really strong, you know? He even beat a Slime the other day! And then...” 

I could only patiently listen to the girl’s cheerful monologue, doing my best to respond convincingly at the appropriate intervals. At the end, Mei stopped, seemingly worn out. Before we parted ways, she asked me to promise to say hello if I ever met her father. I nodded. 

As I lay on my bed that night, a mix of turbulent emotions rose up from deep within my heart. 

Will I meet my end, much like Gott did? Even so... 

Even so, I could not—would not—stop adventuring. 

What were Gott’s last thoughts as he lay dying on the cold, hard ground of the labyrinth? I suppose no one would possibly ever know. I soon closed my eyes, drifting silently into the world of dreams.