Konbini Ossan Volume 1 Chapter 29 – Adventurer? No Thanks!

“Actually, I’m thinking of scaling back my work as an adventurer.”

I revealed this to Shirley one morning, during our now-routine herb delivery session.

Her mouth fell open in surprise at my sudden announcement, dropped into the middle of casual chatter.

“Um, what was that just now…?”

“I said I’m going to cut back on adventuring.”

“You’re quitting, Otsugi-san!?”

Shirley stopped sorting herbs and looked at me, her face a mix of confusion and a tinge of sadness.

“No, not quitting completely.”

“Th-then what do you mean…?”

“The thing is, I’ve saved up enough money now.”

She tilted her head.

“Sure, you’ve been raking it in, but I doubt it’s enough to just drop everything and retire for good.”

“I didn’t say I was retiring, did I?”

Despite my clarification, she kept tilting her head in confusion.

“I mean, I plan to start a small shop using my savings as capital.”

“A store?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not unheard of… but someone like you, with real potential, could aim for high-rank adventurer status. You could’ve earned prestige and privileges as a top-class adventurer!”

Shirley still seemed unconvinced.

She wasn’t wrong — most adventurers aspire to climb the ranks and become famous. The higher the rank, the better the rewards.

A-rank adventurers are treated like nobility, receiving bonuses from the guild just for existing.

Even if an A-rank adventurer opened a shop, it wouldn’t compare to the lifestyle they could live just off their rank.

The income, the influence — adventurers have it better by far.

This also applies to B-rank adventurers. Only those at C-rank or lower might genuinely benefit more from running a shop than staying in the field.

Which is why most adventurers who open shops are aging C-ranks nearing retirement.

However — I believe there’s a trap in that thinking.

It’s true that high-ranking adventurers reap incredible benefits. But that’s only if they survive to reach those ranks.

Pursuing those lofty ranks means taking on dangerous jobs: fighting monsters, gathering materials in unexplored lands, braving areas where your life is never guaranteed.

Many die. It’s not uncommon for promising youths with B-rank potential to die before ever reaching it.

In other words, the promise of rewards is bait — bait to lure people into dangerous work.

High-ranking adventurers are rare because there simply aren’t many jobs that demand their skills.

The guild doesn’t want more of them — every high-rank adventurer adds financial strain.

(E/N: I've never thought of it like that before…)

The real money comes from C-rank and below — the endless stream of adventurers working (and dying) for modest pay.

The top adventurers? They're just advertisements — shining symbols to lure in the next batch of "hopefuls".

And once those "hopefuls" die chasing a dream, the guild replaces them with more. That’s the cycle.

And I don’t want to be part of that cycle.

Sure, some complete their dangerous quests, survive, and grow stronger. But most end up as disposable tools feeding the guild’s profits.

Even those who do survive for years typically plateau at C-rank — a hollow title considering what they risked.

I explained all this to Shirley as my reasoning for stepping away.

Naturally, she didn’t look thrilled.

“…You really are bold, criticizing the guild so openly,” she sighed. “I don’t want to believe we’re using adventurers like disposable tools…”

“But whether you believe it or not, it’s the truth,” I replied. “And belief won’t buy back a life. I’d rather protect mine, thanks.”

Shirley exhaled deeply.

“You’re right. Money and fame mean nothing if you’re dead. I won’t stop you.”

It seems she understood. Shirley’s been with me since my very first day as an adventurer. I’m genuinely glad she gets it.

——————

E/N:

Ossan might have dissed the Guild but his words ring true. Wonder why the guild has so high commission when the adventurers' life is at stake? Most probably, life is worth less there than on Earth.

Let's see what kind of shop Ossan opens!

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