The S-Rank Adventurer Just Wants to Work a 9-5!

A New Job for an Old Soul

The sun was shining and clouds neatly decorated the sky while a gentle summer's breeze came through to cool off the ground. Birds were singing to one another while the sound of carriages carrying both passengers and goods filled the otherwise empty space. All in all, a great first day to kick off my new job, guarding the gates to the capital city of Gwyndale. Unfortunately, I just couldn't seem to enjoy retirement as my days were much too boring and lacked any sort of purpose. My previous job? Oh, it was being a world-renowned adventurer. If I remember correctly, the names that people called me were similar to "The Chosen Champion", "The Shining Hero", or "The Blazing Victor" though I was never much for titles when it came to adventuring. I was happy to be with my companions and journey through the lands with all of them. However, as time passed, they aged and I did not, at least, not by much thanks to the elven blood that ran through my veins. I tried to join other parties and recapture that lost youth, but the feeling was never the same. Most of the time, it ended terribly with my newer companions getting injured or worse...so I retired and switched to this job to fill time. Being told to watch a gate was easily a lot more relaxed than my previous life. I could simply do my daily work and return home. It was interesting when I applied for the job though.

The king of Gwyndale had requested me to meet with him a few days after my application had been sent with a carriage being sent to retrieve me and take me there personally. Even in my times of adventuring, I had never received such treatment, which worried me greatly. King Guile, generous as he was, didn't often send carriages to regular citizens if I had to guess. So imagine my surprise when, once I was escorted to the grand hall, not only was the king there, but his entire cabinet of advisors were there as well as the queen and his children. "Um, I apologize, my King. I appear to have intruded on some type of meeting." I was surely going to kick the ass of the person who brought me in at such a bad time, but before I had the opportunity to leave, King Guile spoke up and stopped me, "Nonsense! Please, this meeting is for you! Come and sit!" He gestured towards an empty chair that was fit for an advisor of noble rank. Hesitantly, and with my eyes scanning the room, I took a few steps towards the chair and sat down. "Just to be clear. You are Elah'rin, The Chosen Champion of legend, yes? The hero who traveled with the legendary party that was tasked with slaying Dohlmir, the world-eater?" All eyes were on me expectantly and I immediately cursed myself for putting my actual name on the application (stupid, yes, I'm aware). With a sigh, I answered as politely as I could, "Yes. That was one of my former titles..." A hushed murmur flooded the room and it was as if I was some sort of celebrity. "I see." His demeanor changed to one of more inquisitive and less excited than before. "And you are applying to be a..." He held a piece of paper in his hand and read over it closely, "...gate guard? Am I reading this correctly?" I simply nodded in response, which sent a little more fervor throughout the room.

The room fell silent as a man at the table slammed his fist on the table and interjected. "My King, please! A position of that caliber to a hero of this stature would be far beneath them. They would be much more suited for a position within your army as a General. With his expertise and skill, he could certainly assist in expanding your control and strengthening your forces." The man was older, perhaps about 40 in human years with hair that was already graying. He had a scar that ran across his cheek and his skin was leathered as if it had seen more than its fair share of sunlight. When he spoke of the role he proposed, the idea almost made me sick. Having to sit in meetings. Controlling others' lives. And most of all, having people kiss up to me in hopes of gaining something. No thanks. Thankfully, someone else cut in, a woman who looked to be younger and was conventionally attractive. She spoke with a certain air about herself, as if those were beneath her. "My King, certainly he would be better suited as a member of nobility. He already has more than enough stories and tales to vault him into high society and someone with his worldly knowledge would be greatly welcomed here." This seemed to garner some murmurs of agreement from the bystanders, but if the idea of being a General was bad in my opinion, then the idea of being in a room such as this, having to navigate the egos and backstabbing of those around me, while trying to maintain my own status was even worse to me. Plus, I did not enjoy how this woman was eyeing me. It made me feel like a piece of meat.

Then, everyone else began to plead their case of where I should go. One suggested becoming a professor at the academy to educate the youth and train them into the next generation of skilled warriors, heroes, and adventurers (not a bad option, to be honest), while another suggested that I could act as a mouthpiece for the king (very bad option). Even the queen, who I originally had high hopes for due to her not offering a suggestion, gave him the idea of having me marry one of their children! While I'm sure that their children are...just lovely, I am very certain that they are not even remotely close to my age! I doubt they would understand any of my references or even know how to relate to any of my experiences, so that would have been a strong no. In the end, the King raised a hand and the hall fell silent. Such is the power of a king, I guess. "Good sir, while I am not sure exactly what your place would be, I do have to agree that your legacy would raise you to a position where being a gate guard would be insulting. I do have to ask, why would you apply for such a position?"

To be honest, the question gave me pause as I hadn't really expected to be asked something of this nature. Come to think of it, why did I really want to be a gate guard? A few moments passed and the crowd were hanging on bated breaths as I prepared to answer. "To be honest, my King, I am tired." The answer was certainly not one they were expecting as they patiently waited for me to continue. "I have seen a lot in my lifetime. Many triumphant successes and even more hardships. Perhaps there will be a time where I would like to achieve all of these great things that you all speak of so highly, but, for now, I just want to guard a gate, do my duty, and return home. It may be looked down upon, but I find it an admirable task. But, if you are saying that I am not the proper candidate for the position or that it is already filled, then I apologize for taking your time and can see myself out." With that small speech, I rose from my seat and prepared to take my leave away from all of these people. However, before I could get two steps in, King Guile already had a quill in hand and had begun signing my application. "That is an answer that I didn't quite expect, but am pleasantly delighted to hear. For that, your first day on duty will be the first of the next month. Does that work for you?" His smile seemed to be genuine which caught me off-guard as did it for the myriad of his supporters in the room and garnered a bit of protest from them as well. Once again, the king raised his hand and all fell silent. (God, I've got to learn how to do that so people will shut up when I need them to. Maybe he'll teach me.)

"My father taught me something once while preparing me to take on the mantle of King. Specifically about the security of our physical location. You always asked why I make sure that some of our best guard our gates and are not instead sent to war. I will tell you." At this point, this seemed to be directed at the entire room and not just me. "My father always said, 'A forest with only deer deters nobody, but one with a dragon hidden inside will be given a wide berth.'" At this, his attention turned to me and smiled once more. "My friends, it would seem that Gwyndale has found its dragon."