Chapter 65
110. Anonymous First-Year Combat Student
Senpai! Please teach me too!
111. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
I like that spirit. Ask me anything.
112. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
As expected of a senpai. You’ve got real gravitas.
113. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Don’t butt in. We’re in the middle of welcoming first-years and taking questions.
114. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
Volunteering for such a troublesome job pretty much gives away which guild you’re in, senpai.
115. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
I said, stop it.
116. Anonymous First-Year Combat Student
Actually, I’m aiming for a Job in the 【Swordsman】 line.
The Jobs I’ve manifested so far are 【Swordsman】, 【Swordman】, 【Rapier Fencer】, and 【Fencer】, but I’m not sure which to choose.
What’s the difference between 【Swordsman】 and 【Swordman】?
117. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
Ah, that question.
It’s one of the seven mysterious Jobs that first-years ask about every year.
I’ll put together an explanation, so give me a little time.
118. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
This kind of question comes up every year, doesn’t it?
Doesn’t the academy put out some kind of announcement?
119. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
The academy’s policy is to have us figure things out for ourselves as much as possible, including this.
They say you can only truly accept your Job if you obtain it through your own efforts.
Besides, if you want to look into it, you can find all sorts of information in the 〈Grand Library〉.
120. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
That’s true.
Though the 〈Grand Library〉 has detailed information on Jobs, there aren’t many books that explain how to manifest them.
121. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
I hear the people at the research institute are throwing all their resources into that.
Judging by the first-years’ curriculum, though, it’s barely changed from last year.
Which probably means their research has hit a wall.
122. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
Oh, now I remember.
The researchers are those lab-coat guys who swarmed 【Hero】 during the Job assessment, right?
Were they the ones who decided what the first-years would study?
123. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
That’s right. It’s a department that interviews people with highly regarded Jobs and studies their manifestation requirements based on what they learn. Apparently, any results they get are incorporated into lessons right away.
They haven’t had any notable successes so far, but
they deserve credit for almost completely identifying the manifestation conditions for lower-tier, low-rank Jobs.
124. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
Nobody uses low-rank Jobs, so that’s pointless.
125. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Well, that’s true.
I wish they’d figure out the requirements for high-tier Jobs, if possible,
but they’ve hit a wall because there are so few test subjects and samples.
Apparently, they’re now devoting all their effort to uncovering the full picture of intermediate-tier Jobs.
126. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
Sorry to keep you waiting. This is a simplified introduction to what I found in a dictionary at the 〈Grand Library〉, 〈The 【Swordsman】 Dictionary Is Sold Out〉.
【Swordsman】 and 【Rapier Fencer】 are low-tier Jobs. They have 12 SUP, normally use shields, and have a balanced Skill set: 9 Skills and 1 Unique. As for weapons, 【Swordsman】 is limited to one-handed swords, while 【Rapier Fencer】 is limited to rapiers.
【Swordman】 and 【Fencer】 are intermediate-tier Jobs. They have 15 SUP and an attack-focused Skill set: 14 Skills and 1 Unique. Both Jobs can equip shields, two-handed swords, rapiers, and katana.
127. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
What’s with that dictionary’s title?
128. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
Who knows? But the contents are reliable.
129. Anonymous First-Year Combat Student
Thank you for going to the trouble of looking it up!
So, based on this, 【Swordman】 is stronger than 【Swordsman】, right?
130. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
That’s right. Generally, when you work as part of a party, everyone has a specific role.
It’s important to know exactly where you fit in.
Specialized Jobs have an advantage there.
On the other hand, the worst thing is to be stuck in between. There’s a clear difference between being mediocre at both and excelling at one thing.
131. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
That’s why you’re so long-winded, senpai.
Just come right out and say it: intermediate-tier Jobs are better than low-tier Jobs.
132. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
Don’t rush, junior. Guiding the lowerclassmen is part of a senior’s duty.
It’s important to explain things properly and let them think it over, too.
133. Anonymous First-Year Combat Student
Thank you, senpai!
That was really helpful!
I think I’ll take 【Swordman】!
134. Anonymous Third-Year Production Student
If you thought it through and made the choice yourself, then that Job is the best one for you.
Do your best.
135. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
Senpai, you’re way too much of an honor student.
A true model of gravitas.
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654. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
The Guild Battles have started to settle down.
Today, only two C-Rank positions changed hands.
Things are getting back to normal.
655. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Your investigations are as amazing as ever, senpai.
I’m a little curious how you do all that investigating, though.
656. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
So you want a punishment, then?
657. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
I wouldn’t dream of it!
658. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
If you lose a Guild Battle, you lose the right to challenge anyone for a month.
There’s also a fee to challenge another guild, so things gradually settle down.
659. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
By the way, how did your Guild Battle go, Swordsman?
Support-senpai recommended a guild to you, right?
660. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Yep.
I managed to join the ranks of the C-Rank guilds!
Thank you so much, senpai.
661. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
It’s nothing. I’m glad the information was useful.
But don’t let your guard down.
When you regain your right to challenge in a month, the same kind of thing that happened this time will happen again.
662. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Really?
I’d like to hear more about that!
663. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
I’ll explain.
In April, our seniors, who were in their final year, had only just graduated, so the guilds were unstable.
Countless guilds lost rank when others took advantage of that opening.
Once you’re challenged, you can’t refuse without a very good reason.
In exchange, once you accept a challenge, your guild can’t be challenged again for a month.
And after a month, a lot of guilds have recovered their strength.
That’s when the guilds that lost rank begin their comeback.
They’re trying to reclaim the glory they once held.
664. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
It’s commonly called the April Preliminary Skirmish and the May Full-Scale Battle.
The battles often intensify because winning gives you an advantage when recruiting talented first-years.
That’s when guilds that have recovered their strength face off in full-scale Guild Battles.
665. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Wha—?! What should I do?!
There’s no way my guild can handle that!
I only managed to beat a battered, weak little guild because you recommended it, senpai. We’d be helpless if the real contenders came after us!
666. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
Then get stronger within the next month.
667. Anonymous Third-Year Support Student
That’s right.
The real test starts now that your guild is the one being targeted.
Whether you can maintain your C-Rank depends on the effort you put in from here on out.
668. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Eeeek?! You’re so strict!
669. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
This may not exactly be good news for you, but
I do have some useful information.
670. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
W-what is it? Is it a blessing from above?!
671. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Whether it’s a blessing is up to you.
I’ve heard that an A-Rank guild will soon challenge an S-Rank guild.
It’ll be held in the First Arena.
You’ll get to see the greatest Guild Battle there is.
Go etch it into your memory.
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853. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
I have an update on 【Hero】.
854. Anonymous Third-Year Apothecary
I’ve been waiting!
855. Anonymous Third-Year Trap Disarmer
Another guy? Let’s talk about girls instead, yeah?
856. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
What? Are you saying you’re unhappy about talking with us?
857. Anonymous Third-Year Trap Disarmer
I wouldn’t dream of it...
858. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
Everyone’s suddenly showing up.
I guess everyone’s curious about 【Hero】?
859. Anonymous Third-Year Apothecary
Of course we are.
He’s strong, talented, has a legendary Job, and looks like that, too.
Wouldn’t it be stranger not to be interested?
860. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
Personally, I’d rather he didn’t get too famous.
It’d make it harder for me to see him.
861. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Huh? You’ve met the Hero?
862. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
...You just asked something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you?
863. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Eek?!
864. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Let’s get back on topic.
As it happens, 【Hero】-kun returned from 〈Grassland〉 in the First Dungeon today.
Do you understand what that means?
865. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
Wait, could that mean... He cleared Intermediate Beginner?
866. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
He cleared Intermediate Beginner? Seriously?!
I didn’t clear Intermediate Beginner until around July!
867. Anonymous Third-Year Apothecary
Wow. He really is amazing.
To clear it this early in the year...
...Huh? Wait a second. If he cleared Intermediate Beginner, then does that mean...?
No way, right?
868. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Looks like you figured it out.
It seems 【Hero】-kun formed a guild.
869. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
What?!
870. Anonymous Third-Year Apothecary
N-no way! That can’t be true!
There’s no way he’d form a guild with anyone but me!
I’m going to find him!
871. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
W-wait! You can’t!
Did you forget the academy put out an announcement during the recent 【Hero】 recruitment battle?!
The Third-Year Production Student called on everyone, too. You can’t bother the Hero!
872. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
Shut up.
873. Anonymous Second-Year Swordsman
Eek?!
874. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
By the way, his guild members...
They’re incredible, too.
Hero-kun.
The princess.
The count’s daughter from the 〈Royal Family’s Shield〉.
The princess’s brilliant knight bodyguard.
A genius first-year alchemist-chan.
My investigation confirmed that those are the members he registered with.
They’re all famous people, so you know who they are, right?
875. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
W-wait, seriously?! The princess joined too?!
876. Anonymous Second-Year Alchemist
Nooo! There’s no way I can compete with that!
877. Anonymous Third-Year Apothecary
So this is my fate, then?
878. Anonymous Second-Year Music Student
What?! Don’t mess with me!
Why is the princess at the Hero’s side without us knowing?!
Somebody explain this!
879. Anonymous Third-Year Trap Disarmer
The Princess’s Guard is here! Wait, you didn’t know about this?
880. Anonymous Second-Year Music Student
If we’d known, we would’ve done everything we could to stop it!
Damn you, Hero! How did you seduce the princess?!
881. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
This is turning into a pretty crazy situation.
Is this really okay?
882. Anonymous Third-Year Investigation Student
Who knows? I just gave them information they were bound to find out sooner or later.
After that, come what may.
883. Anonymous Second-Year Production Student
You stir up a huge mess and then make irresponsible remarks.
I kind of admire that.