CH 253

Insane.

It's insane to hear that a young lady of the ‘Duke’ race category had unexpectedly fallen to Class 51 because there were too many students with high-ranking jobs in the ‘Combat Job’ category.

There were around 3800 students in the ‘Dungeon Capture Major - Combat Department’ ‹Alias : Combat Department› I'm in from class 1 to class 127.

The number of students with high-ranking jobs amidst those total of 3800 students, was 1500.

As one class can have upto 30 students, all the class from class 1-50 were filled with high-ranking job students. (Brawny Knights are exceptions)

In other words, since Ekaterina-san couldn't enter into any of these classes means she had mid ranking jobs.

Even so, I think being in the class 51 which is the top class for a mid-ranking job holder was already the best possible outcome and she shouldn't have to belittle herself by calling the likes of dregs......

"Zephyr-sama, almost everyone with a mid ranking job are Lv0."

Celestine tipped me about the situation as if he had read my heart in a whispering voice.

I see, so that's the whole scenario.

Students had put all efforts they could to acquire the high-ranking job until the fateful day, May 1st.

So there was almost no one with mid rank combat related jobs until the fateful day. Everyone who have the mid-ranking job acquired mid-ranking job because they couldn't get high-ranking job

In short, the reason why they were in class 51, the top class for mid-ranking job holders, wasn't due to the graces of their grades (Lv).

Of course, that means Ekaterina-san level too was...

"Yes. As you may have guessed, I was Lv0 at the time the classes were decided. At present I'm Lv8, but it's because we had gone to ‹Tutorial Dungeon› in our class..."

Well, that's how it is.

But to belittle oneself by calling dregs huh, that's not something I could agree to.

"I don't think you need to lower yourself so much because you couldn't acquire a high-ranking job."

"No. I'm a shame to the honour of ‘Duke’ for not being able to acquire a high-ranking job. Especially so when there happened to a lot of individuals appearing with the high-ranking job but I couldn't achieve so even being the member of Duke family. I'm too embarrassed to walk out in public anymore...... "

"Isn't that a bit too much?"

Ekaterina-san covered her face with her hands and shook her neck.

For real? Is this so important? Those from the ‘Duke’ category, their standard job ranks at least in the middle of mid-ranking jobs, if not the top.

"Zephyr-sama, it's not always the case. However, this year happened to be special. It's especially so for the case of Ekaterina-san, the daughter of the Duke family, a position that stands above the common populace. That's why dropping to that class from image perspective wasn't seen well."

"Seriously?"

Speaking of it, I also recall myself asking which class the opposite party was in even before their job.

The words ‘Class 51’ was apparently quite tough to swallow for a Duke's daughter who was usually ranked above others.

"Yes. Usually一一"

According to Celestine, one could have been selected to Class 5th or 6th even if they failed to get the high-ranking job and acquire mid-ranking job but the jump to Class 51 was too sudden. The impact of this was obviously considerable. It was even more so when you consider this world follows the meritocracy system.

Goodness, it was the first time I'm hearing that there was also such meaning behind the class ranking.

Furthermore, more than half of the current chaos was invited by none other than me.

Hmm, far from filling the gap between the mid-ranking job and high-ranking job, I feel like it has instead widened even more.

Hard Work was important, but it's impossible to deny that hard work could only do so much. But since I'm one of the culprits behind this situation, I want to elevate the situation somehow.

For the time being, I think I will leak more information in the coming time. It wasn't in my initial plan but I guess I have no choice but to put the members of the research institute to work crazily.

But that's for the latter, I have to first do something about Ekaterina-san.

"By the way, which job has Ekaterina-san acquired? Since you're in the combat department, I guess it should be ‹First Lieutenant› or ‹Captain›?"

Incidentally, the standard job for the ‘Duke’ category is ‹First Lieutenant›. Don't ask me why this is the standard job in the first place since I wouldn't be able to explain, all I can say is it's because of the ‘Duke’ category that the standard job is First Lieutenant. By the way, ‹Captain› was ranked in the top tier among the mid-ranking job.

"Well, yes. I have acquired ‘Captain’. Actually, my initial goal was the ‘Commandant’ job."

"Oh~ well that is a tough nut to crack."

‹Commandment› was a support job. The job holder was mainly in charge of providing buff to the party in the dungeon, however the situation where this job truly shines was the guild battle. With the skill ‹Guild Connect› in their arsenal which makes it possible to command even from distance, they usually corrected and guided their party movement.

Their base would always be the stronghold from where they give command and back-up the allies with follow-up buffs. Since they would usually be stationed in the stronghold, they of course didn't have any forte against interpersonal battle, which makes it a dangerous job in case of enemy's infiltration. Or course, it was a high-ranking job.

In comparison to the support type ‹First Lieutenant›, ‹Captain› was an all-out combat job. While they could still buff their allies, their forte lies in the close-combat, in short it was an attacker type job. They mainly excelled in sword and axe usage.

No matter how I look, it didn't look like a job suitable for Ekaterina-san. Wait, it would be rude of me to judge based on appearance alone. It might be possible she was fond of battle too.

"By the way, do you prefer close-combat?"

"W-Well... Not at all."

Hmm, yes. Of course. She looked to be a bona-fide young lady appearance wise, It was almost impossible to imagine her fighting in the frontline.

"Why did you choose ‹Captain› then? Wouldn't a more common job be more suitable for you?"

"F, family's obligation."

Ah, I thought so.

Most likely, the Duke family has forbidden any of their family members from acquiring any jobs that weren't in the same line as ‘Duke’ category.

Everything was so complicated.

The more I look at Ekaterina-san, the more she looked pitiful to me.

The reason why she hadn't replied back at all this whole week was due to her inferiority complex, and the lack of confidence she had in herself.

Well, I believe her inferiority complex must be the result of acquiring the job she knows she wasn't compatible at all. She must have felt it unbelievable that a scout had approached her from Eden, the first year top guild.

It was something I had heard later but it seems it was after countless persuasion from Celestine that she finally decided to meet today with a heavy heart. I regret being so easygoing on this matter without fully knowing in-and-out.

"Well, I know I'm not a suitable person to play any role at all. I did have my doubt why someone would call out to me, but it seems you were simply unaware of the situation. I think it's time to call it a day, thank you very much for giving your time."

"Stop, stop. We haven't even begun anything, let alone call the day over. All we have just done is confirm the situation you know."

"But, What else there's left to talk about! what worth I have even to make you spend anymore time! Isn't the result already decided! ...ah"

Ekaterina-san screamed sorrowfully, but then quickly covered her mouth from the unintentional outburst. Her already downcasted face turned gloomy and tears began to pool in her eyes.

It seems that's how much pent-up frustration she had. I could only guess just how much of a pain she must have been going through from being unable to choose anything but the job that was completely incompatible with herself on the fateful day that would influence her whole life from the emotions entrapped within the heartbroken cry just now.

A sigh exhaled from my mouth.

It's impossible to let her enter Eden with how she was at the present moment.

That was what I thought when I looked at Ekaterina-san's countenance tinged with despondency. My first and foremost motto was; To enjoy the Dungeon. If they don't enjoy the dungeon, I couldn't let them enter Eden.

It was just she had said, there was no meaning in continuing the interview then, but...... that's only if the situation remains as it was.

It's alright to change if you don't want it.

If she hates it, just change the job.

The inhabitants of this world, for some reason, hate the ‹Job Transfer›. The feelings like “What I'm going to do if my life instead turned even more upside down!? I will become a Lv0 you know!?” were strongly rooted in them. Consequently, conception of ‹Job Transfer› doesn't even occur to the majority at all. It's not like I don't understand their emotions since the chance to enter the dungeon after getting out of Academy just reduced drastically.

People who may think like, “My dream job has finally appeared when I turned 30, well I have family and I wouldn't be able to continue my current job but it's all right, I got the chance to start all over again, let's do a Job Transfer!”, might be in minority.

Then, what about those who know they have a bleak future from the starting?

Would they hate Job Transfer? They would have to re-do from Lv0 after raising the job they don't have any computability at all to Lv15 finally? Well, I couldn't deny it's a hell in a sense for them.

However Ekaterina-san was barely 16 years old. What's more, she's completely a freshman to boot. I believe she could catch up with us easily even if we do a job transfer now.

That's why I put forward my proposal unhesitatingly.

"Ekaterina-san, here's the Basic Job Ascension Ticket. I have means to make you acquire your dream job after the Job Transfer. If you feel like doing that, take my hand. We need your newfound powers in the Eden."

Saying that, I took out Basic Job Ascension Ticket and put it on the table.