CH 257

"I don't think I have ever made you guys go through torturous training? Aren't you guys overthinking?"

"D-Damn you...! Are you saying you forget how hard you went on me in training or Dungeon exploration!?"

"Are you trying to playing dumb after saying that punishment would await us if we don't go through the training or follow your orders!?"

I had zero inkling what they were even talking about so I tried to ask back just in case but instead, it made Tom-kun and Helck-kun who were standing behind Saturn-kun furious.

However they didn't raise their voice more than necessary. As expected of Class 1. Any of them are role models.

After all, it would only cause other nuisance if they yelled here.

But, I see. I sure did say that but that was just to raise their spirits. Because they completely lacked coordination despite being in a combat party. What's more, when the number of prey was less than party members, they would instead scramble to snatch the kill.

The sole member who was conscious of his role was Helck-kun, the tank, however the rest of three attackers were completely hopeless. Their minds were completely filled with the crap of taking down the opponent by only using powerful skills.

However I have rectified it properly. (Isn't that the cause?)

Of course the skills and magic of mighty classes like ‘Great Sorcerer’, ‘Sword Saint’ and ‘Barbarian’ were exceedingly strong because they were high-ranking jobs.

Unlocking powerful spells like ‹Mega Flare› just in the second order tree was a spectacle seen only in high-ranking jobs. This made them overly rely on their jobs.

What I want to say is, they would be like the paper tiger in the future. I easily imagined the scenario of them being forced to repatriate after being completely overwhelmed.

I, who had read and learned this while training my guild members, couldn't let it happen in my wake so I also teach them. You know, the correct role.

On this note, the punishment wasn't even worth mentioning. It was at best 20 squats or 30 push-ups only. However if they're saying this punishment was a torture, I wonder what Eden should be called then who often went through lots of battle following the boss farming manual.

Jilong-kun whose face twitched when I cocked my head in puzzlement says this.

"Fufu, you're no doubt a strong adversary. I accept that you possess....................... outstanding abilities among all in the class."

"You sure look like you don't want to accept this."

"But however strong you may be, don't think you can lord over us! We will protect our class peace! And this guild battle challenge would be the witness of our determination! No matter how high your level maybe, it wouldn't be anything in the guild battle. We will show you our brilliance in this guild battle!"

Umm, I trained you guys precisely because you were dumb-dumb and not excellent......

Rather, can you please stop saying it as if I have the whole class under my thumb for god's sake? I absolutely don't remember being a dictator.

I'm not, right? I was so dumbfounded from their claims that I was at loss for words but the other three behind Jilong-kun continued as if it had ignited their passion.

"Jilong is right! Only I, The great Saturn-sama, who's bound to become the greatest sorcerer of this world, is befitting for leading the class!"

Saturn-kun flashed his teeth while running his fingers through his hairs, striking a pose.

You're glorifying yourself!? He completely looks like he was lost in conceitedness from all angles.

"You sure like daydreaming! Of course it would be me, Tom, the future greatest Barbarian planned to be the crusher of all monsters with one blow."

For some reason, even Tom-kun took a pose matching Saturn-kun as if boasting his strength.

And what did he mean by planned, not yet decided...?

"Thou shalt not forget us, for it would be a nuisance! In all ages and time, leads are taken by those who excel in defense! Fret not, leave everything to this Venerable, for its the fate of the Knight to shoulder this destiny!"

So says Helck-kun while spinning and showing his back to us.

That's not defending if you fight back to back you know?

Heck, aren't these guys too conceited? I was rather impressed by their firm pride where it wouldn't be any strange for even the mightiest of the mighty to bend down in this class.

One had to wonder what is the driving force behind their arrogance to keep up so far... Anyway, putting aside that.

"Long story short, it doesn't fancy you guys that I'm standing at the top so you want to snatch back the top position through guild battle, is what you mean?"

" " " "Correct (Indeed)." " " "

"So Direct!"

I acknowledged them. Wait, that doesn't matter either way. This is the world where meritocracy runs deep down.

They said an extra load of this and that I don't remember doing but ultimately, that's what they meant. Well whatever. I am also feeling pumped up. If they want a guild battle with us, no reason to back down.

"Ah, what are you going to do about your guild? I don't think you can create a guild with just four."

Guild battle was, well, as the name implies, a battle between guild vs guild.

So, Saturn-kun and others can't apply for a guild battle if they aren't in the guild in the first place. Not to say, the minimum number needed for a guild is 5. It's impossible to register with just themselves.

"Hmph, we have already received our excellent 5th members and registered our guild! Behold!"

Saying that, Saturn-kun take out his ‹Smartphone› and on its screen was showing an incomprehensible guild name 一一 ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›.

It seems that is the name of their guild.

"Fufu, best of the best. It surely has a nice ring to it."

"We all have exceptional high-ranking jobs with the ‘great’¹ attached to them. There's no way we could leave it out of the guild name."

"We're the glorious upcoming new star of this Labyrinth Academy, and there's no doubt our name will rumble in the world."

I didn't ask but they suddenly began to give an explanation about their guild name.

I was surprised to see they have actually created a guild without me noticing. This is the new page of my classmate's life! I passed my heartfelt words to them.

"Amazing! Congratulations on forming your own guild! What the man, you should have told this good news before anything else, I would have congratulated you more seriously."

"Fufu, thank you very much... I don't mean that, we can now apply for guild battle without any worry."

"We can only choose the mock guild battle in the category since the guild is still the F-rank but that's enough to decide on the victor. We can finally free ourselves."

"Now is the time you can take it easy, but when we get serious, no can one stand before us 一一even if the opponent is ‹Brave›. Our freedom is just around the corner."

For some reason, my classmates have already decided they will be the victor. I was intrigued by their source of confidence so I tried to probe them a bit.

"Speaking of, where's your 5th member?"

"Fufu, they're raising their level in the dungeon at present."

Diligent! They should have also gone to the dungeon though.

"So Zephyr, I believe this explains everything! The time is on the weekend, after classes一一"

"Ah, it would be impossible for me on Friday with my duty as provisional lecturer. Can you shift it to Thursday?"

"............. The time is Thursday, after classes are over... Wait, I think I just heard something strange now? Did you just say provisional lecturer?"

Leaving that aside, our timing clashed a bit.

In the end, we applied for a mock guild battle between ‹Eden› and Saturn-kun's guild, ‹Best of the Best, The Great Star›, on this Thursday.

Crap, it's hard to control my excitement. Even if a mock battle, it's a guild battle!

Ah, my heart is bouncing up and down.