CH 321

<15 Member Battle>.

In short, the rule is that each guild brings their 15 members to participate in the guild battle.

15 members — this count is similar to the maximum members an E-rank guild can have, in fact, <15 Member Battle> is more of a familiar sight in the D-rank guilds or above.

Because it’s like an all-out-war in the case of the E-rank guild who can only have that many members.

In the guild battle of fellow students of the Combat Department, it’s the number of members who can fight that decides the outcome. After all, a production job holder normally doesn’t have any attack power after all. Yeah, ‘normally’ they can’t.

The normal production job holders can;t help in taking down castles, neither in defense nor in interpersonal battle— they’re just a hindrance.

And that’s why victory is basically a set cause with the combatant members in <All-Out-War>.

I glanced at the other students standing behind Saturn.

They all are in their student's uniform, so I can’t exactly tell, but considering they are here in the premise of the Combatant Department, they must be one of its students.

Though, I can even see 2nd and 3rd years students despite that this building should be for 1st years. The entire group was composed of boys.

Well?

I ruminate over Saturn’s earlier words, he said something about bonds huh? Just why are boys following him, I wonder.

Strange. Very Strange. His story was intriguing me more than the guild battle.

“Why are you guys cooperating with him?”

So I tried to ask them. I mean it has been bugging me so much I know I will not be able to focus ahead.

Just why are upper-classmen joining him?

“Oi! Zephyr! You, Don’t ignore I… us! I’m here challenging you for a guild battle you heard!?”

“Fufu, you are focusing on your arm’s muscle, Tom? They seem to be in quite good shape.”

“Right? I can enhance my attack power with these splendid muscles. I haven’t swung my axe today yet, I can’t wait to see how much they have grown from tomorrow.”

“Don’t you think this Venerable’s abs are beautifully splitting up? Soon, my abs's defensive ability will be as strong as a fortress.”

Saturn shouted at my indifference to him, though he said ‘us’, the other three were busy in their discussion over muscles. I feel like this is going nowhere.

Except Saturn, it seems like the pride in the other three has been replaced by the muscles in the time I haven’t seen them.

…………Hmm? Why do I feel like this is quite an unexpected welcome?

Anyway, Saturn is getting between soI ignored him for a while.

“Very well. Let me introduce our collective opinion.”

Saying that, one boy who was in the front stepped forward. Is he their representative?

Wait… that person…?

“Are you <Holy>?”

“……So you still remember me. That’s right, I was introduced by Misato and joined <Best of the Best, the Great Star>. <Combat Department Year-1 Class-7> Call me Polish.”

We had only met once but I did remember him since he was a healer. He seemed talented enough to wish he could have joined us.

There should be one more person, <Spy> was it I think? Unfortunately though, I don’t remember his face. Well, mostly due to him wearing Hood and untalkative. Ah, there is a hooded person among the crowd though. Is he the <Spy>? He doesn’t seem to show any intent to step forward, so I guess <Holy> Polish is their representative , huh?

Around ten or so days ago, <Best of the Best, the Great Star> managed to escape from the fate of being disbanded with the two of them joining their guild after Misato's withdrawal. And everything ended on a happy note. Yay, congratulations to them!

Eh, wait, does that mean all these people are the members of guild <Best of the Best, the Great Star>? Including Saturn-kun and others, there looks to be around 20 people.

"Are you curious about them? They're the valiant heroes who shared the same ambition as us. We have assembled under the banner of similar sentiments. <Best of the Best, the Great Star> has been promoted to E-rank guild in this dungeon week, and further formed a subordinate guild. As of now, there are only 22 like-minded friends."

"Alright, I got your reason. So, why did they tie up with <Best of the Best, the Great Star>?"

Even if you ask me, I really can't imagine the quartet being popular.

Then Polish began to speak, with a bitter expression painting his face for some reason.

"Saturn and his friends are really strong. I dare say they're the third strongest guild in the first year, trailing just after <Eden> and <Machos>."

What a thing to say, Polish-kun.

Saturn, on the other hand, hasn't opened his mouth to speak yet but I can already feel his nose from ever stupid pride. WHat the hell, his nose is elongating more and more in my hallucination.

"Hmph, that much was child play."

And finally, he even began to run his mouth.

Polish-kun looks like he really doesn't want to speak about it.

"Well... there you have it. They all have assembled here because Saturn and his friends are strong, wait, maybe saying they have united and form a guild is more apt analogy?"

Polish-kun nodded. Saturn still looks to be hung on his pride, his prideful expression once again masking his face, I get the urge to smash that prideful side of Saturn when I look at him, so I shift to see what Polish-kun has to say.

"I will say it once again! We are a total of 22 members and we hereby challenge <Eden> for a <Duel Battle>! You’re not allowed to refuse it!"

"And the reason is?"

Leaving aside my decision about the guild battle, I first asked their reason.

They are saying they've gathered under the banner for the same goal.

Based on the flow of the conversation, is it about wanting to become the top guild among the first-years or something along those lines?

Wait, who knows it might still be about Misato.

I really can't think of anything. It also doesn't seem like they're here because they can't accept anything more than top position due to their excessive pride like usual. Rather, I really don't want to see 22 more idiotically prideful students like Quartet. If they really are? I would have to request <Machos> to take care of them again.

But, the reason he spoke out was far more wilder than anything I could think about it.

"We envy Brave!"

"............What?"

So strange man, It was so out of loop question I couldn't understand the meaning at first.

"I said we're jealous of Brave! What the hell is with that <Eden>!? Isn't it basically a harem guild at this point! What's more, its guild master is a hero? Nor once or twice, I have seen it with my own eyes! You were leading four cute girls to the dungeon!"

Polish-kun hollered.

Then following Polish-kun, as if they could no longer hold back the dam of their feelings, tother boys raised their voice one after another.

"I saw it! I saw Brave coming out of his room with Hannha-sama! Never had I doubted my eyes so much I did that day!"

"I also saw them! They were like a couple of cuckoo as they walked on the road! I almost coughed blood seeing that!"

"Every morning! I see Hannah-sama going to Brave's room every morning! I witnessed it when I was out of early-morning running! I first doubted if I'm seeing an illusion!"

"With Hannha-sama meeting him every morning, and how Brave is the guild master of a harem guild...... I can no longer control myself!"

"That's right! It was so envy-inducing to see all of it!"

" " " "Hateful Brave! Jealous of Brave!"

" " " "So envious! Enemy of boys!" " " "

" "Just switch the damn place with me!"

They began to shout. Upperclassmen, who had been silent now, hollered so loudly in the academy's premise with their bloodshot eyes that made the earlier silence a lie. What the hell, are they really in their right mind to scream in a public place like this?

......But, I see.

I understand their reason. Their so called just cause for why have banded together.

In short it's this. ——These guys have lost themselves in their fit of jealousy.