Vol. 10 - Ch. 492 - Sierra's path of ascendency to ‹Advanced Shield Princess› job!

With a few ups and downs, I was decided to be the leader, and I also made a promise with the boys. They also said they would pay the price too, so I would let this be handled by Celestine.Still, they've finally settled on implementing the ‹Job Transfer› system huh. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

I think it had been around......three months since I submitted my proposal huh? It's good to see they've been so quick to move.

Now, the high-ranking jobs shouldn't be limited to only a few.

Also, from the tid-bits I have heard, just as I proposed, the job transferee seniors would be able to extend their academy year.

Sophomores would restart as freshmen, third-years would return 2nd-year, thus giving them an opportunity to stay in the academy. Though, it did come with various conditions or obligations like anyone successful in acquiring high-ranking jobs must cooperate with the research institute to find the condition for the high-ranking jobs.

Well, either of them were hardly any tedious conditions so it's assumed that quite a good number of students would be going through the ‹Job Transfer› system.

I guess Aegis would go through it as well. Also, as this would end up in the increased limit of students than what it was for each grade, the construction of new school buildings and dorms had already started from the start of summer vacation.

Dean, too, was making sure that everything met the end. Well, our second term sure was cluttered with new this or that.

Anyway, as much as studies were important, so was the guild.

I instructed the two guilds to 'work hard on their studies', and made my way to the guild room—which had become almost our second home after spending so much time in it during the summer vacation—along with the guild members that were waiting for me.

I held a brief meeting with the gathered members after which everyone moved to sort out their own work. We, the advanced job group, followed with our suspended ‹Advanced Job Rank Up› task.

"The day hath come! We're definitely going to cross the ceiling of our jobs today!"

"You sure are excited about all of this, Zephyr-kun. You look even more skippy than Sierra-san."

Hannah said, taking a note of my gleeful exuberance.

Of course, the long-awaited advanced jobs were finally just around the corner. You could bet I was totally flared up.

Well, for now it's just Sierra. We would be following soon after, though it didn't abate my excitement a bit.

"I guess everyone is ready? Alright, our first stop is ‹Measurement Room›!"

"Yes, and copy that."

"Okay~."

With everyone nodding their heads, I took them to the ‹Measurement Room›, located nearby the staff room.

Due to the still ongoing ban on ‹Job Transfer›, the room usage requires teacher's permission. This was also where Aegis had gone through her job change. As for us, I already had permission from the Dean, so had I already informed Phyllis-sensei too.

"Excuse me, I'm Zephyr from ‹Combat Department Class 1-1›."

It was a set rule to state your name and department and year when entering the staff room. Following me, Sierra, Lana, Ester, Hannah and Karua entered. It only takes a moment for Phyllis-sensei to appear.

"Right there. I guess you're here to use ‹Measurement Room›, right? This is the key for it, return it to me once you've finished your business."

"Yes, thank you very much, Phyllis-sensei."

As the representative of the group, I took the key and moved to the adjacent ‹Measurement Room›.

"I don't know why, but I'm suddenly feeling nervous."

"I have heard ‹Measurement Room›'s air is quite peculiar in making others nervous. It must have been further felt because of the notion of ‹Job Transfer› being taboo still lingering faintly."

Lana seemed nervous, quite a rare scene. Ester made a follow up as she roamed her gaze around the ‹Measurement Room›.

From their conversation, I glimpsed the pressure regarding ‹Job Transfer› that the resident of this world must have felt. Unlike the game, they couldn't re-do at the snap of their fingertips and stake their life at whims.

Upon entering, a 30cm tall ‹Dragon Statue›, a sight not seen in a while, was solemnly placed.

The sound of someone audiby gasping echoed inside the room.

"Alright, I will now give you all your ‹Advance Job Ascension Ticket›. However, please make sure to not decide anything immediately."

I started with Sierra, handing her the ticket.

"......Understood."

The nervousness on Sierra's face wasn't hidden either. With stiffer movement than ever, she accepted ‹Advance Job Ascension Ticket›.

The first node on my plan was to see which advanced jobs they were qualified for right now.

Just like during the Job Assessment at the Enrollment Ceremony, touching the ‹Dragon Statue› displays a list showing which job class conditions the person has fulfilled. By selecting either of the jobs shown, one could acquire it.

However, it was also possible to select the job at any moment. It mostly pertained to the moment when the list showed nary a job of their desire.

The same mechanism did apply for ‹Advance Job Ascension Ticket› as well. Also, using it to see the list and then cancelling wouldn't consume the ticket yet.

I mean, imagine the much rare ‹Advance Job Ascension Ticket› disappearing just for checking the job. It would have surely brought in a barrage of complaints from left and right in the game.

This, however, eases that worry. Though of course, it would be game over if you accidentally choose a job.

Either way, I had Sierra take the lead.

"Here I go."

While putting the ‹Advance Job Ascension Ticket› closer to her heart, Sierra placed her other hand on the ‹Dragon Statue› head.

Immediately, the statue's eyes glowed, and in an instant, a list appeared.

―――――――――――

‹List of Advanced Jobs Available to Promote Into›

Low-ranking job = No Star

Mid-ranking job = ☆

High-ranking job = ★

‹Defender›

‹Everlasting Bastion›

‹Guardian› ☆

‹Immovable Shield Knight› ☆

‹Great Stalwart Shield Knight› ☆

‹Shield Master› ★

‹Ultimate Guardian› ★

‹Shield Princess - The Protector of Nation› ★

―――――――――――

"Ahh......"

A shriek unwittingly escaped Sierra's mouth as she took notice of the list.

Each job was an extension of ‹Shield Job›. The jobs up to Shield Master and Great Stalwart Shield Knight in each category were available for no category holders.

The general ascension path for the ‹Shield Princess› was ‹Shield Princess - The Protector of Nation›.

"My great-grandmother used to have ‹Shield Princess - The Protector of Nation›......"

Almost lost in some memories, Sierra's finger inched toward the said job, which......I quickly stopped.

"Oops, not yet, Sierra. This would be out of what I have in plan so please control yourself for now."

"What do you mean?"

Sierra and mine eyes stared into each other.

"The job your great-grandmother had acquired is truly strong in the advanced job for sure, however there's even better job out there. If possible, I really do want you to have it."

I conveyed my words with an insipid smile.

Sierra's gaze turned stern as she heard me, then looked at her hand in my grasp. She closed her eyes for a second before looking back in my eyes with a solemn expression.

I was no Esper to read what was going in her mind, however her hand, that was about to inch toward job list, stopped putting any force in my grasp.

"......How do you even know about the job that not even my great-grandmother was unaware of...while there is a lot I want to say......is that job really strong?"

"You can believe my words!"

I asserted strongly.

"It's the epitome of shield job in my knowledge. Maybe you might feel compelled for ‹Shield Princess - The Protector of Nation›, however I'm sure the alternative option is your answer. Speaking for yourself, are you not interested in the strongest shield job available?"

There were two ascension routes for advanced shield jobs that branched out from ‹Shield Princess›.

The typical one was obviously ‹Shield Princess - The Protector of Nation›.

And the other one, hailed as the strongest ever shield job in the game, was ‹Sanctified Shield Princess›.

I wanted her to acquire, and be the ‹Sanctified Shield Princess›.

Looking at the manifested condition, I was sure. The last missing piece to complete the puzzle was the ‹Jewel›.