Vol. 10 - Ch. 506 - The fleeting days, and the impending class ranking battle

«Meow-Meow-Meow-Meow!»“The reaction is getting bigger! We’re just inches away from reaching our treasure guys!”

With the «Meow-cator» in my hand, I felt like a real treasure hunter, so I tried throwing a suitable quip, mwahahaha!

Alas, soon even that fun time was approaching the end, like a fleeting life moth heading toward the flame.

“Good grief, what’re you saying,,,”

Immediately, an exasperated jab come from front just as I had approached in the direction «Meow-locator» was pointing out. More precisely, it was Sierra.

“Treasure found!”

“......ngh. Geez, who’re you calling treasure.”

And with that, we had successfully found our treasure. This also mean our treasure hunter journey had come to end.

Being suddenly treated as a treasure, a blush crept on Sierra’s face as she weakly protested. Ho-ho, yes, this bashful expression of Sierra was none other than our priceless treasure! Just kidding. seaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Amazing. We’re really back as you said, Zephyr-dono.”

“It’s useful, right? You can also try it later, Ester-san. If you would like, I can also teach you.”

“Yes, please. Hannah-san.”

As Ester found herself in relief by being back to Lana’s place, Hannah recommended «Meow-cator» to her.

I turned off the «Meow-cator», which had been purring since a while, and returned it back to Hannah.

We then grouped with Lana who had been having her fun slaying bunch of monsters.

“Woah there, what’s with those equipment, Ester?! They look so fun!”

“How did it go, Lana-sama? Have you learned enough to move unhindered and hold your forte in the battle?”

Just as I had expected, Lana was completely mesmerized by Ester’s auto-moving leg-equipment.

“Hmm-mm, then how about we fight together, Ester! You can look at my transformed self for yourself.”

“Of course, that sounds like a good idea, Lana-sama. After you.”

“Alright, and oh, Karua. Will you mind searching for enemies? We really had a hard time finding enemies without you.”

“Hn. —«So-nya»!”

“Hey, it’s almost time to call it a day. So don’t run away too far~.”

“Alrighty~.”

Taking Ester and Karua with herself, Lana was about to start another round so I reminded her.

Everyone seemed so much engrossed in their own practise they had completely forget about returning.

In the meantime, I helped Hannah with picking materials, while giving Sierra some tips about her shield.

Under the influence of unique skill «All Protector Autonomous Aegis Quad Guard», it was possible for Sierra to equip four more small shields—aside from the usual nine equipment slots.

At the LV10 of «All Protector Autonomous Aegis Quad Guard», the unique skill allow half of the stat values of each small shield to the overall defense. So, if Sierra had been equipped with four shields, she would get a whooping defense state of two small shield to her status.

Sierra right now was equipped with the aforementioned «Infinite Shie—or not, I mean «White Fan Kite Shield» as her main, and four white-themed small shields, two equipped on each side of her waist, and the other two behind her thighs.

The four small shields automatically deploy themselves in mid-air when the «Quad Aegis of Virtue» had been in action.

My tips were mostly about the combo of skills she could use, what would be an effective move in such and such situation, and etcetera, while she tried out how shields behave when said skill would be used.

Of course, Sierra gave me ‘why do you even know all this?’ gaze, though I cut her short with a confident remark, ‘Because I’m the Brave!’

Soon, the time came to pass, and it was the moment for us to return back. Everyone had been sufficiently done with their trial of long-awaited advanced job, so I decided to call it the day for then.

“? Is it just me, or is there a bit too much crowd then when we had passed through?”

“You’re right. Oh wait, there are people too. Well, I think it would be better if you can set aside your new equipment, Ester, Sierra.”

“I see. Understood.”

On our way, we spotted quite a crowd of people challenging the dungeon. Hmm-mm, what might be the matter, dear upperclassmen? Everyone looked as desperate as if their life was on the line.

I was quite curious about their situation, but then the topic somehow changed to the new skill in our group, stating how they would like to try their new conceived plan. It seemed today wasn’t enough, but oh well, the time afterschool had always been so short.

But then again, it was this wait that made weekend even more exciting!

From the next day onwards, we continued to have our regular classes.

With the starting of new semester, as the class ranking battle approached, along with the looming threat of class transfer, one could sense a tension running through the classroom. Or well, that was mostly true for the boys.

As for us, «Eden», we knew we would be in the Class-1 no matter what, so nothing had changed for us.

If there was something cemented about this fact, it was the supremacy of abilities—level was the sole champion of justice in this world.

As long as one hadn’t been standing out for the wrong reason, the high-level high-ranking job students often get invited to join top-class teams.

And speaking of boys in this class, their levels had actually put them in the top of the class—of course, after us though—and even at the top among the whole first-year student body.

—Or, they used to.

Having missed out on the time period of summer vacation, which had been a golden time period for leveling, their level had stagnated at LV50.

Considering the data of last year, reaching lv50 by the september was actually supposed to be a commendable deed, but a pity that freshmen this year had been on whole another scale in their strength.

The cause was the high-ranking job.

A one-third of the freshmen actually were the holders of high-ranking jobs. And speaking from class ranking perspective, they filled upto Class 50 of combat department. Meanwhile, in the last year, they could only be spotted in top seven classes. It was an approx 70% jump straight.

High-ranking jobs were strong. Having one was like playing a game in easy mode compared to hard or nightmare mode in case of mid-ranking or low-ranking jobs.

In short, they could clear in dungeon short time, and that was directly proportional to how quickly they could level up. «Best of the Best, the Great Star» guild members were the proof of this. As for bunch of muscles… they’re a mystery but did get the things going for them. (Muscle training is the reason? La-la~, I can’t hear anything.)

And coming to summer vacation, while Saturn and other had been caught up in a kind of supplementary classes hell, the other first-year with high-ranking jobs certainly didn’t miss out in this golden opportunity. Who knows how many records were broken this year.

Beginner dungeons were like a cakewalk for the parties with high-ranking jobs after all. And once they were cleared, they had the third order skill tree to tap on, and with the help of skills and magic of said skill tree, even Int-low dungeon wasn’t that much of a tough task.

Well, it also had brought a panic among the sophomores apparently, or so Marie-senpai had informed me, grinning from ear to ear. I guess she was making a huge killing with the profit huh. Though it went the same for me as well.

Either way, while the expres way of Saturn-kun and Co. had come to halt, other freshmen had already broke through their advantage.

At present, LV50 students actually were dime a dozen. Just take our classmates Miyu, she had reached lv62. When the quartet and muscles heard about it, how should I say, they didn’t scream but their expression said everything about their plight. Good luck, was all I could offer them.

Meanwhile, they also had the track record of failing, plus being taken into detention twice.

Now, if they wanted to stay in the Class 1, they would have to raise their level, take the special exam called ‘Class Transfer Aptitude Test,’ and also win in the class ranking battle by showcasing their abilities to the fullest. It basically tested them from all fronts to make sure they were suitable for Class 2.

And for making that happen, Saturn and company had a complete makeover with the bandana and glasses, completely in hardcore study getup. ……No, seriously, I had been just as stunned.

On other hand, «Eden» and «Arc-Arcadia» were traversing in the dungeon like any other day. The next thing for us was to prepare ourselves for class ranking battle upcoming week. Oh, and then there was also the test countermeasure committee for the end of first-term exam we would soon have.

Our target was needless to say—to get every guild member into Class 1!