Vol. 7 - Chapter 394.5 - Academy’s information Terminal – Public bulletin board 26
966. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Hear me out, guys! A terrific piece of news has just made its way to me!
967. Nameless 2nd year Alchemist
I already know.
968. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
How come! I haven't even said anything yet!?
Eden suddenly appeared at the ‹Int-mid Gate› with a sizable group and ventured into the ‹Cat-Dun›!
969. Nameless 2nd year Alchemist
Are you blind or what, I said I already know!
Investigator-senpai has already moved on to investigate the case of course!
We're now waiting for the result of the investigation!
970. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Huh, is that so?
No, wait, how can you still be so calm if you already know!? We are talking about a 1st year guild exploring ‹Int-mid Dungeon› you know!? Heck, it was even a huge group of more than 10 members! Even a dumb person can tell they have started their speedrun for the D-rank!
It's just a matter of time before they undertake the second year students as well!
971. Nameless 2nd year Axman
For once, I agree with Adventurer's take. We're right now facing an unprecedented crisis. Our dignity as s-senior is now at stake.
972. Nameless 2nd year Magician
‹Int-mid Gate› is currently full of chaos. There is a never ending line of people coming out to confirm it with Sergeant Hopimus. It seems like they are unable to believe what they are seeing.
973. Nameless 2nd year Priest
O-one of my acquaintances has just run away to the muscles.
We're currently stuck in a do-or-die situation! Is muscles the only salvation left for us to become strong!?
974. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Muscles seem to have become the second year's last bastion! Second years are in such a dilemma they are willingly jumping in the tiger's den!? Investigator-senpai, pray tell us how is your investigation going!?
975. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
Phew, ‹Cat-Dun› is really a paradise no matter how many times you visit it.
976. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Investigator-senpai!?
977. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
Stop panicking and wait for a while, my investigation is on the track. I should have my results by tomorrow.
978. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Ugggh, I don't know how much time we have. So, we can only rely on you, Investigator-senpai!!
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The next day
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622. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
I am done with my investigation. ‹Eden› seemed to have cleared the ‹Cat-Dun›.
623. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Investigator-senpai!! I don't understand anything!??
624. Nameless 2nd year Priest
P-please give us a more detailed result, senpai!
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Two days later
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498. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
Follow up result; ‹Eden› has apparently cleared their second Int-mid, ‹Venomous Scorpion›.
499. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Ahh, ahhhh, ahhhhhhhhhh!!??
Investigator-senpaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!
500. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Holy gods, th-they have already bested most in just 4 days!? What have we even doing!?
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And the next day
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205. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
I have just received my intelligence.
‹Eden› has cleared their 3rd Intermediate-mid dungeon. With this, they have cleared all conditions to apply for the D-rank test.
Everything has happened within just one week...no, in just 5 days.
206. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Nooooooooooooooo!!!?
We are going to be overtaken! We are going to be overtaken by a freshman guilddddddd!?
207. Nameless 2nd year Alchemist
What are you blabbering about, haven't they already surpassed you in fact?
208. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Learn some tact for once! Second years are already at the juncture where this brings nothing by trepidation. A lot of second years are already quivering, like a fawn!
209. Nameless 2nd year Magician
Yes, yes, now calm down, Second dee-ar student-san.
A majority of the guild that second years has established by themselves have just managed to wriggle their way into the D-rank. Of course, they are far from the level to actually C-rank.
Ah, the chaos if ‹Eden› even challenge C-rank and wins.
210. Nameless 2nd year Priest
S-second dee-ar student!? Gahhhh! Stop it! It's super effective against me as well!!
211. Nameless 1st year Shielder
But we're talking about Brave-kun here. Will he jump on the bandwagon of C-rank right after getting promoted to D-rank?
212. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
You're right. It's not going to go away right away.
213. Nameless 1st year Merchant
More context please.
214. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
C-rank isn't just another rank. The guild battles at this level test the level and the guild in itself thoroughly.
215. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Y-yeah. There would've been no struggle if it was so easy. Even we would have become C-rank in that case. However, our level still proved to be a challenge for it. Seriously.
216. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
Indeed. What's more important is the level and the number of members
Let's talk about the members, C-rank challenges all require 15 members, so having that battle force is absolutely necessary. Since guilds start from F-rank with the upper limit for members being 15, it's often tough to gather precise battle power.
217. Nameless 1st year Shielder
Oh, that makes sense. It's usually impossible for all the members of a guild to have combat jobs.
218. Nameless 1st year Merchant
My affiliated guild isn't combat oriented, but we do have few with combat jobs.
219. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
It seems I don't need to further explain. Moving on, next is level. All the 15 members are an indispensable battle force, so they have to be trained properly.
You must be wondering what level you need to have to assure your position, right? But the truth is, there's no particular level that can keep you safe from the ranking war. Hitting the level cap, LV75, is the minimum requirement for C-rank guild battle.
220. Nameless 1st year Shielder
.........The what?
221. Nameless 1st year Merchant
Level cap, is it...?
222. Nameless 2nd year Magician
I mean, it's pretty natural if you give it a thought.
There's no C-rank guild who would want to fall from their rank. Then, they will obviously approach the straightforward option---leveling. This will inevitably make them hit the level cap.
223. Nameless 2nd year Priest
The C-rank and above guilds aren't called elites for empty reasons after all. Ahead of you, if you want to move forward, stand a wall of well-trained 15 people, each with max level. This is an obstacle you have to overcome to become a part of those elites.
Well, you will see many second years who have yet to hit the level cap even after promoting to D-rank.
224. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
To add, you will see high-ranking jobs at each step in C-rank. These are the reasons why ‹Eden› can't make their leap to C-rank. I guess they should be focusing on raising the overall battle power of the guild after finishing the matter of D-rank for a while.
Starting from C-rank, you either hunt, or be hunted down. Without prior preparation, even if they luckily attain C-rank, they'll quickly drop in rank.
225. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Like a certain swordsman, right?
226. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
Are you taking a jab at me, Adventurer-san?
It seems like you are itching for a battle! Very well, I will thoroughly make you aware of the ability of someone who once reached the C-rank and hit the level cap!
227. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Gaaaah, calm down, Swordsman!
I am still at E-rank!?
228. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
Give up!
229. Nameless 2nd year Priest
That idiot...he thinks he can get away if the swordsman is not watching. Amen.
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545. Nameless 2nd year Magician
It sure has become noisy huh. Second years were quivering just a while ago, but look at them now, each ready to take their arms up.
546. Nameless 2nd year Priest
My affiliated guild was at high-rise until a while ago, but the rising of a certain force has caused us to come to a standstill.
547. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Brave fans huh.
In just a short while, the situation has taken a heated turn. All thanks to ‹Eden› announcement.
548. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
‹D-rank exam's opponent recruitment›, is it? I was surprised. Though, that was bound to happen now that they have cleared the condition.
549. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Right. After all, we were completely focused on the fact that they are going to overtake us. Now guilds are swarming for recruitment.
550. Nameless 1st year Lancer
Um, may I ask a question? Why are guilds rushing for that recruitment? What even is that recruitment thing?
551. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
Hmm, I guess first years have yet to learn many things. The D-rank promotion exam is kind of a turning point. While you face teachers in the E-rank, the key element in the D-rank exam is the 'PvP battle'. So, there is usually a need for a similar strength opponent. So, a guild aspiring to reach D-rank will face a D-rank guild in the promotion exam, instead of teachers. This recruitment is to look for that opponent guild.
552. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
Of course, not everyone is cut out for it. This recruitment is generally left to the academy who will closely examine them and then decide.
The crucial point is that if the academy has a positive impression of the guild at this stage, it can be advantageous for future job hunting. You will normally not see that much commotion, but well, ‹Eden› and commotion goes by hand-in-hand.
553. Nameless 3rd year Supporter
This is the D-rank exam. If they win, their total member count will rise by 5. You know what this implies, right?
554. Nameless 1st year Lancer
!! So the rush is of the people who want to grab that seat!?
555. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
Well, "‹Eden› might notice us if we perform great" is what I assume must be going through their mind right now. On the other hand, ‹Eden› is currently the eye of the storm that even the academy is paying attention to, and the chosen guild will serve as the litmus test for ‹Eden›.
In that case, there's a high chance to come into the eyes of the academy as well.
In short, no matter whose eyes they caught on, they are bound to reap the benefits. Hence the ruckus.
556. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
Brave fans are really frightening. The sudden uprising of these girls has made the situation chaotic.
557. Nameless 3rd year Investigator
If the situation had followed the same script as before, we might have seen the conflict between guilds, so at least, Brave fans' appearances are working as an anchor to keep the situation in check. They seemed to have good relation with ‹Public Morale Committee›.
But they're acting a bit too recklessly. Hmm, I guess they need to be curbed.
558. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
Woah, Investigator-senpai is going to make a move!?
559. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Now we don't know which guild will be the opponent.
560. Nameless 2nd year Adventurer
Let's make a bet. Priest, want to join in?
561. Nameless 2nd year Priest
Oh my dead Adventurer, when do you understand you're digging your own grave like this. But, very well. I accept it.
562. Nameless 2nd year Swordsman
Ah, I can more or less see what's going to happen later...