Vol. 5 - Chapter 260 - Zephyr's inquiry for the quest... and the unexpected request!
The classes came to pass as usual today too, and it was time to leave.
I was heading towards the staff room with Rina to accept the large-scale quest Phyllis-sensei had mentioned.
Normally, I could have applied via ‹Smartphone› but there were a few things I wanted to hear about the quests in reality, so I decided it would be better to just ask Phyllis-sensei directly.
"Zephyr-san, thank you for inviting me to be with you today. I'm really happy to be invited by you."
"Hmm, I did say I had something to talk about with you later, but why don't I remember inviting you?"
The exchange, as far as I can recall, should have gone like this: “I am going to the staffroom for a while.” then, “Ah, I'm coming with you.” Rina responded with this. I wondered if I was imagining things.
No wait, there is chat history left intact; I was not misunderstanding.
Once I was done with asking about quest-related stuff, I was planning to raise our new member, Rina's level to 10 and simultaneously fill her in about the leadership role. It's something like the so-called study meeting (dungeon edition). However, I remember telling her she didn't have to trouble herself to tag along with me.
"Fufufu. Maybe I mixed things up? However, my class is in uproar currently, and I don't think it's a place I could wait until you're free. Isn't it happening because of you?"
Saying that, Rina gave me a sidelong glance.
My heart skips a beat at her captivating gaze.
"No, well. I didn't think it would cause such a commotion."
"Geez, you're such an ignorant one, Zephyr-san. Do you know I have been constantly surrounded by my classmates these past two days? I was showered with questions like how I managed to achieve a job transfer, how I raised my level so quickly, and so on. Of course I didn't reveal any inside information."
"But you're glad to go through a job transfer, no?"
"I'm glad indeed. Due to this, I was also able to meet with Zephyr-san. When I think about my past self, I wonder if this was God's will all along."
God's will was kind of an exaggeration. Nevertheless, I am glad she was pleased.
To be honest, I was reflecting on myself a bit and wondering if I was a bit too pushy then.
However, there was no other better way than to dive into the dungeon with the Young miss alone and satisfy the condition for the job transfer in a short time.
We wouldn't have begun anytime soon if I tried to explain in detail and instead made her vigilant. Rather, it's a given that a princess of a prominent family would be vigilant enough to dive into the dungeon alone with a boy when it was just their first meeting.
Even so, when I think about it, I can't help but agree that not giving the other person any time to think about the situation and employing a high-handed method like the ‘kidnapped princess strategy’ was the best option available.
As for the result, it goes without saying that the method was a huge success.
Though I felt my gut turn cold when I heard about the situation being reported...
"However, it will most likely consume your free time by tagging along."
"I don't mind. I am coming with you."
"I mean, wouldn't it be more efficient if you returned and prepared your equipment for later?"
Didn't she intend to go to the ‘Tutorial Dungeon’ after classes? I know ‘Tutorial Dungeon’ could be easily done by students in their free time, but...
‘Tutorial Dungeon’ wasn't too deep, so it could be cleared in a little bit of time. Rina's current level was 8, and it would just take one or two rounds to bring her to level 10.
She was lv7 on Sunday, but she seemed to have raised her level by one in her free time yesterday. She was brimming with eagerness to improve herself.
I tried to give her advice, but the young lady here didn't pay any heed and instead changed the topic.
"Speaking of, why is Zephyr-san heading for the staff room?"
"Well, just to inquire about some details."
I explained to her that I was going to Phyllis-sensei to hear her explanation of the academy quest since it would be the first time I was going to accept one.
"I see, then I believe it would be better for me to listen to that explanation as well."
Rina's job was «Master-Planner Princess», closest to the top in the support type.
The true value of these jobs lies in managing the movement of guilds.
Certainly, it might be a better idea for her to come with since academy quests are guild based quests, but...
"For now, we must secure materials from rare monsters in the intermediate-lower dungeon for the academy quest."
The academy quest was to deliver the materials of a rare monster called Gopips, which can be found in one of the intermediate-lower dungeons called <Great Woods of the Fallen Trees Dungeon>.
Rare monsters are hard to come by, so their plan should be to entice guilds with the quest and have them search for it. Something like the so-called "human wave" tactics
Well, the participants' guilds will get consolation rewards for taking part in the quest, but of course, it is a very insignificant amount. On the other hand, you can make a killing if the guild manages to hunt the rare monster and deliver its material. They will be rewarded with a large number of QP (Quest Points).
This was what Phyllis-sensei meant when she added, "If you managed to achieve," that is.
Well, since the target this time was a rare monster, there should only be a few people who will run in search of it until their eyes turn blood red. If you encounter them, it would count as them being lucky. It's almost as if it would be a waste of time if they couldn't find it after putting in so much effort.
Though we have Sachineko-sama on our side, so we might be able to encounter it easily, and that's why I'm planning to participate in it.
In other words,, Rina's level wasn't enough to tag along with us when she wasn't even lv10.
The goal is to enter an int-low dungeon, which requires a level of 40.
"Umm, certainly I may not be of any help at the present moment, but I think it would be better to listen to it for future reference."
"You're right, then I will be relying on you. I'm also planning to leave the leadership role in your hands in the future."
"Yes! I might still be an amateur, but I will work hard to live up to your expectations!"
She has a good spirit.
And we have arrived at our destination. The staff room also looks kind of familiar to me. It must be because I frequently visited the staff room to reserve ‘Tutorial Dungeon’.
"Excuse me. I'm Zephyr from ‹Combat Department Class 1›, Zephyr."
"I'm Ekaterina from the same combat department, class 51. Please excuse us."
We entered after greeting everyone and went straight to Phyllis-sensei. I already knew her position.
On this note, there are only freshmen in this building, so just mentioning your class was already enough.
"Oh my, Zephyr-kun, and even Ekaterina-san, welcome."
"It's been a while, Phyllis-sensei."
It seemed like Rina and Phyllis-sensei had met before. Though, based on their tone, they didn't appear to be particularly acquainted.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you when you're busy, but there are a few things I want to hear, Phyllis-sensei."
"Go ahead. I was just done with some of my work, so feel free to ask anything."
I asked Phyllis-sensei the questions I had prepared beforehand after receiving her permission.
To complete the delivery quest in the game, you had to deliver the materials to someone who had the role of explanation, just like Zezelthon-san in the Int-low gate when returning, but that was a mere short cutscene.
That's why I wanted to hear about the particulars in more detail.
The same goes for points; there was a function to use one part of them in the guild house or when you were purchasing something, but exactly how I was going to use the points in the guild house was my motive for asking this time.
In the game, I had the interface there to display messages like, «Do you wish to install this feature here? (1200 QP)» and just pressing on «Yes» was enough, then 1200 QP would be automatically deducted and the feature would be available.
You know, those types of overlays that would convey «ETA for the installment - 2 days» and then two days later, it would be complete.
It could be summarized as part of the game, but in reality, it would be bizarre. It's bizarre, right?
I'm sorry to disturb Phyllis-sensei, but having a hole in my knowledge about what was called the database of ‹Dungeon Activity› wasn't something I could accept. I must fill up this hole properly.
Sure enough, the specifics here were much different from the game. Let's replace the game part with reality in my mind... Vienna... Replacement completed... Database Update... Completed!
"Is that all?"
Phyllis-sensei was wearing a tired expression. I'm really sorry.
"Ah, I almost forgot. A request addressing ‹Eden› had arrived just a while ago at my table from the Dean."
"... From the Dean, you say?"
Let's see, what could it be?
"Yes. I was told it seemed to be a request that could only be completed by ‹Eden›."
Saying that, Phyllis-sensei passed a two-page document to me.
The following was written on them :
«Dean's Quest #1 - He wants you to deliver various types of materials of the monster «Electric Bear-cum-Squirrel». Details are listed in the accompanying page.»
•Subjugate the rare monster «Electric Bear-cum Squirrel» of the «Rokumori Thundering Trees dungeon» multiple times.
•Deliver «Electric Bear-cum Squirrel's Large Hide» × 20, «Thunder claw of Electric Bear-cum Squirrel» ×30, «Electric Bear-cum Squirrel's silver whiskers» × 2.
•Deadline - ‹19th may(Sunday)›.
•Rewards - ‹QP : 20,000›.
«Dean Quest #2 - He wants you to manufacture and deliver the Top grade Mechanical Carriage (Royal Edition)»
•Deliver the same type of Top Grade Mechanical Carriage Eden is using to the academy.
•Deadline - The end of this month
•Reward - ‹QP - 30,000›.
At this moment, I could feel my face cramping.