“…It’s a disaster.”
“Huh?”
“We’re in a disaster.”
The guild, the haven of Magic Engineering.
Robus Opher, a man sitting atop the giant spire of Proiden Kingdom, spoke while facing a seasoned gunner in uniform.
“Because of that guy’s raid, our balance is ruined. These damn fools are lending floating ships and using them recklessly. Tsk.”
No matter how one summoned using their job’s peculiar traits, it inevitably cost money.
To create the floating ship Lily requested, it required more resources and funds than expected.
The entire Magic Engineering Guild had been grinding away to assist with the three disaster raids, leading to the destruction and movement of hundreds of ships — an outrageous workload.
The gunner, with a Magic Engineering rifle slung over his left shoulder, shook his head in helplessness.
“Professor Lily is right, huh?”
“Why don’t you go tell her? If the raid had stretched on just a bit longer, the guild would’ve closed down.”
“Do you think she’d actually listen?”
“Not a chance.”
Sigh. Robus sighed.
In the end, it’s karma.
Beyond making more money, they had planted a secret move into their ships, preparing for the day they might collapse.
If they hadn’t been caught, it would have been fantastic, but Lily ended up catching them, resulting in labor that was almost free voluntary work.
“Guess that’s a relief. If it had aired on broadcast, we would’ve been done for.”
“…..”
“Did you call me just to talk about that? If you have nothing else to say, go to class.”
The gunner was a student of Eli Academy.
Working on developing her Magic Engineering rifle, she was one of the rankers who diligently attended classes at the academy.
Even though she was also a pro player in the DCK team, she consistently showed up twice a week.
Robus rubbed his mustache while shaking his head.
“There’s been a rumor going around among the rankers lately. Heard anything?”
“? What?”
“There are weirdos who say they’ve gone to another world and returned. There have always been concept nuts and oddballs, but it seems to be worse lately.”
“That’s probably because of the hidden jobs. We’re half of that too.”
Robus, who could casually summon floating ships, and the gunner using the Magic Engineering rifle were no different.
They belong to the type that crossed over to another world, completed quests, gained hidden jobs, and came back.
The entire start of Magic Engineering was based on such folks, so it was nothing particularly strange.
“True. The problem is that each of them is abnormally strong.”
“Like Lady Lily?”
“…That woman is crazy. Anyway, she’s at least around the top 10 before the Great Cataclysm. The last raid had rookies making a mess.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“The balance of power will change.”
Thump.
As the hand that was stroking the mustache tapped the table, a map of the continent appeared.
A blue mana hologram map depicting the territories and relations of various factions.
There, the moderately-sized Kingdom of Proiden sparkled.
“The Empire is half-collapsed, and the Underworld, including the Grim Reaper’s faction, is moving quickly along with new emerging powers.
Until now, they haven’t actively stepped up due to the significant justification of the raid, but once the Siege War approaches, they’ll jump in without hesitation.
By then, the Large Guild Alliance and the Angel Guild will also be affected.”
“Like what the Empire did?”
“Like what the Empire did.”
Everyone will use the Siege War to invade each other’s territories.
“The floating ships will be helpful then. So it’s important for you to learn magic. It’s enough to twist the ‘constraints’ that Lily has placed.”
“Are you going to plant something weird again?”
“…It’s necessary.”
It’s not for the purpose of theft.
It’s just a protective measure so that they don’t end up witnessing themselves using the cards they played against the seller.
“Of course, if we need forces, we’ll have to mobilize.”
“I hate to say this, but we seem like trash.”
“…….”
■
“Hayoo~”
“You arrived early.”
The gunner, returning from Magic Engineering to the Academy, took a seat in the lecture hall for magic classes.
Next to him was a ranker named Piarro, who had entered the top 100 this time, and she was a High-class Vampire.
As a peculiar habit, she always carries around blood to drink.
At first, he thought she was just crazy, but surprisingly, they got along well and attended classes together.
“Looks like it changed again. Who carries blood in a tumbler?”
“Hey, modern vampires drink like this. You’re not up with the trends.”
Hehe. Piarro laughed, covering her mouth with her impressively sharp-nailed hand.
Perhaps due to her hidden job, her complexion is pale, and her eyes are red, looking very much like a vampire.
‘She’s quite similar to the professor.’
Lasty, known as the progenitor of vampires, has a similar appearance.
Of course, it wasn’t to the extent of comparing ‘beauty.’
‘Speaking of which…’
“Piarro has also been to another world, right?”
“Oh~ that’s right. Thanks to that, I changed jobs and became a ranker. That was really tough though.”
Clank.
Gulp gulp.
“Ah~ looking back now, it’s ridiculous. I suddenly found myself falling into a world filled with strange vampires after the ground I was standing on disappeared.”
“I experienced something similar. Although mine was a magic engineering world.”
“Hehe. Maybe that one was a bit easier.”
“I’ve asked before, but do you have any relationship with the professor?”
“No!”
She answered boldly.
Whether it’s her personality or a penalty from her job, she certainly had a bouncy attitude.
“Honestly, I struggled hard for about six months? Seven months, and just when I thought I had it all together, I hear there’s a progenitor of vampires? Out of curiosity, I came to the academy, and it turned out they were ridiculously strong.”
“That person does hold that kind of strength.”
“From what I sensed, they were stronger than the top authority figure ‘Elder.’ So I wanted to ask what their identity was, but…”
“But…”
Thud!
Gulp gulp!
“Whenever I stood in front of them, I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath and couldn’t speak. Hehe.”
“Doesn’t it ever decrease no matter how much you drink that?”
“Oh, this is an inventory-type item. My former job master, the Elder, gave it to me, and it can store up to 1000 liters of blood.”
“I see.”
No wonder she gulped it down all at once.
As Piarro wiped her mouth, her white fangs gleamed.
“Did that person say anything in particular?”
“They just took a quick glance at me. By the way, I couldn’t even look into their eyes and had to talk while looking elsewhere.”
“Then how do you attend classes?”
“I have to pray not to make eye contact.”
‘Is that even possible…?’
The Gunner felt puzzled, but since this was the third time attending class together, it seemed like she managed well enough.
She nodded to herself and looked around.
Maybe because the significant mission called Raid was over, there were quite a few waiting students.
‘There must be around forty of them?’
There were familiar rankers and also quite a few of those commonly referred to as ‘rookies,’ like Piarro, who had just emerged.
It seemed as if the number of rookies had dramatically increased, as the Guild Master said.
Whether this is a good sign or a bad sign, time would tell.
‘Of course, Lord Leo is here… But Miss Yena is missing. The Empire Sword hasn’t come after all?’
“Yeah. The Empire’s sword probably didn’t come after all, huh?”
“Considering the Empire is half-collapsed, it’s only natural.”
“How much longer do I have to wait?”
Creak!
“Hello~”
“Hello!!”
“Lady Lily!”
“Lily! Lily! Lily!”
“It’s been a while!”
As the door opened, Lily stepped in.
Numerous rankers cheered for her arrival, and as she ascended the podium, she lightly bowed her head.
“It seems like it’s been quite a while since we’ve all gathered for class like this. Is everyone enjoying their life at the academy?”
“Yes~”
“That’s a relief. Originally, today was supposed to be Professor Lasty’s day, but I came in specially. I have some things to share and a notice too, you know? A little of this and that?”
“What kind of notice?”
“It’s related to an event.”
Ooooh~
The lecture hall buzzed.
An event run by Lily.
She hadn’t explained yet, but those who watched Lily’s broadcast or heard the news probably knew she was distributing rewards from defeating the ‘Demon of Space’.
A ‘Necklace of Space’ that grants powers related to space.
I didn’t know the exact details, but it was definitely a mythical item from a disaster-level world boss, so it had to be something good.
As the lecture hall stirred with excitement, Lily smiled and took out the necklace.
A purple square gem sparkled in the light.
“Ooooh…”
“In one month, I will give this to the person who does the best on the assignment I will give. The assignment will be done together in front of everyone.”
“What kind of assignment is it, Professor!!”
Thud.
Before long, one thick, dark book dropped onto each desk.
The students gasped in surprise as they picked up the book.
“Could it be…”
“Inside, there’s an explanation about the ‘Foundation’ magic I successfully created yesterday. You all will use that foundation to perform magic in a month. The person who shows the most outstanding magic will receive a reward.”
“…I don’t understand what that means.”
“Is it even possible?”
“Of course.”
At least one person should succeed, right?
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