Additional Episode ~Fate Story~
I Should Repay The Kindness Of The One Who Reached Out His Hand To Me.
My name is Sierra.
I was born the daughter of a count, and since childhood, I was taught the art of the shield.
Our house is a noble one, with a long and proud lineage, and the training I received was strict to the point of harshness. From an early age, I was drilled in the etiquette of the highest order—manners refined enough that I would not shame the family even if married into royalty.
But that was never a burden to me. I could feel those lessons becoming a part of who I was, and Father and Mother praised me often for it.
What was a burden… was the pressure. The great expectations that weighed upon me.
I—though it sounds arrogant to say—was gifted with the shield.
They told me I resembled my great-grandmother, a woman hailed as the finest shieldbearer in our family’s history.
I never disliked those comparisons.
After all, my great-grandmother bore the exalted Job of 【Shield Princess】, stood at the front lines in a time of crisis, and achieved the great deed of saving the kingdom itself.
To be compared to such a person, to be told my ability rivaled hers—that filled me with pride.
But as the day of academy enrollment drew near, whispers grew louder. What Job would I manifest?
It wasn’t unusual; a Job is one’s destiny, a choice that shapes an entire lifetime. What you awaken as determines the path you walk.
I aimed for a high-ranking Job, of course. If possible, I wanted the same Job as my great-grandmother—the 【Shield Princess】. But it turned out that Job was more than just my own dream. It was my family’s long-held wish.
At some point, people began asking me—pleading with me—to become the 【Shield Princess】.
Even though no amount of wishing could guarantee such an awakening… the weight of those hopes only grew heavier.
By the time I left for the academy, Father sent me off with the words:
"Become the 【Shield Princess】, no matter what."
The pressure was crushing. But I believed it wasn’t impossible. After all, I had the strength—strength that people said rivaled my great-grandmother’s. I was certain I could step into the same legend she alone had achieved.
But that confidence was fragile.
When the Job Assessment came, my heart was trembling with nerves… the list appeared.
And the title 【Shield Princess】 was nowhere on it.
I… could not become her.
From then on, I trained desperately, re-forging myself with the shield, hoping against hope to trigger the awakening before the final limit.
I knew full well no one could grow that much stronger in so short a time. Still, I pushed myself, grinding down my spirit. The pressure was unbearable—especially at night, when I was alone.
But as the daughter of a count, I could never let it show. Always, I carried myself with poise, forcing myself to embody grace.
Even so, a week passed, and nothing changed. No sign of the 【Shield Princess】 emerged.
I resolved to push myself harder, to keep enduring… And it was then, on that very day, he appeared before me.
He wore white armor. The first time I saw him, he had only a student’s uniform. What a change.
At my first appraisal, he’d been right ahead of me in line. I saw it with my own eyes—the moment he claimed the legendary Job, 【Hero】, as though it were nothing.
What could have triggered it? What allowed such a miracle?
Before I knew it, I was speaking to him.
And that moment would change the course of my life.
"...Haa."
Now, I lie sprawled on the bed in my private chamber within the nobles’ dormitory, sighing into the sheets.
It’s not a sight I’d ever want anyone to witness. But it’s my room, and mine alone, so just this once… I allow it.
There’s no way I could maintain the dignity of a count’s daughter right now—not after the unbelievable string of events I just lived through.
All of it condensed into only a few hours—no, perhaps even just minutes.
And somehow, all the troubles that had tormented me for so long were swept away.
So please, just this once, forgive me for collapsing like this.
"…Zephyrus… Just what is he?"
The words slipped from me, half in exasperation. I should be grateful to him, and yet… why is it that my voice comes out like a complaint?
"The 【Shield Princess】… It’s not a dream, is it?"
At my thoughts, the Status Window—the holographic panel only I could see—floated into view.
And there, plain as day, the words 【Shield Princess】 were written.
Even so… the reality still doesn’t feel real.
But fact is fact. I force myself to accept it.
And of course, once I do, my thoughts turn inevitably to him.
"…He’s the one who reached out his hand to me."
When I look at the hand Zephyrus pulled that day, my heart feels all warm inside.
He was a little forceful, but… strangely enough, it didn’t feel unpleasant.
Honestly, if he hadn’t grabbed my hand back then, I might not even be here right now.
Thinking about that, I can’t help but dwell on Zephyrus. He gave me such a tremendous favor.
"And then… this memo."
As if the debt I already owed him wasn’t heavy enough to ever repay, he went and did this.
Why does he have such detailed data on the 【Shield Princess】—something even our family doesn’t possess? That kind of heirloom-level information isn’t something you just hand over lightly on a single scrap of paper!
I had a mountain of things I wanted to say.
But… knowing this too was part of the favor he’d given me, I couldn’t bring myself to complain.
The memo contained truly outrageous information.
Just this single sheet of paper would shake not only my life, but the entire count’s household to its core. It was something far too dangerous to show anyone else.
"Haaah…"
Another sigh escaped me.
This time, compared to before, it was fifty percent heavier.
His utter lack of common sense in giving away something like this so casually… it worried me to no end.
"I guess… I’ll have to support him. …His guild, huh…"
He had given me a debt so great, so impossibly huge, I might never be able to return it. And in exchange, what he asked was for me to join his guild. Of course I’ll join. I’ll support him with everything I have.
To start repaying that debt, I decided to stay in the guild he’s creating for the next three years.
All while staring at the hand he had once pulled me by.
A Princess Dreams Of A Hero.
I am Lana, princess of this kingdom—the Kingdom of Shiyatna.
I was raised with care in the royal palace at the capital.
My father, the current king, rules wisely and is beloved by the people. But… because he is king, he’s always been distant from me as his daughter.
He became king while still young, always busy with the burdens of rule. I understood, of course, but as a child… I often felt lonely.
The one who kept me company back then was my older brother, Yuri-onii-sama—two years my senior.
He was wonderful. He granted me every request, and I, in turn, obeyed anything he asked. I studied diligently, I stopped being picky with food, and I learned the manners and refinements needed to be a proper lady.
I grew into someone who could proudly say she was not an embarrassment as a princess.
But that only lasted while my brother remained in the palace.
Two years ago, when he turned sixteen, Yuri-onii-sama entered the Royal Dungeon Academy’s main campus—a boarding school. Honestly, I hadn’t wanted him to go. I would be too lonely.
But as crown prince, it was said to be absolutely necessary for him to become a worthy king. So, for once, I swallowed my selfishness. At the time, I didn’t yet grasp how great the trials awaiting Yuri-onii-sama would be.
Even after he left for the academy, I followed his words and kept studying to be a lady worthy of my station.
But the loneliness persisted. I consulted my guard, Ester, asking if there wasn’t some way to fill the void.
She recommended novels. Embarrassingly enough, I fell completely in love with them.
My favorite were the myths—stories where the Hero saves the world and weds the Saint.
In those legends, monsters once overran the world, and humanity was doomed to perish. That was when the Hero appeared. He saved the Saint, protected the people, and together with her and the Divine Dragon, he created the dungeons and sealed away all the monsters from the surface.
And at the end, peace returned to the world, and the Hero and Saint were united. That love scene… it made me squeal every time. I was obsessed. Ester and I once stayed up the entire night talking about it, only to be severely scolded by the head maid the next morning. It’s a memory I still cherish.
Before long, I even began to fantasize that I might one day become the Saint—and be joined with the Hero.
That became my new passion. But still, above all else, my brother Yuri was dearest to me. When summer vacation—the return period—arrived, I waited eagerly for him.
But… he never came home. Only a letter did.
In it, Yuri-onii-sama explained that he had already broken dungeon records at unprecedented speed and had become a guild master, so he was too busy to return. His words—Sorry, Lana—and a pressed flower accompanied the letter. But those weren’t what I wanted. I wanted Yuri-onii-sama himself to come back.
Of course, I could have gone to the academy to see him. But I didn’t want to disturb him when he was busy. So I endured.
But after that… he never returned. Not once in two years.
I grew bitter. I no longer cared about our promises. If my brother were going to act selfishly, then I would too. This was all his fault. I wouldn’t listen to a single word he said—at least, not until he apologized first.
I began to despise the Dungeon Academy—the place that had stolen him from me.
And then… I turned sixteen.
As a princess, I too was obliged to enter the academy’s main campus, to gain education and accomplishments worthy of royalty.
I dreaded it. My brother would be there, but things between us had soured so much that I swore I wouldn’t even show him my face until he came crawling to apologize.
But my feelings toward that wretched academy changed in an instant—because of a single boy.
His profession—his Job—was the very one I had adored all my life.
He was a Hero.
The 【Hero】 had manifested… and he would soon be recognized as one. I could hardly believe my eyes.
A 【Hero】 you know?—the legendary Job of the myths! And he had appeared in my generation! How could I not be overjoyed!?
At that moment, I realized something. This was divine will. God was telling me to become the 【Saint】.
Without hesitation, I abandoned the Job I had been preparing for. I declared to Ester, "I’ll become the 【Saint】," and began training for it that very day.
But I was already too late. The 【Saint】 was not a Job one could take so easily.
"Lady Lana, please… don’t be too discouraged if it doesn’t work out."
"Grrrr… N-no, I just know today will be the day! Let’s go, Ester!"
And so, as had become my daily routine, I made my way to the measurement room in the noble dormitory.
That was when I met him.
Zephyrus. The boy who had manifested the 【Hero】’s Job. His confident expression… was very much my type.
Th-this was my chance to talk to him. L-last time I made a mess of things, but this time for sure!
I tried striking up a conversation, but somehow it turned into a full-on quarrel. Huh? Wait, why!?
And to top it off, he even saw right through the fact that I’m aiming to become a 【Saint』! How could he possibly know that!?
While I was still reeling in shock, the situation kept escalating—this time, Zephyrus even tried to scout Ester away! I stopped him immediately, of course. The idea of his turning his eyes toward anyone but me is utterly unacceptable.
But no sooner had one crisis passed than another appeared. Now I was the one being invited to join Zephyrus’s guild. Wh-what should I do!? Still, I absolutely don’t want to look like some shallow girl who just nods along so easily. As I was thinking that, he suddenly grabbed my hand and tried to drag me off to his private room!? W-wait, I’m not mentally prepared for this yet!
"Very well. Time to awaken your 【Saint】 Job. First up—the Slime Pop Marathon."
"Wait a second! I have no idea what’s going on here!?"
"Put on this—<Bracelet of 『Holy Orb Lv.1』>—take this magic stone and this staff, and defeat fifty slimes."
"Awawa, wait! D-don’t just grab my hand out of nowhere! That’s embarrassing!"
"Quiet down. If you really want to become a 【Saint】, just trust me and do it."
"Ugh, that look on your face is cheating… Fine, I’ll do it!"
According to Zephyrus, the real bottleneck to becoming a 【Saint】 isn’t the requirements of the Job itself, but rather fulfilling all the conditions of the lower-rank Jobs beneath it. I didn’t really get it.
Then, out of nowhere, Zephyrus casually summoned four slimes. Ester immediately stepped in front of me with her sword raised.
"Lady Lana, please fall back! Sir Zephyrus, what are you—!?"
"Relax. These things are weak and slow. If they even try to attack, I’ll crush them. Go on, give it a try."
Ester still looked wary, but in the end, she yielded to Zephyrus’s persuasion. Just as he told me to, I slipped on the bracelet and blasted the slimes into light.
"Once you finish attacking with Holy-element, next is the prayer to awaken the 【Cleric】 Job. After that, the ritual for the 【Shrine Maiden】 Job."
Just like he said, I spent an entire hour praying, then even balanced a dish on my head in some sort of ceremony. Supposedly, it was a rainmaking ritual, but I’m pretty sure something was wrong—because no rain ever fell.
After that came brewing <Potions> to awaken the 【Pharmacist】 Job, and then playing "doctor" with a medical textbook to trigger the 【Doctor】 Job. …And this is really supposed to lead to me becoming a 【Saint】? You’ve got to be kidding.
"Alright, that should cover everything. You should be good to go. Let’s head to the measuring room."
"Are you insane?"
My face was probably twitching a little at that point.
And yet—that was when I began to realize. That this man truly was an outrageous existence… and a legendary one at that.
Because of him, I might just go from hating the academy… to maybe even liking it a little.
The Princess’s Worried Escort Knight
I am Ester, daughter of a knightly family, and I serve as Lady Lana’s bodyguard.
I’ve known Lady Lana since childhood—it’s been over ten years now.
When she was little, she was simply adorable, so sweet and lovely. No—that hasn’t changed at all, even now.
Now that she has grown, she is no longer merely cute, but dazzling—more like a goddess, no, an angel. She has matured into a splendid princess, graced with a beauty that she didn’t have in her younger years.
She has become a little more spirited lately. No doubt it’s because Lord Yuri left for the Academy, leaving Lady Lana lonely.
Back when she was always by Lord Yuri’s side, Lady Lana was so wise, obedient, and graceful.
Her relationship with her elder brother Yuri was exceptionally close—closer than any siblings I’ve ever seen. Honestly, I’m convinced Lord Yuri is a complete siscon. I was envious of him, truly.
Then, when Lady Lana turned fourteen, Lord Yuri departed for the Academy.
At first, she tried to follow his instructions strictly—disciplining herself, carrying herself with dignity. But even then, the loneliness on her face was painful to watch.
One day, she asked me if there wasn’t something that could distract her. I recognized this as an important duty—not just as her guard, but as her retainer. I consulted with the maids and other knights, and together we came up with the idea of storybooks and novels.
It seemed perfect—not only would it entertain her, it would serve as emotional education and help her grow. Naturally, I carefully screened the content, removing anything that might be a bad influence.
The effect was immediate—Lady Lana became captivated by stories. She especially seemed fond of romance.
Of course, as her guard, it was only right that I share her interests. I read them too.
And what do you know—it brought us even closer. Being able to talk about the same stories together was wonderful. I was very happy.
But that didn’t last. Lord Yuri stopped coming home from the Academy.
For a princess who loved her brother dearly and lived by his words, this was devastating. She grew sulky and… rebellious. In short, she became willful.
We guards and attendants all bore the brunt of her tantrums.
Since then, Lady Lana has sometimes acted arrogantly, sometimes selfishly. But we know her true nature is kind.
Even when she makes demands, she never seeks to make others truly unhappy. And though she can seem arrogant, she never orders anything genuinely cruel. Her whims are harmless enough—almost cute, really.
Still, I do wish she would stop disappearing the moment I take my eyes off her. My poor heart can’t take it.
Even so, seeing her sulking all the time was worrying, however adorable she looked.
I wished dearly to ease her heart. I’ve stayed by her side always, but nothing I tried worked. I prayed for someone who could accept her as she is now and guide her back onto the right path.
Life is strange indeed—because perhaps, that person has appeared.
His name is Sir Zephyrus—the one who attained the Job of 【Hero】.
To both Lady Lana and me, the 【Hero】 is a special figure. I could clearly see her growing more and more interested in him.
But to think she would charge straight at him…
One day, while I lost sight of her for just a moment, Lady Lana vanished. As I rushed about searching, it seemed she encountered Sir Zephyrus.
Still, given the way she speaks nowadays—charming though it is—she might easily come across as arrogant to someone who doesn’t know her well. I was worried.
But those fears were needless.
Sir Zephyrus proved to be a man of immense generosity. Even knowing she was a princess, he treated her normally. That alone was precious.
But then came the real shock—he declared he would help Lady Lana awaken the 【Saint】 Job. For all the long history of the royal family, no one has ever discovered the method. The finest scholars in the land have tried and failed. Yet Sir Zephyrus claimed he knew—and before I knew it, he was pulling her off to his room to explain. It was a chain of surprises, and I was panicking.
Ah, but Lady Lana—she was strangely obedient. For all her protests, she did as Sir Zephyrus told her. This is rare—only Lord Yuri has ever had that effect on her. Perhaps those rumors about a "confession" were not so far from the truth after all. Best to watch and see…
Or so I thought, naively.
What in the world was Sir Zephyrus doing to Lady Lana?
He suddenly conjured slimes! I nearly struck him down along with them by accident.
But he explained that newly-born slimes are practically harmless. Indeed, they were so weak and sluggish that even a child could defeat them.
And so began Lady Lana’s "safe and speedy" path to awakening the 【Saint】.
Though… the contents hardly seemed fitting for a Saint. Still, no one truly knows the requirements, so following Sir Zephyrus’s methods could do no harm.
(It’s not like I wanted to play "doctor" with Lady Lana, of course!)
But if this actually results in her becoming a 【Saint】… what on earth am I supposed to say?
Despite some mishaps along the way, after a few hours, Sir Zephyrus declared it complete.
We proceeded to the measuring room where the <Dragon Statue> resides. I was doubtful—no, ninety percent certain it was nonsense. If the 【Saint】 truly awakened through that process, what would it do to the dignity of the title? What then?
But ready or not, the moment came.
Lady Lana placed her delicate, pale hand upon the <Dragon Statue>, and a list of Jobs appeared.
And there, together, we saw it—
Among Lady Lana’s Jobs… was 【Saint】.
<King Absolute> — Just Before the Guild Battle
There are only seven dungeons in the entire Dungeon Academy that are designed specifically for guild battles, commonly called Arenas.
Among them, the largest one, the First Arena, was currently filled with the members of <King Absolute>, eagerly awaiting their turn to fight.
Today at 4:00 PM, the S-Rank Guild <King Absolute> would be facing the A-Rank Guild <Thousand Swords Flacal> in a <Ranked Match>.
As the top guild in the Academy, personally led by the Crown Prince himself, <King Absolute> fighting in a guild battle had become the single most anticipated event in the entire school.
"Your Highness Yuri, everyone has completed their preparations without issue."
"The main seats near the arena are already filled. Not only have the heads of great noble houses arrived, but many of the biggest companies have also gathered."
The one reporting after checking on the members was Sotona, the vice-master. She possessed the extremely rare Advanced job of 【Archbishop】, and had been a great pillar of support for <King Absolute>. The number of times she had saved them was beyond count.
Almost immediately after her came Vargas, the guild’s top shield, an Advanced job holder of 【Ironclad Axe Knight】—a tank said to be the most unbreakable in the entire Academy. He had apparently scouted the Arena ahead of time, and his voice carried a strong fighting spirit.
"I see. Then we’ll have to give it our all."
I answered lightly, but inside, I was steadily tightening my nerves.
Great nobles, powerful companies, and many of the nation’s key figures were watching this battle.
Failure was not an option. <King Absolute> must always remain at the very top.
And of course, there were political implications in this as well.
"But still, why did <Flacal> decide to challenge us? We’re the strongest, right? If they just wanted to get promoted to S-Rank, wouldn’t it be easier to fight someone else?"
"The reason doesn’t matter. As long as I can cross swords with the strong, I am satisfied."
"You could stand to care a little more than that, Arichin~."
The one speaking so casually was Amates, a genius who held the highest warrior-type Advanced job, 【War Maiden】. She was the guild’s mood-maker. She seemed genuinely curious as to why <Thousand Swords Flacal> would deliberately challenge <King Absolute>, the strongest guild in the Academy.
The Academy only had three S-Rank guild slots. All of them were worthy of being at the very peak of strength.
And among those, our <King Absolute> stood at the very top.
Indeed, as Amates said, there was no real reason to purposely challenge the strongest.
But cutting that thought short was Alinarina, another Advanced job holder—the strongest swordswoman 【Sword Master】.
She was so gifted that among students, none could compare to her in swordsmanship.
However, outside of the sword, she was often indifferent and would frequently refuse to think about matters like this.
"Hey, hey, Your Highness Yuri. Haven’t you heard anything~?"
"Amates, how dare you address the Crown Prince with such casual language. That’s terribly rude."
"I don’t mind. I’ve told you many times—inside dungeons or during guild battles, I don’t care how you speak to me. Of course, during official duties, I’ll expect proper decorum."
It was Sotona who scolded Amates. She was reliable, but her rigidity was a small flaw. No matter how many times I said I didn’t mind, she couldn’t seem to accept it.
But excessive formality inside a dungeon only creates openings. Against monsters, that could be fatal.
I wished Sotona could relax on this point, but it seemed difficult for her.
Still, Amates’ observation was sharp.
<Thousand Swords Flacal> was no weak guild. In fact, they were at the very top of the A-Rank guilds.
But <King Absolute> was the strongest guild in the Academy.
The difference in class was obvious.
That much could be proven by the number of Advanced jobs alone.
<Flacal> only had 11 members with Advanced jobs.
<King Absolute> had 18 members with Advanced Jobs.
Any guild ranked C or higher would have all its members maxed out in Basic jobs.
Which meant that in guild battles, the number of Advanced Jobs was what really mattered.
Of course, in reality, things weren’t always so simple, but with this large a difference, overturning it would be extremely difficult.
Not to mention, I was here as well.
My job was the most powerful of all Advanced jobs—【Hero King】, the supreme lineage passed down by the kings of old. With this job, I was strong enough to fight five Advanced job holders at once and still win.
Victory was only natural. This guild battle had an overwhelming gap in strength.
And <Flacal> knew this too. The title of Academy’s Strongest wasn’t just for show.
So why would they challenge us in such a situation where their chances of victory were almost nonexistent?
There was a reason behind <Thousand Swords Flacal>’s decision to challenge <King Absolute>.
And within the guild, only three people knew that reason: Sotona, Vargas, and myself.
The beginning of it all was a few months ago.
It stemmed from the fear that <King Absolute> might not be able to achieve its ultimate goal.
That goal: the conquest of an Advanced low-tier dungeon—commonly nicknamed the Joker.
This was the trial given to me, the crown prince, on my path to becoming king.
A height that countless kings before me dreamed of, yet none could reach. And yet, my father’s hand did reach it.
My father, the current king, was the first in recorded history to conquer the Joker, and by doing so he claimed the throne as his own. His legendary feat became so famous that it was even written into the academy’s textbooks.
As his son, I can’t deny that it fills me with both pride and embarrassment. Pride, because my father is a hero. Embarrassment, because my teachers explained the story so seriously in class. Honestly, I wish they’d stop.
But because I’m the hero-king’s son, all eyes naturally turned to me. Everyone wondered—would another hero-king be born? Expectations weighed heavily.
And I did indeed have talent. As my father’s child, it was only natural. The talent to lead, the talent to guide others—talents essential for dungeon conquest.
So I gathered gifted companions, founded a guild, and in the blink of an eye, we rose to S-Rank. Two years had passed before I even realized it.
I worried for my little sister, Lana, whom I had left behind in the royal castle. But I couldn’t stop.
This year, she should have enrolled in the academy, too. I haven’t seen her yet, but… what will she say when we meet? If she were to tell me, I hate you, Onii-sama, for always neglecting me, I don’t think I’d be able to get back up.
I shook my head, clearing away the useless thoughts. Lana would never say something like that. No, never.
Still, <King Absolute>, now an S-Rank guild, hit a wall.
The enemies of the Advanced Dungeons were too strong. I honestly wonder how Father managed to conquer a place like that.
But admiration wouldn’t help me. We challenged it several times, but gained no sense of progress.
The conclusion became clear: we lacked enough someone with Advanced Jobs.
When Father conquered the Joker, he led 50 people—38 of whom were Advanced Job holders. That was more than double what we had now. Without such numbers, the Advanced dungeons couldn’t be cleared.
That was when troublesome voices began to appear: the anti-Advanced Dungeon faction.
Conquering Advanced Dungeons was, in truth, more for prestige than necessity. Just a goal, not a requirement. And they argued—was it really right to burn through such vast sums of Miru for mere prestige?
In short, they implied that <King Absolute> was weak and that conquering the Joker was impossible.
Worse, even within our guild, some began to side with that faction. At this rate, we really wouldn’t be able to challenge the Joker.
That was when the headmaster proposed a countermeasure: a guild battle against the strongest A-Rank guild, <Thousand Blades Flacal>.
In other words, the guild battle was staged as a performance—to demonstrate <King Absolute>’s strength to friend and foe alike. If they thought us weak, we would prove just how strong we truly were.
That was why great nobles and corporate giants had gathered to watch.
And of course, the academy wasn’t helping us for free. While assisting us in showing off our power, they intended to secure new sponsors as well.
But the headmaster wasn’t simply being kind. He knew <Flacal> wouldn’t want to lose. They would surely come at us with everything they had. If we lost here—or even made a blunder—it would mean: give up on your goal. That was the headmaster’s message.
Becoming king is truly arduous. No compromise, no indulgence is permitted. And yet, that very strictness is something I must be grateful for.
I will win this guild battle. I will achieve my purpose.
"BEEP! Contestants, please proceed to the central arena. Contestants, please proceed to the central arena."
The mechanical voice echoed through the waiting room.
The time had come. It was finally our turn.
I rose to my feet and looked over the thirty members who would be fighting today.
"You all look ready."
"Hah! There’s no way we’d lose in a place like this!"
"Yes. Our victory will be dedicated to you, Your Highness."
Bargas, my stalwart shield, boasted proudly, while Sotona bowed with composure.
"Let’s steel ourselves. This enemy is no halfhearted foe."
"We’ll win for sure, Prince Yuri!"
Not only me, but all thirty nodded to Alinarina’s words, brimming with spirit. And as always, the bright moodmaker Amates lightened the tension with her cheer.
Our preparations were complete. Our resolve is unshakable.
I couldn’t afford to stop here. For my claim to the throne, for neglecting Lana these two years, I would prove my guild’s strength and silence the opposition.
<Flacal> was strong. They might even have a hidden strategy. But we would crush even that.
"───Let’s tighten it up!"
With my declaration, my comrades strode out toward the arena.
The Great Library and the Senior Party Full of Joke Jobs
A few nights after enrolling.
Ever since I got my hands on the Sky Gear, the scouting war around me had finally quieted down, and the whole "Hero uproar" was starting to settle.
Sensing the heat was dying down, I slipped out on my own to enjoy a bit of freedom.
Since it was nighttime, not many students were wandering outside. I left the Sky Gear behind—using it in broad daylight was one thing, but at night it would’ve stood out too much. Right now, I am in "clean mode." With it being dark, I figured even in uniform I wouldn’t get recognized so easily.
Seriously… even just stepping outside, I’ve got to be careful. This is what it’s like being famous, huh? Heh, what a pain.
Avoiding the bright streetlamps as best I could, I made my way into a certain building and slipped into one particular room.
My destination: the <Great Library>.
The place where everything you’d ever need for a <DanKatsu> tutorial was gathered.
The moment I stepped inside, I was blown away by the sight.
The whole structure was like a shopping mall atrium—three stories high, open space rising up—and on both sides and down the middle, towering bookshelves stretching all the way to the ceiling. Each shelf, crammed from the ground floor up to the top, was filled with books that continued on and on into the distance.
"Whoooa… this is the real <DanKatsu> <Great Library>! Look at that collection—it’s insane!"
"Silence in the library" is the golden rule, sure, but the excitement just slipped out of me. At least I was keeping my voice down. Forgive me.
But come on—this couldn’t be helped.
Back in the game version of <DanKatsu>, the library might’ve had just as many books, but hardly any were actually readable. And even those were short!
Well, yeah, it was just a game. The devs couldn’t exactly make a whole real library. That much was understandable.
Still, as someone once called the <DanKatsu> Database himself, I always longed for more. More depth, more info.
And now, that wish had finally come true. How could I not be fired up? No one could resist this!
"Yesss! Time to binge-read like crazy!"
I dove straight into the nearest shelf.
And holy crap… these are all real books. All of them.
Readable, detailed, all written in Japanese, and all about this <DanKatsu> world. Is… is this heaven?
There was so much I didn’t know—so much new info—I couldn’t even decide where to start.
Dangerous. My passion was bubbling over. I wanted to scream it out right now. I didn’t, but… gah, I’ll scream later, I swear.
The book I grabbed first was a world monster encyclopedia.
I carried it over to a table, sat down, and opened it with great anticipation.
What I found inside wasn’t about the Dungeon Academy Main Campus, but about other dungeons across the world. Monster info from all over was packed into this one book.
In other words, monsters that were never even mentioned in the <DanKatsu> game were listed here.
Th-this is insane. Is this… a bible? Could this be some kind of legendary tome?
For me, the so-called Database of <DanKatsu>—to not know the info inside this book? There’s no way something like this should just be lying around on a shelf! Who’s in charge here!? Bring me the head librarian! …Actually, no, forget it. If I lose access to this, that’d be a tragedy.
With my brain practically dripping strange chemicals from excitement, I carefully, reverently turned the pages, as if handling fragile treasure.
Two hours later, I had finished it.
"This should be a family heirloom. I’m taking it home."
"Library books aren’t supposed to become family heirlooms, you know."
"Huh?"
I’d muttered to myself—but someone answered. I turned my head to the voice.
Sitting right next to me, at some point without me noticing, was a male student in uniform. He had two books lying on the table and glasses perched on his nose.
The embroidery on his uniform was green. A second year, then.
"Oh, sorry if I startled you. That concentration of yours is impressive. But no matter how much you like it, the library’s books are shared property. You can’t take them home."
The upperclassman gently advised me.
Only then did I remember—oh, right. This is a library.
"I see… so I can’t take it with me, huh. What a shame."
I meant it from the bottom of my heart. If it were up to me, I’d keep it in a better preservation environment, not leave it here. Why can’t it be an heirloom!?
"You really liked it that much? Mind letting me see what kind of book it is?"
"Ah, sure. Just… please handle it carefully. It’s precious."
"Haha, don’t worry, I’ll be careful."
It was library property, so I couldn’t really refuse.
I reluctantly, but carefully, handed the encyclopedia over.
"Ohh… so it’s a bestiary of monsters from all over the world. I see. Yes… This really is something valuable."
The senpai flipped through the pages seriously, gently, as though he’d just realized the book’s true worth.
Exactly. Exactly! You get it, don’t you? This book’s value is immeasurable.
It really could be an heirloom, couldn’t it?
"Thanks. That was helpful."
"You’re welcome."
After a short while, the senpai handed the book back, and I received the bestiary.
At that moment, I happened to catch a glimpse of the book he had been reading.
"『Complete Compendium of Mid-Rank Jobs’』?"
The words slipped out. What my senpai had been reading was a tome listing every job classified as a mid-rank job discovered so far.
Noticing my gaze, senpai gave a wry smile and explained.
"Yeah. My party’s looking to recruit, and I was thinking about what kind of jobs would mesh well with us. But honestly, I don’t really know which jobs would fit… so I’ve been checking what’s out there."
Huh, I see. So he’s job-hunting for compatibility. Brings back memories. Back in my <DanKatsu> gaming days, I used to pore over guidebooks doing the same thing. At the time, I was convinced the strongest setups were those insane combo skills that only triggered when you had two or more people—known as <Link Skills>. Like the one between anyone with the "Princess" category and a 【Royal Guard Knight】. I really thought that was the peak. Ah, I was so young back then.
With senpai’s permission, I started leafing through the book he was reading, nostalgia washing over me.
And then… I froze at what I read.
What the hell? This was awful. For something that calls itself a 『Complete Compendium』, it barely covers seventy percent of jobs, and the info inside is a mess. Well-known joke jobs were written up as top-tier picks, while jobs that could outclass even high-ranking ones if raised right were listed as trash. 【Muscle Warrior】 was labeled "strongest mid-rank job"! You’ve gotta be kidding me!
As I was reeling from the nonsense in the so-called compendium, I heard footsteps approaching. They stopped right at our table.
"How’s it going, leader? Find any promising jobs?"
Glancing down, I saw three pairs of shoes in boys’ uniforms. Looked like they were here for my senpai. One of them casually addressed him.
Senpai gave a sheepish smile.
"Nah, no luck. I couldn’t find anything that really suits our party."
"What, seriously?"
"If the leader couldn’t dig something up, then we’re out of options."
"So what do we do? Keep random recruiting? Or just head into the dungeon with four?"
Judging by the talk, they were his party members. Apparently, they were still short one person.
"Oh, that’s right—hey, kouhai, mind if I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
Senpai turned toward me as if an idea had struck. I looked up—
—and saw something shocking.
"Wait, is that… a <Skull Rod>!?"
The words slipped right out. One of the boys, standing on the far end, was holding a staff I instantly recognized.
A short wooden wand-like staff, but at the tip… was an actual skull. I’d never seen one in real life before, so of course I was shocked. Is carrying around a skull even okay in a school setting!? (It is.)
"Oh? You recognize this, kouhai?"
The senpai party members, if anything, seemed excited.
I nodded. There’s no piece of gear I don’t know.
The <Skull Rod> was a very peculiar piece of equipment, usable only by 【Hexer】 and 【Shaman】 types. And judging by his accessories—a skull rosary, a skull choker—that senpai was definitely specialized. I reached the obvious conclusion.
"Wait… could your job be… 【Skull】?"
"Oh! We’ve found a kouhai who knows about 【Skull】!"
The senpai party burst out, delighted by my words.
Yes, 【Skull】. A famous joke job in <DanKatsu>.
It’s a mid-rank under the 【Hexer】 line, but its unique skill 『Skull Enthusiast』 was so broken that it rivaled high-rank jobs. Its effect? Turns equipment debuffs into buffs.
And skull gear—the kind he was wearing—is cursed with massive negative stats, almost as much negative as it has positive. Worse, most pieces barely had any upsides at all. Basically unusable. But for a 【Skull】, it was different. With 『Skull Enthusiast』 active, every minus flipped into a plus, effectively doubling the power of the gear.
Stack enough "-Magic Power" skull equipment, and you’d flip it into a ridiculous mountain of magic power. Raise the unique skill level, and the damage skyrocketed even higher.
In other words… a romance cannon. A dream super-blast, capable of unleashing unbelievably destructive magic. Magnificent. Truly, dreams made real!
The catch was that 『Skull Enthusiast』 only lasted one minute, with a five-minute cooldown. So outside of that burst, your stats were garbage. Hence the "joke job" label.
And, well, there was also the fact that you had to be decked out head-to-toe in skull gear to use it. Not exactly fashionable. Children would cry.
Still, despite all that, the job was famous and beloved. There was even a legendary video where five 【Skull】 players activated 『Skull Enthusiast』 all at once and wiped out an Advanced boss in under a minute. One of the few ways to down such bosses with mid-rank jobs, and it even ranked #1 in boss time attack leaderboards.
Such is the tale of this so-called "joke job."
But still… to think there are actually people who seriously use those jobs in real life. Honestly, I kind of respect that.
At that moment, the seniors began introducing themselves. Apparently, they’d taken an interest in me since I knew about rare jobs.
But—I forgot their names right away.
Because there was something far more pressing that caught my attention.
"Wait, a 【Noroer】 and a 【Magic Chief】!? Then, senpai, you’re…"
"I’m a 【Book Reader】. What’s with you, kouhai?"
What’s with me? Don’t "what’s with you" me!
Why… why would you all pick those jobs!? My whole body shivered.
Because both 【Noroer】 and 【Magic Chief】 are joke jobs!
【Noroer】’s unique skill is 『Slow Bomb』. It cuts magic cannon speed and attack speed to one-eighth—but multiplies attack power up to five times, turning every shot into an explosion.
Sounds strong, right? But it’s too slow to ever hit anything. And if you move in close to land a shot, you get caught in your own blast and self-destruct. The only place it’s usable is against huge stationary bosses or raid bosses. Yep, total joke job.
Then there’s 【Magic Chief】. Its unique skill is 『I’ll Train You to Be Less Useless』. Basically, if your whole party is made up of only low- or mid-rank jobs, it gives everyone a huge buff.
The problem is obvious: who the heck would willingly build a party out of nothing but low and mid-rank jobs!?
That’s right—no one.
It’s a hyper-niche job with way too many restrictions. Joke job.
And yet, in the few places where it does shine, it shines so hard that it’s almost proud of being a joke.
"S-so, why did you senpais pick those jobs…?"
"Hm? We looked it up here in the <Great Library>. The book said they’re excellent jobs, not inferior even to high-ranking ones. See, it’s written right there in the book you’re holding."
"Aaaarghhh!!"
Oh, come on!! Come on!! That damned book again!! Who’s the idiot who put such a thing in the <Great Library>!? They deserve divine punishment!!
As I raged internally, a horrifying thought struck me. I turned to Glasses-senpai, trembling, and asked:
"By the way, senpai… You said you’re a 【Book Reader】. Uh, you’ve been raising it as a rear-line caster, right…?"
"What? No, no. I’ve been training as a frontliner, just like the book recommended."
"Ah… ah… ah… ahhhh…"
The book slipped from my hands. It fell open to the 【Book Reader】 page, which indeed listed "Recommended Frontline Tactics."
【Book Reader】. By design, it’s a well-balanced rear-line mage who can attack, buff, and heal.
But… it also has an infamous alternate build.
A cursed path known as: "The Bookshop Girl Who Stuffed a Dictionary in Her Gut" Build.
The 【Book Reader】 is a job that equips books as weapons and commands various forms of magic.
For some reason, though, it also comes with several ridiculously overpowered job skills that let it shine even on the frontlines—
Like 『Book Smite』 <Attack Skill: Bash the enemy with the corner of a book. Ultra-close range. Power: 280%>,
Or 『Not Even a Dictionary Can Be Pierced by a Holy Sword』 <Defense Skill: For a limited time, greatly strengthens guard against slashing attacks. Reduces slash damage by 90%>.
Individually, these are obvious joke skills. Normally, people would say: "Who the hell slashes at backline mages anyway? Sure, strong, but totally useless—skip it!"
But then… someone discovered a dungeon where enemies used only slashing attacks. And the legendary meme strat <Bookshop Girl Rampage> was born.
Naturally, anyone who picked 【Book Reader】 would make their character a literature-girl type, or a quiet library-girl type. It was just common sense among <DanKatsu> players.
My hands shook uncontrollably.
No way… no way! Senpai actually went down that thorny path…!?
It’s all wrong! This world’s "common sense" is all wrong!!
"Hey! Kouhai! Where are you going!?"
I suddenly realized—I was already running.
Those senpais genuinely believed their jobs were strong.
But they’re not!! Not at all!!
In <DanKatsu>, "strong jobs" weren’t those gag picks.
True powerful jobs—real top-tier jobs—were on a whole different level. Not jokes, not memes. Truly, undeniably strong.
And in this world… I’m the only one who knows them.
"I’ll do it…"
I whispered it without meaning to. No—I declared it.
"I’ll change their common sense. I’ll spread the real truth!"
My cry of determination vanished into the night sky above the academy.
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