Chapter 19: If We’ve Won and Ranked Up, Then There’s Only One Thing to Do: A Party!!
"Here’s to passing the E-Rank Exam! And to <Eden>’s promotion to E-Rank! Cheers!!"
"""Cheers!!"""
That evening—the very same day we’d fought the E-Rank Exam Guild Battle—we held a celebration for our guild’s rank-up.
After the match, we’d regrouped with Kalua, Rika, and Celestan, who had been watching from the stands. Then we went to the Guild Registration Office, completed the procedures, and received our E-Rank certificate.
With that, <Eden> had officially become an E-Rank guild.
There were a lot of differences compared to F-Rank, but the biggest one was that our member cap had increased to fifteen.
That meant we could finally bring in the remaining four applicants we’d left on hold since their interviews.
Our guild room had also changed.
Until now, our guild room had been located in Tower A of the F-Rank guild housing. But now we had moved into the E-Rank guild housing building.
The E-Rank guild room.
It consisted of one large room and two small rooms. Both the large and small rooms were bigger and much nicer than our old F-Rank quarters.
Normally, one of the small rooms would be used as storage and the other as a production room. But already, one of them was packed full of Hanna’s magic stones. Even though we’d just moved in. Yeah.
There were uses for them, sure—but we couldn’t use them up nearly fast enough. Selling them wasn’t an option either. Hanna would cry.
For now, I’d just have to push her to keep up her production work until at least ninety percent of those stones were gone.
Another nice perk was that we could now place up to four guild fixtures.
That meant we could finally install the <Yggdrasil Sapling>, <Red Fruit>, and <Houseplant Set>, which were required by <Lucky Cat-sama> and the "Elves".
Speaking of which, I still hadn’t actually been told what those three gift items were for. I think it had something to do with something called the <Spirit Garden>. I’d have to ask her in detail later.
Oh, and of course, the very first thing we did after moving was to set up a household altar and place <Lucky Cat-sama> there.
At the moment, though, it was sitting on Lana’s lap.
No one could stop Lana’s dangerous hands.
"In any case, Zephyrus, I’d heard you were knowledgeable, but to think you were also so well-versed in Guild Battles… I was truly impressed by what I saw."
"Mm. Zephyrus was cool."
"Thanks!"
That was Rika and Kalua, who had been in the audience.
They hadn’t been able to participate this time since their job levels weren’t high enough, but it seemed they’d really enjoyed spectating. They’d been sitting on either side of me, sharing their impressions nonstop since earlier.
"Especially that… what do I call it? It was as if victory was decided from the start. That constant advantage in points was so thrilling. How did you manage to create such a situation? I understand that the more castles you take, the more the advantage tilts in your favor. But the way it became impossible to overturn even a large castle—that part I cannot comprehend."
"Mm. I don’t get it. At all."
"Well, this time it was because of special restrictions and rules. If there’s no PvP, or if both sides are evenly matched and PvP doesn’t really come into play, then that strategy will usually win. But that only works if you have a good grasp of the opposing team."
I answered Rika’s passionate question with equal passion.
We didn’t know much about our opponents this time, but as long as you can confirm whether PvP will matter or not, you can base your strategy around that. Since it was clear there’d be no PvP, plus we had a numbers advantage, it didn’t matter how high their levels were—so long as we planned well, we could win.
Though judging from their confused faces, both Rika and Kalua had no idea what I was talking about.
"Anyway, Zephyrus is strong. Super strong."
"Well, this time it was more strategy than strength."
"That too is a kind of strength. The fact that we cannot even grasp a fraction of it makes it all the more frustrating."
Being praised that much was kind of embarrassing.
Still, Guild Battles were meant to shine brightest when it came to PvP.
Next time, I’d be able to show them something even more thrilling. They’d better look forward to it.
"Zephyrus! Just in time. I managed to get something really good this time. I’m in such a good mood, I’ll even share a little with you! Get your glass ready!"
When I went over to Lana’s seat, she was beaming, holding a large bottle, and calling out to me.
…What’s in that bottle? Don’t tell me it’s booze? (※Minors can’t drink!)
While I eyed the bottle suspiciously, Ester explained from the side.
"This is a rare drop from the rare monster <Golden Applepl>—<Rich 100% Apple Juice>. Would you like some as well, Sir Zephyrus? It’s not something you see every day."
"Juice from a <Golpl>?! For real?! Damn, now I’m curious. Lana, mind if I have some?"
"I’m the one pouring it for you, so you’d better appreciate it!"
"Yeah, thanks."
I gave her a straightforward thank-you as she filled my glass with the Golpl juice.
It looked just like regular apple juice, but the aroma was incredible.
As expected from something that, in the game, had "royal family exclusive" written in its description. It smelled delicious enough to live up to the name.
Apparently, it was also one of Lana’s absolute favorites. Figures.
Well then, time to dig in.
"Whoa! This stuff’s amazing!"
"Right?!"
Yep, just what you’d expect from juice fit for royalty.
The mouthfeel was crisp and refreshing, the aftertaste smooth and mellow. In short, it was ridiculously good.
Damn… I’m gonna have to go on a farming spree for this stuff.
<Golpl> monsters spawn in Intermediate Upper-tier dungeons.
We’d be heading there eventually.
Just you wait, <Golpl>! Mwahaha!
"Here you go, Lady Sierra, Lady Hanna."
"Oh my, thank you, Celestan."
"Thank you… But um, could you maybe not call me ‘Lady’?"
When I looked over, Celestan was somehow acting as a waiter—handing out wet towels, plates, drinks, and the like.
And Sierra accepted it all without question. She seemed awfully used to it.
Hanna, on the other hand, was fidgeting uncomfortably, clearly not used to the ‘Lady’ treatment.
"Well, I am the lowest level in <Eden>, after all. Plus, my job is 【Butler】."
"…That kind of makes sense, and kind of doesn’t. Anyway, Celestan, you are actually eating too, right?"
"Yes. I heard these were handmade by Lady Hanna, and they’re absolutely delicious."
"Right?! Hanna’s cooking is the best!"
"Ehehe. It’s really nothing that special, though~."
Whoa. Hanna was actually bragging a little. She must be really confident in tonight’s party menu.
And sure enough, everything was superb. That’s Hanna for you!
"Sierra, you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes. Talking with Hanna is pleasant, and the food is so good I’d love to have her in my own household."
"You’re not getting her!?"
"I know, I know. I wouldn’t do something like that. Don’t worry."
That said, it would ultimately be Hanna’s choice what she did after graduation, not mine.
"Zephyrus. Once again, congratulations on the promotion to E-Rank."
"…That’s kinda sudden."
"No. I was just thinking how glad I am that I chose to follow you."
"That’s jumping the gun a bit. We’re only E-Rank, you know?"
"Fufu, true. The real goal is S-Rank, after all."
"Exactly. When we hit S-Rank, I’ll be all ears. Until then, save it for me."
"Understood. I’ll be looking forward to it."
"Good. And one more thing—I’ve got a request."
"? What is it?"
"I want you to be our submaster, Sierra."
From E-Rank onward, guilds were required to appoint not just a guild master, but also a submaster as the second-in-command. There were plenty of reasons for it, but mainly, E-Rank and higher had way more responsibilities. Having a deputy to support the guild master was a huge help to the Academy.
"Sure."
"…You’re okay answering that quickly?"
"Why not? I already decided I’d follow you no matter what. It’s no problem."
"That helps a ton!"
I felt truly relieved that Sierra accepted the role of submaster. If it were her, I could entrust <Eden>’s second-in-command duties without worry.
Phew.
Somehow, we managed to hit E-Rank before May.
Next up: Intermediate Dungeons.
Jobs level 40 and up. The third skill tree is unlocked. The real proving grounds where true jobs sharpened their strength against one another.
Beginner dungeons could be brute-forced as long as you leveled your job enough. But from here on, you had to bring out the full potential of your job if you wanted to survive.
This was where all 1,021 jobs would shine—the true dungeons.
Ahh, we finally made it this far. And our party had grown, too.
What kind of real <DanKatsu>—nothing like a game—awaited us next?
I couldn’t wait to find out.
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