Chapter 1: The Girl Called a Prodigy. She’s Become Quite Impressive.
Tln: Sorry for the delay, and Happy New Year.
May 2nd.
Today is the day the academy officially starts operating. Specifically, it’s the first day of attendance for the first-year students.
After the final day of measurements, filled with great excitement, tears, dreams, and ambitious hopes, a single night has passed, and the academy has regained a moment of tranquility.
Whether their dreams were fulfilled or not, whether they laughed or cried, today marks the beginning of the new term.
They must switch gears, face their chosen Job, and devote themselves to their studies for the sake of their future lives.
However, there is someone here who is unable to make that switch.
"Hey, Zephyrus-kun, is it really no good if I come with you?"
"No, Hanna, you’re Production Department, right? This is the Exploration Department, so it’s impossible."
On this bright, celebratory day of the new semester, at a fork in the path, a boy and a girl in academy uniforms were having a back-and-forth argument.
It was Hanna and me.
"I’ve told you many times already, no means no. More importantly, it’s impossible. 【Alchemists】 can’t enroll in the Exploration Department."
"Uuu~. But everyone in <Eden> except me is in the Exploration Department. I’m the only one stuck in the Production Department…"
"Yeah, but if you switched from 【Alchemist】, we’d all be in trouble. Please stay exactly how you are, Hanna."
"Muu."
Her cheeks puffing out in an adorably sulky way, Hanna clearly understood my point, but was nowhere near accepting it.
"Hanna, that uniform really suits you. You look cute."
"R-Really? Ehehe… Wait, that’s the fifth time this morning! Are you trying to distract me, Zephyrus-kun!?"
Looks like she finally caught on. Up until now, whenever Hanna started getting anxious, I’d get through it by complimenting her uniform, but I guess that tactic has hit its limit. So, what should I compliment next to throw her off…?
Anyway, today is the first day of the new semester, in other words, the day for class assignments. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that the entire day is used for class sorting.
Because yesterday’s measurement went all the way up to just before midnight, the academy simply didn’t have time to assign classes.
Plus, because the assessments were rushed for speed, there’s a high chance of missing information or mistakes. Today is also set aside to thoroughly double-check everything.
Students first head to the building for the Department they hope to join, and their Job is evaluated for compatibility with that Department.
If they pass the screening, they enter that Department, and then they choose the Division they have aptitude for.
If they don’t pass, they’re recommended to another Department. For example, let’s say an 【Alchemist】 applies for the Dungeon Exploration Department — Combat Division: the chance of acceptance is less than one in ten thousand. Without a doubt, they’ll be steered to the Dungeon Production Department instead.
Jobs are that absolute. If you want to join the Exploration Department, you need a combat job, or at least a Job suitable for dungeon exploration.
Yes. I’ve explained that to Hanna five times since this morning.
I want to help her somehow… but there are some things that even I can’t change. Sorry, but Hanna is in the Production Department, and that’s final. All I can do is distract her from her anxiety or cheer her up a little.
Steeling my heart, I gave it to her straight:
"If you don’t go to the Production Department, the teachers will cry, you know. Hanna the Prodigy."
"T-That nickname is way too much for me!!"
"Hanna the Prodigy." That’s the nickname she’s recently gained inside the academy.
The origin? Her level. Hanna is 【Alchemist Lv 52】.
While all of us in <Eden> are stuck at Lv 50, she spent the past days mass-producing bombs and MP potions, slowly stacking up experience, and in that short time, she gained two entire levels.
Meaning: she’s the top among all new first-years.
Since the academy checks Job Levels every time students enter a dungeon, the school immediately discovered she had the highest level.
Lv 52 before the semester even starts, that’s the first time in academy history. In other words, a new record. Teachers have been showering her with attention, and she’s now one of the most spotlighted first-years.
Naturally, with guild recruitment season approaching, there’s no way this info wouldn’t spread among students, and before long, everyone started calling her Hanna the Prodigy.
When I told Hanna about the rumors at first, she didn’t believe me. "No waaay someone like me would be a prodigy~" she said, laughing it off…Then, after learning the truth, she curled up under her blankets.
Apparently, she shouted things like "Why meee!? Everyone’s totally mistaken!!" at least ten times. Well, these things happen.
Still unable. Or unwilling to accept reality, Hanna trembles anxiously, saying, "At least let me stay with everyone in <Eden>~ I don’t want to be alone in a class by myself~."
Yeah… huge expectations like that would make anyone shake.
A simple village girl became this incredible in just one month. Even I don’t know how things turned out like this.
And then, a savior appeared.
"My, Hanna-san, so this is where you were. I’ve been looking for you."
"Professor Aisu!? U-Um, you see…"
It was Professor Aisu, a teacher at this academy and the head instructor of the Production Department.
She’s important enough to have her photo and profile printed in the Student Handbook. A grandmotherly figure with a gentle expression.
Seems she’s one of the teachers who has taken a special interest in Hanna.
"Come now, Hanna-san. We’re going. You’ve prepared the entrance speech as the representative, yes?"
"Eeh!? Ah, y-yes. More or less. But someone like me..."
"You mustn’t say ‘someone like me.’ You’re a wonderful Alchemist who just set a historic record at this academy. You should hold your head high."
"O-Okay…"
So Hanna is giving the welcome speech for the new students in the Production Department.
Lv 52 sure comes with a heavy load of expectations. Hanna looks like she’s about to faint, though.
Turns out, yesterday afternoon, when she holed up in her room, she was finishing that speech.
With Professor Aisu’s years of experience and persuasive skill, Hanna was finally cornered into accepting her fate.
"Zephyrus-kuuun…"
"Good luck, Hanna. I’m cheering for you."
I waved at her encouragingly. She waved back with a pitiful whimper.
All I can say is "good luck."
Then Professor Aisu turned toward me.
"Oh my, excuse me. You must be Zephyrus, the 【Hero】, correct? I am Aisu, the head instructor of the Dungeon Production Department. Please feel free to call me Professor Aisu."
"Yes, I know who you are. It’s an honor you remember me. Today, please look after Hanna. She seems extremely nervous."
"The pleasure is mine. You may leave Hanna-san in our care. We’ll assign someone to assist her with the ceremony, so don’t you worry."
"Fueh?"
After exchanging greetings with Professor Aisu, I entrusted Hanna to her. Apparently, they’ll even assign someone to support her during the freshman representative's speech. This keeps getting bigger and bigger…
And Hanna looks completely blindsided by all of it.
I do worry a bit, but Professor Aisu is a veteran. I’m sure she’ll be fine.
I saw Hanna and Professor Aisu off at the fork in the road… and then I headed toward the Exploration Department building.
My destination was the Dungeon Exploration Department — Combat Division.
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