00015 [Part 1] [Mage Runt] ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
To change classes, one had to find the guild for the corresponding job. Guild buildings had a reception desk, and paying three silver coins there granted the qualification to change to that class.
A qualification was, after all, only a qualification. It didn’t mean one became that class just by paying money. One needed to learn the qualifying elements of that job under the institution’s instructor. Only by following the instructor’s orders to the very end could one actually change to that class.
That was why Last, having collected three silver coins, had returned to Full Moon Village to obtain the qualification to change classes.
“Sigh….”
However, his face looked somewhat gloomy. Any ordinary player would be excited at the thought of finally being able to change classes, but he exuded a completely different atmosphere.
“Me, change classes…?”
He hadn’t intended to, but once money gathered in his hands, his mind changed. Since he was doing it anyway, he figured he might as well see how far he could get in a single day. However, having made that decision, he felt a pang of guilt in his conscience and couldn’t bring himself to be excited.
“If I’m going to have fun quickly, a combat job would be better than a production job.”
Production jobs took time to raise skill proficiency. To feel a sense of achievement as a producer, one would have to make something worth at least one person’s share.
“Then for a combat job… Hmm….”
The class most players chose was the Swordsman line, which fought wielding swords. The reason it was chosen over other jobs wasn’t anything special. It was simply because it looked cool. Anyone who had ever imagined an adventure to rescue a princess kidnapped by a dragon would know well enough.
Karon’s class had also been Swordsman. Later, he had acquired hidden skills and subclasses, causing his image as a pure swordsman to fade, but the fundamentals of fighting by swinging a sword still remained to this day.
“Since I’m doing it anyway, it’d be better to pick something other than Swordsman.”
That was one reason, but he also couldn’t readily choose it because wielding a sword would likely bring back memories from when he was Karon. If he recovered the sensation that he was Karon inside the game, he felt he would never be able to escape it.
“Assassins use swords too, so I’ll pass on that. That leaves Archer, Guardian, Priest, and Mage, I suppose….”
There were many classes, but they could be broadly divided into Swordsman, Assassin, Archer, Priest, Mage, and Guardian.
“Archers have to use bows, and considering arrow consumption, it’s a hassle. Guardians and Priests can’t show their worth unless they join a party, so those are obvious passes. That leaves… a Mage, I guess….”
A Mage was a difficult class to act alone in, much like a Swordsman. Still, they had more autonomy than Priests. He had occasionally seen Mages operating solo.
The problem was that unlike Swordsmen, who invested stats in Strength and Dexterity, Mages invested in Intelligence, causing their physical abilities to fall behind. In exchange for using powerful magic, if they took attacks from monsters, their lives couldn’t be guaranteed, so staying at the center or rear of a party was the safest.
Second, control. Because one had the sensation of holding a sword, one could properly swing it at monsters. The same went for bows. However, the problem with magic, which required no specific weapon, was that one had to gather mana and point at the target. In chaotic battles, one might mistakenly attack allies. Stories of Priests who had accidentally healed monsters and gotten kicked from their parties also occasionally popped up on the game’s homepage bulletin board. Moreover, to use magic, chanting was necessary, and various interfering factors came into play when targeting opponents, making control even more difficult. That was one of the reasons players avoided Mages and Priests.
“Though if you had the Memorize spell, you wouldn’t have to recite the incantations….”
Memorize. Though the number of spells one could Memorize was limited by the individual Mage’s ability, it was an essential spell for a Mage. This spell had the advantage of allowing one to pre-cast a spell and then use it at any time by calling its name. Without this spell, demand for Mages and Priests would have dropped by more than half.
“Since I’m going to do it anyway, why not learn magic, the opposite of swords?”
In any case, having reached his conclusion, Last headed to the Mage Guild in Moon-Viewing Village. Perhaps because the village was small, the guild was an exceedingly shabby two-story wooden building. He couldn’t find any passersby nearby, and when he opened the door and went inside, only a chilly emptiness permeated the place.
“Welcome.”
A realistic NPC.
Last looked around and approached the female receptionist, who was killing time reading a nameless magazine. The receptionist quickly hid the magazine and addressed him proficiently.
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve come to register to become a Mage.”
“Yes, to obtain the qualification to change to a Mage, you must pay a membership fee of three silver coins.”
“Here.”
“Yes, thank you. This is the token proving you have obtained the qualification to change to a Mage.”
What the female receptionist handed over was a round wooden token small enough to hold in one hand. He pocketed it.
“To change to a Mage, you must complete separate education. When would be good for you?”
“Right now, please.”
“Yes, understood. It will begin shortly on the hour at the large training ground on basement level one, so please arrive on time.”
He looked up at the clock; it was ten minutes to the hour. Last nodded slightly and headed for the stairs to basement level one.
“My name is Bel. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask anytime,” the female receptionist called out from beyond the reception desk, waving her hand. She was a sociable NPC.
“I wonder what kind of test the Mage class will have….”
Having arrived at basement level one via the stairs, Last looked around. Including him, there were a total of five people who had come to receive the education required to change to a Mage. Whether because they found greeting and getting to know one another bothersome, they all stood far apart from each other. Relieved that no one was bothering to strike up a conversation with him, he waited in an inconspicuous spot.
Soon, ten minutes passed and the hour struck….
[Teleport.]
“Ooh…!”
Did they really have to use Teleport just to come down here…?
A voice was heard from somewhere, and turning around, he saw a robed Mage standing in the center of the training ground. The players, excluding Last, unknowingly applauded at the suddenly appearing Mage.
“I am Iora, who will be taking charge as your instructor. From now on, I shall begin the education to become a Mage.”
The instructor somehow didn’t match a Mage at all. At the muscles revealed beneath the robe, Last showed a dumbfounded expression. All the players gathered here felt the same.
“Know that my training is strict!”
““““Yes!“”””
He hadn’t bothered answering. Instructor Iora didn’t seem to care either.
And so, the education to become a Mage began.
---------------------------= Author's Afterword ---------------------------=
haaile, Clarion // I've written stories with the hidden class theme before, but I've never written about a God Class yet ^^;
EPAFRA // Right? I'm also planning to go with the hiring side if possible.
Sagwabaenggwin // Oh, Knight of Millennium was the first game fantasy I wrote. I remade it, so the first novel I wrote is only on my computer now, but...
Geomeunbituisaram, Pyeonghwajeiljuui, noly // LOL I'm not usually the type to like games, but I've been completely hooked on mobile games lately.
LeftHand // Thank you for an idea I never would have thought of. If I get the chance, I'll definitely use it.
AT Haru, Ramiro, Bereuhatein // Don't do it.
alsxo0909 // I like that kind of thing too.
Piteukim // Well...
by Denebeu // I see you every time on Joara, Denebeu-nim, lol.