17 - In Aoki Makoto Viewpoint

Aoki Makoto's POV.

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It's been about two weeks since the entrance ceremony, and things have finally settled down in our E class. During break time, dungeon talk dominates the conversations, as one would expect in an adventurer school.

"We took down some goblins."

"We're forming a party for the second floor. Let us know if you want in!"

The boys by the window are animatedly recounting their exploits against goblins, gesturing to the girls about their adventures. Goblins may seem weak, akin to children with blunt weapons, but their metal-armed chiefs can deliver powerful blows. Moreover, their humanoid form often makes adventurers hesitant to slay them, serving as a litmus test for overcoming moral hurdles.

For novice dungeon divers, it's advisable to start on the second floor to gain experience in combat and navigation. While the first floor is safer with slimes that pose little challenge, it doesn't provide the real adventure experience. That's why all my classmates skip the first floor and head straight for the second.

Many of my classmates are immersed in daily competition to level up and dive into the dungeons. Everyone at this school shares the goal of reaching Class A.

At this point, our party seems to be leading the charge. In just ten days, Renji, Akari, Sasaki, and I have reached level three, allowing us to venture onto the third floor to hunt orcs and goblin mages. It feels like the right time to push forward to the fourth floor without hesitation.

In an adventurer school like this, individual prowess only gets you so far. Having reliable friends is crucial for leveling up and conquering tougher dungeons. Finding the right companions early on is the key to advancing to Class A.

I consider myself fortunate to be roommates with the exceptionally talented Renji and even more so to have formed a party with the skilled and charming Sasaki and Akari.

The volume, accuracy, and rapidity of information were critical factors. Understanding the caliber of students and their capabilities was essential, as was knowledge of dungeon diving strategies. I knew that valuable insights could often be gleaned from casual conversations among classmates. My "enhanced hearing" skill proved invaluable in this regard.

This directional skill allowed me to discreetly listen in on specific conversations without anyone noticing, even in classrooms where noises were scattered. It had been instrumental during entrance exams and interviews at the adventurer school. My philosophy was straightforward: if it could be utilized effectively, it was worth leveraging, even if it blurred the lines of fairness.

"I bought this sword, and it cost a lot."

"PEARL'S, wow!"

A student at the back of the classroom pulled out a Japanese sword wrapped in a cloth bag. PEARL'S was a renowned brand among adventurers. Although pricey, their armor was highly trusted, as the manufacturer developed reliable and effective gear.

Weapons are the lifeblood of an adventurer. Without investing in quality equipment, one would always remain at the bottom. I had the advantage of a magical wand passed down in my family since my grandfather's time, giving me a head start.

...speaking of equipment, I vaguely remembered someone in this class wielding a bat. As I tried to recall who it was, the girls surrounding Renji made excited, high-pitched noises at the center of the classroom.

"Renji, do you want to go to the dungeon with us sometime?"

"Oh, that's so cool. I was planning to invite you too."

Renji has a neat face that even I, as a man, can't help but admire. His gentlemanly attitude toward everyone only enhances his charisma. He also has a natural talent for adventuring, making the saying "Heaven does not give two things" seem like a joke in his case.

"In comparison to Renji, that trash is..."

"I wouldn't team up with that guy even if it was my duty."

"It's amazing that he can't even beat a slime."

That is Garcia, the one who sitting at the very back of the classroom. There's a rumor going around that he lost to a slime, and now he can't even form a decent party.

If I can't form a party in the future, conquering dungeons will be difficult, and leveling up will be a challenge. Even if you aim to defeat monsters of "equal strength" for good experience, soloing them without getting hurt is almost impossible. Defeating lower-ranked monsters yields minimal experience, and there's no one to help in an emergency. History has shown that solo dives are unstable and rarely last long.

'There will be a class competition soon. I hope he would not be dragging our feet...'

The girls were talking so loudly that Garcia clenched his jaw, the blood vessels in his neck becoming visible. He stopped, took a deep breath, and exhaled in a measured rhythm.

"Gar~ci~a~!"

"Oh, Matsuri..."

"Don't be depressed. Don't be discouraged. If you don't have anyone to team up with, we'll do it for you."

"Thank you, Su Luo, but I'm fine for now."

Kana Matsuri, with her gentle voice, and Su Luo, with... her intellectual look, are the ones I'm personally interested in. I'm pretty sure they teamed up with him at the orientation, too. Perhaps he has a gentle personality that they can't ignore.

Most of the grades at this school are based on academics, dungeon conquests, and other individual achievements. However, class competitions and group activities also contribute to our overall grade, so I don't want any dropouts if I can help it. I was considering bailing out Garcia if he was forced to dive solo and dragged the class down, but if Matsuri and Su Luo are going to team up with him, I guess I can leave it to them. I don't have that much time to spare either.

I don't know if he was feeling uncomfortable, but Garcia said, "I'm going to the bathroom," and hurriedly left the classroom. Then Akari got up and approached Matsuri.

"Um, Matsuri."

"Oh, it's Hoshimi, right? What's wrong?"

Kaworu looked down for a moment, seeming hesitant, but then gathered his resolve, met Matsuri's eyes, and spoke.

"You shouldn't get too close to... him..."

"Well, why is that?"

"Because... he's not a very nice person. That's my advice."

By the way, you know Garcia and Akari, don't you? I remember being surprised to see him when I went to pick her up at her house. I thought they were close friends, but apparently there was a rift.

"But I appreciate Garcia."

"I feel the same way as Kana. I trust my own judgment of people. Thank you for your advice, though."

"…"

I thought Akari's words might make them distance themselves from Garcia, but to my surprise, Matsuri and Su Luo rejected her advice without hesitation. Akari seemed frustrated by their unexpected response.

"…yes… but I did give you my advice."

With that, Akari looked a bit lonely as she returned to her seat.

Hmmm, Akari has a healthy and honest personality, so her advice might be worth considering. But I'm also curious about the opinions of those two who actually teamed up with Garcia in the dungeon. Perhaps we shouldn't make a decision about Garcia just yet.

In another part of the classroom, I overheard a couple of girls talking about a topic that interested me. They seemed athletic and enthusiastic.

"Hey, have you decided which club to join?"

"I heard there's going to be a recruitment ceremony, so I thought I'd check it out and decide."

"It seems that the clubs with 'Daiichi' in their name are the most popular."

This academy has many events, and the first one coming up is the recruitment ceremony for club activities.

The adventurer school's club activities are quite unique, focusing on skills useful for adventurers. Beyond swordsmanship, archery, and magic, there are clubs for engineering and crafts. Each club has dedicated facilities and trainers, with a curriculum tailored to the activity. This training system is a highlight of the Adventurer School.

During orientation, we saw the impressive facilities that looked like major sports gyms, clearly showing a significant investment.

The club recruitment ceremony introduces these activities to new students, helping us decide which club to join. Excelling in club competitions can earn performance bonuses, making it essential for students aiming for Class A and the Adventurer's College. I'm hoping to join the magic club, ideally the first magic club, which is the largest. It seems to focus on magic research and tactics, which I believe will deepen my understanding and skills in magic.

Then there's the election for student body president.

I overheard some classmates in Class A talking about it. The election for student body president will be held in July, and surprisingly, a first-year student from Class A is running for the position.

The student council president at this school wields considerable political power, managing billions of yen and having a significant influence. Naturally, this coveted position attracts fierce competition.

To become student council president, a candidate needs a substantial number of student votes, which requires the support of the school's main factions. The most influential faction is known as the "Eight Dragons."

The Eight Dragons are the eight largest factions in the Adventurer's School. They have extensive networks, including connections to famous adventurer clans and large corporations, giving them considerable power and influence within the school.

The eight factions currently known are the "Student Council," the "First Sword Club," the "First Magic Club," the "First Archery Club," and the "A Class Alliance." These factions have received extensive media coverage and are well-known even before entering the school. There are said to be three more factions, but their identities remain unknown to me at this moment.

Just to run for student body president, a candidate must have the backing of several of these influential factions. The fact that a first-year student, who has only been in high school for a short time, has garnered such support is truly remarkable.

To rise in this school, I'll need to investigate these other three factions and understand the dynamics involving their first-year students.