It's early afternoon now.
Adventurers are sparse around this time of day.
There is no sign of Soldat or the others of [Stepped Leader] today.
They may already be out on a request.
During the winter months, there are a considerable amount of subjugation requests.
Demons don't have holidays it seems.
Despite being a bear, [Raster Grizzly] doesn't seem to hibernate.
Taking a glance around, I saw the guys of the A-ranked party [Cellar World].
They are a mage-centered party.
A small 4 member party.
One is a magic warrior, and the other three are magicians.
All of the members are above middle rank in magic, and the leader is Advanced rank in fire magic.
[Yo Quagmire, on a date today?]
[Eh, she wouldn't stop nagging me until I took her out to play around.]
[Huh?]
I chatted with Conrad, the leader of [Cellar World].
He is a 40-year old veteran, a skilled and bitter man with a fancy mustache.
Though he had not participated in the dragon subjugation last time, I do have a good working relationship with him.
I have been invited to his party several times.
As an attack mage who can also use healing magic, I am valuable even to them.
[So, finally found the balls to join our party on the long-term?]
[Psh, a lone wolf like myself doesn't like crowds. I hate sharing an umbrella with others, you know?]
[So you say, but you went ahead and made a party with THAT woman.]
THAT woman. Hearing that word alone, I turn around and see Elinalise-san playfully flirting with the D-Rank adventurer named "Mallory."
Another victim.
From a distance, his face is long since colored red, and he is clearly emitting what the Beast Tribe would call the [Scent of Arousal].
Mallory is a 16-year old boy - his class is Warrior.
We aren't acquainted.
Looking at him, I get the feeling he is not experienced in such matters, especially against the seduction ability of Elinalise, and his arousal is greater than his embarrassment.
[Such things don't bother me Conrad-san. Rather, I have a little something I need you to hear me out on.]
[What is it, come to extort money out of me? Didn't you get enough reward from the rogue dragon subjugation? A~h, If only we went along as well. I heard it was you that solo'ed it...]
[I'll treat you well next time. Now then, what I need you to hear....Conrad-san was a graduate of Ranoa Magic Academy, right?]
[I was until the 5th year when I dropped out.]
Even if he dropped out, I don't mind it.
I asked Conrad about the letter I received.
First off, about what being a [Special Student] meant.
[Ah, a Special Student eh? It is, It is. At the magic university, there are other magicians who can use various magics like yourself, and other adventurers who got their name through fame or recommendation from a Magic Guild, Royal families from foreign countries, or even nobles. Proactively searched for, Special Students are people with great magic power and potential. They aren't obligated to attend classes, and they only have to lend their name to the school as someone who did attend there.
Listen, this way when someone from there becomes famous, isn't it like free advertising for how good the Academy is?]
It seems it's like this.
In my previous life, I seem to remember something like this.
Is it different from a Scholarship Student?
Maybe something like having an Honorary Membership?
At any rate, it doesn't seem to be a complete scam at all.
[What goes on in a Magic Guild?]
[They assist with production of things like [Magic Items] and [Scrolls].
I'm not enlightened on more than that. For the moment I belong to an F-class guild.]
[Ah, is it true if I just graduate from the Academy that I am qualified to join a D-class guild?]
[Graduate huh...]
The Magic Guild seems to carry out support for all areas related to magic.
As the rank rises, authority increases, and various aids can be received.
Even if at best all someone could only use was a Beginner grade magic, they can also join.
Normal graduates of the Magic Academies may usually find themselves in an E-class guild.
The top of the magic academy is also an executive member of the magic guild, since it's the magic academy that keep the magic guild running. If I graduated, I can surely become a member of a D-class guild.
If a [Special Student] submits a theses, C-class.
Of course, even those who are not [Special Students] who are also excellent magicians may actually be rewarded with C-class.
Incidentally, F-class seems to get next to no support at all.
As for Magic Guild Ranks, You can rank-up if you complete certain requests from the guild, or if you contribute certain services to the guild.
Unlike the Adventurer's Guild, there isn't a clear path in how you get to the top.
Even a skillful ass-kisser with an executive connection can manage to rank up.
Truth be told, entrance even up to B-class can be bought with money.
[Quagmire, haven't you already gone to school?]
[I had a private tutor.]
[Hmm~ Weren't you quite rich though?]
[Just in name, as part of the upper aristocracy of Asura]
[...Sorry Quagmire, what was your family name again?]
[Greyrat. I am Rudeus Greyrat.]
Even though the name [Rudeus of the Quagmire] is famous, it seems the name of Greyrat is not spread with it.
It doesn't matter to me.
Even I don't know Conrad's family name.
Though I heard it when we introduced ourselves, I've already forgotten it.
[Greyrat, wasn't that the name of some regional lord in Asura Kingdom? That's amazing, but if that's the case, why are you a solo adventurer out here?]
[That is because....]