Chapter 50 : Chapter 50
Chapter 50 : Ambition
"I have a classmate among the Paradox Guild executives. I can introduce you if you want."
As soon as Liam's offer ended, a mocking scoff was heard from across the room.
Dawn looked at Liam as if he were crazy.
"It's only been the first week of the first semester. Guilds haven't even posted recruitment notices yet. What's the point of introducing a kid who hasn't even finished basic training? ...Don't take it personally, Salvatore."
She made it clear that the target of her sarcasm was Liam, not Sal.
The two bickered for a moment longer before Alastair appeared to save Sal.
He was a friendly-looking man with a beard, wearing a vest.
Quest had introduced him earlier, but Sal was struggling to remember names because he had met so many people.
Alastair's low, heavy voice cut between Dawn and Liam.
"Let the kid breathe! Before you yap about what he should do, did you even ask Sal directly?"
With those words, Alastair turned his head toward Sal and gestured.
His booming voice caused several people nearby to turn their heads.
Suddenly, the attention of the room was focused on Sal again.
Sal pondered for a moment before honestly stating the first thought that came to mind.
"Originally, I thought I would work at the Argento Auction House run by my family. But... the events of the past few days have made me rethink that goal. Instead of just a few simple appraisals, I want to become someone who can be more helpful to the world."
Pleasant laughter erupted from here and there at those words, and Sal smiled as he continued.
"I haven't decided on a specific career path yet, but I'm very interested in classes related to Analysis, Administration, and Crafting. It might sound unrealistic or a bit far-fetched... but I want to break the perception that the Supporter class is inferior to other professions."
Then came a result Sal hadn't expected.
"Good! That's it!"
Alastair shouted.
Most of the people around nodded and smiled.
Only then did Sal realize that many members of the Doom Society were of the Supporter class.
Feeling an inexplicable bond with them, Sal began to explain what he had discovered a few days ago, point by point.
"There are only about twelve active Supporter class guilds, and none of them are above Tier 3. If I get into the Savior Class... I intend to aim for the path of a Guild Master then."
Honestly, Sal expected ridicule or snickers if he revealed such aspirations.
Considering it was only the first week of the semester and the reality that most students drop out, his words could have sounded like an unconvincing dream.
However, Alastair crossed his arms and grinned at Liam.
"Forget it. You can keep your Paradox introduction!"
As the laughter around them subsided, Alastair turned his head toward Anna Sakura, who was sitting quietly in a corner of the room.
"What about you? What's your goal?"
Startled by the sudden question, Anna blanked for a moment before casually pointing toward Sal and speaking calmly.
"Probably... I'll join his guild."
Harlan laughed heartily and joined in.
"I'd need at least a director-level position, Mr. Guild Master? How about Head of Monster Behavior Analysis? Not bad, right?"
Alastair raised his hand abruptly to stop Harlan, feigning shock at Sal.
"Hey, you promised the first director position to me!"
Sal burst into laughter at their playful jokes.
It was a very comfortable atmosphere.
And playfully, he decided to poke Neuro a little this time.
"I'll also need someone for the Head of Risk Analysis position. Neuro, who would you recommend as the right person?"
Liam and Dawn looked at Neuro simultaneously, and Neuro glared mischievously at Sal.
Alastair burst into laughter once again and turned his head toward Divinity this time.
"Then what about our new seer? Miss Khan, what do you want to do in the future?"
Unlike the playful remarks, Divinity answered seriously.
"Vice Guild Master of a Tier 1 guild. I'll learn everything I can learn there, earn everything I can earn... and then move to Sal's guild to raise its tier."
From across the lounge, Anna Sakura raised her hand.
"That's a much cooler answer. I'll do that too."
At that moment, Harlan, the most rational one in the room, stepped in.
"Laughing and chatting is good, but... if you set your direction properly from now on, it will be a big help in securing the Q-Credits needed for guild establishment later."
Several members of the Doom Society nodded in agreement with Harlan's words.
But Quest, who was sitting across the room, scoffed.
"This child already has over 4,000 Q-Credits in his account. Even though it's only been a week since he entered the Academy. He could pay the guild registration fee right now."
With that single remark, the room completely froze.
Alastair laughed awkwardly, but as Quest's serious expression continued, even he couldn't continue speaking.
Anna Sakura, Divinity, and even Neuro looked at Sal with blank eyes.
With all eyes on him, Sal tried to brush it off lightly, even if forced.
"Well... to hire all these illustrious people, I'd need to earn at least that much every week!"
At that moment, Alastair's arm draped over Sal's shoulder and hugged him tight.
"Quest, he's ours, so don't you dare talk about expulsion!"
***
As the evening deepened, Quest, Divinity, and Anna Sakura left first with some Doom Society members.
Sal was still sitting at the bar.
Next to him were Harlan, Alastair, and Neuro.
Liam had quietly exited when Neuro brought out a bottle of whiskey from somewhere.
Sal felt like he didn't belong here and tried to stand up.
But the three of them stopped him.
Thanks to that, Sal decided to listen to their stories with a much more comfortable mind.
Neuro poured a glass for each of them and said.
"So, how was the gathering today?"
Alastair smiled and shook his head.
"Do you really need to ask? Why don't you just read minds? That would be much faster."
Meanwhile, Harlan paused as he took the glass from his lips.
"Wow, this is amazing. Good choice, Neil."
Neuro sat down, making a comically exaggerated half-salute.
Sal looked at Neuro, his glass untouched, and said.
"It was quite burdensome at first... But now that I've become best buddies with Alastair, I think it was totally worth it."
At those words, Alastair laughed heartily and patted Sal on the shoulder.
"You're not going to mention that? He had two girls tell him they'd follow him to his guild today! Supporters these days are really something else."
Harlan shook his head and smiled wryly, turning toward Sal.
"Have you thought about how you're going to spend all those Q-Credits?"
Neuro and Alastair also looked at Sal with curious eyes, and Sal shrugged.
"For now, I don't intend to use them until I submit them for appraisal to Jez during Administration class. After that... actually, I don't think external activities suit me. I'm reluctant to go out and fight monsters or deliberately throw myself into danger. I'm thinking of just investing in Crafting and making equipment."
Harlan put his glass down on the table and fell into thought.
"Then let me make a suggestion! As Quest said, you already have the funds for guild registration. But that's literally just the final step. What you need now is to set aside a certain amount for course selection."
Neuro and Alastair nodded in agreement.
Harlan continued his explanation.
"Right now, you're taking six basic classes: Survival, Combat Intro, Combat, Analysis, Administration, and Crafting. Upgrading these to intermediate level costs Q-Credits, and the same goes for advanced. There are also classes that require Master Classes. Especially if you want to become a Guild Master, you'll definitely need to take them."
Alastair turned his body and chimed in.
"When a Master Class opens, you have to take it no matter what. If you complete it, you get a certificate, and that boosts your value as a hero. Every guild has a checklist they use for evaluation, and the higher the tier, the more they demand. And the problem is that Master Classes don't have a set schedule. They open without notice whenever the instructor is available. Suddenly an Assassination Master Class opens, but the tuition is a whopping 2,500 Q-Credits, things like that."
"Is it really that expensive?"
Harlan asked, but Alastair just nodded.
"It's originally designed so that guilds offer contracts to students and pay the tuition for them. But if you want to go without a guild, Sal, you have to bear all that cost yourself."
Alastair looked at Sal with a serious expression.
"Everything revolves around Q-Credits. The most expensive item I've seen is the practical training program, which you can take in your third year. To get into a decent guild, you need at least three thousand."
Sal finally lifted his glass and took a sip.
He was somewhat used to whiskey.
He had drunk it several times with his father since he was young, but he didn't know it could taste this good.
"Wow, this is really good."
He exclaimed as he put the glass down on the table.
Neuro said with a mischievous smile.
"He really defies expectations. I thought there was more than a fifty percent chance you'd throw up."
Sal burst into laughter and leaned back in his chair.
The warmth of the whiskey heating his body and the comfortable atmosphere melted his heart.
The stories of Harlan, Alastair, and Neuro gave him much to think about, but they weren't just heavy topics.
"Then... is there something like a Doom Society discount when taking Master Classes?"
Sal asked jokingly and laughed.
And he thought the others would laugh along.
However, Harlan answered.
"At your current rank, it's not that big. As your trust level goes up, the discount gets bigger. Isn't it about 10% in the beginning?"
When Harlan turned to look at Neuro, Neuro shook his head slightly.