I Will Be Unrivaled With The Skill [Sewing]! They Said It Was A Bad Skill, But With Effort, I will Make It A Hit~ - Chapter 84

Volume 9: Silver-Rank Adventurer Promotion Arc (1) – Encounter

Episode 84: Challenges

Seneca had become a second-year student.

Seneca and Maior remained in the S-Class, with Attalos still as their homeroom teacher.

Plautia had achieved many accomplishments, including in the martial arts tournament, but fell just short and remained in A-Class this year as well.

Gaia significantly improved her practical skills in the latter half of the year and was promoted to A-Class.

Four out of the twelve members of S-Class had changed. Among them were friends of Seneca and Maior, making them once again aware of how strict this school was.

Today was the first day of classes after advancing to the next year. Attalos had scheduled individual meetings with all students to provide a comprehensive evaluation of their past year and assign their challenges for the new one.

When Seneca entered the classroom, Attalos was already seated. He motioned for Seneca to sit, and the moment he did, Attalos got straight to the point.

“Seneca, this year, take the promotion exam and become a silver-rank adventurer.”

Attalos spoke in an unusually firm tone.

“The challenges I assign personally have no bearing on your grades. Precisely because of that, I focus on what will be necessary for the future.”

His voice softened. Seneca decided to listen quietly.

“Considering your childhood friend, you’ll need status as an adventurer. We don’t know when the matter of the Saint will become public, but it’s best to prepare early. If you’re a silver-rank adventurer by then, fewer people will complain.”

This advice perfectly addressed Seneca’s concerns. As things stood, there was a high possibility that people wouldn’t accept her being by Lucius’ side.

“That’s why you need to become a silver-rank adventurer. In the history of the Royal Adventurer Academy, no student has ever achieved silver-rank while still enrolled. If you can accomplish that, very few will dare to interfere. I believe you have more than enough ability to reach that level.”

Becoming a silver-rank adventurer meant being recognized as a first-rate adventurer. That required something extraordinary—strength, achievements, and experience. Seneca felt lacking in all of them.

“How can I become a silver-rank adventurer?”

Seneca hadn’t ignored the idea of promotion, but she lacked confidence and had no idea how to achieve it.

“Your combat ability is more than sufficient. While you’re lacking in experience, that will come with time. What you need most is trust.”

“Trust?”

“Yes. Most of those who commission silver-rank adventurers are wealthy, influential people. No matter how skilled you are, unless you prove you can work well with such individuals, you won’t be promoted.”

“I see… So I should target those kinds of requests at the guild?”

“That’s one approach. But there’s an even better way.”

Attalos smirked.

Seneca looked puzzled.

“Follow the major figures in magic. Apiana-san, Semia-san, Yuria-san—they are all powerful figures in this country. If you can meet their impossible demands and prove yourself, you’ll get closer to becoming a silver-rank adventurer.”

Seneca’s eyes widened in realization, and Attalos smiled.

After Seneca’s meeting, it was Maior’s turn.

Attalos also shared Seneca’s assigned challenge with Maior.

“As for your challenge, Maior, you need to develop negotiation skills as a party leader. You should expect interactions with nobles and the upper ranks of the guild in the future. Whether through your family’s connections or friends, seek guidance and gain experience.”

“…Understood.”

“You should be concerned about Seneca, but that’s not the only reason I’m assigning this to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The value of your party, ‘Moonlit Vow,’ will continue to rise. Plautia and Gaia have been rapidly improving under your leadership. People who want to build ties with a promising party will start making their moves.”

Attalos frequently visited the training grounds during his free time to observe and instruct students. Maior assumed he had been watching Plautia and Gaia’s progress.

“With you reaching Level 3, ‘Moonlit Vow’ now has real potential as a party. The reason I gave Seneca the promotion challenge is because I believe the other three of you can keep up.”

Maior was surprised by how highly Attalos evaluated their party.

“I understand the need to develop negotiation skills. I’ll find a way to work on it.”

“Good. Among students, Secunda from the year above you is handling this well. She’s thinking ahead. You’ve had some interactions with her, haven’t you?”

Maior nodded.

“I understand what to do for the party, but what about my personal development?”

“You should focus on the fundamentals. If you continue refining your basic skills and techniques, it’ll never be a disadvantage.”

His response felt vague.

“I see… But do you have any more specific advice? Like a particular style of fighting I should work toward?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“When it comes to your combat abilities, I don’t see any clear weaknesses. I could point out technical improvements, but you don’t fight with technique alone. All I can do is keep thinking it over with you as we go.”

Attalos gave a wry smile.

“Starting next time, we’ll be moving to the next stage of technique training. I’ll still observe your basic training, and we’ll continue with mock battles as usual. However, you need to figure out for yourself how to develop your abilities and how to combine techniques effectively in battle. If you ever hit a wall, we’ll think it through together. That’s probably the extent of what I can do for you.”

Maior met Attalos’ sincere gaze head-on before slowly replying, “Understood.”

As Maior walked back to the mock battlefield, he mulled over Attalos’ words.

A thought surfaced—he was glad Attalos was a decent person. He was soft on Seneca, rough around the edges, and sometimes overbearing, but perhaps he was an excellent mentor.

Come to think of it, he was an adventurer.

And for an adventurer, the most important thing was self-responsibility.

He was surrounded by kind people—Attalos, the upperclassmen at school and the guild, and his companions.

Everyone treated him well.

Attalos would answer if asked. He mentored many students, and Maior knew that. But he also had boundaries.

If Attalos had simply told her, “Fight like this,” would she have blindly followed? No, even now, she might be accepting Attalos’ assignments without question.

In hindsight, Attalos’ challenges were quite bold.

“Become a silver-rank adventurer.”

“Hone your negotiation skills so you can stand on equal footing with nobles.”

If accomplishing those things were easy, no one would struggle with them.

It seemed as if Attalos wanted to guide them but also wrestled with the idea of over-instructing.

He used the word “challenge,” but in truth, it was more of a “direction.” Attalos’ approach was likely the right one, but rushing ahead without fully digesting it could lead to painful consequences.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that even pondering these things was part of the “challenge.” Maior could almost picture Attalos’ smirking face.

Attalos often called Gradius a “grumpy old man,” but the two of them were quite similar in some ways.

Before she knew it, Maior’s steps felt lighter.

There was a lot to think about, but knowing that Attalos recognized her abilities made her just a little happy today.

Activating a skill, Maior sprinted straight toward where Seneca was.