novelraw Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55 : Team Battle
"Good question. A student just asked about the ideal team composition. Let me repeat it for those who didn't hear. This is especially important for the team leaders who get to pick team members early on. Since there is a wide range of choices for team composition, there are many opportunities to create a balanced team."
Professor Rust looked around and continued speaking.
"First is the team leader. As this is a position evaluating leadership, you can think of this role as a Controller. A commander who surveys the battlefield and coordinates the team according to changes. The leader must accurately grasp the strengths and weaknesses of team members and be able to draw them out."
Professor Rust explained while walking around the deactivated cube in the center of the classroom.
"Next, you will need Attackers. Main attackers who kill enemies as the core of combat power. However, do not rely solely on them and exhaust them. Deploy them strategically."
Professor Rust tapped his head with his finger.
"And you need a Defender. They play the role of protecting allies and neutralizing enemies. They can block enemy attackers, or become a shield protecting the Controller. In the early stages of combat, the focus is usually on offense and defense, so the ideal team at this stage would be a form where offense and defense are appropriately mixed."
A few students exchanged glances with sparkling eyes.
"When the team starts to get stronger, what becomes important is the Support lineage. They perform auxiliary roles such as improving movement speed, providing strategic information, and enhancing equipment. As time passes and your abilities grow, the importance of Supporters will gradually increase."
Professor Rust laughed lightly and looked around the classroom.
"There are quite a few Support lineage students in this Cohort. Depending on the leader's capability, this can become a strength or a weakness. I plan to include team composition in the evaluation criteria as well. Including one or two Supporters will also help in gaining points."
Students of the Support lineage sighed as if relieved, even if just a little.
"To summarize, a team must have a Controller, Attacker, Defender, and Supporter... and lastly, although very rare, a Healer can be a shortcut to success. If you can include a Healer in the team, combat sustainability and resilience will increase, so you can expect a much higher success rate."
Among the nodding students, the expressions of the top-ranking students were still complicated.
Professor Rust looked at the top rankers gathered on one side of the classroom and said.
"For fairness, we will apply slightly more flexible standards regarding team composition to the team leaders who end up picking team members last. The difficulty will increase significantly, so it will be a good opportunity to test your strategic acumen. Real commanders cannot always form a team exactly as they want. This training is the optimal stage to learn that."
When Divinity raised her hand, Professor Rust allowed her to speak.
"Divinity, do you have a question?"
All eyes turned to her.
"You said Support lineage students can create better equipment. Then is it possible to use equipment like armor or weapons?"
Professor Rust burst into laughter.
"Of course! I encourage every team to equip themselves with the best gear possible. This is also a key area where Supporters can prove their value. However, there is one restriction. All equipment must be registered before battle. Safety devices must be prepared for elements that could pose a threat to life."
A murmur mixed with anticipation spread among the students.
"Until the battles begin in earnest at the end of this month, you will figure out what your team needs. So securing equipment that can compensate for your weaknesses and strengthen your strengths is important."
At those words, a question came to Sal's mind and he raised his hand, but Rust pointed to another student first.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Salvatore. Now, Mr. Kilsey?"
When Sal turned his head, that bastard Gerard stood up with a bright smile from the other side of the classroom.
"What do we get if we win? Is there a prize? Do we get Q-Credits or something?"
Since the question itself wasn't bad, Professor Rust laughed pleasantly.
"Answering as a professor, I should say the real reward is the experience you gain in this process. But speaking as a hero, I know what you really want to hear. All battles will proceed at external locations. Scouters from various guilds are scheduled to be invited each time. This is a tremendous opportunity to appeal your abilities to guilds and catch their eyes. However, let me add one thing: top-tier guilds are usually only interested in the later parts of the tournament. So real opportunities will open up only after you survive. And, the answer you wanted to hear! If the top 6 teams of the Cohort advance to the inter-Cohort battles, Q-Credit rewards will be given from there. In other words, it becomes a tournament where the top 6 teams of our Cohort face off against the top teams of the other 9 Cohorts."
Professor Rust paused, looking as if contemplating how to say the next part.
And after a moment of silence, he spoke carefully.
"Usually, we don't talk about elimination at such an early point. But as I already said... only the top 6 teams of this tournament will advance to the inter-Cohort tournament. The next 8 teams will fight in the safety zone, where rankings are decided without penalties."
Rust continued speaking with an expression trying to reassure the students as much as possible.
"However, the bottom 6 teams will enter battles to prevent elimination. If relegated, the combat class will be treated as a fail, and it will have a negative impact on the end-of-semester grades."
Before the students could even process these words, Rust quickly turned his body and pointed at Sal with his finger.
"Mr. Salvatore, you had a question earlier?"
Although still slightly dazed, Sal managed to get the question out.
"Are there any equipment restrictions? For example, whether we can use equipment of all ranks."
Laughter that sounded like ridicule flowed from among the students, and Sal knew without turning his head that it came from the lower rankers' side.
Before Rust could answer, that bastard Gerard cut in.
"Try spending all your Q-Credits. The result won't change anyway!"
Rust glared at him sharply but didn't stop the sarcasm. Sighing, he shook his head and turned back toward Sal.
"As long as it passes the registration requirements, you can use equipment of any rank. If specific equipment is judged too dangerous for combat, it will be processed as unusable through prior notice. Such a thing hasn't happened so far, but the possibility always exists. Among the 2nd and 3rd-year crafting major students in our academy, there are many who accept commissions specializing in upgrading armor or uniforms. If you intend to use Q-Credits, you'd better know exactly what you're spending money on and check the time it takes to complete. Because once the combat season starts, orders explode, so it can be hard to even get a reservation."
Rust encouraged them to research each other's abilities using their individual terminals and continued to answer other students' questions.
At that moment, Sal saw Divinity standing next to him in severe conflict.
He asked cautiously.
"Are you okay?"
Divinity shook her head with a weary sigh.
"I want to look into the future right now, but I'm really so exhausted... it's impossible right now. It might be possible later."
Frustration was clearly visible on her face.
Sal wanted to say everything would be fine, but honestly, he was feeling the same anxiety.
Eventually, Divinity shook her head as if to console herself and forced a smile.
That smile was close to self-deprecation.
"Since seeing that vision at the Doom Society, I've been intentionally refraining from seeing the future. I didn't want to fall into the swamp of possibilities. So I deliberately didn't look at what we would learn in today's class either.... To face today unprepared of all days. The timing is truly amazing."
Sal burst into laughter and said playfully.
"This is exactly how all ordinary people live! Isn't it thrilling and scary?"
Divinity's smile changed into genuine laughter this time.
"How on earth do you endure this and survive? It's genuinely fascinating."
"Mr. Salvatore?"
Professor Rust's voice cut through the students who were conversing.
Everyone's gaze focused toward the classroom entrance.
Vanessa was standing there with a confident smile.
Professor Rust gestured toward Sal.
"You may pack your things and leave. Mr. Salvatore will have to finish here for today."
Divinity glanced at Vanessa with a curious look and said to Sal.
"See you later."
As Sal walked to the classroom exit, gazes of disbelief stuck to his back.
Before Sal could get close, she brought her lips close to his ear and whispered.
All the students watched the scene with bated breath.
Vanessa held Sal's hand tightly, whispered something, lightly bit her lip, and stepped back.
When Professor Rust cleared his throat, Vanessa threw a grateful smile and a wink, then pulled Sal's hand and headed out of the classroom.
Professor Rust watched their disappearing backs with a blank expression.
"Lucky bastard."
Professor Rust smirked and clapped his hands loudly once.
"Stop admiring and focus on analysis! There are only a few days left until the first selection!"
It was a sharp scolding directed at the students who were staring intently at the spot where Vanessa and Sal had just been standing.
***
As soon as they left the classroom, Vanessa held Sal's hand tighter.
Once they were completely out of the hallway, she let go of his hand and turned back to him with a bright smile.
"I have good news and bad news; which would you like to hear first?"
She walked backward while speaking, and only the sound of her high heels echoed click-clack in the empty hallway.
Sal wondered what on earth had happened to be called out in the middle of class, but decided to hear her story first.
"Let's hear the bad news first."
Vanessa nodded, turned around, and matched her pace to walk beside him.
"The bad news is.... Vila is looking for you, sir. She visited suddenly today, and is currently waiting in the private meeting room. Apparently, an urgent mission came up, so Watcher needs to retrieve the sniper rifle in advance."
Sal went momentarily blank upon hearing that.
"Is that... bad news?"
Vanessa frowned slightly and spoke cautiously.
"Well... it could be bad news from Mythos's perspective. But there is also good news for you, sir. Vila was deeply impressed by the appraisal results and wants to thank you personally. The Reavers Guild also prepared a small gift as a token of gratitude, they said."
Sal chuckled at the unexpected development.
He unnecessarily looked forward to seeing what Vila's reaction would be when he personally showed her the Legendary sniper rifle.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Sal asked.
"Did you happen to... tell her about the rifle?"
But Vanessa misunderstood that he was anxious and shook her head with a gentle expression.
"Don't worry. I told her that repairs could take considerable time and lowered expectations. Even if you just reassemble it in that state, we can package it as a sufficiently successful restoration on our end. Vila also knows that Mythos is not yet verified. She might be disappointed because she introduced Mythos to the guild, but your skills as an appraiser are definitely recognized, sir. You are already being evaluated as one of the top performers within the guild."
Vanessa cautiously placed her hand on Sal's shoulder and spoke softly.
"Regarding the rifle... I will explain it. Please leave that part to me. Is that okay?"
Sal smiled slightly as he headed toward the workshop.
After a moment of silence, a playful tone seeped into Vanessa's voice.
"Do you know how surprised I was when Greg told me about the tip that came in for me? Surely... you aren't trying to buy my affection with money too, are you?"
Sal burst into laughter at her mischievous tone and feigned look of injustice.
Vanessa lowered her voice and spoke softly.
"Thank you sincerely, Sal. I was really touched."
Looking back at her, Sal was slightly flustered to see a more serious expression than he expected.
His heart pounded at that sight, but Sal shrugged as nonchalantly as possible and answered as if it were no big deal.
"Because I received help from you, Vanessa."
The two left the tower lobby and moved to the other tower where the workshop was located.
There was no one near the circular auditorium.
Sal guessed most students would be in class.
Just then, an idea came to mind, and he smiled faintly.
"Vanessa, could you wait on the Credit Floor for a moment? I intend to grab the sniper rifle and go up, but the cases are downstairs in the workshop."
Vanessa looked back at him with a slightly frowning face.
"Will you be okay? You could ask one of the floor staff. Vila is... on the impatient side, so I don't want to keep her waiting long."
Sal nodded.
"Yes, it's fine. It will only take a few minutes. I want to package it as nicely as possible."
Vanessa reluctantly nodded and spread her hands.
"I wasn't disappointed, so don't have useless doubts. Okay? By the way, how is the condition? Is it enough to be operable if another crafter works on it?"
Sal pretended to think for a moment, then nodded.
"It works. It's not in the best condition, but given just a little more time, it would become a truly wonderful item."
Vanessa smiled and nudged Sal playfully with her elbow.
"That's exactly it! Right now, you are active as Sal and Mythos, and as an appraiser, you have already done the impossible. You should be proud of yourself. No matter what anyone says, never let anyone take away that achievement. Okay?"
Hearing those words, Sal felt a pang of conscience for a moment.
Not having told the whole truth yet weighed on his mind.
But soon, when the moment to show everything personally arrived, she would think this wait was well worth it.
He barely suppressed the smile that threatened to spread across his face.
"Then I'll get going. See you on the Credit Floor!"
Vanessa greeted him by touching his arm gently.
As she walked toward the elevator, Sal inadvertently kept his gaze on her retreating figure.
Immediately, Sal headed to the private room where the Legend rank sniper rifle was stored.
He wondered whose reaction he was looking forward to more right now: Vanessa's or Vila's.