Ch.44Chapter 44: Performance Level.

# Quest Qualification Level.

Simply put, it refers to the system that categorizes students’ abilities to complete quests by rank.

The ranks range from 1 to 9, and throughout Grownd’s history, only one student has ever received a Level 9 ranking.

The initial quest qualification level is naturally determined by the entrance exam, and subsequent levels can be raised through promotion tests.

This is an extremely important system in Grownd, where practical experience is valued.

Grownd accepts quests from numerous continents.

This too is the Emperor’s arrangement.

It’s not just empty talk about coexistence, peace, and well-being across all continents.

It’s about nurturing talent and directly demonstrating how much they can contribute to continental peace.

This policy has also succeeded admirably and has now become well-established.

While most quests are shared with adventurer and mercenary guilds spread throughout the continents, the academy has gained enough credibility that there are quests specifically designated for academy cadets.

“Me! Let me check first…! Aack! This can’t be!”

Lati moves closer to Lisa, who is clutching her head, to check her rank.

“Kyahaha! Level 2!! Lisa, are you sure you’ll be okay in the special class?”

Lisa puffs her cheeks and snaps back.

“Uuugh… F-fine, I’m only at this level… Th-then what level are you?!”

Lati replies with a relaxed smile.

“Heehee! I’m Level 3!”

Even Lati’s rank isn’t particularly high, given her minimal physical abilities and elimination from the preliminaries.

Victor, Lati, and Arias are Level 3.

Robin, Seirun, Riduin, and Yuria are Level 4.

Airin and Solphin are Level 5.

“What about Valt?”

Valt manipulates his armlet to check his quest level.

“Let’s see. Huh?”

When Valt looks confused, Lisa leans in to check his armlet with him.

“What is it, what is it? Huh? Under review? Why only Valt?”

***

The professors are in a dilemma. They’re unsure what qualification level to assign Valt. So they’ve pushed it to the very end of their deliberations.

His written exam was a disaster, and his Floor achievement and Circle achievement were the lowest.

However, he received perfect scores in physical ability, operational ability, and practical skills.

“Give him Level 5. Actually, Level 6 would be fine too. For that guy, achievements don’t really matter.”

When Liman speaks to the other professors, Head Professor Marcel shows a troubled expression.

“Hmm… A 1st Circle student at Level 5…. Even setting that aside, if we give him Level 5, I’m afraid he’ll rush straight to the Great Forest.”

Typically, new students spend a few months adapting to academy life and grow gradually by completing professor-recommended quests.

But now that other races have been admitted, Marcel is concerned that Valt might attempt dangerous quests immediately after the first week, which is essentially just an orientation period.

“If he wants to do it, why stop him? And who knows? He might actually succeed in establishing relations with vampires.”

Professor Janet, who had been quiet until now, speaks up.

“I also think Level 5 is appropriate. He’s the entrance tournament champion, and although his Circle is low, he uses magic with power close to 7th Circle. It would be strange to give him a lower level.”

Having made his decision, Professor Marcel finally enters Valt’s qualification level.

“If you both insist, I suppose I have no choice.”

<Valt Gerungtu: Level 5.>

***

“Oh? It changed! Level 5!! As expected of you, Valt!”

While not unheard of, it’s extremely rare for a new student to receive Quest Level 5 from their first entrance exam.

For reference, last year there were two Level 4s and five Level 3s. Naturally, there were no Level 5s.

This is the first time three Level 5s have emerged at once.

“Well then, let’s check out the quests.”

Lisa asks with curious eyes in response to Valt’s words.

“You’re going to look for quests right away? What kind?”

“Hmm, I want to learn blood magic. I’ll look for quests related to the Vampire Kingdom.”

Everyone looks surprised at Valt’s statement. Arias’s face in particular looks troubled.

“B-blood magic? You’re saying you want to meet vampires?”

“Yes.”

At those words, not only Arias but also Yuria, who had been distracted nearby, shows interest.

After all, the Great Forest where Valt wants to go is home to not only elves but also beastkin.

“Hyaa~ That sounds interesting! I lived in the Great Forest too, but I’ve never seen a vampire.”

Vampires and beastkin don’t get along very well.

Thousands of years ago, when beastkin lived in separate tribes—cat tribes with cat tribes, white lion tribes like Yuria with white lion tribes—there was a history of nearly 100 years of war between the werewolf Wolrang tribe and vampires.

But for Yuria, that’s ancient history.

Arias, who had been listening, speaks with a serious expression.

“Although vampires are considered a humanoid race… they’re fundamentally hostile to humans. It could be dangerous…”

“It’s something I need to do. I have to go.”

With those words, Valt begins searching through the quest list.

“Hmm, the Vampire Kingdom is called Brasov, but no quests come up when I search for Brasov.”

Arias kindly explains in response to Valt’s confusion.

“If you want to search for quests, it would be better to look up Hackback or Westmoor rather than Brasov. Those are the human territories closest to Brasov, the Vampire Kingdom.”

Following Arias’s advice, quite a few quests appear.

Lisa also manipulates her armlet to look at quests.

Despite being only Level 2, there are some quests she can accept.

“Eh… all I can do is… find cats, help with fortification construction, or catch grave robbers…”

But Valt’s list includes many dangerous quests.

“There are quite a few missing person searches. Hmm, someone wants vampire eyeballs and fangs?”

Quests that antagonize vampires should generally be avoided.

After all, Valt’s goal is to befriend them, not make enemies.

The quests include details about the client’s country, origin, and additional comments.

It really feels like doing quests in a game.

“I should pick something suitable and depart right away.”

Lisa immediately shouts.

“Me too! I’m coming with you!”

Victor responds incredulously.

“You? This is a Level 4 quest. Lisa, you can’t join the party, just like me.”

Noticing Victor’s gloomy expression, Lisa snaps her fingers and exclaims.

“Victor, you’re in! You and I will form a party and do a Level 2 quest! And then we’ll follow Valt around, how about that?!”

Arias also raises her hand.

“I, I want to go too!! That’s practically my home!”

This isn’t a loophole but a common practice among Grownd students.

They complete different quests in the same region and return together.

Lower-ranked students can ensure their safety by traveling with higher-ranked ones, so it’s a frequently used method.

Sometimes students even get paid to accompany others.

“Hmm… I won’t take you to dangerous places.”

At Valt’s words, Lisa avoids eye contact and stammers.

“O-of course. W-who would follow you to d-dangerous places? Absolutely not. I’m just going to find a cat for my Level 2 quest, hehe.”

It’s obvious she’ll follow anyway. Lisa is helpful to Valt in areas other than combat.

“Lisa seems to need more studying…”

“I’m a late bloomer! I’ll definitely get stronger through adventure!”

It would be fun if everyone went together.

And as Valt thought, if he only establishes friendly relations with vampires, there shouldn’t be much danger.

In the end, the group consists of Valt, Lisa, Arias, Victor, Robin, Lati, and Yuria. Yuria quickly volunteered when she heard they were going to the Great Forest.

Valt, Robin, and Yuria form one team.

Victor, Lisa, Arias, and Lati form another.

“Then let’s all choose our quests!”

Valt and his friends selected the most suitable quests and sent applications to the quest management office through their armlets.

***

“Mmm… So Valt is planning to depart for the Great Forest after all.”

Liman laughs as if it were obvious.

“Hahaha, that kid’s initiative is no joke! Submitting a quest application just 30 minutes after the rank announcement? Kukukuk. This must be a first… Oh, except for that one guy?”

Grownd quest applications are naturally approved unless there are specific disqualifying reasons.

Professor Marcel rubs his throbbing forehead.

It’s not because he would be held responsible if something happened to a student.

Grownd emphasizes practical experience.

All students sign the necessary consent forms.

What Marcel worries about is talented students disappearing before they can bloom.

As a former soldier, he has seen many such people. That’s why he transformed into an educator who pays extra attention to student safety.

“Come on, Professor Marcel, they’re not children anymore. They’re old enough to take responsibility for their actions.”

Still, Marcel can’t help feeling uneasy.

“By the way, who is he going with?”

“Robin Ash and Yuria Lycant. But there’s a problem.”

Liman found this strange.

Robin and Yuria are also strong. With a few more practical experiences, they would quickly become remarkably stronger.

“What problem? Even I can see they’re quite a powerful party.”

Professor Marcel sighs and says.

“I’m worried about these ones. Victor Gayans, Arias Silverwood, Lisa Valentine, and Lati Tinker have applied for a low-level quest in Westmoor territory. Finding a cat at Level 2… who travels all that way just to find a cat?”

Liman lets out an incredulous laugh.

“Puhahaha, these kids are so obvious! But Arias originally lived in the Great Forest, and with Victor and Lati there too, they should be fine.”

“Lisa Valentine is the problem. Sigh… a Level 2 student with no fear… and we can’t even contact Earl Valentine…”

The Valentine family is as renowned and heroic in the Empire as the Caldrian family.

If anything were to happen to his youngest daughter, Earl Valentine probably wouldn’t say anything, but it would still weigh heavily on Marcel’s conscience.

Liman’s expression hardens as he says.

“You are the head professor for the first-year students, Professor Marcel.”

Marcel is dumbfounded by this quick shift in attitude.

“…This guy…”

***

The day before Valt’s departure for the Vampire Kingdom.

Valt is resting in the dormitory, taking a day off from training to prepare for tomorrow’s departure, when his armlet vibrates.

Zing-

‘Hmm?’

Valt had turned off notifications for Gram Chat due to the high volume of messages. Besides that, he rarely receives any communications.

Opening his armlet, he sees a message from Student Support Services about a visitor requesting to see him.

‘A visitor? Who could it be? Is there anyone who would come to see me?’

Though puzzled, Valt gets up and heads to the visiting room.

***

The visitor spots Valt and calls out loudly.

“Your Highness!!”

‘Ah, it’s this person.’