Chapter 15

A new job has been added to the system, I hear. Time to change careers. Doyugeon leapt out of his chair, whooping with excitement before shouting out the job window.

“Job? Why jobs?” Doyugeon muttered as he chewed on some chicken. “Why do we have to pick from jobs like in a game when this isn’t even a game?”

While eating chicken and pondering, Doyugeon nudged his shoulder. Upon looking, Doyugeon was pointing to the job window he had summoned, a subtle grin on his face.

[Job Window]

No job assigned. Please select a first-class job.

□ Beginner Knight – Recommended

□ Beginner Spearman

“Beginner, huh? Even someone with the talent to have gone without injury while hunting until now is still a beginner. At least we aren’t chicks, right? Still, it’s all about the same, in the end.”

Doyugeon muttered in disappointment.

“Why would they even add ‘beginner’ to the front of the job title? Is it asking us to pick it or not?”

“The system must like beginners.”

“What about you? What’s your job?”

“Job Window.”

[Examining aptitudes…]

Instead of the job window, a message appeared. Despite refreshing it and waiting, the job window wouldn’t load.

Perhaps the system had been overloaded by everyone logging in? Hm.

Doyugeon picked up some chicken while waiting and began speaking towards his own job window.

“Job information. Beginner Knight information. Beginner Knight job information. Recommended job information. First job information. No job information?”

Doyugeon mumbled but the system window wouldn’t appear.

“The system is as always, terribly unhelpful.”

It seems one has to learn the system well as it appears to cultivate this kind of uncertainty without providing any explanation.

It was bad enough as usual but showing just the job title and asking us to pick this time? That’s outrageous.

[Once selected, a job cannot be changed. Please choose carefully.]

What do they want us to do? What knowledge do we need to choose carefully?

Doyugeon thought for a while before lightly pressing the “Beginner Knight” with his finger. An action suitable for the digital era.

In hindsight, it seems it was our mistake to not realize it was a touch system. Though the system never explained it either, the lack of user-friendliness could’ve made one forget.

Waiting with faint anticipation, nothing happened. That’s the system, after all.

Thinking for a bit, Doyugeon said,

“Beginner Knight touch.”

An attempt at a surreal method of voice recognition.

[‘Beginner Knight’ has been selected? Once a career change is chosen, it cannot be changed.]

So voice recognition works after all. Doyugeon looked surprised.

“Seriously, no explanation at all?”

“Calm down and sit.”

Doyugeon sat down as he handed over a stick of chicken. He devoured it eagerly.

“Expected hidden jobs or cheat codes, but this… no proper job information. What?”

“What? Were you expecting that? Expecting impossibilities.”

“Not impossible. Hunting’s easy, leveling up is smooth, if there were two geniuses playing the game, it’s possible to come across such a thing by chance.”

“You dream too big. Even if we were to treat the system as a game, it’s not possible. If it were a game, it’s an online game. Online games provide an equal starting point and a fair progression method to maintain. Hidden jobs would ruin it.”

Doyugeon leaned back in the chair.

“Since real-money transactions are possible, hidden jobs could be put in. Why does it lack aspirations?”

“Real-money transactions?”

“Why not? Possible with party systems where you hire people for level-ups. That’s real-money transaction.”

Party experience division varies between differential division based on hunting contribution and uniform division based on headcount. While both Doyugeon and the narrator are able to hunt alone and avoid unnecessary party systems by using uniform division, most ordinary parties prefer differential division.

But uniform division isn’t unused either. A common use method is simple. You hire a party with money, then while they go out to hunt, you stay in and do nothing. This way, even if you sleep at home, you’ll level up. If you hire multiple parties and rotate them 24/7, the potential for explosive leveling can place you at the top of the levels.

The system must know such a method exists but chooses to not block it, indicating a lack of concern for fairness. But even then, would something like hidden jobs in line with Doyugeon’s dreams exist? That’s over-imagined.

After eating some chicken, feeling full, the narrator put down the chopsticks. Doyugeon looked over after eating and pondering.

“Naturally, between swordsmen and spearman, the knight is better, right? Hey, you’re done eating?”

The narrator nodded.

“While spearman has an advantage due to longer reach, if the party insists on knight, then knight is better.”

“Alright then, let’s change careers. Job Window. Select Beginner Knight.”

The job window popped up, along with a confirmation window.

“Hold on.”

They stopped Doyugeon.

“Why?”

“There’s no guarantee that the job types in the job window are fixed. Let’s wait a bit, check online reactions and see if other options appear. Oh, right, joining offline gatherings might be better too.”

Though there was no intention to attend offline gatherings, it seemed like a good idea to obtain job information.

“True but, what if the job available right now is gone?”

“Even so, the inability to pick Beginner Knight should be a risk worth taking, right?”

While thinking about it while drinking juice, Doyugeon then said,

“Nah. I’ll go with Beginner Knight.”

“You were complaining about ‘beginner’ before?”

“At max level 100 and only level 7, we’re all beginners now. So why would I care if it says ‘beginner’?”

“You were complaining before.”

Doyugeon waved his hand.

“Don’t worry. To someone as talented as me, being a beginner is just a fleeting phase.”

The boy chuckled.

“Too much pride.”

“Nevertheless, the selection.”

The confirmation window disappeared.

[Job Change Quest – Beginner Knight]

Defeat 3 goblins.

0/3

Additional conditions

□ Weapon handling efficiency over 90% in the training room

□ Contribution rate in party hunts over 75%

□ Reset on revival

□ Complete within 14 days

The job change quest appeared. It makes sense a quest would pop up. The system appears to like games.

However, isn’t the job change quest too difficult? This isn’t beginner level.

Goblins are incredibly strong. While the narrator hasn’t had the proper experience due to killing them from afar with magic, goblin swordsmanship is extraordinary. If you just casually walk up with a blade, having your neck cut is a base possibility. From what’s seen online, everyone kills goblins by ganging up on them instead of proper duels.

With a quest that practically forces almost a 1v3 continuous victory over goblins, would other knights be able to achieve this?

“Easy.”

Though many thoughts entered his mind, it’s true for Doyugeon.

[Even if you fail the job change quest, you can attempt again.]

Ah. If retrying is possible, it should be clearable. Probably?

Doyugeon looked over.

“Shall we finish today?”

“No. I’m too tired to hunt today.”

Just taking a short nap hasn’t removed the fatigue but there’s no need to work harder unnecessarily. Hmm… Feeling tired, maybe it’s time to head home.

The narrator stood up and stretched.

“Leaving?”

“Know well. Your awareness is quick.”

“Then, let’s show the job window before leaving.”

“Right. Should check again. Job Window.”

[Job Window]

No job assigned. Please select a first-class job.

□ Apprentice Mage – Recommended

□ Beginner Healer

□ Beginner Mage Scholar

□ Beginner Necromancer

□ Beginner Alchemist

□ Beginner Ice Mage

..

..

..

□ Beginner Fire Mage

So many…

I should really attend the exploration guild’s offline gathering for information collection.

—

The Chuseok holiday has arrived. Though it’s the greatest celebration of our culture, I don’t particularly like it. In my previous life, I wasn’t particularly fond of it, but in my current life, as a day for the paternal side of the family to gather, it’s complicated.

It became awkward one day when the grandfather, who advocated for the succession of the eldest son, suddenly named my father, the second son, as the successor. The succession process and settlement are almost complete, so now there’s not much discord. However, the atmosphere gets tense when the extended paternal family gathers.

Fortunately, there’s an unspoken agreement. For the past two years, we’ve managed to avoid overlapping visits to the main house so we barely meet each other.

Though grandfather wasn’t happy, I consider this the best possible arrangement. I can’t imagine how troubling this situation must have been for father to create.

Even so, though it’s complicated, because I’m a middle schooler, I can be oblivious. This morning at 5, with nothing else to do on Chuseok, I decided to go to the main house early. I’d also have breakfast there. Though I enjoy mom’s cooking, the house has chefs, and there’s no comparison. Sorry, mom.

Walking past the high-walled mansions, I crossed over the gate of the main house. As I walked through the garden, I saw an uncle-like figure nervously pacing with cold sweat at the entrance. Judging by his suit, he seems to be an executive but a face I’ve never seen before. Is he lost?

As I approached, he saw me and came over. He greeted and introduced himself, saying something about being the new president for a month and vowing to work hard. I don’t understand why he would tell me all this, especially with the cold sweat, perhaps he’s very nervous.

After a long introduction with exaggerated flattery about how the rumors about the young lady were exaggerated and the brighter future of the group, he asked,

“So where are the other executives?”

This seems to be the main question.

“The other executives?”

“There’s a tradition of executives gathering at the Chairman’s house during the holidays, but I haven’t seen them.”

“That tradition was broken two years ago, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Eh, everyone knows that. Didn’t you hear that this year would be any different?”

The man’s eyes wandered and his smile cracked.

At that moment, the front door opened and grandfather appeared. He looked over the man before asking,

“What are you doing here?”

“Sir, it’s that…”

Grandfather clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to me.

“Sky, come in quickly. Aren’t you hot?”

Looking at the man briefly, the narrator followed grandfather inside. I don’t know what’s going on, but if there’s a restructuring in the group, it’d be great if they would handle it without my knowledge. Though arriving suddenly has probably caused this.

Entering the living room and sitting on the sofa, even though it wasn’t especially hot outside, the house’s comfort was evident.

“You should contact in advance if you visit. This old man gets startled by small things.”

“It’s just an excuse for a fuss.”

Grandfather smiled and moved berries from the table over. The narrator ate one. It’s delicious.

“I hear from your father that you’ve been learning magic?”

“That father is bad. Spreading rumors without permission.”

The narrator magicked a berry to float and spin before eating it.

“Wow…so convenient. Can’t you teach this old man?”

“Teach or not, it’s within the realm of talent. There’s nothing I can do for you. Can you sense magic power, grandfather?”

Grandfather shook his head.

“Then it should be hard. It would be different if you could log in, but can’t you?”

“If I were ten years younger, I would’ve fought slimes and logged in. These days, even walking is a burden. Speaking of which, don’t you have someone you log in with? Someone named Doo…”

“His name’s Doyugeon.”

“That’s right. That name stood out because I heard you’ve been cutting down on your usual reading to log in.”

“Logging in feels like going for a walk rather than being fun.”

“Isn’t walking good? By the way, isn’t that boy being bothersome?”

Huh? That is an oddly sudden question.

“Not exactly bothersome.”

“Not bothersome?”

“Though it can be a bit annoying when I’m busy, it’s not bothersome enough to be a bother.”

Grandfather smiled.

“Sky, would this old man be allowed to tell you something irrelevant?”

“Go ahead.”

“Human hearts, they’re like fish tanks. They need cleaning before they get dirty. However, the more you clean them, the more scratches appear in the tank. So, it’s important that the tank doesn’t get dirty in the first place. If that boy is even slightly annoying, clear the relationship. Before cleaning.”

Why is grandfather saying this, seemingly out of nowhere? Seeing Yumina come to mind suggests I can guess.

“Grandfather, I am not in a romantic relationship.”

“If it’s hard to sever the relationship, this old man will help.”

“I’m not in a romantic relationship. So there you go.”

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