A few days later, immediately upon our return to Gimul, we headed to the Adventurer Guild to submit our report. A meeting room was prepared for us without delay.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Wogan said as he entered. "I’ve got the gist of what happened from Ryoma’s message. Just glad you’re all back in one piece. Now, give me the details."
At the Guild Master’s prompt, Asagi began his report. He was concise and focused; though there were a few points of clarification here and there, the briefing was finished in under ten minutes.
Once we were given permission to leave, however, one of us was singled out.
"Wait, sorry. Ryoma, stay behind for a second."
I wasn't sure what he wanted, but if the Guild Master was asking, I had to comply. The others filed out, leaving just Wogan and me in the meeting room.
"Hang on... I’m sure I put it around here somewhere..."
The only sound in the room was the rustle of a heavy stack of documents.
"Aha! Here it is. Since you got back much earlier than scheduled, the deadline hasn't passed yet. Interested in giving this a try?"
The document he handed me was for a training session aimed at newcomer adventurers.
According to the details, the program would start five days from now and last for five days. The curriculum focused on "Camping Techniques"—essential skills for any long-term adventurer. It was a practical, hands-on course held at a place called the Plain of Poisonous Insects.
The bottom of the document was an application form; it looked like I just had to sign my name to join.
The training itself seemed perfectly normal, except for one glaring detail. The application form wasn't for a student—it was for an instructor.
"It’s a camping course for rookies, Ryoma. It’s not like they're going to a snowy mountain or some death trap. What use would a guy who lived alone in the forest for years have for a basic class? You'd be bored to tears."
That was a fair point. So, I was being asked to participate as part of the teaching staff.
"That's part of it," Wogan continued. "But this request will benefit you in the long run, too."
"How so?"
"You're planning to raise your rank so you can enter the Shulls Great Forest, right? An adventurer's rank isn't decided by combat prowess alone. If you're proactive about taking community-building requests like this, the guild looks more favorably on your advancement. It makes it a little easier to climb the ladder."
I hadn't known that.
"Of course, you have to actually have the skills to back up the rank, but as an organization, we’re in trouble if the rookies don't grow. We tend to give a bit of preferential treatment to those who help the next generation. In your case, your skill isn't the issue—it’s your age. You’re just too young.
"To reach C-Rank—the minimum to enter that Great Forest—you have to cross a threshold where a lot of people just give up and retire. For an average adventurer, it takes years of steady work to get there. If you want to fast-track your promotion, you need to take jobs like this."
"I see..."
"Besides, as your rank goes up, so does the danger. You'll find more jobs you can't handle alone, which means forming impromptu parties with people you've just met. I've been watching you since you registered. You aren't bad at working with others; you just happen to enjoy your freedom. You've teamed up with Asagi’s group twice now, and with Miya’s party three times. I haven't heard a single complaint. You might find it a chore, but you’re clearly capable of coordinating with a team. Take my advice: get used to working with strangers while the stakes are relatively low."
When he put it that way, the request seemed like the perfect opportunity.
"That's my take, anyway. In those impromptu parties I mentioned, the person with the highest rank or the most skill usually ends up as the leader. You’re going to be one of those people soon. It’ll be a pathetic sight if you get to that level and have to tell everyone you don't know how to lead."
It was a direct recommendation from the Guild Master, and it offered clear benefits. I decided to give it a shot, even if I wasn't particularly confident in my teaching abilities.
"Understood. I'll accept the request. However, the materials only list the location and the dates. When do I meet with the other instructors?"
I assumed we would need to coordinate our teaching methods beforehand.
"Ah, don't worry about that. There’ll be a quick meeting on the morning of the first day. That’ll be plenty."
When I asked for details, it turned out the training was a bit different from what I’d imagined.
First, the rookies would sign up either as individuals or as pre-formed parties. They were responsible for their own gear and supplies. They would gather at the gates and head out with the instructors, but no specific instructor would be assigned to any particular group of students.
"I’ve picked a veteran to take overall command. You’ll be acting as their assistant. Just pack your gear and show up at the designated time. As for the actual camping, just do it your way. I've told the other instructors the same thing.
"There are a dozen ways to camp—some people bring every tool under the sun, others make do with what they find in the brush. If the kids watch you up close and see different styles, they’ll learn something useful. That's why I'm letting everyone use their own methods."
So it was a "learn by watching" approach.
"You don't need to meddle or offer advice constantly, either. The ones who actually want to be adventurers will pay attention. If they ask a question, answer it. Otherwise, your primary job is ensuring their safety. If you see them doing something suicidal, stop them. But as long as it’s a wound healing magic can fix, let them learn from the mistake."
It was a remarkably hands-off policy. Wogan clearly believed that pain was the best teacher. The instructors were simply there to make sure nobody actually died.
It probably was an effective way to learn, but it sounded like it might be more stressful for the instructors than just teaching a standard class.
"Good work today, Meilyne-san."
After leaving the meeting room, I dropped off the Trent lumber from my Dimension Home at the warehouse and headed to the reception desk.
"Oh, Ryoma-kun. Here to pick up your payment?"
"That, and I'd like to submit my application for next week's training. I’m also looking to buy some information."
I handed over my Guild Card and the instructor application.
"Information, hmm? Here, how does this look?"
Meilyne pulled a booklet from beneath the counter. It was a compiled guide on the Plain of Poisonous Insects.
"I figured you’d want this before the training session. Was I right?"
"Yes, exactly. How detailed is it?"
"It covers the monsters active in the area this season, the medicinal herbs you can find, and a basic map of the terrain. Since it was put together specifically for the training, it has everything you’ll need."
If Meilyne was vouching for it, it was good enough for me.
"I'll take it. Please deduct the cost from my reward for the Trent mission."
"Thank you. While you're at it, do you want to pick up a side request?"
She produced a list of active commissions.
"What are these?"
"The rookies are required to complete at least one request during the trip—it's part of the training. Instructors don't have to do it, but you might as well earn a little extra pocket change while you’re out there."
"I see... wait a second."
I scanned the list. Most of them were for gathering herbs or poisonous insects. Since they were standard medicinal ingredients, nothing seemed odd at first glance, but then I noticed something.
"Meilyne-san, regarding this request for Giyamana grass roots... are these supposed to be delivered to a guild in a different city?"
Giyamana grass was easy to find, but it was incredibly perishable. Once the roots were dug up, they had to be processed into medicine within twelve to twenty-four hours, or they became useless. I didn't know the exact distance to the Plain of Poisonous Insects, but based on the five-day schedule, any roots gathered there would be rotten by the time we returned to Gimul. They wouldn't even be worth buying as scrap.
There were several other oddities on the list—herbs that required complex field processing or plants that were notoriously difficult to locate.
Then I saw "Tormac bark." That was definitely out of season. Tormac bark was only medicinally potent if it was gathered in early spring, when the tree naturally shed its outer layer after the winter. Scraping it off now would yield nothing but useless wood.
"I forgot to mention," Meilyne said, leaning over the counter. "Lean in closer."
I leaned in, and she lowered her voice.
"I shouldn't say this too loudly, but the guild mixes 'traps' into that list for the training. Every single one of them can be successfully completed—or successfully avoided—if the rookies do their research beforehand. But if they're lazy and don't check their facts, they’re guaranteed to fail. It won't go on their permanent record, of course."
"Ah... I thought it seemed suspicious."
"I take it you don't approve?"
"It’s just different from what I expected. Is this the standard way of doing things?"
"That's a hard question. Every guild holds training, but the methods are left to the local branch. Some do it like we do; I’ve heard others make the kids do a full month of classroom lectures before they ever step outside. It all comes down to the person in charge of the department. And around here, the Guild Master is the one who designs the curriculum."
Thinking back to the surprise exam I had to take when I first registered, everything suddenly clicked. This was exactly Wogan’s style.
"We’re allowed to tell the instructors, but it’s a secret from the trainees," she reminded me with a wink. "So keep it under your hat."
"Understood. In that case, I’ll pass on taking a side request. I think I’ll have my hands full just keeping an eye on the students."
"Good luck. Here’s your reward for the previous mission. I've split it equally with your teammates and deducted the fee for the booklet. Here’s your Guild Card, too."
"Thank you very much."
I took the pouch of coins and headed out, the guide to the Plain of Poisonous Insects tucked under my arm.