For all her quirks, Alice turned out to be quite the attentive teacher, walking us through the adventurer system with surprising thoroughness.
It was a much more structured organization than I’d initially imagined. Apparently, when you first register, you don't just get cut loose; there’s a mandatory three-day Basic Course where you learn the regulations, foundational knowledge, and even practical skills like how to set up camp.
There were also one-day training sessions required when moving from low to middle rank, or middle to high. It felt remarkably well-organized. They even offered optional, fee-based courses and could provide letters of introduction for those wanting to attend lectures at a magic academy.
"So, that’s the basics of the basics," Alice said. "Once you’ve actually committed to the life, the formal training will take care of the rest. We could stop here, but let’s circle back to the rank system I mentioned earlier."
"You mean the 'low-rank' and 'middle-rank' designations?" I asked.
"Exactly. Adventurer ranks are split into three: low, middle, and high. Promotion requires an exam. As long as you meet the requirements, you can apply for the monthly tests whenever you feel ready. Just because you qualify doesn't mean you're forced to move up."
From what I could tell, the rank determined what kind of requests you could take. Naturally, higher ranks meant better pay, but they also brought significantly more dangerous work. However, as Alice pointed out, the system was flexible; you could choose to stay at a lower rank if you weren't confident in your skills.
As I nodded along, Aoi raised her hand, her head tilted curiously. "Um... Alice, what about the 'Top-class' rank you mentioned for Lunamaria and Noah?"
"Ah, that’s more of a colloquialism. There isn't an official 'Top-class' rank in the guild. However, high-ranking adventurers who have earned a unique title are referred to as 'Top-class.' Once you have a title, you start getting personal requests by name. In practice, it effectively functions as a rank above high-tier."
If I remembered correctly, Noah was the Bloody Princess and Lunamaria was the Adventurer of the Black Lily. A title like that sounded pretty cool... I could feel my long-buried chuunibyou tendencies stirring in my chest. For a fleeting second, I found myself wondering what kind of title I might end up with...
(I see... In that case—)
Wait, no! Sorry! I was just kidding! I don't need one! I definitely don't need one! Please don't do anything, seriously!
(……Hmph. If Kaito says so, I shall refrain.)
That was way too close. I was a hair's breadth away from a life-altering disaster. I really needed to be more careful about what I thought around certain people. Some things are best appreciated from a distance, and cool titles are definitely one of them.
While I was busy narrowly avoiding a new addition to my black history, Alice had already moved on. She took on a much more serious tone as she spoke.
"That’s about it for the general overview. Whether you actually sign up is your call. But before we finish the basics, there’s one more critical thing we need to discuss for your survival in the field... 'Information.'"
This was a vital topic, and I couldn't think of anyone more qualified to teach it than Alice.
"As an adventurer, you’ll take on subjugation requests. Naturally, that means gathering intel on your target... right? The guild is packed with records, and there are a dozen ways to research a monster. You wouldn’t be so foolish as to charge out without knowing what you’re up against, would you? I'll assume you’re smarter than that."
As she spoke, Alice began sketching on the blackboard. It looked like a large dragon and a much smaller one.
"Everyone has their own methods for gathering intel, so I won’t lecture you on the how-to. But I want you to burn this into your minds... Are you listening? Information is worthless unless it is 'accurate.' It shouldn't be exaggerated, and it shouldn't be lacking. Does that sound obvious? Well, it’s the most important rule—and the hardest one to follow."
Seeing the gravity in Alice’s eyes, I found myself sitting up a bit straighter.
"For instance, what happens if you underestimate a foe? That’s easy—you get careless, or overconfident. But what if you overestimate them? You get tense, you shrink back... you can't perform at your best. You end up wasting physical energy and magic power on unnecessary precautions. Do you see why accurately gauging an opponent is the cornerstone of combat?"
"Yes," Aoi replied.
"I think so," Hina added.
"Good. You'll get better at measuring others as you gain experience. But that was just the warm-up. Now, let’s talk about the single most important piece of information you need to grasp."
Alice paused for emphasis, looking between Aoi and Hina before continuing.
"The most critical data in any fight is 'the truth about yourself.' Listen to me. No matter how much power you possess, if you don't understand it—or if you can't 'demonstrate it clearly to those around you'—then you are a liability. You must know how you compare to others, what you excel at, what your weaknesses are, and exactly what skills you have. You must know yourself more accurately than anyone else. Those who fail at this don't last long in this world."
I think I understood her point. If you don't have a firm grip on your own ceiling and floor, it doesn't matter how well you've analyzed the enemy. In stories, people often discover hidden talents in the heat of the moment, but as Alice said, betting your life on a sudden awakening is a quick way to end up in a grave.
"This isn't just about solo play," Alice continued. "It’s rare for low-rankers, but middle and high-ranking adventurers often coordinate with the Order of Knights or other parties. In those cases, someone—usually a knight or the most veteran adventurer—takes command. And for a commander, the biggest headache isn't a weak subordinate; it’s an 'unpredictable' one. If I know someone is weak, I can plan for it. But if I don't know what a person can actually do, I can't use them. If they underperform, I have to bail them out. If they overperform, they throw off the entire team's balance and cause unnecessary risks."
"That makes sense," Aoi murmured. "It would be scary fighting next to someone when you have no idea if they’re actually capable or not."
Alice nodded, satisfied. "Exactly. On the other hand, a commander loves it when someone says, 'I’m good at this, I’m bad at that, and I can handle monsters up to this level alone.' It makes everything run smoothly. To show you what I mean, I’ve invited a guest... Ah, right on time. Come in."
There was a knock on the door, and Lilia walked in.
"Sorry to drag you away on such short notice," Alice said.
"No, it’s fine, but... um, what exactly do you need?" Lilia asked, looking a bit confused.
"I just have a few simple questions. You three, listen to Lilia's answers and think back to what I just told you."
Alice gave Lilia a reassuring smile and held up a finger.
"First question, Lilia. If you were to face a Peerage-class demon—specifically a low or middle-rank Count-class—would you have a chance of winning?"
"Well... compatibility and the flow of the battle play a part, so it’s hard to say for sure, but I believe I would have a significant chance of victory."
"I see. And if the opponent was a high-ranking Count-class?"
"I’m sorry to say, but with my current abilities, I don't believe I would stand a chance."
These questions were clearly a test of Lilia’s self-awareness. Alice looked pleased, which meant Lilia’s assessments were likely spot-on. Come to think of it, while Lilia was humble in her daily life, she was remarkably objective when it came to combat. She never bragged, but she also never falsely downplayed her strength when it really mattered.
"Next question," Alice said. "How do you view Sieg and Lunamaria’s combat abilities?"
"I think they are both excellent," Lilia replied without hesitation. "Sieg’s refined swordsmanship is likely the best in the kingdom, and Lunamaria has a versatility that allows her to adapt to almost any situation. They both possess strengths that I lack."
"Mhm, mhm. Now... what if Sieg and Lunamaria teamed up to challenge you? Would they have a chance?"
"Is this... a serious battle we're talking about? Not a training session?"
"Yes. Life or death."
"Then I am sorry to say that regardless of the scenario... it would be my overwhelming victory."
Aoi and Hina both looked stunned by the sheer bluntness of Lilia’s statement.
"And just for the record," Alice poked, "how long do you think they’d last?"
Lilia thought for a moment. "...Perhaps fifteen to twenty seconds?"
"Right on the money," Alice said. "My estimate was the same. Aoi, Hina, you look shocked. But this is a very accurate assessment. To be blunt, the raw specs between those two and Lilia are worlds apart. They wouldn't even be able to track her movements. Even if they threw everything into defense, the gap in basic attributes is so large that she’d likely slice through their guard in a single blow."
"Given the difference in magic power," Lilia added, "it would be extremely difficult for them to even react to my initial strike."
"Even if Lilia was having her worst day and they were having their best," Alice supplemented, "and even if she was slow to start while they had perfect coordination and poured every drop of magic they had into a single-point defense... they might barely survive the first hit. And then they’d be finished by the second."
Alice looked thoroughly satisfied.
"As you can see, Lilia’s self-evaluation is incredibly precise. By my own personal standards, she is firmly categorized as a 'Strong Individual.'"
"E-Um... while I’m honored, what was the purpose of all this?" Lilia asked.
"I was just showing Aoi and Hina how important it is to accurately grasp your own limits," Alice explained.
Lilia nodded understandingly. "I see. It’s true—misreading your own strength doesn't just put you in danger; it risks everyone around you."
"Lilia understands this because of her time as a Division Commander. Since you two know her well, I thought she’d be the perfect example. Thanks for the help. Here’s your reward."
Alice handed over a large paper bag. Lilia accepted it tentatively, looking a bit bashful.
"A reward? Oh, you really didn't have to..."
She peeked inside the bag, and her entire expression froze. I couldn't see what was in there, but whatever it was, it had an immediate effect.
"Wait, do you not want it?" Alice teased.
"N-No! I... I’ll take it! Thank you! Ah, um... well, I still have work to do, so I’ll be going now!"
Lilia practically bolted from the room, acting flustered. She kept casting quick, nervous glances our way, almost as if she was terrified of us seeing what was in the bag.
If I had to guess... it was probably something dragon-related. A limited-edition model, rare scales, or something along those lines. Only something like that could make her lose her composure so completely.