“I think you should attend the Adventurer Vocational School.”
“Really?”
The evening after I met with Togo-san. I had gathered Layla, Yukine, and Reinforce in the living room of our Otherworld. As soon as the discussion on what kind of school I should attend, Layla immediately declared so.
Despite being somewhat surprised by Layla’s stance, Yukine timidly raised her hand. I gave her a nod.
“Ahm…sorry but before we proceed, I’d like to know what Father-in-law and Mother-in-law said on the matter.”
“Oh, yeah, of course. Well, long story short, they said it was all up to me.”
“That’s…a bit unexpected. I was under the impression that the two of them disliked the very thought of you fighting, in any shape or form.”
“Well, you’re not exactly wrong.”
After meeting with Togo-san, the first ones I consulted on the matter were naturally my parents. Both of them were aware that I had gotten involved in 4 dungeon overflows now. And while they didn’t have the details, they knew that I saw a lot of deaths. They also knew of the law-mandated therapy sessions I had been going.
My father and mother both expressed that if it were possible, they would have preferred that I attended a regular school. However…
“But their more pressing concern is that, the way things are developing, knowing how to fight might be the difference between my survival and death.”
“Ohh. I understand now.”
Yukine clapped her hands together in realization, while Layla nodded her head in agreement.
Back when I decided to become an adventurer, Togo-san talked with my parents and said something along the lines of ‘there was no longer any place in modern day Japan that was completely free from the dangers of the dungeons, so it would be nothing but beneficial for any youth to get used to dealing with monsters’. But it would seem that some worry still lingered in their minds.
I had been in 4 dungeon overflows at this point. Four times now that I had been in a dungeon without wanting to. A fifth one wasn’t out of the question. I even heard that someone got involved in 6 overflows, making them quite famous abroad recently. Aside from us, there were many other people who had gotten caught up in dungeon overflow events more than once. It might be gradual, but the threat of dungeons was certainly increasing. So, before it overwhelmed me, wouldn’t it better to secure some countermeasure to protect myself? My parents seemed to think so as well.
“They didn’t know enough about being an adventurer, or rather, about being an Awakened One to make a decision as parents, so they instead trusted me to make the right decision for myself.”
“…I am sure Father-in-law and Mother-in-law agonized over the choice. After all, it is any parent’s wish to have their child journey through life without ever being in a fight.”
“Yeah…”
My parents earlier looked sick with worry. To be frank, seeing them like that hurt me inside a little.
Also, and this wasn’t exactly related to the issue at hand…but my dad apparently had begun his Awakening training as a Dungeon Store staff member. That being said, his training didn’t involve going to a site like a mountain. Instead, his work duties would now involve things like meditation a few times every week. Supposedly, this way would take him about double the time to Awaken compared to the more conventional methods, but who knew what would actually happen.
…for a moment, I contemplated on whether to give him a Silver Apple, but I quickly dismissed the idea. It was better to avoid risks. It was one thing if my dad’s training involved deadly procedures or relied on a dangerous organization, but since it was guaranteed to be safe, I chose to simply observe calmly.
“In passing, what about your friends?”
“I haven’t said anything to them yet. After my parents, you’re the first ones I’m consulting about this.”
“…in that case, I suggest talking to them after we’re done. I think then you can make your final decision on the matter.”
“Ok, I will.”
When I agreed to Yukine’s suggestion, Layla then raised her pretty hand.
“I hope you don’t mind but I’ve taken the liberty of writing down what I believe to be the pros and the cons of attending the Adventurer Vocational School.”
“Ohh, thank you”
“It’s nothing.”
Layla said so and then presented a whiteboard the size of maybe an opened notebook. She placed it on top of a desk so that everyone here could see.
Pros:
improvement of battle techniques
building connections as an adventurer
To better understand the taxation and other matters involved in the adventurer system
the ability to allocate as much time as needed in dungeon exploration
tuition fee exemption, as well as discounts and rebates to expenses as long as they are for dungeon exploration
Cons:
Each school requires the students to remain in its dormitories, and each school is also located far from home
The curriculum offered doesn’t make it easier to get into a university that offers an edge into getting a regular job.
The dungeons are in the school premises, and there is still the risk of an overflow.
The relationship with the citizens around the school
because of its experimental nature, it is unclear how useful the things learned in the lessons are.
The issues brought about by gathering many Awakened Ones in one place
“These are but the broad strokes, but I think these about cover it”
“Yeah…or rather, I’m so torn on what to do”
Looking at the entries that Layla wrote down, I laughed dryly without meaning to.
There were certainly pros to attending.
I wanted to learn combat techniques and other related stuff, plus I also wanted to make a connection with the other Awakened Ones and the JSDF members who would come to teach us.
The problem was that there was also a lot of downsides in attending.
“I have a question, dear. The Salamander Dungeon not far from this house and now the new dungeon in what used to be your school, what would become of your efforts to cull the monsters there? If you were to live far away, won’t that make it hard for you to go to those dungeons?”
“On matters like that, the Adventurer Vocational Schools are flexible, to some extent. After all, the core concept behind this program is to secure people who would perform regular culling in dungeons. So, if the students have to travel to a dungeon far from school, it’d be no issue to request some days off of school. Travel expenses will be covered too.”
“Well, we’d still have to complete remedial lessons down the line.”
In preparation for my talk with my parents, I looked stuff up online. As perhaps to be expected, the majority sentiment was along the lines of ‘Awakened Ones should just focus on culling monsters’. It was almost as if the articles were pushing the students to explore dungeons even if their most important duty as students—which was to study—was left to the wayside.
“I see. Then, you’ll come back here every once in awhile, under the guise of culling those dungeons.”
“Yup, that’s the plan. It won’t be a daytrip, but I’d have a place to stay here, so that doesn’t matter.”
“Right. Then, how about the possible relationship with the citizens near the schools?”
“Well, it’ll be a school where Awakened Ones will gather, so protests from the locals aren’t out of the question. But it’s a project by the government. Security likely won’t be an issue.”
“Alright. How about the risks of an overflow happening?”
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue either. The relevant official government websites list each dungeon involved as only D rank. There might be some differences in reality, but let’s assume this info is fully reliable for now. If students are going to enter these dungeons regularly as part of their classes, an overflow is quite unlikely.”
“…then, what about issues between Awakened Ones?”
“On that front, I honestly can’t tell how it will go.”
In response to Yukine’s question, Layla gently shook her head.
“We’re talking about partially isolating adolescent, still-developing people that each have power beyond common sense. Something might happen, but it might surprisingly be uneventful. I don’t think there’s any way to tell even that much.”
“Well, I suppose so…I guess that too is another experimental aspect of the school.”
I was sure there were Awakened Ones who were also ruffians all over the world. If I happened to become classmates with such people and if they chose to lay their hands on my girls, why, I suspect I wouldn’t be able hold myself back. Depending on the situation, I might go so far as to shed some blood.
This was something I should seriously consider.
“…I think this might be the most important point: there are only a very limited range of topics unrelated to dungeons that a student could study, so it would seem.”
“That can’t be helped. Time is limited, and so is one’s so-called ‘brain power’. It takes you a considerable amount of time to learn even one topic, and worse, there are topics that are simply beyond you no matter how much time and effort you put in. You can’t simply learn them all.”
“Sorry for being so stupid.”
My grades were basically average. Before I became an adventurer, my grades could probably be argued to be slightly above the average, but lately, it was more like below. I wasn’t all that bright to begin with, so when I convert my study time into fight training and dungeon exploration time on top of that, it was no wonder my grades would be affected like that.
What’s that? Why don’t I convert my leisure time into study time instead? If I had the time for games and swinging my hips, why don’t I use it for studying? Well, you see…err…there’s more to life than studying, you know.
“Still, won’t going to these schools have a rather unfavorable influence on, what did you once call it, dear? Your satisfactory educational background, was it? In any rate, won’t these schools narrow down your future career paths? I, for one, am therefore opposed to them.”
“But Master is still only 15. Even if he were to spend the following 2 years and odd months attending the vocational schools for adventurers and concerning himself with only learning how to fight, it’s more than possible to change course to whatever he sees fit. For example, he can take a year off after graduation expressly to study and then transfer to a university that specializes in another field. Or, depending on Master’s remaining savings at the time, he can choose to attend a mediocre but still satisfactory university instead. Alternatively, he can also choose to attend a regular high school again.”
“In that case, would it not be better for to him postpone attending the Adventurer Vocational School instead? If left unused, the information stored in one’s mind quickly fades. He can’t be expected to be able to recall all or even most of his current knowledge after he graduates from that vocational school. That would cause him to lag behind his peers in their lessons. So, won’t it be better to go first to a regular high school where he could not only easily make good use of his present knowledge but also be able to choose whatever future he wants to pursue, even that of being being an adventurer?”
“But, as you know, danger can be found everywhere nowadays. The Minotaur. The Fire Drakes. The Fused-together Draugr. A single wrong move and it could have meant Master’s demise. So, for Master to become able to handle with ease the next threat, I think improving his fighting capabilities is of utmost importance.”
Layla and Yukine seldom held opposing views. They weren’t fighting with each other, but it did feel like that though they both understood what the other was saying, they still couldn’t accept it. I was blankly watching their brisk exchange of words but then, suddenly, they both turned my way.
“Master, I am in favor of you attending the Adventurer Vocational School.”
“And I oppose it. I think you should go to an ordinary high school for the meantime.”
“O-okay…”
Frankly, I was at a complete loss on what to do. My thoughts on both views went no further than ‘I see’. Meanwhile, the two of them remained silent as though they had said what they wanted to say. While I broke into a cold sweat from all that, I turned my gaze toward Reinforce.
“By the way, you haven’t said a word, Reinforce. What’s your stance on this…?”
“This unit will comply with all of Meister’s directives.”
“Right.”
Yeah, I thought so.
But, well, I wasn’t planning to make my final decision right now anyway. I simply wanted to hear their opinions.
“So, err, to summarize…Yukine, you want me to preserve as many options for my future as possible, so you’re against me attending an Adventurer Vocational School, right?”
“Yes, dear. Rather than doing so later, I say it’s better to attend a regular high school now while you still have the motivation to pursue higher education and the circumstances to help you tackle it.”
“…so, then, Layla, you would rather I study things that would help survive now rather than worry about the future, is that right?”
“More or less, yes. I believe that in this world plagued with danger, the ability to defend oneself is indispensable. Even when there is no guarantee that the knowledge to be gained there would prove useful, I think it’s important for you to get started on learning how to defend yourself and other things that could help your survival.”
“Okay…”
I shut my eyes for a brief moment and then opened them again.
“So, Layla. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the feeling that you’re pushing me to learn how to fight other people.”
“Huh?”
“……”
Yukine was puzzled by my statement, but Layla, in contrast, silently nodded.
“You noticed?”
“I mean, you’ve been awfully insistent on me going to an adventurer school, so it made me wonder…also, now that I think more on it, could that have anything to do with your request for me to leave the vanguard entirely to Reinforce and move to the rear instead?”
“Indeed. It was my hope that by having you regularly take up position in the rear, it would lower the danger you might be exposed to when a sudden and unforeseen fight with another Awakened One breaks out.”
“I suppose there are Unique Superpowers in the world that can take out an enemy on first contact…”
“Exactly”
There were likely Unique Superpowers out there that worked like [become Awakened for only 5 seconds per day but exhibit incomparable power during that period] or [unleash tremendous force at the cost of self-destruction].
So, setting aside the ramifications of using those Superpowers, there very well could be Awakened Ones who—even if for only a brief moment—become such a threat that they could take on my group all at once.
“Monsters generally don’t have such strange abilities. However…”
“It’s a different matter for people. Plus, there’s always the possibility of any enemy somehow figuring out that taking me out would do the trick.”
“Precisely.”
…ahh, so that’s what she’s thinking.
She wanted me to stay as far back as possible so that Reinforce and maybe even them could act as my shields against self-exploding enemies and the like. Against a monster, I could argue that me staying in the rear might spell our doom, but when it was against people who would use such attacks, it was a very different story.
It wasn’t like her worry was unfounded either, given the Society of the Sage which Togo-san and Aihara-kun repeatedly warned me about plus the criminal cases involving Awakened Ones occasionally featured in the news.
At last, I understood her insistence on me falling back to the rear. Emotionally though, I still couldn’t quite agree to it.
“So, you want me get to stronger because we can’t fully defend against harm by simply having me fall back to the rear, do I have that right?”
“Yes. We might lack the proficiency when it comes to battles against monsters and other Awakened Ones, but in at least fighting people, our key would be experience. Once those schools open, I’d wager they’ll offer related lessons.”
“I see…”
“It’s not just about what the school can teach us, it’s also about finding out what we else we could learn by ourselves. That too is a way to make use of a place of learning.”
“Yeah…”
I now understood both of their stances. I knew of each side’s advantages and also the disadvantages. There were certainly points that weighed on my mind, but they were all helpful…I believed so, at least.
And so, I announced what was on my mind.
“For the meantime, let’s hold off on any decisions.”
“Right.”
“Very well.”
“Understood.”’
Based on my impression from the pamphlet, the entrance exam, or rather the transfer exam required for Awakened high school students was an interview. The admission process also seemed rather lenient, so I didn’t think I needed to arrive at a decision right away.
Setting that aside for a moment, my gaze wandered back to the board that Layla was still holding. Specifically, my gaze wandered toward the line that said ‘building connections as an adventurer’.
Networking, huh…
Togo-san had recommended other, more normal schools to me…but I mustn’t forget that he too was part of an organization. I was of the opinion that the look of disgust he flashed when he presented the pamphlet for the Adventurer Vocational Schools was genuine. He was that good of a person. And as such, he probably didn’t think favorably of those ‘containers’ where young people like me were being gathered to serve as meat shields.
According to him, the reason he told me about the Adventurer Vocational Schools was so that he could fulfill his obligation to his superiors. In other words, while he wasn’t fond of the adventurer schools, his bosses must really want to have me, or any Awakened One for that matter, to attend such schools.
Frankly, I was of the belief that his bosses might pull something behind his back, regardless of Togo-san’s character. Was I simply falling into some kind of conspiracy theory? Maybe, but in this day and age, I didn’t think this line of thinking was ridiculous.
To begin with, the politicians who make and implement our laws and systems were elected. And elections were determined by votes. Between Awakened Ones and non-Awakened Ones, there was more of the latter at the moment. So, for the sake of the non-Awakened Ones’ votes, politicians would ultimately lean in the favor of non-Awakened Ones. It didn’t help that people’s values and way of thinking hadn’t caught up to this new world, the one after the Return of the Age of Myths. In fact, I myself probably hadn’t adopted to this new world.
There was also that other thing Layla said: finding else what else we can learn by ourselves. It might not be the kind of learning she meant, but being able to think and act for myself was important too. For instance, independently deciding on which places I could call my “regular haunts”.
Having shared my thoughts to the girls, I thought we could end our discussion for today after I’ve done a tiny bit of research. As an aside, I couldn’t help but think whenever I used my smartphone that this sure was a convenient world we lived in.
* * *
The following day.
<<It looks like our school can’t continue operating anymore. Have you guys decided on a place to enroll to?>>
<<I’m planning on going to an Adventurer Vocational School. I was originally planning on going to a university for Awakened Ones, but I decided to accelerate those plans. It’s a little hard to stay in this area, anyway. Plus, it’s nice that the name of the school makes it easier to smooth over the idiots in the neighborhood.>>
Well, that was Aihara-kun for ya.
<<I’m going to an adventurer school too.>>
<<Same.>>
But it surprised me a little to hear those answers from Kumai-kun and Uoyama-kun.
<<Weren’t you planning to go to a sport-oriented university, Kumai-kun? And, Uoyama-kun, you were going for a marine-focused one, right?>>
<<It’s not like I’ve forgotten about that, obviously, but these are just the times we live in. I thought it was better to prioritize getting stronger than anything else.>>
<<I want to build connections as an adventurer too.>>
<<And! The most important reason of all in going to those schools is that a muscled lady JSDF member might come as a special lecturer or something. It doesn’t matter whether we end up dating or not; so long as I get the chance to see one such woman up close, sign me up! Like, looking at a photobook featuring bodybuilders is nice and all, but seeing muscles that are honed by actual use is just so, so, so much better…sorry, I think I have to afk>>
<<If many Awakened Ones are going to gather in one place, I bet there’s someone in the crowd who knows of a Superpower that can make artificial lifeforms…also, if I can engage with fellow mages in some exchange of knowledge and techniques, I just might get some hint on how to expand my glorious tentacle harem…! Sorry, I think I have to excuse myself for now>>
<<In a sense, you guys are tenacious>>
In the end, I decided to enroll in an Adventurer Vocational School. There was an interview, but I would probably pass that without much of an issue. A completely different story had I chosen to go for other, more ordinary schools, because then I would have to study so much just to pass. It would have been to the point that I could get really good grades.
I would probably go along with the flow and attend that school regardless, but I wasn’t fond of doing exactly what those politicians wanted me to do. It didn’t sit right with me on an emotional level, as well as when considering my future.
I was but a high school student who had near zero experience in the “real world”, so it could be argued that it was unavoidable for me to be swayed by adults this time. My activities as an adventurer aside, I had never even worked part-time.
Still, I had 3 wives now and I wanted to show my parents some proper filial piety; I couldn’t let myself forever continue being swept by the flow like this. Some graceful surfing might not be an option for me, but at worst I should be able to doggy paddle against the flow.
Man, what a harsh world we live in…like, I wish the world would be kind to at least us high schoolers and let us figure out our futures at our own pace.
While complaining like that internally, I began looking up ways to upsell myself. It was, of course, for that interview.
TL note: I don’t know anything about the Japanese education systems and its rules. So, I’m quite unsure about the line saying that Kyotaro can go to a regular high school again after attending a vocational school
RPGNovels 
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