The Adventurers Guild building is enormous.
That’s how much importance is placed on the existence of Adventurers.
Because it’s the only facility of its kind in the country.
Because the corridors and other areas are designed to be generally spacious, accommodating the physical abilities of Adventurers.
There are several reasons.
But the biggest reason is a certain piece of equipment within this facility.
It’s called the 【Great Illusion Formation】—in other words, a combat simulator.
Known among Adventurers as the ‘Training Room,’ it’s cutting-edge technology possessed only by a few advanced nations.
Based on the information on an Adventurer Card, it creates an avatar that perfectly replicates the individual’s capabilities.
Then, it sets up a battlefield and matches them with an opponent.
This allows Adventurers to fight each other without the risk of death.
By fighting one another, Adventurers can hone their skills and sometimes scout for Party members.
The 【Great Illusion Formation】 at the heart of the Adventurers Guild serves as both a training ground and a place for Adventurers to interact.
“This is the first time… I’ve seen it.”
A vast room with giant screens installed on all four walls.
The screens displayed Adventurers desperately battling each other.
Faced with the overwhelming sight, Tōru’s eyes widened slightly.
“I had the same reaction the first time I came here… though I’ve never actually used it myself.”
Keiichiro chuckled softly.
This is a place to hone one’s skills and showcase one’s abilities.
Unfortunately, for him, a [Trapper], it was a place he had no connection to.
“Amazing… But I heard this is where you fulfill the conditions to get promoted to A-Rank.”
Tōru tilted her head.
Indeed, Keiichiro had said that once he reached B-Rank, he would immediately aim for promotion to A-Rank.
So she likely couldn’t grasp his intention in coming to the training area.
“See those four screens? Can you see where it says Rate A and stuff below them?”
“Mhm.”
“Getting three consecutive wins here in Rate A is the condition for promotion to A-Rank.”
The training ground has rates from D to A.
The criterion for these divisions is—rank.
For example, Adventurers below A-Rank cannot participate in Rate A.
Adventurers C-Rank or higher cannot participate in Rate D.
This ensures that the battling Adventurers are closely matched in skill.
“Rate A is where A-Rank and higher Adventurers gather—but B-Rank Adventurers who have engaged in a certain level of activity are granted exceptional participation rights.”
Dungeon clearing and material deliveries.
B-Rank Adventurers whose activities like these are recognized are permitted to participate in Rate A training.
“So, by achieving three consecutive victories against Rate A participants… meaning, active A-Rank Adventurers, you can get promoted.”
If you can beat A-Rank Adventurers, you’re worthy of calling yourself A-Rank.
It’s simple logic.
“The people in Rate A… their movements are clearly different.”
Tōru murmured.
“Yeah. There’s a whole dimension of difference between A-Rank and the ranks below it. The refinement of their movements is on another level.”
Of course, everyone beyond the screen is fighting seriously.
But the severity is different between battles in Rate B and below versus those in Rate A.
If battles in Rate B are fought over centimeters, then in Rate A, they naturally fight over millimeters.
There was also a difference in the sharpness of the attacks unleashed.
“But we have to reach that level.”
“Mhm…”
Tōru nodded at Keiichiro’s words.
“Alright, I’m going to look for an opponent. Tōru, do you want to study by watching the other Adventurers fight?”
“Mhm… I think I’ll try challenging Rate B for now.”
“That might be a good idea.”
PvP battles involve a higher dimension of reading your opponent compared to fighting Monsters.
That experience will definitely be beneficial.
“Rate A doesn’t have many participants. I don’t know how many matches I’ll get, but I’ll do as many as I can—”
First of all, it’s limited to A-Rank and above.
There are only a few Adventurers in this room who even have the right to participate.
Plus, many Adventurers have a policy of only fighting people they know.
In that case, it’s doubtful whether there will even be three or more opponents available to actually fight.
Getting three consecutive wins against the same opponent doesn’t grant promotion to A-Rank.
In other words, unless there are at least three A-Rank Adventurers willing to accept a match, it’s physically impossible for Keiichiro to get promoted.
If that happens, he’ll just have to come back another day.
“Well then… shall we go experience the atmosphere of A-Rank?”
Keiichiro headed for the training room.
☆
“You—you’re strong…!”
The man muttered bitterly.
Keiichiro’s dagger was embedded deep in his chest.
“You too. It was just a matter of matchup advantage.”
Keiichiro praised the man’s good fight as well.
He was a [Wizard].
It was certain that Keiichiro, being a Speed Attacker, had the advantage.
Even so, it took quite a few moves to corner him for the finish.
As expected, he was likely an Adventurer worthy of A-Rank.
“Looks like you’ll be catching up in rank soon enough.”
As Keiichiro pulled out the dagger, the man staggered.
Mana leaked from the wound in his chest.
Battles in the 【Great Illusion Formation】 are conducted using avatars made of mana.
If the outer shell replicating the sampled Adventurer’s form is broken, the mana filling it escapes.
When that happens—
“Hope you can beat two more like this, huh? Well, I’ll be rooting for you.”
The man’s body—burst.
His physical form vanished, and mist-like mana dispersed.
“—Combat concluded.”
As Keiichiro uttered those words, his own body began to dissipate into mist from the feet up.
With the battle over, the avatar was being deleted.
His first match in Rate A ended in Keiichiro’s victory.
☆
“This technology was even more amazing than I thought.”
When he came to, Keiichiro found himself sitting in a chair.
The wounds he’d received while fighting the man earlier were gone.
That was only natural.
Keiichiro himself had merely been sitting in the chair, watching an illusion.
Mana dolls possessed only by the Adventurer’s consciousness.
These dolls are placed into an illusory space to fight on a battlefield where no harm can ever come to the surroundings.
There’s no danger to one’s life, and one can fight with full power without worrying about the surroundings.
It seems like nothing but benefits, but constructing and maintaining this facility apparently requires enormous expense.
So much so that even advanced nations are limited to building just one within their borders.
“—A match request has arrived.”
As he was contemplating the magnificent technology, a notification sound chimed near his ear.
Currently, Keiichiro was wearing a device on his head used to place himself under the illusion.
Using this, Keiichiro and others could smoothly enter the battlefields prepared by the 【Great Illusion Formation】.
“—Kazari… Kyouko.”
The device projected the name of the next opponent into the air.
Below it, the words ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ floated, asking Keiichiro if he intended to fight.
Of course, Keiichiro had no reason to refuse.
He unhesitatingly pressed ‘Yes’ with his finger—and muttered.
“……………………How do you read that?”