Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 533 119.3 - Guild

"That's exactly what we need here at Vanguard Haven."

Toren stood up from his seat, the chair creaking slightly as he moved. He tapped a few commands into the device on his desk, and almost immediately, a detailed hologram of Nexoria City and the surrounding lands appeared in the air before us. The projection was sharp and vivid, with various points of interest highlighted in different colors.

On the map, I could see several locations marked prominently. Twenty-five of them were clearly identified as gates, while six others were marked as fields—sprawling areas of wilderness where monsters roamed freely.

Toren gestured to the hologram, his expression serious as he began to explain. "This is the current state of our operations. Vanguard Haven has control over twenty-five gates at present. As a B-rank guild, we're allocated one slot for a rank-8 gate, two slots for rank-7 gates, four slots for rank-6 gates, eight slots for rank-5 gates, and the remaining ten slots are split between seven rank-4 gates, and three rank-3 gates."

He paused, allowing me to absorb the information before continuing. "As you can already expect, the rank-3 and rank-4 gates are primarily used to train our newer recruits and prospects since they're less challenging and offer a controlled environment for developing skills. But as you move up the ranks, the stakes—and the rewards—increase significantly. That's where the real business is. Especially for us."

I studied the hologram, noting the locations of the various gates and fields. The rank-8 gate was positioned near the outskirts of the city, close to one of the larger fields. It was clear that this gate required the most experienced hunters, given its proximity to the wilderness and the high level of danger it posed.

'Most likely, the Guild Master and the high-ranking guild members will be the ones who are responsible for that gate.'

In a way, the formation of the gates and their allocations were made in such a manner. Since most of the time, the stronger person is either the guild master or the guild master's associate.

"The fields," Toren continued, his voice steady, "are where things get a bit more complicated. Unlike the gates, there are no regulations, no restrictions. They're open season for any guild or hunter willing to take the risk. The monsters there are unpredictable, and the terrain can be treacherous. But the rewards are substantial—rare materials, powerful monsters, and the chance to claim territory."

He pointed to the six marked locations on the hologram, each one representing a different field. "We currently have a presence in all of these fields, but our hold on them is not absolute. Rival guilds are always looking for an opportunity to take over, especially if they think we're stretched too thin. That's where your role comes in."

Toren's gaze locked onto mine, his expression serious. "During your time here, you'll be working with our teams to reinforce our positions in gates."

"For gates."

"That is right. Since neither the organization and the Arcadia Hunter Academy do not permit their students to participate actively in the fields, we will not be able to utilize you in the fields."

I nodded as Toren explained the situation. The restrictions on participating in fields were something that I already knew, and they also made sense.

The fields are much more dangerous and fiercely contested than gates.

For students like me, who weren't officially affiliated with any guilds and were here for internships, the academy and the organization had rules in place to ensure our safety and maintain their own reputation.

"That's fine by me," I said, acknowledging the limitation. "I'm more experienced with dungeons and gates as well. It's where I can be most effective."

Toren seemed pleased with my response. "Good. Given the current climate, with competition growing fiercer, we've had to allocate more of our seasoned personnel to the fields. This leaves us a bit short-handed when it comes to clearing gates, especially the higher-ranked ones. That's where you come in. Your job will be to assist the team we've assigned you to. It's one of our most promising teams, and they've been making significant strides in recent months."

He tapped a few more commands into his device, and a file was sent directly to my smartwatch. "I'm sending you the details of your teammates now. There are five members in total: two tanks, two vanguards, and one rearguard. Each one of them has been carefully selected for their skills and compatibility within the team dynamic."

I opened the file on my smartwatch and scanned through the profiles. As expected, they were all seasoned hunters, each with their own unique strengths.

The two tanks were:

Kurt Arlen: A heavily armored warrior with an impressive physical defense. Known for his ability to absorb massive amounts of damage and protect his team in the heat of battle.

Gareth Vale: A specialist in barrier magic, capable of both offensive and defensive spells. His barriers were renowned for their resilience and adaptability in chaotic situations.

The vanguards were:

Dorian Lehn: A dual-wielding swordsman with exceptional speed and agility. His fighting style was fluid and unpredictable, making him a formidable force on the front lines.

Elena Saris: A battle mage who combined close-range combat with elemental magic. Her versatility allowed her to adapt to different combat scenarios, providing support where it was needed most.

Finally, the rearguard was:

Lila Faye: A mage who specialized in rapid casting. Unlike some mages who focused on sheer firepower, Lila's strength lay in her ability to cast spells with incredible speed and precision. She was a summoner and a wind magic user, capable of quickly adapting to changing battle conditions. Her primary summon was a golem, a formidable entity that could regenerate as long as it was supplied with enough mana. This made her summon not just a powerful ally but also a resilient one, capable of withstanding prolonged battles.

As I reviewed the profiles, it was clear that each member brought something unique to the team. They were well-balanced, with a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities, and Lila's role as a summoner added an extra layer of versatility to their strategies.

'Indeed. It is rare to see a summoner.'

Maybe one of the rarest types of magic was summoning, though there is dark magic.

'And the fact that she is most proficient in rapid casting must be because of the fact that her mana pool would be smaller for higher firepower spells.' Nôv(el)B\\jnn

It made sense, as for someone to be a summoner, they need to have an immense amount of mana pool, but at the same time, since being a mage is mostly looked more favorable, those with higher mana pool would become mages if they could.

And because they can't become mages thanks to the lack of their magical talent, especially in terms of calculations and comprehension, they become summoners.

That is why summoners are rare.

Having a mana pool big enough to supply a summon and having a magic talent is not enough to become a mage.

These two conditions are rather hard to meet.

But from the document alone, I could easily say that the summoner, Lila, was a hard worker. Toren leaned back in his chair, the hologram map still casting a faint glow over the room. He looked at me with a mix of professionalism and understanding.

"The work will start at 7 A.M.," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You'll have some time before the team arrives at the guild, so if you want, we can arrange for you to have breakfast and then get some rest. Normally, I'd insist on giving you more time to recover, but given the urgency of our situation and your tight schedule, we can't afford to lose any time."

I nodded, appreciating his directness.

'Not bad of a leader. He is good at directing the conversation and also presenting himself as someone light-hearted if things can be.' The stakes were high, and while rest was important, the pressing nature of the mission took priority.

"That's fine," I replied. "I am already used to traveling. And the train was already comfortable enough, so you can count it as resting."

Toren gave a satisfied nod. "Good to hear. I've already arranged for a room in the guild's quarters. It's not as luxurious as the hotel you stayed in, but it's comfortable, and you'll have everything you need to prepare for the mission."

The mention of the guild quarters reminded me that this wouldn't be a leisurely stay. I had chosen this path, knowing that the upcoming days would be filled with action, and I was ready to dive into the work.

"Thank you," I said, rising from my seat. "I'll take you up on that offer for breakfast, and then I'll get settled in."

Toren stood as well, extending his hand once more. "I'm glad to have you on board, Astron. I'm confident that your presence will make a significant difference for the guild."

We shook hands, and with that, the meeting was concluded. Liana was waiting just outside the office, ready to escort me to the dining area. As we walked, she mentioned the different options available, from a light meal to something more substantial. I opted for something simple but energizing—enough to keep me sharp without feeling weighed down.

After breakfast, Liana showed me to the room I'd be staying in. It was modest but functional, with a bed, a small desk, and a window that looked out over the training grounds.

The walls were decorated with a few framed posters, most likely from past guild achievements. It was clear that the room was designed for function over form, a place for hunters to rest between missions rather than indulge in comfort.

"You have one hour before your team arrives," Liana said as she handed me a keycard. "Feel free to rest or prepare however you see fit. If you need anything, just let me know."

I nodded, taking the keycard and giving her a brief nod of thanks. Once she left, I unpacked my belongings, organizing my gear on the small desk. My mind was already shifting into mission mode, running through possible scenarios and strategies for the upcoming gate raids.

'This team… they're promising. It'll be interesting to see how they perform under pressure.'

After settling into the room, I quickly gathered a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom.

The shower was refreshing, and the warm water was quite nice. As the steam enveloped me, I allowed my thoughts to settle, focusing on the task ahead.

Once I was done, I toweled off and dressed in my classic gear. After a quick check of my gear and a glance at the time, I decided to have a protein shake, something light to keep me going without weighing me down.

Since I could not use [Celestalith]'s bow form, I was using the bow that I had gotten from the academy.

'Now that I think about it, getting a new bow for the sake of cover is necessary.'

As I finished, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Liana waiting outside, her expression professional as ever.

"Your team has arrived," she said, her tone efficient. "They're waiting for you in the briefing room."

I nodded, setting down the empty shaker. "Thank you. I'm ready."

Liana led the way through the guild's hallways, the sounds of activity gradually increasing as we approached the main operational areas.

The atmosphere was one of controlled urgency, a mix of focus and energy that permeated the air. It was clear that everyone here was dedicated to their roles, and the stakes were high.

We arrived at the briefing room, and Liana opened the door, gesturing for me to enter first. Inside, I found the five members of my team already gathered around a large table, their attention shifting to me as I walked in.