360 Onward to Rocket Mountain (2/2)
”Where was I?” he asked after the horse started galloping. ”Oh yes, the rankings. Basic adventurers start off at F-rank. This usually meant that adventurers holding this card cannot travel freely out of their city and can only take low levelled guests that didn't involve high combat abilities. You can think of them as hunters who search for animals and plant ingredients in the wild. They take on small jobs posted by various merchants or business owners and turn in their hunts according to the requests for payment.”
Zero nodded. That didn't sound too difficult. Just about anybody can become an F-rank adventurer.
”To progress from an F-rank adventurer to an E-rank adventurer, one must complete at least thirty hunting quests. At this stage, think of them as professional hunters who can take on higher risk prey and work in teams. E-ranked adventurers have the right to travel freely in between cities but not in between countries and territories. They can start taking on slightly more difficult tasks that involve combat difficulty or difficult terrains.”
Zero noted that down. While E-rank adventurers sound like they have a better life, Zero didn't know if they suffered more or less than the F-ranked adventurers. Either way, there didn't sound like there was a huge benefit being an F-rank or E-rank adventurer.
”To get promoted from an E-rank to a D-rank adventurer, the adventurer must successfully complete fifty quests in a party that have been registered with the guild. This is the starting point where the ranking becomes more difficult and the quests become more complex.”
Zero gave his friend a questioning look. There was only a rank difference, what was so complicated?
”At D-rank, travelling between countries and territories are allowed but only with a permit by the issuer of the quest. D-rank adventurers are able to take on missions like escorting a merchant caravan or exterminating bandits. Think of them like mercenaries who also hunt. Some D-rank quests involve delivering items from one place to another so the variety of quests and demand for D-rank adventurers increase. D-rank adventurers are not allowed to progress further without a suitable sponsor or passing the aptitude test from the guild. That's because from D to C rank there is a huge gap in skill difference.”
Zero swallowed and his heart raced. ”What's that requirement?”
Truen looked at Zero. ”You just must be able to handle magic and life-threatening situations. All C-rank adventurers and above are able to withstand magic or use magic of some kind. It is also the reason why C-rank adventurers and able are allowed to travel freely anywhere with their pass. Any individual with the ability to use magic is a valuable asset.”
Zero nodded. No wonder he was immediately recommended to a C-rank position by Queen Rosalind. Zero displayed his ability to use magic and that was the minimum rank he would get for his ability.
”What about the higher ranks? Since C-rank can use magic, do the higher ranks mean anything?”
The archer smiled. ”Of course. To get from a C to a B rank, the adventurer must be able to win a match against a party of five other C-rank adventurers of any kind. The adventurer taking the duelling test must enter alone, no external help is allowed during the test. Think of B-ranked adventurers as masters of their craft.”
Zero clapped and his eyes shone with respect. ”Then does that mean A-rank adventurers must defeat a hundred C-rank adventurers?”
The wood elf laughed. ”No, they are a little different. A-rank adventurers must successfully complete one long-term mission before they are awarded the rank.”
”What's a long-term mission?”
Truen smiled bitterly. That was where his progress stopped as an adventurer. ”A long-term mission is a mission that lasts anywhere from three months to a year. Most of these quests are complicated. They have missions like information gathering, guarding a target, fighting a war to defend a place against monster raids. A-rank adventurers are hard to come by simply because most of the adventurers trying to get to A-rank either give up halfway or die trying.”
Zero swallowed. If it was so difficult to get to A-rank, what about S-ranked adventurers?
Truen smiled at Zero's unasked question. ”S-rank adventurers are special. There isn't a fixed requirement for anyone to become an S-rank adventurer. Think of S-rank adventurers as national treasures. They must possess a one-of-a-kind value or talent that all other adventurers don't have. It's not something that hard work can bring. It's more of a talent thing. S-rank adventurers are described as Heroes most of the time because of their impossible feats that nobody else can accomplish. They do things like splitting mountains, slaying mythical beasts and reviving the dead from what I heard. However, becoming an S-rank adventurer comes with a heavy price. They don't have the freedom to choose their jobs and report directly to the king of the country that appointed them as S-rank adventurers. Their jobs are assigned by the guilds and while they are treated well, they cannot leave the job until they complete ten years of service to the country.”
The doctor frowned and leaned back against Truen's chest on Pegasus' back. ”That sounds horrible. Why would anybody want to be an S-rank adventurer?”
The wood elf shrugged. ”People do it for many reasons. Some do it for money, others do it for fame and honour. Most S-rank adventurers do it because it is their dream to become heroes.”
Zero was silent after that, his mind in a mess. Heroes... he never really liked them even if Vrald and Gerlad are doing their best to become them. Many of the heroes in stories have loud personalities and troublemaking tendencies much like Zero was in the past. The doctor vaguely wondered if the existence of these hours and S-ranked adventurers were considered a tragedy or a comedy before he yawned and took a nap. It was a long road to Rocket Mountain and an even longer road to understanding what he wanted. Either way, Zero was in no hurry.