Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Trigger for Changing the World is Surprisingly Trivial. (4)
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The trigger for changing the world is surprisingly trivial.
It had been about four days since I started working as an instructor.
From what I'd seen so far, hardly anyone showed up for the regular training sessions.
Especially as the ranks went higher, the number of participants dwindled even more.
That meant the three-day penalty wasn't all that scary to them.
Promotion training and newbie sessions drew decent crowds, though.
They were more important, after all.
The newbie sessions, in particular, had quite a turnout.
Unlike the adventurers in promotion training, who looked bored like they were being forced to attend.
Some even listened with sparkling eyes, taking it all in eagerly.
But that only lasted about ten minutes after the class started.
Adventurers are inherently rough and free-spirited by nature.
People with that kind of personality flock together.
If someone followed rules strictly or at least pretended to pledge loyalty to superiors, they'd have become a lord's soldier or joined the national army instead.
Why choose the adventurer life with its bad reputation?
Anyway, over those three days, I'd gotten a rough grasp of the overall situation.
Now the observation period was over, and starting today, I'd be thrown into actual classes.
Of course, I wasn't ready to handle a class alone yet, so my senior instructor would sit in, pointing out any mistakes or filling in what I didn't know.
My first assignment was C-Rank regular training.
Naturally, it was the least important one—starting with the easy stuff.
Plus, they knew almost no one would show up anyway.
Still, since it was my first class, I'd prepared diligently.
I reviewed what I already knew and dug deeper into requests typical for C-Rank adventurers.
If even one person showed up, I planned to teach them with everything I had.
Even if that one person didn't pay proper attention, I wanted them to take away at least something from my regular training.
But that day...
No one came to the session.
"......"
Yeah, I'd half-expected it.
All the regular classes I'd observed so far had fewer than ten people.
C-Rank was a fairly high rank, after all.
I'd even considered the possibility that no one might show.
"Uh, um. Days like this happen pretty often. Don't worry about it—your salary's steady."
"......"
He meant it as comfort, but...
My senior instructor's words only made me feel more pathetic.
I hadn't come here to just steal a paycheck.
Me, with no great abilities or strength.
I'd come to share the power of knowledge transmission and education—something anyone could do.
To change someone for the better along the path I'd chosen myself.
'You starving? Come to our place for a meal.'
'You're good at teaching, kid! How about handling soldier training?'
...Even a worthless guy like me.
Could save someone, just like him.
That's why I'd lived this long.
But this... this was pretty damn pathetic.
"...What I can do. What even I can do."
Still, no time to wallow in despair.
I'd already done plenty of that as a kid—crashing and burning.
I think.
What I can do.
How do I make people who look down on theory classes actually attend them?
Preach the importance of education?
No point—they already see it as worthless.
Offer rewards for completing sessions?
Nah, that's just a temporary fix.
If the reward's the goal, not the education, they won't really learn.
The best way is to get someone influential to spread the word indirectly.
No need for me to persuade crowds repeatedly or wear myself out.
Just convince the relay, and they'll handle it.
At the academy, Jenny filled that role perfectly.
Daughter of an imperial noble powerhouse, holder of hero aptitude.
Top of the class, too.
With power, wealth, and talent all superior...
Students at the hero academy, steeped in elitism and meritocracy, listened to her.
And luckily, Jenny valued theory and knowledge.
She fused her broad knowledge with practical combat flawlessly.
Her every action became an example, educating the students indirectly.
But that only works with a Jenny around.
Someone everyone admires, with absolute influence.
...Honestly, I don't think Branch Chief Terry has that kind of pull.
"Can't exactly drag in an S-Rank adventurer either."
The only S-Rank I know is Scarlett.
But she's way off in Marquis Harkur's territory, and unlike Jenny, she doesn't care for theory.
She's a pure combat specialist.
And above all...
"...Adventurers are definitely different from Hero Academy students."
S-Rank adventurers and guild branch chiefs hold high status and are respectable.
But adventurers aren't bound tightly by power, wealth, or talent.
Nice to have, sure—makes you jealous.
But they don't blindly worship it.
What's in front of them matters more: the request at hand.
The money from it.
They're incredibly self-centered and free.
Second option: show examples.
Like Sonya or Reina's cases.
And Kogel's.
The synergy when aptitude matches theory training.
The dangers of heading into requests without proper prior knowledge.
Show real-life cases.
It's similar to the first method, in a way.
But it might suit adventurers better.
They can see ranks climb right before their eyes.
Still, if someone says, 'That wasn't me,' or 'This works better for me,' I'm out of arguments. Not super helpful.
So, third option.
"...Sigh, I hate this one."
Because it means I have to get my hands dirty myself.
Put simply, it's a pain in the ass.
And there's another issue.
"What? You want to tag along on requests?"
Branch Chief Terry stared at me, eyes wide in disbelief.
...Yeah, this.
No way he'd approve.
I have zero combat ability.
Armed only with book knowledge—no match for a commoner in a real fight.
Taking an instructor on dangerous requests with adventurers? Insane.
But nothing's as effective as this.
Like with Silver Sword Party.
Honestly, without me talking right there, would they have listened?
To convey knowledge, paradoxically, you have to hit the field.
Nothing beats a crisis for driving home importance.
Do field training like that, show the value.
Adventurers who've experienced it themselves, like Sonya or Reina, will change their minds bit by bit.
Once they start attending, crowd effect kicks in—the rest follow.
Everyone else thinks, "Something's up if so many are going seriously."
Still, this feels off, right?
Even I think so.
Sending a combat-less instructor to the field, even with adventurers...
"...Alright. If it's you, Kane, I'm sure you've got a plan."
"Yeah, even I think this is... Huh?"
"Huh???"
Wait, what?
Approval came easier than expected.
I'd prepped a 30-minute speech to convince him.
Uh, well... he said yes, so it's fine?
"...I'll tag along, which bumps up their request difficulty since they get extra protection. I'll get their consent first, and for the fee, I'll cover it from my salary, increase the request pay..."
"Notify them upfront, leave it to consenting adventurers. Guild will handle boosting the request pay."
"...?"
No way, that generous?
I figured whatever extra burden from my crazy demand was on me.
This consideration... yeah, thanks.
"Thank you. Looking forward to working with you."
Bow quickly before he changes his mind, dash out of the branch chief's office.
No extra cost, goal achieved.
More... faith in me than I thought?
Granting this absurd request...
After leaving the office, head to the staff dorms provided by the Adventurer Guild, change into easy-movement clothes.
Grab a dagger for self-defense, just in case.
"I've got one D-Rank party waiting for a request... you sure you're okay with this?"
Stepping out, Iris looks at me with worried eyes.
I'm worried too, but... can't be an instructor in name only, stealing salary.
Act like one.
Stake my life on educating them, right?
Plus, they get an extra guard duty request for me—no real danger unless things go south.
...Probably?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Nice to meet you. I'm Instructor Kane."
"Ah, yeah..."
Down on the first floor, the D-Rank party that accepted my insane request waited.
Ideally C-Rank, but all non-attendees got three-day activity bans.
So D-Rank it was—B-Rank too high.
Doesn't matter.
As long as perceptions shift, rank's irrelevant.
Higher rank with more influence ideal, but can't fill up on the first try.
Three party members.
A burly man, a woman with a bow, and a robed... young-looking guy.
D-Rank party 'Black Axe'.
Centered on vanguard leader, D-Rank adventurer 'Kal' with his pitch-black double-headed axe fitting the name.
D-Rank archer 'Loen', E-Rank mage 'Tier'.
Three-man team.
Just like Silver Sword's setup.
Difference: Tier's a damage dealer, not support like Sonya.
Success rate around fifty percent—decent.
But member changes suggest deaths or injury retirements.
"...Hmph, field training, huh."
"Such a hassle..."
Yeah, not welcomed.
Probably only for the guild-boosted pay.
Expected that.
They skip regular training—figures.
"Shall we head out, then?"
I smile brightly, ignoring them.
They glance at me like I'm absurd, then slowly exit the guild.
Alright... time to get to real work.