Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: First Job Change (1)
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The place they arrived at with the rickety wagon was a fairly large city.
No, most people would feel that way, but in reality, it was just a mid-sized city.
"Wow......"
"Is this the starting city?"
"The mainland is definitely different."
While everyone was gaping in admiration, Rokan slipped into the city.
There were cases where graduation classmates who had escaped Pocket City together formed parties, but Rokan had no intention of doing that.
"Excuse me. Could you tell me the name of this city?"
When Rokan politely grabbed a passerby and asked, the man readily answered.
"Haha, you must be from the countryside. This city's name is Kton."
Normally, people would be wary or ignore him, but this was also the effect of his [Friendly] reputation.
'Kton...... What a coincidence.'
The city layout after Pocket City was random. So Rokan had prepared various scenarios for each possible city.
Interestingly, Kton was the familiar city where he had arrived after leaving Pocket City in his previous life.
'First things first, let's get a job.'
Having confirmed the location, Rokan immediately headed to the job guild by recalling from memory. Job guilds didn't exist in Pocket City, but they did here.
One could say that proper play began with acquiring a job.
Conversely, without a job, no matter how brilliantly one performed against herbivorous animals in Pocket City, they might end up as the hunted rather than the hunter.
From now on, preemptive attacking mobs would appear, and the difference in combat power would be drastic.
The issue was which job to choose, and online forums were already buzzing with talks of which jobs were good or overpowered.
But Rokan had already decided on his job.
It was the same as in his previous life.
He knew the pros and cons of other jobs and even how to acquire certain hidden classes, but that's precisely why he couldn't choose anything else.
He knew that even hidden classes weren't omnipotent and had distinct drawbacks proportional to their strengths.
'In that case, choosing the class that suits me best is the right choice.'
That was Rokan's judgment. After all, the real gaps would come from levels, equipment, and titles.
Creaaak......
The unoiled door screamed in protest.
"Urgh, is there still someone coming?"
The receptionist, who had been dozing with a cloth over his face, turned to Rokan with a displeased expression.
A grim face that would make the faint-hearted turn tail and flee, with bloodstains painted on the walls behind him.
But Rokan grinned and stepped inside.
It might be different for others, but to him, it felt as comfortable as his own home.
'Still no popularity here.'
The guild interior was deserted. At first, many came out of curiosity, and there were plenty with the guts not to flinch at his face, but after reviews from those who changed jobs and various rumors spread, now no one visited.
The Lord had countless combat jobs, production jobs, and lifestyle jobs for fun, so it wasn't strange for fringe guilds to have zero visitors a day early on. Especially for places as remote as this one.
That's why most fringe job guilds were like this.
"I want to change jobs."
"You know what kind of place this is for job changes, right?"
When Rokan casually approached the counter and got straight to the point, the receptionist actually grew cautious. He must have figured someone might complain later about changing jobs without knowing better.
"Of course. I want to become a Berserker."
"Haha, finally a decent guy shows up after so long. Good, sign here."
Seeing Rokan's matter-of-fact response, the receptionist burst into hearty laughter. Reading Rokan's eyes, he readily handed over the registration form.
This was the Berserker Guild. A guild for madmen that the weak-willed couldn't handle.
[Caution: Once acquired, a job cannot be changed or canceled by normal means.]
As soon as Rokan signed, the receptionist snatched the form. Staring straight at Rokan as if to say no take-backs, he placed the form on a nearby magic circle to complete the registration.
Boom!
[You have successfully changed jobs to Berserker.]
A red mass burst above Rokan's head. Curse-like red light particles scattered and absorbed into him.
"Here, a job change gift. Pick what you want."
Thud, thud, thud!
What the receptionist brought out were three items. Weapons given as job change commemorations, each far superior in power to anything bought in Pocket City—real weapons.
'That's why those who stocked up on weapons before leaving Pocket City end up looking like fools.'
Those who bought weapons with their saved money from Pocket City to shine on the mainland were the real losers, but not all jobs gave weapons, so it wasn't a total loss.
For someone like Rokan, who came without a single coin, it was a clear win.
[Worn Greatsword][Normal]
A greatsword left unused for so long that its blade has dulled. More like a blunt weapon than a sword.
-Attack Power: 70
-Durability: 300/300
[Worn Longsword][Normal]
A longsword made haphazardly.
-Attack Power: 45
-Durability: 120/120
[Woodcutter's One-Handed Axe][Normal]
A one-handed axe used by a woodcutter.
-Attack Power: 65
-Durability: 200/200
-Lumbering success rate increased by 30%.
'The names are really trashy.'
As expected of free job change gifts, the names and descriptions were awful, but otherwise, they were decent items.
Confirming they were the same as in his previous life, Rokan made his choice immediately.
"Uhahaha, as expected, Berserkers go with axes. You know your stuff, lad!"
[The favorability of Berserker Guild Master 'Ralph' has greatly increased.]
[The reputation with the Berserker Guild Master has changed from Friendly to Fond.]
'Already?'
Even starting from [Friendly], jumping to a higher level so quickly was surprising.
But Rokan soon thought it made sense. Berserkers were all abnormal anyway.
Instead, he lifted the Woodcutter's One-Handed Axe in one hand and grinned back.
Choosing the one-handed axe in the tutorial was no accident or mistake. It was simply his most familiar main weapon.
In fact, it being easier to demolish the village hall was a stroke of luck. But even without that, Rokan would have picked an axe anyway.
"Now, show me the skill books."
"Skill books, good! Let's see, Lv1 Berserker, so simple. Axe Mastery, Dash, Strike, War Cry, and Berserk. 2 silvers each, so 10 silvers."
Ralph rummaged behind the counter and placed five faded books on it.
2 silvers per book was quite expensive. Normally, escaping Pocket City via quests would leave about 13 silvers, so it would take nearly all your money to buy them.
'That's how the "skill book poor" saying came about.'
At least Berserkers had fewer skill books compared to other jobs. Magic or hunting classes often had over ten skills to learn from the start, so players usually picked within budget.
However, Rokan couldn't pay right away. He started with a decent 1 silver 50 coppers, but spent it all on a month's food and training ground pass.
His current funds: exactly 0.
Yet there was no servility in Rokan's eyes.
"Please wait a moment."
Rokan confidently asked Ralph to hold on, then strode to a man dozing energetically in the guild corner.
"You're the bank dispatcher, right?"
"Ehem! I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't!"
Stamping loudly to announce himself, the man jolted up and wiped his drool. Still dazed, he looked around gibbering even with Rokan right there.
"I'd like to borrow some money."
"Uh, ah...... Welcome. I'm Sitan, the Aerok Bank dispatcher, always here to bring you happiness. You want to borrow money? Could you state your job and name?"
"Berserker Rokan."
Finally coming to his senses, he began the proper procedure. Asking for job and name to check the linked account first.
"Confirmed. How much would you like to borrow? For a first job change, up to 30 silvers maximum. Oh, interest is 3% per month. The loan is linked to your account for collection, so think carefully before answering."
Next came the loan limit and interest explanation.
As he said, even if you ghosted after borrowing or deleted your character, it was useless. The linked account would carry over the debt and accruing interest even on a new character.
Unless you quit The Lord entirely, don't even dream of eating and running.
Some users who didn't get this sold items on trading sites early when prices were high for pocket money, only to face big trouble.
"I'll borrow the full 30 silvers."
"Let me ask once more. 30 silvers, correct?"
"Yes."
"Here you go. Have a good day."
Leaving Sitan, who handed over the loan and immediately resumed nap mode, Rokan placed 10 silvers on the counter. One-third of the loan vanished in an instant.
[Acquired Axe Mastery and four other first job change skill books.]
In exchange, he got five skill books.
Not a bad deal. At least until Lv50, he'd manage with these first job skills.
Moreover, second job skills at Lv50 weren't numerous and mostly upgraded versions of these, so they'd last a long time.
"You're a real Berserker now. So don't go embarrassing us out there!"
Receiving Ralph's send-off, Rokan left the Berserker Guild. No more business here anyway.
He checked his new skills while heading to his next destination.
[Axe Mastery][Lv 1][0.0%]
Indicates proficiency with axes. Penalty for low proficiency weapons, benefits for high proficiency ones.
Weapon mastery skills can be learned in multiples.
-Current Stage: Beginner
-Attack Power 70%
[Dash][Lv 1]
Move quickly for three steps.
-Agility 110% for three steps.
[Strike][Lv 1]
Next attack strikes the enemy harder than usual, once.
-Strength 110%
-Agility 110%
[War Cry][Lv 1]
Unleash a madness-infused roar to terrify enemies.
-Lower level than user: All stats decrease.
-Significantly lower level: Random short stun.
-Higher level than user: Effect reduced or none.
-Weakens negative effects on user.
[Berserk][Lv 1]
Ignite yourself with ferocity to draw out immense power.
-All stats 200% during duration.
-No mana cost for skills during duration.
-Won't die if HP reaches 0 during duration.
-Immune to all mental attacks during duration.
-Madness dominates mind: Cannot distinguish friend from foe.
-At end of duration, take 50% max HP damage at once.
-If HP 0 after duration ends, die unless raised to 10% max HP within 5 seconds.
-All stats 50% reduced for 10 minutes after duration.
-20% all stats reduction for 20 minutes after first aftereffect.
-Reuse during aftereffect: Penalty duration doubled.
-Duration: 10 minutes