Recruiting Party Members from Hell (4)
Each team must consist of at least four members. That's the safest and most straightforward option. Occasionally, you'll see teams of three or even "duos," but they're so rare they're practically nonexistent. That's why parties usually end up with five or six people. It's the most stable setup, and it minimizes friction over reward distribution.
In that sense, I plan to fill mine to five as well.
Let's see...
The confirmed members so far: me, Iri, and the third-year, Edel Di Bison. That leaves two spots. Ideally, a mage or supporter. Lara Steelhiden would be perfect, but she's still hospitalized, so she's out. Besides, hospitalized students get separate evaluations, making it tricky to pull her away anyway.
The mock dungeon experience doesn't kick off until next week, but to play it safe, it's better to recruit teammates early. There are forms to fill out ahead of time, and more prep than you'd think. Clearing this dungeon properly requires at least five people.
I've narrowed it down to six candidates.
First, four from the first-years.
Gardner Meridian. Lavent Han. Ashel. Carmin Aiscent.
And two from the second-years.
Ventus Ismil. Mila den Azator.
...How long is it gonna take to track all these down?
Recruiting Edel Di Bison already ate up a chunk of time. Rounding up everyone on this list would take a solid two hours of wandering. Weirdly enough, tomorrow's a free day with no classes. Arsen's buzzing past midnight—not just me trying to assemble a full team tonight. Most of the crowds heading back and forth are second- and third-years off to drinking parties. First-years aren't allowed to drink, so they just watch enviously. I spot some swallowing hard, but they won't do anything stupid. Getting caught means demerit points.
Thud. Thud.
I was crossing Arsen's grand plaza and heading through the athletic field when I saw her—a girl crouched under the goalpost. She looks up as she senses me approaching.
"...?"
"Ah?"
Kai Alma's at least half-Western, but this one's got a distinctly Eastern look that stands out anywhere in Arsen. She probably transferred in from the Eastern Academy too. What was her name again? Uyu... Yuuki?
"Ah, hello... Your name's, uh, Shion..."
"Sion Illeionhart."
"Right! Sion sun— I mean, Sion!"
Why do so many people fumble my name? At this point, it's suspicious. Guess Illeionhart's trickier than it looks. Not that I can complain, since I picked it. Anyway, her name tag reads Yuuki Kazuha. There's some tiny engraved hanja below, but I can't make it out. Classic Eastern—specifically Japanese—name. Familiar to me from my Earth days, but pretty exotic here in Arsen.
I figured I'd only run into Eastern transfers properly after Act 2, but nope—Arsen already has a bunch of first-year Eastern freshmen like Kai Alma. Excluding him, most are minor extras without much screentime. Same goes for the girl crouched in front of me.
"What're you doing out here?"
"I, uh... got kicked out of my team."
Like most folks in this world, extra Yuuki's got her own backstory, I'm sure.
"Position?"
"Supporter."
"Supporter, huh?"
Why supporter? From what I remember, she was combat-focused.
"Take a look."
Kazuha pulls a weapon from her subspace. It looks like a coiled rope at first glance—a long mana alloy whip.
"This is my weapon. It's kinda awkward, so no one wants me."
"A whip..."
"Yeah... Pretty sure I'm the only one in Arsen using one."
Whips are mid-range weapons by nature. Supporter roles vary wildly by student, but even accounting for that, hers is overly unique. Supporters in this world are like soccer midfielders—they can deal damage, snipe, or handle backup duties from the rear. That's why mediocre students get slotted as supporters. They get a semester to refine their path, but most stick with it.
Kazuha's whip leans more dealer-side. But if you're recruiting a half-baked dealer-supporter like that, might as well grab a pure dealer instead. Better efficiency.
I pull up the community board. Past midnight, and recruitment posts are still flooding in. Filter for "supporter," though...
Half straight-up say no supporters. The rest are supporters recruiting themselves. Supporters really are more sidelined than snipers. No wonder freshmen get treated like noobs.
They have no clue how vital supporters are.
Probably don't even know how to use one. Most are green rookies building experience. Teams ignoring supporters will regret it this assignment.
This "mock" dungeon is harsher than a real one in some ways. Like sections where one person holds the line. Or stepping-stone paths requiring single-file caution. Zones impossible without perfect teamwork. That's why the main quest stresses recruiting teammates.
The dungeon's designed so solos can't clear it—mismatched teams just wipe.
Underground Town Everd, our target, is no pushover. The peak of stupidity will tumble hard. Dunning-Kruger is always right.
"You'll have a rough time."
"..."
"Anyway."
Good luck finding a team. The leftovers will band together eventually.
I start to walk past, but stop.
Hold up.
...Do I really need to hunt down all six on my list?
I just need a mage or supporter. Gardner Meridian for the former, second-year Mila den Azator for the latter. But if early allies are exceptionally talented? Nah. Freshmen are all climbing Mount Stupid. Second-years are better, but my candidates aren't game-changers. Top students are too busy for first-year games. If I were student council, I could sweeten the deal, but joining's bad value.
"Yuuki Kazuha, right?"
"Yes! Just call me Kazuha!"
...Alright, let's see. Main weapon: whip. Position: supporter. My party's got one sniper, one warrior, one mage-ish. Iri's got a heavy load this dungeon—tanking solo up front won't be easy. I can't just babysit her as the sniper. Kazuha's mid-range cover would stabilize things.
Plus, Mila den Azator's a lone wolf—communication issues likely. As a backup, Kazuha fits perfectly.
"..."
Truth is, Edel Di Bison's whining wore me out. More recruiting means more time and energy drinks—not healthy.
"So, Kazuha."
"Yes?"
"No team? Join mine."
Clang—!
She drops her whip instead of answering. Maybe she didn't hear?
"As a supporter."
Her reply's a beat late. She stands and slams her forehead into the ground.
"I-I'll do it! Please take care of me!"
"Uh... yeah, same here."
"Thank you!"
She goes for another bow, so I grab her shoulders and pull her up. Her forehead's red.
"...What was that?"
Worried I caused it, I wipe the dirt off with my handkerchief from my pocket.
Yuuki Kazuha's favorability slightly increases.
Why's it going up over something so minor?
One spot left. With Kazuha as supporter, now I need a dealer. No more snipers—warrior or mage preferred.
Midnight recruitment's winding down. Might as well finish strong—half-done is worse. Competition's fierce; it'll only get harder. Like Serin Anette said, bidding wars over one person are common.
I'm at first-year dorm Ardent Hall now. Least haunted by banshees of the three.
I'm here anyway—might as well show my face.
Nothing to lose testing Gardner Meridian.
Knock knock.
I knock politely on his door.
"...Sion Illeionhart?"
One of the few who remembers my name spot-on. Behind his half-open door, a modest drinking setup. Running wild tonight since tomorrow's free? Risky—demerits if caught.
"Got something to discuss."
"Come in."
And so, the final recruitment begins.
.
.
.
.
.
"I just don't trust you."
Long story short: Gardner Meridian has zero interest in teaming up. Buzzed or not, he's openly hostile.
"You just hid in the entrance exam and sniped the finishes, right? Leeching off us. That's why I hate snipers."
A bit of a stretch, but hear people out.
"Snipers get wrecked up front with no cover. Why should I team with you and play taxi? I've got offers everywhere."
Listening further just hardens his stance.
"This class ain't like the exam. No exploits, no cheap potshots from hiding. So go find someone else to carry you."
Half right, half wrong. Time to correct him a bit.
"Not carrying—fighting together."
"Same difference. Snipers just suck honey from the back."
"It's positions, not honey. Otherwise, it'd be all-warrior parties. Think why those don't exist."
"Whatever."
Guy acts like a sniper beat him in a past life. Endless debates like "who wins, bat vs. dagger?" Position rivalries flare up constantly. Snipers always catch flak. Arguing superiority's a waste. Conclusion: everyone has a role, so balance is key. Arsen stresses teams for a reason.
This is why upperclassmen call first-years chicks—big egos, zero knowledge.
"What? Mad? Duel me then. Guest house allows it."
He misreads my silence, mana flaring aggressively. Glasses tip, snacks scatter—he doesn't care.
This guy's got guts. Not scared of tomorrow's cleanup?
Excessive drinking's bad, kids. Know your limit next time.
"Still, hitting second place means your scrub play has uses."
"So?"
"I take 40% of rewards. Deal, and I'll join. Mages carry in real fights anyway."
Ridiculous, even accounting for mage workload. Self-value's fine, but his ego's off the charts. A semester of knocks will fix him. Time heals middle-school syndrome.
"...?"
My watch buzzes. A message—from Arsen Student Council, of all places.
"Deal's off. Shame. Clean up your snacks. See you in the dungeon."
"Wait, what?!"
"...?"
I stand while he stammers, lace my shoes, and head out.
Team frontliner secured alongside Iri. Even surprises are manageable now.
Rebecca...?
Harvest from an unexpected spot. Gotta speak up to score. Not just viable—overflowing.
"Party member? Someone else joined? Suddenly?"
"Anyway, catch you later. Friend."
"Wait—"
Screech.
Click.
"Phew..."
Overflowing. Way overflowing.