---Shared Training Arena of Combat Department Building No.3 & Combat Department Building No.4.

Since the first-year school building and New Grade school building were connected by a skybridge, we also shared the same training ground, constructed anew.

Well, the only visible change was its huge size. There wasn't particularly any new addition to the facility.

I presume the academy had the intention to deepen the bond between the students of two grades. I liked the effort in this direction.

Speaking of, the New Grade students could be identified by the double-lined colored embroidery on their collars.

And, of course, this was a completely brand new embroidery that didn't exist in the game.

The color of embroidery differed by each grade; we, the freshmen, had embroidery in blue, the second-year students had in green, and the third-years students had in

red.

As for New Grade students, they'd one embroidery in the colour of the grade they transferred from, plus the second embroidery being blue.

So, for reference, if they'd transferred from second-year, their double-line embroidery were of green+blue color.

Since they would completely join us next year, the academy must have left the blue embroidery as one of the default for the reason.

Then, was the double-line embroidery even required when they're going to move up the grade? The question must've popped in many minds. Well, the double-line embroidery showed their status as New Grade students, setting them apart from others. I guess that's a distinct enough reason.

The «Job Transfer System» was supposed to be a one-time thing. But, if the academy did undergo a second wave of transfer next year, the same double-line embroidery would become a means to filter out these candidates.

Apparently, due to the distinct embroidery color combination, some even began to refer to them as 'New Grade 1st Year Student' or 'New Grade 2nd Year Student'. Complicated, ain't it? Given that they'd throw all grades students together, I presume that was bound to happen.

Anyway, I digress. Since the training ground was shared between two different school buildings, no one would be knocking on the door to complain.

With that said, the members of two guilds stepped inside.

"Today, we've Lulu, Celia, Noel, and Lacritta to assist!"

"You heard the guildmaster, so let's give it our all! I'm gonna train you hard!"

"I might not be the best, but I will exhaust myself to assist you all. Let's look after each other."

"I'm here for support! I'm being called to make everyone familiarise with the status enhancement due to buff! So, let's all try our best to learn~!"

"Uh, um, I-I'll teach about shields. —Err, Zephyr-san, wasn't Sierra-san a better choice than me?"

This time, I called seven new members, excluding Tomoyo. Since it's a bit too many people to teach one-on-one, I called four Eden members as assistants. I had actually called one more, but she's busy and will be a little late.

Lulu was puffing out her chest, trying her best to look taller. *What is this adorable creature? Where's the screenshot button?!*

Speaking of her, we did clarify afterward that Elisa and Fina weren't plushie incarnations. My words, the indescribable wide-eyed stare she'd then was such a sight.

Though, she'd now come to terms with it (phew!).

Celia maintained a composed expression, radiating a cool, big-sister vibe as she bestowed her wisdom upon the newcomers. Though, unable to resist Lulu's cuteness, I captured her stealing glances at Lulu. *Eyes speak louder than words, eh?*

Noel was the support assistant. She was to help everyone getting familiar with the changes in body when a buff was applied. It was quite crucial that they know how to control their strength rather than to overdo.

Lacritta was called in for shield training. We did take quite a few shielders this time after all. That said, she really didn't have faith in her ability, did she? Personally, she performed great in the inter-class competition.

I mean, yeah, Sierra was something else with her skill in shields. But Lacritta herself wasn't far behind. She was really good at combining the illusions with her shield techniques.

"Come now, Lacritta. You're excellent enough. Have some faith in yourself, will you?"

"Is that so?"

"Of course."

Lacritta looked up at me with an upward glance, so I nodded confidently. If she gets stuck here, she will lose confidence, so I answer with conviction.

"The main recruits this time are shielders and healers. We'll start with allocating SP, and acquire the skills and magic of second-order skill trees. Then, you will use these abilities to train with the assistance to familiarise yourself with newfound abilities."

"Yes, sir!!!" x5

Mhm, that's the spirit, everyone.

These are all people who wished to acquire a high-ranking job and become stronger, even if the said method was «Job Transfer».

Their motivation and spirit were on a completely different level.

"First, let's divide into positions. The tanks are Sharon, Katalina, Rosetta, and Fina."

"Understood!" x4

"The healers are Elisa and Orihime-san. But Katalina and Fina, you two also double as healers, so occasionally mix in with them."

"Understood!"

"Noted!"

"Um, where do I go?"

As I assigned everyone their role, a single hand went up with a puzzled look. It was from Faumina.

Good question. She was neither tank nor healer.

"You're more or ambusher, one that can fill in for multiple roles."

Fraumina's ability was tame. It allowed her to take monsters and control them as her limbs. And depending on the monsters, she could play out as attacker, defender, breaker, or even support.

"Fraumina, once you've spent your SP, you will move to tame. Celia, please assist her."

"Certainly. ---Well then, let's put our best, Fraumina-san."

"Y-yes, I will."

"......Your droopy ears are so cute, aren't they?"

"Um, thank you?"

Celia was spiritualist, and was half the summoner herself. I hope they get along, indeed, but. *Don't try to cuddle Fraumina like you do with Lulu just because she's cute, alright, Celia?*

"So, since everything is sorted, we're starting with SP allocation. We'll do it one by one. Sharon, we'll start with you."

"I'm prepared, sir!"

As I called out, Sharon came forward, albeit with a stiff gait. She appeared nervous.

In the meantime, the rest of the members had already walked up to their assisting members. They're now checking the effects of their allocated SP.

Much like any other training, it was important to know how to use the current strength to its fullest.

Typically, there would be practical classes for such break-in periods, but the said classes were now devoted to power levelling.

The current members were at LV20, halfway the mark of LV40, which was just the perfect time to begin this sort of training.

I looked at Sharon again. She was wearing excellent equipment---I had notified everyone to come equipping their equipment---that could even be effective in intermediate dungeons. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

She previously had the standard job in the «Count» category.

This time, the new members had been asked to come to the training ground with their full equipment. She must have had her full set of equipment sent from home.

It was fashionable armor, much like Sierra's. It was structured with several parts attached to a clothing-like base, making it look less like heavy armor.

If I had to say, she gave a similar commanding vibe as Rina. The black hat on her head only enhanced that aura.

The most unique aspect was the tile-like armor pieces on her arms, legs, and shoulders, resembling castle roofs. Just having these made her feel like a castle lord, making it splendid equipment.

Her weapon was a staff in her left hand, a one-handed staff with a crozier-like appearance. In her right hand, she held a kite shield, just like Sierra. However, the color and pattern were different. Sierra's shield had the crest of the Margarite family, so Sharon's shield probably bore her family's crest.

"Well, this is unexpectedly embarrassing. I request once again, Zephyr-kun. Please help me get stronger."

"I heard you, so rest assured!"

The training of the «Princess of the Castle» required a different training.

If we just go over the strong aspect of the job, then it was obvious it was tailor-made for guild battles.

Guild battle to «Princess of the Castle» was what the waster was to fish. But, to neglect dungeons over such would be foolish.

That's why the first step was to pick up skills that could be effective in either situation. And in case of the dungeon, «Princess of the Castle» was a tank, which was also the linchpin of the party. A party without a tank was like being exposed to a bullet shower without an armoured vehicle after all.

A tank required substantial training and effort. But, the «Princess of the Castle» also couldn't be trained like a typical tank. The reason was its abilities.

We'd lose the very essence of what makes «Princess of the Castle» the cornerstone in guild battles if I'd just ask her to become a frontline shield-wielding tank.

The «Princess of the Castle» was called the Indomitable Protector of Castle---the «Count» category was commonly called Guardian of Castles---for a reason.

To put it short, their position was in rearguard. From there, «Princess of the Castle» commands all defensive battles and protects the castle.

The fighting style of the «Princess of the Castle» was long-range attacks from the castle, summoning walls to defend the castle, shockwaves with knockback effects, healing the castle's HP, enhancing the defensive monsters, and so on.

That's why, I would be teaching her skills that could be applied to dungeons, and still stand strong to protect the party.

This was the unique training of the «Princess of the Castle». And I'm going to make sure she becomes the protector of the party as frontline tank in the dungeons, and defender of castle as rearguard tank in guild battles!