Chapter 27: The Upper Limit of Job Skills

Became a mage, started leveling up, and within about a week, maxed out two skills. Just as expected, the job skill jumped to “S.”

After another week or so, I managed to max out two more skills—my职业 skill shot up to “SS.” If that’s the case, there’s no way it won’t go all the way to “SSS.”

I use the last three职业 boards too. Took over ten days, but I finally made it. Status with all seven职业 boards used—

Mage Level 99

HP 766/766

MP ∞/∞

Strength: 299

Defense 202

Def 525

Agility 241

Agile 542

Intelligence 1040

Luck 306

[Profession Skill]

Magic Rank SSS Title: "Wang"

Healing Arts Rank C

Composite Magic Rank D

Obtained "Magic": Wind Magic (I) ×5, Fire Magic (I) ×4

Water Magic (Level 1) ×6, Earth Magic (Level 1) ×5

Magic rank hit triple "S"! And with that "title" attached, it’s definitely safe to say "SSS" is the upper limit now.

And seriously, title... "Magic King," huh... kinda feels good, you know?

I'd been thinking about what job to take next, but since I had the title "Magic King" attached to me, I got carried away and decided to push "Combined Magic" even further—so I went ahead and became a Great Mage.

A Great Mage’s already maxed out, so they can reach the cap in half the time of last time—pretty efficient. Plus, the ease of use for the most practical “Lightning Magic” just got even better. That’s a real selling point.

Pulled the Great Mage from the职业 board and touched its surface. If this one’s maxed out, I’m heading to Tokyo. It’s probably hit worse over there... maybe there’ll be tons of people needing help.

Spent a few days grinding by hunting undead, but lately it seems more monsters are coming in from Kōshū than ever before—now from the Kanto side too.

Flying through the sky, scanning for monsters, I spotted one of the evacuation shelters being swarmed by a massive horde. Figured it was one of the ones from outside Nagano, and went straight to help.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Shit! Too many... no good! Some of them broke through toward the shelter!"

"Get the kids inside the building! Don’t let those things get through!!"

Our Self-Defense Force troops on standby are fighting hard, but the sheer number’s pushing us back.

Especially that one massive monster—no matter how many bullets we fire, it doesn’t even flinch.

This shelter’s done for... we’ll have to retreat, but how the hell do we get the evacuees out?

We could make a run for it ourselves, but the civilians can’t. Can’t just leave them behind, can we? Trapped on all sides. Just when things looked hopeless...

"BOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!"

A jeep came barreling through, knocking down several monsters as it charged toward us.

"Hey! Give me a gun!"

A man jumped out and shouted something completely insane.

"Wait—no way I’m handing a gun to a civilian! What are you even—"

"I’m a former Self-Defense Force officer! We don’t have time for this crap! Cover me—give me the gun!!"

His sheer intensity made me hand over my automatic pistol from my belt.

"Leave that big one alone! That’s the one they call the ‘Self-Defense Force killer’! Take down the others—focus on getting out!!"

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

I kept backing up, focusing on the smaller humanoid monsters. The larger ones could be taken down with just a few shots—so I managed to thin their numbers.

What the hell am I even doing...? I came all the way to Nagano at Sakamaki’s request, chasing rumors of some so-called “wizard,” and now I’m out here playing hero? Seriously?

But there are women and children in that shelter being attacked... I can’t just pretend I don’t see it... Honestly, I’ve never been this stubborn. I knew I’d regret it the moment I agreed to Sakamaki’s request. And now I’m here, fighting like this... I really am a pain in the ass.

I’m not a self-defense force member anymore. I’m just a civilian. No one’d blame me for running away... right?

Just as my gun ran dry, the massive monster charged, swinging its huge foot down. Three of us were blown back.

The self-defense officer beside me— the guy who just handed me his gun— was lying there, bleeding out. He wasn’t moving. I tried to scramble away, but my legs wouldn’t work.

I looked down. My right leg... from the knee down... was gone.

Ah. So this is it...? I’m done here... Sorry, Sakamaki... I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise...