Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

I stood up and Kurena and Dogora looked at me, wondering what I was about to do.

“You’re recruiting?”

“Yes, I’d like to take this opportunity to recruit a Priest.”

Cecile, who was sitting behind me, asked me and I answered her that I was going to recruit a Priest that we had talked about at the base before.

I took a deep breath and…

“‘Attention everyone! I’m looking for some friends to go to the dungeon with!”

…Shouted out loud.

“Look at this! This is a D-rank adventurer’s card. My party of four has already conquered a C-class dungeon. This is the proof!”

I took out my adventurer’s card from <Inventory>. Recruitment is based on facts after all.

“It’s a D-rank adventurer’s card.”

A student seated nearby peeked over to check my adventurer’s card. I handed the adventurer’s card to the student and asked him to check it carefully.

Everyone stopped recruiting and looked at me. The homeroom teacher also crossed his arms and looked at me.

“‘The four of us have been conquering dungeons two days a week since the Academy started in April! We’ve conquered two C-class dungeons in one month!”

Since then, we have conquered one more dungeon.

The students were surprised to find that we had already conquered two dungeons. Seriously? It seems that no one has been to a dungeon.

“‘We are looking for one Priest or another Talented individual who specializes in recovery! And you must be willing to join us at least one day a week!”

You’ve already conquered a dungeon and you’re still going there. Do you go to the dungeon every week? I heard those words.

I would like to recruit people who are willing to participate at least one day a week, if not two days a week. I believe that it is better if the recruiters state non-negotiable conditions up front.

“Yes, but don’t worry. We have a Master Swordsman and a Mage in our party. The dungeon is not absolutely safe, but I want you to trust your party members who have superior Talents.”

Never lie about safety. However, information that guarantees safety should always be included in the recruitment requirements.

“Naturally, all items and rewards obtained in the dungeon will be split between the five of us! There will only be five of us, so you’ll get a bigger share!”

And present the benefits well. Recruitment without benefits will not attract people.

I gave a brief explanation, looked around to see what the reaction was, and took my seat.

Everyone was paying attention to me, but no one was coming.

(Was it not enough?)

I am looking for a healer to stabilize the party. The Demon King’s army seems to be a large force. We will definitely need a party member who can heal steadily. However, I am also aware of the fact that finding a healer is a difficult job.

It is not uncommon for the church to take in children who are found to be able to heal in the Appraisal Ceremony. In Kurena Village, I saw a serf who had been appraised the same year as me being taken in by the church.

I believe that those who are able to heal others are not coming to the Academy in the first place due to the church taking them in.

And there is no reason for them to fight the Demon King’s army. There are many opportunities for those who have the Talent to heal. It is said that some of them are employed by Noble families as Priests. There is no need to worry about life after graduation for them.

If they are a Noble though, they have their duty, so they go to the battlefield.

I also have a plan if there are no Priests or healers in the Academy. It is to hire an adventurer for money. We can make a lot of money by attacking dungeons and can hire a reasonably competent healer. This is another alternative that I am considering.

But I’d rather have a student who studies at the same Academy than an older adventurer with different values and experience. If we are going to be friends who will continue to entrust our backs to each other, I want to spend a certain amount of time with them.

“That’s kind of awesome, Allen.”

The General’s son, Rifol, who was listening to me from the front seat, shouted in surprise.

“You’re welcome. I’m not looking for Swordsmen, but if you need help with dungeons, let me know. I’ll at least help you out.”

(I will send Kurena then. Dogora will go with her as a set.)

“Really? I’ll ask you if I need help!”

His expression changed at my words, and he answered quite happily. Perhaps there is still no way for him to conquer a dungeon. Rifol, a Talented Swordsman born into a Noble family, has to graduate from the Academy because of his work. If he is a member of a Noble family and his father is a General, I’m sure he is facing considerable pressure.

Soon the homeroom was over and the morning classes would begin.

And it was lunchtime. The four of us were about to go to the cafeteria for lunch when I was called out.

One student approached me.

“Are you Allen?

“Yes, I am Allen. How can I help you?”

“My name is Kiel. Are you still looking for a healer?”

(Oh! Here comes the healer! You are a healer, right? If not, why are you talking to me?)

“Yes, no one has applied yet, so there is one slot open. Are you able to heal others?”

“Yeah, I know, but… Can you tell me more about it?”

It was lunchtime, so we went to eat with Kurena, Cecile and Dogora at the cafeteria.

The cafeteria at the Academy was a buffet. All we have to do is pay two Copper coins and we can eat as much as we want. The price was quite reasonable.

It has become a tradition that Kurena and Dogora always bring a pile of food on a plate. As if she had been sucked in, Kurena took the plate and went to the table where the food was lined up. I also took a plate of food and went to my seat, where Kiel was waiting with a glass of water.

“Oh, I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Please go and get your food.”

“What? Yeah, I’m fine. I’m trying not to eat lunch.”

I wondered if he had saved a seat for me and the others. I called out to him to go take him, but he would not be eating lunch.

(Is he the kind of person who doesn’t eat much?)

Kiel is a skinny, blond man. He was a little taller than me. When he spoke to me, I thought he was a thug because his hair was tousled and his eyes were bad. I thought he was a thug.

A little later, Kurena and Dogora arrived with a plate of food. Kiel was looking at the pile of food on the plate.

“Kiel. Since we’ve gotten so close, let me buy you lunch for today.”

“What? No, that’s….”

“What are you talking about? Let’s talk about it over lunch.”

I gave two Copper coins to Kiel, who refused. When I gave them to him, again and again he said, “…I’m sorry,” and went to get the food.

He must have been very hungry, because Kiel’s plate was also piled high. Kiel took a seat, and then I proceeded to talk.

“So, Kie, allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Allen. And these are my friends, Cecile, Kurena, and Dogora.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.

“Nice to meet you.

I just gave him their name as an introduction.

“Yeah, nice to meet you. My name is Kiel.”

“So, you’re considering joining a party to conquer the dungeon, is that correct?”

“Yes. I have the Talent ‘Priest’. Can you tell me more about what I’ll be doing before I join?”

(Oh! Here comes the Priest. He doesn’t feel like a Priest at all though.)

I think it’s rude to say something like that about someone who took the trouble to talk to me.

All four of us were from the same hometown and started talking about how to attack dungeons. I said that the two days we don’t have classes at the Academy will be spent trying to conquer dungeons. We would like him to come two days a week if possible, and one day if not.

I didn’t tell him about us all living together in the base or that we have a routine to beat the bottom floor boss even on weekdays, because it would raise the bar for participation.

“Oh yeah, are dungeons profitable? “

(Hmm? Is it the money you’re worried about?)

We talked about this and that, but that didn’t seem to be what he wanted to hear.

“Yes, in dungeons, we can get magic stones from killing magical beasts and treasure chests from defeating the bottom floor boss of the dungeon. In C-class dungeons, the bottom floor boss will give a treasure chest with an item worth one or two Gold coins; if we divide it into five equal parts, we would get about 20-40 silver coins.”

“Oh, I can’t believe you got that much. Can I join you for a trial run?”

“Oh! Of course. I look forward to working with you.”

This is how Allen and his friends ended up going to the dungeon with a Priest named Kiel.