Chapter 074: The Class Upgrade

| Twilight Theme: Persona 5 Royal - "Gentle Madman (Reinterpreted)" | damusicmahn

"You must understand that the group I belong to is one that has the highest individual strength but greatly lacks when it comes to numbers. We have all the power in the world but are restricted due the nature and caution due to our… "Past exploits"." The way they said that made it all too clear.

They even had the gall to turn to me and give me hand quotes with their one free hand.

This guy was a villain in a past story!

Made me kind of wonder what plan they had cooked up since they came across as so understanding that it was hard to picture them doing something particularly bad. Did they accidentally park in Mother's parking space or something? Maybe they even did the dastardly deed of not turning on the light at night.

Looking at their face revealed that they most certainly realised what I was thinking as there was no amusement in their smile. Their other hand coming to push those iconic glasses up their face. This action lifted their jacket enough to let me remember that the god was strapped with countless flintlocks.

… Maybe don't tease the powerful entity in front of me?

For their part, they took it well enough, merely clearing their throat to try to get me back on track to the important lore dump they were graciously providing. "While we often interfere with the mortal realms we could hardly do something as large-scale as this after the imp messed up last time we did."

Shaking their head with a sigh. "Aeons upon aeons of planning in the dark, keeping ourselves from being known, only for those two to spectacularly fail due to a little dragon-fox hatchling…"

Somehow I began to feel bad for the psychologist although I suppose it wasn't that surprising - I knew what it felt like to go through years of planning only for it to erupt into flames. In fact it was something I only just was able to fully get over to. Of course it was thanks to some "peaceful venting".

"I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for that meddling cow." Muttering the last bit yet I was able to easily pick up on it.

Suddenly making me feel a lot less remorseful for them.

Meddling cow?

Really?

Now I just feel embarrassed for them; something I obviously displayed clearly though my single pink eye.

I had never watched saturday morning cartoons (at the age most people would be doing that I was either running drugs across the border or developing a new weapon of war). Still, I knew the common tropes through social osmosis, that was so stereotypical. Nothing short of shameful.

That doctor evil wannabe at lead had the self respect to look embarrassed as I thought they should.

Their gaze turning away while they covered their mouth with a closed fist; coughing loudly as if that would somehow make us both forget what they just said. "Well I believe that is all the information that you require to understand your position. With that I will give you access to our character select and let you go."

What a liar - that is not nearly enough!

"Wait I still need to know so much more and what is a char-" Halfway through my sentence I was cut off or rather, more accurately, woke up at the desk I was previously working at. In front of me was the blueprint for an exoskeleton that I was purposefully pushing past what everyone else thought plausibly usable.

It only took me a minor moment to realise exactly what had happened which immediately upset me for a quite obvious reason.

I was forcibly kicked out!

Clearly they weren't very pleased with their past mistakes and decided to take it out on me… Though I could hardly blame them as I would have likely done the same. Instead of worrying about what could have been I should continue on with what I can do to influence the future.

That meant finishing this new project in the week I had - before the game became open access - to ensure I can secure my head start on the wider community.

Though, with my family, it was less of an urgent matter.

I would probably ask one of them to make their way to my future territory so that we can ensure our stake is firmly claimed. There was no worry about another playing (especially the future HERO guild) stealing it from under my nose. They took advantage for years before finally gaining control in my previous life.

Still; a lot has changed so I have decided to be more cautious.

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

<< Welcome Back To The Land Of The Living >>

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

"Technically correct for so I'll allow it." Not like I could do much to the mighty B.I.T.C.H.

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

<< That Is The Best Kind Of Correct >>

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

"Okay, okay, ignoring you now." I really couldn't understand this system which is annoying when it is technically just me speaking to a knowledgeable & analytical version of myself.

Although I didn't actually hurry to continue the project.

Instead I leaned back in my chair thus causing it to slowly roll back and allow me to get a full view of what I had been working on for the past day. This was going to be complicated however there was something that greatly helped me in pushing this project forward. One which was currently on pause.

The Silver Knight Project.

Plus I had another advantage that I was currently working on. The only problem was that I needed a portable generator which I stupidly hadn't packed before arriving at Frux island academy. Who doesn't bring a portable energy generator when they come to teach the future generations of expert doctors.

Fortunately I at least had people for that.

Those guards of mine were currently scouring the island for powerful or enough generators to empower all at least my most used tools. From there I'd just need to set them all up on the other side. That one week deadline would then become a complete month when, when combined with my genius, is easily done.

So taking a bit of a break to centre myself (letting me put everything I learned as well as all my plans with that knowledge in perspective) was more than fine. If anything it was helpful. It was hard to move forward if you didn't know where you stood… Or some deep sounding shit that anyone can make up.

Truthfully I was just feeling a little bit lazy.

"Guess this is time to finally look at my class upgrade?" Thinking out loud allowed me to finally take in that I had finally achieved what I long had wanted when I upgraded baby gunslinger - a magic class so I can finally make use of my gigantic spirit pool properly. "System; show me my advancement options!" 

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<< Showing {user}.[Armor-Cordis] {class}.[Baby_Gunslinger_Queue] >>

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I promptly rained on her parade. "Not you… I want the pretty looking system to do it."

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

<< Bitch >>

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

"Oi." Clicking my tongue at that pesky half baked system.

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Congratulations On Your Amazing Achievement!

You have Unlocked Several Possible Classes Which You Can Upgrade Your [Baby Gunslinger] Into

Please Choose Wisely

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The positive reinforcement is always appreciated but that system also wasn't lying when it said that I had unlocked several new classes; rather the term "several" was a criminal understatement.

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-Apprentice Gunner-

{E}

[+]

-Intermediate Gunner-

{D}

[+]

-Apprentice Assassin-

{E}

[+]

-Apprentice Assassin-

{E}

[+]

-Intermediate Assassin-

{D}

[+]

-Adept Assassin-

{C}

[+]

-Expert Assassin-

{B}

[+]

-Apprentice Gunslinger-

{E+}

[+]

-Intermediate Gunslinger-

{D+}

[+]

-Apprentice Gunsmith-

{E+}

[+]

-Apprentice Sherif-

{E++}

[+]

-Apprentice Magic Gunner-

{E+}

[+]

…

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Completely trust me when I say that the list goes on and on and on and on and on and one.

There was no way that I was going to scroll through the endless list of slightly different classes that I had unknowingly unlocked. It kind of made sense that I would unlock so many. Not only had I unlocked a class that is purposefully very open in its evolution path but also had literal years to build up achievements.

Each class required you to meet some achievement which can just be summarised as doing something you'd expect that class to do… Usually. With how much I had done with that shitty revolver as well as all the different weapons I had developed over the years.

"If only I could find a way to cut them down to just ones applicable to my futu-"

►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄►☼◄

<< On It Already>>

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Well damn.

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-Apprentice Arcane Gunner-

{E++}

[A person who has begun their journey with both firearms and magic!]

-Apprentice Arcane Gunslinger-

{E++}

[A sharp shooter in the making; it requires precision or speed along with a bit of magic.]

-Grandmaster Arcane Avenger-

{E++}

[They think they can mess around with you and get away with it because you are at the start of your potentially long or very short journey? Unlikely as this class gives you the power to turn that rage into power. Your drive to avenge yourself as well as others will let you paint the streets red whether with your or your enemies blood.]

-Apprentice Heavenly Sherif-

{E+++}

[The heavens themselves have offered a path of power in response to your status as a Godhunter as well as your accomplishments with a hard iron. There is much that can be said. But it can be summarised as "will you accept their gracious offer or choose a lower class?".]

-Apprentice True Swashbuckler-

{E+++}

[The countless seas await for yee! This requires one to be recognised by the prolific captain of the strongest pirate crew. Make sure you don't let them down if you don't want to walk the plank; likely with one less arm than before.]

-Grandmaster Warcriminal-

{S}

[You know what you did.]

[+]

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Okay but one of them I would never choose… Maybe if you revealed a lower level variant I could consider it however chosing an S-rank class this early would be wasting a lot of potential skills! That was simply something that I could never condone.

Maybe I'll consider it in the future?

Although I can instantly see why I was told, by the bar owner, to make a decision after taking a break. If I was angry I may have made a rash choice; there were a lot of good options after all. Think I should get a second as well as a third opinion and I know just a pair of women to give them!