Volume 1 Chapter 15 Limit Break
Rose took a deep breath and tightened her expression as she walked into the training ground.
"You're just going to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, crybaby Ros-Ros."
Even with those taunts behind her, she walked firmly to her designated spot.
As I watched her back, I suddenly became the target of some provocation.
"You must be pretty dumb too. Did you come all the way here just to watch that loser make a fool of herself? If so, you're a real weirdo."
"..."
Not saying anything back, Freesia got even more fired up.
"I don't know if you liked her face or if you were after her body, but wasting your time on such a useless person is just silly. Trust me, it'd be smarter to ditch that good-for-nothing."
Feeling annoyed, I decided to say something back.
"I'm not going to abandon Rose. It'd be such a waste to give up on a girl with so much talent."
"...What did you just say?"
"You've already decided that Rose is useless and cut her off too soon, but that was a huge mistake. Instead of wasting her potential, you should have valued her as a party member and helped her grow together with you."
"...What are you talking about?"
Not understanding what I was saying, Freesia frowned in annoyance.
I thought it might be pointless to keep talking, but I continued anyway.
"If you had kept her as the 'center' of your adventurer activities, there's no doubt you would have been one of the top parties within 3 years. I can guarantee that."
"That loser as the 'center'? Ha! What a funny joke. You really think we can have a proper operation with that clumsy idiot as the leader? It's definitely smarter to cut her loose."
She seemed convinced that her judgment was right.
I knew there were plenty of other rookie adventurers who would make the same call.
Rose, who struggles to grow at the same pace as others and can't keep up with her friends, must seem like a burden to the heartless people around her.
After all, beginner adventurers need to get stronger quickly and make a name for themselves, so they probably want to get rid of anything that might hold them back.
But just a little...
If only they had a bit of compassion for her and helped her grow, even for just a year or 2...
"You'll understand soon enough. The potential of Rose that you abandoned, and your own foolishness."
At that moment, Rose took her position.
She steadied herself, drawing her sword as she focused on the bull monster in front of her.
Freesia, watching from outside the fence, couldn't help but smile, clearly looking forward to the embarrassing scene that was about to unfold.
A few other adventurers around her wore similar mocking expressions, sharing in Freesia's amusement.
"Hey, is she going to be okay?"
"Isn't that the Apprentice Warrior who came to our place the other day?"
These were probably the adventurers who had turned Rose away at the gate.
They seemed to already know her abilities and found it odd that she was participating in the exam.
Despite the unpleasant stares, Rose kept her gaze fixed on the bull monster.
Then, the exam supervisor, Mr. Ms. Alium, raised his right hand...
"Well then..."
As soon as the participants were ready, he brought his hand down.
"Let the exam begin!"
Mr. Ms. Alium's commanding voice echoed.
At the same time, the summoned bull monsters charged toward the participants.
In an instant──.
──Thud.
The head of one summoned beast quietly fell to the ground.
It was the head of the bull that had been in front of Rose.
"...Huh?"
Everyone reacted similarly.
While the other 3 participants were fighting their summoned beasts, the invisible bull in front of Rose had dropped its head and stopped moving.
Moreover, Rose had quietly maneuvered behind the summoned beast and swung her sword.
I could barely catch her movements.
"What's happening..."
Freesia couldn't keep up with what was happening right in front of her.
The other adventurers were just as stunned, only able to stare at Rose.
Among them, only Ms. Alium remained calm and continued with the proceedings.
"Rose Vermilion, you passed. That was some amazing sword skill."
"Th-thank you."
As soon as that declaration echoed, it was like time, which had been frozen, suddenly started moving again, and the surrounding adventurers erupted in cheers.
"Wow, that girl is incredible!"
"She took down that monster in an instant!"
"Is she really a 5th rank adventurer?!"
Everyone was re-evaluating Rose's strength, showering her with praise.
In no time, she was being bombarded with offers from many people.
"W-what was that..."
Freesia was left speechless by the scene where Rose, who had been mocked just moments ago, suddenly became the center of attention.
The two companions beside her were just as shaken.
There was no need to explain, but I opened my mouth to clarify our mistake.
"Do you know about 'Exceed'?"
"Ex...ceed?"
"It's a rare phenomenon where a job class that has reached its level limit transforms."
Freesia and the others looked dumbfounded, as if they had never heard of it before.
Well, it was understandable that they didn't know.
There were only a few cases, and it was known only to some high-level adventurers.
"Even among the confirmed cases, there are only 4 examples of this rare phenomenon. Normally, when a job class reaches its level limit, their growth stops. But a select few job classes evolve into a 'new job class' the moment they hit that limit."
That's what Exceed is.
It's also known as the job class evolution phenomenon, a supernatural event allowed only for the chosen ones.
And...
"Rose had the potential for that Exceed; she was one of the most talented individuals in the world."
"N-no way, that's impossible...! That kind of talent in a dropout like her..."
I get that she doesn't want to admit it.
But this is an undeniable fact.
More than anything, the signs must have reached Freesia and the others too.
"The job class level cap is usually set at 50, but those with the potential for a breakthrough (Exceed) have a much lower limit. It's like they hit a wall at level 20 or 30. And Rose had a pretty low level cap too."
"No way, so that means..."
It seems Freesia finally understood, even if it was a bit late.
Those with the potential for a breakthrough (Exceed) have a low level cap.
And the closer you get to that cap, the harder it is to level up.
The reason she was growing slower than others was simply because her cap was too low.
"Rose's cap is level 10. So from the start, she was slow to grow because she was already close to her limit. Well, she managed to overcome that just 2 days ago."
"So, does that mean Rose's job class is now not 'Apprentice Warrior' but..."
I said, adding to Freesia's shock.
"Valkyrie."
"Valkyrie?"
"Rose broke through from 'Apprentice Warrior' to a job class called 'Valkyrie,' which has incredible power."
"..."
At first, I couldn't believe my eyes.
When I saw Rose glowing after defeating the Emperor Ant, I couldn't grasp what was happening.
But then, when I checked with the Divine Eye skill and confirmed the Divine Revelation, I quickly realized that the light was due to the breakthrough (Exceed).
I knew about the phenomenon of job class evolution, but I was shocked to find out that Rose had that potential.
And I was also amazed by the new job class that awakened within her.
[Job class] Valkyrie
[Level] 20
[Skill] God of War's Might
[Magic] -
[Divine blessing]
- Strength: SS900
- Agility: S+850
- Resilience: S730
- Magic: C300
- Holy Power: C300
While I gaze at Rose's Divine Revelation with the skill of Divine Eye, I say,.
"She's still at level 20 as a 'Valkyrie,' but even at this point, she has power equal to that Eastern hero, Dahlia. Just looking at pure combat ability, without considering Magic or Holy Power."
"Equal to a hero..."
"And yet, there's still a huge potential for growth. She's got insane talent. That girl will definitely rise to be a savior of the world one day."
Saying she's equal to a hero feels a bit exaggerated.
But soon enough, she'll catch up and even surpass them.
If only they had been more considerate and helped her grow, Freesia and the others might have gained a companion who could surpass even the hero.
But it's too late now.
"Ah, did you know it would turn out like this? You said she had talent and that she'd pass the promotion exam in a week...!"
"No, I had no idea. I didn't know she had the potential for a limit break (Exceed), and you can't tell just by looking. But..."
Still watching Rose surrounded by many adventurers at the training ground entrance, I murmured with deep emotion.
"Her desire to become stronger was greater than anyone else's. The talent I felt in her was that unyielding 'grit'."
Kicked out of parties, turned away from everywhere, and stuck at level 3 after a year of struggling as a rookie adventurer.
Even in such a hopeless situation, she never gave up.
While others would likely be crushed by despair and give up, Rose Vermilion kept reaching for even the slightest hope.
The talent I sensed in her was that stubborn determination to never give up.
"Oh, and about that promise..."
"...Promise?"
"If Rose gets promoted, she said, 'Apologize to me.' It seems like Rose is determined to make you apologize no matter what, but honestly, I don't really want you to apologize, so it's fine if you don't. Just, instead..."
I raised my voice and said to Freesia and the others.
"Don't ever mess with Rose again. Don't get in her way. Don't be a hindrance to her glory. If I catch you bothering Rose like that around town again..."
I recalled my anger from long ago and threatened them.
"This time, I won't forgive you...!"
"..."
As soon as I said that, I rushed over to Rose.
She was weaving through the adventurers surrounding her, running towards me with a smile.
In her hand, she tightly held a 4th Rank adventurer's handbook.
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