Vol. 2 Side Chapter: MOBA

**Yuuki**

"As we all know by now, the Adventurers' Agency classify adventurer skills through a system of ranks called 'color bands,' after the color of that line in your IDs. Green is the lowest, and is meant for new recruits like you. Then, second is bronze. Next is silver, then gold. And the highest is platinum. Question, why do we even need this system? Anyone?"

There was tense silence in the air, as the attendees of the 'adventurer orientation' waited for each other to raise the other person's hands. Good thing someone volunteered to answer. "So that the Adventurers' Agency can give the quest that is right for the skill levels of the adventurer, making adventuring safe for everyone."

"That's correct," the speaker, an employee of the agency, clapped her hands. This lady must be from the Training Department; which was another division required for every branch of the Adventurers' Agency. Though, I must say, with how she handled her lecture, she must be a teacher once. "Dungeons vary in difficulty, and can wipe-out even the highest-ranked parties if not well-prepared. And since we are already on the topic of dungeon difficulty, can someone tell me the difficulty levels of dungeons?"

The same guy answered. "One-star dungeons are the lowest, and can be completed by lone adventurers. Two-stars and three-stars are of medium difficulty; it requires full parties for green, bronze and silver ranks. These are also the highest they can explore until they move ranks. Four-stars are the first in the two highest-tier dungeons, and only adventurers with gold and platinum bands are allowed entry. The last, five-star dungeons, is the highest difficulty, requiring only full parties of platinum adventurers to clear."

Heh, this newbie knows his stuff. I mean, all new adventurer recruits—as well as returning ones with at least three years' gap from their last quest—must undergo an orientation seminar to ensure we all know the policies, systems, and requirements of the Adventurers' Agency. But before that, we were always given the adventuring manual we had to read, memorize and understand, so we could pass the tests on our way to the top.

I've been out for almost five years, so I have to attend this.

"Can a green band adventurer be allowed in a three-star dungeon?"

"No. They are only allowed in one- and two-star dungeons."

"When can adventurers advance in rank?"

"When they pass the simulation tests, which include a practical skills exam, theoretical exam, and final interview."

"Alright, that concludes the first part of the orientation seminar," the speaker smiled and said goodbye to us. "Please remember to read your manuals and come back for tomorrow's examination. After that, we proceed to the second part, which is the weapons and skills an adventurer needs inside the dungeon."

And with that, the session ended. It was lunchtime, and while the other students gathered at the cafeteria or went outside to eat at the nearby stores, I headed to the dormitories to check on my companions.

-----

Rico was already at the elevator when I met her.

"Ah! You're still alive, thank goodness!" she greeted me with a smile.

"Well, nothing can be done about that. All green bands must attend the orientation sessions," I could only shake my head. "This is my mistake, so I get to suffer for it."

"Why did you even ask Lady Yanari to revert you back to green band when you can just go with your former rank?"

"Heh, I think many of my fellow gamers would understand me. There is always fun in starting over and you already know what you should do, compared to when you're feeling up things on your way to the top."

The scout was silent. She just stared at me with a confused face while we walked to our dormitory. Right, I keep forgetting that she had a strict childhood, devoting her energies to perfecting their family's 'magic assassination' craft.

I asked, "You got any games on your phone?"

"Alice told me to download that Mobile Myths from the app store," Rico revealed. "But all we do is fight, and I always lost to her."

Well, that was the purpose of that popular Mobile Myths game; fight every champion you came across. It gained popularity in this country, not only among the students, but also with the 'working class' people during their breaks. However, compared to the stuff I play, I was never convinced to download that. Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, or MOBAs, weren't my thing; mainly because my fellow Filipinos were ugly trash-talkers, and also, online games never suited me.

For one, online games require internet data...which is costly for my prepaid phone. And second, I play games to relax, not to stress myself being called 'bobo (stupid),' 'tanga (idiot),' and 'son of a bitch (putang ina mo).'

Anyway, if I may guess, Alice convinced Rico to play Mobile Myths to have someone to fight in her quest for dominance. For short, someone to easily beat up whenever our brawler wanted to practice her MOBA tactics. It was a standard practice among kids looking to 'warm themselves up' in such games, especially in groups with someone competitive. And often, it was the most uninterested person who got the short end of the stick.

No wonder why Rico has no interest in games. Thus, she can't also be convinced of why I'm doing this 'reversion' thing...

"..."

Well, maybe I could teach our scout the 'beauty' in beating someone's ass when you already know the mechanics.

-----

So, after that, I taught Rico some MOBA tactics. Though I didn't like Mobile Myths, I've played its predecessor games before that I got to master most of the game genre's basic mechanics. As such, it was easy to go around the game, and explain to our scout what she needed to know. And what do I know? Rico absorbed everything like a Grade 1 student that from that day on, I would see her play the game by herself.

"..."

And then came one fateful day...

"Muuu! You betrayed me, Yuuki!" Alice's voice echoed throughout the four corners of our dormitory room. As I was sleeping then—it was Sunday afternoon, I nearly fell off the couch.

"W-What?!"

"You taught Rico the tactics of Mobile Myths, but not to me!"

"Ah, eh? Huh?"

"Don't play innocent!" the brawler seized the collar of my shirt and shook me awake. "I can always beat Rico before; but now she's beating me!"

"Oh...that..." By that time, some of the sleepiness had shaken off my head.

"Don't 'Oh, that' me!" she blurted out. "We Russians can have a murderer for a Tsar, but not traitors! I'll have you teach me the same things you taught Rico!"

"Ah, hmm...yeah. What time is it already?" I tried looking at the clock, but Alice grabbed my head instead, dragging me to her partition. Rico was happily pushing buttons on her phone, taking screenshots of the one-sided battle she won against our brawler.

"I will not let you go today, Yuuki! You got to help me defeat her!" was Alice's demand.

And with that, my day ended with my hands full...