Novel Full Chapter 64: Level 0? Was That A Thing?
Chapter 64: Level 0? Was That A Thing?
"We should send someone to go check on the building across the street, make sure they’re alright and nothing got in. It looked like we got everything, but you never know with the Rat Demons, they’re sneaky," Kalli suggested.
"On it. I will take a team and go check the building to be sure," Sergeant Sanchez agreed, with a wave to call a few of his men over.
Joanna and Kruger joined the team, giving them some extra close quarters combat ability if there were Rat Demons hiding somewhere in the house. But as soon as they left the gates, headed for the entrance, the guards came out to greet them with a cheerful wave.
"Have you checked the whole building? We just wanted to ensure that there were no rat demons in the basement," Sergeant Sanchez greeted them without preamble.
"We did. Two got in, but we managed to take care of them.
But there is something that we need to talk to you about. I got a message from whatever caused the messages the first day. It named me a [Level 0 Commoner], whatever that means.
It came up when I killed those Rat Demons."
"That’s new. You might be the first to get something like that since the awakening. Maybe if you keep it up and reach level 1 you will get to pick a class? We all started at level 1, but it started you at level 0.
Did it give you any skill options, or anything?"
"There are options?"
"Think the word [Status] and it will bring up the System Interface."
The guard paused for a moment and then nodded. "I see options. It says I need to pick a job and have my employment contract signed to begin to gain experience. But I don’t know who can sign it. Probably the group leader? Or perhaps it has to be one of the heroes?
Can you do it?"
Sanchez searched through his System options, and finally found the right spot.
{[Employment Contract] System linked job offer. Timely payment of wages and assurances of job duties will be enforced as per the contract. Both parties must be willing signatories.
Payments may be made in System Points or in hard currency.}
"I think that we need to talk to Coordinator Kalli for this one. She’s kind of the central hub for the base, and she takes care of all the points that aren’t specifically for one hero.
If you want to come with me, we can explain the situation to her, and perhaps she will be able to properly hire the others as well, so there is a chance they can move beyond level 0 and start gaining some powers."
"Alright, I will gather the others, if you can have your people find the ones who were working at the time of the attack. They’re likely still in the kitchens and dorms doing their jobs."
The Sergeant nodded, and the other guard called a replacement for the man at the door.
Naturally, some of the students near the wall had heard the entire conversation, as their hearing had been enhanced by their Class, and they quickly ran off to find the other employees.
If Kalli could make them proper employees of the Academy, with bonuses from the System, that would be so much better than the current arrangement.
Of course, none of them knew that the wages would be coming out of Kalli’s balance, as the System considered her to be the administrator of this location.
The few staff that were currently at the Academy were quickly gathered and brought to Kalli, just in time for Sanchez and his team to finish one final sweep around the apartment building and return to the Academy.
"Welcome, friend, to Marimgar Academy," Kalli joked, and watched as the System once again granted her experience.
It really wanted her to play up the NPC role for entertainment value, she decided.
Or perhaps just do something entertaining.
Either seemed possible. She had even gotten experience when Bert had first shown off his new armour, so she was leaning toward the System rewarding her for the entertainment value, not the survival chance.
Unless Bert in a bodysuit was actually what motivated others to go for the better armour?
It was best not to think too hard on that, she would just give herself a headache.
"Did you hear what the situation is, or should we explain it?" Sanchez asked.
"The others told me. Now, let’s see what I can do to get you a proper job that will pay you with System rewards. It will come out of my end of the bonuses, so the amount likely won’t be spectacular. But it will be something worth having."
Kalli brought up the menu, and found that the actual options for the contract terms were somewhat limited.
"Uh, I think we might have an issue here. I only have a specific set of contracts, and security or bodyguard aren’t among them.
I’ve got [Domestic Helper], [Chef], [Maid or Butler] and [Groundskeeper].
All of them have a list of job duties attached to them, and none of them include guarding the doors. I suppose that the closest would be groundskeeper, as they are in charge of ensuring that the property is in good repair?"
The big goon shrugged. "That sounds about as close to my job as possible, I suppose. I do patrol the property with the others, hunting for creatures that might threaten the group."
Kalli nodded. "The contract says that it pays a half point a day, for an eight-hour shift. Paid every day that you work automatically, no waiting."
"What about Domestic Helpers? That’s what the other option was, right? Those and cooks?"
Kalli checked. "Both the same rate, but Chefs get a full credit a day if they have a System Skill for cooking. Maids have a sliding scale. Scullery maids get a single credit a week with mandatory onsite lodging, common maids get a half credit, as do butlers."
As she read it, Kalli realized that the Scullery Maid contract was horribly exploitative. They were not allowed to leave the premises for any reason, the contractor could forbid them from speaking entirely, and the System would enforce it. The only real protections were that they must be given food and safe lodging, and may not be dismissed without cause.