—Hidden profession?
Jansen was slightly taken aback.
So, the little miss of the Wagner family wasn't just a noble by blood—she had actually awakened a hidden class. That was a rare gift indeed.
Still, just how powerful her class truly was… he'd have to see for himself in the crucible of the Hidden Realm.
After Fiona finished her own introduction, the rest of the party reported their levels and classes in turn.
This was a high-level team, their average level hovering around twenty.
Baxter in particular stood out—Level 28 Swordsman, just two levels shy of his second class advancement—his strength was nothing to scoff at.
The lineup was well-balanced: one swordsman, one knight, one assassin, one archer, two mages, plus Fiona, whose hidden class allowed her to both deal damage and heal. It was the ideal configuration for leveling and exploration.
When it came to his turn, Jansen thought for a moment before speaking. He revealed his level, but deliberately withheld his true class.
"Level 14. As for my class… well, you could say I'm a swordsman."
With the Black Dragon Scale Greatsword in his hand, the claim wasn't suspicious at all.
But that offhanded "you could say" carried a subtle weight.
Fiona's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she had caught something in his wording. She probed,
"Could it be… you're a hidden class too?"
Jansen didn't deny it. He simply gave a small nod, offering no further explanation.
That brief response was enough to change the expressions of everyone in the party.
A hidden class—now that was a rarity beyond measure.
Across the entire continent, you might not find even one among a thousand who had undergone class change.
And nearly every hidden class was vastly more powerful than its ordinary counterparts. Once revealed, such individuals became coveted prizes for academies and factions alike.
Baxter's gaze shifted instantly. He studied Jansen more closely, surprise clear in his voice.
"You're a hidden class? You're so young… With talent like yours, any academy would fight to recruit you. Why would you be wandering the wilderness as a materials—wait. No. You're not a materials hunter at all!"
It hit him all at once.
Jansen smiled faintly, spreading his hands.
"I never said I was a materials hunter, did I? I'm just a freshly advanced student, out here in the wild leveling for the Grand Exam—and picking up a few materials for pocket change while I'm at it."
"A freshly advanced student?!"
That one sentence stunned the group all over again.
Especially Fiona, whose eyes flickered with disbelief.
She herself had come to the Rocky Plains for the same purpose—leveling for the Grand Exam. But she had the full protection of a high-level escort from the Wagner family, and she had only just reached Level 13.
And Jansen?
He'd undergone class change at the same time as her, yet he had ventured alone into the depths of the Rocky Plains—and was already a level higher.
Could it be… that his solo monster-hunting speed outstripped her own, even with an entire team shielding her?
A strange, quiet pang of frustration crept into her heart.
Baxter, too, was shocked.
With his experience, it wasn't hard for Baxter to tell that Jansen wasn't lying—anyone who could train alone in a zone crawling with Level 18 monsters had to be a formidable hidden class. Otherwise, they'd have long since become a corpse in some beast's stomach.
The wariness in his eyes eased noticeably, and his tone grew much friendlier.
Grinning, he clapped Jansen on the shoulder.
"Heh, we judged you too soon. Seeing you looking all worn out, we figured you were a materials hunter. Good thing you're not—those types will do anything for profit. Unless it's absolutely necessary, we'd rather not deal with them."
Then his voice shifted to something more serious.
"Since you're a student like the young lady, we'll make sure to look out for you. After all, compared to us higher-tier class changers, your combat experience might still be lacking."
"Here's the plan—Jarde and I will take the front line. You and Zelda will form the second line, protecting the back row.
Of course, if you want to push for more damage contribution, you can step into the first wave—but it's risky. The young lady's healing is strong, but she's no pure cleric. You'll have to be careful."
Jansen nodded calmly.
"No problem."
"Good. Then it's settled."
As Baxter spoke, a glint of something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Turning away, he cast Zelda a quick, nearly imperceptible look.
She caught it instantly and gave the slightest nod.
Even if Jansen's claim of being a student was believable, for the young lady's safety, they would still keep a contingency plan in place.
If he made even the slightest suspicious move in the Hidden Realm… this assassin would take him down without hesitation.