Training Camp: Gods' Teachings and the Random Trait Book
The next morning at the training camp, before the sun had risen, Namgung Seojun woke from sleep.
"Hoo."
He looked a bit tired, but Sharon, the instructor who had woken up earlier and was lying on the bed, watched him with a satisfied expression.
"Awake?"
"Yeah."
His response was curt, but Sharon's voice brimmed with affection.
"You were amazing, you know?"
"...."
Instead of answering, he headed into the shower in her room. Sharon smiled even though he didn't reply and followed him in. And a moment later...
Thwack! Thwack!
"Ah! Haahk... Ah!"
Moans kept spilling from Sharon's lips.
When Seojun emerged from Sharon's room and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast, someone came looking for him.
"Seojun-nim!"
Gisohee ran over and hooked her arm through his.
"Yesterday, when I went looking for you, you were gone."
"I just turned in early to rest."
She pouted playfully.
"You should've gone with me."
"Next time, let's go together."
At his words, Gisohee beamed and walked into the cafeteria with him. The two ate breakfast together, chatting as they did.
"This training camp is less restrictive than I thought."
Namgung Seojun nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, as long as you attend the classes, they don't meddle in anything else."
The atmosphere was far freer than expected.
"So, we should stick together, right?"
Gisohee asked, worried he might refuse, but...
"Of course. We're dating, aren't we? It's only natural."
He agreed easily. Her face lit up.
"Right? Romance at training camp—instead of school—sounds perfect."
Then she leaned in and whispered.
"We'll have plenty of good times too. I've scouted a few secluded spots while wandering around."
Her forward attitude.
"Shall I give you a proper education?"
"Yes! Educate me. A lot."
Gisohee was incredibly proactive with him.
At 10 a.m., the instructors led the adventurers to the training grounds. In the classroom-style hall, the adventurers took their seats. Namgung Seojun sat with Gisohee in a decent spot, and the instructor began explaining the curriculum.
"Before we dive into the main training, I'll briefly outline the process."
The instructor cast a spell, and a massive screen appeared like a projector beam, displaying prepared materials.
Morning: Tower World Adaptation Training
Afternoon: Job-Specific Training
"In the mornings, you'll receive general knowledge to understand the Tower World. Afternoons will focus on job-specific training based on your traits."
Week 1: Trait/Skill Check / Job Selection
Week 2: Combat Training / Production Training
Week 3: Combat Training / Production Training
Week 4: Combat Practice / Production Practice
"This is how the job-specific training will proceed. Let's begin."
The first morning session covered the gods of the Tower World, led jointly by priests of the main god and the goddess who oversaw humans.
"The Tower World was created by the Main God. Lacking resources to form a planet like Earth, he first made the Tower World and plans to reshape this one into a planetary realm later."
"The Main God desired harmony. Thus, alongside humans, the Tower World hosts other races: beastkin, elves, dwarves, even monster races—too many to list."
"Yet trials abound. Demon gods from other worlds covet this realm, summoning vile monsters that disrupt order throughout the Tower."
"The Main God wishes for peace in the Tower and harmony among races. But magic-corrupted monsters defy his will. Slay those you encounter in the field, and earn Merit Points."
"Countless villages and cities dot the Tower, aiding climbers. They are ruled by gods within the top 100 ranks."
"Upon reaching the 20th floor, you will receive your jobs."
The Main God's priest gave a broad overview, aiming to convey the world's lore and the god's intentions.
The goddess's priest focused on humans.
"Including the Starting Village where you now reside, floors 1 through 20 are divided by race. The goddess will protect you until the 20th."
"Humans must band together. Other races differ from us in thought and custom, leading to friction."
"The goddess is for humans alone. Believe in her, and she'll grant her faithful various graces. Trust in the goddess."
"You adventurers—summoned from Earth—are called adventurers. Among you are Summoned, chosen by the goddess, and inviters, invited by the Main God's agents."
"Those climbing the Tower are climbers; those choosing production jobs and settling in villages or cities are residents. If you're short on combat prowess or have production-related jobs and skills, you'll typically become residents."
The priest explained the Tower World as concisely as possible to Namgung Seojun and the others.
While the new adventurers attended orientation, in the principal's office, Senior Instructor Pigicheol and Instructor Sharon were reporting.
"Yesterday's gathering for the 11369th batch happened. We confirmed 21 groups. Instructors mingled over drinks and noted each group's traits."
"And the passers?"
Director Cheon Zschang's interest centered on the passers.
Pigicheol answered confidently.
"Rechecked the passer party: Namgung Seojun, Lee Guho, Jo Jaehun, Kim Hoon, and Gisohee—a five-person group that cleared the group tutorial."
"We knew that. Any additional info?"
At the prompt for more, Sharon stepped in.
"Yes. Lee Guho is an inviter."
The director grinned widely at the report.
"Really? No kidding?"
"Yes. Witnesses say he used powerful magic in the group tutorial zone."
A jobless, skillless adventurer wielding strong magic implied superior-or-higher traits and skills—virtually impossible without inviter status.
"Great work! Nailed it in one day. Let's manage them well going forward."
Director Cheon Zschang and the instructors continued their satisfied exchange.
After morning orientation came a simple lunch, followed by afternoon job training, led by Senior Instructor Pigicheol.
"We'll sort combat vs. production jobs later after checks."
The adventurers wondered how they'd divide combat from production when the answer came.
"Based on your traits and skills. Your job is determined by your held traits and the first skill from hitting level 5 in a week."
Many sighed. Most Summoned lacked good traits or skills.
But his next words offered hope.
"Be grateful to the goddess. She grants lacking adventurers an extra basic trait. You can claim yours today."
Eyes sparkled at the promise of an extra basic trait. The group tutorial had drilled home traits' importance. Summoned drew from Earth lives, so combat traits were rare outside soldiers or athletes. Even production traits favored the well-off; for the rest, this was a golden chance.
Pigicheol pulled out a book and showed it.
"This is the Basic Random Trait Book. A special gift from the goddess, usable only here."
He pointed at a female adventurer.
"You, come up!"
She stepped forward awkwardly. He handed her the book.
"Read it!"
She opened it, then gasped in surprise.
"Uh......"
"Got your trait?"
"Yes, Basic Agility."
A solid combat trait boosting agility. Others' eyes gleamed brighter.
Pigicheol barked to curb the excitement.
"Traits are random! Bad ones are luck; good ones are luck! No complaints or disruptions—or punishment! Come up one by one and read quietly!"
Adventurers lined up, reactions varied wildly.
"Oh! Thank you, God!"
"Ah... damn. Everything I touch turns to shit."
"Hm? Hmm......"
"Is this trait good? Or bad?"
Satisfaction, despair, regret, ambivalence—every shade.
Namgung Seojun's turn came. He stepped up.
"Read."
He opened the book.
Reading the Basic Random Trait Book.
Acquired the trait 'Basic Wind Spirit Magic'.
'Spirit magic? Not bad.'
An unexpected unique trait.
Others got basics too.
"Guho, what'd you get?"
"Alchemy for me."
Basic Alchemy—lacking his supreme magic synergy but a decent fit.
"Sohee, yours?"
"Sigh... Luck."
Basic Luck disappointed Gisohee, but Seojun's Super Sense said otherwise. Luck's subtle but always beneficial.
He asked his close ones directly; for others, God's Eye.
Jo Jaehun got Basic Handiwork.
Disappointed not combat, but highly versatile: weapon handling, camping, traps, gear management—useful anywhere.
Kim Hoon... Eloquence.
Perfect for him. Sharp instincts plus smooth talk? Merchant material.
He scanned others similarly via God's Eye.
Once all new adventurers checked traits, the first afternoon session ended. Pigicheol dropped a heavy truth.
"Some satisfied, some not. But this isn't the end. Don't judge good or bad yet—every trait finds use in the Tower. Chin up!"
He inhaled and continued.
"The real key is your level 5 first skill. Bad traits? Good skill makes up for it. So tomorrow afternoon, we'll slaughter goblins and kobolds en masse to hit that level."
The room fell silent at "kill monsters." To those who'd quietly survived the group tutorial, monsters terrified—and killing them froze them stiff.