Combat Training and the First Divide
Combat training in the training camp truly began.
"In the Tower World, the main god created the Status Window to aid in battle. It was made to fully understand a person's traits and abilities, granting the blessing of skills."
"Your abilities upon entering the Tower are determined by the Status Window. High Strength stats make you strong regardless of gender. The same goes for other stats."
"As I mentioned, those from Earth entering the Tower World are called adventurers. But there are two kinds of adventurers: Summoned, chosen by the goddess after hell was confirmed, and Invitees, who entered via special contracts before judgment. Invitees are naturally a tiny minority and receive special traits."
"Later, when you gain a job, you can also have a religion. The moment you gain faith, that god grants various benefits. Especially in cities ruled by that god, most facilities are free. But it's not all gains."
"Not all gods get along, so serving a specific god can lead to disadvantages in cities or villages ruled by rival gods."
"Choose your religion carefully. The moment you abandon a god you've served, everything they granted vanishes, and a spiteful god might even send divine punishment. So, decide wisely when first serving a god."
"Currency is 1 gold = 100 silver, 1000 bronze. If you're unsure about market prices, buy from temple-certified shops. They're a bit pricier, but you won't get scammed. Large transactions might even earn small amounts of Merit Points."
"Ways to earn money are plentiful. Hunt field monsters and bring their cores to temples for set gold and Merit Points. You can also take quests from temples or guilds, explore instance dungeons for treasure, or if you're a production job, craft and sell items or work for families or merchant guilds."
"Strong crimes don't occur in villages or cities, but economic crimes like scams or fraudulent contracts happen occasionally. Always be cautious and use god-guaranteed contracts or oaths."
A boring but informative knowledge session filled the morning, followed by afternoon hunting to reach level 5.
Today's session was goblin and kobold hunting, as Instructor Pigicheol had mentioned. Training took place in the monster pens inside the camp—a facility for managing and hunting monsters captured for leveling.
Instructors finished preparations and called trainees one by one.
"Trainee Yuari!"
At the instructor's command, a woman named Yuari stepped forward with her chosen weapon, a spear. She opened the gate to the iron-barred area, where a goblin with both arms severed—devoid of any fighting power—awaited.
"Thrust! Kill it!"
At the instructor's words, Yuari gripped her spear tightly but couldn't bring herself to stab, sweat pouring down her face. The armless goblin couldn't even resist slightly, yet she couldn't strike it.
"Thrust, kill it!! If you don't kill it, you and your comrades die!"
The instructor bellowed, but she finally lowered her spear and said,
"I... I just can't do it."
At her words, a nearby female instructor spoke softly.
"Miss Yuari, do you give up?"
Tears welling, she nodded. As Yuari indicated her intent to quit, she exited. The female instructor pulled out a paper and handed it to her.
"This is a pledge to abandon the leveling process entirely. Sign it, and you'll move to production training."
Sniffling, Yuari signed and left the building with other instructors.
The others watched her go, including Namgung Seojun's group.
"Wow... I really don't get it. Can't even stab and kill a powerless goblin?"
Lee Guho couldn't understand her failure and exit. From his perspective—having survived intense group tutorial battles and ambushes against combat goblins—it was free experience points she was rejecting.
"Hey, how many times have I said it? Non-fighters absolutely refuse."
As Gisohee said, people from Earth far removed from violence... Even in the group tutorial, those who only survived without fighting found it hard to kill something.
Namgung Seojun added,
"Not just women—men too. The Tower World's nature, climbing through combat, doesn't suit everyone. They have no choice but to go into production jobs to sustain this world. For every combat job, there must be production."
He explained the Tower World's essence.
Quitters appeared one by one, but those mentally prepared slew a goblin or kobold each.
Seojun also killed a goblin with the others. But he was slightly surprised at the moment of death.
What? The goblins here in the training camp give 100 EXP?
Goblins in the tutorial gave only 10 EXP. These gave 10 times more—100.
Training camp goblins give lots of EXP. Regardless of level, too.
Normally, higher levels meant less EXP from goblins, but here it was fixed at 100.
1,000 EXP from level 1 to 5 means they'll let us kill 10.
His guess was spot on. Using the goddess's special power, the camp provided 10 enhanced-EXP goblins per trainee, easily reaching level 5.
Thus, Namgung Seojun effortlessly gained 1,000 EXP.
"Everyone hit level 5? Those who didn't, head straight to production training!"
With level 5 work done, Senior Instructor Pigicheol immediately separated production from combat jobs.
"Not all 72 who reached level 5 become combat jobs. Production is vital too. Choose wisely based on traits and skills."
Instructor counseling began.
"Maeda Yang!"
Maeda approached the instructor tensely as her name was called.
"Have a seat. Can you reveal your skills and traits?"
"Reveal?"
Sensing she'd argue about personal rights, the instructor mixed threat and persuasion.
"I need to see your skills and traits to decide combat or production training. Plus, revealing earns rewards. Graduate the camp, get 2 extra gold. Reveal them."
"....."
Maeda wanted to hesitate, but the glaring instructor prompted her reluctant reply.
"Okay, I'll reveal."
"Good. Place your hand on this crystal orb and shout 'Skill and Trait Reveal'."
Still overwhelmed, Maeda placed her hand on the orb.
"Skill and Trait Reveal."
Lower Concentration
Lower Charm
Hat Making
"Lower Tailoring, Lower Concentration, Lower Charm. Skills: Strong Strike and Hat Making."
Level 5 granted an attack skill, Strong Strike, but her other traits and basic skills screamed production.
"Production job for you, right?"
Maeda pleaded,
"I want combat! I need a job by floor 20. I was a support fighter in the group tutorial."
"No. Traits and skills don't fit. One measly Strong Strike won't cut it for combat."
The instructor began persuading her.
"Women's survival rate to floor 20 is about 80%. But 30% climb as slaves."
Dismal survival, with high slave rates—especially compared to men.
"Better to establish in production. Especially you, Maeda—great production traits and skills. Good training means good jobs."
The assessment was accurate. Tailoring, Concentration traits, plus Hat Making skill gave her production edge.
"Earn big money or enough Merit Points, take buses up or offer Merit to gods for higher floors. Climb without combat. Religions later open better chances."
Maeda warmed to the persuasion. No-combat climbing appealed most.
"Special gift for you, Maeda. Choose production now, get a lower skillbook."
Mentioning the skillbook sealed it.
"Then, production it is."
"Great choice!"
Thus, Maeda went production.
Instructors sorted many adventurers into combat or production, but Namgung Seojun's group was different.
"Mr. Namgung Seojun, Mr. Lee Guho, and..."
Sharon glanced sharply, then said,
"Miss Gisohee, come to me."
Instructor Sharon called the three separately, handling them together.
"You three cleared the group tutorial with solid combat skills—obviously combat jobs."
Obvious, yes.
"Seojun, warrior with sword. Sohee, archer. Guho, mage."
Sharon knew them well, sorting subclasses neatly.
"No need to reveal traits/skills, but since I owe you, public tutorial passer info suffices."
Simple counseling done, Sharon told the group,
"Consultation over. Head out of the classroom."
Post-training was free time before dinner, so adventurers ate freely with friends.
Seojun dined with his group, chatting.
"Why's Sharon so nice to us?"
At Lee Guho's question, Gisohee glanced at Namgung Seojun.
"Probably... close with someone."
"....."
He stuffed food instead of answering. Guho realized Seojun and Sharon had slept together—and Gisohee knew.
Gisohee had been furious learning it first, but their relationship allowed other women... so no outburst.
Still, she disliked Sharon, who felt the same.
After eating, the group left the cafeteria. Gisohee grabbed Seojun's arm.
"We have somewhere else to go."
"Huh? Oh... yeah."
Gisohee dragged Namgung Seojun off. Likely venting Sharon jealousy differently.
"Ha..."
Lee Guho pitied himself, stuck between the couple.
"Gotta work it out."
Back at lodging, he vented desires on sex slaves, consoling himself.