Training Camp Graduation and the Final Party Member
With the second practical training over, the four weeks of training camp education had finally come to an end. The parade ground was packed with adventurers awaiting their graduation ceremony. Their faces were filled with a mix of anticipation and worry. From here on out, they had to survive for real in the Tower World.
Those who had diligently prepared during the training camp felt a bit less anxious. But for the ones who had gotten lost in their desires at the academy, only messing around with the second-class sex slaves without properly attending classes—leaving them underleveled, without a party, and without any plans—the future looked bleak.
As a result, even during the graduation ceremony, many adventurers were chatting here and there, desperately seeking companions to climb the tower with.
"What do you think? Come on, even as a porter, let's go up to the 5th floor together."
"Your party's short on members, right? I handle the sword like a pro."
"Need a ranged attacker with a bow? What? You say I'm too weak??"
"Your party looks like it's missing a guard. Mind if I join?"
"I'm a thief with Presence Detection. I can scout or bring up the rear—got a spot?"
Those who already had parties discussed whether their group was solid or what their schedule would be.
"Isn't our party a bit short? Should we grab one more porter?"
"We don't have enough guards. It's making me nervous."
"Our team's damage dealer is too weak. Maybe swap them out?"
"Scout's fine, but no tail-ender. Still, we can push to the 5th floor like this, right?"
"They say up to the 5th is easy. Let's just take it casual."
To these party-hunting adventurers, Namgung Seojun's group was the object of envy. He had shown the most outstanding skills throughout the training camp, making him a lock for top graduate and a top-tier scout as their leader. Then there was the famous inviter Lee Guho as their attacker, the stubborn guard Jo Jaehun, Gisohee whose accuracy had improved to make her a solid archer, and finally Yuki with her buffing capabilities! This party was exploding with popularity.
With only five such elite parties around, and spots seemingly open, it was no wonder.
A woman who knew Gisohee approached cautiously.
"Sohee, any need for a porter in your party?"
Instead of Gisohee, the man next to her answered.
"This party's got a porter."
The one who spoke was Kim Hoon.
After the second practical ended, three days before graduation, Namgung Seojun gathered the party members for a meeting.
"Is everyone satisfied with the party?"
They each shared their thoughts. No major issues, just some minor suggestions.
During the conversation, Seojun brought up the idea he'd been mulling over.
"I've been thinking—a porter to handle the chores would be great for our party."
It was sudden. Proposing to recruit right three days before graduation.
"The second practical showed me we need one."
Namgung Seojun explained to the party why a porter was necessary—to reduce their fatigue, at least one was essential.
"A porter for chores?"
"Sounds good."
"Our party's a bit small anyway."
The mood was agreeable.
Then Seojun outlined the porter's qualifications.
"The porter I have in mind just needs to protect themselves in combat, carry gear well, handle chores proactively, and be highly reliable..."
Gisohee, Lee Guho, and Jo Jaehun exchanged glances.
They spoke in unison.
"That screams Kim Hoon!"
The three named the same person at once.
Namgung Seojun had thought of Kim Hoon too when considering a porter. From the group tutorial, he was sharp, great at chores, and the party's lubricant.
Still, he'd brought it up to discuss, but all three shouted Kim Hoon simultaneously.
"For portering and chores, Kim Hoon's the best!"
"Kim Hoon's got a great personality too."
"I've felt bad he's not in a party anyway."
Especially the three who had overcome hardships with him in the group tutorial viewed him even more positively.
Yuki quietly listened, so Namgung Seojun checked with her last.
"Yuki, do you agree to Kim Hoon joining as porter?"
"Ah... uh... y-yes."
The timid girl hesitated before nodding yes.
The next day, Namgung Seojun's party invited Kim Hoon for a meal and asked.
"Kim Hoon, any interest in joining our party as porter?"
Seojun tossed it out lightly first.
He bit immediately.
"Join? Hell yeah!"
He even pitched himself.
"I carry gear like a champ. Handle any chore you throw at me. And I'm hilarious too! Hahaha!"
Jo Jaehun asked with slight concern at Kim Hoon's words.
"But Kim Hoon... didn't you have an internship lined up with a merchant caravan?"
"Oh, that? Nah, doesn't matter. Joining this party? Forget it."
The perceptive Kim Hoon knew what mattered.
"If I become a problem on the way up, ditch me mid-climb. No hard feelings—let's go!"
Aware of his limits, he even brought up the practical side.
With that enthusiasm, they couldn't turn him down as porter.
And so, Kim Hoon joined as porter.
The completed Namgung Seojun party took no more members.
The lively parade ground, buzzing with chatter, fell silent as Training Camp Director Cheon Zschang and the instructors entered.
The graduation ceremony began right away.
"You've all worked hard through the training camp education. I hope you thrive in the Tower ahead..."
A very long speech. Cheon Zschang dragged out good but boring advice endlessly. In short: Be careful and do well in the Tower World.
The adventurers endured the tedious speech, excited about graduating.
"Great job, everyone! The training camp education for the 11,369th class is now complete."
With Cheon Zschang's final words, the same message appeared to all graduates.
You have completed the Beginner Training Camp.
Achievement Unlocked
Achievement: Training Camp Graduate (All stats +1)
It was a solid achievement for everyone, but Namgung Seojun's was slightly better.
You have graduated from the Beginner Training Camp as Top Student.
Achievement Unlocked
Achievement: Top Training Camp Graduate (All stats +2)
The one who had stunned so many at the camp earned an even better achievement.
"We graduated!"
"Nice!!"
"Alright, let's get outta here! Away from this boring place!"
"The real adventure starts now!"
All the adventurers cheered in satisfaction at safely graduating the Beginner Training Camp and unlocking their achievement.
Having finished the ceremony, they packed their gear and headed to the Starting Village with their respective parties.
Thus, they began truly living in the Tower World.
While other adventurers left the training camp upon graduating, Seojun's party stayed behind.
The reason? He still had one more class left.
Namgung Seojun underwent one-on-one additional training with Senior Instructor Pigicheol.
Clang! Tang! Clang!
His grip weakened from the relentless blade clashes, and his sword dipped slightly toward the ground, his stance slacking.
"You idiot! Get your head in the game! Hold that sword straight and move properly!"
"Yes, sir."
"Show that crap on the battlefield, and you're dead! Always stay sharp—grip that sword right."
He straightened his sword, but Pigicheol's blade came in fiercely.
Clang! Clang! Ugh...
Seojun dropped his sword again, but Pigicheol knew he was exhausted and pushed harder.
Clang!
"Even tired!"
Clang!
"You endure!"
Clang! Clang!
"Endure, I said—endure!"
Namgung Seojun's body was utterly spent, but Pigicheol showed no mercy. To create extreme conditions, he attacked harder against the fatigued Seojun.
Clang! Clang! Thud!
"Argh!"
Seojun dropped his sword again under the brutal assault. His palm tore slightly, but Pigicheol didn't let up—he kicked him down.
Then, to the collapsed, fully drained Seojun, he ordered:
"Sword up!"
"......Yes, sir."
With venomous eyes, he gripped his sword.
And the sparring with Senior Instructor Pigicheol continued.
Pigicheol pushed Namgung Seojun harshly, expecting growth. He'd even confirmed his mental fortitude in holding out under extremes.
That said, Pigicheol's training wasn't all brutality.
"Namgung Seojun! Your sword style leans heavily on speed."
Seojun favored agile swordplay, leveraging his god-tier Super Sense trait and epic Domain Insight skill.
"Fast swordplay is highly efficient against humans, but it's got weaknesses against monsters with high natural defense."
"Then? Should I change my style?"
Pigicheol thought a moment before answering.
"That doesn't mean fast swordplay has no value in the Tower World. Rather than switching styles now, focus on boosting power."
Pigicheol recommended poison.
"How about coating daggers in compound poison?"
Using compound poison meant even if sword strikes lacked raw power, any wound would deal massive damage—perfect for monster hunting.
Managing and mixing it was tricky, but not for Namgung Seojun. His god-tier Super Sense gave him the perfect sensitivity for flawless compounding.
"Plus, it pairs great with that dagger throw you just learned."
Seojun adopted Pigicheol's advice, honing a personal style of fast strikes and poison-coated dagger throws.
Five days into the additional training—three weeks in plus five post-graduation—he confirmed the results with a new message.
Through excellent training and effort, you have acquired a new skill.
Skill: Imperial Swordsmanship (P)
Grade: Normal
Mana Cost: 0
You have learned basic Imperial Swordsmanship. Basic Imperial Swordsmanship forms are now usable.
In that short time—three weeks plus five days post-graduation—he'd mastered the basics of Imperial Swordsmanship. It was beyond genius; the god-tier Super Sense produced results defying human limits.
Thus, Namgung Seojun had claimed everything the training camp offered, including the Imperial Swordsmanship skill.