Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Dirt Mukbang Time
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“Ian! Great job.”
“What'd you get, scrub?”
As I returned to my seat with my award in hand, Hisenna and Elrim greeted me.
Elrim craned her neck this way and that, peering curiously at the trophy I'd received.
“It says 'Earth's Remnant.' It's just a lump of dirt. Any idea what it is?”
I pulled out the 'Earth's Remnant' and showed it to them.
It was packed inside some kind of container—a tightly packed clump of soil that didn't crumble at all.
I hadn't taken it out of the jar yet, but from the outside, it really just looked like plain dirt.
“Earth's Remnant? Never heard of it.”
“What, it's just dirt?”
“Maybe I should've asked during the ceremony...”
Still, it had to have some effect.
The academy wouldn't hand out actual dirt as a prize, right?
The 'Best Wanderer Award' was an event prize, so maybe the reward was a bit abstract.
“Ask Professor later!”
Hisenna said with a smile, and we turned our attention back to the ceremony.
Of course, I could ask the professor later.
But I had better teachers.
[Title: Guys, got a dirt clod as an award—is this good stuff? (Seriously no clue)]
Author: Kim Muggle
The 'Best Wanderer Award' goes to whoever moved around the most during the subjugation festival
(Photo of the tightly packed dirt clod)
Got a dirt clod as the prize;; Is this good? Seriously no idea wtf;
It says 'Earth's Remnant' on it though;
Aa... that's dirt...
Got dirt as a prize—is this good? wtf lol
Dunno what Earth's Remnant or whatever is, but it looks exactly like that ㅇㅇ
This is some extremely fertile soil. Great for growing plants.
I get that it's fertile;; So I gotta grow plants with it?
It's one of my favorite soils for growing plants.
Just mentioning dirt brought Environmentalist running with an answer.
So it's super fertile soil, huh.
They want me to grow plants or something?
Dunno what they call it in your world.
But there's definitely demand there, so plenty of buyers if you sell it.
Got it, so it's popular with plant lovers.
That soil is made when mana-infused earth gets heavily compacted.
Basically forms when mana-rich land gets trampled a lot.
But mana-infused land doesn't exist much where humans live.
Takes ages to form in untouched places like deserts or deep jungles.
Got it; rare stuff then. But any other uses?
Yeah, besides plants, it has other uses.
?? Isn't it just for plants?
A no way
No way, you mean what I'm thinking?
Yeah, eat it. I ate tons when I was hungry.
I thought it was just for plants.
But suddenly Wandering Battle Mage declared it edible.
Eat dirt?
???
No matter what, Kim Muggle can't pull that off;
Forgetting how hard eating dirt is, digesting it at Muggle level is impossible
Dirt can't be digested by anyone, right?
Not exactly digesting the dirt. You're digesting the unique soil mana within it.
Eat the dirt and digest it through your circuits in a special way—your passive mana regen goes up.
Races like elves have high natural regen so they don't eat it.
Good for humans though ㅇㅇ
But it's hard, Kim Muggle can't do it
True that
“Oh?”
I let out a voice at the unexpected effect.
People around glanced at me, so I cleared my throat and focused back on the gallery.
Until now, to recover mana, I'd had to use breathing techniques or meditation to draw in natural mana.
Sure, it regenerated a tiny bit on its own.
But the amount was so negligible it was pointless. Practically less than 10 per minute.
This wasn't just me—other cadets were the same.
The student council president, Hisenna, Chayuri—all had low mana regen.
Species difference. Elves and dragons had high natural regen.
But eating this dirt boosts passive mana regeneration.
That could mean using flight magic with almost no cost.
For example, [Static Buoyancy Formation Process] drains 9.1 per second.
If regen exceeds that, mana stays full.
But why do they say I can't do it?
Wanna try, but how hard is it?
Or just sell for cash lol
Not much quantity, so barely any effect?
Full digestion ignores that, but fully digesting it ain't easy.
Normal humans rarely hit 100%, let alone us—Kim Muggle at 2% would be impressive lol
Even 2% on that amount is like +1 regen per sec tops?
Fact: +1 is a huge gain lol
These assholes, straight-up dissing the listening Muggle.
Apparently, more dirt digested means more regen boost.
But with the small amount I have, and unable to fully digest, it's practically worthless.
100% digestion = +50 regen/sec then?
Theoretically yes, but even I can't hit 100%
100% is impossible for anyone; 80-90% is top tier for us
Takes long?
This guy's actually gonna try lol
Lol just sell it, expensive dirt lol
Time isn't long. Lots means long, but that amount? 30 min tops.
That's why it's hard—gotta fully absorb before it hits your stomach.
So, have to do the tricky digestion in a short window.
30 min isn't short? How the hell?
-We'll resume the second part of the ceremony in 2 hours. Enjoy the party everyone!
Right on cue, part one ended.
2-hour break? Weird.
I asked Hisenna.
“Break's 2 hours?”
“Less a break, more after-party. Everyone parties, gets hyped, then the big awards.”
Makes sense. Big prizes after heating up the crowd.
Perfect timing.
Do it quick and back.
Perfect, ceremony break. Teach me how?
???
Just sell it ffs;
wtf if you fail digestion it's wasted;
Gallery tried to stop me, but I stubbornly asked for the method and stood up.
Not bravado—I felt I could do it.
Probably like meditation; at least 40-50% absorption?
No rush for cash.
Rare stuff; can't pass up mana regen chance.
“Gonna hit the bathroom quick.”
“Where now, scrub! Our team's gotta shine at the party!”
“Back soon. 2 hours, right?”
“I'll be at the party, Ian. Hurry back?”
“Got it.”
I told Hisenna and Elrim and left the venue area.
Party for 2 hours break, so 30 min for dirt fine.
Back in dorm, opened gallery again.
They said no, but Wandering Battle Mage posted how to digest 'Earth's Remnant' dirt.
Experienced explanation, detailed—like he'd eaten tons.
[Title: How to Digest Dirt;]
Author: Wandering Battle Mage
Telling you.
My way's too hard for you, so simple version.
Fail and waste money to learn lol
1. Focus mind. Feel mana flow.
2. Coat mouth, esophagus, stomach with mana like a lining.
3. Digest using that mana instead of organs. Mimic digestion process through the mana coating.
4. Then it's circuit digestion, not physical—soil mana becomes your regen.
*If stomach acid touches dirt, it's real digestion. Finish before acid comes out after hitting stomach.
“Not a big deal.”
Really simple. Just digest with mana?
Mimic digestion; needs focus though.
Chew with mana instead of teeth.
Swallow down esophagus with mana.
Melt soil with mana instead of acid.
If acid melts it first, no absorption.
Checked. But isn't this too primitive?
You expected high-tech for eating dirt?
Normally don't waste good dirt like this;(confused elf)
Basics are all primitive anyway. Nobody actually does it
Usually more efficient to grow plants and harvest. Only way for soil mana regen is eating dirt direct.
Though other regen methods exist.
I've grown plants that boost regen too.
Oh what, better do that then?
Those amazing plants can't grow in normal conditions.
No gallery can copy elf plant growing. Not skill—needs elf-forest level environment.
Anyway, closest way to regen now was eating this dirt.
Other methods existed, but all tricky.
Humans' low natural regen meant special methods only.
Didn't wanna give up regen yet, so eat it.
“How more intuitive can it get.”
Eat dirt, regen up.
Not hard.
Gonna eat. Probably tastes bad
Wow really shoveling dirt
Not easy mimicking digestion with mana, idiot; Not just precision—handling circuits/mana inside body;;
Srsly gonna lose out, can't even digest right anyway
Such a waste of dirt...
1% digested would be good lol
I declared dirt mukbang and closed gallery.
No matter how I thought, not hard.
Just mana control.
“Three scoops should do it.”
Clod size: three bites to finish.
Suddenly wondered if shoveling dirt was right.
But for regen.
Felt it during subjugation fest: flight drains more than expected.
Floater alone 9.1/sec. 546/min. 5460/10min.
With 40k mana, not generous.
Flight makes other spell math hard.
Pre-cast spells need no math—easy flight combat.
But that drain + pre-cast = quick exhaustion.
Regen urgent.
No easy other ways—eat now.
I scooped the 'Earth's Remnant' labeled dirt and shoved it in my mouth.