Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
“That concludes my report, Headmaster.”
“Yeah, okay. Good work.”
I relayed the information I had gathered about the daily dungeon to Tia.
Of course, I omitted the existence of in-game currency like {Prana Fragments} and {Undine's Droplets}. I couldn't confirm whether everyone received them or if it was just me, someone closer to a game character.
“What do you plan to do?”
“About what?”
“Do you intend to use it as a practical training location?”
“No.”
Why was she so curt today? Usually, she'd be unreasonably complaining, but today Tia seemed quite displeased. Not angry, per se. Just preoccupied, as if something was weighing on her mind.
“Why not? The difficulty seems appropriate.”
“Does this dungeon seem normal to you?”
“It’s not normal. Aren’t there strange phenomena observable?”
Broken Sky's dungeons usually consisted of a single chapter. Daily dungeons were added for simple resource gathering, but the rest were better understood as entire regions.
However, the daily dungeons were shrouded in strange rules, like the one-entry-per-day limit and the superficially threatening environment.
“Right, it's not normal. And I've heard that these kinds of dungeons have been increasing lately.”
“Is that what’s bothering you?”
“Yes… The sky, the world, everything's going crazy. Could you just stand by and do nothing?”
“Yes, I would do nothing.”
“…….”
At least for the time being, there was nothing I could do. The intrusion from outside entities was already underway, but there was nothing I could do about it here.
“Is that so… Well, I don’t understand it either, so it’s not something you humans can handle.”
“You seem down today.”
“No, this is my default state! You're constantly causing trouble, so I’m always pissed off, you crazy bastard!”
“Suppressing anger isn't good for you, Headmaster.”
“…If I didn't suppress it, you'd be ripped to shreds.”
Tia’s expression turned serious.
So that’s it… That was her being restrained…
I should tone it down in the future. I offered her a candy as a bribe. It was a popular candy these days, so Tia would probably like it. I had prepared a bribe because Tia seemed to loathe me lately. It wouldn’t be good to be on the bad side of the world's strongest being.
“Aren’t you going to take it?”
“No.”
“Hmm…? Didn’t you like sweet things?”
I thought she did, since she always had candy in her mouth. Then what was it? Nicotine candy, perhaps? As a fire dragon, she might have liked cigarettes. Since fire burned at her extremities, maybe it was a similar sentiment to crows liking shiny things. Then, since she was an educator now, did she quit for the sake of setting a good example?
“I just keep it in my mouth to emphasize my youthful appearance. If I polymorph into this form, I can excuse my misbehavior as childishness.”
“That's cowardly…”
“Humans call efficient methods cowardly.”
A trashy being who combined adult cowardice with childish irresponsibility stood before me.
“Oh, I'll be going abroad soon, so don't cause any trouble while I’m gone, alright? I’ll really kill you this time. I'll twist your neck and rip it off, so keep that in mind.”
“…Don’t worry, Headmaster.”
She really had a chilling way of talking.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A week passed, and the joint practical training for the first-year students began. The first practical training for the first years was divided into two groups: combat-oriented students like mages, warriors, guardians, and hunters, and support-oriented students like clerics.
The combat students’ training took place in a dense forest, where they were evaluated on their ability to conduct combat using surprise attacks and improvisation.
It was absurd to have support students on the same stage as combat students in a 1v1 situation. While combat students had some semblance of a class system and counters, it was game over for support students if they were caught. Since taking them out was often considered the primary objective in combat, having them participate in the same training would only make them walking targets.
The same applied in the game.
While archers were responsible for taking down opponents from afar with powerful attacks, guardians protected party members from those attacks. And it was the warrior's role to break through the guardians' defenses and disrupt the enemy formation.
The mage's role was to neutralize the incoming warriors with high firepower and status ailments.
Despite being a grindy game, the class balance was somewhat decent. It eventually fell apart when overpowered characters started appearing due to power creep. Of course, support characters became nothing more than scarecrows the moment their allies were wiped out.
“Ahem! Now, I’ll explain the outline of the first-year joint practical training once again. The training will take place in the forest. Each of you will begin at a different location, and you will be awarded points for each student you defeat.”
The training, simply put, was a deathmatch supervised by the professors. Since it was combat training, combat was unavoidable. Fight to earn points, eliminate opponents, until only one remains. That was the gist of this training. It was undeniably barbaric.
“If the protective magic inscribed on the cloaks we’ve provided is damaged beyond 50%, you will be transported to the nearest examiner. Do you understand? These cloaks not only protect you, they also serve as your lifeline.”
Considering the durability of the cloaks and the class matchups, it wasn't always best to engage directly. Utilizing the terrain for ambushes or targeting only the cloak's protective magic to avoid combat altogether were viable strategies.
“Above all else, you must not forget the cloak provided by Headmaster Tiamat.”
While I was organizing my thoughts, Professor Prudence Loa, the senior magic instructor acting as the training supervisor, was warning the students. She was surprisingly busy.
“Let’s see…”
I examined the red cloak covering my body with [Contemplation].
Naturally, as a magical tool crafted by Headmaster Tia, the cloak was imbued with various enchantments. It would be near impossible to get injured under normal circumstances. However, it was inferior to my personal equipment.
“Ah, Oz. There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
“What is it?”
As I was basking in the sense of victory regarding the magical tool, Professor Prudence Loa, who had just been explaining the test procedures, approached me.
A faint spark of fighting spirit flickered in the kind-eyed old professor’s gaze.
She was said to be a talent personally scouted by Headmaster Tia, and her personality was already showing.
“Ahem! …As you know, the cloak’s performance isn’t perfect. So, the use of high-level offensive magic will be prohibited. Is that acceptable?”
This meant there was a chance I could injure someone if I, a mage of my caliber, used high-level magic and penetrated the cloak’s protective magic.
“I had no intention of using high-level magic against students, so you needn’t worry.”
Simply put, they were imposing a penalty on me. Even better. They were giving me an excuse, just in case.
Fortunately, I couldn’t use high-level magic at the moment anyway.
“Hahaha, thank you. Then, I must go and see the other students, so please excuse me.”
With those words, Professor Prudence Loa departed. She was probably making similar requests to others. Likely to all the students considered SSR rank.
As proof, she next headed towards Alexios of Class 1-2.
It was natural, as the [Fist King]’s secret techniques were also likely powerful enough to pierce Tia’s protective magic.
“…….”
As I turned my gaze towards Professor Prudence Loa, Alexios started glaring at me with murderous intent.
He was consistent.
I wouldn’t mind responding, but I wasn’t a child. So, I simply gave him the middle finger.
“You bast…!”
Alexios tried to yell something, but as an adult, I didn't engage with children like that. I ignored him and decided to look for Eleanor.
Perhaps because she was the protagonist, or perhaps because she was an attention seeker, she was relatively easy to find.
“Noah.”
“Master? Where have you been?!”
As I approached Eleanor, I noticed another female student besides Lucia standing beside her.
[Contemplation– Activated]
Wavy white hair flowed down to her waist, and her eyes were a mischievous violet.
While Arietta's hair gave a sense of purity, this girl's hair felt like a cold, snowy mountain.
“Hic… Ufufufufu. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Oz~ It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
“We’re in the same class.”
“Oh, really? Don’t worry about such trivial matters.”
Her identity was one of the {Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang}, a character from {Goblin Forest} and a subordinate of the Goblin King.
[SR White Goblin]
Baekyang
In the game, she appeared alongside the Goblin King in {Goblin Forest}, which was covered in Chapter 6.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much of a role in the story. She was clearly a character added for the sake of appearances alongside the SSR-ranked Goblin King.
I didn't know why she was involved with Eleanor from the start. I couldn't grasp Eleanor’s behavior patterns at all.
“By the way, why is she drunk?”
“Goblins die if they don’t drink alcohol, you know? So, I secretly brought her some.”
“Noah is such a good kid.”
“Right? Right? Baekyang thinks so too, right? Our Noah is kind and cute.”
It was already overwhelming dealing with Eleanor, whose head was full of strange ideas, and Lucia, who spoke in a strange, theatrical tone, but now there was another strange individual.
These three had empty heads, as if filled with nothing but white, yet their insides were disturbingly dark.
Eleanor deceived people nonchalantly. Behind her foolish and innocent expression lurked a cunning serpent. Lucia blended in naturally everywhere. Before you knew it, she would be participating in conversations. As for Baekyang the goblin, there was no need for further explanation. She was a goblin by nature, a being whose daily life revolved around deceiving and playing tricks on people.
“Sometimes I get scared talking to you guys.”
“Is that so? But I’m glad I ran into you, Master. We were just planning our strategy together.”
“I don't know what kind of strategy you’re devising, but please don't do anything that would get you caught by the Disciplinary Committee.”
“Hehehe, don’t worry. This operation will perfectly evade even the Disciplinary Committee's gaze.”
“Can you not see me standing right here?”
This delinquent!
She was so brazen, I momentarily forgot I was the Disciplinary Committee.
This was enough. Since she was so openly planning her crime, there would be no problem taking her to the Disciplinary Committee.
“Noah, let’s go to the Disciplinary Committee camp and talk for a bit.”
“…I won’t fall for the same trick twice, Master.”
Eleanor started running away with a determined expression.
I couldn’t chase her. Such attention was precisely what she wanted.
So, I had to go in a different direction. Ignoring Baekyang, who was half-drunk and starting to doze off, I beckoned to Lucia.
“Spill it, Lucia. What is that idiot planning?”
“Sigh… Oz, can you please refrain from being a wet blanket while we’re having fun?”
“…I’m glad you’re getting along with Eleanor, but the current situation isn’t very good.”
“You mean Professor Gerard?”
It was true that in this small academy, the Empire’s intelligence agency, Tenebris, couldn’t possibly be unaware of such information.
“What have you guys decided to do?”
“We were told to keep an eye on him and leave him be for now. Well, we’ll intervene if he seems dangerous.”
“Really? Then tell them to stay put and not get involved.”
“Are you planning to step in yourself?”
In the first chapter of the main story, Professor Gerard, misunderstanding the direction of his resentment, would attack Eleanor. His dagger-like words would wound her.
Of course, those wounds would contribute to her mental growth later on, but I had a different opinion. There was no need to dredge up old scars and inflict new wounds.
“Yes, so tell them.”
In the game, he died in front of Eleanor. The Empire, unable to stand by and watch Eleanor face mortal danger, intervened and killed him.
What hurt Eleanor wasn’t Gerard’s hateful words. It was the guilt of failing to protect the people of the Chrysos Kingdom once again. She would be hurt, yet grow stronger. She would become mentally resilient. But I didn’t think those wounds were necessary.
“As you said, I’ll handle it myself, so tell them not to snoop around if they don’t want to get caught in the crossfire and die.”
The arrogant and selfish me had decided.
As the practical training began, the students were scattered to different locations by Professor Aira’s magic. I was a bit uneasy since Professor Aira desperately avoided eye contact with me while teleporting me, but thankfully, I arrived safely.
[Contemplation– Activated]
I activated [Contemplation] to its fullest as the training began. Information about my location and surroundings flowed into my mind.
A presence approaching me was caught by [Contemplation]. Its movements were unsteady, but clearly directed towards me.
“…I suppose a Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang wouldn’t have come just to play around.”
“Hic… Hello, Oz~”
Baekyang, a member of the {Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang}, approached me with unsteady steps, drunk and swaying.
“I don’t have time to play with you. I’ll let you off if you go back now, so why don’t you quietly disappear?”
“Ufufufufu. Don’t be so harsh.”
“Because I look weak?”
Was she about to say that line? I had considered saying it a few times for bravado, but I gave up on it. It was a bit much.
“The Chief told me… The world is vast, so go and see that vast world.”
“Then go travel. Why are you messing around here?”
“Ufufufufu. Where else can you find a place that miniaturizes the world as much as this place?”
I understood. Scientia, where all sorts of people gathered from all over the world, could be considered a microcosm of the world.
“Besides, are you sure about this? I’m a renowned guardian in Goblin Forest. Are you really going to let me get this close?”
“I don’t really care.”
The compatibility between mages and guardians was ambiguous. Guardians were specialized in defense. While mages’ attacks included status ailments that could hinder them to some extent, guardians weren't particularly weak to status ailments either. In other words, a fight between the two would become a battle of zoning and approach.
“Ufufufu, Oz, you were penalized and prohibited from using high-level magic, right? Yet you’re so relaxed against me? How amusing. Are you really as arrogant as the rumors say?”
[Erosion Rate 22%]
“Arrogant?”
Oz’s [Mana Dominator] allowed him to use any mage skill. So, what was the most useless skill among them?
“Who are you calling arrogant?”
Even low-level magic could deal damage as long as it had a magic coefficient.
But there was one truly useless skill.
“With such a relaxed attitude, towards whom?”
The basic attack for mage characters was [Mana Bullet], which had a magic power coefficient. There was rarely a chance to see any physical attacks other than [Mana Bullet].
I had learned intermediate magic while attending classes for the past week. But I was still unskilled. No matter how hard I tried, it still took time to draw the formulaic inscriptions.
Yes, I needed to focus. That’s why I decided to concentrate on practicing drawing the formulaic inscriptions for two specific spells.
Intermediate Magic
[Physical Enhancement]
The most useless skill in the game, which never saw any use in physical combat, had now become the best offensive method in this situation.
“Prejudice is a scary word. Even you are acting arrogantly, seeing me as just a mage.”
Crash!
I closed the distance with the unguarded Baekyang, grabbed her face, and slammed her down.
“Ugh?!”
She probably hadn't anticipated me engaging in hand-to-hand combat and couldn’t react in time.
Baekyang, her head hitting the ground from the back, let out a gasp.
I would have lost in a head-on confrontation,
but this was the price she paid for approaching so carelessly, only wary of my magic.
“I’ll give you one last chance. Stop being annoying and disappear from my sight.”
“Y-yes…”
With [Physical Enhancement] active, my physical attack power was close to SR rank. This meant I could inflict significant damage even against a guardian.