After That
After returning to my room, I opened the magic book.
Low Tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Summon Lightning
From now on, you can activate the skill by thinking of it in your mind.
Acquired skills can be viewed in the magic details section of Character Information.
"Hm."
Good.
"Now, only one remains."
Wind Blade of the wind attribute.
Fireball of the fire attribute.
Ground Rock of the earth attribute.
And now Summon Lightning of the lightning attribute.
I've collected all four low tier elemental magics, so the last one remaining is just a single spell.
"Create Water…… is it."
The effect is simple. It just generates water. That's it.
But the true value of Create Water isn't just that.
Create Water isn't a single-target attack spell like the others—it's an area-of-effect spell designed for synergy…… in other words, it has a supportive feel for 'attacks.'
For example, lay water on the ground with Create Water, then trigger the 'electrocution' synergy of Summon Lightning for a wide-area stun.
Or combine it with the right wind spell to create a waterspout right there.
And once you have all five spells, you can use even more synergy magics.
Besides, to learn 'mid tier magic'—my next goal—I need to master these low tier spells first.
Final exams are just a month away, so I should acquire it as quickly as possible.
"No, while we're on the topic, moving on it today isn't a bad idea."
Today's the day the dungeon opens, after all.
"And there are no classes this afternoon."
Alright then. Time to meet my informant.
Reina von Wolfgang was at the café. When she beckoned, a student in uniform bowed curtly and stepped away from the table.
"……An informant?"
"Something like that. A third-year senior. We contracted her to work for my family after graduation."
"Was she worth it?"
"She's quite skilled with stealth magic. Definitely worth it."
I see. Anyway, enough small talk. I explained to Reina why I'd come today.
"A dungeon? Let me see…… Ah, here it is. 'Good day, miss. I detected unusual activity this morning. Something appeared in the large lake in the West Forest. It seems to be a dungeon. Please be cautious.' That's what it says."
I see. So this time it's a lake, not the sea.
"Are you planning to head to the dungeon, Adrian?"
"Hm, care to join me?"
"Mm…… I have other things to do. With finals a month away, this is my chance to snatch the top spot from Shukros."
Well, if that's what she wants.
"Understood."
"Planning to go alone?"
"……Probably."
A 'water' elemental dungeon. Bringing Kalen Snowwhite would guarantee results, but his 'ice' doesn't discriminate between friend and foe—it could freeze all the water and hinder movement. Besides, it feels wrong to drag along someone who's diligently training on his own. He says he doesn't mind, but it bothers me.
Too early for Millije Heilo.
Ebnis Rothschild de Repelheit…… Yeah, hard pass from my side.
"……I never realized my social circle was this narrow."
"Relbrian's busy with elf territory investigations, and Kalen too. Mm…… I don't have anyone to recommend either. Sorry. I don't have many close friends myself."
That was when it happened.
"Sorry for eavesdropping! Are you thinking of heading to a dungeon?"
A familiar voice. Reina and I turned to see a boy standing there, a massive greatsword on his back, black hair, and blue eyes.
"Erhan?"
"Yes! Hello, Senior Adrian! I haven't seen you since that day, but you look well! Your speech at the athletic festival was impressive too!"
He approached with a perfect ninety-degree bow, and Reina gave a slight nod.
"He's fine. I can vouch for Junior Erhan. He took down twenty-six monsters in the West Forest field recently."
Really? I glanced back, and he scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"You're too kind, senior…… I just did what I could wherever I went……."
Hm. Taking Erhan along. Not a bad suggestion.
Everything in the Salenium Saga revolves around this guy. The game's protagonist—if he dies, it's game over.
But I can't treat him like a fragile flower in a greenhouse just because he's a 'baby protagonist' who has to die.
He's the 'hero' destined to defeat the final boss and save this world, after all.
This is a perfect chance to check how much he's grown, how far he's come, and how much further he has to go.
Besides. At this point in the story, he's probably recruited 'those two' already.
Since I haven't interfered, if things followed the script, they'd be in his party.
Not bad at all.
"Will you join me, Erhan?"
"Ah, it would be an honor, senior! Ah…… If it's not too much trouble, could I bring some others too? I have a party."
"No issue. In fact, it's welcome."
Good. Let me see the faces in your party.
Erhan's party. Judging coldly with my current eyes……
Not bad at all.
"Hello!"
First, the famous early-game starter: a first-year mage.
"Pleased to meet you."
The early 'starter number two': a second-year knight department guy.
A golden ratio balance of tank 1, dealer 1, mage 1. And when I saw the last two, I nodded.
"Erhan."
"Yes, senior!"
"How on earth did you recruit these two?"
Looking at the pair huddled in the corner like cornered rats, Erhan smiled sheepishly.
"I just asked them to party up?"
"Did you hear their answer?"
"Ah, yes, they definitely said 'fine'……."
"Not 'don't care. Whatever'?"
"Hm? Who knows?"
I couldn't help but admire this guy's terrifying purity as he smiled innocently without a hint of doubt. The two standing beside him really did look like vampires shriveling up in the sunlight.
"Well done, Erhan."
"Pardon?"
"You've put together a decent party."
"Oh? Ah, thank you!"
If I were Erhan, I'd have made something a hundred times better, but this guy's a baby protagonist. Forming a party at this level solo is genuinely impressive.
I could feel the veteran gamer budding in him—I even smiled without realizing it.
I approached the two cowering in the corner.
"Pleased to meet you. Pin, Shal, or……."
They looked up at me with dead, blackened eyes.
Who are these guys? Part of the hearty early-game national rice soup party I mentioned before. The only students with 'inaptitude' in every elemental affinity. Twin siblings, and Salenium's top two-man assassination duo.
"Griner."
The two-man assassination organization Griner. Members are twin siblings: brother Pin, sister Shal. Both have long hair covering one eye each, age difference of ten minutes. Personality and looks are astonishingly identical.
They don't talk much. Only what's necessary.
And then.
"Ready, Pin."
"Of course, Shal."
After their signature lines.
The two in black robes leap out from the shadows simultaneously.
A dagger and a knife rush toward the monster before them.
They cross lightly, passing the monster.
"Synchro."
"Burst."
Thud.
As the two land lightly and turn, the monster collapses into chunks of flesh and blood, scattering.
─Kieeeek!
Pulling their hoods back up as they scream, they walk back this way. The dripping blood from dagger and knife is shaken off and sheathed.
"Done."
"Yeah, done."
Even their short lines.
True 'assassin' characters stuffed with every romantic trope imaginable.
And since they have 'inaptitude' in all elements, they get massive bonuses to 'physical' attacks.
When 'together' in the same party, every attack they make is a guaranteed critical hit.
Critical damage machine with two attacks per turn across all attacks. Hand them crit damage-boosting weapons, and they turn into insane monster shredders.
No wonder they're part of the hearty party.
"Ehh…… We have nothing to do."
"Indeed."
With the twin assassins clearing the path ahead, the others naturally had no roles left.
"All the better. A fierce battle awaits at the 'lake.' Conserve your strength."
"Is that so?"
"Hm, that makes sense."
Interesting. My image at the academy is that of a massive trashy bully, but these guys don't seem to care.
"Ah, I told them."
Erhan, walking beside me, said.
"That Senior Adrian looks scary but isn't at all. That he thinks of others more. Ahaha. Was that meddling?"
"It was meddling."
"But the people around you, like Millije, Senior Kalen, Senior Reina—they always look happy smiling by your side."
……Do they? I'd never really thought about it.
"I have lots of friends, but none I can casually call for personal stuff. I'm a country bumpkin from the sticks, so…… I envy your relationships with the seniors a bit."
Shouldering his greatsword, he gave a self-deprecating smile.
"What of it? You can build those relationships too."
"Can I?"
"Isn't that why you enrolled?"
At my words.
He closed his eyes briefly, pulled a necklace from under his uniform, gripped it, murmured something to it, and nodded.
"Yes, you're right. That's it. That's why I enrolled here—to do that."
Well. I know all about Erhan's hidden backstory.
What he just whispered was probably the words his dying parents left him amid the monster attack.
It was the phrase he always repeated inwardly during game events.
That was when.
The mage, trotting ahead, pointed forward and shouted.
"Ah! Everyone! I see the lake ahead!"
Here we go.
"Everyone, prepare."