Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Earth Attribute Boot Camp (Part 3)
Chapter 82: Earth Attribute Boot Camp (3)
The boot camp ran from Thursday, March 13th to Friday, March 28th, totaling 12 sessions. His Highness participated from the 17th, attending 10 sessions in total. That means he attended every session after that and even reached out to all the Earth attribute students in Class A and those who were not yet part of the B-Class Earth Attribute Alliance (?), ultimately leading to all the Earth attribute students in the academy participating in dungeon attacks.
Initially, the newcomers, who were nervous about defeating the Mud Golems, gradually gained confidence as they watched the veterans. In just two days, everyone became adept at defeating Mud Golems without much trouble, so it was time to venture into the second basement floor.
The second basement floor was the stage of Clay Golems, Earth Elementals.
“Thofu… Thofu…”
“Uboah… Uboaaa…”
Earth was swelling up here and there, and Earth Elementals were gathering in small groups. With their sluggish movements and eerie voices (?), they still looked undead and gross. We watched them from a tower surrounded by Rock Walls. Luca-sama built it.
“He really built that…”
“It only took a moment…”
“Does this mean we can build stuff too?”
“Man, Earth attributes are actually amazing, aren’t they?”
Rather than being grossed out by the Earth Elementals, everyone was more impressed by the splendid building that appeared in an instant thanks to the skills. Even though I’m used to seeing it, the way the earth swells up and quickly transforms into a stone building is still a bit exciting.
Although it’s called a tower, it’s a familiar three-story narrow house. From the rooftop resembling a watchtower, we looked down at the Golems clustering on the walls. Well, for Earth attribute students without weapons, their means of attack were limited to patiently hurling stone bullets. However, even stone bullets, when leveled up, become considerably strengthened and eventually evolve into Railguns, the ultimate in physical strength. I want them to keep hunting patiently without giving up. As a reflection on the Mud Golem strategy, it seems everyone voluntarily acquired stone bullets. Stone bullets are precious, they are the lifeline of Earth attribute students.
After assigning a tower to each group, Luca-sama and I trained in swordsmanship outside the walls. Although I was begged to teach swordsmanship, all I could do in the end was power leveling. Luca-sama, whose skill points earned over the weekend turned into swordsmanship, and I went out into the field with swords.
“I want to learn dual wielding soon too!”
“Haha. Let’s solidify our approach first without rushing.”
Well, in this world’s system, you can only level up and increase your level by earning experience points. However, even with basic skills, depending on how you use them, you can sometimes produce unexpected results. Earth Elementals move slowly next to Mud Golems, making them the perfect practice target for swordsmanship. Try deflecting the opponent’s attacks or launching slashes. It’s boring to just lead beginners. Let’s slash and slash and slash some more.
On the carriage ride to and from, it was His Highness’s question time. But this day was particularly amazing.
“I couldn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. With the Rock Wall skill, such…”
“It’s as the grimoire says. It’s nothing to be surprised about.”
Luca-sama said, puffing out his chest proudly.
“And the stone wall Rock Wall that pierced through the first floor. The cobblestone road appeared in no time.”
“Ah, it’s a change of perspective, isn’t it? Instead of stretching vertically as its name suggests, if you stretch it horizontally, it becomes a road.”
This is what I did with Clarack in the previous loop. At that time, Carol-san was doing boot camp with Earth attributes. It’s nostalgic even though it was just a little while ago. I always used to jump ahead with Luca-sama and Akitsu equipment, so it was nice to make a lot of roads again. Well, they’ll be reset when we enter next time.
“History is about to change… We are witnessing the moment when all common sense is being rewritten.”
His Highness muttered to himself. Haha, no way. But Earth attributes and public works go well together. I read a lot of stories like that in my previous life.
However, before common sense could be rewritten, the Student Council was restructured. His Highness Richard rented a meeting room under the name of the “School Festival Support Office” and gathered the Earth attribute students. Then, all minor administrative tasks were delegated to them, achieving a reduction in the Student Council’s workload. “No confidential documents have been given. They are just volunteers,” so the other officers couldn’t oppose it.
And one more thing. All outdoor events this time were entrusted to the Earth attribute students to construct buildings using their skills.
“I don’t have any special talents, always being the plain Earth attribute. I want to be the one who boosts you all up.”
His Highness said casually and indeed, everyone skillfully built stalls, stages, and such using their skills. It wasn’t just the students who were surprised. Questions poured in from the faculty, the school principal, and even from the Tower, the Magic Ministry, and the main castle. His Highness was prepared, distributing materials in advance and later holding an explanatory session cum press conference, causing quite a stir. Third-year Earth attribute students received mountains of recruitment offers, and everyone had faces like they had just been tricked compared to how Earth attributes were treated until last year.
Gradually, this trend extended to civilian Earth attribute holders as well. Once it became known that the source of their strength lay in adventurer activities, an unprecedented dungeon attack boom swept through. In safe beginner dungeons, you couldn’t reach the level where houses could be built, but if you worked hard, anyone could manage something like a Rock Wall. Eventually, it became common for them to be repurposed into cobblestones, and domestic infrastructure such as roads and city walls rapidly improved. But that’s a story for another time.
Furthermore, the Earth attribute boot camp continued to operate afterwards. However, our guidance was only during spring break. That was the agreement from the beginning. Some students asked for more guidance, but I refused, saying, “Adventurers don’t reveal their bread and butter.” In truth, there’s no hunting ground as safe and profitable as the Golem Dungeon near the capital. Dealing with the first-floor Mud Golems is just a hassle, but if you handle them properly, the second-floor Earth Elementals are even more lucrative. However, once they evolve into Brick Golems on the third floor, they become significantly harder to defeat. Unless you’re brute-forcing it with fire attributes, the cost-performance isn’t good. I recommended diligently earning on the second floor. It’s a dungeon designed for Earth attributes, where simple tasks don’t become burdensome.
And then, one more thing.
“It’s also fun for adventurers to buy maps at the Adventurers Guild and prepare countermeasures in advance.”
“Wow!”
Yes, that’s right. Knowing where and what kind of monsters appear and how to deal with them. Earth attributes who thoroughly prepare and review are incredibly strong in familiar places. They form parties with like-minded friends and start strategies that suit their preferences.
However, exploring unknown dungeons is better suited for other attributes. Firstly, wind attributes are suitable for scouts. They gather or block sounds with the wind, mute their footsteps, and quickly assess the surroundings. Then, water attributes. Among the basic four attributes, they are the only ones with healing skills. They boast multi-talents that can also be converted into attacks. And fire attributes with maximum firepower. Their attack power to break through tough situations is essential above all else. Of course, vanguard roles responsible for physical attacks and defense are also important.
The discrimination between attributes will not disappear immediately. There are Earth attributes who have harbored resentment from being mistreated until now, and there is also embarrassment toward other attributes. However, the world is designed to achieve balance among all attributes. Mixed attribute parties are starting to form here and there, and I hope they can be bridges that cross the walls of attributes.
“Everyone will become stronger on their own, even without us doing anything.”
“You really have no greed.”
His Highness chuckled at me, avoiding the usual recruitment. But I do have desires. If the loop doesn’t end, nothing will begin. With this, I think I’ve fulfilled my duty to this academy and His Highness. Next time, for the sake of ending the loop for my own gain, I’ll have to strive to gather information.