I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

53

People like me.

Those who have climbed up from the hell of being trapped in this game for hundreds, even thousands of hours.

They’ve long graduated from ‘enjoying’ the game.

Once their playtime reaches around 5,000 hours, the game naturally turns into a ‘task,’ and in the pursuit of extreme efficiency, they end up becoming monsters.

So, even when suddenly offering help, it’s because there’s something behind it when you look back.

[Side Quest ‘Trust of the Ore’ activated!]

[“Daisy von Schkross” is contemplating her career path. Provide appropriate advice to help resolve her dilemma!]

[Reward: Increase ‘Daisy von Schkross’s’ affinity level by 1, raise ‘Minor Earth Elemental Magic’ to level 2.]

Heroine-specific side quest happening at this time, Part 1.

Daisy von Schkross’s ‘Trust of the Ore.’

This quest is straightforward and clear, not taking a long time to complete.

The reward is a simple quest that raises both the affinity level and minor rock magic level by 2.

They say just giving advice can raise your magic level.

Yeah.

Daisy von Schkross, torn between combat mage and support mage (crafting mage).

Here, by vaguely talking, you can send her off as a support mage.

Through this quest, you can completely win over the guy with 3 remaining wishes and plan for the future. Daisy von Schkross, in particular, is a crucial character to be used in Act 4.

“Daisy von Schkross.”

“…”

“For now, summon the most powerful magic you can use.”

At my words, dozens of elongated obstructions appeared above her head.

With a light wave of my hand, the white obstructions moved like a cluster, shooting down like missiles towards the ground.

Just by seeing that effect, it seems like an excellent magic…

I casually grabbed one fallen obstruction and lightly tapped it with a dagger.

“I see. It lacks even piercing properties, just a magic that summons ore in the air and indiscriminately throws it down, so if you dodge or block with a shield, the damage is simply offset.”

“…”

“What’s fundamentally different between this and throwing rocks?”

“Ugh.”

A drop formed at the corner of his eye.

Sigh, even for such simple feedback, he’s about to cry.

“Daisy, dear. Have you ever thought about refining that ore?”

“Manufacturing…?”

Hmm.

Didn’t understand, huh?

Right now, that guy’s attack is nothing more than throwing the summoned obstacle in a designated location.

So, no firepower coming out.

I picked up the fallen obstacle from the floor, held my dagger, and sharpened the end.

“It’s about sharpening the end like this, or adding a spell pattern to increase damage.”

“Ah… I’ve never tried that.”

She said that, lowered her head, then chanted magic once more and flicked her finger.

Upon which the obstacles floating in the sky spun around, transforming into elongated, sharp-tipped spear shapes.

“Oh, so metalworking is possible.”

“Because it’s ore magic. Gems that go into magical tools are made through this process.”

Properties of ore transformation.

So, whether calling forth ore itself, or processing it into the appropriate size for jewelry on the spot, this guy is more inclined towards craftsmanship than combat.

“Come.”

I walked lightly towards the ground where the obstacles were stuck.

Then, I lightly took out a branch of spirit wood from my pocket and said, “Now, try shooting that at me.”

“…Are you sure about this?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

She then swung her staff.

Following the arm movements of Daisy von Schkross, the spear-like obstacles moved as one cluster, shooting towards me.

Of course.

Not a single spear touched me.

Jumping? Moving? Why bother.

Over there, moving the obstacles with ‘magic’, I lightly interfered with the flow of magic and deflected any tracks that weren’t straight with my dagger.

Those coming towards the rear were all intercepted with ‘fireballs’.

Lastly, the one flying towards my heart, I ‘grabbed’ it and plunged it towards the ground.

I dusted off my hands, put it in my pocket, and looked at the guy.

“This time, I just added a sharp tip to enhance penetration, there’s no difference from the previous attack.”

“…What.”

“I only used a low-level spell. Is that all your magic has to offer?”

Daisy von Schkross looked bewildered.

Of course.

She thought her magic was powerful in its own way, but I defeated it all with low-level spells.

“It seems I truly lack talent in combat… Indeed, craftsmanship is more suited for me…”

“Daisy, I have one question.”

“Please ask.”

“Knowing that your talent suits craftsmanship, why can’t you let go of your attachment to combat?”

“I just had a moment of concern.”

“Concern?”

“Yes, our family is a half-blooded magician family that can only use earth elemental transformation magic besides any other magic. Moreover, we are more specialized in rear support and production rather than combat.”

I see.

The secret magic of the Schucross family.

The ore magic of the earth element category is, amusingly, a step-by-step ore upgrade learned during middle school science classes like Morse’s code mechanism.

Kelcite, with an interference level of 3, so the limit of this fellow is probably at level 3.

“But, the Wolfgang family in the west, who we are competing with, is combat-oriented, and they excel in magic, being able to handle all attributes.”

I see.

Is this due to the defeat in the Physical Education Tournament that Reyna started contemplating about combat skills compared to Jisin?

“Moreover, truth be told, they are not only smart but also strong. They are frighteningly advancing towards us… If things continue like this, the top spot will belong to Wolfgang. Then, I will become a mark of shame for the family defeated by Wolfgang.”

Knowledge can be a great weapon, but it’s similar to not being able to exert much power in front of a gun.

Moreover, he felt threatened by the rapidly growing second son Wolfgang… Tsk.

Such foolish worries.

“Come with me for a moment.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll give you my own answer to your concerns.”

***

Daisy von Schucross was taken to Central District.

“Is this… a mineral store?”

“Do you have money?”

“…Of course. By the way, how do you see the Schucross family in the first place?”

Hmm.

As a family that focuses on magic distribution, they must have a lot of money.

“Moreover, this mineral store is run by students from our family line? You’ll probably recognize them once you go in.”

Is that so.

Salenium is an academy, and naturally, students also engage in business.

As mentioned before, Salenium’s tuition fees are high. Not only tuition fees, but you need a lot of money to take care of all the ritual tools.

Therefore, it is allowed for students to gather and form combinations or become merchants to engage in economic activities. However, if you fail to meet the minimum grades, you cannot continue these activities.

It’s difficult in many ways.

Moreover, just like there are many students, there are naturally various shops, including ore shops. This is because ores are essential for making jewelry and magical tools.

Upon entering, the owner recognized Schucross beside me and politely greeted us.

“You’re here, and the person next to you is…”

“He’s with me for a moment due to some business.”

“I see.”

After browsing through the ores in the exhibition hall, I asked the owner.

“Can I purchase this mineral?”

“Ah, you mean the fluorite. Understood.”

A mineral emitting light with a mix of colors like turquoise, purple, and blue.

I saw Daisy Von Schkross holding it, and after nodding her head, she paid the amount and bought the mineral.

After leaving the mineral shop, we returned to the same empty space as before.

“Can you tell me why?”

“Are you asking why I bought the mineral?”

“….”

Well, it’s your money.

“Didn’t you hear about it from your family?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was holding it just now, didn’t you feel anything?”

Upon hearing those words, Daisy Von Schkross opened her eyes wide.

“Uh… Uh…”

“You might feel like you’ve realized something. Try using magic.”

And then, she saw it.

“【Earth Elemental Transformation Magic: Florite】.”

Glowing minerals of a light color floated around her.

I lightly smiled at Daisy, who was looking at me in surprise, and said:

“That’s your fourth stage. Congratulations.”

“H-How…?”

There are different ways.

It was some kind of Easter egg.

By giving Daisy Von Schkross the minerals found in the minefield, I was able to unlock her fourth-stage mineral magic.

However, some crazy idiot realized that “Isn’t selling the minerals obtained in the minefield technically part of the setting?” and conducted an experiment, discovering the bug where the fourth stage was actually unlocked.

And after discovering it, I didn’t tell anyone.

The game developers probably don’t even know about this bug.

“Also, as a noble heiress, you must have some basic martial arts skills, right?”

“Yes, I can handle various weapons such as swords, spears, axes proficiently.”

“In that case, can’t you use martial arts that utilize the minerals around you as ‘weapons’?”

Daisy opened her eyes wide again.

“Kelsite… In the case of ‘Disturbance Stone,’ it’s so brittle that it can break even my dagger. But Florite seems different.”

Upon hearing those words, Daisy Von Schkross created a set of three swords and held them in her hands.

“….Ah.”

“Also, I heard that you have experience in making magical artifacts. Your minerals can serve as a medium for that too.”

“…Yes.”

“In that case, by inscribing a disposable magical formula on your minerals that says ‘it explodes upon impact,’ you can have long-range lethality and explosiveness at the same time.”

All of these things.

Naturally, they were things that came from my experience.

“Ah… Those, those methods… Why am I…”

“Daisy von Schucross. You are not Reyna von Volfgang, and Reyna von Volfgang is not you either. There is no need to imitate. Even if you do, you must find your own way within that. It seems like a single word should be enough.”

“…Yes.”

In Daisy’s eyes, looking at her own magic, there was a trust that had not been seen before.

“Volfgang is Volfgang, Schucross is Schucross. Your words are correct.”

Her eyes turned this way.

“At first, I thought you were a really strange person, and of course, I still think you are a strange person, but still…”

Expressionless she was.

But to me, I could see a faintly curved corner of her mouth.

“Today wasn’t it. Thank you.”

[Side Quest, ‘Trust of the Ore’ cleared!]

[Quest cleared in a very special way!]

[Special bonus will be given!]

[Daisy von Schucross’ favorability level increases dramatically to level 3, and the reward for leveling up in low-level magic changes to ‘3’.]

[Low-level Earth Elemental Magic: Ground Rock’ level increases to 4!]

Oh.

It usually only raises the level by 2, but they gave one more as a bonus.

Nice.

[Favorability level with Daisy von Schucross increases to 3! Daisy von Schucross thinks of you as ‘still strange but quite a decent guy.’]

[Also, she thinks it’s okay to grant one or two more wishes if it’s you.]

No.

What?