The World of Tactics

Chapter Seventeen I: Exchange of Parting Gift

"This crest on the countertop is condensed and that on my hand is my crest. It was not a secret that monsters contained soul cores that could be dug out when defeated. We humans also have a similar function as well and that fact matters the most. Through the inheritance nature of human crests. Once a human dies, its crest condenses into a solid metal plate outside of its body. In most cases, it was directly at where a person would habitually condense their crest.

This crest on my hand was dropped by a warrior from the past hundred years! Its condition is still as pristine as the day this warrior passed away. Through the power of this crest, a person with a fitting base class of this crest would be able to fully absorb this crest.

From then, no matter how low your talent is. As long as this crest made of condensed mana is absorbed. Given enough time, practice, and battle experience. Anybody could also become a warrior like those of the past. The only thing that is required is having a crest like this and having the same base class as this crest. Those two conditions are not hard to fulfill.

However, this comes with an interesting topic. What if someone absorbs the crest, but falls in battle before becoming a warrior? Given so, the warrior crests that were absorbed are gone forever because the crest of the fallen person is not an actual warrior yet. So, the moment the person falls in battle. The crest that condenses would be whatever classes the fallen person currently had at the moment that the person falls.

This is a very important matter. This is also why, throughout history, there was almost little availability of such crests within a kingdom. The number of such crests was low, to begin with, and each one is treated as a rarity along with high importance to a kingdom. Hence, the higher promotion of everyone within a kingdom is an extremely important matter. That is why such a person with a higher promotion would gain unimaginable prestige, titles, and be given high privileges." Said a teacher within one of the most important noble institutions within the Kalamar Kingdom.

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John Smith was quite nervous after seeing that there was little to no exact response from the three. He hoped that the three would not be able to read or tell that he had a special and unique ability that solely belongs to him. He was afraid that once this 'secret' was out in the open. He would not be able to live a peaceful life as before again.

His worries were unfounded because the fire sage and the two fire mages were just confirming that his grade truly reached the point of being able to receive a graduation badge. However, the main point about his rank. Normally, it was quite common that it would take a few years before a person would be able to reach rank two. Usually, it is quite rare to have the same rank and grade when a person has just recently changed their base class from grade one to grade two. This is roughly about one within a thousandth of chances according to their current knowledge system.

Just as his head was grim with sweat, he finally felt relieved from the voice of the fire sage. The fire sage gave him a look with the right eyebrows raised and said, "Grade two, rank two, pass." Then the second after that, the fire sage asked, "Name, class-specific, and weapon?"

Hearing the familiar short question. He tried to answer as calmly as possible, "John Smith, armored knight, lance." His answer was short, but it took him quite the pressure to say it.

The fire sage quickly noted this within the book that was set on the side. Along with that, the fire sage quickly gives the fire mage to the left a side glance. He could see that the fire mage recognized the sign language of the fire sage and went through one of the doors behind them. A few seconds later, the fire mage came out with an iron lance. He felt weird at the thought of a fire mage fiddling around with an iron lance. The iron lance was quite heavy, but he felt that the iron lance should not be able to tamper with it when he attacked. The iron lance stats are listed below:

[Iron Lance: Might +4, Hit +65, Crit +4, Weight=8, Durability: 24/24.][A weapon made by an artisan. Due to high-quality materials and low workmanship, its durability suffers, but the overall design stays true. (Lance C)]

It was not until the iron lance was right in front of him did he realize that the iron lance was for him. It took him a second to hesitate before reaching out to grab the iron lance because the fire mage seemingly floated the iron lance right before him. Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask. The fire sage interrupted, "Iron lance is your reward for reaching rank two and taking this."

The fire sage just randomly throws over the badge which he was roughly able to catch in time. The action of the fire sage was quite careless and rude, but he knows that he is not the opponent of the fire sage. He was not going to argue about it either, as he quietly moved to the left for the next person to be tested.

Kevin did not have complex thoughts like his, so Kevin hurriedly inputted some mana into the vitality orb. Just like that, the resultant surprise came again. This time, the process was much longer since the fire sage and the two fire mages wanted to ensure that there was nothing wrong with the vitality orb. Kevin even has to go a second time for an extra examination. The result was still the same and the same fire mage had to go back through one of the doors in the back and come out with another iron lance.

Kevin uncomfortably held the iron lance along with the badge and walked away. Kevin was proud to be able to get an iron lance and gave an honest, provoking glance at Plucker. The next person in line, Plucker, was the next person to reach over to the vitality orb. This time, though, Plucker had to be tested three whole times before Plucker was given another iron lance along with a badge.

The fire sage felt that it was sketchy for there to be three grade two and rank two in a row. It was as if the vitality orb was playing a trick on them. After thinking so, the fire sage and the two fire mages became even more doubtful when it came to Claudia's turn. It might be because Claudia is a mage class that the three gave her preference and moved on to asking what her class was.

When Claudia mentions that she was a fire mage, it was proved true that she got preferential treatment because the fire sage's bias toward fire magic could be shown. Claudia was able to choose one fire magic tome out of the three that were given. Even the fire sage recommended what fire magic tome Claudia could choose. Out of the three fire magic tomes, she chose the flame explosion tome. The other two fire magic tomes were blazing flame tome and ignition fire tome. The three fire magic tome stats are listed below:

[Flame Explosion Tome: Might +6, Hit +75, Crit +5~10, Weight=3~4, Durability (Uses): 30/30][A tome sealed with thirty pages of the flame explosion spell. Launches a condensed fireball that explodes on contact with the target. Enables a mage to learn the flame explosion spell after intensive studies and deduction. (Fire C)][Spell Cost: 3HP]

[Blazing Flame Tome: Might +3, Hit +85, Crit +0, Weight=1~2, Durability (Uses): 30/30][A tome sealed with thirty pages of the fireball spell. It launches a long line of flame towards the target, affecting three squares within the direction that it was launched in. Enables a mage to learn the blazing flame spell after intensive studies and deduction. (Fire C)][Spell Cost: 3HP]

[Ignition Fire Tome: Might +1, Hit +85, Crit +0, Weight=1~2, Durability (Uses): 30/30][A tome sealed with thirty pages of the fireball spell. Bury the ignition fire within a select square. Once an enemy moves through the square, it explodes and stops the enemy's movement. Enables a mage to learn the ignition fire spell after intensive studies and deduction. (Fire C)][Spell Cost: 3HP]

Just looking through the three fire magic tomes, the utility of fire magic is not low at all. Flame explosion time can inflict a high amount of damage to a single target when needed. As for multiple targets, the blazing flame tome could chip away at most three targets. If a mage could get a decent setup, a mage could at least be able to attack two targets at the same time. As for the ignition fire tome, its use was quite obvious. As long as the battle takes place in a long hallway with just one square tile. Then the mage could slowly grind down a strong enemy as long as the ignition fire tome could deal damage to the target that steps onto the square.

Magic has already made him take an interest and the three fire magic tomes just ignite his passion for magic. However, he knew that he might not be able to use magic in the future. It was because, as a close combatant class, he could tell that magic was out of his league. That is impossible unless he can change into a class that can use magic, that is (Magic Lancer). For now, he curls the disappointment as he watches Sam and Miller fall into the same situation as he was.

When the six of them were finally done with their examination results and a badge of their own, everyone was not in a hurry to get out of the promotion hall. Plucker and Kevin have already summoned their amour made out of condensed mana. He follows right behind, and the last three also condense their standard combat amour. Each one of them finally took the badge and let it hover closer to their heart side of the amour.

When the badge finally touches the armor, the badge melts into the amour chest piece and it did take a long time for the badge to make changes to the combat armor. On the chest, back, and the side of their shoulders appears the same design as the badge. The reason for the badge was to distinguish allies from enemies and it plays an important role during the battle. This is why the badge was necessary before a trainee could be left alone on their device. Otherwise, the requirements for passing would not have been so lax.

Since everyone was able to get their badge properly, the six of them exited the promotion hall through the rightmost doorway of the trapezoid-like building. This is where it leads to the library building. The reason why they were going this way was that everyone was quite hungry and talking about a warming supper would help them cope with all of their excitement. He was no better than the rest of them and he was quite hungry too, so everyone quickly went into the canteen.

With an honest plateful of food, he went and sat at the table along with the rest. He took a mildly hot bite of piping meat and listened as the conversation led on. At this point, he was pretty hungry and the appetizing food on his plate slowly disappeared into his stomach. Likewise, he saw that the others had finally turned their attention to him. Kevin was the first to ask him, "So, after this. Where are you heading next?"

It was not a hard question to answer, but he quietly restructured his words properly and slowly said, "I'm going home."

It was simple; three or four words strung together, but it gave out a lot of meaning. Once his word finally reached the word 'home,' his tone was quite warm. He did not even know that he had unknowingly left out a brilliant smile. The five of them froze at his gentle expression because this was the very first time that they had seen such an expression from him. They knew that he rarely gave out such emotion. The only thought that the five had was that 'the simple sentence must have meant a lot to him.'

It has to be mentioned, the first ten years that he came here. He was quite talkative and easy to get along with. However, since the terrible experience he had a year ago, he has become much quieter, less talkative, more mature, and has an anti-social front. For him, however, becoming silent did not mean that he had become weaker or had less confidence. Rather, the silence over the years had made him much stronger and provided him with a sense of confidence like never before. This is a strange habit that he had developed for a single year.

When his smirk slipped, he decided to break his character and a full smile with a few quiet 'haha.' He did not mind because he would be exiting before the sun fell. He had already sought out the returning roads and twists. Eventually, he was even able to get his hand on a map of the main roads for the Kalamar Kingdom. The map is quite plain. Only the surroundings of the Kabridge Capital along with a few villages, towns, and other main roads were roughly well done. Anything other than that is just the main road, but it was quite useful for him since he only had one destination.

This time, Claudia could not help but ask, "When?" Her voice was a little weak and listless.

He wiped away his smile and answered calmly, "By tonight."

The five froze, yet, again. Only this time, Miller was the first to recover, "Why the rush?" Then Sam looked at the orange sky through the windows.

He frowned in deep thought before he answered after a bit of hesitation, "I miss my family."

At the final word of 'family,' Miller also strangely becomes quiet while in thought. Sam was the only one to know a bit about Miller's situation, so Sam gave Miller a small pat on the back.

This time, Plucker finally recovered a bit from the surprising event. Plucker did not add any comment and his hand reached out to the side. A small light made from mana burst out and an item figure finally came out after the light faded away. It was a glass bottle and it held some blood-red liquid within the glass bottle.

"Here, a departing gift." Plucker said while handing over the liquid red bottle and, continued, "I guess it's better now that I have to give it much earlier."

A quick judgment and he knows what it was. It was a vulnerary that works like a potion in a role-playing game. However, the vulnerary can only support three mouthfuls, which amounts to only three uses. However, a mouthful is quite useful already, since it could restore ten health points, which is currently equivalent to roughly forty or so percent of his current health points. It could save a life during battle, so he was not ashamed to quickly take it. Then he said, "Thank you."

"Hey, don't mind it. It is only enough for a mouthful." Plucker explained afterward, seeing that it was taken away carelessly.

It was quite precious and costly too, so he knew where the other two remaining mouthfuls of vulnerary had gone to. In another two small glass bottles, of course. He could even guess that Plucker might have suffered close to eight hundred or so gold coins to get two vulnerary. Then divide it up into six smaller glass bottles for each and everyone here. It was just as he guessed, as Plucker soon handed one glass bottle to Sam and Miller, then Kevin, and finally a glass bottle that was twice as big was given to Claudia. It was obvious that Kevin became much more heated up and gave a glare to Plucker's quick wit.

Kevin did not back down afterward either and a bright light of mana flashed. A lance made of special wood appears before them. The wooden lance was made from magic hardwood and had much more durability than ordinary wood, which is also costly as well. Sam and Miller each got a wooden sword, then another wooden lance for Plucker, and then an excellent blank book made from some magic materials for Claudia. The fight for favor was real and a blank book like this was not common for Claudia. However, the most important aspect of this blank book was unlike other normal books. The wooden lance statistic is provided below:

[Wooden Lance (Magic): Might +3, Hit +90, Crit +5, Weight=2, Durability: 30/30]

[A great workmanship of magic hardwood. Hard to break (Durability +15), sharp (Might +1, Crit +5), light (Weight -1), and accurate (Hit +10). Weaker than an iron weapon by one notch. Unrepairable. (Lance D)]

Usually, a normal book has to be sealed in magic spells first before it becomes a magic tome. But, that was not truly important. The most important thing was that a normal tome must not contain any other magic spells, because it could easily interfere with the other magic spells within the tome itself. Which will become costly during a battle. So, many apprentices and mages would never dare to seal two different spells into a magic tome light nor think of doing so. However, this blank book could solve that problem since the material was made from special quality magic wood and other materials that could isolate each magic spell sealed within each page. Not only that, but the materials used are magic materials. The pages could be reused over and over until they can no longer withstand use.

This blank book is called The Sage's Book. He had not thought that Kevin would be so brave and confident to directly get such a book for Claudia after all this time. This book is five times the cost of a single vulnerary, which equates to two thousand to two-thousand five-hundred gold coins. That is a significant amount of money. He even thinks that a noble would not easily fork out that many gold coins to buy a book that could be reused over and over. It would be better to get the magic tome that already had sealed magic spells within, which cost over a few hundred gold coins.

The competition between the two is quite intense. It was only when Claudia made a small cough did the two snap from each other's electrifying gaze. Claudia gives him three stacks of magic scrolls that contain ten scrolls each. It sounds a lot, but a magic scroll is quite small compared to a page from a standard book. Un-scrolling one of the magic scrolls, it was just as big as his palm. Seeing the beauty of the magic scrolls, he could not help but compliment her scribe skill. Once he got enough looks at the magic scrolls, he took notice of what the magic sealed within was. The three scrolls contain the fireball spell, mini ignition spell, and thunderbolt spell.

[Fireball Scroll: Might +1, Hit +85, Crit +0, Weight=0]

[A magic scroll sealed with a fireball spell. Launch a ball made of fire toward a target. Destroyed after use. Item slot stack limit: 10.]

[Mini Ignition Scroll: Might +0, Hit +85, Crit +0, Weight=0]

[A magic scroll sealed with a mini ignition spell. Bury the ignition fire within a select square. Once an enemy moves through the square, it explodes and deals with 5 fire magic (flat damage). Destroyed after use. Item slot stack limit: 10.]

[Thunderbolt Scroll: Might +1, Hit +85, Crit +0, Weight=0]

[A magic scroll sealed with the thunderbolt spell. Zap a target with a ball with the power of lightning. Destroyed after use. Item slot stack limit: 10.]

He was quite happy with the sudden gain of the magic scrolls because they were quite expensive and were priced at twenty-five gold coins each. A total of thirty magic scrolls were already seven-hundred fifty gold coins. This must have taken quite the amount of vitality from an apprentice to make these because to use magic. Something that must be used as fuel to invoke magic and vitality will need to be used when casting magic spells, which is why magic tomes are popular among mages. In a sense, this world uses the word 'vitality.' However, from his viewpoint, this so-called vitality is just health.

There was one time when Claudia showed him how a fireball was cast and he was quite immersed in the incredibility. He noticed that Claudia later lost one health point and he had confirmed that every time Claudia uses magic. She would lose a set amount of health points depending on the level of the spell. A level one spell-like a fireball only costs one health point and a level two spell would cost two health points. Now that her fire magic mastery had reached rank C, she could finally use level three spells, which would cost three health points each. Claudia can currently only use five-level three spells before she dies due to the loss of all of her health points.