The maid guided Zack through the corridors of the magic tower. Halfway there, he met Austin and Shun, who were also being led by their assigned servants.
The path they were using was not the one they usually traveled, and soon, he and the others found themselves outside the magic tower.
These past few months, Zack had lost contact with Austin and Shun, especially since Miyu had to go to another corner of the castle to continue her training. The time they spent in the library was less and less, and the only bit of day they were together was breakfast when they spent most of their time eating in silence.
During Albert's classes, which had become prominently practical, Zack would overhear them talking about their progress and levels.
Shun had just reached level 50, and Austin was at level 57.
Neither of them has trained as hard as he has, but in Shun's case, Zack doesn't have to stress too much. Although it may seem low-level, you have to remember that Shun has a tier 2 class. It is much easier to level up a tier 1 class than level up a tier 2 class.
Austin's problem is much more serious.
Zack knows how hard it is to level up your class once you get to the higher levels. Based on how long Austin has taken to get close to level 60, Zack estimates he will reach level 100 in three years, maybe a little longer.
He tried to warn Austin multiple times, but no matter what Zack did, he wouldn't listen. Officially, Zack told the others that he was level 55, so Zack knew Austin was underestimating him.
Zack didn't know what they were doing with their free time, but it was clear they weren't training. Otherwise, they would be at a much higher level.
Albert doesn't suspect anything because the growth of all three is similar, but Zack knows that if Austin were to take training as seriously as Shun, he would have to be at least level 70.
Sometimes, Zack heard them talk about going to the gardens or something about walking around the castle with the girls. Although they tried to invite him on more than one occasion, Zack rejected them.
He had no time to waste, and those walks did seem a waste of time. It is for these reasons that their relationship cooled even more.
Zack and the others entered the castle through one of the exterior corridors that communicated with the magic tower and were led to the dining room where they had their first and only banquet with the rest of their classmates, the whole class together.
When they reached the dining room, sounds of laughter and cutlery began to enter Zack's ears.
Once they entered the dining room, he finally saw his classmates whom he hadn't seen for six months.
Contrary to the tense and silent breakfasts with Shun and Austin, the rest of his class couldn't be louder. When people saw them enter, they greeted them happily.
Although it had been a while since they last met, they hadn't forgotten the troubles they overcame together, and how helpful Zack and the rest were in the dungeon.
As soon as they saw him walk in, Ryu and Kenzo motioned for him to sit with them, which he did. Austin also sat beside his friends, and Shun sat beside Miyu. Once they were all seated, they began to share stories with each other while eating the extremely seasoned food on the table.
Due to eating a dish prepared by a Master Chef: Str +1
No one was going to despise free attribute points.
The food was terrible but the atmosphere was nice, and for the first time in a long time, Zack was able to relax while he chatted with his teammates, who told him about their training, and the exaggerated adventures they had experienced.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
But all good things have to end.
BAM
The main door of the dining room was suddenly thrown open, and all eyes turned in that direction. Seeing who it was, the conversations stopped, and a tense atmosphere filled the room. Several guards burst into the dining room, escorting a man Zack had never seen before.
He was a short man, clad in a hideous yellow suit, adorned with all sorts of shiny decorations, with a large, not very flattering cap pulled over his head.
His attire reminded them of the clothes nobles wore the day they were brought here. And also, of a giant banana.
Once the presumed noble entered, he walked directly to the seat at the end of the table specially reserved for the prime minister. After sitting down, he surveyed the room's occupants. Seeing that we were all there, he nodded slightly and said:
"Attention!!! I bring a message from his majesty, King Terence II, for the invoked heroes”
The stranger spoke with an ostentatious tone while he unrolled a scroll he was carrying in his hand. The scroll read as follows:
It basically said that our training in the castle was over and that each of them would be sent to a kingdom-specific instructor to learn what they needed to know about our classes to serve the kingdom.
That makes sense.
Officially, so far Zack and his companions had only learned tier 1 spells, and his companions with physical classes had only learned tier 1 subjects. If the higher-ups want to make good use of them, they need to learn as much as possible about their respective tier 2 classes.
You can't train a Shaman the same way as a Grand Wizard, so assigning them individual instructors is reasonable… at least that's what they initially thought.
"Ahem. Now, I will indicate the destination of each one:
...
As they listened to the fate of their companions, their faces assumed strange expressions. They started to notice a pattern.
...
Kondo Ryu. Instructor Stroniam. Earthholder Castle, Northern border of the kingdom.
Hiromiya Kaede. Instructor Tempes. Earthlord Castle, Northern border of the kingdom.
Yamaguchi Kenzo. Instructor Torres. Earthholder Castle, Northern border of the kingdom.
…
No one noticed, but Zack´s face was starting to cloud over. Apparently, he was the only one who knew what it meant to be sent to that place.
…
Austin Ramirez. Instructor Formio. Earthholder Castle, Northern border of the kingdom.
Ronald Watergate. Earththorn City, Northern border of the kingdom.
Suzumiya Airi. Suntain City, Northern territory of the kingdom.
Daigo Shun. Suntain City, Northern territory of the kingdom.
Zack Mayima. Stormblade City, Northern territory of the kingdom
Endou Miyu. Royal castle, Parma city.
…
That is all” the messenger finished as he rolled up the scroll he had been reading.
When Zack heard his name, he thanked them. He thanked his parents, himself, and his past self for making up his class. Zack is convinced that there is only one reason why he and some other classmates don't go to that place. There are no Grand Mages in Earthholder Castle.
"Any questions?" he asked arrogantly as he surveyed the crowd. As if to dare them to dare to say anything before a royal decree. It was obviously a rhetorical question.
That doesn't mean that everyone would settle for that.
"Excuse me"
Miss Kaede said, getting up from her seat.
“Could you tell us why most of us go to the same place? I'm sure there are other places where we could learn about our classes. Also, I haven't heard the names of Yamato, Seto, Tatsumaki, and Lorelei. Where will they go?"
"Hmm. I am not aware of the thoughts that inhabit his majesty's head, I am sure that whatever the reason for it, his majesty did it thinking of your well-being and the well-being of the kingdom”
The messenger seemed overwhelmed for a moment before recovering and answering the question.
After hearing that answer, Zack knew that he was not going to get any useful answers from this guy. He is just a messenger who comes to transmit the decisions of his superiors; a minion.
People like him only obey orders without knowing the reasons, and Zack´s pretty sure he can sleep perfectly at night without knowing the answers.
As he expected, his companions couldn't get anything clear from him. After questioning him for several minutes without getting anything, the messenger fled from there at his first opportunity, leaving them with more doubts than before.
His confused companions were helpless as they watched the messenger hastily retreat, followed by the dozen guards beside him.
Seeing this, Zack decided to withdraw as well. It was obvious that the prime minister was not coming, and the news he had received was too important to stay here eating.
After saying goodbye to the others, Zack hurried to the library. Once he got there he went to one of the bookshelves and pulled out a very specific book.
Maps in this world are something very precious. Most of the maps that are sold in stores, correspond to very small plots and are blurred, with imprecise signs. In most kingdoms, it is illegal to create maps. Any map that accurately shows the terrain of a kingdom is considered a military secret. If an enemy kingdom were to get hold of a good enough map, it might seriously consider an invasion.
Most books in the castle were not here because people wanted to go to read them but to stop so that others could read them without permission.
The map in Zack´s hands is not perfect, but good enough that he would be arrested if he were to show it in the streets.
Zack quickly found the Eartholder Castle, and as he thought, the place where it was was not good. Unless you consider it good for being in the first line against the demonic invasion, then it is perfect.