Chapter 16: Akaza Ruins
Lucian smiled.
"A Mystic-Grade treasure is something that only the strongest Champion-rank Awakeners get to use. Our Horizon Institute will gift this to you if you were to join us."
"You told me not to trick him, but aren't you doing the same? Deathwood Guardian can protect only a small area," Dante Riven commented.
"When did I trick him? Isaac is a Farmer, and he doesn't have combat abilities. He needs someone to protect his crops, and the Deathwood Guardian is perfect for the job."
Isaac looked at the treasures carefully.
It was astonishing that universities were giving him rare treasures to recruit him.
However, he didn't let himself get swept away by their gifts.
He weighed his choices calmly.
"Ahem, since I am the last one, I will explain what Master of Sanctum has prepared for Isaac."
Eleanor looked at Isaac in the eye.
"Our University has a way to get you a Class Advancement Quest for a Class best suited for you.
"Others have a limited number of Class Advancement Quests. They can give you Berserker Class, Sword Saint Class.
"But do those Classes suit your Talent? No, they don't. A wrong Class will waste the potential of your Talent.
"This is why you should join us. Master of Sanctum is known to raise ambiguous and difficult-to-master Talents to their full potential.
"We can provide you a Class that suits your Talent."
Lucian and Dante frowned upon hearing her words.
They knew Master of Sanctum had an advantage compared to them when it came to raising non-combat Talents.
They brought gifts to counter that advantage and get Isaac for themselves.
"And...."
Eleanor continued.
"We will give you a piece of land from the territory our University gained in Akaza Ruins."
"What!?" Dante's eyes widened. "You are giving him that? People will pay any price to get a small piece of a Ruin, and you're giving land to him for free?"
"Yes, we are planning to do that. Akaza Ruins have rich soil, and it will be incredibly beneficial to Isaac."
"What is Akaza Ruins?" Isaac spoke up.
He couldn't follow their conversation.
"Do you know about the history of Fortified Cities, Isaac?" Eleanor questioned.
"Yes, Fortified Cities were built by the Lost Civilization. These cities protect us from mana poison rain and wild monsters.
"Since the city walls and city dome have automatic repair ability, they get fixed on their own, which saves us a lot of trouble."
"Very good. I'm happy to see you kept up with your studies diligently."
Isaac felt a bit embarrassed for being praised for such a small thing.
Nonetheless, Eleanor was correct. Barely any student paid attention to studies or training, since awakening a powerful Talent was the only thing that mattered in their eyes.
Diligent students like Isaac and Alice were rare.
"Mana poison rain has devastated the world beyond repair. Trees, crops—nothing grows on land where mana poison rain has fallen.
"The only exception is Fortified Cities, which have purification spells built into them. They can purify the land. This is why we can only live in Fortified Cities. Food can be grown only here.
"Akaza Ruins is the unclaimed Fortified City 89 that was recently discovered.
"Currently, the top three universities of our City are working together to claim Fortified City 89 from the wild monsters."
Isaac was amazed.
He always wondered how new Fortified Cities were built. After all, they could not copy the technology of the Lost Civilization with their current technological standards.
He believed it was done by people with Architect or similar Talents.
Turns out, it was done by recapturing Fortified Cities that had yet to be discovered and had become nests of wild monsters!
After the cities were recaptured, the people would power them up and activate their self-repair function.
Isaac was already thinking of the benefits of having land.
If the land was in a good area, he could build apartments on it and put them up for rent. He could even sell them to rich folks.
Money would no longer be a problem for him.
Or he could use the land to grow crops.
If the land was as rich in nutrients as Eleanor and others made it out to be, it would give him a good yield and help him level up his skills rapidly.
"We have put forth our offers. Which University are you going to join?" Eleanor asked.
...
Sector 6C, Unclaimed Fortified City 89
"W-we failed, sir. We couldn't eliminate the newly awakened Farmer."
Godric stared at his quivering subordinate in silence.
The subordinate, covered in blood, was the only survivor among the group of assassins sent to Radiant Crest Academy.
"I let you have a Spatial Mage. He gathered all the assassins that were placed in different universities in the Sector within minutes, and together you attacked Radiant Crest Academy.
"There were multiple Adept-rank Awakeners in the group, and two were Elite-rank Awakeners.
"On the other hand, Radiant Crest Academy's principal is only a Lv. 11 Adept, and the Guardian would have been Lv. 20 Adept at best.
"How did you lose against them?"
Godric's gruff voice sounded like stone scraping against stone. It sent shivers down the subordinate's spine.
"Answer me."
"T-that... We were tricked. The Academy's defense was too lax. At first, we thought it was because their preparations had been inadequate, but it turned out that was a trap to lower our guard.
"Almost all of us were slaughtered as soon as we entered."
"Who attacked you? It couldn't be a normal Awakener if they could defeat you all single-handedly."
"I...." the subordinate hesitated before he spoke. "It was the Evil Sword. She was the guardian of Radiant Crest Academy."
Godric's brows creased.
Evil Sword was the disciple of one of the Overlord-rank Awakeners, the Sword Empress.
Why was someone strong like her acting as a no-name academy's guardian?
Just then, cold hands wrapped around Godric. The space behind him twisted, and a woman appeared.
She had a beautiful face and an extremely alluring figure. However, the most eye-catching part about her was her hair.
The ends of her green hair transformed into snakes.
The woman smiled, flicking her long tongue in the air.
"Was Evil Sword there by coincidence, or did they already know the boy would awaken a powerful Talent?"