*woosh* *woosh* *woosh* *tak* *tak* *tak*

Arrows fly but we have shield on our back so they won't harm us. From the direction of the arrows, it seems that they are attacking above the cave, on top of the small hill. It does make sense since when you guard a cave you would put it behind you. You can survey the surrounding while having a comfortable defense on your back but very vulnerable from the top.

Our maintenance will still continue even in this situation because we would have to do another round of cleaning for the currently in use equipment. Damn bandits, making our work pile up like this!!!

The blacksmith graduates are sitting cross legs on the ground surrounding the entrance of the cave while doing the maintenance while the other course graduates are safe inside the cave, I need to keep reminding myself that I am getting paid! The attack from above are being blocked by the collective efforts of the five combat healers and the five army students, which their equipment we are servicing, using the merchandise shields. We need to make those shields shiny again after this.

The teachers are near on stand-by on inside the carriages in case something happens and the army escort, that has their equipment, are waiting for the attack to come while using the carriages as cover. All we need to do is wait for them to appear after they finish pelting us with arrows.

Ugh, another chainmail. I suggested to make a lot of chainmail because slashing weapons are more prominent in the other continents, from hearing rumours. However, I fully regret my decision now. It was a great way to train my mana, fire resistance, and crafting all at the same time but its tedious to repair on the road. We can always repair it when we reach the central island but we don't want them to be too broken that we won't know which piece is part of which thing.

*tak* *tak* *tak* *bang* *bang* *bang*

Just when they finally ran out of arrows, they started to make it rain rocks? It hurts more than arrows because of the mass but at least they aren't boulders. How long will they continue this for?

"Someone pass me the metal string and the kniting tools."

*toss*

"Sorry but pass me the green and red metal strings, this is the christmas chainmail special."

I'm actually thankful for the hero who introduced christmas here. It's easier to sell things with that theme, like this sweater chainmail with a green christmas tree pattern on the front.

"Raaaggggghhhhhhh!!!!!"

They finally attacked. Please don't disturb us here. Its hard to knit a christmas special chainmail, you know.

"Tsk, we wasted all that arrows for nothing. To think they have that many shields."

Unless you have armour piercing ballista, which are military grade weapons so they are very expensive, you can't harm most of the residents in this continent with ordinary projectiles.

"Leader, They have the the army's insignia on their carava wagons."
"What bad luck we have! We already attacked them so it can't be helped. Continue!! However, be careful not to kill them. If we killed even one of them, be prepared to clean them all up otherwise we won't have any choice but to escape this road."

They knew the consequence a little too late. If we camped somewhere they can see the insignia then they might not have attacked us in the first place. At least they know the consequences so they might hold back the attack. They are being careful not to kill us but we have no qualms to annihilate them, having a strong backing is great.

Ugh, I need a break. The heat is starting to boil me. The shield is strapped behind me tightly so it won't suddenly come loose. I can't turn around to watch the battle so might as well nod off until I cool down and continue.

"You three loot the wagons, the rest with me to attack their shield wall."
"Yes, leader!"

*smash* *crash* *bang* *crack* *whop* *boom*

That must be the sounds of the three bandits, that tried to loot the carriages, getting their heads bashed in. This means that the guards are starting their ambush.

"Shit! They have more guards. Retreat!"

That was a fast decision. Now, just let them go. Don't try to chase them and we would have a lot less of a headache to deal with. They know who we are and how strong we are. They won't try to fight us again, unless they can rally enough of a force to fight us but not enough to put us in a desperate situation that the guards would stake life and death against them since that would be a bigger headache for all.

"Let them go, guards plan echo!"

Nice, this new leader knows how to think. Also, what is up with the whole word battle plan? I thought they limit it to letters and numbers to make it harder to decipher and easier to say quickly.

"I mean position E"

So this time we have a somewhat clever but nervous leader. As long as he doesn't blurt out the wrong strategy, this caravan would do just fine.

I'm finished with most of the stuff and the guards' equipment is done too, the final equipment we need to repair are the shields.

I'm positioned in the middle of the front line so other than some grazing shots so I only need to buff it out.

♪Scrub, Scrub, Scrub♪

♪Get the scratches out♪

♪Finish it up so I can go lights out♪

"What are you humming brill?"
"I'm humming because I am done. You finish up your work, I will go ahead and sleep."
"Sweet dreams, don't let the bandits strike."
"That is not part of my job, the guards would handle any sneak attacks."

I'm a light sleeper since I don't really need much sleep, plus with my amazing hearing, I will detect possible dangers.

The new leader marked the cave with a symbol, which I am assuming a trap symbol for the other caravans. He also made it so that the cave is for the production graduates. A second small cave is also dug out for the combat healers, though they themselves dug it out. The teachers are still stationed in the wagons, which I am sure is more comfortable while the guards are positioned in different points around the camp, there are even a couple at the top of the hill which has been planted a flag to make others know we are here and we are protected by the army.

I don't want to be cornered deep inside the cave so I will just sleep just at the mouth of the cave. I will have to bear the noise of the blacksmith graduates who haven't finished yet but it should finish soon.

"You are sleeping here, brill?"
"If you know then shut up and leave me be."

Chatterbox, why can't you fix your bad habit of commenting on almost everything. If you have that much time then work on your skills more. You started improving rapidly after the heartbreak but ever since the bulk order test, you started relying on the blacksmith job skills rather than improving your manual work. All those mana regenerating items his parents sent him made his work easier that it spoiled him.

It is still a shame that I can't used up my mana everyday. I can't see the stars because of the camp fire too. They should put out the fire after the last few blacksmith graduates finish the maintenance but the fire hear the outer guard post, especially the one under the flag, are left alone for security reasons. It is a bit cold at night, especially here near the ocean, but there isn't that big of a wind so we can take it. I doubt anymore here would succumb to a little cold too.

The blacksmith graduates are cleaning up now so I guess we are finally done with today's nightly maintenance. The clanking during the maintenance was like a white noise for us blacksmith so I was relaxed but the clean up is different so it woke me up. This sensitive hearing of mine is a big of a disadvantage when travelling with groups. It will only get stronger too and I have no way to control it. I can't exactly wear earplugs since it also serves as a form of defense for me.

Earplugs, white noise machine, even though I can no longer get in touch with the modern world, some of the luxuries still exist here because of the hero. How surreal.

I don't have much attachment to modern things but I do miss cake. There are still cake here but since having a fridge is a huge luxury, you can only eat it at the store.

The only thing I actually miss is the games. I don't have time to game here since I want to get strong fast. The faster I get stronger the easier I can live, which is the basis of luxury here.

*rustle* *rustle*

Hm? Looks like someone needs to go to the washroom. Only the shy ones go during the night. Almost everyone that needs to go, do it before going to bed. Safety in numbers and all that. Most of us are men and the combat healers have their own separate place so there isn't a point in being shy. The size comparison is done at school so unless they invented a drug to upgrade your peashooter to a 44 magnum, the whole class would already know about it and if they know someone from the girls dormitory then your name would be on the ding dong list. The dormitory has a communal shower after all.

"...He is awake, quickly grab him and shut his mouth!"

That sounds like the combat healers. Who is the poor soul that they are going to capture? Did that person peek on them or something? hahaha, what a brave guy, you might have wanted to see heaven but you need to pay the price by diving into hell. Good luck!

*tie* *muzzle*

"mmmpgh!! mmmm!!! Hmmmmmghghthpphhhp!!!!"

Eh!?!?! I'm the poor sap that angered those group of walking never-ending torture? Is this a repeat of getting beaten up and healed?

"mmmppphh!!"
"Quiet down. If you don't resist it won't hurt you that much."
"It's your fault for catching the eye of captain."
"Don't worry, in the end it would only be a minor bother to you."
"Lily, You are assigned for tonight's guard duty. You will guard just outside the cave. Put up an [Earth Wall] but leave a small gap at the bottom and at the top to allow air in."
"I also wanted to participate captain! I'm also part of this group."

Do you have no heart? You actually wanted to participate in beating up a helpless blacksmith? I never even did much to annoy all of you. I just wanted to waste mana! It is not that big of an offense!

"Don't worry, I will have you join is near dawn. The danger would be less around that time so we can stop guard duty then. We are only needed in case a battle started after all. The army will guard and spot the danger, we are support to make sure no allies die. We are something like a stationed doctor, we act when we are needed so we don't need to receive the patients themselves. Remember that first year!"
"Yes, maam!"

Are you proud of yourselves? You are aren't you! You get to have a bonding moment with your sisters by beating a helpless dwarf. The perfect team building exercise, you bunch of armoured sadist!!!

"I shall guard the entrance for night duty. I will make sure no one disturbs us, see you in a while [Earth Wall]"

The whole cave became so dark so fast. Ah, no good, I'm having flashbacks of the dungeon. It's okay, I survived it once, It won't do anything to me anymore.

I am a rock a rock under pressure, I won't break but concentrate. I am diamond! Well, I already know that I have extra lives so pain is just my body telling me its going to toughen up.

"Let's do this in order, I will start then the seniors. First year, you and lily will go last so watch and learn."

Yup, this isn't the first time I heard this kind of phrase.

"Don't worry, I will surely teach your body a lesson."
"Mmmmpghhhh!"

Take this gag off.

"puah! I'm sorry but I don't have the funds to pay for such an extravagant lesson."
"Don't try to be witty in times like this. Don't worry about the payment though, you will give that during the lesson."
"Even if I can pay, I am sure it would be useless. I don't have the capability to learn such a lesson."
"Don't worry, my friend june already vouched for your ability."

Hmm?

"Strip him!"

Hmmmmmmm?!?!? Eh?

"Untie me!"
"I will untie you if you cooperate."
"Depending on the situation, now untie me!"
"Fine but don't try to escape. We already got permission from the teacher."

This is allowed by the teacher? Well, we are adults and we already graduated so unless I refuse it is ok.

"Why me?"
"Don't flatter yourself. Now, do you agree or not?"

It seems like the teacher was right. The combat healer does have an interest in me, a very good kind of interest.