Chapter 292 The Day Before Moving Out

The hours passed slowly as Suzuka kept a vigilant watch, ready with more potions. The Earth Magic Box continued its relentless work, reshaping Jacob’s very essence.

This time, Jacob spent two hours inside and finally, the box glowed softly once more. Jacob emerged, his body even more ravaged than before, but there was a new strength in his eyes. He had endured the torture, and he had come out stronger for it.

Falling to his knees once again, Jacob looked up at Suzuka. 

"I think... I think I’m ready now," he said, his voice hoarse.

Suzuka’s smile softened, just a fraction.

"Good. Let’s get you to Dr. Jenkins and see where you stand. And remember, Jacob, this is just the beginning. When we go back to town, we are moving out with the goblins to my lands. And then, the real work begins."

Suzuka handed Jacob a healing potion, watching as he drank it down and his wounds began to mend.

 "Rest for a few hours," she instructed, her voice softer but still firm. 

"Thanks, I will."

Jacob nodded gratefully, finding a spot to lie down and close his eyes, his body finally able to relax from the relentless torment.

Suzuka allowed herself a short nap, though she kept one eye open for any potential threats in the cavern. The hours passed uneventfully, and when they woke, both felt somewhat rejuvenated. They gathered their things and set off, making good time through the forest as they sped back to town on their four-wheeler. The journey was swift and uneventful, and soon they found themselves at the doors of Wara's guild.

Entering the bustling guild hall, Suzuka and Jacob made their way through the crowd to Dr. Jenkins' office. As they stepped inside, Dr. Jenkins' eyes lit up when he saw Suzuka, a warm but slightly lecherous smile spreading across his face.

"Helen! What a pleasant surprise," Dr. Jenkins greeted, his gaze lingering on her a bit too long. 

"Our appointment is next month. What brings you here today? Well, not that I'm complaining. Maybe I can interest you in another body checkup, perhaps? I could give you a thorough examination, just to make sure no corrupted magic is messing with your body. As an adventurer, you need to take good care of yourself."

Suzuka rolled her eyes at his obvious attempt to grope her under the guise of medical care.

 "Not today, Dr. Jenkins. I'm a bit tight on time. Maybe some other time," she said, her tone sharp and dismissive. 

"I'm here for Jacob. We need to measure his new stats and register his rank-up officially."

Dr. Jenkins' smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered.

 "Oh, what a shame... Ah, of course. Jacob, is it? Let's see what you've got," he said, motioning for Jacob to step forward.

Dr. Jenkins handed Jacob a measuring crystal and instructed him to infuse his magic into it. As Jacob channeled his mana, the crystal started to glow with a bright brown light, signaling that he was now a solid 4-star earth magic power user. The light flickered and pulsed, casting an earthy glow around the room that seemed to reflect the strength and stability of his newfound power.

Dr. Jenkins' eyes widened with genuine surprise and admiration. 

"Well, well, congratulations, Jacob. A rank-up from 3 to 4 stars is no small feat. Let's get your registration sorted out." He turned to his desk, scribbling down the necessary information on parchment and stamping it with the official guild seal.

Suzuka slapped Jacob playfully on the back, causing him to stagger forward slightly.

 "See? That wasn't so hard. Now you're a 4-star mage, and with that, I expect great things from you, Jacob. Unless you want to go for 5 stars?"

Jacob shuddered at the mere mention of another trip into the box, his eyes wide with fear.

 "No, no, no, not going in there again. Not again."

Suzuka chuckled, her eyes glinting with mischief.

 "Relax, relax. I'm just joking."

"Unless, of course, you still lack the power. Then we might need to reconsider." She continued with a serious tone.

Jacob quickly reassured her, "I'm good, I'm good. This is enough power. A rank-up from 3 stars to 4 stars is massive. My mana consumption for using the magic is half what it was. My scanning and operational rage increased more than double. And the efficiency of my spells increased as well. Before the rank-up, I needed to gather iron from the soil to form the iron spikes, now I feel I can create them from nothing. And the control over earth elements is so much clearer to me now. I can feel the difference. Trust me, I will be fine now."

Suzuka gave a satisfied smile, her eyes still holding a trace of the menace that had so thoroughly frightened Jacob.

"You better be, otherwise, there would be a problem."

Jacob swallowed hard, nodding.

 "Understood, Suzuka. I'll make sure I live up to your expectations."

Dr. Jenkins, having completed the registration, handed Jacob his updated guild card.

 "Congratulations again, Jacob. Welcome to the ranks of the 4-star mages. Remember, with great power comes great things, mostly coins, lots of it."

As they left Dr. Jenkins' office, Suzuka couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Despite the intense and menacing methods, she had successfully guided Jacob to a higher level of power, furthering her plans and ensuring she had a strong ally by her side.

With that taken care of, Suzuka was ready to leave the town with the goblins and start building her dream town. She turned to Jacob, who still seemed a bit shaken from their earlier ordeal.

"Now, we are ready," Suzuka said firmly.

 "Take the rest of the day off and rest because we are meeting in front of Wara's guild tomorrow morning. From there, we will mount four-wheelers and drive to the goblin location, gather them, and leave the town. From there, it will be a straight trip through the forest to my lands. So don't be late. Got it?"

Jacob, still trying to process everything, nodded.

 "Understood, Suzuka. I'll be there on time."

As they parted ways, Suzuka couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation. The journey ahead would be challenging, but she was confident in her plans and the team she had assembled. 

Suzuka returned to the Mystic Oasis Inn, her mind buzzing with thoughts and plans for the future. She had successfully helped Jacob reach a new level of power, and now her focus shifted to the next phase of her grand vision. 

As she opened the door to her room, she found Silvia already asleep, her soft breathing filling the room. But the sound of Suzuka’s entrance stirred her, and she woke up, rubbing her eyes groggily.

“Hey, Helen, you were gone for a few days. I was a bit worried since you left without a word. Is everything alright?” Silvia asked.

Suzuka reassured her with a gentle smile. 

“Hey, Silvia. It’s all good, nothing to worry about. I was just finishing some loose ends, that's all. But now, all of my preparations are done. We’ll be heading to my lands tomorrow. It will take us a few days or maybe a bit more to reach it, but we’ll have strong people watching our backs. Nothing to worry about, it’ll be like a walk in the park. But hey, how were your days while I was gone? Did you get what you needed to teach the goblins?”

Silvia’s eyes lit up with joy as she showed Suzuka what she had acquired.

 “Oh, Helen, I got so many things! Look at this!” She pulled out a small, sturdy box and opened it to reveal its contents.

Inside were a variety of simple yet essential items that would aid in teaching the goblins. There were several chalkboards, each one neatly framed and coated in a fine layer of green paint. The chalkboards were accompanied by boxes of brightly colored chalk, perfect for illustrating lessons and engaging the goblins’ attention. Silvia had also procured stacks of parchment and quills, allowing the goblins to practice writing and drawing. Small wooden abacuses were included to help with basic arithmetic, and there were even a few simple storybooks with large, colorful pictures to help teach language and reading.

Suzuka’s eyes scanned the rest of the items in the sturdy box, taking in the thoughtful selection Silvia had put together. Each item seemed carefully chosen to aid in the goblins' education and development.

Silvia had included a variety of wooden puzzles and brain teasers. These ranged from simple jigsaw puzzles to more complex three-dimensional puzzles. They were designed to improve the goblins' problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.

Next, a stack of flashcards sat neatly bundled together. They covered a wide range of subjects: basic vocabulary words with pictures, simple math problems, and even some history and geography facts. The bright colors and clear illustrations would make learning fun and engaging for the goblins.

To encourage creativity and a sense of rhythm, Silvia added a few simple musical instruments. She was fascinated by the simple lullaby that Hermit sang to calm his hurt hatchlings and she wanted to help nurture these talents among the goblins. There was a small drum, a flute, and a tambourine. These would not only provide entertainment but also help in teaching coordination and teamwork.

 A small kit containing various craft supplies was also part of the collection. It included colored paper, scissors, glue, and an assortment of beads and strings. These would be perfect for teaching the goblins to make their own decorations and simple tools, fostering their creativity and dexterity.

Silvia had included a set of basic measuring tools. There were rulers, measuring tapes, and protractors. These would be essential for teaching the goblins about measurements and geometry, skills crucial for construction work.

A small pouch of various seeds and a set of miniature gardening tools were nestled in the corner of the box. These were intended to teach the goblins about agriculture and the importance of growing their food. It would also teach them responsibility and the basics of biology.

 Finally, there were a few workbooks with basic exercises in language and math. The pages were filled with simple problems and exercises, designed to gradually build the goblins' literacy and numeracy skills.