Hajime was reading another book on material and magic in a construction site in the kingdom.
It's been 2 weeks since his class entered the new world called Tortus, after everyone got their job classes and everyone went straight to training, getting all sorts of high level knights and mages came and trained every one of them.
Hajime trained with the others as well, the basic training and everything but sadly he hasn't made much progress in levelling up, which is harder than the normal 'kill a monster and level up' thing.
The Status Plate thing only shows your potential, the more you train the more you increase your potential, whatever that means but they have to actually train in order to increase the states.
But it has been hard as no matter what he does his states don't increase, so he has been studying his new skill Transmute, learning to control matter and make piles of rubble here and there.
But it wasn't all bad, Hajime helped out Roiyaru Dorn with his buildings.
"Hajime I need another pile ten feet to your left" Roiyaru called out for the side as he carried some timber to the other side of the construction site while also leading a few other builders.
"You got it, Roi," Hajime said, taking his book and counting the steps to his left as he starts to make another pile as Roiyaru instructed. He is thankful Roiyara helps him practise his skill which he can see is slowly improving.
Roiyaru Dorn was doing much better than him in terms of skills and states, while he was already a fit guy and exceeded in training like the other so-called hero students. Roiyaru doesn't want to do that.
No Roiyaru would rather do what he always dreamed to do, build and create something for everyone to use.
While the class is learning magic he is out here helping the people, Roiyaru went to the construction site where other builders are fixing the outer wall as it was just breached by new armoured like monsters, or so the guards said.
Roiyaru immediately went to the one in charge and offered his service, after the guy in charge saw his skills he immediately let him work.
So far Roiyaru looks at the diagram and fix a few issues in the design and started making changes, when people saw the changes he was making they tried to stop him but after seeing the design and how Roiyaru explains the practical results of it they thought fuck it and let him build it with their help.
Roiyaru had taken the role of a builder seriously as he not only fixed the broken wall but he used his Fortify skill to improve the whole outer wall around the city, using the supplies and workmen the King had sent after seeing the improvement in the broken wall.
Seeing how Roiyaru is improving everything he touches, leads both the Pope and the King to give Roiyaru the title of Praetorian.
A title which gives him the right to remodel and fix all the structures in the city and castles.
"Men do not use a mallet, use a hammer, it will break if you use the mallet" Roiyaru commanded, seeing how everyone works under him.
"Yes Praetorian" the man nods, dropping the mallet and grabbing the metal hammer from his belt as he hammer in the nails, as Roiyaru carries the pile of rubble Hajime gathers.
"Thanks Hajime" One guy said, as Hajime smiles, at least here people apprentices him more than his classmate, who still consider him useless for his average states and average job.
(I owe my soul to the company store guitar cover)
some people say a man is made outta mud
A poor man's made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
A mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong
You load 16 tons, what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
Edi Rigs was playing with his guitar with people working around him, he was getting better states wise and everything but what really surprised everyone was that he can actually play.
Flashback
Everyone in class just finished the weapons' training as everyone relaxes after a long class of swinging a sword.
"I'm exhausted," Hajime said to his friends, as both Edi and Roiyaru looked at him.
"You need to train up Hajime, I would rather you not die because you cannot fight" Roiyaru said, helping Hajime up as he grabbed a hold of Roiyaru arm.
"I know but I am not exactly athletic," Hajime said with Edi snorts.
"That is due to your own accountability of not doing daily exercise, perhaps if you take my suggestion we wouldn't be having these problems" Roiyaru said to him honestly, having told Hajime to workout daily at least but our hero is a manga reader and video game player.
Hajime just look down at that, yes Roiyaru encourages him to work out for his health but it not like he was sick or obese at least.
"Please it is not like we expected to be child soldiers, Roi '' Edi said, knowing Roiyaru was honest and not being hurtful.
"No but it is better for your health," Roiyaru explains, wanting his friends to be healthy.
"What do you expect us to be in his mess?" Edi asked him, knowing he wasn't but couldn't help but ask.
"The training ground isn't a mess, in fact the servants are cleaning now" Roiyaru pointed out, as servants clean the area after the class is finished, both of them sign at the response.
"You don't think magic is enough" Hajime asked him,
"Yes" Roiyaru said, as they looked at him, he didn't say anything more.
"Can you explain that? You dense bastard" Edi asked, annoyed by the simple response.
"My parents are married, and while magic is useful we need to learn to fight, this world doesn't have the same luxury we are used to," Roiyaru explains to them, he right instead of technology to call one another now they have message birds now, it a big adjustment to say at least.
"I hate it when you're right," Hajime said, agreeing with Roiyaru and needing to get better somehow.
"What a surprise Hajime? You finally see how weak and useless you are now" Daisuke called out with a few others, hearing the conversation as he talks down Hajime, again.
The class starts to watch them; really everyone's getting in on this.
"Were in another world and your still on me" Hajime asked, really was bullying him more important than learning magic
"There is nothing wrong in understanding one's faults, it's the first step to improving as a person" Roiyaru explains to Daisuke, Edi smiles.
"Yeah, like as soon as you realise you are a piece of shit, you can work out how not to be a piece of shit" Edi said, getting in his face as Daisuke grits his teeth as a few of the class laugh at Daisuke now instead of Hajime.
"Oh ya Delinquent, at least I have a class, what about you, useless bard hahahaha" Daisuke laughs at Edi, a few other students laugh at themselves, Edi gets pissed.
"Fuck you, your class is a fucken spearmen, what that say about you, need a big stick to hide your tiny dick" Edi insults back, as Daisuke get pissed off at his class, more people are laughing at him then Edi.
"At least I can use a spear you can't play for shit" Daisuke got back at him, but Edi had it.
"I can play too you piece of shit, Hey, Yo, Meld, big man, teacher whatever" Edi called out, seeing Meld talking to their sensei
"Yes?" the knight in question inquired, a bit put off by Edi's irritable expression.
"Do you know where I can find any musical instruments?" Edi asked him, really needed something to give it to that jackass.
"I think I remember seeing a guitar in the armoury," Meld said as he held his chin.
"Why was there a guitar in the armoury?" Edi asked, why would an instrument be where you put weapons? Meld paused at the thought.
"I have no clue. Anyway," Meld pointed to one of the knights he brought with him.
"You! Bring the guitar here on the double!" Meld orders the knight
"Yes, Sir!" the knight exclaimed as he ran like hell,
"What are you doing Edi?" the teacher Aiko asked, she was talking to Meld about their training, she doesn't want her students to be pushed too hard, their still children after all.
"Thanks Meld, you the men" Edi said gratefully to the Knight Commander. Meld smiled and patted him on his shoulder. Not sure what he means but see it as a complement.
"No problem, anything else I can help you with?" Meld asked,
"Yeah, can you get Daisuke executed for being a piece of shit?" Edi asked loudly, pointing at Daisuke as the majority of the class turned to stare at him. Aiko gave him a disapproving look.
"What? No. If you have a problem with him, sort it out yourselves," Meld responded, scowling. As Edi hit the ground in frustration.
"Damm it" Edi said,
"Edi Riggs that's bad behaviour you know" Aiko scolds him but Edi waves her off.
"Yeah yeah, give me a detention if we get back alive" Edi said, not taking her seriously, come on there in another world, far from school hours and everything.
"Edi what are you doing?" Hajime asked to catch up to him with Roiyaru, as the class now are talking about Edi and what he is doing with Daisuke being the one leading it.
"Going to shut the bastard's mouth," Edi said to them.
"A guitar will not be effective at closing one mouth," Roiyaru said, not seeing how a guitar helps.
"You'll see Roi" Edi said with a grin, as the knight that was sent to retrieve the guitar quickly came back
The knight nodded to Edi respectfully and handed him the guitar.
"Thank you kindly," Edi said gratefully, holding the guitar
"No trouble at all," he said as he went to join the other knights.
It was a basic, six-string acoustic guitar; Edi nodded at this before he went to take a nearby chair and set it down over the magical formula circle, and sat down.
"Like hell he knows how to play," Daisuke mocked.
"He's holding it wrong too," Another asshole said, the guy doesn't know shit about guitars
"Surprise the Delinquent would try to play" Ryutaro said to his friend,
"I doubt he knows any songs" Kouki shrugs, never seeing Edi play, while he could play a note or two making a song something else.
"You never know," Shizuku said, unsure if he can play or not.
"Go Edi" Kaori encouraged him,
Edi rolled his eyes hearing a good portion of his classmates mocking him as he tuned the instrument to his liking.
Edi took a glance at Hajime and Roi. Hajime was clearly excited to hear what Edi has to play since he saw him practise more than once; Roiyaru gave him a nod of support.
Edi smiled at the support as he got into position. Remembering the song he was going to play for his date.
"It's a good thing I memorised the song by now," Edi muttered as he turned his attention to his classmates.
"Alright, this is a song called A Thousand Years. I was going to play this for my date but can't do cause of this bullshit" Edi said, playing a few notes.
"Yeah right" Daisuke said, not believing Edi got a date.
As Edi grab is guitar pick to start playing, unconsciously using the skill Bardic Inspiration, which gives a different effect depending on the intent of the song.
All of the mocking stopped as soon as he began the intro of the song. His fingers gracefully slid across the fretboard as he plucked the strings with perfect timing.
(A Thousand Years Song by Christina Perri, guitar version)
Edi glanced at the knights; Meld looked at him in awe. Were good musicians really that rare in this world? He finally began the main melody and began singing.
The day we met,
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart
Beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
Edi glanced at his classmates; they were in shock and awe just at the first verse. Yeah, that's right, the Delinquent is awesome! Kouki's group was one of the biggest sources of Edi's satisfaction right now. Kouki and Ryutarou looked like they couldn't believe their own eyes and ears.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
Shizuku gave Edi an impressed look as she bobbed her head to his voice and guitar skills. Kaori was smiling at the song, looking at Hajime while listening to the song, the other girls were blushing like no tomorrow.
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
I'll love you for a thousand more
Ohh
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
As the song ended , Edi looked at my classmates, the vast majority of them looked like they had just taken the biggest shit of their lives, especially Hiyama. Most of the girls had light blushes on their faces, and most of the guys gave a look of begrudging respect.
"Pretty good for a delinquent, eh?" Edi said with a condescending smile none of them were willing to meet his gaze after he spoke that.
"Edi," Meld call out to him
"Yeah, big man" Edi asked looking at him, He grabbed Edi's shoulders and shook him back and forth with a beaming grin.
"That was incredible! Is this the kind of music in your world!?" Meld praised the music Edi played.
Edi dropped the guitar and grabbed his arms to make him stop shaking Edi.
"Stop shaking me, man! But yes, kind of, I mean I only finished making this song the other day." Edi said, getting the guy to stop shaking him, seriously are there no good musicians around here.
"Wait, this was the song in that sheet music you worked on in class?" Kouki asked, remembering Edi writing a music sheet before they teleported to this world.
That seemed to get the attention of the whole class, god dammit.
"Then does that mean Edi has been working hard on that song for the past week!?" Ryutarou spoke up next. Edi was about to answer but Roiyara spoke up for him instead.
"Yes, Ryutarou, Edi worked hard on his piece, just as he's done with all of his other pieces," Roiyaru explained to everyone.
"Other pieces?" Kouki asked, not being familiar with typical musical slang.
"You mean Edi has made other songs?" Kouki said, everyone looks on at Edi.
"Yeah Kouki" Hajime said this time,
"He works hard every day when he is at the Music club, even did a few concerts" Hajime said, Edi narrows his eyes at Hajime, why did he say that.
"Concerts?" Shizuku asked
"Yes I do music concerts with a few others, I'm surprised that you haven't heard of them, the school is rather famous for them." Edi said with a sigh, really not sure why they don't go to school events if their school idols and everything.
Edi played a few songs by Muse and a few others; everyone thought they were original songs. Edi felt happy to live in a world with an also completely different pop culture when you're making music?
So he played as everyone looked amazed at what he played while Hiyama and his little gang decided to glare at him with some of the other students for the attention he gained.
Flashback over
So Edi plays a few songs whenever he can, getting popular with everyone with his 'original songs' while increasing his state when he plays, he uses his skills to increase the work force of Roiyaru, they all work together to make better buildings.
Together with Roiyaru's leadership, Hajime transmute, and Edi moral increase, they made a powerful team that became a positive force in the kingdom.
They all have been training with the class as everyone increases the states and levels up, sooner or later they all are going to the dungeon for the first time.
Hajime is a little concern about it since he doesn't have much power and isn't very strong, but with his friends near him he sure they can make it.