Lord Annan returned to his trusty office, ready to get back to work.
Peterson was only halfway into his host's jacket when he was summoned. "Lord Annan, the competition's about to start. Aren't you going?"
"Let me work a little longer. Just a little..."
"All right, but my lord, there's only one item left."
"I got that much done without realizing it?"
Like a golem triggered by a keyword, Peterson launched into a practiced spiel. "Under your leadership, the people of Free City live in peace and prosperity—"
"All right, shut up. Give it here."
Peterson stepped forward, pointed to the file on the desk, then stepped back with an ingratiating smile. "Everything I said was true..."
In high spirits, Annan opened the final document. Hmm... This time, a Mage Apprentice from the Magic Academy had been accused of abusing an Earth Elemental.
The apprentice worked at the Mushroom House by day and studied at the Mage Tower by night. One day, while helping an Alchemist at the Mushroom House research stronger concrete, he had a sudden idea:
If an Earth Elemental's body could be made from the various sands, stones, and minerals found in the ground, would concrete made from ground Lime and gravel work too?
After all, hardened concrete was little different from rock. If an Earth Elemental could use it as a body, it would have defense like Plate Armor. One such Earth Elemental would be as strong as two ordinary ones.
So he put his idea to the test. He even had a name ready: Concrete Elemental.
First, he requested an Earth Elemental and had it manipulate, in turn, limestone, ground Lime, gravel, dry-mixed concrete, wet-mixed concrete, and hardened concrete.
Every test succeeded, so the Mage Apprentice began having the Earth Elemental use concrete as its