Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World

Chapter 57: The First Year at the Academy - 68

"Ah, it's so relaxing. Forests are wonderful."

One morning in early summer, I was visiting the forest in the interval of my blank period.

It was the northwestern forest that had become so familiar to me.

If the F-rank was a trial period, the E-rank was proof that I'm an adventurer. However, Rebecca seemed unwilling to promote me, a 10-year-old solo adventurer, and had been secretly delaying my promotion.

At the time of the request report, Ishmira, who happened to be there, said, "You're still ranked F? Isn't that a little strange?" She was not happy about it, but Rebecca secretly delayed the promotion. I'm supposed to be promoted on the same day. Since Ishmira had recommended that I find a friend, she probably intended to promote him as soon as he had formed a party.

It was an abuse of authority, but she did it out of malice, and there is not much difference between F and E ranks in requests and rewards. Besides, as an apology, Rebecca said she would move up the requests for achievement that had exceeded the required number of promotions to an E-rank assessment. Whether it is an apology or not, I don't care because the result is the same.

"Oh, maybe this is it."

I picked up a whitish stone lying on the riverbank.

It was about the size of the tip of my thumb. It was a little small.

I shaved a little with a knife and put a piece on his tongue.

It seemed to be all right.

I swallow it and invoke "Appraisal" at the remaining stone.

Name: Latam stone

Characteristics: A white stone that can be found on riverbanks in various regions. Its hardness is low and it shatters with the slightest impact. It was a collection of small creatures called Latam, and the area where it grew became a stone quarry. The powder is said to be a blood booster and tonic.

Features: It can be used as a material for a blood-enriching potion or its accompanying effects. Requires "Mixing 2" or higher to use as an ingredient. Smaller Latam stones are not suitable for use as a material, as they may have some missing components.

This time, I collected this Latam stone.

I see. If it's small, it may have some missing components. That's why Rebecca made a circle with her finger and specified, "About this size.".

When I tried to see how much I could crush it, I can easily crush it with a little force.

If I didn't handle it carefully, it might break into pieces on the way back to the house.

I put the crushed stone into a leather bag.

Even if I can't deliver it, it will be material. A blood increase would be a good incidental effect.

I look around the riverbank and invoke "Appraisal" which looks like it.

There were many similar stones, but surprisingly few Latam stones.

I found one and turned off the "Appraisal".

It would be convenient if I could always activate the "Appraisal," but my concentration quickly wanes and I become fatigued.

Helena said that the skill is to channel the surrounding magic into the body. If this is the case, "Appraisal" is considered to be expanding or interfering with the visual and brain processes with magic power. No wonder the load is so high.

After collecting a certain amount of material, the "Appraisal" is the final confirmation.

The purchase price of a Latam stone is one large copper coin per piece, and if I collect 10 pieces, you can buy them for 12 large copper coins. The reason is that the former is treated as a material and the latter as a request. It seems the contract with the client was in units of ten pieces.

Soon, I collect 38 Latam stones.

It's not a good start, but there doesn't seem to be any more around, so he gives up for now.

I carefully pack them into my backpack.

Then I jumped back.

A black shadow swoops down and crashes into the riverbank.

I chant "Magic Bolt" multiple times. After releasing five arrows, the shadow let out a short scream and died.

The rest of the signs moved away at the same speed as when they approached.

"Nudrok, huh? The cloak's repair material–this one is enough."

But it was unusual for it to attack its own.

I jumped on a large tree nearby and looked at it.

The sign has long since left the area.

It's like a street monster. This is not the kind of demon that fights like this.

I checked and found a bleeding spot on one of the branches.

Injury?

I jump down and turn over the dead Nudrok.

This guy is unharmed. So, the herd that had had some altercation found me on their way back, and this energetic guy attacked me on the way home as a reward. This 10-year-old kid might have looked like easy prey.

When I didn't appear to be coming back, I began dismantling him on the spot.

Nudrok has long fingers and a wide range of motion in their limbs.

Also, a wolf's skull is horizontal to the spine, but this one was attached slightly downward.

The skeleton alone resembles that of a bipedal creature. It may have taken this form to search for prey below from the tree tops, but when I first encountered it in the forest of Leknod, I felt a subtle sense of discomfort that gave me the creeps.

"Oh, it's following me. It has a magic stone."

A dark-colored magic stone was attached to his heart.

It was less than an inch in size, larger than a goblin.

Nudrok often has the skills of "Claw Attack, "Claw Art", "Presence Detection" and "Stealth". The color of the magic stone is determined by the skills possessed by the monster, so this would be around "Stealth".

However, using this magical stone does not necessarily mean that a magical tool that grants "Stealth" can be created. It is only possible, and sometimes, as in the case of the Seiran series, we can grant unrelated abilities. These magical tool fluctuations are probably related to the qualities of the monster, the blacksmith's skills, and the materials and other parts.

To sum it up, you can't know until you make it.

In addition, we can use "Create Magic Tool" skill to manipulate them.

The blood paste is washed off and let the sun shine through it.

It looked like onyx. It's about a gold coin, but now it's secured.

The economic situation is not in dire straits, so I can secure it for practicing "Create Magic Tool" and sell it off if I need the money.

Besides, I need to do something about the foundation. If I buy them all, no matter how much my budget is. It won't be enough. If I asked a craftsman as good as Ragnidig, the success rate would increase, but that would be reckless.

If I think about the future, making it yourself is the cheapest way.

The best way for me to benefit from "Increased Growth Potential" is blacksmithing, but I should be able to learn other professions with 15 Dex.

◇◇◇◇

To save on food, I cut up a small amount of Nudrok meat and fit it in my backpack.

I thought the smell would lure monsters and animals. But I didn't notice any sign of them.

I started practicing spherical ball-type magic on the spot.

It had been almost a month since Danil had shown me "Flood Ball," a water-disaster ball.

For a long time, I made no progress, and I had almost given up on the idea of learning it on my own, but recently, I began to see signs of change.

I had misunderstood this magic.

I had been drawn to the image of "Fire Ball" and assumed that spherical balls were explosions.

When I experimented with various attributes, I suddenly realized that I had difficulty imagining anything other than fire.

What is the explosion of water, wind, and earth?

The only one I knew of, "Flood Ball," was not a steam explosion, but a muddy stream flowing in all directions. It may look like an explosion, but I would not call it an explosion as a phenomenon.

After pondering for a while, I remembered that I was repairing my house.

"Earth Bolt" which I used as a catalyst from kneaded clay, shattered as soon as it hit the floor. At the time, I thought it was caused by its collision with the floor or the kneaded soil. But perhaps it burst due to the excessive magic power I pour into it.

The spherical ball system is not an explosion, but a release from compression.

I switched my thinking to this.

I released a "Fire Bolt," which solidified with a large amount of magical power.

A moment after it touched the water's surface, flames spread like ripples.

A "Fire Bolt" ends when it touches the water. It does not show this kind of reaction.

Perhaps, the completed form of this is a spherical ball system.

If there is a drawback to this activation, it is that it consumes an unusual amount of magic power.

It would be far less than if I had just used ordinary intermediate magic, and even Danil's magic would be limited to twice. This is a practice method that I can only do because I have abundant magical power.

For a while, I kept shooting "Fire Bolt", into the water.

Then, when my magic power reduced to one-third, I stopped.

I was getting the hang of it. I think I'm almost there, if only by feeling.

I'm walking through the forest with the murmuring stream.

The river ran from the northwest to the city of Selen, then traversed through the city to the south.

It would be nice if we could follow the stream into the city, but we were far from the gate.

On the way, I secured two Latam stones and cut them down to forty, then left the river and headed east.

Not long after that, I felt a presence just beyond the treetops.

It was much too weak to be a monster. Was it a human?

As I guessed, it was a girl who appeared.

She's looking around in the bushes, not noticing me, wondering what I was looking for.

She was about the same age as me. From the state of her clothes, she was probably a slum dweller or a refugee.

The danger level is much lower around here, but it is still not safe. It is not a place for children to wander around.

As we silently observed, a boy and a girl appeared.

These two were on the lookout with a stick in their hands.

And one of them, a boy, spotted me with a keen eye.

"What? –You!"

The boy suddenly points a stick at me with hostility.

What the hell?

 More than alarmed–do you know me?

A poor boy of about the same age. I see that's him.

"Hello again, 68."

At the sound of my voice, the first girl backed up in a hurry, and the girl with the stick pick held up alongside 68.

"Do you know him?"

"No, he's the reason I couldn't get into the academy!"

"Heh, this is the guy you lost to? He looks weak, he looks like an adventurer, but he's not.

The stick pick girl looks at me nonchalantly.

The attitude of the two of them made me feel concerned.

Are they all right?

Many of the students taking the Cartilard entrance exam are the children of nobles or knights. Even though the stick-up girl is wearing leather armor right now, the 68 has seen my attire during the mock battle. He must know I am a nobleman.

"What are you looking at?"

"No, no particular reason."

I mean, what are you guys doing?

As I look over, I see what the girl is holding in her hand. It's Ceylon grass. On her other hand, an actini nut. Oh, a nostalgic combination. I've been indebted to the healing potion for a long time. I don't want to drink it again.

It seems that they have come to earn their living.

I wonder if they sell them to the guild. Have you ever seen– hmm?

I feel something strange in the girl's hand and concentrate. There's no doubt about it.

"You behind me, do you know it's Sarnis and you're collecting it?"

"Huh?"

I point, and the girl looks at her hand.

"Isn't Actini fruit that you want to collect?"

The girl nodded her head in puzzlement.

As I approached the girl, 68 threatened me with a stick. The girl stopped him by saying, "Big brother!" The girl held him back.

Oh, they are brother and sister, aren't they? Do they look like each other?

I'm not confident in my ability to distinguish between children. Especially their gender.

When I invoke "Appraisal" around me, I found a few grains of Sarnis fruit in the girl's hand.

I don't know this plant. Its properties are unknown, but it is unlikely to be material. It is a poison that only causes stomachache.

"This one and this one, that one is also Sarnis. Did you collect any more?"

"Yes, in this bag."

The girl held out the cloth bag at her waist.

I find a flat surface and empty it. This one was not so much, but a little mixed.

As I sorted through the bags, the girl sat down to observe.

Meanwhile, "You're just saying that randomly!" and  68th got involved.

I understand how he feels, though unwillingly. They look the same, don't they?

As I compare the two, wondering how to explain them, I notice that Sarnis fruit has rounded leaves on the part that wraps around them.

This part, I believe, has an official name. Gakuhen, or was it Gakuben? No, I've already forgotten.

"Where did you collect it?"

"This way."

The girl leads us to the collection point.

There's dense bush at the far end of the grove, and Actini fruit was growing in clusters. Among them, a small amount of Sarnis fruit looked just like it.

Not only the fruits but also the leaves and branches looked alike. I pointed it out to her, but she seemed to know.

I pointed out the similarity and showed her the knowledge I had just acquired as if I had already known about it.

The girl was listening with a serious expression on her face.

"Sarnis causes severe abdominal pain when taken in large doses. Be careful."

"Yes, sir. But I've already sold it several times. If things get worse…"

"The Adventurers Guild?"

"No, it's the general store just inside the gate."

The girl looks anxiously at her brother and the stick girl.

If they bought it, they must be dealing in materials. If they look so much alike, the other side would know. Sarnies are few and far between, and even if it's mixed, they are small in quantity. I like to think that they bought it out of the goodness of their hearts.

When I inquired in detail about the location of the general store, she said it was near the north gate.

I was relieved when I heard the owner's description.

A lime lady? Then I guess I'll be all right. I was sure there would be people who would make a problem of it and sell it to slavers later on.

"Don't worry, the shopkeeper is an expert. I'm sure they excluded Sarnis from the purchase. Just in case, you should tell them what happened and ask them how to tell the difference. I'm self-taught."

"Yes!"

The girl replied cheerfully.

Unlike her brother, she was an honest girl.

But still, is she earning a living in a place like this?

I'm in the same boat, I could survive without leaving the gate. The situation is different from theirs.

68 is still trying his best to intimidate. But with his ability, goblins and even their children would not be in danger. They are serious about killing him.

"I'm going to ask you something that won't stick, why did you try to enter Cartilard?"

"That's none of your business!"

Well, that's true.

But, if you can't even make ends meet, how do you have time to go to the academy?

The answer to this unanswerable question came from the girl with the stick.

"This guy tried to become an adventurer."

I tilted my head.

I couldn't see the point of the conversation. I could be an adventurer if I went to the guild. Rebecca is a wall that stands in the way, though.

"I don't get it. Why Cartilard? You could go to the guild and sign up."

"The adventurer said that you need knowledge. He also said that Cartilard is the best."

The girl responds on behalf of her threatening brother.

I don't care, but how long are they keep bickering? Don't you ever get tired of it?

Well, be that as it may – adventurers certainly need knowledge. Unless you are blessed with friends. You cannot aim for the top. Markant and his crew were helped by his chief of staff, Danil.

But I think the adventurer didn't think about it and just mentioned the most famous Cartilard.

The examination fee for Cartilard Academy of Advanced Studies was three silver coins.

They must have managed to get by with the sale of materials, but one would not expect refugee children to take an entrance exam to cut down on their living expenses. As proof, they were not taught the essentials.

"Did you know that it costs tuition?"

All three of them looked at each other with a scowl.

"If you're going to Cartilard, you need fifty gold coins a year."

"Gold coins ……?"

"In case you're interested, I heard those with good grades will be exempt. There may be some other relief…"

Even if there is, it will only be a reduction.

If the academy reduced its tuition fee by a tenth. There was no way they could afford to pay the daily expenses.

68 was looking down, but suddenly his face jumped up.

Simultaneously, a fierce hatred slammed into me.

"It's you, people! It's all your fault!"

"I don't know, I'm not getting the point from earlier."

But  I could see the reason for the hostility.

And this guy is finished in his mind. There was no way I could respond to him even if he just pushed me to a conclusion.

"It seems you've had a dispute with another nobleman. But what does this have to do with me? Is it because I was born a noble? If I get into a dispute with a commoner. Can I blame you?"

"Shut up, you're all the same! Don't talk like you know what you're doing when you're just hiding!"

"Hmm, now that's not so bad. I've only recently been reminded that I have the support of many. But I'm still not biting. It still doesn't matter what you say. I've never been a part of your life…if that's what I'm saying."

"What?"

68 is furious.

The girl tried desperately to hold him back, but he seemed unable to stop.

Then, perhaps inspired, even the girl with the stick piece glared at me.

I sighed.

These people are going to die.

They may not be able to take a bite out of an adult nobleman, but they may turn on a child like me. As long as they are in and out of town, they will eventually encounter a child of nobility.

They will be punished for their disrespect or eaten alive by monsters.

Either way, there is no future.

Let me show you a little reality.

as

"Oh, by the way, you were making a big deal about still being able to do it during the exam. Let me tell you. I'll show you how weak you are."

I pull out the Rhino sword by the scabbard and secure the scabbard with a string.

"Come at me."

As soon as I speak, 68 leaps at me.

I give him a cold look.

What have you been doing for two months? You haven't grown at all.

I turn my head to avoid the stick and strike him in the shoulder.

A short scream goes up and the stick falls to the ground.

"How dare you drop your weapon at this level. Are you going to do it, you?"

"You!"

He picks up the stick and swings it.

He ducks it and strikes again. This time, he doesn't drop it.

I put a little more force into it and hit it harder, but it still didn't drop.

He has guts, doesn't he?

He slips through the stick, which he swung down with force, and hits his forehead hard.

With a groan, 68 falls to his knees.

"Your emotions are getting too far ahead of you. Your upper body is slumping forward."

After that, I continue to fight with the stick-wielding 68.

At first, the girl tries to stop me, but halfway through she seems to realize what I'm doing.

Now she is watching the fight with a serious expression on her face.

A short time later, 68's strength runs out.

He had attacked me a lot, but he hadn't even grazed me once.

I look down at 68.

"Have you become aware of your weakness? Then you can't even beat the goblins, let alone the hated nobles."

"I'm next!"

This time, the girl with the stick piece comes forward.

Well, I've been waiting for her for a long time without intruding. She's so disciplined in a strange way.

"Very well."

As soon as I agreed, she jumped on me.

I guess similarities do come together, huh?

In the end, while I was fighting the girl with the stick piece, 68 came back to life, and we had to fight each other in turn.

Did I underestimate the stamina of children? I'm getting a little tired.

More time passes, and finally, the two of them fall to the ground.

They seem

 to be struggling to breathe.

The girl comes up to you and bows her head.

"Thank you."

"No problem. But you know, this area is indeed dangerous. I'm not the most persuasive person in the world, but don't be too reckless."

"Yes."

Suddenly, I shifted my gaze to the two rolling around.

I've treated them so well. They understood, didn't they?

I don't think I'm as stupid as those turn-of-the-century guys ……, but I'm just as intuitive as they are.

"Well – I'm also an adventurer. If I take a commission, I won't be back until the afternoon. If these guys aren't convinced, I'll deal with them again. Just make sure you tell them."

"Yes, I'll let them know!"

I wave lightly at the smiling girl and walk toward Selene.

Behind me, I hear a girl's voice caring for the two of them.

Was it unnecessary?

Suddenly, Rebecca comes to mind.

What I'm doing is no different than what she's doing.