While we enjoyed the hot springs to the fullest, Edward asked the owner to have a messenger deliver a missive about the incident to his father, urgently.

The mood had been somewhat spoiled, but I got my rest. Refreshing respite I had really needed, after all the intense training I had gone through in the last forty-six days. Sometimes I almost forget one month here is like one month and a half from my original world.

And I have another month of fun and jolly training under Vallachio's supervision. Don't think of it, Allen!

We booked an inn in the city after randomly walking around. We didn't trust going in the places Edward already knew about, just in case there were surprises arranged for us.

Namrick, Grastel and I took turns guarding against possible attacks.

Luckily nothing happened and the next morning we departed safely.

「Edward: Sorry, guys I didn't expect any of this would happen.」

He looked a little downcast.

「Grastel: Well, you hired us as bodyguards. We did our job.」

Grastel gave him a wink.

「Ellin: It was supposed to be fun and relaxing... why would anyone want to kidnap you?」

Ellin was riding the horse next to Edward's.

「Edward: ...」

Edward only looked at the ground not knowing what to say.

The kids were a little depressed and their unhappiness was starting to infect me.

「Allen: Come on kids, we did get our hot baths and we beat the bad guys. We got our dose of adventuring!」

That lightened up the mood. Very smooth, Allen.

「Edward: Thank you guys, and.... you were right.」

He looked at us with a sad smile.

「Ellin: About what?」

She asked.

「Edward: It's different when your life is on the line」

Namrick nodded.

「Edward: I was... frozen, I couldn't even think what to do... how do you guys do it?」

He asked with a hint of amazement. Well, we had managed to beat a group of thugs in just our birthday suits.

It should be noted, though. None of them seemed to be particularly versed in mana enhanced fighting.

「Grastel: Practice.」

「Edward: I... don't want to be weak... I'll talk to my father and see if I can get some practical experience in the military, at least just enough to defend myself.」

He looked onward with a resolute expression.

Just in case, we used a slightly longer path to get back to Valarest, but we didn't encounter any disturbance.

Eventually, we arrived. Edward took a sigh of relief once we crossed the city gates.

We escorted him in front of his family mansion.

「Edward: We're back home.」

He turned to us.

「Edward: Thank you for everything! Ellin, I'm sorry, I have to leave you and speak with my father.」

He said apologetically.

「Ellin: That's okay, we'll catch up later. Bye!」

She waved goodbye.

Edward waved back at us and walked inside the mansion gates.

「Allen: And this too has been done. Tomorrow morning I have to be ready to leave for the magical military training with... Vallachio.」

I grimaced as I said those words.

「Namrick: From what we've seen during the demon's attack you couldn't ask for a better instructor.」

「Grastel: Did you see how he killed those goblins with his bare hands?!」

Yes. And now I have the doubt he'll expect the same from us.

「Allen: All too well, he was pretty scary, to be honest.」

Ellin was being silent, looking down.

「Allen: Is everything okay, Ellin?」

She glanced at me with a strained smile.

「Ellin: Hmm... yeah」

It was clear she had something on her mind, but I didn't want to pry.

「Allen: Well, this is it for me. I'm going back to the inn to prepare myself. You guys can share my part of the reward...」

Bathing in the hot springs had been reward enough.

「Namrick: But-」

I stopped him.

「Allen: It's fine, you're all safekeeping my stuff and brought me on a vacation trip. Consider that my payment for your services.」

I still had a good amount of gold left and now that I won't have to pay the tuition fees, well, that's a big pressure lifted from my coffers.

「Grastel: Some vacation... heh?」

Grastel asked rhetorically, showing off his usual grin.

I grunted in reply.

We parted ways and I returned my rental horse. Stupid creature. Then I walked back to my room at the inn.

Alright, I still have some time to fiddle with my magic computer. I cracked my knuckles and got to work.

I upgraded the radar making it possible to adjust the range. A wider area meant higher mana consumption, but I could offset that by reducing the polling rate, updating the energy body position less often as needed.

I also began preparing the foundation for my game-like interface. It's going to take me a while and it's probably gonna suck up a lot of mana. There's also the fact that I'm a beginner at magic. I'll address that as soon as I can resume my lessons.

I yawned.

It was time to sleep, I had to be fresh and ready for tomorrow.

I got to bed.

Battle training by Vallachio... I felt a little anxious.

That night I dreamed of fighting bare-handed hordes of goblins and verklings. I was screaming like a Viking.

I woke up and put on my recruit uniform. It was time.

I grabbed my pack with the essentials, gave a quick goodbye to my friends and marched to the rendezvous point, the Academy.

Other recruits had already arrived. We waited for a good ten minutes, then instructor appeared before us in his smiling mustached glory.

I did a quick count. There were nineteen recruits, including me.

「Vallachio: Very well! Very well! I see you're all eager to learn the ways of military combat magic!」

I wasn't feeling all that eagerness, to be honest. I looked around.

I could tell who knew about Vallachio's teaching methods by the dread painted on their faces.

Vallachio motioned us to follow and started walking around the Academy's gardens. We followed him until he stopped near a bunch of crates which were being guarded by a group of soldiers.

「Vallachio: Excellent! Here we have all the equipment you'll need. Everyone, stand in line to receive yours!」

To my dismay, the armor was a step down from the steel chainmail. This time we were issued a reinforced leather set.

When everyone had received and donned their equipment, Vallachio continued.

「Vallachio: For this training, we'll be favoring mobility and magical defense. Be sure to stick close to me, or you might be burned to death! Ohohoho!」

He clapped his hands loudly.

「Vallachio: Amadeus, if you would be so kind as to open us a portal to the Fire Lizard Den.」

Fire Lizard Den? That doesn't sound safe.

An old man with a long gray beard stepped forward.

「Amadeus: Ahhh... an interesting location... sure my friend...」

He gestured and mumbled while light gathered a few steps from him, slowly turning into a... portal!

Woah!

That was the first time seeing a portal first hand. It looked like space was being distorted, on one side you could see the destination, while on the other you would see a fuzzy highly disturbed distortion.

「Vallachio: Thank you! And now my fellow recruits... let's march!」

Vallachio stepped through the portal.

The recruits hesitated but followed on.

It was my turn to step into the portal.

I steeled myself. Here goes nothing.

I felt a tingling sensation as I stepped across the portal. Then I took in the scenery.

We were surrounded by rocks, lava, and fire.

Not looking good. I gritted my teeth.

「Vallachio: Ahhhhh... there's nothing in the morning like the smell of brimstone! Ahahahah!」

I saw burning things come out of the lava.

「Vallachio: Excellent! Fire lizards, magical creatures that manipulate the power of fire to incinerate their preys while protecting themselves from the harsh environment.」

They were coming closer to us. Vallachio stood there, laughing like an idiot.

What the fuck. This is too sudden! I looked around me.

The fire lizard began surrounding us.

No damn time to prepare?!

The other recruits started to panic.

「「We-we're gonna die!」」

Vallachio laughed harder.

「「HELP!!」」

Since my survival instinct left much to be desired, I merely stared with resignation.

If this is how it begins, I can safely assume this month is going to be tougher than the previous one.

Well, I don't know what I was expecting but I was glad I knew cold magic.