Chapter 12

It's the second day of the tenth month, and a thin crescent moon floats in the sky.

Good evening, everyone, it's Kent. I'm currently in the Demon Forest.

The reason I'm in the forest at night is to train.

Yesterday, I attended a combat skills lecture at the guild and was told by Donovan to attend the lecture on the water day of the following week.

Moreover, I was strictly ordered to clear the wooden sword swinging practice.

How could you be so cruel, sir?

On my way back from the lecture, I consulted Otto about whether there was any way to avoid attending the lecture, but the answer I received was utterly hopeless.

"Ah, you've been noticed by Donovan... That's good... I'm sorry for you."

"No, no, you don't really think that's good, do you?"

No, no, Otto, please don't look away!

"Hmm... Donovan has a bad habit... When he likes a young adventurer, he won't rest until he's thoroughly trained them."

"Ugh... But my magic power test was a failure, and as an adventurer, I'm..."

"That's why, even with a failed test, you've survived in the Demon Forest, so he noticed you."

"Um... Is there any way to skip the lecture..."

"No way."

"Right..."

You see, Donovan is a central figure for the guild's adventurers, and if he sets his sights on you in a bad way, your life will become very difficult.

Wow, he has such a hold over your life.

"But, can I live up to his expectations..."

"Ah, that depends on your effort. You should understand that he's not someone you can take lightly, right?"

"Ah... That's... already..."

"Well, if he notices you, you'll get stronger for free, so you might as well give it your all."

"Ah..."

So, I decided to train to clear the wooden sword swinging practice, but when I brought the wooden sword home, I was caught by Amanda.

"Hey, Kent, what's that? I told you, no dungeons!"

"N-no, it's not that. I received this for self-defense training at the guild, and the instructor, Donovan, noticed me..."

"Hmm... You're not lying, are you?"

Chased to the wall by the plump Amanda, I felt like a rat in a bag, and when she glared at me, it felt like she could see right through me.

"Really, it's true. It's so tough that I'm struggling."

"You're not planning to go into a dungeon, are you?"

"Of course not, I can't do that."

"Are you thinking of going to the Demon Forest?"

"No way, I don't want to be scared like that again."

"Good, that's good... But don't do it."

"Yes, yes, definitely not."

With that, I couldn't practice swinging the sword in the neighborhood, so I came to the Demon Forest using shadow travel.

If Amanda finds out, it'll be bad, so Bastian is staying in my room.

If Amanda comes, I plan to return to the bed using shadow travel.

"So, what is this space, Reinhardt?"

"Hehehe, how do you like it? I've prepared a training ground for you, Kent."

Indeed, we're in the Demon Forest, but the trees have been cut down, the ground has been leveled, and a space as large as a baseball field has been created.

By the way, there was no such plaza when I came yesterday. Bastian must have been preparing this while he was on guard duty.

"Ah... Well, since no one will come here, it's fine..."

"Then, Kent, let's start with the wooden sword swinging practice tonight!"

Training with a vicious skeleton who doesn't know the meaning of "moderation" is terrifying, but I have no choice.

On the condition that Reinhardt doesn't attack me, I'm undergoing training.

By the way, since I'm a mage type, wasn't this kind of training unnecessary?

"Kent, your step is too shallow, swing harder and sharper!"

"Urya! Toa! Da!"

I'm just giving up and doing it. After the swinging practice, I hit the logs, ran, and did strength training with natural stone weights... I pushed my body to the limit until the date changed, taking self-healing stretches in between.

After the training, I washed off the sweat in the river, returned to the boarding house, and collapsed on the bed.

I fall asleep the moment I collapse, and I wonder if I've been abducted by aliens and had a switch put in my head.

In the morning, I'm woken up by Reinhardt and do self-healing stretches while making strange sounds.

I think I sleep for about three hours, but I can manage with a proper meal, thanks to light attribute magic.

But, is it really okay? I wonder if there are any dangerous side effects.

"Kent, it's good that you wake up on time, but can't you do something about those strange sounds?"

"S-sorry, I'm still getting used to the job, and when I wake up, my body is stiff..."

"Oh, I see. Maisa said she's definitely keeping something strange, but..."

Gikku—, I hope no one saw me.

It would be bad if it got out that I'm keeping three vicious skeletons.

"No, no... I'm struggling to take care of myself, so I can't keep anything... Hehe, hehe..."

"Ahaha, that's true... But if you bring in something strange, you'll have to leave."

"Y-yes, I understand, it's fine."

This morning, I had a proper breakfast and headed to work.

Really, if I don't eat, I'll collapse.

Today's job is a three-day contract to transfer Garm potatoes in a warehouse.

Garm potatoes are shaped like a cross between sweet potatoes and taro, and taste like sweet potatoes. They are harvested in large quantities in the northern regions and are used as a staple food.

It's the second harvest season now, and the old potatoes in the warehouse are being moved to the front, and the new potatoes are being stacked at the back.

It's pure physical labor.

I just move potatoes to the designated place, so I only use my strength.

That's why the daily wage isn't very good, and it's not a popular job.

However, for me, who needs to build up my strength, it's the perfect job, so I work hard from morning to evening.

"Hey, Kent, let's call it a day."

"Yes, I'll just move these last few bags."

The others who were hired with me left as soon as the time came, but if I move five more bags, I can finish the cart, so I'll push a little more.

Since I've been in this world for a little over two weeks, my height hasn't changed, but my body has completely transformed.

My belly, which used to be soft, is now developing abs, and my arms, legs, and shoulders are bulging with muscles.

But, wasn't I supposed to be a cheat mage? Why am I becoming a physical type...?

When the work was done, I took a bath at the well in the back, received today's pay from Samuel, and went home.

But, this is a lot, isn't it?

"Samuel, this is too much. We agreed on 350 helts, but there are 400 helts here."

"It's fine, it's fine. You worked hard, so it's a bonus."

"But, I shouldn't get more than the others..."

"What are you talking about? You're working harder than the others, who are just slacking off. You're worth more than half of them."

"But, I..."

"Just take it! And come back tomorrow."

"Yes, thank you. Goodbye."

Hya-ha, I got a bonus—, I skipped all the way back to the boarding house.

It was already dark, and the city was lit by the light of magic tools and lamps.

The main street is bright, but there are quite a few dark alleys.

However, thanks to dark attribute magic, I can see well in the dark, so I don't have to worry about my footing.

That's why I noticed those people quite a while ago.

The three who came out of the darkness were the people I worked with at Samuel's.

"Hey, Kent, are you heading home?"

"Yes, good work today!"

"Wow, you're still energetic after a full day of work..."

"Well, I'm in a situation where I have to work hard..."

"Hmm, that's true, but, can I have a word with you? It won't take long..."

They're talking in a soothing voice, but they're holding my arms from both sides, clearly not planning to let me go.

I don't need to think to know what they want.

We turned off the main street and went down a back alley, and then into a side street.

I was pushed into a dead-end surrounded by buildings.

"You're a nuisance, acting all innocent and working hard."

"Well... If I'm getting paid, isn't it natural to work hard?"

"Idiot, you can't work hard for such a low daily wage."

"Well... I knew the daily wage was low from the start, and if you don't like it, you can find other work..."

"Shut up! Your good-guy act is pissing me off! Listen, work with us tomorrow, and don't work like you did today! Got it!"

They're yelling and intimidating me, but maybe because I've been around people like Reinhardt and Donovan, I'm not really scared.

"What if I say no?"

"It's obvious..."

The man grinned and pulled out a knife from his pocket, showing it to me.

"If you refuse, you'll be in a state where you can't work for a while..."

"Hya-hya-hya, this kid might pee his pants!"

"Or maybe you won't be able to work for the rest of your life..."

They're all middle-aged men to me, but when old men get old, they become like this, don't they?

"Ah... I just arrived in Volzard, so I'm not very familiar, but don't monsters sometimes appear here?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Monsters can't appear inside the city walls..."

"Is that so? I heard that skeletons appear in the dark..."

While talking, I lightly tapped the ground with my toes.

"Huh? Skeletons? Such things..."

As we had planned through telepathy, Reinhardt must have appeared behind me.

I could clearly see the three of them pale and lose their words in the dark.

"Aaa... Uaaaah!"

"Help, help meee!"

"Monsters, skeletons have appeared!"

The three of them ran off towards the main street.

"That's enough, Reinhardt, thank you."

"Kent, you should have hung them up and scared them until their souls left their bodies..."

"No, no, if we go that far, it might be revealed that I'm a dark attribute mage, so this is enough."

"Alright, if you say so, Kent."

The direction the three ran off to was noisy, so I continued down the back alley and returned to the boarding house.

I don't know anything, really.

"I'm back!"

"Ah, welcome back, Kent. I'll call Maisa when I'm done, so wait here!"

"Okay, I understand!"

It seems that Amanda's shop is busy tonight.

I called out to Amanda from the kitchen's back door and returned to my room on the second floor.

Since the dining room is crowded now, I'll have dinner a little later.

When I sat on the bed, my stomach growled loudly.

"Uuu... I'm so hungry..."

I was thinking of buying some street food on my way back from work, but I missed it because of those three.

"Kent, should I buy something for you?"

"No, no, it's fine. I can wait a little longer, and if you're found, it'll cause a big commotion."

"That's true, but you won't build your body without a proper meal."

"You're right, but I can use self-healing, so I'm fine. But, if an ordinary person is noticed by Donovan, it would be hell."

"That's true, but whether it's an adventurer or a knight, those who risk their lives for work must undergo life-risking training to survive."

For Reinhardt, who probably trained his subordinates in life, this is probably common sense, but it's hard for a middle school student from a peaceful Japan to understand.

"Even if you say 'risk your life,' it doesn't really click with me..."

"But, Kent, you've experienced dangerous situations, like being attacked by goblins."

"Yeah, but I only remember being eaten by goblins and begging for help. After that, I left everything to everyone else and didn't fight myself."

"True, that's right."

While passing through the Demon Forest, I didn't do much except help strengthen everyone, and Reinhardt and the others defeated many monsters.

"I've seen everyone else fight monsters, but I haven't fought with my own hands, so I feel like I might freeze up in a real sword fight."

"No, no, that won't happen. You weren't afraid when you faced those three earlier."

"But, they weren't serious, and they underestimated me from the start, so I didn't feel desperate or cornered."

They showed me a knife to intimidate me, but there was no atmosphere of a life-or-death struggle, so I wasn't really scared.

"Indeed, Kent, you are calm. If you can observe your opponents calmly, you'll be fine even if they are enraged."

"Hmm... I'm not sure... I'm quite anxious."

"Kent, the worst thing in battle is losing your composure. If you lose your composure, you'll make mistakes and create a worse situation."

"True, but can I move when the time comes?"

"Kent, to be able to move instinctively, you need to repeat the training until your body remembers it."

"I see... So, it's not something that comes easily."

I don't know what level Donovan is aiming for, but I need to continue my training for a while.

It's strange, when I come to another world and get cheat abilities, the next step should be a romantic encounter with a cute girl, but why am I stuck with a tough old man and a hard event?

As I was about to cry, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Kent! Kent! Dinner is ready!"

"Thank you, Maisa."

With the door still open, Maisa observed me closely.

"Um, is something wrong?"

"What do you usually do in your room?"

"What? Why?"

"Because your room is always dark."

Gikku—, that's right, I forgot to turn on the lights because I can see in the dark now.

"It's just a coincidence, really. I was just a little tired and lying down."

"Hmm... Your body is getting firmer... But, it's still not enough..."

"Hey, Maisa, that's too much!"

"If you go to the dungeon like this, you'll die. The person who was here before was much firmer and never came back, so you can't go."

"Ugh... I know, and I won't go..."

"Hmm... Kent, you're suspicious..."

"No, I'm not suspicious, really..."

Ugh, what is it? Even though she's a kid, when she looks at me with the same glare as Amanda, I can't help but get nervous.

"Hey, you guys, come down quickly, or I won't feed you!"

"Okay, I'm coming! It's all Kent's fault..."

"Ah... My fault? Wait a minute..."

I chased after Maisa, who ran down the stairs, and went downstairs.

Tonight's dinner is a stew made with pork offal and beans, and boiled Garm potatoes.

"Here, Kent, eat a lot. You won't grow if you don't eat."

"Yes, thank you."

The stew is seasoned with unique spices, and the offal has no smell at all. It's cooked until it's soft and tender, and it's delicious.

"Mom, Kent is still not ready, so don't let him go to the dungeon."

"Ugh... I told you, I won't go. I carried these potatoes today, so I worked hard."

"Really? You work at the Garm potato warehouse? No wonder you make strange sounds when you wake up."

"Ah... I'll be careful."

"Mom, Kent is definitely keeping something strange. His room is always dark."

"But, he doesn't keep anything. You can see everything if you open the door, right?"

"But, Kent is suspicious..."

"Aha, Maisa, even if he's suspicious, Kent is just a kid."

"That's true, aha, aha..."

"Ugh... Amanda, can I have seconds..."

"Sure! Eat a lot..."

"Kent needs to grow!"

They're basically good people, but they treat me terribly.

The food is delicious, but they treat me terribly.

It's strange, I thought a cheat life wouldn't be like this.