Chapter 38

May 25, 3010.

I turned eight.

My daily routine is to practice swordsmanship in the morning and study magic and continue swordsmanship training in the afternoon.

My status is as follows:

Zacarias Rockheart, 8 years old, Magician Swordsman Level 12

Strength: 15/53

Reflexes: 26/91

Physical Control: 26/91

Endurance: 34/120 (80 x 1.5)

Magic Power: 28/100

Mental Strength: 120 (80 x 1.5)

Intelligence: 100

Crafting Ability: 14/50

Appearance: 87

Charisma: 82

HP: 382

MP: 377

Skills: Swordsmanship 15, Throwing 5, Hand-to-Hand Combat 5, Acrobatics 15, Evasion 20, Shield Defense 6, Negotiation 34, Calculation 70

Magic: Earth 18, Wind/Water/Wood 16, Fire/Light 15, Dark/Metal 7

Special Abilities: Toughness, Disease Resistance, Poison Resistance, Mental Resistance, Enhanced Vision, Maximum Effort, Past Life Memory, Reference, Magic Combat

My maximum values for Strength, Reflexes, and Physical Control have increased slightly.

I remember that these were the maximum values set for the character, but for some reason, they have increased.

Perhaps it's due to the training I've been doing since childhood, but considering the content of my conversation with the god, I feel that these numbers themselves may not have much meaning. Therefore, I try not to get too excited or upset by the numbers.

That's what I want to say, but still, it's a happy thing when my stats increase. Especially when the maximum values increase, I even shouted out in excitement. My father rushed into the room in a hurry, and it was embarrassing to explain, but I was that happy.

I once calculated how these numbers increase, and as the manual says, they follow a curve towards the maximum value by the time I reach adulthood, which is 15 years old.

In seven years, my stats will reach these numbers. I don't fully understand the relationship between stats and combat ability, but even with a certain level of skills, I can't fight adults, so it seems that physical development is important.

My Acrobatics has steadily increased to 15. I practice by imagining the movements of a gymnast, and now I can even do a backflip. In secret from my grandfather, I also practice techniques that combine swordsmanship, acrobatics, hand-to-hand combat, and throwing. For example, I practice kicking while attacking with a sword, or throwing a knife while doing a backflip, like in action movies.

Of course, I'm doing it just because it looks cool, and I don't think it will be useful in real combat. It's just that I'm imitating action heroes that I wanted to do as a child, and I'm aware that it's a childish thing. But since I was reborn, I'm doing things I couldn't do before. However, it's embarrassing to be seen by others, so I do it in secret.

In addition to this, I have also started training in magic combat.

I use wind attributes to increase my speed, fire attributes to increase my attack power, and metal attributes to increase my defense, but I can't control my body well, so I often fall dramatically. Since these movements are different from my usual ones, I can't even take a fall, and I end up falling quite clumsily. It's also embarrassing to be seen in this state, so I train in secret.

Regarding the members of the Zac Quartet, Mel has turned nine, and her Swordsman Level is 10, with a Swordsmanship Skill of 14. Her sword style is very similar to my grandfather's, and watching her is mesmerizing. Without a large mirror, it's hard to say, but I don't think my sword, as a disciple of the same grandfather, is as beautiful as hers.

However, because of her straightforward personality or because she knows my grandfather's style, her attacks are easy to avoid. They are not slow, but I can read their trajectory. When I asked my grandfather about this, he said, "It's fine for now. The rest you will learn in real combat."

According to my grandfather, she will develop adaptability through real combat experience in the future, so there's no need to worry too much.

Regarding Dan, a year ago, he was troubled by the fact that his Swordsman Level was falling behind mine and Mel's.

At eight years old, his level was high enough, but he was concerned that he was growing the slowest among the three of us.

I talked to Dan and listened to his concerns.

He seemed to want to be an adventurer like his father Guy, a scout who can use both swords and bows, and was troubled by the fact that his Swordsmanship Skill Level wasn't increasing.

"Since you want to be an adventurer like Guy, you could also try archery."

It seemed that he had been thinking the same thing.

"I asked Father to teach me, but he said it's too early..."

Guy, thinking of his young son who hasn't fully developed, intended to teach archery a little later.

I talked to my grandfather about this. My grandfather said,

"Dan is eight, too... You and Mel, and Rod, have exceptional talent with swords. It's inevitable to compare, but it might be time to start archery."

My grandfather had Hector Malon, the best archer in the Rockheart family and Mel's father, start teaching Dan archery.

Mel also started at first, but she must have realized she had no talent and quickly switched back to swordsmanship. I know I have no talent, so I didn't participate from the beginning.

Dan continued to practice both swordsmanship and archery for a year, and his Swordsman Level is 8, his Swordsmanship Skill is 12, his Archer Level is 3, and his Archery Skill is also 3, showing a high talent for archery.

My grandfather was surprised by his talent and patted his head, saying, "You can follow in your father's footsteps."

Dan must have been very happy to hear this, as he responded with a big smile, "I'll do my best!" which was quite memorable.

Finally, about Sharon, she is the one who surprises everyone the most besides me.

She is the same age as me, eight, and has fire and wind attributes. She has been receiving training since childhood, and according to Ridley, her fire attribute is around level 5 and her wind attribute is around level 10, which is equivalent to a third-year student, about 15 years old, at the magic academy. Moreover, like me, she can cast spells without incantations. Although her magic power is still low and she can't cast many spells in succession, the time it takes to cast a spell is as fast as mine.

In particular, she not only uses my original wind attribute spell, the Swallow's Blade, but she can control it more finely than I can.

When I asked her about this,

"I watch swallows a lot, so I kind of get the feeling of how they fly."

She has grown into a slightly slow and gentle girl, but her observational and reproduction skills are impressive.

Initially, Ridley recommended that she go to the magic academy, but recently she no longer mentions it.

"Even if Sharon goes, there's nothing for her to learn. In two years, she'll be at the level of a graduate, so it's better to gain experience. This applies to you as well."

The average level of graduates from the Doctus Magic Academy is about 15.

While the academy teaches more than just magic, it may not be very useful unless you plan to become a researcher or educator.

In my case, I want to study the mysterious dark attribute and the poorly understood metal attribute, so I plan to go to the magic academy. However, if I only want to master attack magic, it's not necessary to go to the academy.

Now that I'm eight, there's something I want to ask my grandfather.

I want to go to the forest.

There are two reasons why I want to go to the forest.

One is to gain practical experience and increase my Swordsman Level, and the other is to improve field skills such as awareness and stealth.

Regarding the practical experience, it might be better to wait a little longer, but I want to acquire skills that will be useful in the future as soon as possible.

I don't think it's reasonable for an eight-year-old child to go to a dangerous forest, but since I have basic self-defense skills—magic—I think it might be possible.

I went to my grandfather's room and told him I wanted to go to the forest, and after some thought, he agreed with conditions.

"It's a bit early, but it's fine. However, Guy or Hector must approve."

The next day, I caught Hector, who came to my grandfather's place for the vigilante group.

Hector greeted me with his usual bright smile, but when I asked him to take me to the forest, his smile faded.

"Master Zac, it's a bit early for you. The forest is full of unexpected dangers."

I couldn't give up and asked, "If Hector confirms my abilities and is satisfied, will you take me?"

He looked troubled but said, "Alright, let's practice in the eastern woods."

This forest is where we often play, with many maple trees for collecting maple syrup.

In this forest, we practice the basics of walking in the forest, such as being alert to the surroundings and stopping immediately when a signal is given.

After about three days of practice, Hector gave his approval, and we decided to go to the relatively safe western forest.

I would go into the forest with Hector, Guy, and Will.

I put on a leather cap, packed a small backpack with a water bottle, and sheathed a dagger at my waist. Since I'm not supposed to fight, I carry it as a custom for boys in a knight's family.

When it was time to leave, Dan and Mel shouted that they wanted to come, but their fathers, Hector and Guy, rejected them, and they were sulking.

I made a mental note to follow up with them the next day and set off from the hill with the three adults.

After descending the hill, we went straight south and followed the road on the south side of West Hill. After crossing the bridge over the Fin River, we arrived at the western forest.

We left at 8:00 AM and arrived at the forest in about 20 minutes.

The purpose of the three of us today is to scout the western forest.

We regularly search for traces of monsters to see if any dangerous ones are approaching the village.

While dangerous monsters have never nested in the western forest, animals like wolves often enter, so vigilance is necessary.

After entering the forest for about 30 minutes, the undergrowth tangled around our feet, making it very difficult to walk.

The adults, who are about 180 cm tall, don't seem to be having much trouble, but for me, who is about 130 cm tall, it's quite challenging.

Guy, who is leading the way, is considerate of me and has slowed down the pace significantly, but even then, I can't keep up with being alert to the surroundings.

We snake through the forest from the eastern side, which is closer to the village, but after about an hour, I'm out of breath.

Hector, being considerate, asks, "Master Zac, shall we take a break?"

"Huff, huff, it's my own whim, so don't worry. Huff, huff, just slowing down the pace is enough, huff, it's fine."

My breath is so heavy that I'm not very convincing.

Hector smiles wryly and gives us a short break.

I sit on a nearby fallen log and take a big drink from my water bottle, finally able to catch my breath.

Looking around, the new green of May is dazzling, and the sunlight filtering through the emerald leaves sparkles. The surroundings are filled with the sounds of birds and insects, a scene of perfect peace.

After a five-minute break, we set off again.

The forest gradually deepens, and the vegetation becomes dominated by large beech trees. At their roots, moss-covered rocks and fern-like plants grow, and smaller plants with flowers add a mystical touch.

In my previous life, I was fascinated by beautiful natural environments like the Shirakami Mountains and Yakushima.

And now, a nature that rivals those places is spread out before my eyes. I am moved to the point of tears, but Guy's words quickly dampen my excitement.

"These are wolf tracks. A pack of forest wolves... about twenty of them, I think."

I instinctively reach for the dagger at my waist and look around.

In front of me, Guy is examining the tracks. He then looks up and asks Hector for his opinion.

"I think they're quite recent. What do you think?"

"About three days, I'd say. Will, you should take a look too."

Will, a former farmer with little forest experience, is being taught by the veterans Hector and Guy.

I also peek at the tracks from beside Will.

They are about 10 cm long, like a dog's, but wider and larger than I expected.

"How big are forest wolves?" I mutter, and Guy answers.

"About 70 cm tall at the shoulder, and 1.3 meters from head to tail."

Guy demonstrates the size with his hands as he explains.

(About the size of a Siberian Husky? Maybe a bit larger. Twenty of them... isn't that pretty dangerous?)

As I think this, Guy laughs and says,

"Well, compared to gray wolves, they are about two sizes smaller. With twenty of them, we retainers can handle them without any problem."

(Is that so? We only have six retainers in our household—these three, Walt, Nicholas, and Einos. Can each of them handle three wolves?)

My concern must have shown on my face, because Hector laughs and says,

"We three can handle this many. There's no need to worry."

I try to relax and nod, "I understand."

Guy takes the lead and follows the tracks, but they lead into the northern forest.

"We'll change our plans and enter the northern forest. I don't think it's particularly dangerous, but the forest will be deeper, so let me know if you're tired."

I nod at Hector and follow the tracks again.

We head north through the northern forest for about two hours, but we give up the pursuit when we reach the small mountain, Sheharion, in the north.

"They've returned to the mountains. They were probably just wandering around looking for food. Let's have lunch here a bit early."

We have lunch at a spot where a giant tree with a trunk diameter of over one meter has fallen. It seems to have fallen during a storm three years ago, and it has created a clearing in the deep forest where the sky is visible. Under the bright sun, we eat sandwiches made with bread baked by Molly, filled with grilled salted pork.

The fat from the pork spreads in my mouth, adding flavor to the dry bread.

We finish the simple lunch with a baked good made with honey.

I exhale and look up at the sky, where a small bird, like a sk