Chapter 56

Thank you always for reporting typos and giving me your thoughts! It really encourages me!

I'll keep working hard, so please look forward to it!

Good morning.

Today's weather is cloudy.

It's the final day of the training in the forest.

I put on my usual clothes, ate breakfast in the cafeteria, and got on the carriage to head to the forest.

Without any particular assembly, we moved to the starting point and waited for the signal to start.

As always, Nista-san is in charge of our group, and as always, she's boasting about her grandchildren.

The sound of a bell echoed through the forest, and today's training began!

Due to the cloudy weather, the forest is dim, and the ground is muddy from yesterday's rain, so our pace is slow.

Perhaps due to the large number of monsters that appeared the day before yesterday, there are many small monsters today.

Even though it's not yet noon, the number of insect monsters is about to exceed 100.

The number of bear monsters has also surpassed 10.

Because of the high humidity, the insect repellent incense isn't very effective, and Yegram's forehead is always furrowed deeply.

He's hunting the monsters like he's taking out his frustration, so Arlshein and Digree don't get many chances to participate.

We arrived at the grassland where we were supposed to have lunch, but it turned out to be a nest of insect monsters.

Shocked, Yegram started casting fire spells one after another.

We hurriedly put out the fires, but it seems he didn't control the power, and what was left was a burnt field.

The insect monsters disappeared without leaving any remains.

We didn't feel like eating here, so we decided to look for a suitable place to have lunch.

Before we found one, my stomach growled loudly, so we reluctantly decided to have lunch in the forest.

The heated portable food had a slightly stronger aroma, and monsters started to approach cautiously.

We took turns eating and immediately set off again.

Wolves, which attack in groups, are more troublesome than strong boars or bears, and everyone's barrier skills are improving.

Nista-san, who claims to be terrible at magic, is having me cast the barriers.

The other groups we saw from a distance seemed to be struggling with their barriers, looking ragged and worn out.

During the training, we generally follow the actions of adventurers. Adventurers don't help each other unless asked, and if they do, the one who asked for help must give up all the rewards, no matter how valuable.

Breaking this rule can result in a report to the Adventurer's Guild, and in the worst case, the adventurer might not be able to continue their career.

The same rules apply to students during the training: don't approach others who are fighting, don't steal others' rewards, and help if asked.

Because of this, we tried not to get too close to other groups.

After dispersing a pack of wolf monsters, Yegram instantly killed a bear monster, and Digree, who hadn't had many chances to participate, kicked a boar monster that charged from the side. It hit a tree head-on and died, which was surprising.

Without any breaks, we arrived directly at the base, much earlier than usual. No other groups had arrived yet, and our intelligent-yakuza teacher was patrolling, looking bored.

"What's this, you guys are early today!"

"Listen, Teacher! Yegram turned a grassland full of insects into a burnt field! Thanks to that, a lot of materials turned to ashes."

"Ha ha! That must have been tough, Yegram. Did you put out the fires properly?"

"I did... thanks to Mr. Keta."

"Hey, it's fine to take out your frustrations, but you need to clean up after yourself!"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Yegram's face was sullen throughout the conversation, but he seemed to be reflecting, and his shoulders were slightly slumped.

Perhaps because he put out the fires, the intelligent-yakuza teacher patted his head.

When he pats our heads while we're flying, it makes us bounce up and down, so I wish he would stop.

Occasionally, monsters appear at the base, but the teachers handle them without any trouble, so after we finish our monster evaluations, we have nothing to do and just hang around.

"Hey, Mr. Keta! Since we have time, can you teach us how to make those fluffy cakes from yesterday?"

"Soft and warm?"

"Soft and warm, that's right!"

"It means 'warm cake.'"

"Wow, I had never tasted such fluffy and soft sweets before! They were delicious~"

We have the ingredients that Shell prepared in abundance in our magic bag, so we can make them.

Arlshein and Yegram are also looking forward to it, so since we have nothing else to do, let's make them.

Yesterday, we made three each, but they were eaten up in no time, so let's make a lot today.

Digree offered to help, so I had him separate the egg yolks from the whites.

Surprisingly, Digree is quite skilled at cracking eggs. While giving instructions, I used magic to finish the batter. I heated the iron plate barrier and poured the batter onto it using a wooden spoon. Everyone, except me, watched the batter rise slowly.

If you rush it, it won't rise properly, so I can't do it if you hurry me!

Even the intelligent-yakuza teacher is getting excited, which is a bit amusing.

I took off the lid and flipped it over. Digree wanted to try, so I let him, but the first one was a complete failure.

From the second one, he did a good job flipping it, so I let him handle it, put the lid back on, and cooked it. I then served it on a plate, added butter and honey, and the fluffy, warm pancakes were ready.

Everyone ate them eagerly.

Hey, when did the two medics arrive? And everyone eats so fast!

While I was eating half of mine, everyone else had already finished three.

They ate so much that I'm amazed.

Everyone looked satisfied and rubbed their bellies.

They look so relaxed, but I wonder if they can still fight if monsters appear.

While we were relaxing, other groups started to arrive one by one and lined up for evaluation.

The other groups don't have magic bags, so they only bring the most valuable parts of the monsters, called "trophy parts," in large cloths.

This way, they can carry less, even though the buyback price for materials is much lower.

Even a single boar tusk or a bear paw must be quite heavy.

Perhaps the reason the young ladies' group mainly brought insect materials is because they are lighter?

One of the young ladies is carrying a boar tusk. She looks quite wild.

The fighting-type young ladies are impressive.

And everyone looks ragged and worn out. We, who are unscathed and not very dirty, seem to have been lazy, which makes us feel a bit uncomfortable.

And we're all full and relaxed.

Cavendish appeared at the base, covered in mud, and was half-carried by a group member to the medical tent.

The monsters around the base are taken care of by the intelligent-yakuza teacher, other teachers, and adventurers, and Nista-san joined the patrol as soon as we arrived, so it's safe here.

The other groups are so relaxed that even the young ladies are sitting on the ground.

"Hey, you guys are early today?"

"Yeah, we're tired."

"Good work, you're early today?"

"Yeah, Yegram hates insects, so we came straight back without taking a break."

When Digree teased him, Yegram turned away, pretending not to know.

"Yeah, but there were indeed a lot of insects today, so even if you're not afraid, it's tiring."

"Right! The way they wriggle and squirm! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!"

"True, that grassland gave me goosebumps too."

It seems that insect monsters appeared in large numbers everywhere today, and the cheerful guy also looks tired.

"By the way, everyone, it smells really good around here..."

"It's warm cake!"

"Warm cake?"

"It's fluffy and crispy, melts in your mouth, and has a mild, gentle sweetness. It's like a dreamy treat~"

Digree laughed, and the cheerful guy looked confused.

The sweets in this world are usually very sweet and hard, so he probably can't imagine a soft one.

He looks full of questions, but we won't make any more because we're full!

While we were talking, the training ended, and all the groups gathered to board the carriage back to the academy.

Although there were more monsters than usual, there were no serious injuries, and the forest training was over.

Back at the academy, we dispersed to change clothes and return to our rooms.

I took a bath that Shell had prepared, changed, relaxed a bit, and then went to the cafeteria.

Despite the presence of a two-timing girl, the cafeteria was calm.

I was curious, but then I remembered that Cavendish and her group were covered in mud.

Being able to eat in peace is wonderful.

Arlshein and the others were talking about practicing magic swords at the castle tomorrow, and I, feeling sleepy during the meal, started dozing off.

This child's body sometimes doesn't do what I want, which is frustrating.

I'm not a real child but a holy beast, so why can't I control it?

By the time the meal was over, I had almost lost consciousness.

Good night.

ZZZZZZ...