Chapter 31

After walking for about 20 minutes and arriving at the makeshift camp, it turned out to be a slightly open area with only a small dugout hut that could barely protect against rain and wind.

It was probably around 4:00 PM.

"Let's gather some firewood and prepare for dinner while we still have time.

I plan to rest early and wake up around 3:00 AM tomorrow to collect materials that can only be gathered at night and dawn."

I quickly gathered firewood with my senior, and we reassembled the stove that seemed to have been set up by someone who used this campsite before.

I collected firewood, and my senior took care of the cooking, but it seemed he intended to show me the whole process.

A capable man is different in his attention to detail.

He placed a small, folded pot on the fire and poured water from the stream into it.

Then, he began to cut the Horned Rabbit, which he had prepared earlier, into pieces and put the tail and front legs into the pot.

He added a few mushrooms that we had collected today.

It seemed he was making a soup.

"Since we didn't plan to stay overnight, we only have rock salt as a seasoning."

I mentally organized the minimum items to carry when entering the forest.

A knife that can be used for both gathering and dissection, like the one my senior had.

A water bag.

Rock salt.

A magic item for starting a fire.

Even without planning to camp, it's necessary to always have these items on hand.

"Still, you're energetic.

Do you often walk in the mountains?"

"No, I don't have much experience with hiking.

But I'm still fine!"

"…Even I, who have been walking in this forest since I was a child, am exhausted by the pace we've been moving at. You really do have impressive stamina, just as the rumors say…

The results of your early morning, hellish running training are not for nothing, I suppose?"

"Oh, it's not that bad.

I'm just doing a bit of running."

"…The famous prodigy, Lio Zeitsinger, who can barely keep up with you, and your running training, which is rumored to be 'a bit of running,' is truly impressive.

The entire school is paying attention to the ghost coach's training.

Are there any conditions for joining the club?"

My senior said with a wry smile.

"Well, there are no conditions…

Senior, are you maybe interested?"

"Sure, even I am interested.

This year's freshmen, who are said to be a cut above the rest, have suddenly appeared like a comet, and Allen Lovene, who, on the second day of school, established a club with 'Buddha Godolphin' as the advisor?

Everyone is desperately trying to gather information."

My senior laughed.

I thought it was a bit exaggerated, but if this respected senior joins, I would welcome him with open arms.

"If you'd like, would you come and take a look?

I'd be more than happy to have you…"

"Ahaha.

That's an interesting proposal.

If you don't mind, I might drop by.

Building a solid foundation is beneficial for me too.

…But, Allen, I think you should consider your position more carefully?

You see, you suddenly achieved an S rating in the Royal Academy's practical exam, starting from a completely unknown position.

That alone is noteworthy, but you also overturned the unfair judgment in the Royal Academy's entrance exam and achieved unprecedented A-class admission.

Right now, the social circles in the capital are undoubtedly buzzing with your story.

Every faction is desperately trying to gather information about you.

I happened to have the opportunity to talk with you today, but I have no intention of casually sharing this with others.

I can see a future where my family's pharmacy is flooded with visitors, and my parents, unable to bear it, will persistently ask for information about you."

My senior warned me with a serious expression.

"Ahaha! That's a bit exaggerated.

Then, would you come to the back gate after 5:30 AM the day after tomorrow?

We can exchange ideas about basic training!"

I laughed off the warning, finding it amusing that a senior from a common background would say I was the center of social circles.

◆

"Well, the soup is ready.

Let's start grilling the meat."

My senior took the pot off the fire and began to grill two slices of the rib meat using a kukri-like knife.

The seasoning was only salt.

A pleasant aroma spread around.

"It's done."

I took the meat from my senior, bit into it, and was surprised.

"…It's delicious. …The taste, I mean."

My senior smiled while looking at me.

"Hehe.

…It's a bit tough, isn't it?

Horned Rabbits are usually aged for at least 10 days before eating.

They are the hardest when freshly hunted.

But this unique, unaged flavor is a privilege only those who can hunt for themselves can enjoy.

I don't mind it.

Try the soup."

I hesitantly drank the soup and was surprised again.

The soup, which should only contain salt, had a rich, thick flavor.

It had a deep, rich taste, like a chicken broth, with a unique flavor.

The meat, which fell off the bone, was tender while still retaining its meatiness, unlike the tough muscle meat I had eaten earlier.

"The effect of the Druman mushrooms.

They have the ability to soften the muscle fibers of the ingredients cooked with them.

They also have a fatigue recovery effect, making this soup perfect after a tiring hike.

It might not be necessary for Allen, though."

My senior explained with a smile.

"It's very delicious."

I was moved by the meal made from the materials I had hunted for the first time.

I'm glad I followed my senior today.

"This is the main dish for today."

My senior brought out the liver, which he had kept from the internal organs he had mostly discarded, sprinkled it with a lot of salt, and lightly grilled it.

It had a slightly unique flavor, but the meat, which looked sticky, had a chewy texture, and the rich umami spread in my mouth when I bit into it.

It's incredibly delicious…

But this is definitely a snack for alcohol…

I want a highball, but I don't think there's carbonated water in this world.

By the way, there is no legal drinking age in this country.

However, it is generally avoided until one is over 12 years old and the magic organs are fully developed.

One reason is that drinking before the magic organs are fully developed can affect the maximum magic capacity.

Another reason is that once the magic organs are fully developed, one becomes much less susceptible to alcohol.

After that, nobles are often trained to drink actively, but drinking in the school is prohibited.

"Thank you for today.

If you don't mind, would you like to join me again?"

I bowed 45 degrees while sitting.

"Ahaha.

Of course, I don't mind, but what is this bowing thing?

You did it this morning too, right?"

A capable man has a different perspective.

I passionately explained the etiquette and spirit of the bow, attributing it all to Zold.

My senior, who listened with interest, turned to me after I finished speaking.

"From now on, I look forward to the morning training with you."

He bowed, and although his form was still not perfect, I felt that he understood what I was trying to convey.

◆

After that, my senior and I, surrounded by the fire, enjoyed the exquisite soup and the meat that was so hard it would require magical reinforcement to chew, and we chatted about various topics before taking a nap in the dugout hut.

Physically, I didn't feel the need for a long sleep, but moving around at night might be dangerous, and it would be rude to wake my senior with my movements, so I practiced magic compression until a late hour and took a nap until 3:00 AM.

By the way, it was said that there was no significant danger in this area to warrant a watch.

We woke up before 3:00 AM and started walking to look for mushrooms that glow at night.

"I know the routes and terrain around here, and I've trained to see in the dark to some extent."

I knew that training in external magic circulation could enhance senses like vision and hearing, and could be applied to scouting.

I could do it with training, but I had never considered it, thinking, "That's not the external magic I want to use."

Maybe that was a mistake.

My senior led the way through the dark forest, holding a lantern for me.

I decided to train in external magic circulation and improve my scouting abilities.

◆

After collecting the glowing mushrooms, "Popor Mushrooms," and the petals of the "Anata Grass," which only open at dawn, we boarded the first morning carriage to the capital from the village.

The Popor Mushroom was discovered by my senior, growing alone on a mossy rock.

It glowed a faint cobalt blue due to magic, making it a rare and valuable material for strong restorative drugs.

We were the only passengers on the carriage.

"What do you plan to do with the materials we collected today, Allen?"

My senior asked in the carriage.

"I didn't really do anything; I just followed behind, so please take all the spoils, Senior."

"That's not right.

Since we didn't decide on the share beforehand, the spoils should be divided equally, even if it was a temporary or makeshift party."

…That's a problem.

No matter how I think about it, I didn't contribute at all.

I feel like I should pay for all the things I learned.

I was about to add more words of refusal, but I was silenced by my senior's unexpectedly strong gaze.

I sensed a line that my senior was not willing to cross.

"…I gratefully accept.

But I don't know how to handle the materials I receive.

Could you buy them from me at your price?"

My senior's stern expression softened.

"Sure.

We can buy the materials for medicinal products at our pharmacy, but if you plan to continue collecting materials, it might be better to register as an explorer and have the guild buy them from you, since I won't always be with you."

Oh.

…It seems I will end up registering as an explorer, which I had been considering after learning external magic, as I need to earn money somehow.

I received 5,000 reals (about 500,000 yen) from my family as a preparation fund for my enrollment.

I can also receive 2,000 reals monthly from the viscount's residence in the capital, but I don't want to go there every month to receive the money.

"Understood.

When we reach the capital, I'll quickly go to the explorer's guild and register as an explorer!"

I decided to register as an explorer.

"…I'm already registered as an explorer, so I can guide you."

My senior proposed with a very worried look.

But I can't accept this.

The first registration as an explorer is a classic scenario where a bad senior explorer causes trouble.

I'm not planning to cause a ruckus like my sister, but I'm prepared to stand my ground, even to the point of expulsion, if a line is crossed.

This is a major event, and I can't involve this respected senior.

"It's fine, I don't need you to go that far!

If anything goes wrong, I'll handle it myself!

…Whatever it takes."

I smiled and firmly declined my senior's kind offer.

"…By the way, I forgot that I had some business at the guild…

I'll go with you."

My senior declared with a forceful presence.

Thus, I ended up going to the guild to register as an explorer with my senior as my guardian.