CH 30

“Instruction 2”

A month later…

I was already used to living in the palace.

Sleeping on the hard floor of the kitchen doesn’t bother me anymore. I still have to get used to the ghosts playing pranks on me, but it’s not like they hurt me. They just drop furniture to scare me and pranks for the sorts.

Life was going well.

And what about the training?

– Ughh… Takaya～ I’m so sleepy～ Help me put on my underwear…

– NOT AGAIN! I’ll leave it on your bed, do it yourself!

– Hey, Takaya. What happened to our breakfast? You’re 10 minutes late alread- WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

– Uwah! Tsubakibaru-san, please put the katana down!

And this is how the month has been. I’ve been so busy with housework that I haven’t done any progress.

In the morning I dodge Tsubakibaru’s slashes and help Ever get changed. Then we all eat breakfast and I start cleaning and doing housework. After that Ever and I go to the closest city using teleportation magic to buy groceries and whatever else we need.

Basically, all I’ve done is housework and errands.

Rather than an apprentice, I feel like a butler.

– And… There we go.

I made my way back to the castle after washing everyone’s clothes in a small river close by.

The path back is quite steep, but I can manage as long as I take it slow.

I can feel my physical endurance growing as I do errands throughout the vast territories of the Great Sage.

I’ve also gained some muscle since I came here a month ago.

– Hey~ Takaya~ Can you come here for a second?

I was about to rest after drying everyone’s clothes and bedsheets but Ever called me.

– Yes, Grandmaster. What’s wrong?

– Nothing. I just wanted to see your body.

Ever slipped her fingers through the opening in my clothes and started feeling my body. This would usually be normal behavior for her, but now she’s touching my arms, my shoulders, and my belly.

– Hmm, might not be enough. Eh, whatever, we can make do.

– Uhh, what?

– What do you mean “What?”? I was looking at your skills. You’ve grown to Level IV during this month, so I was thinking it was about time to start training. Hey, A-Sorry, Tsubakibaru. Are you ready?

When the Grandmaster called her, Tsubakibaru came out of the palace wearing a coat over her usual clothes and two katanas on her hips. The swords were different from the ones she normally uses.

– This is for you. There are a lot of things inside, so don’t go swaying it around. (Tsubakibaru)

Tsubakibaru handed me a bag. Inside, there was a mortar and a pestle for making potions, a whetstone, a knife to dismantle ingredients and materials, and camping equipment.

– Takaya, you’ll go deep into the forest with Tsubakibaru and try to survive there for some time. The Sage’s Forest is a relentless environment, so use all the skills you have in order to survive.

– What an absurd mission that is, but if it comes from you, Grandmaster, I can’t refuse.

During this month I’ve learned more about how Ever’s mind works. This is something I have to do in order to further improve myself.

– Grandmaster, may I ask, for how long am I to share the same breathing air as this brute?

– Hm, let’s see… You can come back once Takaya has been able to produce a Double High Potion, and once he can create a new knife exclusive to himself.

– Double… Isn’t that a Level V recipe?

I only have some information from Ever about the recipe. It’s a potion that heals your wounds and restores your strength and magic power with just a sip.

I can’t do it right now, so one of our end goals is for me to be able to produce one.

– Of course, the knife is also a Level V thing. Tsubakibaru knows more about those blacksmithing things, so ask her if you need any help.

– Ah, she’s…

– So what? Any problem with that? (Tsubakibaru)

– By no means. (Takaya)

She’s probably going as both my bodyguard and my instructor. I better not upset her.

– Well then, get going. I’ll go pester Rudra and Feria in the meantime. Once you’re done just contact me.

– How?

– Just use one of my many familiars. Anyways, bye~

Ever teleported away in the blink of an eye.

Even if it’s just training, we’re probably going to have real battles. In such case, we should be able to contact our master should anything go wrong, but alas. I guess this is her way of looking out for the guild for me.

I would love to see Rudra and the others’ faces after they hear everything that’s happened this past month.

– Aahhh… (Takaya and Tsubakibaru)

We both sighed exaggeratedly. Knowing Ever, Tsubakibaru also got the rundown of this not too long ago.

– Well, shall we go? (Takaya)

– Let’s go then. (Tsubakibaru)

Trying to gather any feeling of unity we could muster, we headed deep into the forest.