Cross The Mountains

The injuries suffered in the multiple fights with the Vin's group of Shadow Warriors had healed faster than I expected. Vin’s treatment was excellent.

No, on the contrary, even a light shadow spar was pretty sharp, and I was able to move quite well when I spar with Enuma.

I said, “Somehow it hasn’t been that long since the Commemorative Match. Yet I feel stronger than before.”

My wounds healed, had some light training sessions as we descended McNeal Mountain, and I muttered involuntarily.

Before the match, I trained hard for two months and was able to feel my growth, but within a few days after that, I felt stronger.

Enuma explained, "I suppose, the experience of an actual battle might have been your blessing. There may be no change in muscle strength or motor nerves, but your intuition may have bloomed a little."

I thought “Intuition…”

Enuma then said, "And the other is confidence. By leaping forward without fear of death against such a powerful opponent, not only the senses but also mental fortitude should have been strengthened. Moreover, the fight with the young lady would have been a good experience."

I’m honestly not sure myself, but it might be the case. Against the caliber of strength like the experience shadow warriors.  I planted my feet, and we exchanged blows.

And, incidentally, Vin. I didn’t know that the improvement of my senses and spirit could make such a difference.

I replied to Enuma, “Somehow, I now feel like I can endure any kind of training and become stronger.”

Enuma congratulated me, "This is a good trend. Even if you lack a clear goal as in the previous match, it is something you want to do yourself."

Yes, I’m now thinking, I want to be strong for now, and I don’t have a clear and familiar goal. But even so, I’m happy to see myself getting stronger and I’ve come to want to train myself.

I said, “Oh yeah. Money. Well, certainly I was nervous when I didn’t have any. I will need find a way to start earning.”

I want to get a lot training in as well. While I can get it. I ask, “Hey, Enuma. It’ll be troublesome, but can’t we have some more training in the mountains? Here, I can do intensive training for Parkour, and speaking of training, it’ll be like mountain seclusion.”

Unlike before, boobs aren’t being dangled like carrots in front of me, I myself have come to change something. However, when I did get so motivated, incidentally because of Vin.

Enuma replied, "No, once you are feeling well enough, we shall first descend the mountain. Training is done on level ground."

Disappointed, I asked, “Ah, what? Why not? We’re in the mountains, right? You know, the mountain air is thin, so if I train here and fight in the lower world, it’s like I’ll get even stronger, right?”

Enuma was ignoring my motivated state, The dame demon king previously would have had me train even during sleep.

Enuma tried to calm me down, "This is the contrary. Because the air is thin, we cannot perform the same, much less, better high-quality training you had so far. Should that happen, it will inevitably be necessary to lower the training load. High-altitude training can certainly enhance your cardiopulmonary function, but you still need quality training on level ground."

I stammered, “I-Is that how it is?”

Enuma’s theorized, "Ideally, the body would adapt by sleeping in areas with thinner atmosphere, and then training is performed on a plain field. This is called magical living training, but it still requires more than a few weeks for the body to adapt."

As expected, it is Enuma. It’s not that he has become kind, but because he had a proper reason for his judgment. "If you have already acquired technique and power, and are aiming for a higher level, that training is effective, but you can still grow as much as you want with but a single skill and knowledge. As such, training on level ground, and increasing knowledge while crossing the world on level ground. That should suffice for now."

I relented to the idea, “Well, then. As it is, we’ll descend the mountain.”

Enuma nodded, "It is so."

I wandered into the forest from Imperial City, met a friendly ogre, reached the town of Candlehearth, and I fought with Vin on board game and in the forest.

I took a few days rest and am now climbing the mountain and descending to the other side. Even without a clear goal, my steps were light. 

Enuma said, "Now as it concerns, the destination after descending the mountain. Where shall we go?"

I replied, “Ah. If I’m just moving over McNeal Mountain, starting from Candlehearth, if my memory is correct the town where merchants gather, Unaidan.”

I don’t completely remember the geography outside of the Imperial City, so it’s vague.

Enuma agreed, "Ah, if that is so, I have heard of it. There is a famous market street with hundreds of thousands of merchants opening street stalls. While there were fraudulent crimes of selling counterfeit goods under the guise of legendary treasure, it is a town that could not be crushed due to its economic efficacy."

I replied, “Oh, you knew that, too.”

Enuma "Well, one way or another, that town has a fascinating history. I have come to hear of it by chance in rumors."

Fascinating history? Is that right. I’ve only heard rumors about a town where you can get your hands on many cheap and affordable items.

Enuma said, "It is poetic. You are unable to become a hunter. Recently we acquired funds by playing a game of Go, let us search for a bargain in the town of merchants."

Is discovering such bargains so easy? In front of me as I thought so, Enuma gave off an awe-inspiring aura, as he seemed to want to throw a retort.

I stammered, “Ah~, Enuma, incidentally, you have an idea for that sort of.”

Enuma replied, "The eyes of this Demon King shall determine all authenticity."

Ah, yeah, yeah, amazing, amazing. Somehow, no matter how great this guy gradually gets, I’m no longer surprised.

Enuma said, "Well, it is not that we such dedicated magic, but tis also a good experience to cultivate the ability to distinguish authenticity. If all goes well, you will gain a fortune"

I replied, “No, for the time being, I just want to get stronger, so I’m not particularly looking to be an appraiser.”

However, as there is no way I can continue my journey without going through the town. My adventure requires us to stop since I cannot earn money the being a hunter.

I’m going over the mountain after Enuma’s suggestion that secluded mountain training isn’t so effective for me right now. However, it does not mean that we will reach the base immediately, so it will take some time.

Therefore, it was quite difficult for me to cross the mountain, because, in the first place, I hadn’t prepared for a trip at all in the town of Candlehearth.

I didn’t have any water or food prepared.

I said aloud, “I’m getting a little hungry. I wish I had found more at Aka’s house.”

Enuma griped, "Good Grief. Have you forgotten the first night? At such times, one should benefit from the bountiful natural blessings of mountains."

I saw a bush with fruits growing on it. I ask, “Oh, this red fruit. It looks kind of sweet. Can I eat it?”

Enuma sighs at my remark as I sat down to take a breather on the way down the mountain. Enuma said, "Cease. It is poisonous. A staple among mountain fruits that should not be consumed."

I didn’t like the idea of catching and eating snakes and frogs. The rabbit I caught also I released. I didn’t eat mushrooms after all, so I haven’t had any survival experience yet.

Enuma decided to explain, "Well, this is only when you experience such poisons that you acquire resistance, but I will not ask that of you right now. Now, it is important to eat and grow with a nutritional and balanced diet. If you are to consider your diet during the growth period, it is best to reside on level ground."

Diet. The first thing that came to mind when he said that is the meals I’ve been eating since I was a kid. Most of them were made by the same person.

I was sad, as I thought about the food, I had plentiful, “Diet. It’s only been a few days, but not eating Sadie’s meal.”

Even so, I felt like I hadn’t eaten it much. I ate it as a matter of course every day. Even Enuma was so impressed after seeing Sadie’s menu that had me in mind and was made just for me.

She was always by my side and took good care of me. That’s why I wanted to repay Sadie. I wanted to show Sadie something cool.

I was always an employer or a young master, I wanted her to see me as a man. It was no good. On the contrary, I hurt Sadie. When I thought back on it, I felt helpless again.

At that time, while I was thinking of Sadie and pensive, Enuma seemed to have noticed something. Enuma said, "Oi, boy. A little further from here along the path, there is something sitting there."

Confused, I question Enuma, “Huh?”

Something? What something? Snake? Frog? Rabbit? No way, it can’t be an Ogre, right?