By Zephyria 
After finishing the afternoon classes in the same manner, by the time dinner rolled around, I had no energy left to think about anything else. Maelo Sanson attacked each child according to their level, so even I felt my fingertips trembling for the first time in a while.
It was a relief, in a way. Even after washing up in order, I wasn’t distracted by useless thoughts this time. Later, I heard that all the other children had also fallen asleep as soon as they entered their rooms.
Fortunately, I was used to Circulating Qi morning and evening to manage my body, so I finished my one shichen of Breathing and regulating energy as planned and went to bed.
The following Tuesday was the same.
Instead of just rolling around on the floor, I struggled to block and dodge attacks aimed at my vital points. When I saw Rubel, half-exhausted, stumble, I unconsciously pulled Ruben out of Maelo Sanson’s attack, which earned me a big laugh.
Maelo Sanson smiled contentedly and declared that he would give extra points to anyone who helped the children around them.
After that, it was chaos. It was a time of desperately trying not to get tangled up in the hands reaching out to help each other and fall over, all while dodging Maelo Sanson’s attacks.
By the end of the class, even Benjamin, who rarely complained about being tired, was exaggerating about his arms and legs trembling, so what more could I say?
After finishing the class, I carried Rubel, limp as boiled spinach, back to the dormitory room.
Marianne, too, had gone through some kind of ordeal, and she was whining that she couldn’t take it anymore and begged to be allowed to skip the dawn training for just one day. Seeing her, who was always so steadfast, completely exhausted and unable to lift a finger, I was worried and gave her permission.
But the next morning, Marianne and three other children were all preparing to train. I was very pleased and smiled all morning.
On Wednesday, we went to the theory class.
Ten members of the Swordsmanship Department, including me, and three members of the Department of Magic all took their seats.
Professor Steven McCliff came today with a fine fur around his neck. It was cold, but the classroom wasn’t drafty, yet he still dressed up like that. Rubel asked if I thought that looked good, and I told him no.
“Welcome, everyone. I look forward to working with you for the next month.”
No child didn’t know his name. The Professor didn’t bother to introduce himself again, didn’t wait for the children’s answers, and simply gave a very short greeting before handing out what he had brought.
I expected him to play tricks with the book cover, but he didn’t. Like the way Wizards often bind reports, the top of the rectangular paper was tied with string, and the top sheet of the bundle read:
「Yuil Mountains Monster Distribution and Characteristics of Monsters by Region」
Professor Steven opened his mouth.
“As I briefly explained on graduation day, monsters generally exhibit different characteristics depending on the region. You will now be tasked with subjugating monsters, so you must first memorize how to classify the Yuil Mountains by direction and the corresponding monster distribution.”
Professor Steven turned and drew on the blackboard. He briefly shaped a map of the continent and drew a horizontal line across the top of the map to divide it. The long line, which seemed to connect the highest peaks of the mountain range, was not straight but winding.
The Professor drew a vertical line from one point in between to the Eldos Mountains, and divided the area into sections according to the contour lines, drawing circles or hatching to distinguish them.
“Small monsters, like Goblins and Orcs, which don’t exceed 2m, can be easily found at the entrance of the Yuil Mountains. However, larger monsters can be found in the Middle Yuil Mountains, which have more Mana, and large monsters like Ogres or Wyverns are only found near the summit of the Yuil Mountains.”
I opened my notebook for the first time in a while and took notes in my familiar way. The Professor pointed out about five characteristic geographical features and their locations, then continued his explanation.
“⋯On the other hand, Slimes are mostly distributed beyond the Dunmel Canyon, north of the Duke Widrow Family. The Dunmel Canyon is a staggeringly deep cliff with a widest width of 150km, and because Mana fluctuates, all existing Artifacts do not activate. Therefore, in order to go beyond the canyon, you must follow the eastern ridge⋯.”
The Professor Steven I remembered was a playful and kind man, but today’s class was strict. He repeatedly informed us of the points to be especially careful of in each area, and lectured on the locations and characteristics of several forbidden areas in a firm tone.
All the children looked bored at the declaration that he would classify the Yuil Mountains into four areas and point out one area for each week, but they took notes diligently without carelessly refuting. It was a matter of life and death.
I also tried to listen carefully, without missing a single word.
And on the same day, as soon as I finished dinner, I met welcome guests.
It was Douglas Mustang and Mage Boulder.
The three children, surprised by the sudden guests, politely greeted them. I welcomed them more happily than anyone else.
Originally, Internal energy cultivation method was not something that could be learned quickly, like roasting beans over a lightning fire.
Before climbing the Yuil Mountains, I was busy with the thought of giving Rubel Jin Gi Do In and teaching him how to use the Hip-Circlet.
Even though I would be watching him from the side, so there was little worry of him falling into Cultivation Deviation midway, I was very worried that this modified Mana operation method would not suit Rubel’s constitution and that an accident would occur from the start.
Since you never know what might happen, wouldn’t it be more comfortable to have a Professor watching? So, what I had asked Douglas for was today. On days when they were learning Swordsmanship or Magic classes, all the children would be exhausted and it would take twice as much effort, so I thought Wednesday evening would be the most suitable.
Very thankfully, Douglas came with not only a couple of Artifacts for checking Mana concentration, but also Mage Boulder tucked under his arm. I hadn’t thought of contacting Boulder, but having an experienced Wizard by my side would be reassuring in many ways. I thanked them again politely.
“Thank you for coming like this.”
“Young Master Ernhardt asked for help, so I couldn’t possibly miss it. Today⋯You want to give Jin Gi Do In to Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
Rubel looked at me with a nervous face, so I nodded once.
I was the one who hadn’t been able to tell him in advance that I would do this today because I hadn’t received a definite answer from Douglas as to whether he would have time. But despite the suddenness, Rubel hesitated only for a moment and politely agreed.
“Then, please take care of me.”
“Yes, while we’re at it, let’s test the basics of Hip-Circlet operation today.”
Mage Boulder readily took the words. I nodded easily.
Benjamin helped push the table and sofa in the living room to one side. Rubel sat in the middle of the floor, and I sat behind him, placing my Palm Center on the child’s back.
I carefully watched the child, who was nervous, place his hands on his knees and calm his breathing.
And when Ruben’s tension faded, I slowly raised my True Energy and pushed it into the child’s body.
I had studied the Acupoint of the Sierren people enough. I had also come to this land and performed Jin Gi Do In on other people’s bodies several times. Even so, I steeled myself with the thought of just in case and carefully swept the child’s Belt Meridian.
Even if it took several hours, I was determined to thoroughly scan the entire Minor Meridians and open all the Acupoint that could be opened immediately.
Even if I couldn’t break through the Ren and Du Meridians, I was planning to carefully open the Penetrating Vessel
(*A circulating Energy Channels connecting the Governing Vessel and Conception Vessel from head to toe)
so that True Energy could circulate actively.
How much time had passed like that?
Rubel, who had endured well, was horrified by the impurities that came out of his body and ran to the bathroom. Fortunately, Rubel endured the Jin Gi Do In without much difficulty, similar to the other children.
Rather, it was me who was exhausted. I had put in so much effort that my energy was depleted and my shoulders drooped.
Benjamin, who was sitting on the sofa watching the scene, asked Douglas.
“Professor, did I do that too?”
“Hmm⋯. That was a few months ago. Young Master Ernhardt’s skills seem to have become a little more⋯. excellent.”
Douglas was a man who only chose pretty words, but Mage Boulder was not.
“No⋯. You called me to do Jin Gi Do In, and now⋯. five hours and thirty-seven minutes⋯. Wasn’t this originally a two-hour thing? I almost fell asleep watching.”
“⋯It’s different for each person. Ruben, no, Your Highness is a little more difficult.”
“Weren’t you knitting with Mana? It wasn’t even that special!”
“No⋯.”
Everyone in that place had disbelieving eyes. Even I, who was making excuses, was very embarrassed.
How could I have known that time had passed so quickly while I was in a trance? I was told that there wouldn’t be enough time to learn a new Mind method today because it was already dawn.
Unfortunately, I had no choice but to promise for the weekend and see the Professor and Boulder off.
Mage Boulder grumbled that I should call him in the morning next time. Even if I had ten mouths, I had no way to answer. I obediently said I would and apologized politely.
❖ ❖ ❖
The days of the training camp passed very quickly.
It had been the same for the past three years of studying at the Academy, but I didn’t know how time was passing because I was facing the same children from morning to night every day and doing harsh training without any free time.
On days when I did Swordsmanship training, my arms and legs trembled so much that it was difficult to eat dinner. By the time I did Breathing and regulating energy or relaxed my body, it was often midnight.
On days when we had theory classes, we would all sit together on the living room sofa and look at the handouts, and I would check whether Benjamin and Rubel were doing Breathing and regulating energy correctly.
Benjamin was now able to lead True Energy on his own without my gaze, but Rubel had not yet created a Dantian (Energy Center). Therefore, I carefully watched and taught him every time.
Marianne said that she already had a Middle Dantian open and that having a Mana crystal in her body would interfere with creating formulas, so she didn’t bother to learn a new Internal energy cultivation method. Instead, she practiced Finger Projectile Skill
(*Martial arts that shoots beads or True Energy with fingertips)
that she had modified by applying Pressure Point Technique.
Thanks to Douglas’s advice in advance, he had cast defense and protection magic in all directions, preventing holes from being drilled in the walls. As expected, he was someone who had lost a Professor’s office once, so his foresight was a great help.