"This training is simple, so endure as much as you can, Enrico."
"Alright."
Enrico was surrounded by thorny vines, and within those vines was a paralyzing poison capable of stopping his blood from pumping. Virelle watched him endure it and tightened her grip, worsening his situation. Even so, Enrico did not utter a single complaint or cry of pain, always keeping his lips pressed tight as blood dripped from his mouth.
'His mental resistance is very strong, perhaps because he endured all that in that future.'
This training served several purposes. First, she was increasing his resistance to poison and curses, which were characteristics of the magic she was using. For him to gain this resistance, she explained that he should constantly try to create that poison and curse within his own body, which would be easier since it was already inside him.
'By doing this, he will develop a trait that resists both things. I will train him so that when something similar happens, his body will do it automatically without him needing to give the command.'
The second purpose was mana control under pressure. By forcing his blood to stop flowing, he was risking death, surviving only by using his mana to force his blood to keep moving. This way, he was learning that even under blockage, he could still resist, something only rarely achievable.
'With this body, it's possible he can manage it, because for such an act one needed either a body far above the average or absurd control over one's own mana.'
The third reason was pain resistance, making him get used to pain inflicted by magic above his level—and to her surprise, he was adapting well. The fourth was mental strength. The fifth was to see if he could awaken a hidden ability.
If he had one, extreme training could be the perfect trigger to awaken it—if he had it at all.
"Very well, ten minutes have passed. We're done for today's training."
"Yes, ma'am."
As the vines released him, Enrico tried to stay standing but almost collapsed if not for Virelle, who caught him and carried him to the chair she had placed nearby.
'Her training is harder than I thought.'
[Regretting it?]
'Actually, I'm very grateful for this.'
Before this vine training, Enrico had already been training for six hours with only two breaks in between, so his body felt like it was breaking apart—all thanks to Virelle's vine magic.
'Her magic is dangerous... I feel her training might become worse than Matteo's in the future.'
"Natural Healing."
Feeling his body being healed by Virelle's magic, Enrico relaxed, enjoying the relief of the pain being removed.
[This is only the first days of training and you're already like this. At least she gives you rest, unlike Matteo.]
'As you said, these are only the first days.'
"All ready—but before you leave, what kind of adventure are you going on?"
Her original plan had been to train Enrico heavily on Saturday and Sunday, but since he asked to go out with some companions, she allowed it—perhaps because it might be something important for the future.
"I'm going to a dungeon near the city of Kalir, close to the great tree of Sanos."
"Something will happen there."
"It's nothing serious, I'm just going to get an item since Kai and the others won't be able to go."
"You have a lot of faith in Kai. He must have been someone important."
"Yes, he became strong... Thank you very much for your training, Professor. I'll see you when I return."
Running off to get ready quickly, he thought about the real reason: in the original story, this was an arc where Kai found an Ocean Stone that increased water magic power, only used later in the future when he awakened his magic. But since he had already awakened it, this would serve as a good early boost for Kai.
'The only problem is that since events are changing, the characters who should have gone already have other commitments.'
Kai was going to return to his hometown again because he had discovered a secret room thanks to the fairy he had contracted with. That fairy shouldn't have had the power to locate it yet, but since Kai awakened his magic, she improved automatically. Thanks to that, something he would have only learned at eighteen would now be revealed—his second magic.
'I don't complain, that's good enough. I was already planning to reveal it when he awakened his second magic.'
[And how would you have done that without him suspecting?]
'Since he's an idiot, I would just "accidentally" touch the wrong spot while visiting his house and trigger it.'
[How clever, using the stupidity of others. Not a bad plan.]
Then there was Valença, but like Kai, she had also returned to her hometown to retrieve her staff, which had been upgraded by an alchemist. The others were Tolen and three students who were part of the protagonist's squad, but all had given up: one from Class C who quit after the zombie dungeon, and two from Class B who had been defeated by Elian when he advanced in rank. Lacking confidence, they left.
'That's kind of bad.'
He even tried talking to them, but they didn't want to return, so he just asked them to grow stronger and not give up. He was confident that would work.
'At least all the characters from Class A and S are fine.'
Grabbing his backpack, he headed out and came across a worried Yumeha. He had already told her about what happened, which made her want to go out with him more often to protect him, so he wouldn't have to sacrifice so much. During the night in his room, she had even hugged him while sleeping.
"Master, why can't I go?"
"...Calm down, Yumeha. I'm only going to get an item. It's not that dangerous."
"But..."
If this kept up, it was very likely Yumeha would follow him. Enrico didn't want to take her for two simple reasons: that dungeon only allowed six people inside, and since the main ones weren't going, he wanted to see how strong the others had become. So he simply explained about the dungeon and why she couldn't go.
'I understand... but if that's the case, why not take me to test myself too? That way, I can take care of you.'
"It's because I already have complete trust in you and the others."
Yumeha's eyes widened in surprise, and she began stammering. Having so much trust from her master was an incredible feeling for her.
"E-even so—"
"How about this: if you stay, I'll give you a reward when I return."
"What reward?"
Enrico leaned close to her face, making her blush even more. Passing by, he touched her shoulder.
"You'll find out when I return."
"B-b-but—"
Enrico went to meet the others, leaving Yumeha's mind in turmoil, trying to guess what the reward was and why he had gotten so close.