Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Itte kara 10 Nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita

I parted ways with Dorgo and headed for the city gates.

The royal capital had a number of them.

"Ah, it's been a while. How are you then?"

"Very well, thank you."

I knew the guard at this gate.

He was the guard that gave me clothes when I had nakedly returned from that place between dimensions.

I thanked him again and entered the city.

Then I walked down the streets.

By now, I had become quite accustomed to seeing the Ruck statue in the city square.

I decided to stop by the Adventurer's Guild before returning to the mansion.

(How were Ario and Josh doing?)

I felt like I hadn't met them in quite some time.

I hoped they were alright.

When I entered the building,

"Oh, if it isn't Locke."

"Good morning Mister Locke."

Ario and Josh called after me. They looked well, at least.

"How are things recently?"

"Days and days of hunting rats and picking herbs."

"No goblin hunting quests?"

"There haven't been any during the last few days."

If there weren't any goblin hunting quests, that meant no one had suffered any damage as well.

Which was always preferable.

After that, Ario and Josh went out to hunt more rats.

I decided to give the quest board a quick look.

It seemed quite peaceful now.

"I'm back."

Tama and Grulf came running towards me when I arrived at the mansion.

"Groof-groof!"

"Woof-woof!"

Grulf tried to jump on me.

Tama ran in a circle around us.

"Tama, Grulf. Thanks for the warm welcome."

I petted both of them.

"Grulf, it's nice that you wanted to welcome me, but…"

"Groof?"

"You're really big. So you can't jump on anyone else other than me."

"Groof!"

Not many people would come out of it unscathed.

Even I didn't particularly like it.

"Mister Locke. Welcome back."

Serulis said.

"Where's Milka and the others?"

"They are currently in Master Philly's class. So is Lord Gerberga. Shia said that she was going to the guild."

So my apprentices were currently studying under our private tutor, Philly.

I was very thankful for that.

As for Shia, I suppose I just missed her.

"I see. And Goran and Eric?"

"Daddy's gone to the guild. And uncle Eric returned to the palace."

Well, they were both very busy, so it was no wonder.

"And Kathe?"

"She said that she was going to go and check the ruins."

As long as the dark ones were targeting them, she had to remain cautious.

"Well, I guess I'll take Grulf and Tama on a walk then."

"I'll go with you!"

"Thanks."

And so Serulis and I left the house to take Tama and Grulf on a walk.

"Grulf, not so fast."

"Groof."

If Grulf ran at full speed, Tama would not be able to keep up.

Perhaps it wasn't the most satisfying for Grulf, but it couldn't be helped.

Tama was still too skinny and in the middle of recovering.

After circling the mansion a few times, we returned once to leave Tama at the house and then go out again.

And then we went out of the city so Grulf could run to his heart's content.

After he had run for quite a bit,

"Grulf, whoever reaches this first wins!"

"Groof!"

"Groof-groof!"

Grulf ran happily.

As his master, I could not allow him to beat me the first time. And so I ran at full speed.

I picked up the stick before Grulf did.

"Groof-groof!"

"Oh, you want a rematch?"

"Groof!"

We repeated this game several times while resting occasionally.

Once in a while, I would let Grulf win.

"Ahhh, you're so fast…hahaaaahh…"

Serulis's shoulders were heaving as she caught up with us.

Throwing the stick and picking it up had resulted in us running a considerable distance.

"Grulf isn't a normal wolf, but a sacred beast. So he is fast in spite of still being a pup."

"You really are fast, huh?"

Serulis said as she patted him on the head.

"You shouldn't push yourself too much, Serulis."

"Groof-groof."

Grulf ran around Serulis happily.

Perhaps he had remembered my warning, because he refrained from pouncing on her.

"But you're even faster than him, Mister Locke."

"Well, he's not quite grown yet."

"What about daddy?"

"Goran is probably faster than Grulf as well."

"I thought so…"

And then Serulis said,

"I will have to train more then!"

"That's good, but you shouldn't be in such a rush either."

"Groof."

Grulf barked in agreement.

And then he began to run around again.

"Mister Locke. You become stronger if you fight in places where the mana is thicker, right?"

"Generally, that is the case."

"In other words, the more monsters you defeat, the stronger you get?"

"Yes… But, don't do anything crazy, alright?"

Monsters released mana when they were defeated.

And being exposed to it made you stronger.

"Mister Locke, you became stronger in the place between dimensions, right?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because weren't daddy and uncle Eric just as strong as you ten years ago when you first defeated the Devil King?"

"They were."

"Daddy and Eric have become stronger since then… But it seems you've become even more stronger…"

Serulis was likely right.

"Yes. The mana was very thick in that place. And since I was sucking their life force with Drain Touch, it is likely that I absorbed a lot of mana in the process."

"I see…"

"But you will become stronger without being exposed to mana if you train. Being exposed to mana won't mean much growth if your body isn't prepared."

Serulis nodded understandingly.

"Magic stones…"

"Magic stones?"

"Hmm. But what if I were to eat magic stones instead of doing my training?"

"…That's no good."

"But why? They are blocks of mana. So shouldn't I become stronger if I gobble them up?"

If it was that easy, everyone would be strong.

I had tried it myself a long time ago, and it had no effect.

"Well, those have been crystalized. They are too stable. The only thing that will happen is that they will plop out of your butt."

"I see."

As we talked about this subject, Grulf continued to happily run in a circle around us.

I threw the wooden stick as far as I could.