Alas, no matter where he searched, the last natural resource he needed remained elusive. To add to it, the only remaining place Victor hadn’t explored was the depths of the Thornwood Forest, which was teeming with dangerous magical beasts… Resigned to the fact that he couldn’t find it without risking his life, he reluctantly turned back to the academy.
The journey back wasn’t that peaceful. More than midway through, Victor encountered a Mossback Turtle — one of the common inhabitants of the forest. It was a massive magical turtle that could reach the size of a small truck once matured, though this one was hardly a two-meter-tall youngling. Fortunately, it was way weaker than the Shadow Panther and was barely a second-stage Initiate Attunement rank magical beast. Even without magic, Victor would be able to eke out a win barehanded if he needed to, not that he was so leisurely and foolish to do that.
But this turned out to be a problem. Victor’s interspatial ring was chock full that even if he wanted to, he couldn’t fit another thing larger than a basketball. In fact, he had been wondering how the shadow leopard was able to fit in in the first place. Unless it was squashed out of shape or the space inside the ring could loosen to conform to the shape, it was impossible to fit inside.
Victor felt it would be a total waste to leave this turtle behind since he could put it into the essence converter and turn it into “essence points.” Therefore, he could only drag it by its mouth back to the academy, much like he’d done with the boar he killed back in Thornwood Village.
“Goodness! This is way heavier than the boar…” If it wasn’t for the inverted mana strengthening his body and {Zephyr Dash} spell, Victor wouldn’t be able to do this with his physical strength alone.
By the time Victor reached the academy, it was past lunchtime. He checked on the players to see their progress and saw that they were still working on the field as if not knowing the word “rest.”
“Master, you’re back!” Suddenly, a fairy fluttered its way toward Victor and perched on his shoulder so naturally as if it was her personal seat.
“The players have not eaten yet?” Victor raised a question as he was feeling a bit famished himself. Running around in the forest and dragging a huge turtle had consumed a lot of his energy, after all.
“Well, I’ve told them to take a rest, but they were too eager with their task, saying, ‘Miss Fairy, we’re not tired yet,’ and proceeded to swing their hoes like a bunch of over-enthusiastic garden gnomes! I swear, they are like energizer bunnies with magic!” Lizbeth replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“So you let them be?”
“So I let them be, yeah. Perhaps these players are yet to be aware that eating and drinking are important.”
For players, it was highly likely that they were still thinking that this was a game and never thought of dying from such natural causes. Or perhaps they were just too eager to gain more “merit points” with no real value whatsoever.
“Hmm, I will go check on them then.” Either way, Victor didn’t want these players to die from hunger, so he approached them while still towing the huge turtle.
As Victor gradually got closer, the players seemed frozen stiff, their eyes wide in disbelief at the sight of the massive magical beast. He didn’t know whether it was the sheer size of the magical beast or the strength he exerted to drag it, but he believed that if he ever brought something even larger, they would pass out on the spot.
“Headmaster, sir! What’s that creature behind you?” one of the players finally managed to stammer.
Victor chuckled inwardly, understanding their surprise. “Oh, this? Just something I hunted on my way back from within the forest. It’s a magical beast known as a Mossback Turtle.” He paused for a moment to let the suspense sink in and then asked, “How’s the progress of plowing the field?”
“Reporting to Sir Astralium, we have plowed more or less three thousand square meters of the field these past six hours or so,” Mike responded proudly.
That was surprising.
Victor had presumed that even if they were to put their all into it without complaints, it would amount to half that at most. He then observed the players and realized that their robes had enchantments. The enchantments might not be comparable to his, but they seemed to help these players avoid easily exhausting themselves.
“Have you eaten yet?” Victor inquired.
“No, we have not…” Zero — the player who appeared to be the calmest — replied.
“Being eager to do your task is important, but taking care of yourselves is even more crucial; it won’t do any good if you collapse from hunger before the day is over. After all, I still need students to teach in my class, right? Go and get some provisions in the storage room back at the Headmaster’s Building and have some rest. Be sure to gather in the prearranged room by three o’clock sharp.” The prearranged room that Victor meant was a classroom.
The players exchanged glances, slightly taken aback by Victor’s — the headmaster’s — thoughtfulness. But soon, their faces lit up at the words spoken by Victor… These players were probably enthusiastic to hear that they were going to have the chance to learn from him.
““Y-Yes!””
“Please excuse us, esteemed Headmaster.”
The players scrambled on their feet and rushed toward the Headmaster’s Building, leaving behind five hoes on the plowed field. Since the players had done hard work, then it would only be natural for them to be rewarded.
Like all Magi, Victor believed in equal trade; to get knowledge, they had to earn it.
***
As the five players made their way to the storage room and were a distance away from Victor, the uncontained shock finally got the better of them and burst out.
“D-Did you guys see the creature brought back by the headmaster?!” Prominence raised his voice as he asked that rhetorical question.
“That must be a magical beast! Holy shit!” Mike was no less surprised.
“A-Are we going to fight something like that in the future?” However, unlike both of them, SuperNova was a bit timid in his response, but he couldn’t conceal his excitement despite that. “Luckily, I didn’t do anything foolish like running into the forest.”
Ignoring his friend’s timid reaction, Storm asserted, “That’s not even the main point here. It must have weighed tons! How’s the headmaster able to drag it around?!”
“We can assume that the existence of a Magus in this game is not only proficient in magic but also possesses extraordinary strength,” Alfred hypothesized.
“Right? It’s mind-blowing! To be able to learn from the headmaster himself… This is the first time that I’m so excited to be taught by an NPC.”
“And if the headmaster is any indication of the kind of power we can achieve, then the possibilities are endless. Who knows, maybe it’s not the pinnacle of power in this game yet.”
“It’s… just like a dream come true…”
“This game just keeps getting better and better! Glad that I signed up for it…”
As they imagined what sort of power and future awaited them, they reached the storage room. Within the pile on the side of the room were sacks filled with miscellaneous items — tools such as axes, shovels, and pickaxes were also neatly arranged there.
The players searched through the pile, and Alfred picked up a smaller sack from the side and loosened the rope that tied it up, revealing some dried meat, preserved berries, cheese, and fully filled waterskins. All in all, it was enough to feed five people for two to three days.
“Guys, I think these are the provisions that the headmaster mentioned.” He took out the dried meat, smelled it, and pressed it. Hard texture and a slightly salty scent. Yep, this is jerky.
“Looks like the game has prepared all the basic needs for us,” Mike commented.
“This thing… Can it be eaten?” Looking at the dried meat, Prominence was suspicious, though he couldn’t help but swallow as his stomach growled loudly.
“If you can actually eat food in this game, imagine all the foodies who’d be attracted to this world… Hey, Zero, why don’t you give it a shot?” Storm nudged him with his shoulder, clearly interested in the prospect of eating in the game.
Alfred hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Well, here goes nothing…” He bravely put the meat into his mouth, and as he bit into it, his teeth almost chipped. “Dang! It’s so hard and rubbery!”
“Let me try that rock-hard delicacy.” Prominence snatched the dried meat and munched on it; his eyes bulged as his teeth struggled to sink in. “This… Don’t think I can easily stomach this. Is this what acolytes eat in this game world?”
Alfred had heard that modern people’s palates were so refined that they would hunger themselves to death rather than eat trash. Apparently, this was the case even in the game.
“The game lacks a hunger bar or any other similar mechanics. Or maybe it’s hidden. Whatever the case, I’m afraid if we don’t eat it, we’ll die from hunger.” Storm gave a deep analysis and added with a concerned tone, “And speaking of which, our digestive system works the same way as in the real world. Don’t you feel anything yet?”
“Crap. Now that you said it, I suddenly want to pee…” SuperNova was holding his lower stomach as he exclaimed, “I think I’mma go to the toilet—!” and quickly rushed outside.
Inside the Headmaster's Building, there were bathrooms equipped with latrines with modern toilet-like seats. Though not as modern as their real-world counterparts, which had flush mechanisms, it was a relief for the players, especially those who were particular about cleanliness. Alfred, being a clean freak and somewhat suffering from OCD, felt grateful for this convenience — he was among the people who would go to extra lengths to poop in their own home.
Realizing that the game’s realism extended to eating and even defecating, the other four players reluctantly continued munching on the food to fill their stomachs. Unbeknownst to them, these types of food were already considered quite luxurious for commoners in this world.
Alas, no matter where he searched, the last natural resource he needed remained elusive. To add to it, the only remaining place Victor hadn’t explored was the depths of the Thornwood Forest, which was teeming with dangerous magical beasts… Resigned to the fact that he couldn’t find it without risking his life, he reluctantly turned back to the academy.
The journey back wasn’t that peaceful. More than midway through, Victor encountered a Mossback Turtle — one of the common inhabitants of the forest. It was a massive magical turtle that could reach the size of a small truck once matured, though this one was hardly a two-meter-tall youngling. Fortunately, it was way weaker than the Shadow Panther and was barely a second-stage Initiate Attunement rank magical beast. Even without magic, Victor would be able to eke out a win barehanded if he needed to, not that he was so leisurely and foolish to do that.
But this turned out to be a problem. Victor’s interspatial ring was chock full that even if he wanted to, he couldn’t fit another thing larger than a basketball. In fact, he had been wondering how the shadow leopard was able to fit in in the first place. Unless it was squashed out of shape or the space inside the ring could loosen to conform to the shape, it was impossible to fit inside.
Victor felt it would be a total waste to leave this turtle behind since he could put it into the essence converter and turn it into “essence points.” Therefore, he could only drag it by its mouth back to the academy, much like he’d done with the boar he killed back in Thornwood Village.
“Goodness! This is way heavier than the boar…” If it wasn’t for the inverted mana strengthening his body and {Zephyr Dash} spell, Victor wouldn’t be able to do this with his physical strength alone.
By the time Victor reached the academy, it was past lunchtime. He checked on the players to see their progress and saw that they were still working on the field as if not knowing the word “rest.”
“Master, you’re back!” Suddenly, a fairy fluttered its way toward Victor and perched on his shoulder so naturally as if it was her personal seat.
“The players have not eaten yet?” Victor raised a question as he was feeling a bit famished himself. Running around in the forest and dragging a huge turtle had consumed a lot of his energy, after all.
“Well, I’ve told them to take a rest, but they were too eager with their task, saying, ‘Miss Fairy, we’re not tired yet,’ and proceeded to swing their hoes like a bunch of over-enthusiastic garden gnomes! I swear, they are like energizer bunnies with magic!” Lizbeth replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“So you let them be?”
“So I let them be, yeah. Perhaps these players are yet to be aware that eating and drinking are important.”
For players, it was highly likely that they were still thinking that this was a game and never thought of dying from such natural causes. Or perhaps they were just too eager to gain more “merit points” with no real value whatsoever.
“Hmm, I will go check on them then.” Either way, Victor didn’t want these players to die from hunger, so he approached them while still towing the huge turtle.
As Victor gradually got closer, the players seemed frozen stiff, their eyes wide in disbelief at the sight of the massive magical beast. He didn’t know whether it was the sheer size of the magical beast or the strength he exerted to drag it, but he believed that if he ever brought something even larger, they would pass out on the spot.
“Headmaster, sir! What’s that creature behind you?” one of the players finally managed to stammer.
Victor chuckled inwardly, understanding their surprise. “Oh, this? Just something I hunted on my way back from within the forest. It’s a magical beast known as a Mossback Turtle.” He paused for a moment to let the suspense sink in and then asked, “How’s the progress of plowing the field?”
“Reporting to Sir Astralium, we have plowed more or less three thousand square meters of the field these past six hours or so,” Mike responded proudly.
That was surprising.
Victor had presumed that even if they were to put their all into it without complaints, it would amount to half that at most. He then observed the players and realized that their robes had enchantments. The enchantments might not be comparable to his, but they seemed to help these players avoid easily exhausting themselves.
“Have you eaten yet?” Victor inquired.
“No, we have not…” Zero — the player who appeared to be the calmest — replied.
“Being eager to do your task is important, but taking care of yourselves is even more crucial; it won’t do any good if you collapse from hunger before the day is over. After all, I still need students to teach in my class, right? Go and get some provisions in the storage room back at the Headmaster’s Building and have some rest. Be sure to gather in the prearranged room by three o’clock sharp.” The prearranged room that Victor meant was a classroom.
The players exchanged glances, slightly taken aback by Victor’s — the headmaster’s — thoughtfulness. But soon, their faces lit up at the words spoken by Victor… These players were probably enthusiastic to hear that they were going to have the chance to learn from him.
““Y-Yes!””
“Please excuse us, esteemed Headmaster.”
The players scrambled on their feet and rushed toward the Headmaster’s Building, leaving behind five hoes on the plowed field. Since the players had done hard work, then it would only be natural for them to be rewarded.
Like all Magi, Victor believed in equal trade; to get knowledge, they had to earn it.
***
As the five players made their way to the storage room and were a distance away from Victor, the uncontained shock finally got the better of them and burst out.
“D-Did you guys see the creature brought back by the headmaster?!” Prominence raised his voice as he asked that rhetorical question.
“That must be a magical beast! Holy shit!” Mike was no less surprised.
“A-Are we going to fight something like that in the future?” However, unlike both of them, SuperNova was a bit timid in his response, but he couldn’t conceal his excitement despite that. “Luckily, I didn’t do anything foolish like running into the forest.”
Ignoring his friend’s timid reaction, Storm asserted, “That’s not even the main point here. It must have weighed tons! How’s the headmaster able to drag it around?!”
“We can assume that the existence of a Magus in this game is not only proficient in magic but also possesses extraordinary strength,” Alfred hypothesized.
“Right? It’s mind-blowing! To be able to learn from the headmaster himself… This is the first time that I’m so excited to be taught by an NPC.”
“And if the headmaster is any indication of the kind of power we can achieve, then the possibilities are endless. Who knows, maybe it’s not the pinnacle of power in this game yet.”
“It’s… just like a dream come true…”
“This game just keeps getting better and better! Glad that I signed up for it…”
As they imagined what sort of power and future awaited them, they reached the storage room. Within the pile on the side of the room were sacks filled with miscellaneous items — tools such as axes, shovels, and pickaxes were also neatly arranged there.
The players searched through the pile, and Alfred picked up a smaller sack from the side and loosened the rope that tied it up, revealing some dried meat, preserved berries, cheese, and fully filled waterskins. All in all, it was enough to feed five people for two to three days.
“Guys, I think these are the provisions that the headmaster mentioned.” He took out the dried meat, smelled it, and pressed it. Hard texture and a slightly salty scent. Yep, this is jerky.
“Looks like the game has prepared all the basic needs for us,” Mike commented.
“This thing… Can it be eaten?” Looking at the dried meat, Prominence was suspicious, though he couldn’t help but swallow as his stomach growled loudly.
“If you can actually eat food in this game, imagine all the foodies who’d be attracted to this world… Hey, Zero, why don’t you give it a shot?” Storm nudged him with his shoulder, clearly interested in the prospect of eating in the game.
Alfred hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Well, here goes nothing…” He bravely put the meat into his mouth, and as he bit into it, his teeth almost chipped. “Dang! It’s so hard and rubbery!”
“Let me try that rock-hard delicacy.” Prominence snatched the dried meat and munched on it; his eyes bulged as his teeth struggled to sink in. “This… Don’t think I can easily stomach this. Is this what acolytes eat in this game world?”
Alfred had heard that modern people’s palates were so refined that they would hunger themselves to death rather than eat trash. Apparently, this was the case even in the game.
“The game lacks a hunger bar or any other similar mechanics. Or maybe it’s hidden. Whatever the case, I’m afraid if we don’t eat it, we’ll die from hunger.” Storm gave a deep analysis and added with a concerned tone, “And speaking of which, our digestive system works the same way as in the real world. Don’t you feel anything yet?”
“Crap. Now that you said it, I suddenly want to pee…” SuperNova was holding his lower stomach as he exclaimed, “I think I’mma go to the toilet—!” and quickly rushed outside.
Inside the Headmaster's Building, there were bathrooms equipped with latrines with modern toilet-like seats. Though not as modern as their real-world counterparts, which had flush mechanisms, it was a relief for the players, especially those who were particular about cleanliness. Alfred, being a clean freak and somewhat suffering from OCD, felt grateful for this convenience — he was among the people who would go to extra lengths to poop in their own home.
Realizing that the game’s realism extended to eating and even defecating, the other four players reluctantly continued munching on the food to fill their stomachs. Unbeknownst to them, these types of food were already considered quite luxurious for commoners in this world.
