Fifty-ninth year before the Sinseki Era, the first year of the Hero party's departure.
The sixth day of the journey to find Serie, the second day of Himmel and others' visit—
After yesterday's conversation with Agusheed,
Under Frieren's guidance, they spent an afternoon roughly familiarizing themselves with the area around the castle,
Then selected their respective guest rooms according to their needs,
Finally, after dinner where they sampled Agusheed's cooking and briefly chatted with the Hero of the South—
The hero party, having their most comfortable sleep since the journey began, slowly opened their eyes to a new day.
Then they enjoyed their last day of rest on the Heaven Vein Dragon's back.
That's right, the 'hero party'—
Even Frieren herself was not exempt from the training personnel.
The most foolish little daughter was once again included in her old father's teaching roster.
Frieren initially had no complaints or objections about this.
After all, given the Heaven Vein Dragon's speed, they wouldn't be staying here for many days anyway.
Until after resting for a morning—
Standing in the flower garden courtyard admiring the flowers, she clearly felt signs that the Heaven Vein Dragon was slowing down.
The magic little elf realized something was wrong.
After simple measurements, Frieren discovered—
At this turtle's pace, the Heaven Vein Dragon would need at least a month to reach the Village of Swords.
In other words...
Agusheed planned to keep them here training for a month!!
Without need for words, Frieren, who discovered this first, directly protested to her old father.
But unsurprisingly,
Under the Hero of the South's complex gaze, her protest was rejected as usual.
Out of his own selfish motives—
Wanting his stupid disciple to live a few more days,
Wanting his little daughter to keep him company,
And wanting to take this opportunity to torment the blue-haired guy, Agusheed calmly threw her out of the room.
However, to say her protest was completely ineffective wouldn't be accurate.
Because Agusheed's original plan was to start this afternoon,
But after Frieren's display—
The old father, who had obviously misunderstood something, glanced at the blue-haired guy through the window and temporarily changed his mind.
He waved his hand, giving the hero party one more afternoon off.
Then turned around and individually modified the training plan for a certain someone.
The oblivious Himmel's response to this was—
"I didn't expect this future father-in-law to be quite nice..."
"I'm sure his teaching methods will be understanding too."
—
In the afternoon, while alone with Frieren wandering around—
Just after passing the Heart Lake and before being called alone to the study by Agusheed...
Himmel indeed thought this way.
—
Click—
The study door was gently pushed open by Himmel after politely knocking twice.
The classical-style study with considerable historical atmosphere reflected in his eyes.
However, unexpectedly...
The main seat of the study was actually empty.
Agusheed, who had used Communication Magic to call Himmel to the study...
Unexpectedly arrived a step later than his anxious future son-in-law.
"Is Mr. Agusheed delayed by something?"
With questions in mind, Himmel sat restrainedly in the guest seat across from the desk.
He glanced at the time on the clock, then turned back to slowly wait for Agusheed's arrival.
Agusheed's movements were indeed quite slow.
Himmel sat here anxiously for half an hour without seeing his figure.
But the blue-haired hero didn't develop any negative emotions because of this.
He just sat silently at the desk, quietly waiting.
There weren't many magic tomes on the desk, and Himmel didn't face many obstacles.
So although he wasn't deliberately surveying, sitting at the desk,
He inevitably saw the old notebook placed across from him.
Old but clean pages lay openly there without concealment.
An adventure journal written in two completely different handwritings was just placed on the desk.
However, because it was upside down and Himmel wasn't observing deliberately,
Having only glanced briefly, he only made out a few scattered terms—
Sky Garden, Inverted Pyramid, Fallen Royal Tomb, Tower of a Thousand Mirrors...
Himmel knew the last two names.
Because these two legendary labyrinths were among the highest in fame and difficulty in the world.
So as an adventurer and hero, it would be hard not to know about them.
But the first two names...
Himmel touched his chin and thought seriously for a moment.
Hmm...
Whether dungeons or labyrinths, these were terms he'd never heard of...
Click—
The sound of a door opening without warning interrupted Himmel's thoughts.
Turning his head lightly, under his gaze, Agusheed unhurriedly stepped into the study.
He held an old parchment loosely in his hand, calmly sitting in his main seat.
"Sorry for the wait..."
"Some things have been stored too long, so finding it took me quite some time—"
Facing his future father-in-law's overly distant politeness...
Himmel chose to respond with courtesy and a smile.
"I just arrived too, just a few minutes, far from being a long wait."
Sweet talk...
Under the strongest Grand Demon's thousand years of experience, the blue-haired hero's honeyed words had no effect.
Agusheed simply shook his head slightly and got to the point.
He placed the old parchment in his hand before Himmel, stating the reason for calling him here.
"Do you have any personal plans for your training schedule over the next month?"
"If you do, write them down according to your thoughts."
"Afterward, I'll refer to your plans to create a training schedule for you."
Thoughts on... the training plan?
Write it down... refer to my needs to create one?
For a moment, Himmel even thought he had misheard.
This this this... this isn't right—
Calling only me for something like this, isn't this a bit too considerate?
Looking at the paper and pen placed before him, Himmel's hands felt restless.
Although Agusheed's meaning was simple and clear enough,
Himmel still looked up to confirm Agusheed's expression.
Not joking...
Mr. Agusheed is indeed serious...
"Don't worry about anything, just follow your own thoughts—"
"Write down your plans for the next month's training time."
Agusheed's second gentle reminder finally made Himmel resolutely pick up the pen and paper.
He lowered his head and began thinking under his future father-in-law's gaze.
"Mr. Agusheed calling only me alone to ask separately definitely isn't that simple..."
"Wait..."
"I understand—"
"Mr. Agusheed is definitely doing this to test me."
"'Referring to my plans'..."
"Isn't this testing whether I'm worthy of being entrusted with her?!"
Feeling he understood everything, Himmel's breathing became somewhat rapid.
Believing he grasped the deep meaning contained within, he suppressed his smile.
Raising his pen, Himmel resolutely wrote what he considered the perfect answer.
[4:00-6:00 Wake up and run to exercise and maintain speed and endurance]
[6:00-12:00 Practice swordsmanship]
[12:00-18:00 Strengthen five senses, train reaction time and practice handling various emergency situations in advance]
[18:00-24:00 Combat training, accumulate experience in battle and improve swordsmanship]
Although somewhat unsatisfied, to avoid appearing too outrageous
Or leaving a bad impression on Agusheed,
Himmel added a rest period for himself with guilt and reluctance.
[24:00-4:00 Evening rest and summarize the day's gains and losses]
Perfect—
Whether in wording or character presentation, I've done it flawlessly.
What?
You ask why there's no meal time?
What are you babbling about?
Even if I don't write it, wouldn't Mr. Agusheed consider this point?
Fantasizing about marrying the white-haired elf and reaching the peak of herodom...
Himmel handed the parchment back to Agusheed with an uncontrollable upward curve to his mouth.
Hmm?
What he wrote... is quite beyond my expectations...
Is he usually this disciplined and brave?
Agusheed roughly scanned the text,
Then couldn't help but look up, gazing quite gravely at the still-grinning Himmel.
Twice as high as my expected standard, and almost leaving no time for eating or resting—
"How did they say it in my past life..."
"This child is terrifyingly formidable?"
Agusheed chuckled at Himmel, then asked another question crucial to his future.
"I have quite a few sword techniques and combat arts that suit warriors like you—"
"Let me list them in detail for you. After listening, decide which ones you want to learn."
—
Five minutes later, in the study echoing with the bold declaration of 'I want them all'—
Agusheed looked at the now-empty chair across from him.
His cold gaze rarely carried a few traces of appreciation and anticipation.
Raising the magic tool in his hand that was originally custom-made for Frieren in Flamme's vision—
Agusheed watched as the text on it disappeared line by line.
The color also slowly changed from withered yellow to dark green, then from dark green to deep red.
When the parchment turned deep red, the writing had completely disappeared—
But its color didn't stop changing.
As if recalling the final conversation between Agusheed and Himmel just now,
The deep red was instantly swallowed by endless darkness.
Then it gradually scattered like burned fragments in Agusheed's hands,
Floating toward...
The direction Himmel had departed.
"Equal Contract, 'magic of equivalent exchange'—"
"I provide that knowledge and experience, you provide your effort and sweat..."
"A fair trade, isn't it?"
Watching the last trace of darkness gradually leave his hands,
Agusheed showed an expectant expression in his murmur.
—
Fifty-ninth year before the Sinseki Era, the first year of the hero party's departure.
The seventh day of the journey to find Serie.
The first day of Agusheed training the hero party—
The sky was heavily black, and the moon still hung high in the distance.
Sleeping in a beautiful dream of marrying Frieren, standing in the groom's position, Himmel—
Suddenly saw dark, twisted, and eerie text slowly appear before his eyes.
[Magic Tool - Equal Contract has taken effect]
[Contractor - Agusheed reminds you]
[You are currently in the running time you planned—]
[Please enter appropriate training according to the contract you voluntarily signed and the terms you established]
[Otherwise, you will be punished by Annihilation Lightning Release Magic.]
Himmel: "?"
What kind of strange nightmare am I having again?
Is this thing even in the same art style as me?
And appearing at this exact moment...
Is it because I can't believe there could be a future where she and I love each other—
So this kind of interlude appears in my dream to interrupt my fantasy?
Looking at the white-haired elf in a wedding dress standing before him,
The Himmel in his dream smiled bitterly with melancholy.
Following this, the real him lying in bed lightly turned over.
[Equal Contract reminds you again—]
[Irregular promise-keeping, loved ones shed two lines of tears—]
[Please immediately enter training state according to your plan.]
[...]
[Three, two, one]
[Annihilation Lightning Release Magic, one percent power—]
[Release]
Except for the sleeping Frieren, Heiter, and Eisen,
Everyone else—
Whether Agusheed sitting in the study,
The Hero of the South currently on his morning run,
Or the violin lady who got up early to forage—
All heard at the same time that scream that pierced the clouds under the thunderous roar.
"What is this aaaaaaahhhhh!!"
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Powerstones?
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