"This training is simple, so endure it for as long as you can, Enrico."
"All right."
Enrico was wrapped in thorn-covered vines. The poison running through these plants had paralyzing properties capable of stopping blood flow. Virelle watched as he endured the effects of the magic and tightened her hand even further, increasing the pressure of the vines.
Even so, Enrico didn't utter a single complaint or cry of pain. He kept his lips tightly pressed together, enduring the suffering while blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
'His mental endurance is very strong. Perhaps it's the result of everything he endured in that future.'
This training had several objectives. The first was to increase Enrico's resistance to poisons and curses, which were characteristics of the magic Virelle was using. To develop this resistance, she had explained that he needed to continuously try to create that poison and curse inside his own body, something that would be easier because she was using his body.
'By doing this, he'll develop a natural resistance to both. I'll train him so that when something similar happens, he can react automatically without needing to consciously give himself an order.'
The second objective was to improve his mana control under pressure. By attempting to stop his own blood flow, Enrico risked dying. To survive, he needed to use his mana to prevent his blood from becoming completely paralyzed, learning to resist even in situations where his body suffered some kind of blockage. Very few people could accomplish something like that.
'With this body, he might be able to do it. After all, accomplishing such a feat would require a body far above average or an absurd level of control over one's own mana.'
The third objective was to increase his resistance to pain, getting him accustomed to enduring the effects of magic above his level. To her surprise, Enrico was adapting very well.
The fourth objective was to strengthen his mental fortitude, while the fifth was to try to awaken some hidden ability.
If Enrico possessed a dormant ability, extreme training could serve as a trigger to awaken it. Naturally, this would depend on whether he had such an ability in the first place.
"Very good. Ten minutes have already passed. Today's training is over."
"Yes, ma'am."
As soon as Virelle dispelled the vines, Enrico tried to remain standing, but his legs almost gave way. If the professor hadn't caught him in time, he would have fallen to the ground. She helped him reach the chair she had left nearby.
'Her training is harder than I imagined.'
[Regretting it?]
'Actually, I'm quite grateful for this.'
Even before beginning the training with the vines, Enrico had already spent six hours training, with only two breaks during that period. His body seemed on the verge of falling apart, and much of that was due to Virelle's dangerous magic.
'Her magic is dangerous... I have a feeling her training might be worse than Matteo's in the future.'
"Natural Healing."
Feeling Virelle's magic envelop his body, Enrico relaxed his muscles. The pain gradually subsided, giving way to a pleasant feeling of relief.
[These are only the first few days of training, and you're already like this. Well, at least she's allowing you to rest, unlike Matteo.]
'As you said yourself, these are only the first few days.'
"All right, I'm finished. But before you leave, what kind of adventure are you planning?"
Virelle's original plan had been to put Enrico through intense training on Saturday and Sunday. However, since he had asked permission to go out with some classmates on those days, she decided to allow it. After all, that adventure could involve important events for the future.
"I'm going into a dungeon in a city near Kalir, close to the largest tree in Sanos."
"Is something going to happen there?"
"It's nothing serious. I'm going to retrieve an item since Kai and the others won't be able to come."
"You have a lot of faith in Kai. He must have been someone important."
"Yes, he became very strong..."
Enrico sighed while Virelle looked at him.
"Thank you very much for the training, Professor. I'll see you when I return."
After saying goodbye, Enrico hurried off to get ready.
To be honest, that adventure was part of an arc in the original story in which Kai found an Ocean Stone, an item capable of increasing the power of his ocean magic. Originally, he would only use that item in the future, after awakening his magic. However, since he had already awakened that power, obtaining the stone now would be an excellent way to strengthen him quickly.
'The only problem is that, since events are changing, the characters who were supposed to participate in this adventure already have other places to go.'
Kai would return to his hometown once again because he had discovered the existence of a secret room thanks to the fairy with whom he had formed a contract. Originally, that fairy shouldn't yet have possessed the ability to locate something like that. However, since Kai had refined his magic even further, she had evolved automatically as well. Thanks to this, a secret he would only discover at eighteen would be revealed much earlier: information about increasing the potency of his second magic.
'I'm not complaining. This is great. I was already thinking about revealing this secret when he awakened his second magic.'
[How would you do that without raising suspicions?]
'Since he's an idiot, I'd simply ask to visit his house. Then, by accident, I'd touch the wrong spot and activate the mechanism.'
[How brilliant. Taking advantage of other people's stupidity... Well, it's not a bad plan.]
There was also Valença, but just like Kai, she would return to her hometown to retrieve her staff, which had been enhanced by an alchemist.
The other participants would have been Tolen and three students who were part of the protagonist's squad. However, they had all given up. One of them belonged to Class C and left the academy around the time of the zombie dungeon, while the other two were from Class B and had been defeated by Elian when he climbed the rankings. Since they didn't have enough confidence to continue, they decided to leave.
'That's a little unfortunate.'
Enrico had even tried to convince them to stay, but they didn't want to change their minds. In the end, he simply asked them to keep training, become stronger, and not give up on their goals. He hoped his words would have some effect.
'At least all the characters from Classes A and S are doing fine.'
After picking up his backpack, Enrico left and came across Yumeha, who was waiting for him with a worried expression. He had already spoken to her about what had happened, and that had only increased the girl's desire to accompany him more often, to protect him and prevent him from having to make so many sacrifices. The previous night, she had even hugged him while sleeping.
"Master, why can't I go?"
"...Calm down, Yumeha. I'm only going to retrieve an item. It's nothing that risky."
"But..."
If the conversation continued like that, it was entirely possible that Yumeha would decide to follow him secretly. Enrico didn't want to take her for two simple reasons. First, that dungeon only allowed six people to enter. Second, since the main characters couldn't participate, he wanted to discover how much the others had improved.
Therefore, he decided to explain the situation more clearly, including the dungeon's restrictions and why he couldn't take her with him.
"I understand, but if that's the case, why don't you take me along to test my abilities too? That way, I can take care of you."
"Because I already have complete confidence in you and the others."
Yumeha's eyes widened, and her face began to turn red. The thought that her master trusted her so much was a wonderful feeling, to the point that she began to stutter.
"E-Even so..."
"How about we do this? If you stay, I'll give you a reward when I return."
[Another one?]
"What reward?"
Enrico moved closer to her face, making her cheeks turn even redder. Then he walked past her and lightly touched her shoulder.
"You'll find out when I return."
"B-But..."
Enrico went to meet the others, leaving Yumeha behind with her head completely confused. As she tried to guess what reward she would receive and why he had moved so close to her, the girl remained standing still, unable to think about anything else. The same was happening with the System, which was cursing Enrico with all its might inside his mind.