Chapter 105
In the training sessions that followed, I repeatedly realize it.
Suli is definitely a genius.
There's no other way she could learn this well.
[I made it! I made it!]
[Well done, Seol-ah! Our Suli is a genius!]
[Good job! Good job!]
I'd taught her a few simple spells, and she picked them up quickly.
Not quite at the level of copying them perfectly after seeing once, but if I explained clearly, she nailed them right away.
Testing further, Suli's magic affinities turned out to be water magic and fire magic.
She seemed to have others too, but since I could only use poison, fire, and water myself, I couldn't check in detail.
It was a shame I couldn't teach her more, but for now, I'd make sure to masterfully impart what I could.
[Master... what about me...?]
[...Sorry. I forgot for a moment.]
[Huuung─.]
...Of course, I made sure to properly look after To Soon-i too.
As I diligently taught magic to Suli and To Soon-i, Snow suddenly approached.
Had the Lizardmen's training already wrapped up?
[Their basic stamina seemed lacking, so I had them run laps.]
She'd made them circle the snowy mountain ten times—moderately, she said.
...Wasn't this snowy mountain pretty vast?
Could they really finish ten laps in a day?
It felt even wider than my detection range already...
Maybe Wise Scale, at B-rank, could manage, but the others...
[They'll handle it with grit.]
I see...
Since their instructor—no, teacher—was Snow, I didn't butt in unnecessarily.
I was plenty busy just teaching Suli.
[But wouldn't stamina training be more urgent for To Soon-i than the Lizardmen?]
[...Now that you mention it, you're right. This lady has committed a grave error.]
[I'm not fat, I just evolved like thiiis─!]
To Soon-i protested fervently, but it fell on deaf ears.
Snow immediately chased her off to circle the mountain with the Lizardmen.
Five laps for now, moderately.
Now I could proceed with lessons one-on-one with Suli.
Snow stayed too, but she was fine.
While spending this cozy time with Snow and Suli, a thought suddenly struck me.
[By the way, Snow. Just occurred to me offhand, but is it really okay with just them? What about the other monsters nearby...?]
Snow, who had been lazily basking in the sun, flinched and shuddered.
[...It'll be fine. This area is firmly this lady's territory. No lowly scum would dare touch them.]
[...If so, that's a relief, but...]
[Don't worry too much. If any trash does come at them, they'll break through with grit.]
[......]
Something felt terribly ominous.
And sure enough, soon a Surprise Bird came flying in urgently from afar.
From what it reported, a wolf pack had ambushed them.
I glanced at Snow, and she averted her eyes.
[Th-that much is nothing. They have to push through with grit!]
We moved out quickly after that.
Suli, riding on my head after a long while, looked thrilled.
[Daddy, ruuun!]
* * *
The wolves that ambushed the Lizardmen were Snow Ice Wolves, monsters inhabiting the snowy mountain zone.
B-rank. They usually moved in packs of seven or eight—average strength for the zone.
'With the Lizardmen's numbers, they won't get wiped out at once...'
Plus, with Wise Scale and the triplets there, no immediate crisis.
But dragging it out would be dangerous.
The Lizardmen only had one B-rank: Wise Scale.
The triplets were C-rank, and most Lizardmen still E-rank. If the fight prolonged, the wolves would have the edge.
I started getting worried.
More than that, didn't the Lizardmen have some bad blood with wolves no matter how I thought about it?
First in the forest zone, now here too...
There had to be something to it.
But the scene that unfolded before me upon hasty arrival was a bit different from what I'd imagined.
"Zuaaaah─!!!"
Wise Scale and the triplets roared triumphantly, trampling wolf corpses.
[Behold! As this lady said, it was nothing grit couldn't handle!]
No, you guys. Aren't you the only B-rank, Wise Scale?
Triplets are definitely C-rank, right?
Even with the other Lizardmen's help, how did you take down eight B-rank monsters...?
[With grit!]
[Grit!]
...In the half-day I left them with Snow for training, something big must've happened.
Turned out there was a reason they won.
The gear we'd taken from those hunters before was top-notch.
Truly, gear carries both people and monsters.
And To Soon-i, joining late, apparently shone too.
She didn't fight directly but supported from the rear with impressive skill.
Pii─ piiit!
[Ahem! I can do it when I tryyy!]
Looks like To Soon-i really learned properly from Snow.
I hadn't noticed earlier since I just skimmed.
Thus, this ambush ended as a mere incident.
Afterward, I stopped the Lizardmen from resuming their ten snowy mountain laps.
Time to tweak the plan a bit.
[Dissatisfied with this lady's training methods?]
[No, nothing like that. Just thought of a better way.]
[A better way...?]
[A betteer way?]
Snow tilted her head, and Suli mimicked her.
I healed a bit just watching them.
[Yeah. Nothing beats real combat for training, as always.]
[...I see. That's what you meant.]
[I see. That's whaaat you meaaant.]
Snow nodded deeply with a meaningful smile, as if enlightened.
I lightly petted Suli, who copied her.
[Real combat isn't training anymore thoo...]
I ignored To Soon-i's quiet mutter.
I was busy petting Suli's head.
Anyway, the Lizardmen had proven their potential by felling the wolves, so it was my turn to respond.
They'd already downed wolves, so next up: buffalos.
Don't worry too much—their rank is a mere C.
You guys took B-ranks; you can handle them.
[They're definitely weaker than wolves, but... even wolves avoid them because of their numbers...]
Stop nitpicking, To Soon-i.
Want me to roast you well-done this time?
Your fat's nicely marbled now...
[S-sorryyy! I was wrooong, Master! Forgive meee─!!!]
Thus, the Lizardmen set out to hunt buffalos.
[Meaat! Meat comiiing! Beeef─!]
Suli's delight warmed my heart.
Yeah, as always, as long as our Suli's happy, it's all good.
These buffalos, called Mountain Buffalos, were "cows" in name only—carnivores, through and through.
The monster vibe, I suppose?
Well, with barely a blade of grass in this barren land, they had no choice.
Anyway, these carnivorous buffalo monsters always moved in herds of 40 or 50.
Not just the numbers—their ears were sharp, picking up distant sounds keenly.
Back when I hunted buffalo herds often, they'd come running at Suli's cries, so this time too, it was Suli's moment to shine.
Go wild, Suli.
Chase those Lizardman uncles hard.
[Tag! I'm it!]
Suli yelled excitedly and dashed off dada-da.
The flustered Lizardmen awkwardly started fleeing.
As I watched fondly for a moment, To Soon-i grumbled jealously beside me.
[Stolen... it's all stolen... To Soon-i's one true purpose...!]
-I can't forgive this!
To Soon-i glared at Suli and the Lizardmen chasing and fleeing busily.
I glanced at her and shrugged lightly.
To Soon-i's purpose had gained a new one the moment her evolution was confirmed.
[Emergency rations.]
To Soon-i shuddered at my casual mutter.
[B-baby! Me too...! Include To Soon-i toooo!]
She rolled degul-degul and belatedly joined the herd.
Snow watched quietly, then chuckled softly.
[You're too harsh on To Soon-i.]
[Ahh, her reactions are just so good. Fun to tease.]
Snow shook her head lightly at my nonchalant nod of agreement.
[Go easy. The kid's spirit is fragile already. What if she keels over from a heart attack?]
[...True, the rabbits here all have weak hearts. Fine, I'll hold back from now on.]
Only then did Snow nod in satisfaction.
Seems while I was away, Snow had fully accepted To Soon-i.
Not quite at Suli's level, but she saw her as family now?
The lingering awkwardness from before I left was gone.
But more than that, Snow.
I wasn't joking this time...
Her tail thwacked me into a mess.
My scales boomed thump-thump—looks like Snow had Tail Strike too.
It hurt a lot.
No, it was a joke.
As Snow and I bantered lightly, presences began stirring from afar.
Dozens charging straight this way.
Undoubtedly the buffalo herd.
They really don't learn.
Snow and I exchanged glances.
After a brief eye contact, we nodded in unison.
I'll watch Suli.
You watch To Soon-i?
Wouldn't it be better for To Soon-i to hunt together?
Too soon for her?
She did pretty well earlier...
Understood. I'll defer to the missus.
Then I'll handle Suli, you take To Soon-i...
Thwacked by her tail again.
Stop joking.
I just called her missus...
Feels unfair somehow.
By now, the fully adapted Lizardmen and still-playing-tag Suli noticed quietly.
The prey approaching.
They steeled their battle spirits.
It's real combat, but don't tense up too much.
Worst case, Snow and I are here.
Snow's a master healer—if you're not stone dead, she'll revive you.
She'll save you right before you croak.
Yeah, as I said before, this is still part of training.
Just one step in getting stronger.
So don't worry about the aftermath—fight hard.
Focus only on the enemy in front of you.
Endless battle aura poured from the Lizardmen.
Much better sight than before.
Yes, now they can fight properly.
[Meat's coming? Beeeef?]
Suli whispered quietly from atop my head, and even Righty nodded eagerly, unusually pumped.
[Meaaat! Tasty meaaat!]
Suli's excitement warmed my heart.
And soon, the awaited buffalos arrived.
The two sides, after a brief standoff, dove straight into battle.