To the Sage's Forest (1)
"Let's go with this."
He said as he handed over the paper, and Otar Goldsmith's face twisted upon receiving it.
"Are you insane?"
"Like when we first met, I'm always perfectly sane."
"...Yeah, that's right. You've been a mad bastard from the day we met, just like now."
As in any typical fantasy novel, even the Royal Academy's Sword Saint depicted dragons as one of the strongest creatures in this world.
Even a hatchling was a being of such overwhelming power that any swordsman below Sword Master rank couldn't even lift their head against it.
Of course, even a Sword Master would be committing suicide unless they were among the elite—fighting a dragon hatchling was no joke.
Such a creature, equivalent to a dragon hatchling, was far beyond what a single adventurer could handle.
At minimum, it required a national force: a well-organized knight order with both quantity and quality.
'So if I take this thing down...'
That would prove I'm stronger than Peter van Fortress and his entire knight order—me, who's mastered Battōjutsu.
With his goal set, Ian spoke to Otar, ready to head to the Sage's Forest right then and there.
"Anyway, I've already decided. Just lend me two decent katanas."
The reverse blade sword Otar had forged was far superior to anything an average swordsmith could produce, but it was still a reverse blade sword.
With his current skill, facing a monstrous beast comparable to a young dragon was too much for a reverse blade.
"...I got two decent ones lying around. Their quality's about on par with that Jinta on your hip."
"Perfect. Lend me those. No promises I'll bring 'em back in one piece, though."
"...They're just scraps I hammered out in my spare time anyway. Break 'em all you want. But do you really need to go that far?"
"Pardon?"
Ian tilted his head, not grasping the meaning, and Otar continued.
"You came here today to get a katana strong enough to take on someone like Peter, right?"
"...Yeah?"
"Then why bother going there at all? You already have a sword on that level with Jinta."
Otar added that a mere academy student like him wouldn't often face foes on par with the royal knight captain.
He had a point—there was no immediate need to risk his life forging something that powerful.
At least, not on the surface.
Ian knew the academy's true level all too well. He was aware that in a few months, cultists or demon worshippers would come crashing in.
He had no way to explain it, but to survive this academy—and for even more satisfying draws—he needed to grow stronger, and fast.
And... on a more personal note, he lacked experience fighting magical beasts, so he was itching to unleash a Battōjutsu on one.
"My actions might seem weird to you, but there's a rational reason behind every one."
"I doubt the day'll ever come when your actions feel rational to me... but fine, whatever."
Otar sighed in exasperation but granted the request.
"I'll have 'em ready at the new forge by nightfall. You go prep for the trek to the Sage's Forest."
There'd be no inns where a beast rivaling a dragon hatchling lurked, so he'd be roughing it outdoors for days at least.
'First things first: rations...'
Top priorities: preserved food for a few weeks, spare clothes, and potions for emergencies.
All easily bought with coin, which put his mind at ease.
"I'll swing by tonight then."
Leaving the forge, Ian headed straight to the general store where he'd bought stationery to send that letter to Jessica von Grind.
This city had plenty of commoners and poor nobles like him who adventured in their spare time to make ends meet.
So these shops stocked rations for multi-day trips.
The shopkeeper eyed the student out this early with suspicion.
But he said nothing, just handed over the food.
'That leaves...'
Rations secured, clothes back at the dorm—so just potions for emergencies.
'Maybe hit up Hori for some?'
Money wasn't the issue; he was curious about her father's researched potions, and since he'd be gone weeks, a quick hello was in order.
Back at the dorm with his bulk rations, Ian packed clothes and food into his bag.
Seeing the backpack bulge like the one Hori had carried yesterday made it real: he was leaving the academy soon.
'Sage's Forest, huh...'
He knew its rough location from the info sheet's simple map, but nothing more.
Not even mentioned in the original story, so it might be something added like the next Sword Saint—or altered somehow.
'...Guess I'll find out when I get there.'
Odd that a beast rivaling a young dragon hadn't caused a stir, but he'd see soon enough.
Given the name Sage's Forest, maybe it had some mage-related history?
He'd love to check the library, but confinement meant no academy facilities outside the dorms.
Yesterday, he'd eaten outside since he couldn't enter the cafeteria.
'No point overthinking it.'
No answers from mulling alone, so he shelved the forest and focused on potions.
To get potions, he needed Hori—but confinement barred academy facilities.
No choice: he headed to the women's dorm where her room was.
Wait inside, and she'd return after classes.
Decision made, he snuck through the sparse crowd like a thief toward the women's dorm.
Rules forbade opposite-sex dorm entry, so stealth it was.
'Commoner rooms were near mine...'
Assuming women's dorm layout matched, Hori's should be near baron or lesser baron rooms.
Searching quietly, he soon spotted her nameplate in a dim corner without sunlight.
He tried the knob—locked, as expected.
Could smash it, but that'd blow his cover.
Exiting the dorm, he circled around to her window.
Gripping tiny wall holds, he climbed up to it.
If the window was shut too, he was out of luck.
Praying Hori's subtle sloppiness held, he grasped it—and it slid open smoothly, like it read his mind.
Someone might spot him, so he slipped inside fast.
Once in, he shut the window and dodged scattered empty bottles and research papers to stand on a cleaner floor patch.
'Hori's the same type as Otar, huh...'
Crumpled papers rolled like tumbleweeds from a western across the floor from her desk.
Trash bin overflowed; bed was clean-ish, but everywhere else was a mess.
'Even keeps animals.'
Scanning, he spotted a caged white rat on her desk.
Lab animal or pet? The wheel suggested maybe pet.
Watching it spin, his eye caught a research note on the desk; he picked one up.
No alchemy knowledge, but it detailed experiments heating alchemical ingredients with mana to observe property changes.
Skimming, one name jumped out.
'Pascotamine?'
He knew it despite no alchemy training: it appeared in the original novel.
Pascotamine.
Described as a red herb-like plant; refined and ingested, it caused excruciating pain—a deadly poison.
In the story, it was used to torture someone, he recalled.
'Why research this?'
Heri family specialized in body-enhancing drugs, right?
"Hmm..."
Suspicious vibe, but poisons could become medicines.
Halkas could repel invaders if used right—he'd done it a few times.
Maybe Pascotamine had another use.
Replacing the notes, he waited; soon sunset brought students trickling back.
-Thud thud.
Footsteps approached Hori's door; to avoid startling her, Ian hid behind it.
Moments later, the door opened; Hori entered with a weary sigh.
From his hiding spot, Ian lunged, clamping her mouth to stifle any scream.
"Mmph...!!"
Startled, she thrashed to escape—but futile.
No way an alchemist could overpower someone trained in Battōjutsu.
"Hori...! It's me, Ian...!"
She kept struggling fiercely, so he whispered in her ear.
Only then did she stop, trembling as she turned.
"...Calm down. I'm letting go now—don't scream or freak out, got it?"
Slowly releasing, she gasped raggedly.
"I-Ian? Why are you here...?!"
"Got a favor to ask. Wanted to do it normally, but confinement means no academy facilities..."
Hori nodded, grasping the situation.
"Wh-what's the favor? I'll help if I can."
"Yeah, you got any good potions?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm heading out now to fight a magical beast on par with a young dragon."