Chapter 15
Nearly two months had passed since he began subjugating monsters.
Kallion had given him his seal of approval, declaring him a full-fledged warrior, and Claude was now spending his days going to the forest alone.
Perhaps as a result of his training, he had newly acquired a skill called Presence Detection, and he repeatedly found groups of monsters on his own and annihilated them.
Not only did he subjugate monsters, but he also gathered medicinal herbs and other materials by cross-referencing them with an encyclopedia, and Claude’s Item Box was stocked with a large quantity of materials.
While Claude was exploring the forest alone, an old man came to visit the Prominence House estate.
He was a Sage who had responded to the recruitment for Claude’s tutor, which Finel had been searching for for some time.
Finel instructed for the old man to be guided to the study immediately and went to greet him.
“Thank you for taking the trouble to come.”
“My name is Netzal. I’ve been thinking of retiring soon, and I was considering taking on a disciple.”
Netzal the Sage was famous as an individual who could wield advanced magic and was also well-versed in alchemy.
“I apologize for having you visit when he’s not here, but my son is currently out exploring the forest.”
“He seems to be quite an active child, doesn’t he?”
“I believe he should be returning soon, so please wait here.”
As Finel and Netzal continued their pleasant conversation, there was a knock on the door.
“Father. I heard you called for me?”
“Claude, you’ve come at a good time. This is Sage Netzal-dono, who will be your teacher.”
“My name is Claude. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I heard you go to the forest alone, so I was expecting a much older child, but to think you were such a young boy.”
“He may look like this, but he’s strong enough to be more powerful than the knights in our order, you know.”
“Stronger than the elite knights of Prominence, you say. Even if blessed with talent, results shouldn’t come without effort. This child seems worth teaching. How much magic can you use?”
“I’ve used magic up to the intermediate level. I think I can use advanced magic, but there’s no place to cast it.”
“Hmm, hmm. Indeed, if you cast advanced magic without thinking, the damage to the surroundings would be extraordinary.”
“So, I guess I really can’t practice advanced magic, can I?”
“No, no. I shall prepare an environment where you can cast it.”
“Really?”
“I was thinking of having you learn not only magic but primarily alchemy as well. What do you say?”
“I don’t have an alchemy skill, but I am interested.”
“Even without a skill, I’ll train you to become a first-rate alchemist. Finel-dono. There are some materials I’ll need you to prepare for teaching alchemy; would you be able to procure them?”
“It’s for my son. Please leave it to me.”
And so, Claude came to receive instruction from Sage Netzal.