Published: August 2, 2025
Today, five chapters are posted simultaneously.
This story is the second chapter.
The Founding Festival, on the day of the event.
It had been about two weeks since Soldio and the others began teaching me the techniques of sword dance performers.
He pointed out that while my sword skills were impeccable, I lacked practical combat experience with magic. After highlighting this issue, he focused on helping me improve my mastery of magic and how to use it while moving, teaching me training methods accordingly.
I practiced casting magic emphasizing speed over power, and releasing spells continuously at regular intervals. Of course, in such a short time, I am far from having fully mastered it. But compared to before, he said there was noticeable improvement, especially in accuracy and movements when casting spells.
Having a mentor makes a big difference.
For my daily basic training each morning, I incorporated a charging exercise using two types of metals—Metal and Iron—based on the firewood from that day.
Metal lumps flying at high speed nonstop from all directions at 360 degrees provide excellent practice for my dodging and parrying skills. The toughness of these two metals combined with my own energy-based self-enhancement means this training is effective. If either were missing, it could become very dangerous... but for now, it's manageable.
It seems to serve as attack practice for the slimes as well. Yesterday, I saw a slime taking down a cave mantis that had snuck in from somewhere. There had been instances before where they defeated intruders by accident, but now they seem to recognize collisions as an offensive tactic.
This means they could be a good defense force for the abandoned mine shaft, so I plan to continue their training going forward.
The tunnel ants that had appeared on the grasslands were dealt with swiftly by the Guild, prioritizing the safety of the highway. Thanks to the combined efforts of human wave tactics and the power of magical beasts, damage to the town and the distribution network was prevented. Though the town was somewhat stirred up, the extermination was complete. Now, sightseers are flocking to the town, and a festive atmosphere fills the air.
On such a morning,
everyone gathered at the shop looking determined.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, Ryoma-kun. Want one for breakfast?"
"Thank you very much."
I accepted a hot dog prepared both as breakfast and for final equipment checks.
"Ryoma-kun, if you'd like, come over here..."
"Thank you, Mr. Zeke."
Zeke from the butcher shop invited me over.
"Gladly. This place sure has changed a lot."
Indeed. There was nothing here at first, but now many things stand tall.
Facing the road is the entrance on one side, and right in the center opposite it stands the stage of the Semiroid troupe. Someone in the troupe has such skills and led the effort; with materials brought from somewhere, the stage was assembled in no time.
Since the tunnel ant extermination was underway, I didn’t see the construction, but I think it was completed in just one or two days.
Chairs and tables lined up in front of the stage. Though the spacing seems somewhat wide and a little disorderly, under Mr. Prenance’s supervision, the layout considered sightlines to the stage and smooth movement for the audience.
To the left of the stage, on our shop's side, are food and drink stalls; to the right, Morgan Trading Company’s stalls. Together, they create an atmosphere similar to a food court in a department store.
Behind the stalls on both sides, space was prepared: Morgan Trading Company uses theirs as a warehouse; ours serves as a delivery route for prepped goods and as the wings of the Semiroid stage, separated by hanging curtains and stone walls extending from the stage.
Additionally, public restrooms were installed in a corner for visitors and passersby to use freely. Of course, slimes and shop products were used to the fullest in this.
For now, all preparations that could be done have been completed.
"Now we just wait for the festival to start."