Chapter 5: Suspicions and Petitions

The morning sun crept through the velvet curtains of Ryuto's room, casting a soft glow over the luxurious furniture and high ceilings of the Velclair Estate. Ryuto stirred beneath the covers, stretching his sore limbs and letting out a long, contented sigh. The thrill of last night's adventure still lingered in his mind, the memory of the Forest Boar charging at him flashing through his thoughts like a vivid dream.

They had done it, he and Roland had defeated a real monster, and Roland had even leveled up. It was their first true taste of adventuring, and now, more than ever, Ryuto felt the pull to dive deeper into that world.

But as the excitement of the previous night slowly faded, reality set in. They had snuck out, fought a dangerous creature, and returned without anyone at the estate noticing, or so they thought.

Ryuto rolled out of bed, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at his smartphone on the bedside table. No new notifications, no sudden level-ups for him. He frowned slightly, wondering how long it would take before he reached the next level. Roland already got his, so I can't be that far behind, he thought.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.

"Ryuto, are you awake?" came the familiar voice of Celeste, his older sister. Her tone was sweet, but there was something in it that made Ryuto's stomach twist with unease.

"Uh, yeah! Just getting dressed!" Ryuto called, quickly throwing on his clothes. The events of last night suddenly felt much more risky. He hadn't seen Celeste when they snuck back in, but her timing this morning seemed... suspicious.

The door creaked open, and Celeste stepped into the room, her usual elegant grace in every movement. She wore a soft blue gown that trailed behind her, and her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders. But it was her eyes that made Ryuto freeze, sharp, knowing, and fixed right on him.

"You seem a bit tired this morning," Celeste said with a small smile, though there was a clear hint of curiosity in her voice. "Late night, perhaps?"

Ryuto's heart skipped a beat. Does she know? Did she see us?

He forced a smile, trying to keep his voice casual. "Uh, yeah. I, um… stayed up reading."

Celeste raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly grin. "Reading, hmm? That's not usually your thing, little brother."

"Yeah, well, I'm trying to improve," Ryuto said quickly, feeling beads of sweat form at the back of his neck. He moved toward his desk, pretending to fiddle with some of his notes, but he could feel Celeste's eyes on him, studying him like she was piecing together a puzzle.

"Interesting," Celeste mused, taking a step closer. "You know, Ryuto, I saw something strange last night. The guards reported hearing noises from the forest. They said it sounded like something big, but by the time they investigated, the disturbance was gone."

Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest. Stay calm. Don't give anything away.

"Huh. Weird," Ryuto said, his voice a little too high. "Probably just animals or something. You know how the woods are at night."

Celeste hummed softly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Perhaps. Or maybe someone was out there when they weren't supposed to be."

There was a long pause, the air thick with tension. Ryuto could feel his face growing hotter under her gaze, but he refused to let her crack his defenses. After what felt like an eternity, Celeste let out a soft laugh, the tension breaking like a snapped string.

"Well, whatever it was, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," she said with a smile, her tone lighter now. "But do try to be careful, Ryuto. Mother would be terribly upset if something happened to you."

With that, she turned and gracefully exited the room, leaving Ryuto standing there, heart pounding and nerves on edge.

As the door closed behind her, Ryuto let out a long breath, sinking into his chair. That was way too close.

Celeste wasn't stupid. She clearly suspected something, even if she didn't outright say it. He needed to be more careful next time. Sneaking out for adventures was thrilling, but if his family found out, it wouldn't just be a lecture, it could be far worse.

Ryuto's nerves were still a bit rattled by his earlier encounter with Celeste, but as he and Roland walked through the gates of the Imperial Academy, the excitement from the previous night started to creep back in. The academy grounds were bustling with students, and the familiar sight of the towering marble buildings made Ryuto feel a little more grounded.

Roland, as usual, was in high spirits, grinning ear to ear as he recalled the battle with the Forest Boar. "Man, that was awesome! I still can't believe we took it down. And that level-up? Best feeling ever."

Ryuto smirked, though his mind was still on Celeste's suspicious gaze. "Yeah, it was pretty cool. But we need to be careful. Celeste already suspects something."

Roland waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, she probably just thinks you were sneaking around to do something harmless. As long as she doesn't have proof, we're in the clear."

"Yeah, well, I'd rather not test her patience," Ryuto muttered.

As they made their way through the academy courtyard, Ryuto's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling their names.

"Ryuto! Roland!"

They turned to see Professor Alden, their head instructor, striding toward them with a serious expression. The tall, stern man wore his usual robes, his gray hair tied back, and his sharp eyes fixed on the two boys.

Ryuto felt a chill run down his spine. What now?

"Good morning, Professor," Roland said, his tone casual despite the unease that had suddenly settled between them.

"Morning, boys," Alden replied, though there was no warmth in his tone. "I'd like a word with you both. Come with me."

Ryuto and Roland exchanged worried glances but followed Alden without protest. As they walked, Ryuto's mind raced. Did he find out about the Forest Boar? Did someone see us?

Alden led them to one of the academy's private study rooms, shutting the door behind them. The room was quiet, the only sound being the ticking of a clock on the wall. Alden turned to face them, his expression unreadable.

"I've been hearing some troubling rumors lately," Alden began, crossing his arms. "There are reports of students sneaking out of the academy grounds at night, venturing into the forest."

Ryuto swallowed hard, trying to keep his face neutral. Play it cool. He doesn't know it was us.

"Now, I'm not accusing anyone," Alden continued, his gaze sweeping between them. "But I want to remind you both, and the rest of the students, that the forest is dangerous, especially now. With the war escalating, there have been more reports of monsters wandering closer to human settlements. Adventurers are struggling to keep them in check, and it's not safe for anyone, especially untrained students, to be wandering out there."

Roland shifted nervously, but Ryuto kept his expression steady, nodding along to Alden's words.

"I understand that some of you may feel... adventurous," Alden said, his eyes locking on Ryuto for a moment longer than necessary. "But adventure is not worth your life. Keep that in mind."

The silence in the room was suffocating. Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his face as blank as possible. Professor Alden had that sharp, knowing look in his eyes, the kind of look that made you feel like he knew exactly what you'd been up to. Ryuto shot a quick glance at Roland, who was doing his best to avoid eye contact with the professor.

Alden let the silence hang in the air for a moment longer before continuing. "I know some of you are eager to prove yourselves. You see the adventurers out there, risking their lives, and you think it's exciting. But what you don't see is the danger. This isn't some game where you get second chances. One wrong move, and it's over."

Ryuto's mind flashed back to the Forest Boar, remembering the way it had charged at them, tusks gleaming and massive body thundering toward him. He couldn't deny that Alden was right. They had been lucky, too lucky. If things had gone differently, they wouldn't be standing here now.

Alden's gaze softened slightly as he sighed. "I'm not saying this to scare you. I'm saying it because I've seen students, students with just as much potential as you two, get in over their heads. They didn't come back."

Roland shifted uncomfortably, and Ryuto felt a knot tighten in his stomach. They hadn't thought much about the consequences last night. The rush of the fight, the thrill of the battle, it had all felt like the kind of adventure they'd dreamed of. But now, faced with Alden's words, reality was setting in.

Alden stepped closer, his eyes still locked on Ryuto. "I see potential in you, Ryuto. You've got a lot of power, more than most at your age. But power without control, without discipline, will only get you so far. Remember that."

Ryuto swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes, sir."

Satisfied that his point had been made, Alden took a step back. "Good. Now, get to your next class. And think carefully before you act in the future."

With that, Alden turned and left the room, leaving Ryuto and Roland standing there, the weight of his words pressing down on them.

As soon as the door closed behind Alden, Roland let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "Man, that was intense. I thought for sure he knew we were the ones who went into the forest."

Ryuto slumped into one of the chairs, his legs suddenly feeling weak. "He doesn't have proof. But we need to be more careful. That could've gone a lot worse."

Roland flopped into the chair across from him, his usual grin returning now that the tension had eased. "Yeah, but did you see the way he was looking at you? He knows you're packing some serious magical firepower."

Ryuto rolled his eyes, though a part of him couldn't help but feel a bit of pride at Alden's words. He wasn't wrong, Ryuto was powerful. But he still had a long way to go before he had the kind of control that would make him a real adventurer.

"Speaking of magical firepower," Roland said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, "we need to talk about our next adventure. I mean, come on, that Forest Boar was just the start. Imagine what else is out there."

Ryuto raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of excitement and caution. "Didn't we just get warned about sneaking into the forest? And now you want to do it again?"

Roland shrugged. "Hey, we won, didn't we? And I leveled up! If we keep this up, we'll be ahead of everyone in no time. We'll be ready to join the adventurer's guild before anyone else."

Ryuto couldn't help but feel the pull of Roland's enthusiasm. The idea of leveling up, getting stronger, and proving themselves as adventurers was incredibly tempting. But after Alden's warning, and Celeste's growing suspicion, Ryuto knew they needed to be smarter about how they handled things.

"Look," Ryuto said, leaning back in his chair, "I get it. I want more adventures too. But if we keep sneaking out without a plan, we're going to get caught, or worse, killed."

Roland's grin faltered slightly, but he didn't back down. "We'll be careful. We just need to pick our battles better."

Ryuto thought about it for a moment. The truth was, he didn't want to stop. The thrill of battle, the rush of leveling up, the feeling of power coursing through him, it was addictive. But Alden's words still echoed in his mind. They couldn't afford to be reckless.

"Alright," Ryuto said finally, "we'll go on more adventures. But we do it smart. No more running into things blind. We'll train, make sure we're ready for whatever's out there. And we'll stay under the radar. No one can know."

Roland's grin returned full force. "Deal. I'll work on my sword skills, and you can keep practicing that crazy magic of yours. We'll be unstoppable."

After their classes, Ryuto and Roland headed to the estate's training grounds. The warm afternoon sun bathed the area in a golden glow, and the sound of swords clashing and magic spells being cast filled the air as other students and trainees practiced nearby.

Ryuto had his focus set on improving his control. The power he had was immense, but controlling it, especially in the heat of battle, was still a struggle. He needed to learn how to harness that power without letting it overwhelm him. If they were going to face bigger monsters, he couldn't afford to make mistakes like he did with the Forest Boar.

Roland, meanwhile, was practicing his sword techniques, moving through a series of drills with a determined look on his face. His confidence had soared after his level-up, and Ryuto could see that he was taking his training more seriously now.

"Let's try something different," Roland called out, sheathing his sword and jogging over to Ryuto. "You need more control, right? So, let's see if you can cast a spell at me without frying me."

Ryuto raised an eyebrow. "You want me to shoot magic at you?"

"Just small stuff," Roland said, flashing a grin. "You need control, and I need practice dodging. It's a win-win."

Ryuto hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Alright. Just… don't get mad if you get singed."

They took their positions on opposite sides of the training ground, and Ryuto summoned a small ball of lightning in his hand. He focused, keeping the power contained, shaping the energy so it wouldn't spiral out of control. The ball crackled and sparked, and Ryuto aimed it at Roland, who was standing ready with his sword.

"Here goes," Ryuto muttered, hurling the ball of lightning toward his friend.

Roland dodged easily, the ball zipping past him and fizzling out in the dirt. "Not bad! Again!"

Ryuto conjured another spell, this time a small burst of wind magic. He sent it flying toward Roland, who ducked and rolled to the side, laughing as the wind swept harmlessly past him.

For the next hour, they continued like this, Ryuto casting controlled spells, and Roland practicing his evasive maneuvers. It was hard work, but it felt good. For the first time, Ryuto felt like he was starting to gain real control over his magic. He wasn't just throwing out raw power anymore, he was learning how to focus it.

As they finished up, Roland jogged over, panting but grinning. "You're getting better, man. Those spells were way more controlled than before."

Ryuto wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Yeah. It's not perfect, but I'm getting there."

Roland slapped him on the back, still buzzing with energy. "At this rate, we'll be ready for anything. I say we give it another week or two of training, and then we head back into the forest. But this time, we aim higher, no more low-level monsters."

Ryuto nodded, though a small part of him still felt uneasy. He knew they were improving, but the danger was real. And with Celeste and Professor Alden watching so closely, one wrong move could ruin everything.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Ryuto said, his tone more cautious. "We'll be ready when the time comes. But we're not rushing into anything."

Roland grinned, giving a mock salute. "You got it, boss."

As the sun began to set over the Velclair estate, casting a soft golden glow across the grounds, Ryuto and Roland wrapped up their training session. The physical exhaustion was setting in, but both of them felt a sense of accomplishment. The day had been productive, and Ryuto was finally starting to get a handle on his magic control.

They walked back toward the estate's main building, Roland still buzzing with excitement from their earlier sparring. "I've gotta admit, man," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead, "that was a solid day of training. You were way more precise with your spells than before. I almost felt like I was fighting a real mage."

Ryuto smirked, though his thoughts were still running over everything that had happened earlier with Professor Alden. "Yeah, but we still have a long way to go. That Forest Boar wasn't exactly top-tier, and we barely made it out of that fight."

Roland shrugged. "Hey, we survived, didn't we? That's what matters."

Ryuto nodded, though the weight of Alden's words still lingered in his mind. The thrill of adventure was undeniable, but they had to be smarter about it. There wouldn't always be a second chance if things went wrong.

As they approached the estate, Ryuto's mood shifted. He could already sense the tension waiting for him inside. Celeste had been suspicious earlier, and even though she hadn't outright confronted him, Ryuto knew it was only a matter of time before she figured something out. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep sneaking around without her, or worse, their mother, getting involved.

"Hey, Ryuto?" Roland said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Ryuto looked over, realizing he had zoned out.

Roland grinned, elbowing him lightly. "You alright? You've been kinda quiet since we left the training grounds. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet about the whole adventuring thing."

Ryuto chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's not that. I'm just… thinking about what Alden said earlier. He's right, you know. We've been reckless."

Roland's grin faltered slightly, but he shrugged it off. "I mean, yeah, maybe. But that's part of the fun, right? We're not gonna become top-tier adventurers by playing it safe all the time."

Ryuto sighed. "True, but if we mess up, it's game over. No respawns."

Roland gave him a confused look. "Respawns? What are you talking about?"

Ryuto froze for a second, realizing he'd slipped up. He had said something from his past life on Earth, something that didn't make sense in this world. Quickly, he tried to cover it up. "Uh, never mind. Just something I read in an old book."

Roland raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "You say weird stuff sometimes, you know that?"

Ryuto laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

Roland shrugged it off and changed the subject, launching into a discussion about possible new adventures they could take on once they were ready. He rattled off ideas about hunting bigger monsters, exploring hidden caves, or even venturing to nearby towns to take on small guild quests.

But Ryuto's mind wasn't entirely on the conversation. His slip-up had reminded him of something he often tried to forget, that he wasn't from this world. No matter how much he tried to blend in, there were still moments where his old life crept into his thoughts, making him feel like an outsider. It was a constant reminder that, despite his growing power and his ambitions, he didn't quite belong here.

Dinner at the Velclair estate was a formal affair, as always. The long dining table was set with silver and crystal, and soft candlelight flickered across the faces of the Velclair family. Ryuto sat across from Celeste and their mother, Duchess Seraphina, doing his best to act normal despite the tension he felt building inside him.

Celeste hadn't said anything directly, but Ryuto could feel her eyes on him every now and then, as if she were still trying to figure out what he had been up to. Their mother, on the other hand, was as composed and graceful as ever, engaging in light conversation about the latest news from the frontlines of the war.

Ryuto poked at his food, trying not to draw attention to himself. He had been quiet for most of the meal, his mind still focused on the events of the day and his growing concerns about being caught sneaking out again.

Finally, Celeste broke the silence.

"Ryuto," she said, her voice smooth and polite, but with an unmistakable edge of curiosity. "You've been rather quiet tonight. Is something on your mind?"

Ryuto looked up, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were calm but probing, and he could tell that she wasn't just asking out of politeness. She wanted answers.

"Nah," Ryuto said quickly, trying to sound casual. "Just tired from all the training today."

"Training," Celeste repeated, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You've been doing quite a lot of that lately."

Ryuto forced a smile. "Yeah, well, I've got to keep improving, right?"

Celeste didn't respond immediately. She took a delicate sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving his. "Of course. Just don't push yourself too hard. You wouldn't want to get into trouble."

The words hung in the air, and Ryuto felt his pulse quicken. He could tell from her tone that she wasn't just talking about overtraining. She knew something, maybe not the full truth, but enough to be suspicious.

Their mother, sensing the tension, smiled warmly. "I'm glad to see you taking your studies and training seriously, Ryuto. With your brother and father away, it's important that you grow strong."

Ryuto nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know. I'm doing my best."

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur, with Ryuto feeling like he was walking on a tightrope. Every word out of his mouth felt like it was being weighed and analyzed by Celeste, and by the time the meal was over, he was eager to escape to his room.

As Ryuto sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his smartphone, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of pressure. Between Celeste's suspicions, Professor Alden's warning, and his own desire for more adventure, it felt like everything was closing in around him.

He knew he couldn't keep sneaking out forever. Sooner or later, someone would catch on, whether it was Celeste, his mother, or one of the estate guards. And when that happened, the consequences wouldn't just be a stern lecture. His family had too much at stake, especially with the war raging on.

But despite the risks, the pull of adventure was still there. The desire to grow stronger, to take on bigger challenges, to level up, it gnawed at him constantly. He couldn't just stop.

There has to be a way, he thought, staring at the apps on his phone. I need to figure out how to do this without getting caught.

Just as he was about to turn off his phone and go to bed, a notification popped up on the screen.

[New Quest Available: Investigate the Strange Presence in the Northern Woods]

Difficulty: Medium

Reward: Experience Points + Possible Item Drop

Ryuto's heart skipped a beat. A new quest. An official one from his system.

It was exactly what he'd been waiting for.

But as his excitement grew, so did his caution. This wasn't just a random adventure. This was a quest, which meant it was something serious, something dangerous.

He stared at the notification for a long moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him.

I'll need to be careful. But this could be my chance to get stronger…

With that thought, Ryuto made his decision. He would take the quest. But this time, he wouldn't rush in blindly. He'd plan, train, and be ready for whatever was waiting in the Northern Woods.