Chapter 21 (1/2): Entering the Forest for the First Time

After leaving the teaching building, Qiu Meng’s pace was much faster than usual.

She needed to return to the Dream Travel Inn first.

On the one hand, to tell her parents that she had passed the admission exam; on the other hand, to discuss accommodation and the teacher’s mention of a rather ominous-sounding wilderness survival training competition.

She crossed the campus square and was near the school gate when she suddenly paused.

The clouds that had still held an orange-gold hue were now slowly being swallowed by thick, dark clouds.

A sea breeze blew in from the canal, carrying a damp scent. One by one, the magic-powered streetlights along the road lit up, their pale blue glow bleeding into the mist.

“Uh?!”

Qiu Meng looked up at the sky.

She immediately gripped her bag strap and rushed out of the academy gate.

“I have to get back quickly!”

The girl’s figure dashed through the evening streets.

Qiu Meng ran along the route from memory, making sure to glance up at the street signs so she wouldn’t get lost in this city.

After running for a short while, she reached the inn. But no sooner had she entered than a pattering sound came from outside.

Then the sound of rain quickly became a continuous roar.

Qiu Meng stood in the foyer, hands on her knees, panting heavily.

“Whew… I made it…”

She looked down to check her clothes.

Good.

The cuffs and the tips of her hair were a little damp, but she wasn’t really wet. Considering she had been running all the way, it was quite an ideal outcome.

Behind the counter, Walter was slowly and methodically wiping a glass.

When he saw Qiu Meng return, his gaze behind his monocle shifted slightly.

“Hey, kid.”

Qiu Meng looked up.

“Hm?”

Walter put down the glass and asked in a flat tone:

“How did the exam go?”

Qiu Meng was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected the innkeeper to remember that.

“Well… I passed.”

“Passed, huh.”

Walter nodded.

Then he glanced at Qiu Meng, checking her over.

“And it looks like you didn’t get too badly hurt.”

Qiu Meng gave a dry laugh.

“Ahaha…”

Although she had indeed cracked a bone and nearly been targeted as research material by that weird scholar, compared to the freshmen in the Physics Department classroom who were on crutches, in casts, or smoking all over, she was in pretty good shape.

“Then… I’ll go find my parents now!”

Walter didn’t ask any more questions; he just waved his hand.

“Go ahead.”

Qiu Meng nodded and went up the stairs to the third floor.

She arrived at room 304 and raised her hand to knock.

Soon, the door opened.

Shalin stood behind the door, her golden hair casually draped over her shoulders, a gentle smile on her face.

“Xiao Meng, you’re back~”

She reached out and pulled Qiu Meng into the room.

“How did it go?”

Qiu Meng put down her small bag and puffed out her chest a little.

“I pretty much passed…”

“That’s good.”

Shalin smiled.

But the next second, Qiu Meng’s words made her smile fade a little.

“But there’s still the wilderness survival training afterward.”

“Wilderness survival training?”

Shalin blinked, her tone still gentle.

“Then… did Xiao Meng get hurt?”

“I’ve already healed.”

Qiu Meng raised her arm and showed the spot that didn’t hurt much anymore.

“It’s just that during the strength test… the crossbow bolt was too powerful, and I overdid it.”

Shalin was silent for a moment.

Then, she suddenly reached out and gently patted Qiu Meng’s head.

“Xiao Meng, if classes are too tiring, we don’t have to go.”

“Huh?”

“Mom can teach you a lot too.”

In the room, Dante, who was sitting at the table organizing weapons, also looked up.

“That’s right. Your situation really isn’t suitable for school.”

Qiu Meng panicked a little.

“Isn’t it bad if I don’t attend class…”

Dante looked at her, his expression much more serious than usual.

“You can’t control mana right now. I’m worried you’ll be targeted by classmates at school.”

He paused.

“After all, no normal human is completely unable to resonate with mana.”

Qiu Meng immediately thought of that weird scholar.

The one who poked his head out of a space rift and chased after her to borrow her sleeve crossbow for research.

“Mm… that’s true…”

If that guy really kept after her, things would get troublesome.

Dante asked again:

“And, what exactly is this wilderness survival training you mentioned?”

“Ah… that. The teacher said something about the kingdom’s conscription gap, so after the first class in the Physics Department, we have to go wilderness survival.”

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere in the room changed.

Dante’s expression darkened.

Shalin’s smile also faded.

Qiu Meng instinctively shrank back a little.

“Uh? Mom, Dad, what’s wrong…”

The atmosphere felt off.

Shalin asked softly:

“You mean, they want to send you to the front lines as a soldier?”

Dante stood up directly.

“Daughter, tell me, which teacher said that?”

Qiu Meng quickly waved her hands.

“It’s just wilderness survival training! It’s not sending me to the battlefield!”

Dante stared at her for a few seconds.

“What are the training requirements?”

“It seems like it’s just surviving by your own skill, but we can form teams.”

“We can form teams…”

Dante stroked his chin in thought.

“Then does Dad need to come along?”

Shalin shot him a glance.

“Give me a break… With you being so big and burly, what can you protect her from?”

Dante immediately retorted:

“I used to be a veteran. I know very well how to survive outdoors!”

“Oh~? Then how did the veteran get sneak-attacked by me~?”

“That was an accident!”

Seeing that the two were about to start their daily bickering, Qiu Meng quickly interjected:

“Oh right, and about accommodation…”

Shalin immediately turned her head.

“Accommodation?”

Qiu Meng nodded.

“It’s about living at the school. I’ve already been assigned a dorm and I have a roommate.”

Shalin’s eyes suddenly dimmed.

“Eh… doesn’t Xiao Meng like living at home?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Does Xiao Meng prefer her roommate and not want her mom anymore…”

Shalin clutched her chest, putting on a look of abandonment.

“Uuu… I knew it!”

Qiu Meng was dumbfounded for two seconds.

Then she skillfully gave up resisting.

“Fine… I want Mom.”

Shalin immediately perked up.

“Mm!”

She coughed twice and put on a serious expression befitting an adult.

“However, I think it’s also good for Xiao Meng to live out.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Shalin patted her head.

“Living at the academy will help you get familiar with the environment faster and make friends. It’s just…”

She leaned in closer, her tone softening.

“Don’t forget Mom.”

Qiu Meng nodded helplessly.

“Mm mm mm.”

Shalin was satisfied.

“So does Xiao Meng want to eat first, or go straight back to school to tidy the dorm?”

“Let’s eat first? And pack some luggage while we’re at it.”

“Okay. Then Mom will cook, Xiao Meng, wait a bit.”

Shalin got up and headed toward the small kitchen.

After she left, Dante lowered his voice and said to Qiu Meng:

“Daughter, I’m telling you, your mom was looking forward to you coming back today, and she even specially bought a pot.”

“Huh?”

“Then she bought some bricks herself and built a small stove in her room.”

Qiu Meng was silent.

She suddenly understood why Shalin had seemed so excited for her to come back.

After chatting for a bit, the aroma reached Qiu Meng’s nose first, and then Shalin returned carrying a plate of pan-fried beef.

The beef was cut into pieces that were neither too thin nor too thick, the surface slightly crispy, edges showing a beautiful brown, with oil sizzling.

The scent of herbs and lemon mixed together, giving off a refreshing fragrance, constantly tempting Qiu Meng.

She lowered her head and took a sniff.

Smells good.

She carefully took a bite.

The next second, Qiu Meng’s eyes lit up.

“Delicious!”

‘As expected, home cooking is the best!!’

Qiu Meng started wolfing down her food quickly.

Dante was taken aback.

“Daughter, what’s up with you? I’ve never seen you eat so ferociously.”

Qiu Meng answered vaguely while eating:

“School… food is bad.”

Dante was silent for a moment.

Shalin, on the other hand, looked gratified.

After Qiu Meng finished the beef, she seemed to come back to life, leaning back in her chair and letting out a long sigh.

“Whew…”

‘That was so satisfying… Ah, if only my roommate could cook like that.’

Outside the window, the rain had stopped, and the sky had completely darkened.

She glanced at the time, realizing she had to set off early tomorrow, so she stood up.

“Um, I’m going to bed now.”

Shalin picked up the plate and said with a smile:

“Okay, sweet dreams.”

Qiu Meng was about to return to her room when Dante suddenly called out to her.

“Daughter, take this.”

He pulled out a somewhat familiar noble sword from the nearby weapon bag.

The blade had beautiful ripples, like water patterns frozen in steel. The guard was simple, but it was set with a blue magic stone.