'I am ready!! I will do it anyhow!!' these words kept resounding in Ryu's head as he tried practicing new spells from the book Snow left for him,

"… frost!!" Ryu finished chanting the spell mentioned in the book, but the frost that appeared on the dummy's body melted before it could even freeze feet,

'I can't focus!! Even though it is a degraded version of skill snow used on that loser!!' Ryu thought disappointed and the loser he referred to was Jack.

For chanting a spell properly, the mage needs to figure out the perfect amount of mana required for each part of the chant and once they perfect a spell, they can change the amount of mana proportionally in certain parts to customize the spells according to their needs,

Right now, Ryu was trying to grasp the spells written in the book but due to a reason he can not concentrate properly,

'That brat!! Will, he really be able to kill 2 toxic crocs' Ryu thought worried as he sat down with a frown on his face, originally Ryu planned to reject taking Jue together because he knew no matter what path he takes he'll end up involved in stuff that could be very dangerous and will also involve killing humans,

'Even though I could've left him back… but what Grandpa chief said makes sense' Ryu sighed as he remembers what happened 4 days ago when the Village chief called him at night suddenly after the celebratory dinner,

4 days ago, Ryu was enjoying patate frytaki aka fries when suddenly Jue, who had gone to take a walk with the village chief, come to call him suddenly,

"Big brother Grandpa is calling you," Jue said with a nervous expression, and Ryu, who knew each expression of Jue, instantly got a frown,

"I see," Ryu said as he thought, 'wonder what he's up to now!!'

He stood up and started walking with Jue, who wouldn't utter a word and Ryu thought

'What is wrong with him? This is that expression' the expression on Ryu resembles the one Ryu hasn't seen in years the expression when he used to fail at the attempt of surprise attacking him in the orphanage ground an expression that seems at lots of knowing what Jue should do and usually just ran away,

'At least he is walking with me rather than running away now' Ryu thought and smiled a bit as he saw the Village chief standing waiting in the garden,

As soon as the Village chief saw that Jue and Ryu had arrived, he spoke while winking at Jue,

"Ryu, I have something I need to talk about" as he gestured towards the side,

'Something that we can't talk about in front of Jue' Ryu's curiosity rose more as he and the Village chief walked to the side,

"A second Ryu," the Village chief said as he moved his hand a bit forward and used skill,

"[Voice cancellation Barrier], this talk of our will have things you wouldn't want Jue to hear"

"What is it Grandpa chief?" Ryu asked with a questioning gaze, and the Village chief answered.

"It is about you leaving on adventure and Jue…" but before he could complete Ryu interrupted,

"Grandpa chief, he is too small at 12 years old. He can't register in adventure guild either and, also being with, me he's sure to see stuff one could live without seeing"

At this, grandpa chief laughed a bit and said with a smirk,

"Ryu? It is just a few months before he will be 13"

"But grandpa chief!! He is still innocent also his and my strength have a difference he won't be able to grow and he still needs to take…" Ryu paused a bit as he saw Jue was trying to overhear their conversation he continued,

"His position as town lord when Geld retires so isn't learning that better?" Ryu tried to sound as sensible and logical as possible, Village chief sighed as he spoke,

"Ryu his innocence has nothing to do with it remember you are the reincarnated person a normal kid cannot be compared so it means he will grow with age, and also about strength difference I am going, to be honest with you at that age Jue is already way stronger than average and even if he cannot go with you… Geld had already decided to send Jue off with an adventurer party once he turn 13" when Ryu heard the last part he asked impulsively,

"Why!?" and seeing his expression Grandpa chief grinned as he spoke,

"Geld himself went out as an adventurer and conquered a few dungeons and gained strength before we settled here, he believes that the one who needs to lead the town must've strength and experience of the outside world before inheriting the position and also forming connections is also a part,"

Ryu couldn't refute it as it made sense for the town lord to have strength and experience of the outside world before he could say anything Village chief spoke.

"Ryu, you are being overprotective of Jue without realizing it… Jue told me how fearsome and cool you looked during the dungeon quest last time when you suspected slimes ate Jue you even ended up revealing your manifest,"

"I am not being over-protective!!" Ryu refuted, but ignoring it the Village chief continued,

"What will you prefer Jue being in a party with you or with some random strangers?? "

Ryu looked in deep thought as he did not answer the question and seeing his thoughtful look, the Village chief added,

"Isn't it better to have a family together, you cannot possibly join any random party as you require hiding your secrets and your manifest… Jue believes in you and looks up to you a lot, and in turn, you look out for him as a younger sibling… you taught him martial arts from your world, you got him equipment for his safety on his birthday and protected him from Naga he won't be able to grow to his full potential without you Ryu and also if the wrong party came to figure out about his blessing there could be worst results,"

'… he is not saying any lie… but it is very irritating somehow!!' Ryu thought as he was at a loss of words it really made sense to have Jue in the party as he already knew about manifest and also, he remembered how Felicia told him about the problems in the world,

'Jue having the blessing of B rank can get him involved with high-ranking people looking out to use him!!'

Ryu thought hard about what to do as a sudden spark of inspiration came to him.

"Grandpa chief I will take Jue with me…" as he said this, he saw the Village chief looking at him seriously as Village chief knew that the face Ryu made, he had thought up something devious and Ryu grinned as he continued,

"But there is a condition"

"What condition?" The village chief asked with a questioning serious gaze,

"I will give Jue a possible test if he can clear it, I will take him with me but…" Ryu paused a bit as he looked toward Jue and frowned seeing him trying to hear what they were speaking about he spoke with a frown,

"If he can not clear it, promise me, you'll convince Geld big brother to not send Jue off until he at least becomes an adult,"

The village chief nodded while removing [Voice cancellation Barrier] as he thought,

'He really is a caring older brother… Jue is in the right hands' and sighed in relief,

And this was how Ryu's chat with the village chief ended 4 days back and now remembering it Ryu was having passive mental damage as he remembered it. He wanted to shout,

'Was it necessary to say those embarrassing things!!' as he remembered the Village chief calling him overprotective and also about looking out for Jue, Ryu thought

'Who cares about that little brat anyway!? I was just trying to get rid of him,' trying to suppress his embarrassment, and stood up to try to get a grasp of chanting spells inside the book again,

At the same time, deep inside the heart of Zerah forest where Ryu usually trains a sound different from usual was resounding.

"[Gravel shot]!!" Jue shouted as he moved his knuckles forward at high speed and the mist croc, after getting hit in the eyes, tried escaping at its full speed,

"I am sorry but today I wouldn't let you escape, [Mud Wall]" Jue spoke as he summoned a wall in front of escaping mist croc,

Jue ran towards the mist croc as he used [Gravel claw] and [Slash] consecutively making short work of the mist croc,

"10th!!" Jue jumped as he turned towards Grandpa chief who was standing there for safety reasons. In the time of just 4 days, Jue had been able to kill 10 mist crocs and only 2 are left,

'Big brother will finally recognize my strength!!' he thought as he moved the dead croc toward the Village chief where other bodies from this day were collected. He worryingly asked,

"Grandpa, are you sure this will make a toxic croc come out alone?"

"I am sure Jue!! Grandpa had been hunting these beasts here for many years now… Mist croc won't come out much due to their fellow's dead body smell coming from here but it will make toxic croc who thinks of dead mist crocs just a meal comes out,"

"Grandpa, you are so smart!!" Jue said with shining eyes, but a look of exhaustion was clear on his face.

"Talk about the demon" these words escaped the Village chief's mouth as he saw a toxic croc come rushing towards them from a distance,

'Well, he will rest better with this accomplishment!!' the village chief thought as he looked into Jue's eyes,

"Give it your best!!" he said and Jue nodded as he ate a low-grade mana medicine and rushed towards the incoming monster

-To be continued