I appear in the dim tunnels of the VR simulation and find that Sean has already started to practice. I stumble forward with my slightly bulging belly and try to keep my balance.
I ate way too much!
Sean notices my presence as well as the bulging asset I have acquired during the prior lunch hour. I pat my stomach with a somewhat awkward smile and explain that I simply couldn't resist culinary delights.
He nods in understanding and resumes his practice. Again, a lot of progress from last time was lost due to the rushed work he had probably been forced to do during delves.
However, while he has regressed in some areas he has managed to improve or at least retain last times result in others. I am overall quite happy with his progress so far and immediately begin to further instruct him.
An hour passes and he is making good progress. From time to time he even proactively asks questions to clear up his own uncertainties.
He seems to be having trouble remembering some things since he has asked me some questions multiple times now. Regardless, I answer him as if it was the first time he asked and wait patiently for him to learn it through the repetition of asking me multiple times.
"Um, can I ask a question that isn't directly related to dismantling?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"I spoke to someone from your company on the phone and was told that if I was up for it there would be a new path of training as a carrier. The payment system is complicated but it won't cost as much the way it is set up... In any case, do you think I should take the offer?"
"The new path, huh. I do remember we discussed something like that a while ago but I wasn't aware that offers were being made. As for whether you should take the offer or not, I think that depends on you. Just follow your intuition and you'll usually head in the right direction."
"I need to decide myself? Somehow I knew you were going to say something like that."
He returns his full attention to dismantling and after another hour the lesson ends without much else happening. After all, dismantling is usually a pretty boring and repetitive task.
I see Sean out and return to my room at VR dungeons. I believe the next thing on my schedule would be medical studies, right Navi?
Dry textbook studying? Is that really what you expect me to do?
You found a carrier who became a field surgeon? Someone did that before?
And here I thought I would need to learn actual medical knowledge.
As Navi indicated there is a stack of books neatly placed on the bedside table.
"The difference of where you cut."
I read the title out loud and find it somewhat peculiar. Books written by doctors are normally more... Sciency I guess.
That's actually not a bad suggestion. I think I'll do just that.
I grab the uppermost book and begin to head out. Since my new house is just down the street I arrive within five minutes. I unlock the door and enter finding that I currently have the house for myself.
The girls are at school and Melody must still be working. Can you take a look at Melody's progress for me, Navi?
Why do you say it like I am planning to do something Melody isn't supposed to know?
I growl at the air - something that I've become much better at since becoming a goblin - and walk to one of the kitchen cupboards. Inside are a variety of tea bags and I grab one at random.
Heating up some water with a kettle I think of how convenient fire magic would be for this. Looking at home much combustible material is in this kitchen I retract that idea. Melody would probably kill me if I set fire to the kitchen using magic like that... Better not.
The water soon reaches the boiling point and I pour it into a mug adding the tea bag to complete the preparation.
With my now brewing tea in one hand and the book in the other, I sit down in a comfy chair. I set down the mug and get up again.
This is no lighting for a good read! I switch off the main light and let the glow of a single lamp illuminate the room just enough to set the mood.
I remember that I still have reading glasses that I never use so I get those too. With my preparations finished I sit back down in my comfy chair, put on the glasses, pick up the book and enjoy the nice setting.
Time to dive right into this book.