Well then, not much to say.
If you can, please, go to Scribblehub and leave a review on the Novel over there, it helps a lot.
Aside from that, we continue with the POV and character development chapters, I said before that we would focus on those, at least at the start of the Volume.
I have no idea how long this Volume will be, but I have my hopes that it'll be around the same size as Volume 4, meaning, around 100 chapters.
But that is likely the maximum size, it'll likely be smaller.
That's about it, see ya.
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/Rustle.../
'With a single snap of his fingers, Silver saw himself surrounded by trees, the same ones on the back of his Manor.'
'Their leaves flowed with the faint wind, creating a slight symphony that played in the background, soothing and relaxing.'
/Clang…/
'However, the distant sounds of metal clashing broke the peaceful scene.'
'There was no need to think it through, they said everything.'
"Those brats…"
What are they up to now?...
'With a slight smile, Silver corrected his appearance back into the one everyone was used to before walking deeper into the woods.'
…
/Clang!/
/CLANG!/
"Huff… Huff…"
"Tired already Biro?" The eldest of the triplets asked as he rested his spear on his back
'His gaze was full of disapproval.'
"Huff… Huff… Not yet…" He replied as he wiped his forehead
"Then raise your spear, it's too low."
'Even if Biro tried, he couldn't, the spear only loosing hung in the air, that was as high as he could muster...'
"!"
/CLANG!/
'From the side, Firo, the middleborn swung his spear, trying to hit the eldest from the side with a precise blow.'
"Don't get cocky!"
"Humph!"
/CLANG!/
/Clong…/
'In the end, he was also pushed aside.'
'Despite being similar to one another, the same looks, the same height, the same features... The triplets were very different in terms of power.'
'As shown, the eldest managed to overwhelm both of his brothers on his own, and he was only sweating slightly.'
"Is that all you have? I am disappointed!"
They want to change, but is this their everything?...
If they want to catch up, they'll need to put in more effort... Yes...
Break themselves... And from there...
"Shut… Huff… Up!" Biro exclaimed with a rare loud tone as he rushed forward
I want to puke... But I... Can't...
/CLANG!/
"Do you two think that working hard now will change anything?"
/CLANG!/
"We've always been training hard!" Firo said as he pierced upward
/FWOOSH!/
"Don't lie to me, you two did nothing out of the bare minimum." He said as he evaded the blow, kicking the spear out of his brother's hand
'Yet, Firo rolled to the side, grabbing the spear before rushing again.'
'He may be not as strong as the firstborn, but he was still much stronger than the youngest!'
"Working hard until you bleed? Everyone can do that!"
/CLANG!/
'In a great feat of Finness, Piro deflected both of his brothers' strikes at the same time.'
"You two said you would grow to meet his expectations, and what did you two do?"
"Now that he risked his all for his own ideals, did it ignite a fire in you two or something?" He provoked with a smirk
""!""
'Both brothers were angry, clenching their teeth and hands.'
'He had hit the spot.'
'Before, they worked hard, but only for a dream of greatness...'
'On the other hand... Now... They wanted to become... Something.'
/Scream!/
'So they rushed once more into battle, letting out war cries despite barely feeling their hands anymore.'
"Pathetic."
/CLANG!/
/CLANG!/
'Firo deflected their attacks without moving from his spot, that was how flimsy their moves were.'
"I tolerated you two for long enough."
"I thought it was enough, that your hard work would eventually pay off… But I overestimated you two."
"I didn't expect you two would only wake up now! You are drunk in the stupor of his achievements!"
"Your wills are..."
"STOP BEING SO FULL OF YOURSELF PIRO!" Firo exclaimed as he pierced from the air while Biro swooped with his spear from the ground
"?!"
'Yet, instead of being overwhelmed, Piro smiled.'
Finally, that's the look.
...
"..."
I see now.
'From the side, Silver watched their "fight".'
So that's why they were fighting, this was no spar... It was much more than that.
Nevertheless...
'Things were getting a bit dangerous, albeit their spears were extremely dull, they were still made of metal and were pretty heavy, more than enough to kill a normal person were it to hit their head a tad too hard.'
'A strike from Biro to his legs could even end up breaking them.'
/Thug…/
""?!""
'Suddenly, they all felt some sort of force bind them in place, making their hearts stop.'
"It's barely 9 am, why are you all so noisy?" Silver asked as he walked out from behind a tree
"C-Captain?!" Piro mumbled, surprised
Did he… Hear everything I said?!
Oh no…
"?!..."
He's here...
"..."
'Biro straight out closed his eyes, almost blacking out...'
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not here to scold you all or anything…" He said in a light tone as he stared at Piro
"Much less make fun of your little stunt."
"..."
H-He knows... I should've expected it...
I feel stupid now. It wasn't supposed to end like this...
We were meant to resolve ourselves and then...
'While Piro looked at the ground in shame, his two brothers finally started to calm down and see things rationally.'
'There was no way their older brother would say those things to them for the sake of it, he cared too much for them... No, it was exactly because he cared for them that he was harsh.'
'However, he only said that because he had the strength to back it up, had he been weak... Would he be able to say it?'
'Piro would like to believe that yes, even if he was weaker, he would say the truth to his brothers, rile them up so they could strive further, even if it meant being beaten up.'
'His reasons for being strong were many.'
'Since they were young, they always divided the food and resources in a way the older brother would have more, allowing him to grow stronger and more nourished.'
'It was their way to survive as their parents were long gone...'
'From an early age, Piro would train alone while they didn't have the strength to, protect them when they couldn't do so.'
'Even now, he would wake up earlier and sleep later than anyone, perhaps even Silver, all for the sake of this trust relayed onto him.'
'There was more than one occurrence where Silver forcibly put him to bet, or carried his body to it in the middle of the night, his hands tearing apart due to how worn out his palms became from swinging his weapons all the time.'
'His strength came from seeking challenges and advice from the older adventurers, from reading books to listening to other people talk.'
'Their Stats might not be that different, but Piro was the one that observed and learned… Or so he tried to be...'
'A leading figure.'
'When he saw how his brother trained continually, he knew everything was going exactly as they've always dreamt of…'
'To become adventurers and seek the 'truth' about their parents' death....'
'They couldn't seek revenge against the people that they didn't know, there might not even be something to take revenge on, and as such, their goals would end just like that...'
'It was only something for them to cling onto.'
'And Piro knew that they couldn't live like that, even if it was hard to admit and understand.'
'However, seeing his Captain fight made him realize… That it wasn't enough.'
'For the first time, instead of stability, he decided to seek something above it.'
'The him of the past wouldn't have understood it... Wasn't a rich life full of everything they never had, enough?... Why seek more?'
'Wasn't understanding what happened good enough?'
'Once he realized it, and comprehended that this was a feeling he shared with his brothers, he knew he had to strike while the iron was hot and help them understand their own emotions as well.'
'Firo was someone that was free, he rarely had any interest in something for long, fickle might be a good way to describe him, an overly excited boy that jumped from one place to the other...'
'While Biro was too shy and meek for his good, he needed a fiery determination to climb out of the shell he grew up with as the youngest, the one that had been the most impacted by the loss of their parents, five years ago.'
'Hence, as the only sibling that learned how to read and write, at least in the past, he had to lead them, but this led to his siblings developing dependant personalities.'
'One was completely useless on his own, while the other one needed someone to put him in place.'
'He wanted them to change that.'
'They needed to be a perfect cog that worked cohesively as to make name for the Skill they were born with.'
'If they weren't well coordinated, the Skill would never activate.'
'Piro understood what it meant to awaken as an adventurer with a Skill, and he would profit from it!'
'He may not become the greatest... Yet he didn't mind.'
'Though he didn't know how the others felt about that... He believed they shared similar ideals.'
'Like his Captain, he would aim beyond his reach… And somehow make it out alive, because an adventurer…'
...
'Seeing their expressions, Silver exhaled slightly.'
"It's good you three are training more together, but make sure to not overdo it." He said with a slight smile
So?... I'm here, the person you're all looking for.
Tell me, show me, the extent of your desires.
Is it weak enough to be extinguished by my mere presence?
"..."
"..."
"Hm…"
'Sudently...'
"No!" Firo exclaimed with a fierce expression
"Is something wrong?" Silver asked with a slight smile
There it is.
'Despite his extreme look, the image of three kids frozen mid-fight was pretty comical.'
"I don't want it."
"Be more precise." Silver pressed
"I refuse to be normal!"
"Ho?... Wouldn't that just make you arrogant?"
"You speak loud words someone that was nothing but an orphan not so long ago." Silver said with a serious expression
"... I know." Firo said as he looked down
"But it's exactly because… I've decided to seek something beyond me."
"Whatever it may be."
"Father and mother... Just vanished one day... Amidst screams and flames."
"The last thing I remember is being told to run..."
"So I always ran… Fear, helplessness… The inability to do anything as I watched my older brother strive for something I couldn't comprehend… Or forced myself not to."
"This pain… I cannot flee from it forever, it won't change anything."
"..."
"..."
'His two brothers were silent.'
"That is why, if I cannot flee from it… I'll just blast it asunder!"
"How do you blast pain?" Biro asked helplessly
"He doesn't know, please don't embarrass him." Piro said with a slight smile
"Shut up you two! I'm having a moment here!"
/Chatter!/
'Silver watched the trio silently, giving them time to talk with each other.'
'He already understood what was going on inside their heads, a reflection of his own actions.'
'It's hard to say how each person might react to what he did.'
'Some may be supportive like Cassandra and Daphne, others might see it and not be overwhelmed, willing to do something similar, or follow his footsteps.'
'Some may feel discouraged, the disparity of seeing something they can't believe they'll achieve, or the harsh reality of seeing their incompetence can be shattering and heavy…'
'Not everyone needs to be a Hero, not everyone needs to stand out.'
'Behind every Hero, there is the alchemist that made his Elixir, there is the blacksmith that forged his weapons, there is a mentor that taught him something…'
'They are equally as important as the Hero.'
'Silver can only hope to press them forward, there is a lot of time to do so after all…'
'But he was watching them, always, he would be there to lift them up when they fell, if not him... They would help each other, Hestia too.'
'That was his idea of a Familia.'
'He would feel terrible if he were to break someone's will, especially one of a newborn adventurer.'
'So seeing these 3 come to him with the resolve to grow did make him glad…'
'Yet also frustrated that he might've also led 3 young souls into the path of doom.'
"Do you want to grow strong? Strong like me?" Silver asked all of a sudden
""?!""
/THUD!/
'They all fell onto the ground as Silver released them from his telekineses'
""Yes"" They replied in unison
'Behaving, they kneeled on the ground as they recovered their breath and stamina.'
"Yes huh... Well... Do you know how I grew to this state?"
/Silence…/
"It wasn't an easy process."
"I bleed liters of blood as I descended deeper and deeper, I broke bones, mine and others, I consumed all sorts of foul substances, willing and unwilling."
"I let monsters slash my body to the bone, I heard my muscles snap as I raised my spear, I heard the scream of adventurers as they were slayed by the monsters."
'Silver removed his shirt, revealing his body.'
'Albeit he had gone through many procedures every time he leveled up, he still had many light scars all over his body.'
'Even then, those scars said a lot.'
"I carved a literal mountain of bodies in the dark abyss that is that Dungeon, is this the path you wish to follow?"
"You all seek to find out a truth, why go out of your way for it?"
/Shake.../
'One of them shook his head.'
"... How is that… Any different from the others?" Biro, the youngest said in a low tone
"I mean... There are… Many kinds of adventurers…"
"Strong and weak, famous and even those no one heard about."
"Yet, isn't it true, that all of the strong ones… Went through the same things you just described?"
"Adventurers grow amidst blood and fire... It isn't meant to be pretty or glorious... I-I don't really understand."
"That is... What was written in that book I read... I forgot the name."
"..."
"We want… To achieve… Greatness, so how can… We stop at that?"
'Silver didn't say anything.'
"Is that what all of you think?"
/Nod/
'They all agreed.'
""We want to become strong!""
'Silver face palmed slightly, hiding his facial expressions as he pulled his hand down.'
"Haa… Alright then."
"I didn't expect there to be anyone coming to me this soon, but I won't refuse you all."
I knew someone would come to me one day for training, Haruhime was one, but she's different.
Her conception of the need for power is completely different from theirs, while also similar at the root.
Independence and the capability to be relied on.
"I gave everyone a training routine so you could grow accustomed to exercising, as it's better to bleed now than later."
"To never grow dull, yet not grow tired from overthinking all the time."
"The training won't make you all into Heroes, but it'll cut it for adventurers beneath Level 4."
Few adventurers actually train, so the training course I set is more than enough physical training for them.
From studying to sparring, it's a mix of things you might not even find it in the Loki Familia.
They certainly do train there, but the emphasis they put on it is not as high as the one I put, though it doesn't mean they don't understand its importance.
"Even First Class adventurers need training."
The proper word is that a First Class adventurer has the discipline and experience it is expected of such high Levels... Though this isn't always the case.
"From my eyes, first Class adventurers are those that have sharpened themselves to the limit, as such, they don't need that much physical training anymore."
"At that time, they'll need the experience to put what they learned over the years and sharpen it."
That only goes as far as Level 5 and 6... Beyond that, other rules fall into place.
"As such, the normal training regime won't cut for you three."
With normal training and their rate of growth, would they advance with 700 in their main Stat?...
That isn't enough, we're aiming at 900, that's where the legends step.
"If you want to become strong, then we can't stop there."
'Silver smiled silently as he scratched his chin.'
"Normally I would ask for some time, to make a proper schedule…"
A lot of things need to be considered.
"But not today, we're starting right away."
/Snap!/
/Crack!/
'Silver snapped his fingers and the trees moved on their own, making a rectangular field around 18x9 m.'
"The first training of today."
"In front of you three is a small rectangle dived into 3 sections, it'll be your training ground from now on."
The first of many.
"Each section contains a slight pressure I'm applying constantly with magic."
"The deal is pretty simple."
"You'll all train inside it from now on, either under or without my direct supervision."
I can't be with them all the time, nor can I pass on martial arts.
They barely have a base, what will they do with advanced body techniques?
""...""
'They were pretty confused as to what to do as they looked at each other from the ground…'
"Get inside, don't be shy." Silver said with a devious smile
'Being told what to do, Piro was the first one to take a step.
/THUD!/
'And he immediately fell onto his knees, Silver found it odd, but he soon found out the reason, Piro was likely tired or overly surprised from the sudden shift in weight.'
"Come on, it's not that heavy, get up and grab your spear." Silver said as he threw the spear inside the rectangle
/CLACK!/
'The spear fell onto the ground with a heavy crash sound.'
"Wh… at… Is… Happ… e… Arg!..."
'Gasping as he spoke, Piro found difficulty moving.'
"Breath in and out, stabilize yourself first before anything."
He's doing better than I thought.
"The first section contains about twice the normal gravity and also a bit more pressure."
"The third section is three times, and the fourth section is four times."
More than this and I don't think even a Level 3 adventurer would be able to move.
Twice gravity is already hard for most Level 2s to move in, much less 3 and 4.
Of course, things like Magic resistance can mitigate what they feel, but they barely have 3 months as Level 1s, and their stats, despite their intense training so far, barely surpass 300.
And that is already an incredible growth, all thanks to a lot of things I gave them beforehand, such as potions and lotions to help them with post-training recovery.
Maintaining this pressure over an exact field isn't hard, but it can be taxing when mixed with other things I have to do, as I have no intention of overlooking their training all the time.
But as long as I'm in the Manor, I'll keep it on.
'As the other two brothers got inside the zone, he continued:'
"Prepare to die daily from now on, I won't take in any complaints." He said with a smile
'His smile distorted.'
"Even if you die… I'll just bring you back."
"Today we'll take it lightly, 100 squats and pushups followed by 30 laps or about 1.5 km, don't worry, the other sections aren't activated yet so you won't just fall down… Yet."
"In the future, we'll also use weights, and other forms of training tools, we need to aim for those Development Abilities after all."
"Abnormal resistance is a must, so we'll start poison and toxin training soon after, so get ready."
"Also, don't forget, you won't be skipping the Dungeon."
Though we'll have to reduce their dives, even if it's important for them to go, they can't go while being overly absent-minded due to being tired.
The Upper floors might be lenient, but the subsequent ones won't be.
"..."
"..."
"... Urg…"
/Silence/
'The triplets didn't know what to say.'
'But in a sense, Biro started to regret it…'
'It was too late now anyway.'
"If you wish, you can go directly into the next section, just tell me and I'll increase the pressure." Silver said eagerly
"N-No thank... You..." Piro said with a lot of struggle as he lay on the ground
'Silver's smile wouldn't vanish anytime soon.'
'Soon enough, others would join this hellish training, and others would also start seeking their own form of development.'
'The rapid growth of the Hestia Familia had started, all due to the extreme actions of its Captain.'
'Albeit dangerous, Silver was adamant in making sure they would all live through it.'
'Soon enough more people would join, they had to be at top condition in order to not embarrass themselves...'
'Although, Hestia would wonder if that would be possible if all of them had eyebags due to lack of sleep...'
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Notes