Ackster could feel that his body was still a mess, but he was on a streak and considered extending his stay in the forest, even if it might not be the wisest thing to do at the moment. He was keen on making full use of his new skills as soon as possible despite not even having recovered from his first use of them.
However, at the moment, he stood more to gain by taking a short break and letting his body fully recover before he started breaking it down again.
He couldn't let himself become complacent, but now that he had found the perfect balance between recklessly endangering his own life and fighting battles he could actually win, he had to make sure he was in a prime state.
Ackster felt like cycling complete recovery and complete exhaustion would be a more efficient and safer way for him to grow. Of course, he could heal and rest in the forest without issue. But he wasn't alone in the world, and if he wanted to maintain a semblance of connection with the rest of the world, he would have to act reasonably.
Besides, he had Mio to take care of.
Ackster had left Mio in his inn room since he didn't want to drag the slime around town and risk causing trouble by exposing it to the townspeople. Mio also seemed more intent on staying in the room than going around the city.
However, Ackster had left Ilto directly after picking up his equipment from Tommelier's, and he hadn't had a chance to pick Mio up again. Mio would start to worry if he wasn't back.
And if he dallied too long, he would lose his room at the inn, and the inn workers would dispose of his things.
Ackster didn't have anything valuable aside from Mio in his room, but Mio was the only thing that could help him obscure his features. He didn't know what Mio was, what kind of slime it was, but it was smart enough to communicate its will and answer Ackster's questions. Combined with how it seemed to grow smarter with each day and the fact that it produced a hair-dying gel-like substance, Ackster couldn't lose it or the potential for greatness he could see in Mio.
There was also the fact that Mio was Ackster's only companion in his solitary journey. He hadn't divulged anything about himself or his plans, and he had basically kidnapped Mio. But he was growing attached to the slime. And it wasn't only because it was better for his sanity to talk to someone else instead of himself while he spent several weeks in the forest.
With a decision made and a stomach almost sated, Ackster returned to Ilto.
Since it would be a little odd if he came back drenched in blood and gore but without injuries or anything to show for it, he stopped on the way and killed some more goblins. He also killed a couple of beasts that were drawn to the smell of blood clinging to him before dragging his tired and weary body to the Guild.
"I knew my eyes weren't lying to me."
Wilma greeted Ackster with a smile as he made his way to her desk. He had apparently been efficient enough to make it back before Wilma's shift ended. He left in the early afternoon as soon as he got his hands on the training equipment and then spent a bunch of hours walking, fighting, killing, and eating before returning.
Wilma scanned him up and down with an appreciative look before gesturing for him to follow as she stood up and asked another receptionist to take her place.
"So that's what you did with the rock lizard skin. Armor is a bold choice."
Ackster could hear her prodding and questioning tone. She didn't reproach him outright, but he could tell that she thought making armor from the rock lizard materials was foolish.
"It's training equipment, not armor. By the way, where are you taking me? Can't I sell this at the desk?"
"Training equipment, huh. I guess you aren't forfeiting the fundamentals in exchange for skills, after all. That's good. You're lucky you found Tom. He's pretty good at making unconventional things."
Wilma's words confirmed Ackster's suspicions that they were monitoring his movements without him noticing. The only question was to what degree. He had no way of knowing whether they were only keeping track of what he was doing in Ilto or if they knew what he was doing outside as well. He wouldn't get any answers by thinking about it. Neither would he by asking, so he ignored it for the moment.
"You didn't answer my question."
Ackster's attitude was a little colder than yesterday. Wilma noticed, but she didn't point it out. Considering how their relationship had developed and what she had just revealed, it was only natural that Ackster wasn't in the mood to be overly friendly.
"Didn't you say you were going to bring all your business to me?"
"I did, but I can do that at the desk, no?"
"What if I have business for you, then…?"
Ackster realized what she was getting at. She had arranged some privacy for their less-than-official dealings.
"Won't people notice?"
"Don't worry. Stuff like this is standard procedure for matters not everyone needs to know about, like designated requests and what-not."
Ackster remained silent until Wilma guided him into a private conference room that isolated all sound. He looked around the room. It wasn't much different from the one where he slept his first night in Ilto. It was a little bigger, a table and a few chairs replaced the bed, and it had a few decorations on the walls to make it a little more pleasant.
"Well then, first things first. Good work, Dean. It seems you intend to continue that explosive growth of yours."
"Mm."
"No beating around the bush, I take it."
"Well, I am a little tired. I'm also not that interested in wasting time."
Ackster shrugged.
"Ouch."
Wilma feigned a blow to her heart as she clutched her chest and slumped forward.
"So I'm just a waste of time to you."
"If you continue like this, yeah."
Wilma chuckled a little.
"Alright, alright. Tough crowd. Anyways, I have a few things you might want."
Wilma grabbed a stack of texts from below the table.
Ackster's eyes narrowed.