Isekai Kansha - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Beginner Training Begins

The next day, Jin once again spent the entire time training at the guild.

Arriving first thing in the morning, he warmed up before diving into solo practice, and once Instructor Greg showed up, he trained thoroughly under his supervision. That day’s focus was archery. Aside from a short break for lunch, the training continued without pause until evening. Afterward, he quickly finished some shopping for the following day, then, after a bath and dinner, spent the rest of the night in his room reading the book he’d borrowed from Aria until it was time to sleep.

And then morning came—the day of the Beginner Training Course.

Jin rose early, ate the breakfast that had been prepared for him, and picked up the boxed lunch for two that he’d asked the inn’s hostess to prepare the day before. Inside was a large baguette sandwich, topped with cheese and toasted to a golden crisp—still piping hot.

Jin thanked her for taking the trouble so early in the morning, and without waiting for it to cool down (as was proper before storing), he slipped the baguette straight into his Item Bag.

After enjoying another hearty breakfast, he left the inn about thirty minutes before the appointed meeting time.

Having once worked in an office, Jin held fast to the rule of arriving at least five minutes early. Those minutes weren’t wasted—they were meant for organizing one’s thoughts and preparing mentally. To allow for delays, he actually planned to arrive ten minutes early. The so-called "Ten-Minute Rule."

Even so, leaving thirty minutes beforehand was unusually early. But Jin had his reasons. The guild had agreed to open the training grounds earlier today, specifically for the course, and he had already confirmed the grounds would be available about half an hour before assembly. That extra time, he intended to use for warm-ups.

When Jin reached the guild, he greeted the staff on duty and entered the training grounds, where he began stretching and running through radio calisthenics with great care. By the time he had finished his warm-up, others—likely the new recruits—began trickling in. And by the time the clock struck seven, everyone was present.

"Good, looks like we’ve got everyone."

Instructor Greg addressed the group. When he had arrived earlier, Jin and he had exchanged a wordless nod of greeting.

"The purpose of this Beginner Training Course is simple: to give you rookies the foundation needed to become full-fledged adventurers—and to keep you from dying too easily."

Greg’s sharp gaze swept across the recruits before he continued.

"Being an adventurer means staking your life on the job. Sad to say, every year, some don’t make it. You all know this. So what we’re going to teach you now are the ways to avoid dying. Learn them well. Got it?!"

""Yes, sir!""

The recruits’ chorus of replies carried energy enough to match his commanding presence.

"Good. Now let’s introduce the people who’ll be guiding you. First, I’m Greg, in charge of this course. Alongside me is Melinda, also an instructor. Both of us are with the guild."

Greg motioned to the elf woman standing nearby.

Jin had always pictured elves as a long-lived race that stopped aging once they matured. But in this world, there were no vast differences in lifespan between races. Elves merely aged more slowly. Melinda looked around thirty, but her actual age was anyone’s guess. Either way, since she served as an instructor alongside Greg, her ability was beyond doubt.

"Next, the senior adventurers who’ll be supporting you. You can introduce yourselves."

Prompted by Greg, several adventurers standing to the side stepped forward.

"Then I’ll start. I’m Gain, leader of Seekers of the Wind. These two are Abe and Moose, my party members. We’re all C-rank. We’ve got other members, but the three of us are handling this course. Looking forward to working with you."

The cheerful man in his early twenties gave a confident smile. Abe and Moose each gave a brief greeting in turn.

"And lastly, me. I’m Erza, a D-rank adventurer. Normally I work with a partner, but this time it’s just me. Glad to be here."

As Erza’s eyes met Jin’s, she smirked.

To her, it must have felt like a successful prank. But Jin realized instantly—this must have been what she had hesitated to tell him the other day. Far from feeling tricked, he was actually pleased to see a familiar face, and he returned her smirk with a smile of his own.

Besides, Erza didn’t come over or speak to him directly. That told Jin she understood her role here and was deliberately keeping her distance so as not to draw attention. Indeed, chatting casually with an instructor in front of the other rookies would have been inappropriate. For that discretion, Jin was grateful.

"Alright, now it’s your turn, rookies. Just say your name and one of your skills. That’s all. Hiding information is a basic survival rule for adventurers."

Thus began the self-introductions. Including Jin, there were seven rookies—four men and three women. All of them seemed about his age, or a little younger. Their nervous but eager expressions made Jin feel oddly fond of them.

For a moment, he nearly slipped into "grandpa mode" and watched them with indulgence, but he quickly shook it off. He was a rookie here too, with plenty to learn, and he had to see himself as their equal.

"My name is Jin. My skill is Swordsmanship. Pleased to meet you all."

With Jin’s introduction, the round of self-introductions was complete.

"Good. We’ll have time to talk details during the course. But remember this: important information is never to be shared carelessly. Understood?!"

""Yes, sir!""

"Excellent. Then let’s begin the Beginner Training Course. First, we’ll check your equipment and belongings. Bring forward what I name. First up—your main weapon."

The recruits held up their weapons one by one, and the instructors examined them closely. With no major issues, Greg moved on.

"Next—sub-weapons."

Again, weapons were presented—but this time, the instructors shook their heads.

"Listen up. Weapons wear down. In battle, they can break or become useless. That’s when your sub-weapon becomes vital. This applies to both frontliners and backliners. Being prepared saves lives. Now—those of you who picked daggers as your sub-weapon, drop that idea. I see a few of you. Unless you’ve got a specific skill, daggers are a liability in monster fights. Their short reach is deadly—to you. Especially for rookies without the technique to make up for it. Sure, they’re useful in duels against people, but you’re not ready for that. On the other hand, daggers are light, so they make excellent third weapons. As a backup for close quarters, they’re fine. But for your sub-weapon, think again. If your choice doesn’t pass inspection, come talk with us now. Those of you who pass, get advice from the seniors about choosing your armaments."

With that, Greg took the four who had failed the check aside to discuss alternatives.

The ones left after the check were Jin and two women.

One carried a pair of short swords, while the other had a warhammer paired with a short sword.

"You two pass," Gain said, then turned to the dual short-sword girl, "but I’d recommend swapping one for a blunt weapon, or at least adding one. Short swords are easy to handle, sure, but their strikes tend to lack weight, and some beasts can’t be cut with a blade at all."

It was sound advice. Stats and options widened as one leveled up, but at the rookie stage, they were still limited.

"As for you, sister cleric, your weapon choice is fine. A warhammer’s heavy and tough to handle, but it’s effective against thick armor."

Blunt weapons were durable, too, so it was clear the short sword was meant only as a backup.
Her warhammer was a brutal weapon—its head shaped half like a hammer, half like a pickaxe. It wasn’t the long-shafted kind, but a compact type under a meter in length. One side could crush, the other could pierce.

In Jin’s mind, the image of a robed cleric didn’t really match such a savage weapon, but its usefulness was undeniable.

"And you—both of your weapons are unusual. That collapsible long spear, and above all, I’ve never seen anyone use a wooden sword seriously. Planning to keep using that?" 

Gain finally asked Jin. For Jin, the answer had always been set in stone.

"Yes. This wooden sword is sturdier than it looks, and perfectly usable."

"Well… it doesn’t look cheap, I’ll give you that. Still, keep in mind you may want to switch it out someday. Getting too attached to a weapon can be dangerous."

It was sound advice if Jin’s sword had truly been ordinary wood. Adventurers who clung to a sentimental weapon past its usefulness only strangled their own chances of survival.

But Jin’s weapon wasn’t ordinary. That was the only difference.

"Understood. Thank you."

Jin thanked him with a smile. Gain’s words were genuine concern, and Jin appreciated that. He also agreed on the importance of versatility. Since he had the convenience of both the Item Bag and Equipment, he resolved to try out different weapons down the line.

"Good. Well, only if the need arises." 

Gain nodded in satisfaction at Jin’s reply. After that, Gain and the others shared experiences about weapon-switching until the group that had been deemed unfit earlier returned with Greg.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m sure those of you who’ve been listening to the seniors got something out of it. As for you lot, you’re not running out to buy weapons right this moment, but keep what we discussed in mind for the future. Got it?"

""Yes, sir!""

"Alright. Next—"

The checks continued: armor conditions, basic maintenance, potions, gathering tools, skinning kits—every little thing an adventurer needed.

Most rookies were strapped for money, so few had everything on hand. But precisely because of that, the advice was invaluable. Jin, too, found it all eye-opening, learning things he hadn’t even thought to consider.

When all checks were done, Greg looked over them.

"What we went through today was only the bare minimum. From now on, you’ll need to prepare differently depending on the requests you take. Remember, nine-tenths of an adventure’s outcome is decided in the preparation stage. Today’s was a training exercise, so we hid most of the details—but in the real field, don’t you dare neglect gathering intel and prepping beforehand. Understood?"

""Yes, sir!""

"Good answer. Now, time for team assignments. From here to the destination, you’ll be moving in those teams. Think about your role and act accordingly."

The groupings were as follows:

Team One

• Participants: Albert (Swordsmanship), Shelly (Swordsmanship), Rachel (Healing Magic)

• Advisors: Instructor Greg, Moose, Erza

Team Two

• Participants: Cain (Swordsmanship), Dan (Fire Magic), Meg (Healing Magic), Jin (Swordsmanship)

• Advisors: Instructor Melinda, Gain, Abe

*(The skills in parentheses were the ones declared during self-introductions.)

Each team had three to four rookies supported by three veterans. Female rookies were paired with female veterans, too—Shelly and Rachel had Erza, while Meg had Melinda.

Here, Jin learned of the skill Healing Magic. In the VR game he’d played just before coming to this world, New World & New Life, only six elements existed: fire, water, wind, earth, light, and dark. But here, magic like Healing, Spatial, and Enchantment also existed.

Some magics were harder to learn than others, but the common ones were the four-element basics. Healing Magic, like Rachel and Meg had, was the next most widespread—often awakening in those tied to temples.

Jin, who’d studied the book he borrowed from Aria the previous night, now saw firsthand that this was a real world, not a game. Yet at the same time, the appearance of entirely new kinds of magic thrilled him with a sense of wonder.

"Alright! With these temporary parties, we’re heading to the destination. Learn how to act as a team here. Once you’re C-rank or above, working in parties is almost a must. Think of this as a rehearsal. Now, move out!"

At Greg’s command, the rookies began marching.

Once outside the gate, the two parties kept enough distance to see one another but not overlap, leaving the road to head into the field.

Along the way, Jin received guidance from Melinda and Gain—not only on his duties as a frontliner, but also on what to watch out for if he took a rear position. Gain even taught him the basics of leadership and what to watch for when forming a party.

Whether or not Jin would ever lead a group himself, he couldn’t help but look forward to the day he might form a party of his own.

Even as they walked on guard along the road, the rookies’ chatter was lively.

Cain explained that he and Albert, who was in Team One, had both come from the same sword dojo, and had only just set out as adventurers together. Albert apparently had a lot of talent with the blade—though it made him a bit stubborn, Cain insisted he wasn’t a bad guy.

Since the two had chosen to step into the adventurer’s life side by side, Jin figured that must be true.

Meanwhile, Dan the mage, Meg the cleric-in-training, and Shelly from Team One were all childhood friends from the same village.

With one boy and two girls, Jin couldn’t help but think, so this is what they call a harem party, and feel a tiny pang of envy—though not enough to wish misfortune on them.

They were all a little younger than him, bright youths each with their own strengths. The scene made Jin recall his nieces and nephews back in his old world, and he felt a warm fondness at the memory.

They continued walking until they’d covered more than seventy percent of the distance to their destination. At that point, both teams regrouped for a short break.

"Alright, we’ll post a watch and rotate rests. From Team One, I’ll go with Shelly. From Team Two, Abe and one rookie. Adventurers need to master quick meals, so eat fast and rest your bodies."

"I’ll go first, then." 

Jin volunteered. He wasn’t particularly tired, so he stepped up. He and Abe took the first ten-minute watch together.

Of course, as he had been throughout the journey, Jin kept Presence Detection running constantly.

Still, the very fact that the veterans insisted on three shifts for the break made him think: Maybe the real point is to get us rookies to talk with each other. Build camaraderie. Like classmates in the same year—bonding early could pay off later, perhaps even in future party formation. It might also be training for communication itself.

After completing his allotted watch, Jin was replaced by Cain and the others.

It seemed that Albert and Cain were the new recruits on guard duty this time.

Jin returned to the group, where the rest were sitting together.

"Good work. Looks like everyone’s finished eating already."

"Thanks, Jin-kun." "Good job, Jin-san."

It seemed mealtime was over, and now it was time for chatting. Jin pulled a sandwich from his Item Bag. As always, the contents were as fresh as when stored—in this case, piping hot from the morning. He ate quickly before anyone could notice.

"But still, that Albert guy really got on my nerves. Strutting around full of himself, and out of nowhere, he invites me to join his party. Of course I turned him down."

Shelly from Team One grumbled, still fuming. She was venting to her childhood friends, but since everyone was sitting together, the whole group heard.

"Yeah, he does come off like that. Just now things got a little awkward too, so Cain smoothed it over by bringing him along for watch duty."

Dan answered with a wry smile. Meg nodded in agreement beside him. But Shelly wasn’t finished and kept on talking even while eating. Jin couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly she could multitask.

"Rachel had a rough time too. He went on about how her healing magic was ‘perfect’ for him—like, who does he think he is? Right, Rachel?"

Shelly angrily turned the conversation to Rachel, who was in the same squad.

"Yes. It was troublesome." 

Rachel replied evenly. Compared to Shelly’s indignation, her calm response was almost anticlimactic.

Having finished his sandwich, Jin joined in.

"Cain-san did say Albert-san can be a little headstrong, but that he isn’t a bad person. Maybe he just hasn’t figured out how close to stand with people yet?"

"Ehh~, maybe… but I just can’t take to him. Honestly, I’d rather not be on the same team again if I can help it." 

Shelly scowled. Her dislike was obvious. Jin, unable to ignore it—perhaps out of the protective instincts of someone older—decided to offer some perspective.

"This is just another way of looking at it, so take it with a grain of salt," he prefaced.

"People always have both good and bad sides, right? But we humans tend to notice the flaws more. You can probably list someone’s faults right away, but when it comes to their strengths, it’s not always so easy, is it?"

The others fell into thought. Jin continued.

"That’s why I think it helps to consciously look for the good in people. Even if you don’t like someone, if you can find one or two things to respect, you don’t end up disliking them as much. Here in this course, we’re comrades, aren’t we? None of us is an enemy, and no one here is irrelevant to us either. So there’s no benefit in hating one another."

It was, essentially, the principle of focusing on others’ virtues.

"Hmm… I get what you’re saying, but Jin, you haven’t really spoken with him directly, have you?"

Shelly challenged, not convinced.

"That’s true. But listening to you, I actually thought Albert-san sounds kind of… cute, in a way."

"Cute?!" 

Everyone echoed, stunned.

"Well, doesn’t it feel like he doesn’t really know how to deal with girls, so he’s overcompensating? Like he’s trying too hard to look cool? Asking you to join his party at least shows he sees you positively. Sure, he went about it completely wrong—but that awkwardness, that clumsy earnestness, doesn’t it come off as kind of endearing?" 

Jin smiled as he explained. The others mulled it over, and then—snickers broke out.

"Pfft. When you put it that way, yeah, maybe he is kind of cute. Ahahaha!"

Shelly, who’d complained the most, was laughing the hardest now.

Seeing everyone laugh, Jin felt relieved. Even if only for a short time, they were comrades. It would be better if any negative feelings could be reset here.

Once the group had calmed, Jin added one last thing.

"Of course, I’m not saying you should just laugh off everything he does. If he ever says or does something truly unacceptable, then get angry properly. But if it’s something you can forgive afterward, then try finding the good again."

"So, handle him as I have been, but also try to notice his good points, so I don’t end up disliking him too much? Yeah… I think I can manage that."

"Glad to hear it. Well, that’s just my way of thinking, though." 

Jin smiled, happy his words had gotten through.

The rest of their break was spent in lighthearted chatter until it was time to change shifts.

Jin, however, never noticed the astonished looks the veteran supervisors were giving him from a short distance away.

Nor did he realize the seriousness hidden in the gaze of Rachel—the granddaughter of High Priest Clark—who watched him more intently than anyone else present.

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