Chapter 30: Suspicious teachers

Rowen blinked at the fading panel until it vanished from view. He exhaled slowly, his body still buzzing with the faint hum of mana. But then his stomach growled loudly. He glanced up, realizing the light in the space had shifted. Though the portal realm didn’t follow the outside sun exactly, it had been hours since he’d come in—outside, it would already be past 7:30 p.m. "...I forgot about dinner," Rowen muttered, rubbing his stomach. A small chirp sounded beside him. Fern floated in a lazy circle, arms folded over his round belly. "I was about to say it myself. I’m starving." Rowen gave a tired laugh. "Fine. Let’s call it a day." Before leaving, he walked over to the rows of crops. The vegetables had already ripened under the accelerated growth of the upgraded space. He carefully picked the mature ones and stacked them inside the new shed, the wooden walls glowing faintly with stored mana. Only after making sure everything was in order did he step toward the exit. The shimmering portal rippled, and in the next breath, Rowen was back from the portal. He slipped into his shop through the back door. A sleek black cat with bright yellow eyes stretched near the back door. Shade, the newest addition to his odd little family, flicked her tail before brushing against his leg. "You too, huh?" Rowen bent to scratch behind her ears. Fern floated out of the portal after him, landing lightly beside Shade. The sprite gave her a sharp look, but the cat only yawned, clearly unbothered. Rowen chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let’s eat first." He ordered himself a simple dinner from the small food service he often used. By the time the warm meal arrived, Fern was already sprawled lazily on the counter. Rowen ate quickly, hunger dulling his thoughts, and Fern nibbled happily on scraps set aside for him. When the plates were cleared, Rowen climbed the narrow staircase to the second floor. His small room welcomed him with the faint scent of old wood and the soft comfort of his bed. He didn’t even bother changing out of his clothes. As sleep crept in, his last thoughts circled around the portal space—what he should try planting next. and which next additional path he was going to choose. Meanwhile, in the upper district, a different kind of discussion was taking place. Inside a well-established restaurant, four figures sat around a polished table. Their uniforms and posture gave them away immediately—they were teachers from the two local schools. Alric leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression carrying the weight of authority. Beside him, Cedric and Marn compared notes quietly. Across from them sat Talia, calm as ever, sipping her tea. "The results this year were... unusual," Alric began, his voice measured. "That Darian boy in particular. Twenty-five cat-type monsters on his own. Remarkable." Cedric gave a thin smile. "Indeed. A feat worth commending." He tapped his pen against his notebook, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Still... slaying that many alone isn’t something even seasoned trainees manage easily." Marn frowned. "And it wasn’t just him. Lyra, Aria, and Calen performed beyond expectations as well. Their skills sharpened too suddenly." The teachers shared a brief silence. Pride lingered in their words, but suspicion crept beneath the surface. They all knew the true difficulty of Darian’s achievement—it was almost too clean, too quick. Finally, all three turned their attention toward Talia. She set her cup down with a faint clink. "Yes, I noticed that too. Lyra’s group in particular did very well." Her tone was even, giving nothing away. She knew the reason for their sudden improvement, but it wasn’t something she intended to reveal. Not yet. Talia recalled the faint surge of clarity she herself had felt after eating the vegetables from Rowen’s shop. The others didn’t know. And for now, she would make sure it stayed that way. The morning sun slipped through the cracks of the shutters, pulling Rowen from sleep earlier than usual. He lay still for a moment, listening to the quiet hum of the town outside, then sat up with a sharp breath. At the foot of the bed, Shade stirred and gave a lazy meow before climbing up to paw at his shoulder. "Morning, Shade," Rowen said Excitement stirred in his chest. For years, he had watched others awaken, train, and chase strength while he stayed behind the counter of his shop. But now—now he had something too. A path of his own. He wasn’t going to remain just a farmer. Rowen washed up quickly and made himself a simple breakfast. Rowen quickly washed up and made breakfast. Shade sat neatly by his chair, ears perked until he shared a small portion with her, while Fern swiped food straight from Rowen’s plate. After finishing, Rowen stood, his heart racing. "Fern, open the portal. I want to check it again." When the last bite was gone, he stood, determination clear in his voice. "Fern. Open the portal. I want to check it again." Fern’s ears twitched, but he obeyed with a cheerful chirp. The air in the corner of the room shimmered, bending like liquid glass, until the familiar portal appeared. Rowen stepped through, heart pounding. The moment he entered, he froze. The change was unmistakable. The space stretched wider—nearly twice the size of what it had been the day before. The fields spread out in neat rows, the soil rich and dark. And at the center, the wooden structure he had built last night stood solid and glowing faintly with mana, as if alive. "...It’s real," Rowen whispered. His hand brushed the shed’s surface, the wood warm under his touch. "It wasn’t just a dream." Fern zipped past him in a small loop, clearly pleased with the reaction. Rowen’s hand moved to his pocket, pulling out the rough mana stone. Only a small amount remained, Still, just holding it made him feel the weight of possibility. For the first time, he believed he could grow into something more than a simple shopkeeper.