Fishing Lessons

"And that is done."

I have successfully installed the cover in front of my den. Now if it rains, I won't get wet while sleeping.

"Huh... what time is it?"

I looked up at the sky; the sun was directly above me. In my past life, I learned that your shadow will be longer during the beginning or the end of the day. If it was short, it meant that it was the middle of the day, or in other words the afternoon. I glanced at my shadow. It was short. That means it's the afternoon.

"Whew, I'm starving. Time to buy some food from the ci-"

"You're buying food."

"Eh."

Ddraig was standing behind me.

"Sorry but you're going to have to get your own food."

...

"Huh?!"

"Consider it part as your training."

"B-but... what is there to eat here?"

Ddraig pointed to the river behind him and handed me a spear.

"You're going to catch fish with this spear. You know how to handle a spear right?"

"Well, of course I do."

I took the spear. It was pretty light, probably because of my strength stat.

I took my shoes off and stepped into the water. I was wearing shorts so I couldn't get wet.

As the water flowed past me, there was a bunch of fish as well. My eyes were looking everywhere. There was a horde of salmon rushing by, grazing my ankle. I knew that if I was too quick, the only thing I was going to get was I raised the spear ready to jab a fish.

So I locked my eyes on the fishes approaching me. I saw a pretty slow one coming. That was my target.

Come on...

It was getting closer and closer. Then, when it was right in front to me, I trusted the end of the spear into the fish.

Splash!

I successfully stabbed it right in the center of its body.

"Good job."

Ddraig said while clapping his hands.

"Thanks."

Tti-ring!

[You have killed a salmon.]

[You received 10 exp.]

Huh, I was rewarded for killing a salmon?

[Exp: 10/800]

Hmm... my exp cap keeps doubling every time I level up. If I level up again, it'll be 1600.

Wait a minute, isn't the system supposed to add it to the encyclopedia? Maybe it only stores information about monsters, not food, like fish.

I looked at the horde of fish that was approaching.

Man, I could kill all those salmons and I would be given so many exp. If only I learned magic. Maybe I can do a fire spell?

Hmm... that monster we encountered in the forest. Now let's see, what was it called again?

I need that Encyclopedia now.

Ding!

Then the window appeared in front of my eyes.

`Monster Encyclopedia` was what was read at the top.

There it is, now let's see.

The only monster I killed so far was a Crimson Barbed Wolf.

Yes, it was a Crimson Barbed Wolf. Not only was it a wolf, but it was also a hunter. Is that a class? That big one that Divinus took down was pretty big. A hunter leader, was it? Yeah, it shot a fireball out of its mouth.

Maybe I can use a fireball as well.

I faced my palm at the incoming horde.

Hmm... now what do I do next?

"Mr. Ddraig. How do I use a fireball?"

Ddraig looked at me and tilted his head.

"Fireball? We're not using magic for this training."

"We're not?"

"No. We're training your perception. Your lack of awareness scares me."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You see..."

As Ddraig was explaining, it turns out that I was almost bitten 4 times during our travel here.

"So that's why we're working on this first."

"I-I see..."

Well, I guess this is better than nothing.

***

[You have killed a salmon.]

[You received 10 exp.]

[Exp: 450/800]

I have killed 45 salmons! There is literally a pile of salmon right next to Ddraig.

"Good, you can come out now."

Finally. I was getting tired. It's been half an hour.

I brought my status window out and checked my stats.

[Info]

Name: Lucian Caelum

Title: None

Class: None

Race: Nephilim

Aura type: Standard Blue

Level: 4/10; Prestige 0

Exp: 450/800

HP: 65

MP: 25

Stamina: 250

[Stat]

Strength: 29

Defense: 25

Agility: 63

Perception: 26

Intelligence: 25

Resistance: 15

Whoa, not only did I raise my perception, but I also raised my strength and agility. If only I got more strength though. My movements were swift, explaining how I was able to get the fish in time.

I also realized that my stamina rose up to 250. Looks like every time I level up, my stamina is risen by 50.

As I approached Ddraig, I gave him the spear back and in return, he gave me a fishing pole.

"Huh?"

"You're catching your own fish."

"But I did. In fact, 45 of them!"

"I never said they were yours, were they? They're for the children."

"But I'm hungry..."

"Now now don't complain. This is supposed to be your training. It's easier to use a pole instead of catching them with a spear."

Not really...

"Cmon now, let's get too it."

And so I threw the line into the river and started fishing...

***

An hour later...

"D-Ddraig!!!!! Help!!!!!"

I was getting dragged into the river. This fish was big, BIG! I can see it in the clear water of the lake. Its size was comparable to mine.

Ddraig held onto my shoulder, and my feet were planted into the ground.

"Come on, use your muscles."

"I'M TRYING!!!"

My strength stat is only at 29 right now. I don't think it is enough to pull such a huge fish.

"Papa, what are you guys doing?"

Mizuki walked towards us with a curious look on her face.

"Oh hey sweety, mind taking over for Lucian."

No, stop making her do things I can't do.

"Sure."

Mizuki took the fishing rod out of my hand. Then she reeled the fish in. Jeez, how strong is this girl, I can even see the fish making a shocked face.

I'm starting to think that her strength stat is higher than a hundred. I activated my HUD and looked at her level.

[Level ? Mizuki Haruki]

Shit. She's prestige 1. No wonder why she's so much stronger than me. And her last name is Haruki. She probably got that from her mother.

I looked over at Ddraig and checked his level.

[Level ♾ Ddraig, the Cataclysmic Dragon]

Like Divinus, his level is also unmeasurable.

"Look papa, I caught it!"

"Good job Mizuki. Lucian."

"Yeah?"

"How about you start a fire, it should be easy enough, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Now now Lucian, don't look so down, at least you caught some."

He said pointing to the basket. Inside was about 11 fish that I caught. True, I did catch them, and they were all mine.

Heh heh heh...

I put a bunch of sticks together and some leaves from the pile of spare leaves next to my den. Then I took a stone from the ground and the knife that Divinus gave me and started striking the rock, making sparks.

"Hmm?"

Divinus was watching me. He rubbed his chin and then asked what I was doing.

"I'm making a campfire, obviously."

"You know you can just use fire magic, right?"

"..."

"Wait... don't tell me."

"Heh heh, I don't know how to use fire magic. Well actually, I don't know any."

Divinus looked at me with empty eyes.

"You're joking, right?"

"N-no."

Divinus shook his head while facepalming. Hey now, I haven't learned a single magic spell since I haven't been taught magic.

"Do you not know a basic spell? Like at least fireball?"

"No, I haven't been taught any yet."

"Or do you not have the affinity to use it."

"What? Affinity?"

"Give me your hand."

"Uhh ok?"

Divinus held my hand, and then his hand shone a dim light. Then when the light died down, Divinus pulled his hand back and fell onto his knees.

"Huh? What's going on here Divinus?"

Said Ddraig.

"D-Ddraig... he doesn't have any aptitude for magic."

"Hmm, that's a problem."

I was looking at them with a puzzled expression. What do they mean? What did Divinus mean from I didn't have an aptitude for magic?

"What does he mean by that Ddraig?"

Ddraig looked at me.

"He's saying that you can't use magic."

...

"You're joking, right?"

"No."

He said almost instantly. I fell onto my knees.

"But... isn't everyone born with the ability to use magic?"

"Yes, but it looks like your the only one."

I'm the only one? Well... there goes my chance of using magic. Is my intelligence stat even useful anymore?

"Isn't there anything that you can do, Ddraig? I mean, there must another way for me to be able to use magic, right?"

There has to be. Everything has a possibility. Even if I wasn't born with the affinity to use magic.

"Hmm, there is something I can do but it might not work."

"Really?"

Divinus got up from the ground and walked over to Ddraig.

"Are you really talking about that?"

"Of course I am. It might just work."

"Huh? What are you guys talking about?"

Ddraig looked at me and smiled.

"Ddraig, you remember what happened when you went there. You almost destroyed the place, you're banned."

Divinus said towards Ddraig with a serious tone.

"I never said I was going."

What are they talking about?

"Divinus you're going to be going with him."

"Tch."

Divinus looked away, crossing his arms. Ddraig walked up to me and patted my shoulder.

"You'll see soon."

"Huh? See what soon?"

"You're going to the Forest of Spirits."

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