chapter 4

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Five years had passed, and today is my 5th birthday. Grandma and Grandpa (Lucy's mother and father) came to congratulate me on my birthday. We had a feast for my birthday. Father and Grandpa had caught a muscle lamb, a goat-like creature with big horns and great strength. Its hind legs were roasted with herbs, and its brain was cooked like mashed potatoes with some purple onions from the yard, along with bread and rice. It was enough for the seven of us.

Father gifted me a bow as a birthday present. Children in this world usually start learning magic and combat after they turn five, and then at seven, they study at schools or under someone. At the age of fourteen, they join academies, so I have years to train well. Thinking about the future and enjoying time with my family, the sun went down. We enjoyed our meal; Sia and Ana ate some rice with brain. The muscle lamb was good, different from mutton on Earth, and perfectly roasted with spices.

The next day, I woke up at 7 in the morning, washed my face, and came into the hall. Everyone was there; Mom was cooking, Mum was with Ana and Sia who were sleeping, and Grandma was with them. Grandpa and Father were discussing crops in demand when I arrived.

"Good morning, Grandpa. Good morning, Father."

"Good morning, Alex. How do you like your bow?"

"I love it, and I'm very excited about the magic book Grandma gave me."

Hearing this, Grandma was happy. Then I sat at the dining table and asked, "Dad, can I come with you the next time you go hunting?"

Hearing this, he said, "No, Alex, you are still small. First, you need to learn to use that bow and the horned dagger, then learn some magic. When you are eight, we can go hunting."

"But, Father..."

"No 'buts,' you are still small."

"Alex, your father is right. You can't go into the forest without learning magic, and hunting isn't as easy as it looks. Remember the muscle lamb we ate? It was a big problem for us after being trapped and injured. If it hadn't been trapped, we would have had to run for our lives given its strength."

I was shocked at first and asked, "It was that powerful?"

"Yes, it is that powerful. Even D-ranked adventurers struggle with it for a while without their party's help."

I thought for a while and then asked, "If I learn to wield a bow and magic, can I join you?"

Hearing this, Father nodded and said, "If you can learn to use the bow and three spells that can help you fight, then I will take you with me."

I was on cloud nine, "Finally, I can start my journey towards greatness!" But suddenly, Mom and Mum came and shot glares at Father, saying simultaneously,

"He is not ready," Beth.

"Isn't it too early?" Luna.

"I am not saying now, but after three or four years," Beth said.

"Not until I say yes," Luna added.

Hearing their quarrel, I wanted to say something, but Grandpa beat me to it.

"Beth, Luna, listen. Steven is not wrong. Alex has to learn these things; our world is not for weak people. Nana and I had a chance to learn it early, but we didn't. We only attended school until fourteen but didn't learn to fight, so we had to start farming. We taught Lucy to the best of our abilities, but being our only daughter, we didn't want to risk her life. Alex is small now, but when he grows up and wants to start his family, we may not necessarily be able to help him."

"But he can learn it at the academy," Luna insisted.

"And who is going to pay for it? Without good combat knowledge, he won't be able to compete for scholarships or undertake missions, and Steven has to look after you two, Ana, and Sia."

"But..." Luna was about to say something, but I cut her off.

"Okay then, what if he trains first and fulfills the previous conditions, and then he fights a horned rabbit under our watch? If he passes, then I will let him join me on the hunt."

Hearing this, they thought for a moment.

"Okay, if he defeats the horned rabbit, then we will let him join you. But Alex, don't push yourself too much, okay?"

"Okay, thank you."

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