Chapter 101: How much did it cost?

“Gramps… We’re obviously going to fight.”

“Hehehe. I thought you’d say that. Shall we change locations then?”

“Okay. You guys gonna watch too?”

“Uh, yeah…”

They couldn’t ask why they were moving from this training ground.

But they were filled with the feeling that they couldn’t miss the fight between the person who claimed that even if Ishud tried to kill him, he couldn’t kill him… and the person who called himself a demigod.

“I guess if you’re really gonna fight, this is the place, huh~”

“I-Ishud. Is this also a training room?”

Following the two, from the outside… it looked like a training ground, just like the place they were in just now.

However, it wasn’t any bigger than the training ground they had been using earlier.

“That’s right. You see, when you have intense fights among family members, or when top-tier knights and magicians serving the Regula family go all out, regular training grounds tend to get pretty beat up.”

Gulf and his companions, who had received advice on weapons from knights serving the Regula family, could easily imagine such a scene.

“So, that’s why this training ground was built.”

“This training ground was Ishud’s idea. He used abundant high-hardness minerals and mixed them with bones of B-rank and A-rank monsters… along with magic stones from monsters with regeneration properties or skills. Then, alchemists created special metals, making it a very sturdy building.”

““”…………”””

Michela, Phillip, Christille, and Dustin were speechless.

They could understand that Ishud came up with the idea… That much was clear.

Although he’s been called a barbarian and such, his way of thinking and creativity aren’t skewed in strange directions.

However… the size of the building in front of them, the training ground, was indeed slightly smaller compared to the one they had been using until just now.

But it still had the spaciousness typical of a training ground.

With all the ultra-hard metal and bones and magic stones from B-rank and A-rank monsters used in this training ground… they couldn’t help but think that the building in front of them must have cost the same as, if not more than, their family estate to construct. This thought caused a momentary mental short circuit.

“Th-this is amazing, Ishud!”

“Right? I even incorporated special magic items found in dungeon treasure chests, so even if your arm or something gets sliced off, it’s totally fine.”

Even if a combatant’s limbs were severed, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Having heard that explanation, the four of them were now convinced that the training ground they had just stepped into was undoubtedly worth more than their family estate.

“? What’s wrong with you guys? Why are you trembling so nervously?”

“Um, do you… do you understand what kind of idea you came up with?”

“Mixing minerals and monster materials? That’s something alchemists excel at in the first place. It’s also a skill blacksmiths can handle.”

“No, no, Ishud. That’s not it. We’re talking about how much it cost to build this building.”

“Oh, that. We could get monster bones and magic stones from monsters with regeneration features ourselves. Even minerals… occasionally, steel golems appear. Well, in the end, we bought a large quantity of desired minerals from other towns… So, did a lot of money did fly away with the purchase cost and the fees for skilled alchemists.”

As Ishud said, regarding monster bones and magic stones, Ishudo and his group had obtained them by hunting, so they were essentially free.

However, a substantial amount of money was indeed required for the necessary quantity of minerals, and it vanished like foam.

However, since people of the Regula family generally thought that as long as they could enjoy good food, it was fine even if their pockets were temporarily empty, the current head of the family, Alba, didn’t worry too much about it.

“Well, it seems like it didn’t affect the management of the territory, at least.”

“…Well, that’s a relief.” 

Michela echoed Phillip and the others’ sentiments verbatim. But for Ishud, it wasn’t really something particularly surprising, so he casually brushed it off while starting his warm-up exercises.

“It’s like they say, you should use money when it’s really necessary.”

The warm-up before their usual training began was… completely different.

(Hmm… I wonder how many students will get knocked out just from those punches and kicks unleashed by that Shadow… Also, didn’t Ishud do some serious weightlifting just a while ago? Isn’t that warm-up enough?)

Christille and Ibuki were thinking the same thing, but no one could really criticize Ishud, who had a genuinely serious expression.

(He’s really serious about it, huh? But then, the legendary old man over there… he’s just leisurely doing warm-up exercises. Ishud might say he’s slacking off… but it’s not like they’re not taking it seriously because they’re family, right?)

There was a stark difference in the warm-up exercises the two were doing.

There’s no way Ishudo doesn’t understand that… Yet he doesn’t say anything.

(For Ishud… this must be a real challenge.)

About ten minutes after the serious warm-up started, Ishud finally stopped the shadow fighting.

“Sorry, Gramps. Kept you waiting.”

“Hehehe, no worries.”

Since a barrier was deployed, attacks wouldn’t reach Gulf and the others watching. 

However, they couldn’t guard against the pressure emanating from Ishud.

(Ishud… is gripping his battle-axe.)

(Come to think of it, didn’t he say his favorite combat style is wielding two battle-axes? He’s really, truly fighting seriously now.)

(That battle-axe is probably Rank Five… No, maybe Six? To wield such a weapon… It’s no good. My senses are feeling numb in various ways.)

There’s no referee for this match.

Ishud and Roberto haven’t specifically set any rules in their conversation.

“Haaah… Haaaah… Haaaah… AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

With his breath in order, Ishud unleashes his Berserker Soul, the epitome of the berserker’s frenzy, in a lightning-fast opening move.

For a moment… it might seem like he’s going overboard right from the start. 

But to those watching, it quickly becomes clear why no specific rules were set.

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