Dragon's Wrath: The Cursed Returnee

Since that whole training was for Ethan to increase his magic skills, he decided to train vigor later when he was alone. Still, even though he solely focused on learning those support spells, the speed he was progressing decreased considerably.

"Don't frown too much," Emily said. "You are a warrior down to the core. So, it is only obvious that you would start to struggle sooner or later. Besides, the spells are getting more difficult, but you still are progressing faster than most F-rank students."

"What is this?" Ian asked. "Emily consoling someone? Oh, no! I think the world is about to end."

Congratulations! You learned the skill Mental Boost!

Effect: Increases your magic by one point per level when active.

Duration: 60 seconds

Cost: 20 mana

Lv 01 – 0/100

Congratulations! For learning a new ability without help, you received one hundred coins.

"Phew," Ethan took a deep breath after learning another skill.

"It is lunchtime," Emily said. "Let's take a break, and I want to take a shower and change my clothes before resuming this training."

"All right," Ethan said.

Ethan would never admit it out loud, but he was quite tired himself. Training magic wasn't only mentally taxing. It was exhaustive because Ethan couldn't force himself to keep training like that. At least not yet, since he wasn't used to it. Still, a single hour of the break had been more than enough to charge his batteries. It was all thanks to the fact that he had lunch with his parents, and few things were as good as that after being in a warzone for a year.

Thanks to those relaxing moments, Ethan's training during the afternoon progressed even faster than before. However, Ethan was mature enough to admit that it was thanks to Emily as well. She was a pretty good teacher. Patient and she exactly knew the points Ethan could improve and the way to do so as fast as possible.

Congratulations! You learned the skill Concentration!

Effect: Increases your dexterity by one point per level when active.

Duration: 60 seconds

Cost: 20 mana

Lv 01 – 0/100

Congratulations! For learning a new ability without help, you received one hundred coins.

Congratulations! You learned the skill Internal Peace!

Effect: Increases your resistance by one point per level when active.

Duration: 60 seconds

Cost: 20 mana

Lv 01 – 0/100

Congratulations! For learning a new ability without help, you received one hundred coins.

Congratulations! You learned the skill Thick Skin!

Effect: Increases your physic by one point per level when active.

Duration: 60 seconds

Cost: 20 mana

Lv 01 – 0/100

Congratulations! For learning a new ability without help, you received one hundred coins.

"Well, well…" Ian frowned. "I don't know what is more surprising. A typical warrior learning three spells in a single afternoon, or a mage that can teach warriors so well as if she could understand them with absolute ease."

"Emily is a good teacher," Ethan said. "There is also the fact that she has been stuck in this rank for several months, so she knows the ins and outs of most basic spells."

"It is painful to admit it, but while that is true, the fact that you have an incredible level of focus also helped you quite a bit," Emily said. "At this rate, in less than one week, you will be able to increase your rank."

"That is what I was planning from the very beginning," Ethan nodded.

"You two are cruel," Ian said and then tried to fake some tears. "Are you planning to leave me behind?"

"Hell yeah," Emily declared. "I guess that is going to be the most valuable reward I will get by increasing my rank."

"So cruel!" Ian protested. "If that is the case, then I don't have any other choice. I will increase my rank as well in order to prove that I'm a reliable man and to keep bothering you two."

Emily and Ethan looked at each other for a moment, wondering if Ian's head was okay. Although both of them knew that Ian wasn't showing all his abilities, it didn't make any sense for him to take things seriously now. Although he was a fool, even fools follow some sort of pattern or logic. Still, neither of them could really imagine what Ian was thinking.

"Well, this should be enough for today," Emily said. "See you tomorrow."

After saying that, Emily went to her home. It didn't take long for Ian to show his ever-annoying smirk. Even among the demon king's army, Ethan couldn't recall more than ten guys who managed to get on his nerves just like Ian could.

"See you tomorrow… she said," Ian said while smirking. "Aren't you two getting close pretty fast?"

"Yeah, now you can die of jealously because the woman you like will always treat you like a happy-go-lucky boy," Ethan said and then opened his status screen to confirm the skills he learned that day.

"Hah! Don't underestimate my resilience, Ethan," Ian said. "A true man never gives up on his goals."

For someone like Ian, that was a pretty solid argument. Ethan also thinks that people, in general, shouldn't give up on their goals no matter what. So, aside from those words, which were a bit sexist, Ethan couldn't see any reason to refute him. It was a pity that he didn't want to give up on being a simp.

Soon after, Ethan and Ian also left for their homes. Ethan was too tired to deal with Dante or anyone close to him, so he teleported to home while he still was inside the simulator room. He also had forgotten about that, but he found Nuvian, Hannah, and their parents waiting for him.

"It is nice to see you again, Ethan," Nuvian smiled and then said it." How have you been."

"Pretty good, actually," Ethan said and then sat on the couch. "Sorry for bothering you with this."

"It is okay. It is only natural that I would help my brother-in-law when he needs it," Nuvian said. "That being said, I can't say that I didn't come here with only that in mind. After hearing about your accomplishments, I am quite interested in how your body can withstand such a growth in just a few days… yet, I can't feel anything wrong with your body."

That was completely unnecessary, but Ethan couldn't help but smile while looking at his worrywart sister. However, Hannah kept her serious expression because even though she could feel that Ethan was fine, she didn't want to trust her senses. It didn't make any sense, after all.

"What about his mana?" Hannah asked. "Do you feel anything weird with it?"

pαndα`noνɐ1--сoМ "There is nothing wrong," Nuvian frowned. "The only weird thing is that he has more mana than any other source of vital energy. That is rather unusual for a warrior."

"Yeah…" Hannah nodded.

Hannah recalled the moment when Ethan's mana suddenly almost triplicated in value. It was thanks to his cursed power, but even so. Since then, Hannah has had a hard time believing that something so weird like that happened so close to her and without infringing any damage to her little brother's body. Nuvian analyzed Ethan's body.