The second day has begun.
　I add one more task.

'We'll have to wait until this afternoon to get food and build the house, and you guys can do this.

　I held out a hoe and an axe.
　The symbol of the [villager]--.
　Just like the one on my left shoulder.

''What's this?　You want me to plow a field or something?

　Cecil looks at the hoe that was handed to him.
　He had only just woken up, but his expression was as dull as if he was dull.
　Despite having rested for quite some time, Cecil was already tired.

'That's right, Cecil. I'll have you farm in the morning.''

What about me?

　Rowan looked at the axe, asking questions.

'You'll continue to cut out building materials. But only with that axe.

Okay.

Is this really going to be a training exercise?

'This is a training exercise, Cecil. You'll know it when you get out of this space. The difference.

Hmm.

'In the meantime, do as you're told. ........I'll make sure you'll have some good vegetables to grow tomorrow.

Delicious vegetables!

　Cecil reacted violently.
　The tired look he had on his face earlier was blown away.

　It's probably because we didn't have much of a morning.
　Just the prey and wildflowers we caught yesterday are a little short for us in our growing season.

　Cecil, Sarasa, and Sheila are on farmland.
　Rowan is going into the mountains.

　We continue to work for some time and soon the three girls notice.

'The soil is hard,'

　Sheila frowned.
　Cecil and Sarasa had a similar reaction.

'I see. 'I see.'

　Cecil's eyes narrowed.
　He glared at me with a snap.

''It's okay. It's a show of strength for the [Blacksmith (Blacksmith)].''

　Cecil gives the hoe 【Sharpening】 【Hardness Increase】.
　I gave the other two the same treatment.

　The hoe enters the soil more crisply than before.

''As expected of you, Cecil-chan.''

Thank you for your help, Mr. Cecil.

Hmm. Well, this is going to be easy.

　Cecil puffed out his chest.
　He turned his proud face toward me to appeal to me.

　Seeing that, I cowered my shoulders.

　You don't understand, Cecil," he said.

　"I told you it was hell.

　And the three of us continue on with our work.
　We'll have a problem soon enough.

"Cecil-chan, we've run out of magic.

'What?　Already?　It's funny. I put a lot of care and magic into it.

　Cecil tried once more to re-fill Sarasa's hoe with magic.
　It was Sheila who stopped her.

''Wait, Cecil-san, Sarasa-san,''

　That's Sheila.
　Apparently, you've noticed.

　Sheila continued to explain.

'I understand the discomfort from yesterday. There are still hidden contraptions in this space.''

I knew it....

Hidden gimmick?

　Sarasa seems to have noticed, but our Cecil still doesn't seem to understand.
　She tilts her head while holding the hoe.

''Perhaps........the amount of magic power consumed here is higher compared to outside.

That's Sheila. You're right.

　I praised my sister.

　Magic power, even if you live a normal life, decreases in minute amounts.
　That's why magic has a duration.

　In this space, its consumption is tripled.

　Moreover, the high consumption is not just a matter of the duration of anything.

'Oh, that?　I can't get the multiplex to start up properly.

　It was Cecil who screamed, too.
　He must have tried to grant the hoe a new magic.
　However, the magic power was not well concocted and he was struggling.

　The fact that magic power was being consumed means that the flow of magic power within the space was fast at the same time.
　Compared to the outside, it would be like a storm inside this place.
　Controlling magic power in such a situation is naturally difficult.
　It was like being on one foot in a storm.

''Even after resting, the malaise is still there, which simply means that my magic power hasn't fully recovered.

Well then. I need to take a potion to restore my magic.

　Cecil threw out his hoe and headed for the entrance to the space.
　I called it off.

'Where are you going, Cecil?　I told you we'd get it locally.

Ah!

　With a snap, Cecil stopped moving.
　When he turned around, he had an expression that was a mixture of frustration and anger.
　A good face.........
　It's worth bullying.

　I grinned.


　Already!　Stupid Lacelle!　Onion!


　Yeah, I haven't heard that in a while.
　That line.........

　On the other hand, Sheila was only analyzing it calmly.

''You have to control the flow of magic power and suppress the leakage of magic power, right?

That's right, Sheila.

　My sister grabbed the hoe again.
　She controlled her magic and adjusted the amount of leakage.
　She continued to work.
　The other two were stunned by Sheila's condition.

''Wow..... As expected of Sheila.''

　That's a genius.
　The sooner he realizes there's a problem, the sooner he can deal with it.
　But if you don't do it this way, you won't last half a day in this space.

"Oh, I'm going to...

　Cecil tries to do the same thing with Sheila, but fails.
　That's the hard part.

　Well, it would take some time, but eventually he would master it.

　And so the second day passed.

　Incidentally, Rowan is found collapsed in the mountains.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　Thus, seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

　The farmland was finished, but the house was not yet complete.
　Well, that's to be expected.
　The first seven days are all about getting used to this environment.

　But they're getting used to it.
　I'm confident that I'll be able to tackle the job on the last day.
　That's something to be proud of.

　The thin air improves cardiopulmonary function.
　In addition, the ability to control magic power in order to reduce the consumption of magic power.

　What I want to do is simple and straightforward.
　I want to improve my basic abilities.
　If you don't raise the foundation, no matter how many techniques and magic options you have, it won't do you any good against mages.

　You have one year.
　Let's have the four of you take your time to build up your bodies.

　For the first time in seven days, my companions leave the space.
　We breathe in the air.

'It kind of brings me back to life.

　Cecil reveals his joy.
　I've been gradually adjusting the density of the air since about the day before I left, just like outside.
　Well, there's also the mood.
　Even though it seemed vast, it was still a fact that we were in an enclosed space.

　It was evening outside.
　The sunset was blotting out the sky like a paintbrush.
　We disbanded for the time being, and each of us went back to our quarters.

　Then Instructor Baker comes in.
　The instructor, whose black hair was tied up like a horse's tail, looked at us and warned us.

Oh," he said. It's time to leave school, boys. Go home early.

'Wow!　It's Instructor Baker.

This is kind of nostalgic.

We haven't even seen each other for seven days.

　The friends chuckle.
　Cecil, for example, approached Instructor Baker and asked him to shake his hand.
　The instructor wrinkles his brow and glares at you as if he is looking at some creepy creature.

''What is it with you guys?''

Don't be so watery, Doc, it's been seven days, isn't it?

What?　What are you talking about?


　I was supposed to be in charge of today's exercise, but...


Huh?

　My friends are puzzled.
　It was Sheila who noticed something again.
　I asked the instructor for today's date.

　Then it was the same date and time that Sheila and the others entered my space.


''Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!　What do you mean by that?


　Cecil, Rowan, and Sarasa exclaimed.
　Sheila seemed to be thinking about it, but couldn't give me an answer.

　'I'm going to go to seed.

'It's simple. Time is moving faster inside the space I've created than it does outside.'

　In other words, even though it's seven days in space, it's only about a few hours outside.

''Big brother, you used a time acceleration magic.

Time acceleration?

That's some top-shelf magic!

　Cecil and Rowan sounded bareheaded again.

　Cecil let out a loud sigh.

'You're getting more and more of a monster, you.

''Fufu........ It's Lacelle-kun, you know... (I give up).

　Is this a compliment to me?
　Or do they make fun of us?

　Well, okay....
　You're strong as a freak, that's a fact.

Now, go home and rest your body. It's going to be another seven days of hell tomorrow after school.

　I raised the corners of my mouth.