Author: Hello readers and thank you for reading.

Kuro’s level is related to his life experiences and how much he has grown. It doesn’t relate to how strong he truly is. When he learns and grows stronger it increases and he inherits SP that would have normally been distributed automatically. Growth correction allows him to distribute it freely.

I’m trying to avoid the generic way for someone to have stats and such. This growth system has a lot of things I didn’t reveal yet. It’s why I made a guide for it, Which updates with the things he figures out.

I love the questions I have been getting, anything I don't mention will eventually come up. The previous town wasn’t forgotten, Kuro was just stuck training with Hank and Lock, who wouldn’t let him leave until he graduated. Thus the title of the chapter.

A few things will be resolved next chapter.

I also put swim instead of climb when he was training at a waterfall in the previous chapter, fixed that.

His race will be revealed at the end of this arc. Some more side chapters will come up too.

Dungeon crawl will be in a few chapters, but first I’ll close up the current norm for the characters.

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I awoke between two extremely clingy girls again this morning. More often than not they are trying to do anything that relates to physical contact no matter how embarrassed they look. Whatever they are trying to prove needs to be settled. Yesterday they tried barging into my scheduled bath time to ‘help scrub my body’ from what they said, not my back, my body.

I already plan on accepting their feelings when I feel that it’s truly genuine. However, this feels a bit forced, like they are worried about something.

….Let’s do some investigation on the cause of this. (Author: side chapter on this later)

….

As per every morning, we all did the usual morning routine and gave each other positive greetings. Shirley and Illis have both opened up to everyone without much issue, Shirley herself is no longer a stuttering mess when she talks to us and shows real progress. I feel relieved seeing everyone smile in the morning.

The mother and daughter’s only similarity is their facial appearance, not counting Illis still having a baby face. While Illis has her dark crimson hair and deep blue eyes, Shirley has really dark blond hair and one eye the shade of blue and the other brown. It isn’t rare in this world for people to have heterochromia, it can signify whether someone has an affinity, but not all the time. I even confirmed her eye changed color when she first learned how to control water mana.

If Illis is lucky, she may have inherited her mother’s talent for water magic. There is no guarantee though, but better to hope for it.

I started looking at the others as well, they have really changed.

Tammy’s silver eyes were no longer hopeless and held a subtle light within. Her beige colored skin was now soft and clear of any scars. The formerly burnt and disheveled copper colored hair she carried was now vibrant and smooth after continuous treatment. She no longer appeared as innocent as when I first met her, but was still able to properly interact with everyone.

Beth was even more charming than before. Her short light brown hair was thick and glossy. Creamy brown eyes which contain a pensive look, always looking out for anyone who would cause trouble. Now that all of her scars, even the ones from before her capture were removed, makes her look less intimidating. Her tan skin however was proof of the hours she spent practicing her sword outside under the sun.

I didn’t want to mention it, but compared to when we first met, they have really started to become quite something to see. I can't call them utterly beautiful, but their looks are in now way poor and stand above most of the woman I’ve seen in this city. It is also one of the reason’s for all our business.

The amount of failed cat calling from the so called ‘players’ have been increasing. But it stayed as just that when they realized the people in this store weren’t to be messed with. Beth especially was feared for her ruthless nature toward any pervert trying to cop a feel on Tammy as she worked.

They are still overly cautious when dealing with people, but has been gaining confidence in themselves. Plus a lot of the people entering the store aren't too hard to beat down.

All the training has been paying off it seems.

Hank however said their progress is unnatural and that everyone in my group is abnormal. Lock, in one of his few serious moments, agreed with him. They both even asked the day before if they were taking some type of potion or something.

From what I know, only powerful people and their subjects have access to resources, proper training, and fighting techniques to help people grow truly strong. The guards I fought in the previous city called Labrindel, were not trained with these methods and could be considered trash to these people.

So seeing the rapid growth of my group they thought we had something helping us cultivate our strength faster.

I can't really think of anything we are doing different compared to the other students they are training. The only thing different would probably be the….massages they have me do….after every workout.

Does [Magic Hands] make their training have a greater effect? Or is it something more?

I usually do it with the intention of healing so I never realized it might be doing other things along with it. Is it also why they look better than before. I attributed Shiro’s looks to genetics and Puerial to being a growing elf. But is this skill improving their looks or something?

This...this will be a problem if others find out.

At first I refused but they relentlessly asked me for massages because the pain they felt hindered their work so I just didn’t care anymore. My body doesn't seem to be able to awaken the beast yet, so I wasn’t really affected by their nudity. Besides being embarrassed. (Author: don't compare him to human standard development)

Why not do it with them having clothes on? Yea I tried long ago, even now they said it doesn’t feel right, at the level of it barely working. Clothing turns out to be [Magic Hands] achilles heals. Maybe when the skill gets stronger but for now….

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

*Sigh* I have to consult Amare on this. If it really is affecting their looks...trouble will come...in the form of perverts...or worse.

….

While we were all finishing with the morning prep of the store, before I started heading out Beth seemed to approach me with a question.

“Hey Kuro, uhm...can I ask you something?” She appeared to be cautious about the subject like it was troubling to talk about.

“Go ahead.” As per usual, I tried to sound reassuring to maintain the fragile trust I formed. It may have been a year already but I will take no chances.

“Ah, well I...uh...I want to apologize. Even though you haven’t done anything, but even so, for a while now...I was still watching you and doing things to test you. In case...well...”

I stopped her there as I told her I didn’t really mind and would actually be worried if she didn’t.

“Huh, but this whole time I’ve been doing all sorts of things to annoy you and get you mad. Why are you being so nonchalant about it?” Beth said this as she maintained a confused gaze. (Author: they do interact outside what is told and have thoughts, side chapter for this too coming up.)

“Rather than mad or anything, isn’t it natural for you to be un-trusting after what happened. If you started acting friendly and accepting after something like that, then I would actually have been worried.” (Kuro)

I said it clearly and hoped she understood it was fine. Seeing as she didn’t know how to respond I ended the conversation and said my goodbyes to everyone as I left fully cloaked with Shiro and Puerial.

….

“He really is different...huh.” (Beth)

“Beth do you think...he can find my dad?” (Tammy)

“If it's him...there is a chance.” (Beth)

“Hey no slacking! There is already a line at the door!” (Illis)

*Clink* “Sorry we’re late.” (Tony) “Sorry.” (Tilly)

“Apologies later, let’s get to work.” (Illis)

Everyone chuckled at Illis’s enthusiasm as the day began for them. Any sign of heavy hearts among them was nowhere to be seen.

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As we walked down the roads that were slowly filling with people, we made sure not to linger for too long in any location.

The few beast-kin minorities in this place can pick up scents way too easily. They have more than once stopped me due to my smell. What I don't get is that the smell disappears when I start hiding, but I can't do it intentionally.

So to avoid annoyances we don't linger, if they spotted Shiro it would get a whole lot worse too. But, thankfully Shiro has been practicing how to hide her presence. So far no one too strong has noticed her in her cloak.

Puerial has also hid behind me whenever an unfamiliar face approached. From what she says, ‘They have a bad aura’, might be an elf thing. I can't detect aura’s or anything, so it may be related to an elf’s natural magical ability. That or it's another skill I need to learn.

….

We reached the training grounds and noticed the other disciples were nowhere to be seen.

Hank and Lock were seated on the floor in the middle of the large room, all the equipment was neatly put away. They gave off an oppressive atmosphere as we took our seats in front of them.

Today was the last day we would be disciples under them. We have completed all of their trials and are ready for our graduation gifts as per the tradition of this ‘dojo’ if you would call it.

“You three have really surprised us.” (Hank)

“Yea, we didn't expect much when you guys walked in.” (Lock)

“Indeed, your appearances made you all seem rather fragile compared to the others who have taken our course.” (Hank)

“Fragile is an understatement. You three look like some brats who have never known hardships. But that would be a lie, haha.” (Lock)

“Yes, we are pleased with the efforts you have made. To complete this 3 year course in only 1 year is quite impressive.” (Hank)

“Ha! Truth be told, we expected you all to fail. What a great surprise *smile*.” (Lock)

“Lock, seriously enough with such comments.” (Hank)

“Ah? Oh yea got it, well let’s get this gifting over with then.” (Lock)

*Sigh* as expected, Lock can really annoy someone. Let’s just ignore him and finish this ceremony. There are a lot of things they restricted me from doing while I was learning from.

The aftermath of the event in Labrindel, that I caused, seems to have left a lot of interesting results.

I want to travel back to starter town and get Abra, ah wait it's name was Birgen right. Plus there are a few debts to be paid.

However, I don't know about my father though. He is the leader of a rather secretive sect, the strength of his sect is still unknown to me due to this.

Better to exercise caution for now, no need to rush in there. Unlike on Earth, my head feels clear and collected. I guess my stats are helping me focus my mind better. Or my lack of brain damage is seriously helping my anger.

The ceremony wasn’t too complicated. Since this is something between master and disciple, others are irrelevant. Not what I would expect, but it is their tradition.

We each performed the instructions for the ceremony. Some oaths were said, mainly to keep training and not abuse our strength. No doubt a few have broken this oath already.

Performed a formal bow and announced our departure when everything came to a close.

We still have never been able to land any real blows on the two, but we have made some good progress it seems.

The strengths between ranks has really started to show though, Hank and Lock are both rank B- supposedly. Apparently it only becomes truly distinct at C rank and up. Such a long road ahead.

Now that we are free to travel again, let’s backtrack on some things I wouldn’t want to linger and pop up later.

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A/N: Abra will return, and a few things will be clarified about what happened to the previous city. A few shocking things will also naturally pop up.

Sorry for the slow chapter, these types of things are needed.