After moving the sunra to the nearest monster stable where it can safely recover, the vanguards went to the headquarters and were greeted by Jae, the receptionist.

"Boy am I glad you guys returned today to deal with whatever was going on earlier. So, what was the situation out there earlier?" Jae asked.

Testra held up the small wooden shell containing the cursed shard. "Luckily it was just a cursed sunra."

She tossed the wooden shell to Jae who eyed it in surprise.

"Holy shit, that's the second one this month." Jae exclaimed.

"Second?" Testra asked in surprise.

"Yeah, Reizo found one earlier this month when he met those two over there." Jae pointed at Zeigel and Saliza who were standing behind everyone else.

"That's right! Before we even became vanguards, we battled a cursed ciraken, ensuring that it wouldn't harm anyone else!" Saliza proudly claimed with her chest puffed out.

The other vanguards turned around and gave both of them strange looks. Half of them didn't believe a word she said while the others thought that they were crazy for doing such a thing.

"Really?" Jae raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure you two were saved by a juvenile gardvern. It was also the same gardvern that got both of you lost in the forest after you two decided to hop on its back."

Saliza raised a finger. "Actually-"

"Yes!" Zeigel cut her off and threw his hand onto her mask where her mouth was. "That is exactly what happened! We're both idiots! Especially her!"

"You know you're not covering my mouth, right?"

"Want me to knock you unconscious then?" Zeigel growled.

"That...kinda explains why you two didn't hesitate to fight that sunra." Said Testra.

"It just goes to show how brave we are." Saliza said with pride in her voice.

"And a little reckless too," Testra added. "it's not a good idea to throw yourselves into danger so often, you're both still rank 1 vanguards after all."

Tell that to Reizo!

"Wait, but that means that both of you have encountered two cursed shards in less then a month." Coronis pointed out.

Saliza raised a finger. "Actually-"

"Yes that's right we encountered two and only two!" Zeigel quickly cut her off and gave her an incredibly annoyed side eye.

"I've encountered only two shards throughout my time as a vanguard, but unlike you two, my encounters are years apart." Said Coronis. "You two may just be the luckiest, or maybe the unluckiest vanguards to ever exist."

Definitely the unluckiest.

"I'll go store away the shard now." Said Jae. "In the meantime, I need someone to fill up a report that I can send to Meitre."

"Already did." Said Testra who tapped on a sheet of paper on the counter. She turned to the trainees. "Now, is anyone up for lunch at Vangourmet? I'm starving."

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"It's good to see you all again!" Barill greeted the vanguards with a hearty smile. "I was a little worried that I might have to come out of retirement to deal with whatever was attacking the country." He chuckled. "What happened this time?"

"Thankfully it was just a cursed sunra and not another eight or nine star behemoth," Coronis told him. "But come to think of it, that sunra's behavior was really strange. I'm pretty sure cursed monsters will attack any living creatures near it, but that sunra flew all the way to the middle of Mezio."

Testra nodded. "Meitre might want us to investigate it once she reads up on my report. She might even call in those researches from Kinogress again if she sees this as something serio-"

"Okay, okay, enough work talk." Layda interjected. "Now's the time to eat, can't you see your poor trainees starving to death already?"

"Ah right. Order whatever you want guys, lunch is on me today." Coronis announced to the trainees, getting a round of cheers from most of them.

After ordering, everyone took a seat around a big round table.

"Oh yeah, Reizo's trainees, I guess I should tell you two more about me being your temporary trainer." Said Layda. She took out a folded list from her pocket. "Before he left, Reizo gave me a schedule for you two, and I gotta ask, did you two do anything to piss him off?"

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"I don't think so, why?" Zeigel asked.

"Because he wants both of you to go on five missions everyday until he gets back, preferably ones where you have to hunt three star monsters."

Zeigel shrugged. "That doesn't sound that bad."

"Yeah, it sounds alright to me." Saliza added.

"But he's making you two go on missions for the entire week, even on weekends. Shouldn't he be giving you guys at least one or two days off?"

Zeigel's eyes widened. He turned to the other trainees. "Wait, you guys are getting a day off every week?" He exclaimed.

"Sometimes two or even three." Said Koidra. "Everyday, either master Testra or master Coronis will bring us out to complete missions, and we can choose whether or not we want to go. Usually we'll try to complete at least four missions a week."

"That son of a bitch! "I knew he's been overworking me!" Zeigel complained.

"I don't feel overworked." Said Saliza. "I actually think he should give us a little more missions."

"Shut up! You love going on missions because you're a masochist who gets off from being mauled by monsters!"

"At least I'm not a big wuss who's afraid of everything! Even Verny managed to make you scream like a little girl!"

"There they go again..." Illia muttered to herself.

"Okay, enough." Said Testra. "If Reizo really is overworking you two then we'll talk to him when he gets back."

"But he's not overworking us." Said Saliza.

"He is! Just ask the other trainees and see which one of them also goes on missions nonstop!" Zeigel turned to the other trainees, expecting them to back him up.

"Illia does." Said Bora. "She goes on missions almost everyday."

"Wait what?" Zeigel looked at Illia a little surprised. "Why? Are you a battle maniac like Saliza?"

"I'm not." Illia told him. "I'm just... passionate about being a vanguard."

"Maybe you're just lazy Zeigel." Vesfira snickered.

Saliza laughed. "Hehe, Lazeigel."

"Shut the fuck up! I'm not lazy!" Zeigel growled.

"Alright look, if you guys don't want to go on missions then I won't force you to. Reizo doesn't have a way to check if you did anyways." Said Layda. "We can start tomorrow at around twelve in the afternoon."

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The next day, at around eight in the morning, Zeigel made his way to Illia's room for another cooking lesson and knocked on the door.

The door opened and he was greeted by Illia who already had her apron on.

"Morning." Zeigel yawned.

"Hey, come on in."

Zeigel entered her room, finding Vesfira and a muscular guy with black spiky hair, who Zeigel assumed to be Laren, seated at the table.

"Who the hell is this? Your boyfriend?" Laren sneered.

Yup, he's definitely a jackass.

Zeigel gave him a half-assed wave. "Sup."

Laren got up from his seat and marched up to them. "Is that how you greet a Wreistar?" He snarled. "Did no one teach you anything about respect?"

Oh for fucks sake.

"You're a Wreistar?" Zeigel exclaimed with exaggerated shock. "My sincerest apologies, I was unaware that I was speaking to someone from such a prestigious family." He bowed.

Laren folded his arms, looking somewhat satisfied. "Hmph, of course the other idiots didn't tell you who I am. At least you know how to give a Wreistar the respect he deserves."

He turned to Illia and glared at her as if he wanted her dead. "You better not teach him to disrespect me like you did to the other idiots here or I swear to god, I will beat you within an inch of your life."

He went back to the table and sat down. "And hurry up with breakfast will you! I'm starving here!"

Vesfira who was resting her head on her arms rolled her eyes at him and turned her head the other way.

Once inside the kitchen, Illia sighed. "I'm so sorry about him. He came back last night after visiting his dad. He was in a foul mood that didn't get any better when he woke up."

"It's fine, it doesn't really matter what that bastard does." Zeigel glanced behind as he said those words.

As Illia prepared the ingredients, her mood seemed to brighten. "Now, let's begin our lesson."

Throughout their lesson, Zeigel silently watch her and acknowledge anything she says with nods.

"-and now we just let this simmer for a few minutes and it'll be done." Illia said while setting the timer.

Zeigel nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

"No."

"Well, if there is then feel free to ask away."

"Okay."

The two stood around in silence while waiting for the dish to complete.

"So uh, how what's it like being master Reizo's trainee?" Illia asked in an attempt to strike up a conversation.

Zeigel shrugged. "Fine I guess."

Did she just refer to Reizo as 'master'? Wait, the other trainees also called their trainers 'master'. Am I supposed to do that too? Ah who cares, it sounds weird.

"Oh, that's good to hear." She forced out a smile. "So he isn't mistreating you or anything?"

He is.

"Not really."

"But you were complaining about him yesterday."

Zeigel shrugged. "Eh."

The silence between them resumed. They glanced around the kitchen and occasionally at each other, waiting for the timer to go off.

"I'm not making you feel uncomfortable, am I?" Illia asked, breaking the silence.

"No."

"What about the other trainees?"

"No."

"Oh, okay then." She let out another forced smile. "But if there's anything wrong, just let me know."

Once again, they stood around silence.

Is this what every cooking lesson with her is going to be like? I don't plan on becoming friends with her or anyone else, but god, this is getting so damn awkward.

Zeigel glanced at her. He wanted to break the silence between them, but he didn't want to start any conversations that may somehow lead to he thinking that they were friends.

I know, I'll just give her suggestions for any problems she has. It'll just be a simple suggestion from an acquaintance, nothing else.

"You should poison Laren." He finally spoke.

"What? Why would I do that?"

"He's an ass, you should just get rid of him."

"That's illegal Zeigel, and we can't just kill anyone we don't like."

"It's just a suggestion."

"Well, I appreciate the concern, but I won't be poisoning anyone anytime soon."

"Suit yourself."

The timer rang and the dish was finally ready.

Alright, I'll just give some suggestions for any issues she has during these lessons so it won't be so damn awkward. It won't be a conversation between friends, it'll just be acquaintances giving each other some ideas. I'm sure that's how she'll see it.

Illia plated the dish and handed two to Zeigel to bring back to his room.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should be available In the afternoon after my missions. I can teach you another dish I'll be making for lunch if you're interested."

"Sounds good, guess I'll see you later."

Illia smiled at him as he left. "Yeah, see you later."

Zeigel made his way back to his room to have breakfast with Saliza before heading down in a few hours to complete missions with a new trainer.