The group investigated the area for a while, but they didn't find anything out of the usual. Billy wasn't very good at finding old traces of mana, so he didn't make much progress either. So, after three days, they decided to return home. There was no point in staying there and wondering about what had happened when they could do it on the way home, after all. Besides, in one way or the other, they accomplished their goal.
"I feel like we only meet when problems are arising… let's hope that this won't be the case the next time," Svan said after Billy dropped him and Ilfa in their hometown.
Billy could only nod without hoping for too much after hearing that, but his luck when it comes to that kind of thing was terrible, so he didn't have high hopes for that. In any case, Billy offered a ride to Icarus and Lucyna, but they refused it. He wasn't the type to mind when people wanted to be like that, so he wondered if he should try to solve the misunderstanding… it wasn't like he owed anything to them, after all.
"Man, I am beat… Can I take a vacation from solving massive problems like this?" Alexander asked when they were approaching home.
"If you learn how to do that, I want you to tell me how to do it as well," Billy said.
Alexander laughed weakly. Those two weren't the only ones who were tired of fighting for their lives and many others so often. Although they trained hard every day, it didn't seem like the fights weren't getting any easier… Still, they didn't feel like they were wasting time. If they hadn't trained hard, they wouldn't have any chances of surviving, much less of winning against enemies of that level.
It was already evening when they landed in the capital after splitting up. They headed to their houses, and Billy and his wives arrived just in time to see his parents and kids having dinner. Christina was playing with her food while showing an unsatisfied expression. Still, then she got happy when she saw her parents arriving. Billy almost felt shivers when she looked angry again and then only ran to hug Kate.
"Christina, where's papa hug?" Billy asked.
"I don't have any for you!" Christina said. "You left again without saying anything! Papa, I hate you!"
At that moment, Billy felt a pain in his chest that was many times stronger than if he had been punched by the four titans at the same time. He fell on his knees and then on the floor since he received a critical hit. There was no god. There was no point in living in that world…
"Christina… You can say that to anyone, much less to your father," Kate said.
Christina just puffed her cheeks and stayed silent. She probably only heard someone telling that without knowing the real meaning, but the damage was already done. Billy would need years to recover from that attack…
"Don't be a drama queen," Natalie said. "Besides, you had it coming for spoiling her so much."
"Don't feel so bad, Billy," Sarah said and then patted his head. "She soon will forgive you."
"Thank you, Sarah," Billy said. "You are my favorite now."
"No… You can't have favorites…" Sarah said, even though she clearly looked happy.
"Even that right was taken away from me… I am going to bed early tonight," Billy said and then sighed while walking toward his room, looking like an empty vessel of his former self.
"Billy is still a kid…" Drew said and then laughed a little.
"Eh? Do you think you would do better if Samara were to say the same thing?" Camilla asked.
"Perhaps… Probably…" Drew replied after thinking for a while.
Although Billy was tired, he still woke alongside the sun the next day and went to train in the underground arena. He has been having too many difficult fights lately, so he couldn't skip a single day of training. Moreover, a new player has arrived, so he has to be careful and be prepared no matter what they do.
Billy - Lv 320 46.000/ 240.000 EXP
HP: 2006/ 2006
MP: 3871/ 3871
SP: 1078/ 1078
Strength: 479 + 225
Speed: 363 + 95
Magic: 1108 + 415
Endurance: 142 + 225
Dexterity: 119
Status Points: 170
Skills: Gungnir Lv 65, Destructive Aura Lv 77 (+ 10 UP), Fierce Blast Lv 54 (+10UP)
Spells:Mana/EXP conversion Lv ∞, Exp Master Lv ∞, Mind Control Lv ∞, Telekinesis Lv ∞, Beastly Summoning Lv ∞, Absolute Summoning Link Lv ∞, Strength Support 89 (+08 UP), Speed Support Lv 89 (+08 UP), Magic Support Lv 89 (+08 UP), Endurance Support Lv 89 (+08 UP), Dexterity Support Lv 89 (+08 UP), Water Creation Lv 42 (+21 UP), Wind Creation Lv 01,
Passive: Brute Strength Lv 66 (+ 07 UP), Toughness Lv 66 (+ 07 UP), Shock Resistance Lv 77 (+ 44 UP), Enhanced Hearing Lv 19(+ 14 UP), Heroic Spearmanship Lv 56 (+ 31 UP),
Skill Points: 475
After analyzing his status and skills, Billy once again confirmed that he needed to take a step forward when it comes to magic. Elemental magic was fine and all, but he needed more than that, and he couldn't wait to obtain new and unusual powers only by killing reincarnated individuals.
"I suppose the first step is to try to make my mana do things without transforming it into the elements," Billy thought.
There was the amulet and that effect that Billy was planning to learn… Mana Shield. Just learning that wasn't enough. Billy wanted to be able to keep the skill active and on his kids at all times to protect them without bothering their lives. Fortunately, the effect only blocked harmful things, so Billy didn't have to modify it that much.
"I need to go to a dungeon and recover my mana, but I guess it will be enough to train for a few hours with what I have," Billy thought. "I have some pills here as well, so I should be fine."
