Synopsis

The chapter reveals the trainees receiving their second mission, tasked with protecting a village from orc invasions. The instructors stress the importance of teamwork, and the ability to judge a situation, even if it means retreating. Meanwhile, the main character reflects on his progress, having finally reached the expert realm in swordsmanship, and engaging in a playful but tense exchange with a companion about their relative power levels. The chapter also touches on a mysterious wound that haunts someone in the past, hinting at unresolved trauma.