The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden streaks over Alicia's estate. It was Alex's last weekend here before he had to return to the academy, and he was busy packing his belongings when Aurora's voice echoed in his mind.
"By the way, Alex… it's about time for the Wilderness Training."
He paused, his hand hovering over a neatly folded set of clothes.
"Wilderness Training?" he repeated, frowning. "What's that?"
Aurora huffed in amusement, clearly expecting his confusion.
"Well, you were absent when they announced it after the vacation, so it makes sense you wouldn't know. It's an annual training exercise for all students—camping out in the wild, hunting monsters, and surviving on your own."
That made him raise an eyebrow. "Sounds… serious."
"It is! Or at least, that's what I've heard. I never really cared much about the specifics since it happens outside the academy, but every year, students take part in it. And guess what? Now I get to experience it with you for the first time!"
Her excitement was evident, but Alex wasn't entirely convinced. If Aurora, despite all her knowledge, hadn't bothered learning much about it, that probably meant it wasn't too dangerous. Still, a nagging feeling told him there was more to it than just camping it in the wilderness.
Deciding to ask Alicia and Priscilla about it, he made his way to the dining room, where the two were already seated, waiting for him to join them.
The moment Alex approached, Alicia looked at him expectantly. "Something on your mind?"
Alex nodded as he took his seat. "I heard about the Wilderness Training. What exactly does it involve?"
Alicia nodded, as if she had expected the question. "It's a standard survival exercise. Every academy with a combat or magic curriculum includes it as part of their training. You're thrown into the wilderness and expected to survive, hunt monsters, and fend for yourself for a set period. It usually lasts around a month or so."
Priscilla chimed in, swirling her glass of wine lazily. "It's meant to prepare students for real-world dangers. Monsters are rampant in this world. If you can't even survive a month outside the city walls, you have no business becoming a mage or a knight."
Alex frowned slightly. "I see. That makes sense."
"Of course it does," Alicia said, crossing her arms.
Priscilla leaned back with an exaggerated sigh. "It's mandatory, and for good reason. Some academies go easy on their students, but yours? They make sure you really experience the struggle of surviving on your own."
That statement wasn't particularly reassuring.
"Wait," Alex said. "So what all would I be needing?"
Priscilla smirked. "Funny you ask. We were just about to go shopping for supplies. Since it's your first time, you're going to need proper equipment and camping gear."
Alex blinked. "I thought the academy provided that?"
Alicia scoffed. "They don't. Weapons, potions, food rations, camping gear—you'll need to get all of it yourself."
Aurora chuckled. "Ohh, shopping? This should be fun!"
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The next morning, Alex found himself in the heart of the bustling shopping district. The air was thick with the scent of freshly baked bread from street vendors, the rhythmic clinking of metal from blacksmith shops, and the constant hum of merchants haggling over everything from enchanted weapons to rare alchemy ingredients.
Rather than wading through the dense crowd, they made their way to the largest shopping mall in the district—Arcane Emporium, a high-end, multi-story establishment known for catering to adventurers and nobles alike. It was a one-stop shop for everything they needed, boasting an unparalleled selection of equipment, potions, and magical artifacts.
The first order of business? A spatial storage artifact.
Alex already had an infinite inventory thanks to his system, but revealing that was out of the question. Instead, he downplayed his situation, mentioning that he only had a small storage bag—enough for a few essentials but nothing substantial.
Alicia, however, wasn't convinced.
"That's unacceptable," she declared flatly. "You need something high-capacity and reliable."
And just like that, Alex found himself inside a specialty store lined with glass cases displaying rings, bracelets, and pendants—each one an artifact enchanted with spatial magic.
A well-dressed salesman greeted them with a polished smile.
"Welcome! Looking for storage artifacts? We have the latest models, all tested for stability and durability."
Alicia wasted no time. "We need something high-tier."
The salesman's eyes flickered with interest. "Of course. Please, follow me."
He led them to a private section, where the best artifacts were displayed under protective glass. With a flourish, he gestured to a sleek, silver ring embedded with a small blue gem.
"This is one of our finest models—100 cubic meters of storage, reinforced with high-tier dimensional magic to prevent spatial collapse. It also binds to its user, ensuring no risk of theft or loss."
Alex feigned interest as he picked up the ring. It was lightweight, cool to the touch… and completely unnecessary for him. But before he could respond, his gaze landed on the price tag.
50 million relis.
His mind blanked.
Alex hesitantly glanced at Alicia, expecting at least a moment of hesitation. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a platinum card—the kind only the absurdly wealthy carried—and handed it over without blinking.
"We'll take it."
Alex almost choked.
The salesman, visibly ecstatic, bowed deeply. "An excellent choice, Miss!"
A minute later, the ring was handed over, and Alex slipped it onto his finger, pretending to be impressed. Internally, however, he could only sigh.
'Well… at least this keeps up the act.'
Even if he didn't need it, turning it down wasn't an option.
With the storage ring secured, they moved on to a shop specializing in camping gear. Unlike the mundane tents Alex was familiar with from Earth, these were magically enhanced survival tents—capable of withstanding the harshest conditions and even monster attacks.
Priscilla took the lead, her experience evident as she gestured toward the different models.
"Alright, listen up. This one has basic weatherproofing but no defensive enchantments. This one has temperature regulation but lacks concealment. If we want the best, we should go with—ah, found it!"
She pointed at a sleek, black metallic disk, about the size of a palm.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "That's… a tent?"
Priscilla smirked. "Watch."
She pressed a small rune on the disk.
In an instant, the metal shimmered and expanded, unfolding into a full-sized tent with reinforced walls, soft interior lighting, and a pulsing concealment barrier that rippled faintly before vanishing.
"The Aegis Tent-07," she declared, folding her arms proudly. "Top-of-the-line model. It has automatic camouflage, barrier defenses strong enough to withstand C-rank monster attacks, climate control, and a self-repair function if damaged. It can house five to six people comfortably and compresses back into a disk for easy carrying."
Alex had to admit—it was impressive.
Then, he saw the price.
'10 million relis.' His shoulders slumped.
Alicia, as expected, paid without blinking.
Alex exhaled in resignation.
"At this rate, surviving the wilderness won't be a problem." He muttered. "I might just end up more comfortable out there than in my own dorm."
With the storage artifact and tent secured, their next stop was a shop specializing in food rations.
At first, Alex was confused. 'Why buy preserved meal packs when I can just store fresh food in my storage ring?' With 100 cubic meters of storage, he could easily stock up on fresh ingredients to last months.
He soon learned why.
Unlike his system inventory, which froze time, regular spatial storage artifacts didn't. Time flowed normally inside them, meaning perishable food still rotted.
Aurora, floating invisibly beside him, chuckled. "Your system inventory is special, Alex. You can keep fresh food for years without spoilage. Normal people? They have to rely on preserved food."
Alex sighed. 'Well, that explains it…'
They entered a large provision store, its shelves lined with neatly packaged Survival Meal Packs (SMPs)—also called Adventurer's Provisions.
At first glance, they reminded Alex of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) from Earth, except these had sleek, enchanted packaging with faintly glowing preservation runes.
His expectations? Low. No matter how well-preserved, how good could pre-packaged food actually taste?
The store attendant, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a well-trimmed beard, caught his expression and smirked knowingly.
"First time buying SMPs, kid?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah. No offense, but I'm not expecting much."
The salesman chuckled. "Most first-timers think these taste like dried cardboard. But trust me, these aren't your average field rations." He grabbed a neatly sealed pack and handed it over. "The high-quality ones taste just like freshly cooked meals, thanks to preservation magic. No loss of texture or flavor. They last up to six months without spoiling."
Alex turned the pack over, eyes narrowing at the price tag.
2,500 relis per meal.
"That's enough to buy a full-course meal at a good restaurant." he muttered.
The salesman shrugged. "Quality doesn't come cheap. Regular SMPs start at 100 relis, but the high-end ones range from 1,000 to 2,500 relis each. Most adventurers buy them in bulk—we have pre-made selection packages catering to your needs."
As expected, Alicia didn't hesitate.
"We'll take the best package—enough for one person for a month."
Total cost? 100,000 relis.
Alex just sighed. 'At this rate, I should just stop being surprised…'