One week had passed since their return home. During that time, Billy spent his afternoons in his dungeons and the morning trying to teach more words to his kids. However, he had to stop one day because Kate and Natalie showed up one day while he was playing with his kids. It seemed that they want to talk about something serious and he could guess what it was about.
"What is wrong?" Billy asked. "Whatever you are thinking, it isn't my fault."
"We have come to talk about our jobs… what the hell are you talking about?" Kate asked while frowning.
"I was just… Never mind," Billy said. "Is it about time already for the new recruits to be trained?"
"Yes, but since Hector and Christina are too small, we asked Jean to decrease the time of the lessons," Kate replied. "We thought that separating us in the afternoon and in the morning, but it seems that isn't possible."
"The lessons will be held in the afternoon, so we will have to leave them to you during that time," Kate added.
"No problem, I can leave early in the morning to the dungeons and then return before lunch," Billy said. "I am thinking of improving the speed of my car, so it will be fine."
" Why do you want to go even faster than that?" Kate frowned. "Did that guy inspire you or something?"
"Putting that aside, is it fine to decrease the time of their training?" Billy asked.
"We aren't at war, so we don't have to be that worried and we have the alliance to count on times of trouble," Kate replied.
Billy nodded. Those six states were pretty peaceful in the last two years and Billy could only think that the next enemy will be the summoner, but it will take a while for him to make his move. Probably... besides, it would be wise to make some preparations against that guy, training new recruits was one of them. Billy didn't want to be the only firefighter in that world... others had to help when things get complicated. Besides, he didn't forget about his idea regarding spreading the knowlede of basic magic.
"Did you hear that, kids?" Billy asked. "Papa will be able to spoil you all through many afternoons."
"Don't spoil them…" Kate said and then sighed.
One week after that, Billy's friend and his wives began to work as instructors again. This time, the course will take some extra time to be completed, but the number of applicants still was pretty high. It was quite surprising that Jean didn't bother him again to do that as well. He had already asked him three times before and while the third is the charm, the fourth is the harm…
After suffering quite a bit in Icarus' hands, Billy decided to train his martial arts a little bit more alongside his defense. While the fight hadn't been one-sided, he could have done a lot better. So, he purchased one skill from the shop.
Martial Arts
Increases the power of your punches and kicks by three percent per level.
He also looked for other skills that would increase his endurance, but he didn't find it. Trying to learn it also would be hard, but he decided to keep trying it. He saw some monsters that had that kind of skill, but it was due to their biology. He couldn't copy the thing the same way they used it… while he also could increase the output of the defensive skills he had, it wasn't that efficient… He needed passive skills that could make him tougher.
"What do you guys think, any ideas?" Billy asked.
"Papa! Papa!" Christina said while she was toddling in the garden.
"Dah…" Hector said, looking a bit annoyed.
"Come on, I am counting on your words of wisdom," Billy said.
Christina wanted to be spoiled and Billy almost could say that Hector could feel that he was making fun of them while joking around. At least he wasn't crying while his mother was away. In any case, it was hard to think of solutions to those questions even when he was by himself, even more so when he was looking after his kids.
Since Billy didn't have any surge of inspiration, he decided to check the libraries of the dungeon towns. He had read the books of most dungeon towns that mentioned monsters and their abilities, but maybe he couldn't have a good idea if he rereads them. After one week, Billy gave up… Most of the skills that monsters had was based on their biology, after all. Billy tried to copy that, hardening his muscles and bones with mana, but it didn't work. In the first place, even if it worked, it wouldn't protect his skin.
While Billy was thinking about that, one day, he received a letter from his siblings. It was weird because it seemed that they took turns writing… Even though both of them wanted the same thing. Basically, they were asking for advice about how they should convince their parents that they were strong enough to look after themselves… And they wanted to travel more.
"They are thirteen… Time sure flies," Billy thought while he recalled that his siblings were pretty talented but naive.
In the end, Billy decided to write them things as clearly as possible. Strength isn't everything, one needs to be smart and not reckless to be recognized as an adult by most people. Thinking clearly about their shortcoming while trying to improve those aspects is also something that they should do. Once they do that, not because it was the best way for them to get what they wanted but because it was the right thing to do in order to live a long life, things will work out by themselves.
"I am getting old and quite preachy… Still, listening to my own advice is kind of hard when I can't find the answer to one of my problems," Billy said and then shrugged.