Gourd Babies?

"Where are you going?"

Merlin pondered for a moment, then asked Yol:

"Do you know of any reputable dojos in the North Blue where I can learn swordsmanship?"

"A kendo dojo?" Hearing this, Yol's eyes grew thoughtful. "Famous kendo dojos in the North Blue, huh? Let me think!"

Yol hailed from the Church in Frevanz, and Frevanz was once a significant trade hub in the North Blue. Many travelers from various seas would occasionally visit the Church to adopt children.

Over time, Yol had naturally heard many famous tales from the North Blue.

However, when it came to kendo dojos, Yol's eyes gradually lit up as she recalled:

"I remember! Famous kendo dojos in the North Blue... I know of the Gale Kendo Dojo in the Volgala Kingdom and the Rockheart Kendo Dojo on Sea Swallow Island. Are we going there?"

Merlin mused, "The Volgala Kingdom? That's a bit closer. However, they were among those who surrounded Frevanz. Never mind. After we leave this mountain range, we'll see. We have enough funds, so wherever we end up going will be fine."

Hearing this, Yol curved her lips into a light smile: "Speaking of funds, this is the first time I've seen so much Belly!"

Merlin's lips curled upwards. The briefcase he got from Viscount Mela contained a full thirty million Belly. And in the past few days, he had also collected over two million in scattered Belly from the city. This sum was more than enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a lifetime.

However, Merlin shook his head at this moment: "That Belly just looks like a lot, but it's really not. It might only last us for a while. Considering the costs of future cultivation, precious ingredients, housing, and sword training, it won't seem like much."

Upon hearing this, Yol's lips twitched. After listening to Merlin's analysis, she felt a sense of helplessness: "Then it seems that once we settle down, I'll have to find a part-time job too. We can't just spend money without earning!"

Merlin shook his head and refused: "You don't need to worry about the money. We'll talk about it when we run out. For now, while we're young, we should focus on improving our strength."

Speaking of which, Merlin looked at Yol and asked, "By the way, Yol, I haven't asked you yet. Are you interested in learning swordsmanship?"

Yol hesitated, "I've never learned swordplay before, and I don't know if I have any talent for it. Besides, I'm already 20 years old. Is it too late to start learning now? I've heard that cultivation in Kendo starts from childhood to build a foundation!"

Merlin's gaze appraised Yol's physique. Her body was incredibly well-proportioned, and combined with her innate monstrous strength and unusually dense body, even without any prior training, five or six strong adult men couldn't easily get close to her in a fight.

Yol felt a bit embarrassed by Merlin's scrutiny. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled gently, "What is it?"

Merlin then asked softly, "My father once taught me a close-quarters combat technique that he learned from a very skilled old sailor when he was young. Would you like to learn it?"

Yol blinked, asking curiously, "Can I?"

"Yes," Merlin nodded. "If you want to learn, I'll teach you."

At this moment, Lami curiously asked, "Brother Merlin, can I learn too?"

Merlin ruffled her head and smiled, "I can teach you basic physical training."

"I want to learn," Yol said to Merlin, her eyes showing seriousness. "I want to become stronger so I can protect you both. Without strength, we can't do anything when danger strikes. I never want to feel that powerlessness again."

Merlin nodded gently. He looked around. The forest surrounding the pool was quiet, deep in the mountains, and rarely visited by humans. After a few seconds of thought.

"How about we... stay here for a while?" Merlin asked them. Firstly, after the constant killing these past few days, Merlin wanted to calm his mental state. Secondly, ever since entering this mountain forest, for some reason, he had felt a subtle sense of joy, as if he had come home. Merlin examined himself, thinking that it was likely due to the [Lynx] equipment he had equipped.

Merlin wanted to experiment and see if being in the mountains and forests would have any positive effect on the Synchronization Value of his Equipment.

Hearing Merlin's words, Yol tilted her head, stroking her chin as she looked around.

"I can go anywhere with you guys, but even though there's no shortage of food in these mountains, where will we sleep at night?

This is the deep forest in the Fultons Mountain Range, after all. I heard there are wild beasts everywhere. If we stay by the pond, won't it be unsafe at night?"

Merlin scanned the area and spotted a large, lush tree about a hundred meters to the right of the pond. It was ten meters thick and fifty meters tall.

At this point, pointing to a spot near the middle of the tree where several branches, about a meter thick, grew horizontally, Merlin said:

"Yol, you're strong. See if you can use your dagger to carve out a tree hole about three meters long, wide, and high in the main trunk where those branches are?"

Upon hearing this, Yol looked over, then her mouth twitched as she looked at Merlin. She was impressed by his wild idea.

However, a spark appeared in her eyes. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation.

"Then I'll give it a try?!"

Without delay, Yol reached out to Merlin, who handed her his dagger.

The three of them set off and arrived at the base of the giant tree. Yol, holding the dagger, quickly climbed to the branches near the middle of the tree. She knelt on a branch, gripped the dagger in her right hand, and forcefully dug it in. Then, with a strong twist, a piece of bark about an arm's length long was pried off.

Immediately after, Yol's right arm dug and carved rapidly. In just a few minutes, a hole the size of a person's head was carved out.

Standing twenty meters away from the giant tree at this moment, Merlin couldn't help but exclaim:

"If Yol were to demolish a house, she'd definitely be a top-tier demolition expert."

Lami, who was following Merlin, let out a giggle, but quickly covered her mouth and rolled her eyes at Merlin.

"Brother Merlin, you're so naughty! How can you make fun of Sister Yol?"

Merlin smiled and then looked at Lami. "Can you climb this tree?"

Lami's eyes showed a hint of eagerness as she looked up at Merlin.

"Why don't I give it a try?"

The two of them went to the base of the tree. Lami gripped the irregular, hard bark of the giant tree with her hands, using the crevices to slowly climb up like a caterpillar.

Seeing this, Merlin's lips curved into a smile.

But he had to admit, the physical fitness of children in this world was far superior to that of their peers in his previous life.

Shaking his head, he then walked towards the campfire by the pond.

Yol, seeing Lami climb up as well, asked curiously, "What's up?

You're not strong enough to help, you know."

Lami looked at Yol, whose face was covered in wood shavings, and her eyes curved. She reached out and brushed the wood shavings off Yol's face.

"Brother Merlin asked if I could come up."

"Oh, I see!" Yol said with a hint of helplessness. "Why don't you go down first? The tree hole isn't finished yet, and it's not safe up here."

"It's okay, I won't bother you," Lami shook her head. "Besides, look, Brother Merlin is coming over too."

Yol turned her head and saw Merlin walking over, carrying his backpack and a suitcase with swords.

Arriving at the base of the tree, Merlin used both his hands and feet to easily climb onto a branch beside Yol and the others.

Then, under their curious gazes, he placed the backpack, suitcase, and rapier on a branch with a diameter of two meters.

"I'm going to search nearby for any large wild beasts. Once I skin them, I'll make them into mattresses and bedding."

Merlin said to them, putting two grenades in his pocket, picking up his katana, and ruffling Lami's head.

"Your Sister Yol has a mission to keep busy, and so do you. Beasts could appear here at any time, so your job is to keep watch around your Sister Yol.

Prevent her from being ambushed by some sneaky beast."

Lami nodded solemnly, but then asked curiously, "What kind of beast is a 'sneaky one'?"

Merlin chuckled. "Sneaky! That's a metaphor. I know a story about the seven Calabash Brothers.

The sixth brother in that story had the ability to turn invisible, and he loved to use his invisibility to tease others. So, 'sneaky' can also describe a treacherous and cunning behavior.

Do you understand?"

He patted her head, and Lami's eyes sparkled. "The seven Calabash Brothers?

It sounds like a story?"

Merlin smiled and nodded. "A rather interesting children's story."

"Then, before we sleep tonight, Brother Merlin, can you tell it to me?"

Lami's eyes showed deep anticipation. Seeing this, Merlin smiled and said, "That depends on your performance."

Saying that, he stood up and slid down the tree trunk.

Lami puffed out her cheeks and looked at Merlin below the tree. Then, she cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted:

"I'll be vigilant with all my heart and perform well!"

Merlin raised his hand and waved without looking back, then walked deeper into the forest.

Lami turned and jumped onto a nearby branch, took a grenade from her bag, and held it in her hand. She then looked at Yol, her little face very serious, and said:

"Lami will work hard too, Yol-jie, you have to be my witness!"

A smile flickered in Yol's eyes:

"Okay, then Lami, do your best. I, your sister, also really want to hear the story about the seven Calabash Brothers!"