Time skip.

What is time skip?

It's something an author would do in his/her series whenever there's nothing important happening after a certain event or usually when the protagonist going for a long training to improve. The author would go on write something like 'one year later' or 'few years later'. It's because the author is too lazy to explain the protagonist's daily life during a certain arc.

Sometimes, it's coming all of a sudden.

And god, I hate time skip! It's like the author is just going on with the story while sometime skipping some of the important event in the story!

On this book I read in between training, there's a time skip! The protagonist went on a training for five years, and when he and his friends reunited, every one of his friends has changed!

Why is that female character became slutty? Why is protagonist's best friend has lost his arm? And there's even a character whose personality changed now as if he's a different person! And when will the author explain what happened with them?!

Anyway, it has been one year since when we discovered that island dungeon we used for training, and today we're celebrating Jewel's magic manifestation.

"Congrats on manifesting your magic! You have registered as a hunter like we told you, right?"

"YES, MASTER! I HAVE REGISTERED! NOW I CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND WHEN I GRADUATE, WE CAN GO ATTEND THE SAME MAGIC COLLEGE TOGETHER!" Jewel shouted happily.

Why is her shouting way of talking returned? Is it because she's happy?

Well, I'll let her scream all she wants today. Good thing I have improved my air element. Now I can block sound using air shield. Though it's still too weak to be used properly as a shield other than being a silencer.

At least it's good to not let the neighbor be annoyed by Jewel's scream-like way of talking. Though we don't have any neighbor after we built the park. But in exchange, there are lots of children going to the park to play.

That's right, the park is done already. Sam has already bought all the properties nearby, and I built this park with the help of everyone.

And thanks to Victoria's knowledge of her previous world, I built some attractions that children would enjoy. Like swing, slide, seesaw, sandbox, and jungle gym. The kids enjoyed playing them every day.

With this, the kids will have a place where they can play while also moving their body. It's good for kids to train by playing instead of just training. They will at least have better stamina than others who never actually leaves their houses.

And today, with delicious cake on the table baked by Lina, we are celebrating Jewel's magic manifestation.

"So, what elements did you get?" Angela asked.

Everyone has gotten a lot stronger. But none of the mages among us has gotten so strong as fast as Angela. In just one year, all four of her elements have reached advanced level! And she's still 17!

"I HAVE MANIFESTED TWO ELEMENTS! ONE IS LIGHTNING ELEMENT, AND THE OTHER IS BEASTFORM!" Jewel replied.

"That's good! Lighting element, you can learn from both Candy and Sophie. As for beastform…" I looked at Ian who looked at Jewel kindly.

"I will do my best to guide Lady Jewel, Master Roy."

Then Ian approached Jewel.

"Have you decided on what animal you wanted to transform to? Most of the Beastform mages choose birds or other flying type animal. And we can't pick any monster to transform into." Ian asked Jewel what she wanted to transform into.

Then Shelia interjected.

"Wolf! Transform into a wolf! Wolf is the best animal!"

Then everyone also gives a suggestion on what animal is the best.

I also start thinking about what is good for Jewel. Her physical strength is weak even after training under me, but with her beastform, she should be able to cover that weakness if she picks a powerful animal.

But I think it's best for her to decide it herself.

"That's enough. Looking at her expression, Jewel must have decided one already. Tell us what animal is it."

While being pressed by the others on what animal it would be, Jewel keep the same smiling expression all the time. She has learned to keep her head cool and make think carefully on what to do.

"IT'S RHINOCEROS!"

…what the hell?

"Not tiger, not wolf, not bird, not even horse, but a rhino?" I asked for her confirmation.

"YES! THEY'RE BIG AND STRONG! GOOD TO COVER FOR MY WEAKNESS! AND THEY ARE ARMORED WITH THICK SKIN! THEY ARE ALSO FAST EVEN WHEN THEY CAN ONLY CHARGE FORWARD!"

Well, I guess she's right. But she's still a girl, so how come she decides it so easily? A rhino doesn't seem cute at all. What if she grows a horn on her nose?

"I EVEN TRIED IT IN MY ROOM BEFORE!"

And of course she already did it… sigh… it means there's no way to undo that. She will be a rhino girl from now on. A Thunder Rhino Girl. Not because of her lightning element, but because of her loud voice. I have gotten used to the peace in this house that I sometime forget to use Divine Vision at all time.

"Sigh… fine. I think everyone is slightly disappointed by your choice, but since you have decided and going through with it, we'll respect your choice. Can you show us your transformation?"

"SURE!"

"Wait! Not here! Let's do that later after we finish all the foods here while they're still warm!" I said.

And after the table is clean from the food… we still waited until Ian and Lina finished doing the dishes. We only left with portal after everything is clean.

The location where we're at is the lake. It's peaceful and there's only few monsters here.

"Alright, you can transform here." I said to Jewel.

Then Jewel took some distance from us to start her transformation.

And I… clasped my hands together and pray.

"No horn on her nose. No horn on her nose."

And the other girls who see me praying, do the same as well.

""No horn on her nose. No horn on her nose.""

The result is… there's no horn on her nose! But it's still weird!

It's like she's wearing a gray armor instead of transforming! And her head… there's no transformation at all! It's just looks like she's wearing an armor and a mask! And the rhino head mask is not worn on her face, and just hanging on her forehead!

"…Ian, is that normal?" I asked the other beastform mage we have.

"…I think so. From what I learn about beastform in my youth, there are two kinds of beastform transformations. Some will transform their body into similar to the animal they can transform to like me, and rarely, some will only look like they are wearing clothes or costumes similar to the animals they can transform into. This is the first time I've seen one, so I thought this kind of transformation doesn't exist." Ian explained.

That mean Jewel got the rare kind of costume transformation, huh?

"Ian, does the transformation depend on the animal they are going to transform, or will it depend on the mages themselves?"

"I think it depends on the mages. And they will still be counted as an advanced level right from the start."

"THAT MEAN I'M ALREADY AN ADVANCED LEVEL MAGE! AWESOME!"

I guess that's her luck, huh? Well, we should be glad that it doesn't look that bad.

"Can you show us your beast transformation?" I asked Jewel.

"SURE!"

This time, she transformed into a real rhinoceros. The size, the horn, the color, everything is just like a real rhinoceros. Well, other than the fact that she talks. And she's shouting, not talking.

"MASTER! SEE?! THIS IS MY TRANSFORMATION!"

I moved away from her and decided to test her rhino form.

"Jewel! Charge at me!"

Jewel started running. She's quite fast, but not as fast as me or the Werewolves. But it's a good speed.

Her horn about to hit me when I stopped it with both my hand. I grabbed the horn and only pushed one step back. And that's when I'm using my Aura! Rhinoceros is really a powerful animal.

"Now, use your neck and lift me up!"

I tried to hold my ground, but I failed. I got thrown to the sky, but I landed perfectly.

"You're so strong! Now, let's try your hybrid form and attack me!"

Now she transformed back to her armored form, and tries to punch me. I stopped it with one hand, but I can tell her strength has improved.

"Good! Now defend this!"

She crossed her arms to block my punch which is not covered with Aura. Her armored arm is very strong! I can feel my fist hurting from that punch, and Jewel doesn't seem to be hurt at all!

"How is it, Jewel?" I asked while holding my fist I used to punch her.

"I DON'T FEEL ANY PAIN AT ALL! THIS FORM IS VERY STRONG!" Jewel shouted happily.

Well, I guess it means she choose the correct one. I'm glad that she's happy with her choice.

Then everyone surrounds her and start asking questions and touching her body and armor. Other than Ian obviously.

"Ian, please take care of her."

"I will, Master Roy."

While we are celebrating Jewel's magic manifestation, Sonia appears wearing a grave expression.

"Sonia, what's wrong?" I asked.

"…Roy, it's finally here. Veronica said she has to leave the cult as soon as possible or she might be killed."

Our joyous atmosphere changed as soon as Sonia said that.

There's no time, I'll hear her explanation together with Albert. I quickly returned everyone to Cassau, and go to the capital and discuss our next move.