Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

The wave of beasts had been dealt with, and the surrounding area fell silent once more. While William felt tired after the fight, Professor Lincoln strolled around the area, assessing its suitability.

"This place seems ideal," he said, peering down the cliff. "Let's just hope this thing doesn't crumble when we build the academy."

The only downside was the river's distance. It wasn't a major issue, though, as it was only about a five-minute walk away.

Lincoln was already considering a solution. "I can use magic to divert the river closer."

William nodded. With magic, almost anything was possible.

After securing the spot – for the time being – they took flight once more to inform the other students. They weren't expecting the students to have found a suitable location in such a short time, but when they spoke to one of the youths, they discovered a surprising find.

It was the same student who had been envious of William's privileged cabin. He called out to Professor Lincoln when he saw them flying near his location.

"Professor! Professor!" he yelled, waving his arms frantically.

William and Lincoln descended to see what the commotion was about. The student was clearly eager to show them something.

"What is it?" Professor Lincoln asked, curiosity piqued.

The student led them deeper into the forest, his excitement growing with each step. He then revealed an incredible sight: ancient stone buildings, partially hidden by overgrown vegetation. The structures were clearly old and dilapidated, with crumbling walls and collapsed roofs.

Professor Lincoln was astonished. "This is impossible," he muttered. "This island was recently discovered. No one should have been living here before."

William felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He reached out and touched one of the weathered stone walls, and a strange sensation washed over him. It was like a faint echo, a whisper from the past.

He frowned, closing his eyes and trying to decipher the feeling, but it remained elusive.

Asura didn't react, which only deepened the mystery. Why was he the only one sensing something?

Professor Lincoln broke the silence. "I'll mark this location for future exploration. For now, let's focus on establishing our camp." Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

They returned to the chosen location, picking up other students along the way and ferrying them to the clearing. Eventually, everyone was assembled, staring in awe at the scattered corpses of the magical beasts. The evidence of the fierce battle was undeniable.

"Did the two of you kill all of these?" Ron, one of the students, asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Indeed we did," Lincoln replied with a hint of pride. "William is quite skilled in combat. Now, let's discuss our next steps… Gather around, everyone."

Professor Lincoln outlined his plan. The first priority was to establish a temporary camp so they could rest and work near the construction site. He then demonstrated his mastery of magic by effortlessly transporting the cabins from the beach to their new location, much to the students' amazement.

With that settled, they had a place to sleep for the night. Now came the hard part.

Professor Lincoln distributed tools to the students – axes and scythes for clearing the vegetation.

"We need to clear a sizable plot of land for the academy," Professor Lincoln explained, "and we can't use magic, as there's a risk of damaging the area."

This task was far less appealing than fighting beasts. William dreaded the idea of cutting down the vegetation, but there was no avoiding it.

At least his friends were there to support him—and suffer alongside him. Marcel and Denise were responsible for cutting down the undergrowth with scythes, while William used an axe to fell the trees.

With his enhanced strength, each swing of the axe bit deep into the wood, and the trees toppled quickly. The other students worked diligently as well, hacking away at the dense vegetation.

The hours passed quickly, but as the afternoon drew to a close, Professor Lincoln called a halt.

"If we make too much noise during the night, we'll attract more beasts. Let's rest for today," he said.

When the students gathered at their cabins, a campfire awaited them, and Lincoln had already hunted game for their dinner. Everything was ready.

All they had to do was relax and enjoy the meal. William did just that, savoring the moment with his friends.

"How long do you think we'll be stuck with this awful job?" Marcel asked, grimacing.

William didn't have good news. With a sigh, he said, "I don't know, but that's not the worst part. We'll be the ones building the academy, remember? Clearing the vegetation might be the easiest job we get."

It was the harsh truth none of them wanted to acknowledge. William was grateful they were done for the day, though. He had other things he wanted to focus on.

He wanted to practice more spells and hunt more monsters to gain more experience.

With that in mind, he went to speak with Professor Lincoln privately after dinner.

"William," the Professor said when he saw William knocking on his door. "Is everything alright?"

William nodded. "Yes, it is. May I come in?"

"Sure," Lincoln replied, gesturing towards the empty chair.

William stepped inside the cabin. It was identical to all the others, with a simple bed, a table, and a couple of chairs.

He sat down, met Lincoln's gaze, and said, "I came here to ask you something."

Professor Lincoln took the opposite chair, placing both elbows on the wooden table and waiting for William to continue.

"Could I... perhaps... be assigned the task of killing the beasts on the island? I'd prefer that kind of work," William said.

It wasn't that William disliked working with the other students, but he was eager to gain more experience and become stronger. The most efficient way to do that was by hunting monsters.

"Why do you want this task?" Lincoln asked, studying William's expression.

William chose honesty. "I want to get stronger. To gain more experience, I need to kill beasts."

The system was transparent and available to everyone. Lincoln nodded in understanding. "What level are you now?"

William checked his status. "Level 22, sir."

Professor Lincoln was surprised. "That's quite high. The other students are between levels 10 and 15 at most. How did you gain so much experience? I don't recall you killing many monsters or engaging in other activities that grant experience."

He was referring to activities like potion crafting, enchanting, artifact creation, and studying, all of which had the potential to grant experience or bonuses.

Faced with the question, William hesitated. He couldn't reveal that he had gained experience in the present time of Aethel and had arrived in the past already stronger than his peers.

"The place I lived before attending the academy was a cabin in the middle of the forest," William explained. "There were plenty of beasts there for me to fight and gain levels."

"That explains your combat proficiency," Lincoln said, considering the information. "I'll think about your request and let you know in the morning."

William felt a surge of hope. "Thank you, Professor."

As he turned to leave, Professor Lincoln stopped him. "There's something else I'd like to discuss. Would you be willing to help me explore those ruins we found? Perhaps in the near future?"

William was curious why Lincoln had chosen him, but he wouldn't refuse. He felt a strange connection to the ruins and was eager to understand it.

"Of course! It would be an honor," he replied.

"Excellent. You may go now."

William returned to his cabin. Inside, his friends were waiting, their expressions curious.

"So? What did you talk about with the Professor?" Marcel asked, leaning forward expectantly.

William saw no reason to lie. "I asked him about being assigned the task of killing beasts in the forest."

"Why risk it?" Marcel asked, frowning. "It's much safer to stay here with us, clear the area, and then build the academy."

His logic was sound, but William had a different perspective. "If I stay in my comfort zone, I'll never get stronger. Powerful mages are forged in combat, not construction."

Their conversation continued for a while, and William noticed the thoughtful expressions on Marcel and Denise's faces as they left his cabin. His words had clearly given them something to consider.

William picked up some of his spell tomes—this time, the ones focused on body enhancement magic. He wasn't going to waste any more time on "Icy Weapon."

Asura, who was usually quiet, spoke up. "Don't feel down. There's a 'Fire Weapon' spell you can learn, though I don't know where you'll find it. We are in the middle of nowhere."

"Thanks for the reminder," William said, a flicker of excitement igniting within him.

He spent a few hours studying, then went to bed. He woke the next morning eager to hear Lincoln's decision.

The news was good.

"I believe you're the most suitable student for this task," Lincoln said. "But you'll start in the less dangerous parts of the forest and focus on the surrounding area. We need to secure the perimeter, all the way to the beach, where we'll eventually build a port."

"Understood," William replied, a grin spreading across his face. He was ready for the challenge.