Chapter 5: Lister National Academy
In the afternoon, all of E-Class took a martial arts class in an arena big enough for some artist to hold a live concert.
"Form pairs of two!"
When the martial arts teacher instructed, everyone paired up. However, since there was an odd number of people, I was left alone.
I tried actively calling out to pair up, but perhaps they disliked pairing with me, the lowest-ranked student; everyone I asked refused. Some seemed displeased that I was talking happily with Clarice and the others at the Cafeteria Building and even verbally attacked me with nasty remarks.
I didn't have the courage to ask female students, and my reliant Gon and Carl had paired up first.
"Umm... I'm left over..."
When I fearfully called out to the martial arts teacher, a familiar menacing voice echoed in the arena.
"Oh! Just perfect! Mars! Take a sword! I'll train you!"
There is only one person in this academy with a thug tone. Turning toward the voice, sure enough, Cyrus was there.
"Cyrus-sensei. This student is in E-Class, and Cyrus-sensei is with another class..."
The martial arts teacher, who had been dignified until a moment ago, shrank before Cyrus.
"This guy is leftover anyway, right? I'll drill him thoroughly, so you go instruct the other students."
The martial arts teacher, who followed Cyrus while looking dubious, was very pitiable. However, this was convenient for me too. One reason I decided to enroll in Lister National academy was to learn Skills.
Sasha once admonished me that to learn Skills, I should beg for teachings from a proper person. I've become able to use something like them through self-study, but I want to learn properly here.
"Cyrus-sensei. Actually, there is something I would like you to teach me..."
When I stood in front of Cyrus, he jutted his chin out as if telling me to continue.
"I believe you used a Skill when we first met; I would like you to teach me that."
Cyrus smiled fearlessly at my request.
"Well, I figured it was something like that... Alright. I hear you have talent for swordsmanship and your magic is first-class. The sword you carry is probably a fine work too. You look like you've already grasped the knacks, but... Alright. If you beat me in swordsmanship, I'll teach you!"
The E-Class students buzzed at Cyrus's words.
"How can he look Cyrus-sensei in the eye?"
"Did you hear? Apparently, that guy can use magic too."
"Heeh... I thought he was just a pretty face, but he seems pretty capable. Maybe I should call dibs on him now."
I could feel everyone's attention gathering on me.
"Understood. But one thing. May I challenge you as many times as I want? I don't think I can win now, but I will definitely win someday!"
If I used Wind Clad: Sylphid or Future Vision, I might be able to win, but Cyrus specified only swordsmanship. Then I'll go until I grab victory with swordsmanship alone! Besides, it's good training for swordsmanship.
"As expected of the bastard I had my eye on! Of course! Come at me as many times as you want! Surpass me like Glenn!"
Before the exam, and even from Duke Regan, I heard the name Glenn. And Cyrus spoke as if this person named Glenn was stronger.
"Who is Glenn?"
When I asked while readying my wooden sword:
"He's a guy called one of the greatest masterpieces in Lister National academy history! Fourth-year S-Class, Rank 1!"
Cyrus answered somewhat happily. Greatest masterpiece? What kind of guy is he? I'm curious about someone stronger than Cyrus.
"Your enemy isn't Glenn, it's me! Don't look away!"
Cyrus attacked suddenly.
"I know! I don't intend to just let you beat me up!"
This time, Cyrus went full throttle from the start. Every time my sword crossed with Cyrus's, cheers rose from the students.
However, that was only for the first few exchanges. As the sword blows piled up, the difference in experience showed.
You see, I had fundamentally misunderstood Cyrus. I thought he could only handle a "Hard Sword".
Trying not to be blown away by Cyrus's sword swung down with brute force, I responded by putting strength into my grip. But that was a trap; Cyrus relaxed his power, and when I lost my balance due to the lack of resistance, he struck me, leading to a one-sided development.
I challenged him many times during class, but in the end, I was beaten back every time.
Class ended, and as I lay there beaten up looking at the ceiling, E-Class students, starting with Gon and Carl, came to worry about me.
"Nice fight!"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. He held back the moment the wooden sword hit. It's a complete defeat. But I found various issues, so I'm grateful to Cyrus-sensei."
There was no lie in my words. Whether they understood that is unclear, but I received happy words from other classmates.
"You're strong! I avoided you thinking you were the bottom rank! Let's get along from now on!"
"Seeing you stand up no matter how many times you were beaten, I involuntarily clenched my fists and cheered for you!"
"Spar with me next time!"
It seemed they accepted me as one of their classmates.
"Yeah! Effort doesn't betray you! Let's all work hard!"
I was alone when I came to the arena, but by the time I returned to the classroom, I was in the center of the class circle.
After academy
I headed to the meeting place with Clarice and the others. It was a secluded spot a little away from the first-year academy building. I didn't want to attract attention like the other day.
"Sorry. Did you wait?"
I hurried over after class ended, but the finishing time differs for S-Class and E-Class.
For S-Class and A-Class, the lunch break is one hour. For other classes, it's two hours, so S-Class and A-Class finish one hour earlier. The reason is the congestion level of the Cafeteria Building. The third floor, usable only by S and A Classes, has fewer people, so meals are served smoothly, and seats are sufficiently secured. In contrast, the first and second floors are overcrowded. It's probably the academy's intention to create differentiation and heighten students' competitive spirit, so it can't be helped.
"We didn't wait. But, you know. There's something I have to apologize for..."
Clarice started speaking apologetically.
"What happened?"
"Well. Today we have to go outside the academy a bit. We need swimsuits for Water Magic class... They sell them at academy too, but the design is a bit... you know. So is it okay if the three of us, Ellie, Misha, and I, go out today?"
"Swimsuits!?"
I inadvertently raised a loud voice due to excitement.
"Is it no good?"
When stared at by Clarice with upturned eyes, there was no way I could refuse.
"Understood. Then be careful. Do you have money?"
"Yeah. Father-in-law gave me some, so I'm okay. See you tomorrow then."
I watched the three until their backs disappeared. If I were S-Class, I could have gone shopping with them. I vowed to make an effort again, using "going shopping outside with Clarice and everyone once I rise to S-Class" as motivation.
My schedule having opened up, I returned to my room and performed a certain task. Creating swords for training.
My immediate goal is to defeat Cyrus with swordsmanship alone. For that, I create stones with Earth Magic, condense them as much as possible, and make two hard, heavy swords. Such work can only be done when Gon and Carl aren't around. I don't intend to teach anyone other than Clarice and the others.
Holding both swords them in my left and right hands and trying a light swing, my body almost got swept away, unable to withstand the weight.
The reason I made two swords is extremely simple. It's from a faint hope that by handling swords with both left and right hands, the speed at which my Swordsmanship level rises might double. Let's make becoming able to manipulate them freely with both hands my immediate goal.
Thinking about such things, Gon and Carl returned to the room.
"Mars, let's go for dinner!"
We ate at the dorm's fifth-floor cafeteria, and after depleting my MP so the two wouldn't notice, I went to sleep.
Next Day, 3:00 AM
I went out of the room without waking Gon and Carl, who were snoring and sleeping soundly.
The curfew for General Classes is from 18:00 to 3:00. In other words, I go out the moment the curfew ends.
The January air was cold, and a sharp sensation pierced my skin. The grounds were silent, a cold wind blew through, and the light of the Magic Stone Lamps cast my shadow.
In the silence, clad in my uniform, I started running with the two stone swords I made yesterday on my back.
One of my issues is stamina.
Undoubtedly, I'm on the side with good stamina. Long battles or whatever, bring it on.
However, yesterday's battle with Cyrus was different. Against a superior opponent, I put in unnecessary power.
Also, recently I've been training to increase muscle mass. When the engine gets bigger, the energy consumed inevitably increases, so I get tired faster.
Back when I was diving in the Almeria Dungeon, I could reduce fatigue with Holy Magic. But I can't do that here. That's why I'm returning to the basics and starting with running.
After running a marathon for one hour, next is muscle training. Normally I would want to create equipment with Earth Magic and do weight training, but unfortunately, there is no space to place equipment in the room I live in. Here, I endure with bodyweight training like planks, crunches, and squats.
Once that's done, the rest is just swinging.
Visualizing Cyrus as my opponent, I swing the stone swords earnestly. Swinging after an hour of marathon and an hour of muscle training is incredibly tough. The battle with Cyrus was also quite tough because I put in unnecessary power. But that's also a good experience.
With the goal of becoming able to strike an accurate blow without disordering my sword line even when tired, I continued swinging the stone swords with my left and right hands single-mindedly until my arms were pumped.
After washing away the fatigue and sweat in the room's bath, Gon and Carl woke up.
"Yo Mars. You're early."
"Good morning."
Inviting the two who just woke up, we went to the fifth-floor cafeteria, and there were already students eating. They seemed to be from other classes, and perhaps because not much time had passed since enrollment, I got the impression everyone was gauging the distance with others. We were about the only ones talking casually.
Then, E-Class male students came up to the cafeteria one after another and formed a large circle. Ever since I got beaten by Cyrus yesterday, a strange sense of solidarity was born in E-Class. Gon and the others seemed to sense it too.
"Mars! Let's all leave good results in the next class shuffle exam!"
They said excitedly, rolling up their sleeves.
"Yeah! Let's do our best!"
Actually, the students with black-lined uniforms here... in other words, D-Class students, don't have much difference in stats from E-Class students. If there is a difference, it's that most D-Class students can use magic and many are children of nobles. Of course, there are those in E-Class who can handle magic, but only mages. No vanguard can use magic.
However, there are parts where E-Class students are superior. That is, D-Class students have low stats for their level, perhaps because they relied on power leveling. In contrast, E-Class students are mostly commoners, and perhaps because they didn't power level, although their stats are low, if they reach the same level, the chance for swapping is sufficient.
For reference, here is the status of Gon, who seems to have the most room for growth in E-Class.
[Name] Gon
[Title] —
[Status] Human - Commoner
[Condition] Good
[Age] 11
[Level] 8
[HP] 75 / 75
[MP] 20 / 20
[Strength] 32 | [Agility] 30
[Magic] 10 | [Dexterity] 15
[Endurance] 30 | [Luck] 1
[Special Ability] Swordsmanship C (Lv 3/15)
[Special Ability] Axe Arts E (Lv 2/11)
Gon's status is the lowest in this class. Nay, even lower than those who failed the exam. The reason he passed is probably because he has two Special Abilities, and perhaps his potential for growth.
Carl also has almost the same abilities, though his Special Abilities are slightly different.
By the way, when I Appraised him, Gon didn't notice the Appraisal. Sasha said long ago that those with high magic power or those who have gained experience would notice. Gon still has a long way to go.
After having breakfast with everyone, we went to academy. The morning is magic class.
"First, state the magic you can use, or the magic you want to learn."
Told by the teacher, everyone conveyed their wishes.
By far the most popular was Water Magic. Especially those who currently cannot use magic... Gon and Carl both chose Water Magic. After all, water is necessary if you get stranded. I think it's a good choice.
Conversely, the unpopular one was Wind Magic. The reason is that the magic learned at Level 1 is Wind, so its usage is difficult. From the perspective of me, who excels at Wind Magic, it's lonely, but it certainly chooses its user.
Regarding the Water Magic class Gon and the others chose, just as Clarice said, swimsuits were necessary. The teacher showed everyone the swimsuits prepared by the academy, and voices of dissatisfaction rose from the female students. Even I, who have no confidence in my fashion sense, recoiled. Girls of that age wouldn't want to wear swimsuits of a color... beige or khaki or whatever that was.
On the other hand, only three people took the Fire Magic class I chose. Besides me, there were two girls who were Fire Magic users. They said rather than learning another type of magic, they wanted to improve their Fire Magic first.
We were led by the Fire Magic teacher to a place like a gymnasium. Since we handle fire, naturally the ventilation is perfect.
"Right away, but I want to see the power of everyone's Fire Magic. Try shooting Fire at the wooden mannequin over there. That wood is called Fukaki and is hard to burn, so don't hold back."
Small flames were fired from the hands of the two female students, hitting the mannequin that somewhat resembled a woman.
"Umu. So-so. Next."
As the teacher said, the mannequin showed no sign of burning at all. Next was my turn.
"Yes! Here I go!"
Enthusiastic, I fired a mass of flame many times larger than the female students' at the mannequin.
"H-Hey! Stop!"
The teacher panicked seeing the flame.
"Eh!?"
It was too late to stop. The mass of flame that left my hand covered the mannequin, scattering it as gray powder.
"Ah... Aah... My Hannah-chan..."
The teacher muttered and hung his head.
"Creepy."
"Worst."
Hearing the teacher's voice, the two girls looked at the teacher with scornful eyes. Noticing their gazes, he gave a short cough.
"Now then, we will begin the Fire Magic class."
He started the class as if nothing happened, but the cold gazes from the female students continued until the class ended.
I had lunch with Clarice and the others, and the afternoon was swordsmanship class. And again, Cyrus appeared before me.
"Yo. Can I beat you up today too?"
Are you really an educator?
Voices of sympathy rose from my classmates. However, for me, it's grateful. After all, until I enrolled, I had no one to be my goal.
I absolutely won't let it end like this!
Determined, I continued to take Cyrus's sword.
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