Practice

As I headed to the ward to see Roel, I saw Rosalyn by Roel’s side, as if she had come to visit.

Seeing Rosalyn constantly offering Roel something like a snack, I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was ruining the good atmosphere.

Roel must have spotted me, because he raised his hand in greeting.

,Hi, hi. Ross….”

Rosalyn, upon seeing me, was startled and avoided eye contact like a criminal, stuttering. Puzzled by her behavior, Rosalyn, her eyes fixed on the ground, said in a tearful voice.

,I, I’ll be going now!”

Roel and I exchanged glances at Rosalyn’s fleeing behavior, shrugging at her strange reaction.

Well, she probably had some wild fantasy.

,Thanks for visiting, Ross.”

Seeing Roel unable to hide his happy expression at my visit, I felt sorry for not coming sooner.

,How’s your body?”

,Yeah, I’m fine. I was originally supposed to be discharged today, but everyone was worried, so I’m getting checked tomorrow morning and then getting discharged.”

I felt a little relieved at Roel’s words. I apologized to Roel, who must have been in an awkward situation because of me.

,I’m sorry. It’s my fault for bringing up the sewer story….”

,No, everyone just fell into a trap meticulously set by the dark wizard. Your testimony was true. The hatchery really existed in the sewer.”

I was inexplicably grateful to Roel, who always believed in me wholeheartedly. Even if rumors of collusion with the dark wizard continued to circulate, I had faith that Roel would have believed in me.

,I heard about you. I’m glad the misunderstanding was cleared up before you went to the interrogation room. Did you enjoy touring the Imperial Palace?”

,Yeah….”

Watching Roel relieved, I suddenly wondered, what would Roel’s reaction be if the lies I had been hiding all along were revealed?

Pushing away the negative thoughts filling my head, I brought up Lacar to change the subject.

,Oh, I made a friend this time.”

,Whaaat-?! Really? Another friend besides Ellie? It’s not like an imaginary friend, is it?”

Seeing Roel so surprised and genuinely curious, I felt inexplicably bitter.

Roel quickly managed his expression as I made a face like I had eaten a very astringent persimmon. But he couldn’t hide the interest in his eyes as he looked at me.

,His name is Lacar…. He’s a freshman in the Combat Department.”

,Really? Should we go meet him now?”

Saying that as if it were obvious, Roel tried to get out of bed, and I hurriedly stopped him.

,Why, why are you trying to meet him?”

,Well…. Because he’s the first friend you’ve made. I want to check what kind of person he is, and ask him to get along with my little brother….”

At Roel’s words, I sighed and said.

,You’re being overprotective, hyung-nim. I’ll take care of my friendship with Lacar, don’t worry.”

At those words, Roel smiled brightly and leaned back against the headboard of the bed.

,I think you entering the Academy was a really good choice. I’m glad you seem to be changing for the better.”

Feeling embarrassed for no reason at Roel’s pure joy at my positive change, I changed the subject to something else.

After some small talk, I left the ward after receiving Roel’s one-sided promise to take me to a delicious hamburger place in the capital next time.

As I was walking towards the Combat Department dormitory on the hill, someone suddenly blocked my path.

With her pink hair and breasts bigger than her head, I knew it was Rosalyn at once.

,Ro, Ross! This is a stamina-increasing potion I made myself…. I, I put a lot of effort into it as a gift….”

I was puzzled by Rosalyn’s sudden gift of a red potion bottle. Accepting the potion, I asked Rosalyn.

,Why the sudden gift?”

,Huh? Not, not sudden…. I, I always thought you were, you were really, really….”

As if it was a question I shouldn’t have asked, Rosalyn couldn’t continue her words, her eyes filling with tears.

Panicked by the sudden change, I didn’t know what to do and just stared blankly. Rosalyn bit her lip and turned her body.

,I, I’m sorry!”

Leaving those words behind, Rosalyn quickly ran away. I felt uneasy about what I had done, but upon hearing the words “stamina-increasing potion,” I drank it without hesitation.

The muscle pain that had been making me scream like I had taken a potion disappeared, and when I opened the status window to check the change, my stamina had increased by a whopping 0.3.

As expected, she was worthy of being the top student in the Alchemy Department.

With a satisfied smile, I returned to the dormitory.

***

The next day, after finishing a slightly less awkward breakfast than before with Lacar, I returned to the classroom and sat down.

Someone shouted loudly as they entered the classroom.

,Breaking news!!! The headmaster said we’re having a special practice today because of this attack!!!”

At the shout of an unknown classmate, the classroom instantly became noisy.

,Ugh, what is it? Suddenly practice….”

,I heard practice is really hard.”

As negative reactions became the general opinion in the classroom, someone slapped the head of the student who had shouted “breaking news” with their palm.

,Hey, is the headmaster your friend?”

The chaotic classroom regained order with the appearance of Lycan. Everyone hurriedly sat down, and only then did Lycan open his mouth.

,As you just heard, the headmaster said that it would be good for the freshmen to prepare for real-world experience in advance in preparation for situations like this.”

Some people grumbled at Lycan’s words. He silenced their complaints by threateningly banging on the podium with his large hand.

,Unlike the seniors who skillfully dealt with the situation this time, you guys were confused and didn’t know what to do, and many of you got hurt. I’ve thought from the beginning that freshmen also need practice.”

Lycan stroked his chin with a satisfied expression. Someone asked him a question.

,Then what kind of practice are we doing?”

,You’ll be entering a training dungeon created by the Academy faculty. The practice will be organized into basic parties. There will be a total of five people in a group: two Combat Department students in charge of the front and rear, and one each from the Alchemy Department, the Magic Engineering Department, and the Magic Department.”

Lycan, with his hands on his hips, continued.

,The faculty worked hard to make sure that there is little difference in skill between the groups, so don’t complain about the group assignments.”

Everyone avoided eye contact with Lycan, who was growling as if to say, “Speak up if you have any complaints.”

Lycan took out a pen with chalk stuck in it from his pocket and placed it on the blackboard. The pen began to move on its own and write.

,Check the groups written on the blackboard, put on your basic equipment, and head to the basement to wait in your groups! There’s no time, so move quickly!”

I was flustered because this didn’t happen in the original story. Originally, this would be when the mutated orcs were attacking the last village. Is this also a variable? Thinking this, I got up from my seat and checked the group written on the blackboard.

Group 19. Ross, Lacar (Combat Department). Aria (Magic Department), Kane (Alchemy Department), Luna (Magic Engineering Department).

Thankfully, I’m in the same group as Lacar. Or, is it because Lacar is the top student in the Combat Department that they put him with me, who’s in last place?

Lacar must have checked the group assignments as well, because he came up to me.

,I’m glad we’re in the same group.”

,Yeah, lucky us. Oh, do you know anyone in our group?”

,Hmm, I don’t know anyone.”

Since the names were unfamiliar like Lacar, who didn’t appear in the novel, I hoped they would have normal personalities. I quickly put on my basic equipment with Lacar and went down to the basement.

There were already many students in the multipurpose hall in the basement. Seeing the letters floating in the air, Lacar and I headed to the spot under the letters that read “Group 19.”

One person had already arrived there. It was a pretty female student with brown hair.

,Hi, you’re the Combat Department from Group 19, right?”

The female student smiled and held out her hand, guessing from our equipment.

,I’m Aria. My main magic is fire and lightning elemental magic.”

,I’m Ross, and this is Lacar.”

I shook her hand and introduced myself briefly. Almost as soon as I finished speaking, a sickly-looking skinny boy approached.

,Hi, is this Group 19? I’m Kane from the Alchemy Department.”

After a brief greeting, we were talking about the practice. The last member arrived late.

Seeing the female student who came up panting heavily as if she had run in a hurry, I felt a sense of déjà vu for some reason.

A small build, a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes like me. I realized the identity of the déjà vu from those characteristics. I had met her by chance in the library before.

,H, Hello. I’m Luna from the Magic Engineering Department….”

Saying that, Luna, who was catching her breath, greeted the group members and then saw me. She suddenly stopped breathing and stared at me with surprised eyes before lowering her gaze.

Feeling awkward at her strange reaction, I scratched the back of my head for no reason. Suddenly, the commotion grew louder on the other side. I inadvertently turned my gaze there and saw Headmaster Nelson.

Nelson, leading the faculty, used magic to float in the air so that everyone could see him.

Attention was focused on him in an instant, and as the commotion disappeared, Nelson opened his mouth with a satisfied smile.

,I think everyone was surprised by the sudden practice. Seeing your flustered faces makes me happy!”

Everyone gave an awkward laugh at Nelson’s words.

,Variables exist in everything. Many of you were flustered by the variable of the attack that occurred at the Academy this time. You must have had the experience of your bodies freezing and your minds stopping.”

At those words, many people seemed to agree, and the sound of “Ah-” filled the hall. Seeing Lacar next to me also making a “Hmm” sound… The dark wizard’s attack must have been a big shock to the Academy students.

,The best way to deal with sudden variables is through sudden practice. I hope that this practice will be a good opportunity to promote friendship between the departments and to get to know people you didn’t know before.”

I had a strange feeling that the headmaster’s gaze lingered on me for a moment as he said that. Surely he didn’t suddenly do this to help me make friends, did he?

,Although it is a training dungeon created by the faculty, the magical beasts and monsters inside are real. They will be hostile to you, and there may be injuries. If you don’t seriously consider how to fight and how to solve problems, it will be a difficult fight.”

Tension spread throughout the hall at Nelson’s words. Tension and bewilderment spread like an infectious disease at the sudden first practice.

,Of course, you don’t have to worry about losing your lives. Our capable faculty will make sure you survive!”

Some of the freshmen, who had been tense at Nelson’s playful joke, even screamed in fear. Can we proceed like this? As I was doubting, Kane, a member of our group standing behind me, muttered to himself.

,Once this practice is over…. I’m going to confess to her.”

The anxiety grew even more at Kane’s actions of setting a death flag.

,Everyone, even after graduating from the Academy and meeting your classmates for decades, you’ll reminisce, saying, ‘Hey, remember that time? Our first practice.’ We’ve prepared so hard, so I hope everyone practices hard.”

I felt like the nervous breakdown that had disappeared was reappearing at Nelson’s words, who was wearing a mischievous smile that I had seen somewhere before.

As the headmaster’s speech ended, Professor Leora said in a voice amplified by magic.

,The Combat Department members of each group, come out and receive two bags. One is a basic survival bag containing items necessary for survival in the dungeon. The other is a basic exploration bag containing the exploration and goals of the dungeon.”

At Professor Leora’s words, Lacar and I came forward and received the bags. Lacar took the initiative to carry the slightly heavy basic survival bag, and I carried the basic exploration bag.

As I slung the duffel bag, which was like the ones used in the military, over my shoulder, I was reminded of when I entered the training camp. I hurriedly erased the memories that came to mind from my head, feeling terrible.

After the bags were distributed, Professor Leora said.

,Each dungeon has a knight and professor assigned to protect your safety. Follow their instructions well. Do not forget that violent physical punishment is also possible in the dungeon.”

The group members all had tense expressions at Professor Leora’s stern words.

,Groups 1 through 20, line up in order at the makeshift tent set up on the left.”

Watching the first group disappear into the tent, we checked our equipment before entering.

Me holding a spear, Lacar holding a shield and sword, Aria nervously fiddling with her staff, and Kane checking the bag full of alchemical items with a gloomy face.

Looking at the group members, I turned my gaze to Luna. Seeing her holding a book tightly in her left hand and a staff, I wondered if she was ready and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

Luna, who met my gaze, turned her head away so harshly.

Feeling awkward, I made small talk with Lacar about whether he had ever done anything like practice, and waited for Group 19’s turn.

Finally, not long after the group in front of us entered, it was our group’s turn to enter.

Lacar politely held open the tent flap and waited for us to enter the tent. The tent was larger than the classroom, as if it had been enchanted with space expansion magic.

Approaching an unknown professor sitting at the table, the professor received a snow globe from the security knight next to him.

,You’re Group 19, right?”

,Yes, that’s right.”

I said on behalf of the group. The professor placed the snow globe on the table and began to read a piece of paper with something written on it.

,Group 19 will head to the training dungeon in the Hartan Forest. Listen to the explanation of the professor waiting in front of the dungeon for a detailed explanation. Now, take turns placing your hands on the snow globe one by one. It is recommended to close your eyes as you may feel dizzy during the transfer.”

At the professor’s kind explanation, we decided to start with Lacar, who was in the front. Watching each person being sucked into the snow globe with light, I placed my hand on the snow globe with my palms damp with tension.

Before I could feel the cool sensation of the snow globe, I felt a distortion of dimensions unfolding before my eyes and hurriedly closed my eyes.

Feeling the wooden floor I was stepping on change into a strange, damp mud-like sensation, I cautiously opened my eyes.

There, there was a lush forest that blocked the sunlight.