episode_0025

The first close-quarters combat lesson began.

I instinctively knew that this instructor was different from the other slackers before him. It wasn’t just because he hit me on the head.

“Ugh… this is annoying… I wish orientation would end soon…”

“Want to go get sandwiches later? The ones they sell at the cafeteria there are delicious.”

“Initiation is so annoying… damn it…”

In the gymnasium, students gathered among themselves and chatted. It had only been the first week, but they were already getting friendly with each other; everyone was making fast progress.

Sadly, I, Violet, am an outcast student, so there’s no one to talk to except Daphne. It’s been 10 years since my fresh school life began, and to be this lonely, it’s too sad…

-It’s okay! We’re here!-

-That’s right. That’s right!-

I comforted myself. As expected, I could only trust myself.

Thud!

While the students were chattering, the instructor struck the floor with the tip of his scabbard. He seemed to have struck it lightly, but a heavy shockwave swept through the entire gymnasium.

“Gah!”

“What? Is it a bomb?!”

“Gah! Instructor…?”

The chaotic students’ gazes immediately fixed on the instructor with white hair standing before them.

“New students! Time is precious, so let’s get straight to the point. I am Frederick, the instructor in charge of this .”

He held his head high rigidly and examined the students with hawk-like eyes. Perhaps due to the shockwave from earlier, tension filled the students as they received his cold, gray gaze.

Ah, I made eye contact with him just now too.

Did I get on his bad side for not greeting him?

“From now on, this instructor and you will be seeing a lot of each other for at least three years, or until graduation. So it would be best to get used to my ways.”

He pointed to the back of the gymnasium. Assistant instructors could be seen pulling carts loaded with boxes filled with all kinds of weapons.

“Before I explain the class in detail, there’s something you must do. Unpack your personal weapons and put them in the back. I don’t know about other classes, but for close-quarters combat, we will be using those practice weapons provided by the school.”

A few insensitive students grumbled.

“Can’t we just practice with the equipment we have?”

“Ah… but this was custom-ordered…”

Frederick approached one of them and roared.

“What did you say?! Are you the instructor here?! Who told you to open your mouth?!”

“Gah! No! Noooo!!!”

“Idiot! Can’t you even speak properly?!”

“I’m sorry!”

Frederick left the cowering student alone, turned around, and chucked out,

“Ah, and I’ll tell you the first rule of this class. My instructions take precedence. Questions later!”

Following Frederick’s instructions, the students put their weapons in the back and picked out weapons from the box. As Frederick observed the students, he called to a halt those who were heading straight to the weapon box empty-handed.

“Wait, why don’t you have weapons? Didn’t you bring them?”

“I don’t have a weapon?”

“What? Why don’t you have a weapon?”

“The upperclassmen told us not to carry them…”

He seemed dumbfounded and let out a small sigh.

“Again…? This is driving me crazy…”

The instructor clucked his tongue and waved his hand dismissively.

“Alright, anyway, now pick one weapon each. One that you’re familiar with.”

Anyway, I finally got to touch a weapon. I felt my heart pound. That’s because it’s a cliché in hunter and academy genres – picking weapons in the training hall.

Most of them were swords, but there were all kinds of equipment from all times and places. Swords, spears, and sabers were basic, and there were also various sizes of shields, maces, and meteor hammers.

-What weapon should I take?-

-Just take whatever you can grab!-

-A sword suits Violet better than a spear!-

-Anything is fine! Prepare for transmission!-

There were so many swords that I figured no one would notice if I snuck one. I loitered around until the students had picked theirs, then subtly picked one up and sent it.

As I opened the status window to check, a familiar phrase from the game came to mind.

[Polaris Training One-Handed Sword (Arming Sword) ☆☆☆]

A one-handed training sword from Polaris Academy.

A weapon for aspiring hunters, balanced in both quantity and quality.

Inheriting the academy’s imposing spirit,

its blade is sharpened just like a real combat sword.

…

[Polaris Training One-Handed Combat Hammer ☆☆☆]

[Polaris Training Spear ☆☆☆]

[Polaris Training Riot Shield ☆☆☆]

[Polaris Training Round Shield ☆☆☆]

-Finally! A 3-star weapon!-

-Goodbye, 2-star alloy hammer!-

The Violets waiting in the dormitory rejoiced upon checking the various weapons they had received. It’s a shame that I have to be happy with items that I would normally sell or use as crafting materials in the game, but there’s no helping it.

I picked up a one-handed sword and returned to my spot.

“Alright, did everyone get a weapon?”

Frederick began his explanation with three or four assistant instructors lined up on either side.

“The reason I told you to put down your personal equipment is simple. You are too accustomed to your personal gear. Raise your hand if you attended an academy or received private tutoring before enrolling here.”

‘Academy? This is an academy. What is he talking about…’

Almost all students raised their hands. Except for me.

“Almost all of you have experience. But what you learned there is nothing but useless trivial knowledge! At best, it’s retired hunter nobodies preying on the money of exam-takers? Private academies that only offer shallow experiences? I know better than those pathetic instructors! So forget everything. We’re starting from scratch!”

Frederick’s firm declaration made the students flinch. Some whispered among themselves.

“Everyone, pick up your weapons! Today, we’ll correct your postures!”

And so, the first lesson continued without a break.

That old instructor and the assistant instructors moved among the students one by one. After watching them lightly swing their weapons, he observed and corrected their postures.

But it seemed that the instructor’s declaration of ‘I know better’ was not an empty boast.

I was swinging the sword this way and that. Roughly recalling a pirate movie, I swung it, and soon his gray eyes, amidst the scars on his face, examined me with hawk-like eyes.

“It’s that disrespectful kid from earlier! Anyone would think you’re a conductor! Did you come to a music academy? Anyone would think you’re performing an orchestra!”

“Ugh!”

He lightly tapped my arm and wrist with his scabbard.

“Force! Don’t put force into it. A sword isn’t swung with force. Try again. Watch what I do carefully. Yes, slowly…”

I slowly followed the movements Frederick demonstrated.

“Good. Now do it fast!”

I swung the sword once more.

“No! Did you shove something in your ears? Don’t just flail it around!”

I swung diligently while being reprimanded, and somehow, the form changed. Even to me, a complete novice with swords, the posture looked different.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have gained enlightenment regarding the sword. Weapon Skill – Swordsmanship Lv1 has been unlocked.]

-Whoa! What! It appeared!-

-Weapon skill item! It opened!-

It’s amazing. Now I seem to have something new to show off besides my unique ability. A grin spread across my face because I felt good, but Instructor Frederick lightly tapped my head.

“You idiot. Are you happy just because your posture got a little better? There’s still a long way to go. You dimwit!”

After that, the lecture continued. It was the first class, but it seemed like he’d use all three hours. The instructor’s guidance was meticulous for each student, but there was one commonality: it was incredibly harsh.

“You idiot! What are you doing swinging the sword with your wrist?! What’s gotten into you? Go take care of yourself in a corner, you brat! Yes! Your arm! You need to swing with your whole arm!”

“Yes, sir…!”

Surprisingly, Frederick knew how to instruct not only swords but all sorts of weapons.

“Extend your arm fully! If you specialize in blunt weapons, swing as if your entire arm is a whip! Do you think a monster would just fall over saying, ‘Oh dear~ I’ve been hit, so I must die~!’? Blunt weapons are all about one-hit kills!”

“Is that a staff you’re holding? It’s a spear! Stab it properly!”

“Are you joking? Why are you using a halberd for staff techniques? Is the axe blade just for decoration? Do you think the hook is there to scratch your back?”

After a long while of that, the order to stop came down.

“Alright, I’ve roughly observed your basic postures… Your level, this instructor wants to die from frustration! What on earth did you learn outside? Just mimicking strange, trashy postures…”

Frederick uncrossed his arms for a moment and issued a new order.

“Well, you can properly learn the basic stances starting next time. Now, I will check your basic Aether manipulation ability. Point your weapons straight ahead, and imbue them with sword aura.”

Humming!

Whizz!

As all the students imbued their weapons with magic, sword auras of various colors, thicknesses, densities, and lengths were generated.

But I didn’t know how to generate sword aura.

-Huh? But how do I do it?-

-I don’t know!-

First, I tried to move Aether. Bloody flames intensely sparked from my fingertips, but it felt blocked and wouldn’t move. In the distance, I saw Frederick’s sharp gaze turn towards me.

-What do I do? The instructor is watching! Just try everything!-

-Let’s try focusing more power on my fingertips!-

I concentrated my power in a familiar way.

“Hee-eek! Why did it appear?!”

“What! Don’t push!”

I failed!

Suddenly, Unit 8 was generated. Startled, Unit 8 stumbled backward and pushed the student in front. As the commotion grew, Frederick walked towards me.

“You again? You disrespectful brat? I told you to generate sword aura. Did I tell you to use your unique ability?”

“Ahaha… it was a mistake…”

“Is that so? I’ll see. Use your sword aura.”

As he glared like a beast, I hastily tried to draw out sword aura. However, only sparks flared up from the hand holding the sword.

The instructor clutched his head.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing?”

“Actually, I don’t know how to make sword aura!”

I confessed honestly. His gray eyes, amidst the scars, widened.

“You really don’t know how to generate sword aura? Really?”

“I really don’t.”

“How on earth did you get admitted? How did a kid who can’t even form basic sword aura pass the entrance exam?”

-What kind of admission was it? Something about dungeon exploration… volunteering… unique ability… something like that was written.-

-But I’ve never had such experiences? I’ve been in the lab all along.-

-That bald director supposedly bribed the broker with money. It must have been fabricated.-

“…Special admission.”

Come to think of it, I had been admitted with forged records.

Frederick’s expression, as he glared at me, crumpled terribly as if it was something utterly impossible.

“This is insane… What on earth did you learn outside?”

“I didn’t learn anything…”

I couldn’t properly finish my sentence and trailed off. The instructor turned away coldly.

“Good heavens… for such odd and trivial kids to crawl in… it’s truly the end of days…”

I heard Frederick muttering as he turned away. The part about ‘odd and trivial’ made me annoyed for a moment.

“But this is an academy!”

“What did you say?”

“I came here to learn because I don’t know, so why is that a problem?”

He lowered his head. His eyes, adjusted to my height, met mine directly.

“You really, truly know nothing? All you do is use that strange unique ability of yours?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

The instructor’s demeanor became slightly cautious. He bent his knees slightly.

“You know how to release Aether, right? Try it.”

The instructor, who had been watching the loudly sputtering flames from my fingertips, moved his own fingertips back and forth between my hand and the sword, lightly tapping.

“Oh dear… you idiot. Don’t just pour out all your power like that; try to reduce it a bit.”

“Like this?”

“Don’t just pour it out! Like adjusting the water flow by gripping the hose when it’s on, try controlling the output. Yes. Like that…”

As I followed his instructions, the violently sputtering Aether flames flowed out more slowly, little by little, like a thin, long gas flame.

“Good, the progress is faster than I thought… Now, slowly, little by little, expand it. Think of it as wrapping it around the sword!”

Now, a thin, glowing red film began to rise from my hand, following the sword’s hilt.

“Good. Well begun is half done [a proverb meaning that starting a task is the hardest part], so slowly expand it…. Hey! You idiotic brat! Don’t suddenly expand it all at once! Yes, slowly. Focus…”

After several reprimands and attempts, a glowing film began to climb up along the entire surface of the sword. Soon, the entire sword was enveloped in a blood-red film, and the light shimmered as if flames were burning.

“It’s done! Hehehe…”

Frederick, abandoning his fearsome expression from just moments ago, stared at me with his mouth agape.

I was so excited that I jumped up and down at the fact that I had finally succeeded in generating sword aura. But perhaps because my concentration broke, the sword aura on the sword suddenly went out like a flashlight with dead batteries.

Thwack!

“Ow!”

Suddenly, the instructor gave me a knuckle-punch on the head. I succeeded, so why is he hitting me?

“Sigh… You brat! Are you making a fuss over something everyone else can do? Don’t play around this weekend, just practice that. Understand? I’ll check on you!”

“Yeees…”

I was going to practice anyway, even if he didn’t tell me to. The instructor called the students and announced the end of the lesson.

“Alright. That’s all for today’s lesson. Hand in everything to be returned, quickly pack your things, and get out!”

***

The next day, on the first weekend morning at school, we once again took up our weapons and headed into the forest. With a total of seven individuals armed with 3-star weapons, we wouldn’t be easily defeated like before.

As we entered a deep area of the forest, presumed to be where the crystal flowers are, Pellenut appeared once again, howling with its ugly face.

A howling cry!

“Everyone, charge!”

“Yaaah!”

Unit 1 and Unit 2 charged with riot shields. As Pellenut swung its arm, a metallic clang echoed. We fell back from the impact.

However, Unit 3 sprang out from right behind and lunged at Pellenut.

“We can’t hold out long. We need to end this in one blow!”

Let’s try what Frederick, that instructor, told us to do. The sword should be swung decisively, with the entire arm. More than anything, I needed to test what I had been practicing diligently until dawn yesterday.

A flash of Aether flared from the sword I held. Though still lacking, Unit 3 thrust the one-handed sword with a clean, precise posture.

A gurgling screech!… A monstrous wail!!

Was it due to the effect of the sword aura? The sensation of piercing flesh with almost no resistance was transmitted to my hand. The one-handed sword stabbed through its chest and emerged from its back. It writhed in pain and collapsed.

“Now’s our chance! Beat it senseless!”

“Die! Die!”

Slash! Slice!

We mercilessly butchered Pellenut as a finishing blow.

[* Level up!]

[Congratulations! You have gained enlightenment regarding Aether manipulation. Aether Release Lv1 has been unlocked.]

“We won!”

“Hooray!”

We cheered loudly. Now there’s nothing to fear!