Ch.4141. Distrust, and Hatred (4)

The Forward Blocker position is essentially a role focused on blocking enemy attacks and allowing allies to handle most of the offensive actions.

Since it’s fundamentally a defense-oriented type, blocking attacks itself isn’t a major issue.

However, the things created by Denis’s magic were all so hard they might as well have been stone.

Stems. Roots. Vines. Each possessed power completely unlike their natural counterparts.

The number of holes created where Junon had dodged Denis’s magic was too many to count.

Hanging upside down, tied to a tree trunk and dangling, Junon speaks with a face flushed red from the blood rushing to his head.

“Please let me down… the blood is rushing to my head…”

“There, is this better?”

“Ugh…”

“You seem to control your power well, but at this rate, how will you ever get close to me?”

“What can I do? Even with weapons, these things wouldn’t cut. How am I supposed to break through this and charge at you, Professor?”

-I can’t even use weapons in the first place.

As Junon complained, his complexion was gradually returning to normal.

Though he had been returned to an upright position, the fact that he remained tied to the trunk hadn’t changed.

Denis then brought over another vine, different from the one binding Junon, and said:

“These two. You knew they had different hardness levels, so you only deflected the vines and not the stems. Why?”

“Well, after colliding with them once, I figured the vines would be somewhat easier to deflect.”

Denis had ordered Junon not to just dodge but to attack, and Junon had no choice but to charge in response to the instruction.

During this, he discovered the difference in hardness and realized that deflecting the harder ones consumed more magical power, so he tried to sidestep or avoid them.

He focused on countering the weaker ones while trying to get closer for a counterattack.

In truth, even this much would have earned praise from Professor Muniher, who might have said it was reasonably good, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Denis.

“But what happened next?”

“…They both became equally hard.”

“If you can adjust the strength of your magic shield, there’s no way I couldn’t adjust mine. Aren’t you being too complacent?”

He was pointing out the most obvious mistake in this sparring match.

The power of magic is proportional to precise mana control and mana quantity, and overlooking this had led to the current result.

“And why do you only create shields on your arms?”

“Huh? Well…”

“Were you going to say it’s because you’re focused only on blocking incoming magic?”

Denis must have hit the mark, as Junon’s body suddenly flinched.

“Just because you’re blocking an opponent’s attack doesn’t mean you have to block it directly with your body. When I told you to attack me, that was my intention.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“You seem to understand well in some areas but are quite dull in others. Look.”

Denis draws a magic circle for a simple elemental lightning spell.

And right in front of it, a defensive plant is summoned.

The lightning is completely deflected to the side by the plant.

“Just because you’re a forward blocker doesn’t mean you need to block ranged attacks up close. You can simply twist the path of the opponent’s attack, can’t you?”

As if he had never thought of this before, Junon’s mouth falls open.

Always carrying the name of vanguard, and as a forward blocker, he had limited his goal to simply deflecting attacks, which was the cause.

‘Fortunately, he’s quite smart and seems to understand well.’

As if he had just realized it, Junon immediately tries to create a barrier in the space beside him, just as Denis suggested.

The range was limited to about 10 meters, but at this distance, it might have been possible to twist the starting point of Denis’s vines to approach.

After swallowing briefly, Junon opens his mouth.

“May I… ask for one more match?”

With his battered body, he was asking Denis for another sparring session.

Looking at Junon, Denis let out a deep sigh. What could he possibly do in that condition?

“Sometimes you need to rest properly.”

“Ah.”

With that, Denis tapped Junon’s forehead.

The tree trunk that had been wrapped around his body was no longer there.

With just a tap of his index finger on the forehead, Junon felt the world shake and his body become incredibly heavy.

The jungle field soon disappeared, and he found himself sprawled out on the floor under a familiar ceiling.

“Practice what you learned today within reasonable limits. And don’t forget to consistently maintain your body that you’ve been training.”

That concluded the first chapter of the special lecture.

***

It was announced that the final class placement test would be conducted through sparring matches.

Students from the lower classes expressed concern, but their anxiety was somewhat alleviated when it was explained that grades wouldn’t be fixed solely based on wins and losses.

However, they were informed that it would take considerable time due to detailed regulations and measures to prevent cheating, which unintentionally gave students a rest period.

-‘We can’t stop lectures or training. For now, let’s keep the previous lectures open for them to study.’

Due to concerns about hindering students’ academic progress and growth, temporary schedules for lectures and training were arranged.

Thanks to this, students from Classes D and E were in the same class again.

‘Surely… Silvia is meeting a boy?’

Hena was worried about Silvia, who seemed likely to be taken advantage of even when shopping, and naturally became suspicious when her friend said she wanted to look good for a friend.

In reality, Silvia had never mentioned any friends, and based on her schedule, it seemed she was meeting just one person consistently.

Silvia had started talking about wanting to dress up after visiting a hospital where someone was admitted.

Patients are always around, but Silvia didn’t appear to be particularly ill herself.

While visiting someone in the hospital isn’t strange, it was Silvia’s only scheduled activity.

And recently, she discovered there had been only one seriously injured person during the early semester evaluation, and the people present were Jon and Noel.

It’s obvious she must be visiting someone she likes in the hospital.

“Hello, Jon, Noel. You two are always together wherever you go.”

“What’s this? You’re actually approaching us first, Hena.”

“Yeah. Aren’t you usually hanging out with the girls?”

“It’s nothing special. I just wanted to ask something.”

“Oh, what would you like to ask?”

“Empty-handed?”

With a sigh, Hena takes out two homemade breads from her basket as a bribe.

“Ohhh!!”

Jon and Noel immediately reach for Hena’s perfectly baked bread.

Hena’s homemade bread had gained fame through word of mouth from a few close friends who had tasted it directly.

It was so renowned that most fellow students could recite praises about it, and there was even a time when a nobleman offered to scout her to work under him.

Her skills were good enough that she could openly sell her bread, and some professors had recommended the culinary department to her.

If anyone wanted a bribe from Hena, like Jon and Noel, it was usually her bread.

However, the bread hadn’t yet reached the hands of the two drooling male students.

“Can you tell me what happened to you during the early semester evaluation?”

She would only hand it over after they answered her question first.

With a meaningful smile and her eyes gently folded, that’s what she was conveying.

***

While she succeeded in coaxing Jon and Noel to tell her about the early semester evaluation, Hena found their story quite dubious.

‘That boy?’

None other than the weakest vanguard, the one from Class E who was routinely beaten by the nobles.

The one who never knelt before the nobles when everyone else bowed their heads, but kept getting up and charging forward.

And he was the boy Silvia had feelings for.

Junon.

That was definitely his name.

-‘The only one hospitalized this time is Junon.’

-‘Munch munch… Hm? You might not know, but that guy saved our lives too.’

-‘Wait, are we allowed to talk about this?’

-‘I don’t know. If we weren’t, he would have told us not to. By the way, this is so delicious. Hena, can I have one more?’

Jon and Noel enthusiastically bragged about Junon as if it were their own achievement.

They also mentioned that if it hadn’t been reversed, he would have been promoted from Class E to Class A, rising meteorically. As if that could happen! Why else would he have the nickname “weakest vanguard”!

Since Jon and Noel seemed to be throwing out facts mixed with nonsense, Hena decided to find Junon herself.

‘There he is.’

Of course, by secretly following Silvia.

“Am I making you wait every time because of my lecture schedule?”

“No, no. I just got here too.”

“Is that so?”

Silvia is lying. You arrived 30 minutes early and kept checking yourself in the mirror!

“I feel bad that you’re always the one setting the meeting place. Next time, just wait inside a café or something.”

“But then you might be noticed by other students…”

“You don’t have to accommodate me to that extent.”

What? Not only does he make Silvia wait, but he also makes her choose the location?

…Well, that could be reasonable. But her appearance is different!

“Oh, by the way, did you change your hairstyle?”

Phew, at least he noticed that much.

If a guy has eyes, he should at least compliment a girl who’s dressed up this much.

“Yeah… just for a change of pace…”

“It suits you well. Dressed like that, you might get some confessions from the boys?”

“Ugh… it’s not like that…”

Hmm…?

Is that… all?

Not only does Silvia set the meeting place, but she also arrives early.

And looking at her style, it’s not just a change in hairstyle.

She wanted to look so pristine that she had been checking her makeup in the mirror repeatedly 30 minutes before his arrival.

Instead of her uniform, she wore a beige dress that perfectly suited the spring season, a straw bucket hat ideal for shading from the sun.

And instead of the standard bag issued to students, she carried a light crossbody bag to complete the look.

Considering that the eyes of every man they passed had been drawn to Silvia, his reaction was too dull… no.

It was almost as if he had no romantic interest in her whatsoever.

This is… no matter how you look at it… that’s it.

‘It’s unrequited love…’

As Silvia’s friend, this was enough to make her want to scream and jump.

After about an hour of studying together.

Junon was truly just focused on academics.

If someone had only glimpsed this scene rather than watching it continuously, they might say:

-Well, well. Dating in such a secluded place?

-Instead of studying like you’re supposed to, you’re just flirting?

-Isn’t the boy making a move on her?

But that’s all wrong!

It’s the girl who’s fawning over this ordinary boy!

‘But why?’

Unlike Silvia, who exudes beauty, the boy is just an ordinary male student wearing his uniform.

Even with Hena’s eyes, she couldn’t discern what charm this boy possessed.

With better clothes or hairstyling, he might look different, but anyone would agree that Silvia was too beautiful for him.

‘She’s completely smitten. This is serious.’

Silvia had never blushed like this when she was with Hena or other boys.

Pretending to look at her notes while occasionally glancing up at Junon’s face, Silvia’s radiant smile clearly originated from the boy her eyes were fixed upon.

“Hm? Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no. Just…”

There it is! She’s bowing her head deeply to hide her reddening face, completely devoted to Junon.

The problem is that judging by Silvia’s attitude toward her unrequited love, she seems completely helpless.

At least Junon doesn’t seem to be a bad person.

“I should go now. It’s time for training.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

No, Silvia! You should ask him to stay a little longer!

Watching this, Hena’s insides were burning like a furnace, fueled by the firewood Silvia had been adding for dozens of minutes.

After several minutes of Silvia adding more fuel to the fire, Hena finally grabbed the back of her neck in frustration.

***

‘This won’t do.’

Silvia likes Junon? Fine. That could be possible. Everyone has their own preferences.

But shouldn’t she check if he likes her back?

She’s already at a disadvantage. Silvia needs to gain the upper hand somehow, so Hena followed Junon even after the two parted ways.

And what’s this now?

‘White trim… a first-year?’

Junon is meeting with a freshman who just entered this year.

A slightly different atmosphere from Silvia.

With sky-blue roll-bun hair that looks like a piece of clear water scooped from a famous coastline.

Petite in stature with a cute appearance, but with a hidden charm led by a precocious image, she was no less of a beauty.

Having such a girl as a family member would make most household members swoon.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Thanks to you paying my hospital bills, I got to rest with the best service. It would be strange if I hadn’t recovered by now.”

“It’s in my nature to ask at least once, even if it’s just lip service.”

“Sure. But why did you come this time? Didn’t I tell you not to visit me?”

“The debt I owe you is quite large. I have a duty to repay it, so that’s why I’m here.”

“Don’t you think that debt of gratitude is too big? The hospital bill was quite expensive; isn’t that enough?”

“Of course not. You’re my lifelong benefactor. Something like hospital bills could never fill that.”

What kind of tense exchange is this?

Clearly, Junon is responding coldly, trying to cut off the conversation with this cute young lady.

More serious is the fact that despite the man openly rejecting her, the female junior keeps clinging to him.

It looked like a cute female freshman who, after enrollment, had taken a liking to a male senior and was following him around.

“Since you always stop by the physical training room, I brought you a set of training clothes as a gift. Please accept them.”

My goodness. What is this adorable girl giving to Junon?

Those are high-quality training clothes made by master craftsmen from the trading company operated by the Ashelet barony…

“I told you I don’t need them.”

“If you don’t accept them, I’ll put your name tag on them, send someone to deliver them to you, and also…”

Need I say more?

Against Junon’s attempts to brush her off, she countered with a precocious, aristocratic style of persistence.

It’s clear that this noble young lady has taken a liking to the male student who had just met with Silvia.

‘From what I’m hearing… this cute little thing… could it be.’

The youngest baroness who, after walking battlefields and realizing the discomfort of combat and training clothes, personally led a clothing trading company and extended her reach to the Imperial clothing stores.

It seemed the girl was Charlotte Ashelet, who leads the Ashelet trading company.

Hena had assumed she was just a prominent figure in that trading company… but she’s actually the owner.

Charlotte’s face, having just been rejected by Junon, looked tearful, but her clenched fist suggested she wasn’t about to give up.

‘There can’t be another female candidate.’

Junon’s image dropped one level in Hena’s eyes as he brushed Charlotte off like an annoying little sister.

The problem was that this wasn’t the end. After seeing what came next, there was no point in deducting points anymore.

“Ah, Senior Junon. Are you heading to the physical training room?”

It was an unmistakable person.

With silver hair that shines like stars, and an overwhelming presence from the antenna-like strand of hair on top to the soles of her feet.

Especially her aggressive chest, which contrasts with her pure facial features, is enough to make even another woman lose her composure.

Anyway, why would Renias, who is like a jewel of the academy and everyone’s ideal type, approach Junon?

“I’m planning to start physical training from today!”

“What training? Renias, you don’t really need that. You should just focus on honing your magic.”

“Come on, I felt it deeply during the end-of-semester evaluation. There are things that can’t be resolved with magic alone. So…”

Incredibly, Renias looked at Junon with a shy face for a brief moment, and then from those beautiful lips came a request for help with physical training.

My goodness… is this for real? The Renias is shyly fidgeting with her hands and asking this Junon for guidance?

“Well… it’s not difficult, but why me specifically?”

“The professors wouldn’t help me. Those stubborn ones would be horrified and tell me to just use magic. I don’t like that.”

“Hmm, I see. If you really need help, I can assist, but not with training.”

“Whaaaat? Why not?!”

“I’m okay with teaching you about exercise. But someone who’s never done it before shouldn’t start with intense training.”

“Tch, I can do well. Fine.”

With Silvia around.

With Charlotte around.

And now Renias too?

“How many women’s hearts has that guy captured…?”

For a while, Hena stood with a dumbfounded expression, unable to hide her astonishment as she watched Junon heading to the Mizar building with Renias following behind.