Piiii─!
In sync with the instructor’s whistle, the kids switched sparring partners.
It’s been two weeks since the Academy semester began. By now, everyone should have memorized each other’s names and basic traits.
Standing in front of me was Liber, who’s been gaining popularity recently.
“Please take care of me.”
“Oh, please take care of me too.”
His eyes were slightly bloodshot, but it didn’t seem like it was just from lack of sleep. He’s been sneaking out of the Academy every day lately—must be head over heels for some prostitute.
Well, once guys his age get a taste of women, they can’t escape.
‘Let’s see how good he is.’
I’d been hearing about how Liber’s skills were at their peak these past few days—but I hadn’t had the chance to cross swords with him directly yet.
There were plenty of people eager to spar with him to test his newfound strength, and frankly, the matchups just weren’t in my favor. Now that we’ve finally met after a few days, this was my chance to see just how much he’s grown.
‘He couldn’t even use Aura a few days ago…’
Considering that fact, I swung my sword lightly, just enough to gauge him.
Whoosh─.
Tak-!
Liber blocked my swing naturally. It was unbelievable considering his skill level just days ago.
After swinging my sword a few more times, I could feel the Aura moving effortlessly around his body.
‘Did he really master Aura?’
Even though using Aura during sparring was forbidden, Aura automatically enhances the user’s physical abilities whether actively used or not.
As one’s mastery and depth of Aura increases, so does its potency. As an Aura Master, even areas difficult for regular Aura Users or Experts to enhance are fortified for me.
Meaning things like reflexes and biological timing skyrocketed.
“Hoo, hoo-!”
Having roughly gauged his skill, I started swinging my sword sharper. A sword isn’t something you make stronger by blindly pouring power into it.
Timing and precision are key. Just as a knight’s precise thrust is deadlier than a wild swing from an orc or ogre—what matters most with a sword is piercing through your opponent’s openings.
“Opening.”
“Eh─?”
Upon hearing my words, Liber flinched and started searching for any openings in his stance. But truthfully, up until then, he had none.
I exploited the opening created by my own words. With a swift strike of the wooden sword to his vital spot, Liber collapsed in pain, looking up at me with an incredulous expression.
Lowering my sword, I shrugged as if asking what he expected.
“You fell for it?”
“Grrr… You bastard… After setting me up…”
“I knew you’d fall for it.”
If some random thug on the street or someone obviously weaker than him had said that, Liber wouldn’t have reacted.
But because he was already tense while facing me, he hesitated upon hearing my words and ended up losing.
“Stay calm no matter who your opponent is. If you don’t fix that, you’ll end up getting wrecked later.”
“Ha, haha—thanks a lot.”
“Don’t mention it. No big deal.”
Just as Liber was recovering from the pain, the instructor blew the whistle again.
I gave him a quick farewell before moving to the next station to prepare for a match with another cadet.
‘Still though.’
How did Liber get so strong?
Wasn’t he just an extra?
* * *
You might think Academy cadets endure boring training and classes all week long, but that’s not true. Surprisingly, weekends exist in this world too.
Two days a week. Saturday and Sunday.
While most cadets use this time to bond, I usually enjoy dates with Yuri. Today would have been no different—if not for an interruption.
“To keep a woman waiting this long, you’re such a fatal attraction.”
At the Academy gates, there stood someone interrupting my date with Yuri: Ariah, first-year Art student and the same cadet who pestered me during the entrance ceremony.
Seeing Ariah’s face, I slightly hardened my expression.
“What’s a ‘fatal attraction’?”
“……It means a guy like you who’s super popular.”
“Oh, sounds good.”
Ariah nodded along with my response. Flattery makes even whales twerk, so I couldn’t help but smirk at her praise, which made Yuri frown slightly.
Aura Masters are sensitive to others’ emotions. Sensing Yuri’s mood souring instinctively, I moved closer to her, linked arms, and started heading out of the Academy.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Ariah, watching us leave, quickly caught up and stuck close to my side. She didn’t cling to my arm, perhaps wary of Yuri’s glare, but just having a girl on each side drew countless envious stares.
Absorbing those jealous gazes lightly, I led both of them to the tastiest, coziest dessert shop I’d scouted earlier.
In front of the dessert shop, Yuri tilted her head curiously at the empty storefront.
“Kail, this place?”
“I prepared it for today.”
With that, I walked inside, and the shop owner rushed out to bow deeply. No other customers were here. Naturally—because I rented the entire place.
‘My allowance got drained.’
Even as the eldest son and sole heir of a Count’s family hoarding my father’s allowance, the price was hefty for me. But occasionally indulging in dates like this was necessary.
I could’ve just reserved it, but renting the whole place was just flexing.
That’s the kind of creature men are by nature.
“Eat whatever you want. Go wild.”
“Kail, what will you have?”
“Me? Coffee cake.”
“Then I’ll go with strawberry shortcake.”
“Ahh, I’ll have carrot cake!”
The shopkeeper quickly prepared cakes and paired teas. Since there were no other customers, our desserts were ready in no time.
After setting down the cakes and tea, the shopkeeper left a bell for us to ring if needed and disappeared into the back. The shop truly belonged to just the three of us now.
Sipping my tea while watching people outside, I glanced at Yuri, who remained silent. Quietly nibbling on her cake, she noticed my gaze and met my eyes.
“……What?”
“You’re eating so well.”
“Yeah.”
Watching her silently munch away, a question popped into my mind. That strawberry she wasn’t eating—would she give it to me if I asked?
“Yuri.”
“Yeah.”
“That strawberry… I want to eat it.”
At my words, Yuri tilted her head curiously, then pointed to the counter where the cake was placed.
“There’s plenty over there.”
“But I want that one.”
“You’re such a weirdo.”
Yuri carefully picked up the strawberry she’d intentionally left uneaten and handed it to me. I felt a small wave of gratitude—I didn’t expect her to actually give it to me.
After biting off just the tip of the strawberry, I handed it back to her, and she happily ate it.
“Wow…… Watching couples being all lovey-dovey is so gross.”
Witnessing this, Ariah let out a forced laugh and criticized our behavior. I chuckled at her reaction.
“If you’re unhappy, why don’t you get a boyfriend?”
“Maybe I will. Kail, how about me?”
“Sorry, I’m already engaged.”
Internally impressed by her boldness flirting with me right in front of my fiancée, I was about to respond when Yuri suddenly spoke up.
“Kail.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know someone named Kim Sera?”
“……Who?”
At Yuri’s words, I froze stiff.
Kim Sera.
That was a name I never expected to hear in this world.
‘How is this possible?’
Kim Sera was my childhood friend back on Earth. She was the one who recommended the game <Diaros Academy> to me.
But naturally, she’s now someone I can’t meet anymore. After dying and reincarnating in this world, meeting her became impossible.
Unless I die again and return to Earth, there’s no way to meet her. Hell, her name shouldn’t even exist in this world.
I couldn’t understand how Yuri knew that name.
‘Is it just a coincidence?’
No, even a coincidence would be strange. A Korean name like Kim Sera in this Western-naming world? Whether it’s a coincidence or not, this person was hiding something.
Just as I was about to interrogate Yuri about where she heard the name, a loud explosion echoed from outside the building.
“That name…”
Boom-!
“……Where did you hear it?”
Boooooom-!
“No, seriously, why is it so noisy─”
KABOOOOOM!
An explosion erupted right next to the building. I quickly wrapped my arms around the two girls, enveloping them in Aura. They screamed and clung to me tightly.
Once the explosions subsided, I looked down at the two clinging to me.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yeah.”
“Uh, uh-huh.”
After confirming they’d calmed down, I cautiously stepped outside to investigate what had happened.
Between the alleys behind buildings—places hidden from view—explosions continued to erupt.
And somewhere, explosions were still ringing out.
“What on earth is this…”
Right now, a terrorist attack was happening within the Academy Territory.
I took a moment to think about who might be behind this situation.
“Hmm-.”
—I forgot.
