“…Good job.”
“Thank you! Professor!”
Sion bowed and greeted Professor Mehdun.
Burnt, soaked, and dented ground.
It was the aftermath of the sparring session between Professor Mehdun and Sion.
‘Magic combat… It’s fun.’
Although Sion spent most of his school days on studying, he also longed for the world of magic and swords because he was a man.
He didn’t do it with friends, but he occasionally played console RPGs alone…
For Sion, magic combat was like a 100% realistic game enjoyed in virtual reality.
‘The second training was fun too.’
The second training was simple.
It was a practice where they exchanged one spell at a time.
Instead, the moment a foot touched the ground would be the deciding factor.
When the opponent cast a spell, he would analyze what type of magic it was, think of a countermeasure, and quickly cast a spell…
It was somewhat like a magic “speed quiz.”
After exchanging over 30 spells, Professor Mehdun declared “stop,” thus ending the second sparring session.
“Professor, is there a reason we stopped the sparring?”
“… The class time is over.”
“Pardon?”
Startled, Sion pulled out his student ID.
Checking the time through the “phone magic” on the student ID…
It was indeed 10 minutes before the class ended.
‘Has time already passed like this?’
It didn’t feel like an hour had passed at all…
The sparring was definitely fun.
While Sion was surprised, Professor Mehdun approached the teaching assistant.
“Kelly, has the sparring finished for everyone?”
“Yes, it’s all done.”
“Then… from next week, we will begin the full-scale lessons. We will cover the theoretical classes necessary for combat practice.”
Mehdun looked around as he spoke.
Even though it was combat practice, theory couldn’t be excluded.
Thus, his decision to hold a class was excellent.
‘…?’
While Sion was listening to Professor Mehdun’s words, he threw a glance at Sion.
After staring at him for a moment, Professor Mehdun shifted his gaze away and continued speaking.
“…From next class, there will be theory lessons without fail. That’s all.”
““Yes~!””
As soon as Professor Mehdun finished speaking, the students scattered in groups.
Since everyone was covered in dirt and sweat from the sparring, they seemed eager to return quickly.
However, Sion followed Professor Mehdun.
“Professor.”
“…What is it?”
“Didn’t you say you would give me one-on-one lessons…?”
Professor Mehdun murmured as he blocked Sion’s way.
“… You must not neglect theory before practice.”
“Then won’t there be one-on-one practice in the future?”
“Well, depending on the situation, there might be, and there might not…”
“When does the theory class end?”
“…For now, not next week.”
“Then we’ll resume practice the week after that….”
“Hmmm…”
As Sion wanted to receive one-on-one guidance, Professor Mehdun didn’t seem too keen on it for some reason.
In that moment, a figure who had been quietly standing next to Professor Mehdun interrupted the conversation.
“Then, can I have a one-on-one sparring session?”
“…Kelly? Are you serious?”
“Yes, if Professor allows it.”
“…Hmm.”
Kelly, the teaching assistant standing next to the professor, looked like a graduate student with a somewhat disheveled face, and her bangs were long enough that her eyes almost couldn’t be seen.
However, there was a peculiar competitiveness in the gaze that peeked through her bangs.
‘…Does she want to fight me?’
It made sense since Professor Mehdun was teaching magic combat practice.
That student couldn’t help but be combative as well.
After pondering for a moment, Professor Mehdun finally nodded.
“…Well, fine. It should be a good lesson for you, Kelly too.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“But since there will be theory class next week, endure then, Sion.”
“…Yes, understood.”
“Kelly will spar with Sion from the week after next. That’s all.”
“Yes!”
Professor Mehdun left the coliseum with Kelly.
Watching the two leave, Sion clenched his fists.
‘No matter how good Kelly is at fighting… I want to spar more.’
Sion was burning with motivation to a surprising extent.
He never imagined that fighting against an equal opponent could be this enjoyable.
Although he wasn’t sure if Kelly, the teaching assistant, would fulfill that desire.
After Professor Mehdun hurriedly left the coliseum, someone approached Sion.
“Could you wait a moment?”
“…That voice.”
A woman’s voice came from behind him.
The owner of the voice was… Estroja, who wore her usual elegant smile.
Why is she suddenly talking to me?
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh my, your expression is a bit much. We’re still teammates, you know.”
“…Teammates?”
“Yes, actually that’s why I’m talking to you like this.”
He had become a teammate with Estroja.
There was only one class for that.
The lecture by Professor Bariyes tomorrow, “How to Survive in Dungeons.”
“You’re so popular, I guess you’re too busy to even remember that there’s an assignment.”
She smiled sweetly as she showed her student ID.
It was an announcement posted on the class bulletin board.
1. Register as an F-rank adventurer at the Adventurer Guild.
2. Accept E-rank dungeon requests from the Adventurer Guild. (F-rank adventurers can take on an E-rank dungeon if four of them form a party, you newbies!)
3. Organize and submit a report on prior information about the E-rank dungeon. (Write it on paper, take pictures, and post it on the assignment bulletin board!)
She pointed to the sentences in the announcement with her delicate fingers.
“There are three things: adventurer registration, accepting E-rank dungeon requests, and report writing… Did you really not know?”
“…No, I was aware…”
“Of course, Sion, since you have Professor’s favor and are receiving one-on-one lessons, you’ve caught the attention of the Combat Department professor and become a promising student, but… shouldn’t you do the assignment properly?”
Each of Estroja’s statements felt like thorns poking at him.
It was indeed uncomfortable to face Estroja.
‘But… what should I do? I’ve already completed the assignment.’
Unbeknownst to her, Sion, Patrick, and Geivolg had already finished their assignments.
They met simultaneously at the Adventurer Guild, registered as F-rank adventurers, and with the help of Sion’s acquaintance, Boryan, they accepted an E-rank dungeon request…
They even had the report already written up by Sion, who used his graduate student savvy.
Sion was wondering how to say it without hurting her feelings.
Estroja, seeing Sion’s puzzled expression, seemed to have misinterpreted something.
“Your reaction suggests you really didn’t know. Well, it’s fine. There’s still time.”
“…That’s not it, actually…”
“I don’t want to hear excuses.”
Before Sion could say that he had already finished the assignment, Estroja interrupted him.
“Tell the other two group members as well. Have them come to the Adventurer Guild by 6 PM today.”
“…Um, that’s not…”
“You can do that much, right? I don’t want to talk any longer. I don’t want to hear excuses… Well then, I’m leaving.”
“Ah….”
With a determined look, Estroja said what she wanted and walked away.
As if she had won, she wore a victorious smile.
Sion stared at her as she exited the coliseum.
“…There’s no need to wait until 6 PM.”
It was because he had already finished the assignment, so he had no reason to go to the Adventurer Guild.
…Probably, if he told Geivolg or Patrick, they would likely respond, “Of course, wait for her.”
Geivolg might even laugh and say, “Hahaha! You asked for it!”
‘But why did she ask me?… Is she just taking advantage of me?’
Estroja had asked Sion to relay her message.
It felt like she was treating him like a servant.
…She viewed Sion as inferior, commanding him to summon Geivolg and Patrick.
Sion couldn’t help but think that he shouldn’t get close to Estroja.
‘I should just stay silent.’
There was a way to get back at her.
That was not to follow her orders.
There was no reason to comply in the first place, and it felt offensive.
Tomorrow, Sion was curious about Estroja’s expression.
‘Should I train or something.’
The exhilaration and excitement he felt after sparring with Professor Mehdun…
The remnant of that feeling lingered on.
As he was contemplating training alone since he had no plans, suddenly…
Woong—!!
Sion’s pocket vibrated.
His student ID received a call.
Sion checked the caller through the student ID.
[Name: Michelle Fontatz]
[Phone Number: xxx-xxxx-xxxx]
“…Senior Michelle?”
She was a third-year from the Magic Department and a member of the Judo club.
She was calling Sion.
“Hello.”
[Hey, first-year little one. Have you been doing well?]
“…Yes, class just ended a moment ago. How about you, Senior?”
[I’ve been doing well. The thing is~]
Michelle’s request was simple.
[I wanted to ask you to come to the Judo club for a bit.]
“…The Judo club?”
At the mention of the Judo club, Sion shivered a bit.
Judo itself wasn’t bad.
But… the issue was the club president.
‘Was it Horiya Misaako… the senior?’
A third-year from the Academy’s Combat Department, Horiya Misaako.
She was the president of the Judo club and had sparred with Sion.
…And he had won by exploiting a moment of her carelessness.
‘Back then, I really thought I was going to die.’
The way she relentlessly pursued him to challenge him again haunted his dreams.
It was terrifying just to think about it.
If Professor Grangshar hadn’t saved him… it was dreadful to imagine.
To ask him to come to a club with such a president?
“Sorry, but that’s a bit…”
[Wait, wait! Don’t hang up. I know what you’re about to say. But… isn’t there a catch?]
“Ah…”
That’s right. Sion was supposed to receive money for winning against Misaako in their duel.
The prize money accumulated to quite a few silver coins, maybe even hundreds.
It would be a loss not to take it.
[Come and get the money while you’re at the club. I have too many silver coins, so it’s a bit awkward to hand them out directly.]
“…The president isn’t there, is she?”
[She is, but, um… she lost to you and is training intensely, so she probably won’t notice you. She’s in a fierce sparring session right now.]
“……”
Hearing that made him even less inclined to go.
Sion contemplated whether to join the Judo club or not, or even if he should ask for the money but not go.
After considering, he reached the conclusion…
“…Could you send me the address?”
[Uh, uh! I’ll send it right away. Just come as soon as you get it. Oh! Don’t let the president catch you, so text me before you open the door!]
“Thank you, Senior.”
[Sure, I got it.]
Click!
The call ended.
Sion fiddled with his student ID before putting it back in his pocket.
‘Let’s be careful.’
As long as he didn’t get caught by Misaako, he would be fine.
It would just be a matter of going, getting the money collected at the Judo club event, and returning.
That way, he would at least be gaining a few gold coins for free.
‘…Nothing should happen, right?’
Why was he feeling an ominous sense of foreboding?
Sion shrugged off the cold sensation creeping up his neck and began walking towards the address Michelle Fontatz had sent him.
