Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Ready to KaBOOM!
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And the next day.
That guy showed up.
The noisy one barged in through the door without a care.
"Ah! Senpai! Hello!"
"Nefti."
"Yes! Do you have food? I came to eat! Oh, snacks are great, but meat sounds good too?"
"No meat."
I served Nefti some hastily made dishes. Ever since my Dexterity hit 10 and I got the 'Cooking' skill, as long as I know the recipe, I can whip up something decently edible.
Nefti took the cream pasta and smoothie, going "Ooh! Ooooh!" before digging right in.
While those three colorful chicks are always munching away endlessly, Nefti's style is fast, swift, and merciless.
From a cook's perspective, she's the type you'd love—eats without complaint, with a blissful expression.
"Ah! Thanks for the meal!"
Once done, she bows her head politely and even clears the dishes to wash them herself.
After eating, a light tea time. Though for Nefti, it's just sipping her smoothie, while I leisurely enjoy a cup of Bean Tea.
"By the way, no work lately?"
"Hm? I do? It's spring, after all. The sites are super busy. Construction's picking up too."
"Then how do you have time to come here? Zone 8's pretty far."
"Thanks to that black thing. Makes it way easier."
"It's not 'that black thing.' It's a spirit wolf fused with a magic carriage—a wolf carriage."
"...Ah, wolf carriage. Cool name! Not horses, but magic!"
Nefti smiled brightly after a sip of her smoothie.
Partlash's wolf train gets rave reviews from regulars, and even Nefti—who's swamped with fieldwork and rarely visits—now drops by regularly thanks to the express route.
Oh, Partlash took the wolf carriage back to the general department.
Something to pick up.
I promised an extra hour off, and off he dashed.
"Just you today?"
"No, Aila's giving Milmyu a lecture."
"...Lecture? Is Junior Milmyu aiming for the Magic Division next year?"
Nefti's head tilted sideways.
Milmyu's stats are public knowledge by now—anyone can see they're more Knight Division material than Magic, and she lacks the aptitude for Magic anyway. So the question makes sense.
"No, she's learning martial arts from Aila."
"......Huh?"
Her head tilted even more. No wonder she's confused.
"Didn't know? Well... yeah, makes sense you wouldn't."
"......?? You're saying Senior Aila's teaching martial arts?"
"Yeah. You'll see. They'll be back soon—ask then."
I nodded toward the convenience store door, where Aila was strolling lightly and Milmyu trudged along, looking a bit worn out.
"We're back. Wolfram!"
"W-We'r back..."
"Mm. Welcome back."
After hearing the whole story, Nefti nodded a couple times.
"Ah, got it. That's why the training?"
"Yes. It's been a while. Nefthelian."
"Ah, Nefti's fine. Senior Trista."
"Then call me Aila too, Nefti."
"...Hehe. Yep. Senior Aila. Oh, but I have a question."
"What?"
"Do you know martial arts, Senior Aila? You're in the Magic Division."
"...Well, yeah. Enough for self-defense."
Aila said it breezily, and Nefti let out an impressed "Ooh...". Milmyu, meanwhile...
"...I-Is that self-defense? Th-Then what I knew as martial arts..."
She shuddered, staring at Aila like she'd seen something terrifying.
What the heck happened?
"...From Junior Milmyu's reaction, it doesn't seem like ordinary self-defense?"
"Oh, it's not that impressive."
"I'm curious though. Hm. Urgh..."
Nefti eyed Aila itchingly.
Hm.
Ah, this girl...
"Looks like Nefti's curious about your martial arts, Aila."
"Oh, really?"
"Ah, ahaha... Well, I try to learn every skill from the division, right?"
"True."
In an era where no one ventures out, mastering something like [Guardian Formation] shows she just loves learning shiny new things.
"...And self-defense from the Magic Division's top student, no less!"
Nefti's eyes sparkled.
Is it that intriguing?
With my Stamina of 2, one hit sends me flying—I wouldn't know.
And at Nefti's words, Aila reacted.
"Say that again."
"Huh? Ah... I'm curious about Senior Aila's self-defense!"
"Not that—what did you call me? Magic Division what?"
"Magic Division top student?"
"Heh, heh. Right. I am the Magic Division's top. The one who toppled unbeatable Regina Cielra and claimed the summit!"
"Y-Yes? Yeah, that's right."
"No choice then. Since you're curious about my self-defense, I'll have to teach you!"
Ooh, Aila vs. Nefti self-defense showdown.
If it's magic, Aila wins a thousand times out of a thousand. But pure martial arts...? Who'd win?
"Then, a quick demo..."
"Ah... well."
Nefti looked disappointed for a sec, so I stepped in as mediator.
"How about a spar instead of just forms? No battle skills—just pure technique."
"Oh, that sounds good."
"...O-Oh! But Senior Aila, won't it be dangerous? Even without battle skills, stats difference..."
"Just go easy, right?"
I said that, and Nefti looked uneasy, but the two ended up sparring in the open lot right in front of the store, using martial arts only.
And the result...
"I win, right? Hehe."
"...Uh, uh? ...Huh?"
Aila's light victory.
Even with no battle skills allowed, Aila's overwhelming win was truly unexpected.
She tripped the charging Nefti's leg, twisted her arm to take her down, pinned her limbs, and placed a hand on her neck.
End.
Aila smiled lightly our way after winning.
"Hehe. Chickie. See that?"
"Y-Yes! Wow... Senior Aila wins...!"
"What'd you think, Wolfram?"
"...A brilliant move. Impressive as expected."
"Hehe, you could praise me more~?"
"Amazing. Rebellious even."
"Ehehe. Ehehehe."
I shrugged at Aila's beaming smile.
Nefti, on the other hand...
"I'm a pill bug... I'm a pill bug..."
She was broken somehow, curled in the corner of the lot, blankly staring at the sky.
Didn't expect this much damage.
"By the way... did you expect it, Senior Wolfram?"
"Hm? Thought it'd be even."
I nodded at Milmyu's question.
It comes down to Aila's stats.
Aila Trista's Magic Power is 19.
Far below Eve's 22.
Even Regina Cielra's 21 outshines it.
But Aila's real terror is how her other stats compensate for that lacking Magic.
Everything but Magic is 15-16 overall.
Precisely: Stamina 16, Strength 14.
What's shocking is her Dexterity at 17.
She can evolve into a battle mage who wraps crystals on her fists and swiftly punches from the front when magic falters.
Just like in the game.
In Act 3, fighting Aila—drain her mana, and her melee punches hurt like hell. Crystal-wrapped, after all.
Plus high Dexterity means evasion skyrockets if you go physical.
Truly a nasty boss.
Nefti, conversely: Strength 17, Stamina 16, Dexterity 14.
Her Strength edges Aila's, but she got hit once due to letting her guard down.
Can't explain it that way, though. So I convinced the chick with another reason.
A fitting explanation for today, something like that.
"Difference in training time."
"Training time?"
"Yeah. Aila, when'd you start self-defense?"
"From age three. Pretty long, right? Whereas Nefti... well, you started at Jefrin, yeah?"
"......Pill... Ah. Yes. That's right."
"In martial arts, that's over a decade of skill gap. Plus, Trista-style self-defense can aim for Tier 4 at peak."
I'm still Tier 7, though.
Aila smiled shyly after saying that.
No... Tier 4?
And currently Tier 7?
...Higher than I thought. Better not mess with her.
"I see. Training time matters... Yep! Learned a ton! I'll train harder! ...Ahaha. Big lesson."
Shaking off the hurt, Nefti saluted with a bright smile.
Even in a crushing defeat, showing positivity—that's Nefti.
But maybe the wound lingers; a faint shadow in her smile.
"Ahaha. Ahaha... I'm a pill bug..."
Hm.
Urgh.
I suggested the spar, so that smile stings a bit.
"Nefti. Don't sweat it."
"Huh? Comforting the pill bug?"
"Who's a pill bug. If you'd used every dirty trick available, you'd have rin. Your martial arts are at least Tier 7, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Your loss? Underestimating a Magic Division student and going in light. Fight your way."
"...Ah, got it. Thanks, Senpai!"
Nefti finally grinned genuinely.
I turned to the pink chick.
"Milmyu. What're you thinking?"
"...Ah. Well."
The pink chick sat seriously, face hardened in thought.
"What'd you realize?"
".........Gale Strike probably trained in his family's greatsword style since childhood, like Senior Aila—high proficiency."
"Right."
"Mine's superficial by comparison... The training gap is absolute. But he might cling to forms too..."
This kid's smart.
Catching intent instantly is impressive.
But true intellect shines here.
"I need to win with every means available."
"Exactly. Good eye."
She grasped the key takeaway on the spot.
Might be her real talent.
"Yes. Thanks, Senpai!"
"Alright, now let's brainstorm every means at your disposal. Perfect timing..."
From afar, a wolf carriage rumbled toward us.
"Senaaaai! Got your order! Donuts pleeeease!!"
The yellow chick waved from inside.
"Yeah. One of your 'every means' just arrived."
In the carriage's cargo: the yellow chick's full-effort friend gauntlets.
A few days later.
Milmyu von Sabre, with Wolfram's 'every means' etched in her mind, sat quietly during break.
Normally, Vanilla and Yogurt would be there quick, but today she 'deliberately' sat alone.
Thus, the pink chick was isolated—and predictably targeted by the carnivores.
"Milmyu. Milmyu von Sabre."
Gale Strike.
The arrogant, cocky count's son strutted over smugly.
"What, Strike?"
"Huh? What else. Getting tired of saying it—join my faction already? Hm? No more testing."
"......"
"Told you. Join me, life's easy. Graduate to the capital, not your shitty hometown! Just lose big to me once. Deal?"
"......"
"You took top spot, Milmyu von Sabre. Lose completely to second-place me, crawling on the floor—helps my top exam, right? Contract. I keep my word."
Gale chuckled sleazily.
Milmyu took a deep breath.
Heart pounding. What she was about to do was unthinkable for old Milmyu.
Can I do it? Don't betray me.
But a certain indifferent voice echoed in her head.
Usually so cold and emotionless, yet caring more than anyone.
Her first...
Then, Milmyu's mind cleared completely.
Words set. Pounding heart calmed.
"Gale Strike."
"What?"
"I challenge you to a duel."
"......Ha?"
"Two days from now. 1 PM. General Department arena. Fair and square."
"W-What're you saying, you..."
"First-year duels need two or more seniors as witnesses. I've secured: Second-year Knight Division top [Knight of Conviction] Nefthelian Senior. Third-year Magic Division top [Black Crystal] Aila Trista Senior. And Third-year Magic Division Wolfram von Loengrin Senior."
Heavyweight names, every one.
Strike Gale's face paled.
A no-name count's brat daring to face real monsters seniors wouldn't touch.
"Uh, uh... Uhh? Uh......"
"Didn't you want to crush me for exam points? I'm challenging first."
"Duel... Hah, duel..."
A smirk crept back on Strike Gale's face.
Even with those monsters as witnesses, no interference.
Chance to impress them and join the rising Wolfram faction!
"Fine. Two days! I accept. In Gale Strike's name!"
"Yes. Challenged in Milmyu von Sabre's name."
Milmyu yanked off her right gauntlet and slapped it across Gale Strike's face—smack.
"......See you in two days."
Surrounding students buzzed at the sudden duel, but Milmyu's expression didn't waver.
Precisely...
In her mind...
One person's,
one voice resounded powerfully,
drowning all else.
"...Yes. Senpai. Ready to KaBOOM."