The First Practical Exam
A few dozen minutes ago. That's where I'd need to go if I wanted to explain the current situation.
I had slipped into one of the private training rooms to avoid Sherry's gaze.
Miroel immediately began looking around with open curiosity.
-What kind of training do you usually do, disciple?
"Hmm. Do you see that crystal orb over there?"
-Yes. I see it.
"I use that crystal orb to spar against illusionary monsters."
-Hmm. Not bad. After all, it was an item Makarov created specifically for training purposes.
The Makarov she mentioned was the First Sage.
Well, since most of the items in this world were made by him, it was only natural that Miroel would know about them.
After all, Makarov was also one of the five legendary heroes, just like her.
-Then shall we take a look at your current skill level first?
I nodded and manipulated the crystal orb.
The next moment.
-Krrrik!
A Skeleton Knight appeared—the lowest difficulty setting.
It charged straight at me.
Even without trying, Mind's Eye made its movements look painfully slow.
Had my growth made that much of a difference?
'It's moving way slower than usual.'
I leisurely poured mana into the Bow of the Beginning.
A bow formed from blue mana materialized in my hands.
'It's definitely different.'
Unlike the mana bows I used to create, this one had a much clearer, more defined shape.
The speed at which it formed was also noticeably faster than before.
I nocked an arrow made of mana.
-Kiiiiiiing!
I took aim at the charging monster.
Then released the bowstring.
-Thwock!
Before it could even react, the mana arrow completely shattered its skull.
I clicked my tongue inwardly at the scene before me.
'One item can change the power this much?'
No matter how strong I'd gotten before, the best I could do was lodge arrows in its forehead.
But now?
With a single shot, the Skeleton Knight's head had been blown apart.
'And I barely used any mana, too.'
As I stood there stunned by how much stronger I felt, Miroel spoke up beside me.
-Your technique is certainly excellent.
She wore a gentle smile.
It felt strangely good to receive recognition from none other than one of the legendary heroes who sealed the Demon God.
But then, in the very next moment, her tone completely changed.
-However, you still aren't drawing out my full power.
Miroel continued in a serious voice.
-Even though you cannot see, your marksmanship is outstanding, disciple.
"Is that so?"
-Yes. There's a common misconception. It's actually much harder to hit a target up close than one that's far away.
"Huh?"
When I tilted my head in confusion, she answered with a grave expression.
-When sniping from a distance, the target usually doesn't even realize they're being aimed at. Isn't that right?
"True."
-So as long as you don't make a mistake, hitting a stationary target is simple. But a close-range opponent is a completely different story. They aren't going to just stand there like idiots, are they?
"No, they wouldn't."
-That's why hitting nearby enemies is harder. You have to predict their movements, and even if you can, the pressure of them closing in makes it difficult to stay calm. Yet you responded with perfect composure. Not only that, but you aimed precisely at the forehead.
I tried my best to suppress the smile tugging at my lips from her praise. Miroel crossed her arms and let out a slightly regretful sigh.
-Haa, it would have been even better if your eyes were fine too. Anyway, your shooting skills are flawless. It seems the only thing left for me to teach you is how to properly utilize my power. Shall we start by making an arrow?
I nodded and circulated the mana throughout my body into the circuits.
-Whoosh.
Blue mana surged out from me.
I began shaping the flickering energy.
The next instant.
-Vwoong.
A mana arrow took form.
Looking at my creation, she immediately pointed out the problem.
-Hmm. As I thought, this is the issue, disciple.
"Yes?"
-Why are you trying to make arrows so quickly?
"Well... because I need to counterattack before I get hit..."
When I trailed off and scratched my cheek, she nodded in understanding.
-That's understandable. But that kind of half-hearted counterattack is worse than doing nothing at all.
Hmm. She wasn't wrong.
It had worked against small fry so far.
But against Dale last time, not a single attack had landed properly.
In fact, even the one that did hit wasn't from a proper shot.
-For someone like you, disciple, you need to develop the habit of making arrows as perfectly as possible. Otherwise, your growth will stagnate very quickly.
"Understood. Should I try it right now?"
-Yes. Go ahead and—huh?
At that moment, Miroel's eyes widened dramatically.
-Wait, how... how are you doing it this fast?
She stared at my mana arrow with a dumbfounded expression.
Well, her surprise was understandable.
I'd just created an arrow of much higher quality at the same speed as before.
-Ahem. Your mana control is quite impressive.
"Is it?"
-Yes. I didn't expect you to be able to improve the quality of your arrows this quickly. Even a genius would normally take a week.
She pouted slightly as she muttered.
It seemed she herself had taken about a week.
Of course, for me it was thanks to Mind's Eye letting me literally see the mana.
-Anyway, at this rate, I can teach you the breathing technique as well.
"Breathing technique?"
-Yes. You normally use the mana inside your body to create arrows, correct?
I nodded.
She lifted her chin proudly, as if she'd expected that answer.
-If you learn the breathing technique from me, you won't need to consume your internal mana to create arrows. And once you master it completely, you'll become nearly twice as strong.
"What?! Really?"
-I'm certain.
I was completely stunned by the unexpected revelation.
I hadn't imagined I'd get a chance to grow so dramatically in one go.
While I stood there speechless, she continued.
-First, take a deep breath and try to feel the mana floating in the atmosphere.
"Understood."
To be honest, I had no idea what she meant by "feel it."
But perhaps thanks to my Divine Archer class?
I began to sense traces of mana that I had never noticed before.
As I inhaled the mana through my nose, she kept explaining.
-Once you feel it, make it yours. Just doing that is already half the battle.
Following her instructions, I claimed control over the ambient mana.
At the same time.
'So that's what she meant.'
I instantly understood why she'd said I'd become nearly twice as strong.
I transformed the mana I'd just claimed.
The next moment.
-Hmm?!
Miroel jumped in surprise at the sight.
But I was too focused to pay her any attention.
I slowly shaped the mana into an arrow.
'This isn't the end.'
She hadn't said I'd become twice as strong just from this.
There was only one reason she'd said that.
-Whoosh!
It was because I could now use the mana inside my body for physical reinforcement instead.
Seeing my actions, she gave a satisfied smile.
-You're quick on the uptake. You understood my intention perfectly without any further explanation. Then let's test it out.
I nodded and raised the difficulty to intermediate level.
-Kweeeeeh!
In an instant, a High Orc appeared.
It charged at me the moment it saw me.
I remembered the sensation from earlier and created an arrow using the ambient mana.
-Whoosh!
I used the mana within my body to strengthen myself.
Power surged through me like never before.
'Thanks to advancing to Divine Archer, I grasped it all at once.'
If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have learned the breathing technique this quickly.
-Your learning speed is impressive. Well, anything less wouldn't be worthy of being my disciple.
Her lips curled up into a wide grin, clearly pleased.
I pretended not to notice her reaction and aimed at the High Orc.
The moment I released the bowstring.
-Kwaaaaaang!
Not only was the High Orc's body pulverized, but a hole was blasted clean through the wall behind it.
The unexpected power left me speechless.
Even though I'd tried to suppress my mana, I never imagined it would produce this kind of force.
"What the hell did you do?!"
At that moment, Sherry burst into the room in a panic.
I had absolutely no response to give her.
The only thing I could do was quietly turn my gaze toward Miroel.
I slowly looked at her.
She was staring off into the distance.
Excuse me? Master? Why are you avoiding my eyes?
***
Three days passed, and Monday finally arrived.
Naturally, I thought I'd get scolded by the staff for punching a hole in the wall.
But perhaps because this was an academy where talented people gathered?
The damaged wall had repaired itself automatically.
Thankfully, I avoided getting in trouble with the staff.
'I really thought I was screwed.'
In the game, training was always skipped.
But now that the game had become reality, unexpected things like this kept happening.
'Well, according to the staff, there are quite a few students who destroy the walls.'
Apparently they'd invested a lot of money into the training facilities because of it.
Anyway, that was that.
-Disciple. Do you understand? Never listen to that elf's pathetic basic archery techniques.
At that moment, Miroel spun around in the air, repeatedly warning me.
It seemed she really didn't like Ilya, the archery instructor.
-Haa, how did elves end up being unable to even teach the fundamentals properly?
Miroel covered her face with both hands, letting out a sigh full of frustration.
Her long ears twitched with embarrassment.
I pretended not to notice her ears and turned to Dale.
Then, an unexpected announcement came from his mouth.
"Today we'll be having a practical combat class."
"“What?!””
Everyone jumped in surprise.
Dale looked at their reactions with a mischievous smile, as if he found it amusing.
"Shouldn't you all be getting used to this by now?"
"Even so, for a practical class, isn't it normal to give us advance notice?!"
The other students nodded in agreement with Eden's protest.
The next moment, Dale answered with a sly grin.
"Wouldn't that be boring?"
Wow. Is this guy really a professor?
While we stood there dumbfounded, he began explaining the rules for this test.
"Anyway, since we're short on time, I'll explain quickly."
After finishing his explanation, Dale laid out the simple rules.
We would enter an artificial dungeon created by the Sun God in teams of two.
Points would be awarded based on the order in which we escaped the maze.
'Basically, it's just a race to escape the dungeon.'
As I was thinking that, Dale slowly began announcing the teams.
And then.
"And for team 5, it's Luden von Roden and Baran."
An unexpected pairing came out of Dale's mouth.
Everyone, including me, was shocked.
"Those two are on the same team?"
"First place is basically guaranteed."
"Wait, this isn't a fight. It's just escaping a maze."
"Oh, right."
"Besides, he's blind, so wouldn't he actually be a disadvantage?"
The students whispered among themselves while looking at me.
-Hmm. It seems they're underestimating you quite a bit, disciple. You must take first place no matter what—disciple?
Miroel tilted her head mid-sentence.
I had no idea what kind of expression I was making right now.
But if I had to guess, I was probably smiling.
Because.
Main Episode — First Practical Class!
📍 Objective: Escape the maze faster than anyone else and take 1st place.
🎁 Reward: Special reward upon successful completion.
'I'm done for. I have to take first place, no matter what.'
A quest that was far too advantageous for someone with Mind's Eye had appeared.