The First Lesson

"Thanks to you, I survived."

I said those words to Charlotte, who sat in the seat beside me. After all, she'd pulled me out of a rather sticky situation about five minutes earlier.

"Th-that's a relief. I'm glad I-I could help... hehe."

About five minutes ago, I'd tentatively decided on Enya. Her feelings still weren't completely locked in at this point, after all.

"Ed! Ed!"

The moment I started to call Enya's name, a girl with curly green hair and round glasses shouted for me. It was Charlotte. She'd been watching my predicament the entire time.

"Wh-what are you doing over there! W-we promised to take this class together, remember?"

As she spoke, Charlotte slid her glasses down slightly and gave me a wink. Surprisingly, her eyes without the glasses were stunningly beautiful. But given the urgent situation I was in, that observation lasted only a split second.

I immediately decided to grab the lifeline Charlotte had thrown me.

"Ah, that's right! After the first evaluation round, we said we'd take this class together!"

"Yeah! I-I mentioned I was clumsy with mana control and that I needed to take this lecture."

"Oh...! Right! We did agree to take it together. Must've completely slipped my mind."

"And look, the seat next to me is empty! N-no one ever wants to sit beside me..."

"Huh? Oh, right. Got it."

With that, I apologized to Enya and Isabella, explaining I had a prior arrangement, then headed over to Charlotte. Enya and Isabella seemed to bicker for a while afterward, but the moment Professor Gracia entered the room, the commotion settled down.

The instant he stepped inside, the air throughout the lecture hall grew heavy, and the atmosphere flipped completely.

"Nice to meet you all. I am Sword Master Gracia."

Standing before the lectern, Gracia introduced himself with simple brevity. Sword Master. Without any unnecessary flair, he defined himself with that single phrase. Yet those two words alone were enough to convey the authority of this class. After all, we stood before one of the only five Sword Masters in the entire empire.

Had it not been for the imperial family's compulsory power, none of the random assortment of students gathered here would have had a chance to receive his teachings—not in a million years.

"There are two primary methods of using mana to attack an enemy."

While everyone sat frozen with tension, Gracia finally spoke. Notably, his first words weren't an attendance check, a basic orientation, or even a class introduction. He dove straight into the lesson itself.

"The first method relies on striking through the use of formulas. By manifesting formulas in your mind's eye, you can damage the enemy's mind or body, or manipulate terrain, features, or even space itself to inflict harm."

Despite the abrupt beginning, the students fell into a state of total concentration. In the vast lecture hall, only the sound of our breathing and his voice echoed through the silence.

"However, properly implementing a true formula demands considerable talent. Precise calculation ability, geometric visualization, the insight to simplify and comprehend complex formula structures, and the imagination to freely combine thousands of formulas for battlefield application. To reach the pinnacle as a formula user, one must possess all these qualities in balance. Therefore, only a select few geniuses can ever ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠attain it."

Gracia glanced at Isabella as he spoke. His gaze lingered less than two seconds before he turned his head and continued.

"The remaining method of utilizing mana involves using only 'reinforcement' formulas to strengthen the body and strike the enemy directly. In this approach, even those with minimal talent for formulas can reach a respectable level. The barrier is significantly lower compared to formula users—or mages, as they're commonly called."

Gracia began walking as he spoke, and every student's eyes tracked his movement.

"That said, does this mean reinforcement users require less effort than formula users? Absolutely not. Reinforcement users demand far more precise and meticulous mana control."

Gracia pressed a switch in his hand. Light flashed at the front of the room, projecting an image onto the white wall. It was a diagram of the human body filled with mana.

"As you can see in the diagram before you, this is an intuitive breakdown of the mana volume within my body. Assuming the total mana capacity is 100%, you'll notice 30% is concentrated in my right arm alone."

As Gracia explained, a massive reservoir of mana pooled in his right arm. Thirty percent of his entire capacity in a single limb.

"Using this, I can unleash a slash. Its range and lethality rival those of a pinnacle formula user. This is because I've spent countless hours refining that single strike."

Gracia switched to the next image. The screen now displayed an area roughly ten meters in radius that had been completely obliterated.

"This image shows the power of the slash I've honed over several decades."

A heavy silence blanketed the lecture hall. The sheer destructive force was overwhelming. To think a single sword swing could cause such devastation.

Though honestly, one missile could probably achieve the same result.

While my mind wandered with such pointless thoughts, Gracia returned to the previous diagram.

"However, every person's innate mana volume differs. A prime example is Sword Saint Illeiya, who has 40% of his mana volume concentrated solely in his head. Yet because he also possesses talent in formulas, he links martial techniques with spellwork. That synergy is what made him the strongest swordsman."

Gracia using Enya's father as an example made her body twitch. Her dad had been suddenly dragged into the lecture.

"For reinforcement users, understanding your own mana volume is paramount. If your legs hold little ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana, you must devise methods to compensate. Conversely, if your chest holds a large amount, you must actively leverage it to maximize your strengths."

Beep. Gracia pressed the switch again. The screen advanced to the next slide.

"This is the swordsman's rank chart. Sword Runner, Sword User, Sword Expert, Sword Master, and Grand Swordmaster. We'll omit Grand Swordmaster from this class, as it exists to honor the legendary swordsman Lord Kassel."

Grand Swordmaster Kassel. A figure from roughly 340 years ago, worshipped as a god among swordsmen. As far as I knew, the foundation of all modern martial arts and weapon techniques stemmed from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the 'Kassel Style.'

"Now, a question. Where would you place yourselves among these four ranks?"

When everyone remained silent, Gracia suddenly pointed at me.

"Edga Fix. I've heard plenty of rumors about your extensive knowledge. Answer me. What is the average rank of students in this lecture hall?"

"......"

The sudden call made my brain buffer for a moment. With all eyes on me, I recalled information from the setting books I'd glanced at while playing this game dozens of times. Based on that, I gave my answer.

"Sword User."

"Hoh. Your reasoning?"

"From what I understand, one must achieve at least 60% mana efficiency to qualify as a Sword User."

"Elaborate further."

"......The baseline requirement for this class is B-rank or higher. To receive a B-rank or above, one must demonstrate the ability to convert invested mana into equivalent destructive power during the first and second evaluation rounds."

In short, if you used 100 mana, you needed to produce 100 destructive power. Anyone who could only manage 60 or less with 100 mana wouldn't have qualified for B-rank.

Gracia smiled with clear satisfaction.

"Correct. There will be no trash like Sword Runners in my class."

Charlotte's body jolted violently. She glanced around with anxious eyes. Gracia, however, continued without concern.

"As Edga Fix explained, Sword User refers to a realm where mana efficiency has reached a specific threshold. 60-70 is low-tier Sword User, 70-80 is mid-tier, 80-90 is high-tier, and 90-100 is top-tier Sword User."

Hmm. I'm a high-tier Sword User. That's what Elena had told me last time. With a little more training, I could reach top-tier.

"Reaching top-tier Sword User allows advancement to Sword Expert. This stage requires efficient mana distribution tailored to your personal mana volume. Look at the next screen."

The image changed. Enya twirled her pen with a bored expression, as if she already knew everything.

"Here we have swordsman A. He was born with a body capable of holding 60% mana volume in his left hand. But does having 60% capacity in that area mean you can automatically fill it with 60% of your total mana?"

"......"

"No. Without training, filling even 30% would be difficult. You would be unable to utilize your specialty."

My chest strangely ached. After all, I could already do exactly that. I could distribute mana according to the formulas engraved in my mana stones without any special training.

"What Sword Experts require is 'efficient mana distribution.' Assuming 60% in the left hand, 5% in the right, 15% in the head, 10% in the chest, and 5% each in the left and right feet—totaling 100%—we say one has reached the pinnacle of Sword Expert when they can fill each area with mathematically perfect accuracy."

Sorry, but I can already do that too. I was copying the Blue Dragon's mechanism, after all.

"And upon reaching this stage, one can open the Blue Eye. Having attained the pinnacle of mana control, you gain the ability to see through your opponent's mana flow. This marks the threshold of Sword Master."

Gracia activated his Blue Eye as he spoke. His pupils began emitting a brilliant blue glow.

"At this level, you can predict what formula your opponent will use before they cast it. The difference between dodging with knowledge and without is immense. Defense becomes simpler, allowing for more aggressive offensive choices."

While Gracia continued his explanation, I attempted to activate Blue Eye myself. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Opening the Blue Eye required extreme training of the mana receptors that controlled mana flow.

What if I connected the optic nerve directly to the mana stone?

It seemed plausible. As I pondered this, Gracia continued.

"Beyond this point lies a realm I cannot teach. From here, you must establish your own footwork, breathing techniques, evasion arts, movement methods, and offensive styles based on your personal mana volume, then train them independently."

......

Listening to Professor Gracia's lecture made me truly appreciate what a monster Enya was. She hadn't opened her Blue Eye yet, but she was already developing her own sword technique called Battoujutsu.

Whether that style properly matched her mana volume remained questionable, however.

"Today, I will examine each of your mana volumes. Your assignment from this moment is to select your personal training regimen and weapon based on the information you receive from me, then report your choices at this time next week. Enya Cruel, come forward first."

Gracia called Enya to the front. With his Blue Eye active, he studied her carefully, repeatedly expressing admiration.

"As expected, Illeiya's blood truly runs true. Honestly, I'm impressed. To have reached this level at your age. You'll open your Blue Eye before this year ends. Have you thought of a sword style?"

"......Battoujutsu."

"......Battoujutsu? What sort of sword technique is that?"

"A method that converts the frictional force generated when drawing the sword into energy, then releases it as a slash toward the enemy."

"Kukuk... Your humor is tragically poor compared to your skill. Prepare at least a rough concept by next week. Next."

Gracia had taken Enya's serious answer as a joke. He continued examining each student's mana volume in turn. During the process, Charlotte received a stern scolding for her severely lacking mana training.

Finally, it was Isabella's turn.

"......Honestly, I'm curious why you're even here."

"To identify the weaknesses of reinforcement users."

"Is that so? Then what weaknesses have you discovered?"

"Well. None yet. I believe I'll understand better after attending more classes."

"......I see. Then I'll assign you a different task. Starting today, I'll provide you with each student's mana volume data every class. Using that information, infer the sword techniques they'll develop and research appropriate countermeasures. That makes today number four..."

"Actually."

Isabella suddenly cut Gracia off. She smiled sweetly.

"You don't need to tell me. I can use Blue Eye as well."

Whoosh—

A blue light kindled in her eyes. She smirked and continued.

"And if I mix in my attribute formulas, it becomes Black Eye."

Gracia chuckled deeply.

"Kukuk... I'd forgotten that formula users at the pinnacle can use Blue Eye. Very well. Choose for yourself then. Each week, investigate five students' mana volumes, then report the sword techniques they'll likely develop along with their weaknesses."

"Sure. Sounds fun."

With that, Isabella returned to her seat.

Then Gracia called my name. The expression on his face as he looked at me was priceless—like he was staring at something incomprehensible. He muttered in disbelief.

"How...... can a mana volume possibly look like this?"