Chapter 34
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 34: Group Projects Are Luck-Based (5)
“E... Mr. Ethan!? Why are you leaving the study group?”
Startled as if she hadn't expected me to leave the study group at all, Alicia asked the reason.
The study efficiency of the study group wasn't bad, but since I planned this from before, I explained the reason calmly.
“Isn't the practical training proportion higher in the final exam than the midterm exam?”
“Right...?”
“Since I felt my power was lacking during the last terror, I intend to reduce theoretical study a bit and focus on training for this final.”
“Uh... Th.. Then I also...!”
At the nuance as if saying since you're not there, I'll follow you and leave too, the gazes of other Male Lead Candidates became fierce.
Did those guys forget I persuaded Alicia to create the study group and gave them an opportunity to reconcile?
The Curse of Romance Fantasy must be all like this... I decided to understand the pitiful fish with a heart wide as the ocean.
However, apart from that, the Saintess leaving the study group to train didn't seem like a very good option.
Training is priority number 1 for me to raise my skills, but for the Saintess, there were many other ways to become strong.
Since she has to stay close to Male Lead Candidates to deal with problems comfortably later, it seemed right for her to be in the study group.
“Hmm... That doesn't seem like a very good choice.”
“Yes? But Mr. Ethan is...”
“It hasn't been long since Alicia held the sword, so your basics are still lacking. Right now there's no problem because you have the power given by the Holy Sword and divine power, but if you aim for a higher place, you must fill the basics now.”
“Ethan is right. From your perspective, Alicia, it would be efficient to study with us to fill theory quickly and do other training besides that.”
“I think so too.”
As I presented an opinion, Male Lead Candidates snapped it up saying it's good.
Since I didn't say anything wrong, I decided to move on.
Actually, their skills are very outstanding, so if Male Lead Candidates become Alicia's exclusive teachers, she would be able to grow faster.
Swordsmanship by Asel and Kyle, theory by Elliot, Yulian, and the Mage.
Besides that, an experienced 2nd-year Knight Department senior and a Theology Department group member to teach Holy Magic needed by the Saintess.
Who else in the academy besides Alicia could receive support from all these people?
“Is that so...”
As people around her all opposed, Alicia was eventually persuaded.
Although she had a subtly regretful expression, this was a better choice for her future.
I changed the topic before her mind changed, conversed, and parted ways.
A few days later, when the Basic Combat Studies lecture ended.
“Student Ethan, Student Alicia. See me briefly before you go.”
When we were about to get up after the lecture ended, Professor Kell called us.
While puzzled, we packed our things and followed him out of the lecture room.
Kyle and Asel wanted to follow us, but since the professor called only the two of us, they followed us only to the office and had to wait outside.
Professor Kell inviting us into the office.
After offering us a cup of tea each, he revealed the business quickly.
“You must be busy because of the exam period, sorry to hold you. Calling you today is to explain that the matter of you getting trapped in the lecture room last time has been resolved to some extent.”
Ah, come to think of it, there was this.
I wrote a brief statement last time, but preparing for finals and receiving Master's training, I had forgotten.
“Do you mean that magic tool?”
“Correct. What trapped you was a magic tool used in the Magic Response lecture. As a result of checking, it was stated that the magic tool was used in that lecture room during the Magic Response lecture time on the day, and the assistant forgot to retrieve it.”
“Hmm... Can one treat a magic tool that lightly?”
“I also think that point is a bit strange. The assistant in question was usually diligent and meticulous, so he had a good reputation. But why did he make such a mistake.”
“Then was the magic tool activating also a coincidence?”
“Regarding that part too, he stated it was a malfunction due to his mistake. He said he definitely wants to apologize to you who received damage.”
“...Understood.”
Honestly, not all doubts were resolved, but since Professor Kell said he would investigate a bit more, I nodded.
As Alicia agreed to my opinion perhaps not having any particular thoughts either, Professor Kell sent us back saying sorry for holding us.
Leaving the office, the two waiting people asked us what happened.
However, since me and Alicia getting trapped in the lecture room alone wasn't something to go around talking about, we equivocated saying it was nothing.
The two people felt very uncomfortable, but when she changed the topic, they opened their mouths gladly.
‘Phew, easy guys...’
Shaking my head looking at them, I joined Kairin who was waiting for me next to them.
“Then we will go first.”
“Yes, see you later.”
The Saintess waved her hand and said goodbye.
As the exam period came, we were divided into two groups.
The Saintess continued the study group with Male Lead Candidates, and Kairin and I who wanted to focus more on training received training under Master.
Since Master was a spearman, he couldn't teach her martial arts.
But since he was a knight handling Aura before a spearman, he knew too well how to overwork a person's body.
“Uh uh, maintain posture. It's shaking? Uh?”
‘This crazy master. If you're going to tell me to maintain posture, don't poke me.’
Having me maintain a plank posture saying it strengthens the core, but tap dancing on top and poking my flank; where is such a training method?
Every time he steps, he puts mana into his foot acting as a weight, so every single movement tasted like death.
Kairin next to me was also overworked just the same.
Master piled up several large stones on her back saying his body is only one; I don't know how he piled them, but the height was similar to Master who climbed on top of me.
“Keueue....”
“Keueup...!”
“Endure! Not even half the time passed yet! Kairin, don't you shake either! If the stone tower collapses, I'll pile double next time!”
A few minutes later, at Master's words that it's over, we collapsed as strength drained from our whole bodies.
Thinking we could rest a bit now, what started immediately was a game of tag where we get hit if caught.
After running until a sweet taste came from inside the mouth, without giving time to control breathing, he made us train swinging weapons with correct posture.
Of course, if posture becomes disordered here too, Master's rod of love flies without fail.
Filling the designated count, muscle exercise starts again welcoming a new set.
Master overworked the whole body as if squeezing water from a dried squid.
Thanks to that, Kairin and I swayed like mollusks without strength to care about face when training ended.
When we barely showered and came out, Master had already left.
Then, since only the two of us remained, we used to take a rest eating simple snacks at a nearby lounge or cafeteria.
“Kairin, good work today too.”
“Yeah, Ethan, you worked hard too.”
We smiled at each other and shared a drink in the satisfaction that we finished training somehow today as well.
It was truly fortunate that there were no particular problems with the body even if a superhuman drank alcohol.
Of course, getting drunk was separate, so since the day's schedule wasn't over yet, we drank moderately and rose from our seats.
Afterward, time flowed quickly.
Repetition of daily life rolling under Master with Kairin every day, and studying for exams occasionally.
About once a week, we met group members and coordinated, but unlike my expectation, group members were improving their problems little by little.
In Tauric's case, his ears opened so he could hear what we say during battle to some extent, and Estelle got used to the new realm and her accuracy stabilized compared to before.
Of course, Tauric's symptom of rushing unconditionally when seeing monsters wasn't solved, and Estelle's accuracy only rose from 10% to about 30% so there was still a long way to go, but I was sufficiently satisfied just by the fact that the two were improving.
With this speed of development, it seemed we could expect better results in the final exam.
The academy facing final exams showed more thorough security than before.
This is the academy that suffered the humiliation of being terrorized all over the academy by warlocks right after midterm exams.
But getting breached again during the final exam period?
It was a blunder where even the Chairman and all sorts of top executives getting fired wouldn't be enough.
To prevent this, the academy put everyone except professors conducting exams into vigilance and additionally requested support from the Empire.
It looks like overreacting, but looking closely, this was a kind of show-off request.
Requesting support from the Empire directly at the academy to prevent recurrence of the situation, and the Empire accepting this to show the continent how important the Empire considers this matter.
Since even some members of the Knights Order guarding the Emperor were dispatched just for this one show, anyone could know the Empire also sharpened its sword properly.
You ask if the Emperor becomes endangered if the Knights Order guarding the Emperor leaves?
No problem at all.
Because the Emperor is always guarded by one of the only three Masters in the Empire.
If someone like a warlock pierces all defense systems of the Imperial Family, the safest place in the Empire, kills a Master-level guard who numbers less than ten in the continent, and assassinates the Emperor, the world is practically already ruined.
Anyway, guarding like an iron fortress to this extent, no matter if it's a warlock, they won't be able to touch the academy during final exams.
Like that, time flowed and finally, the final exam arrived.