Taking the Detour is Faster - 3
The Academy's classes were basically divided into practical training and theoretical lessons. Proving that point, the first class on the second day was theory, unlike the previous day.
"As you all know, Nostradamus prophesied that 'in the 1,999th year, the seventh month, from the sky will come the great King of Terror.' Many people didn't believe it... but that prophecy came true exactly as foretold."
It was one of the core settings of Hero Academia. In this world's lore, dungeons and monsters first appeared in earnest on the last day of July 1999. That's also when people began awakening.
"After that, many things changed. In particular, those who awakened and gained aptitudes were granted the power to collapse dungeons and fight monsters. Aptitude training is what allows them to properly harness that power."
The settings of Hero Academia were being written on the blackboard. Some parts were more detailed than what I remembered from my past life, while others glossed over things. Of course, even with my past life's memories, I couldn't just skim through it. If I was going to live in this world, all of it would be useful to me, so I had to cram it into my head somehow.
Even if this world was based on the game, assuming everything was identical would just prove I was underestimating it. Plus, there was now "me," a variable that didn't exist in the original story, so discrepancies from my past memories could arise because of that. I had to prepare. I could be the one enjoying it, but never the one taking it lightly.
"First, let's talk about dungeons. But before that... Elizabeth."
"Yes!!"
"What's the very first task to collapse a dungeon?"
"Destroying the core at the dungeon's center!!"
"...And what do you gain from destroying the core?"
"The most representative reward is an energy core!! You can also obtain artifacts and such by destroying the core!"
"Th-that's a good answer. But you don't need to shout it."
"Ohohoho! Understood!"
Who doesn't know that? Still, Elizabeth sat down with a satisfied grin, clearly pleased with her own response.
"How about that, Yohan?! This is the level I'm at!"
"Impressive. Whew. As expected of the top of our year. Nothing you don't know."
"Ohoho. Not quite to that extent?"
"Quit chatting and focus. Energy cores obtained from dungeons have influenced society at large ever since the year 2000, and..."
-Ding. Dong. Daeng. Dong.
"Hm. That's it for today. Next class is interpersonal combat practice, right? Listen up good."
With those simple words, the instructor left, and everyone started slacking off right away. Makes sense— a bunch of vigorous kids gathered together, and a dry theory class wasn't going to entertain them. It wasn't particularly fun for me either. If my stats or skill proficiencies had gone up, maybe, but no such luck. At least I'd been steadily training my skills through multitasking... Anyway, interpersonal combat practice meant... villain combat training, right?
"Kim Yohan."
"Yeah."
"Come on. I need to talk."
It was Jin Siyeon. Was it her icy gaze and frosty tone? Whispers started rippling around us.
"Sorry, but no thanks to confessions."
"...What bullshit is that!!"
Her face turning red was kinda cute. Huffing in irritation, she leaned in close and spoke softly.
"We're going today. Right after class ends. Interpersonal combat wraps up early, so we can enter more stably."
With that curt line, she turned and walked ahead. I watched her go and let out a sigh. Right after it ends? Talk about tight timing. Interpersonal combat, huh. At my current level, I'd be lucky not to get utterly demolished. Yeah. I couldn't just let myself get smashed flat. Time to prepare.
When we arrived at the interpersonal combat training ground, Instructor Kim Yeonha was waiting. Arms crossed in her mage's combat gear, she only raised her hand once we'd all entered.
-Woooong...!!
A low vibration hummed, and a blue barrier formed around us. Probably to minimize the fallout from the sparring.
"Interpersonal combat practice is preparation for facing villains."
Not everyone who awakens and discovers their aptitude becomes a hero. Some get drunk on power and act for their own desires, or pursue twisted ideals. We call those villains.
"Alright. Better to learn by doing than by explanation, so... Jin Siyeon first."
"Yes."
Jin Siyeon stood and entered the training area. Moments later—
-Clank. Clank.
With mechanical whirs, a practice combat bot called a "dummy" appeared in the training ground. Come to think of it, there was an event tied to that dummy. But it was mage-related, so no need for me to bother...
"Begin!!"
She actually looks like she's enjoying this. Kim Yeonha grinned widely as she raised her hand, and Jin Siyeon drew her sword.
And then—
-Tadadadang!!
Mana bullets fired from the dummy's hands. Facing a barrage of dozens, Jin Siyeon took a light breath and swung her blade.
-Chaengchaengchaengchaeng!!
Her sword strikes scattered the mana bullets like flower petals, and the deflected shots embedded themselves in the dummy. It rolled to dodge, trying to fire more, but—
"Hup!!"
With a kiai and a flash of light, Jin Siyeon's single strike cleaved the dummy clean in half.
Whoa. She's seriously strong.
"Excellent."
"Thank you."
"But the deflected mana bullets hit the surroundings. Villains often use civilians as shields. Next class, there might be hostages or no-damage zones, so be careful."
"Yes."
She bowed politely and exited, scanning the room with cold eyes. Some gasped in awe, others clicked their tongues, and a few stared in wonder. I was just meh. It was cool to see in person, but that wasn't even her real strength.
"Next."
One by one, they went up against the dummy. Eventually, it was my turn.
"Even healers need basic combat ability. And... you don't seem to just heal anyway."
"Well... yeah?"
"Get up there."
I grabbed my bow and headed to the training ground. After a short wait, the dummy emerged. Ranged type, huh... I immediately cast Diamond Protection and Blessing of the Holy Spirit.
-Taaang!!
"Whoa!! Give a guy some warning before shooting!!"
"You think an enemy says 'I'm attacking now' before hitting you?"
She's got a point, but being on the receiving end sucks.
-Tatatatatatang!!
Mana bullets rained down like arrows. Maybe going easy on a healer, but compared to Jin Siyeon's round, they were smaller and weaker. In that case!
"Haaap!!"
"W-what the?!"
"Is he insane?!"
I charged forward, only shielding my head. Relying on Diamond Protection and...
-Thwack!!
...heals. Sure, it's dismissed as "healer-level," but with my defense boosted by Diamond Protection, I figured I could tank some hits—and I was right.
"That shit hurts!!"
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Protecting my head as best I could, avoiding lethal blows, self-healing on the fly, I barely reached the dummy. Now for the finish.
Bet you felt good shooting, huh? You little—
-Smaaash!!
I bashed it with my bow, drew an arrow, and stabbed down into its face. In mount position, after a few more stabs, I looked at Kim Yeonha.
"...Got like ten lives or something?"
"Haha..."
"Whatever. If it's a strategy, fine. But if you're holding a bow, at least shoot it."
She gave me a deadpan look, but I just shrugged. Don't expect solo combat from a buffer.
"I won! I won!! That's all that matters!"
That's the key point. I took down the dummy. Under a minute? Good enough. I'm satisfied. Process doesn't matter if the result's good, right?
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Back to your seat. Alright! Good work, everyone. Wrapping up early today."
Returning to my spot all smug, I noticed Elizabeth staring at me.
"Yohan! Class ended early—want to train together?! The Taylor family's second training method..."
"Kim Yohan. We're going right after class. Don't forget. I booked you first."
"Oh? Sure."
Jin Siyeon had just saved me from Elizabeth's clutches. Right. Priority one: student council training ground.
"That's how it is."
"No way!"
"Why so surprised? No friends to train with?"
"W-who says I don't have any?! I have tons! Friends to train with me!"
Elizabeth proudly looked around, but the others hurriedly averted their eyes. They all admired her or wanted to be close—great personality, family, money, skills. But after seeing her train? No thanks.
"Ah... aa... You're... lonely? Yeah. After I'm done, we'll train together then..."
"What?! N-not that I particularly want you to join me!"
"Can't be helped then."
"...But if you want to! Training together's fine!"
"Shall we?"
"Not that I particularly want to, but!"
"Can't be helped then."
"...But if you want to! Training together's fine!"
This loop's endless. Elizabeth, what is this? A battle of persistence? Then manly Kim Yohan won't back down from a contest like this.
"In that case..."
"...What're you doing? Quit messing around and let's go already."
My persistence hadn't even shone yet!!
"Yeah. See you later then."
Anyway, training with Elizabeth would help my stat growth... Better for the true ending route. Even if it's exhausting.