Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Academy's Model
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Sheeeek!
The moment I approached, the Trento whipped out its sluggish branch in an attack.
A motion I'd seen plenty of times in Blaze Blood.
Feeling a touch of nostalgia, I dodged it effortlessly.
But not with the minimal, efficient movements I usually used.
What I was demonstrating now was the textbook evasion for cadets facing their first monster.
Even if my movements were a bit larger than usual, as long as I dodged properly, there was no issue. I wanted to imprint that on the watching cadets.
Showing rookies the evasion tricks of a veteran wouldn't help—they couldn't replicate it anyway. Better to show them the basics.
Once.
Twice.
After dodging the predictable pattern of attacks.
Slash!
I swung my sword, severing the Trento's branch.
I repeated that twice more.
Then, with all its branches cut, I delivered the final blow to finish it off.
The Trento dissolved into light, leaving only branches and a magic stone behind.
I turned to Teacher Dias.
"That's it."
"Well done, Eldra. Everyone saw that, right? F-rank monsters aren't fast, and you can definitely dodge them! Don't be scared—give it a try."
"B-but I use magic, so I can't get close."
"It's still kinda scary..."
A few cadets were still hesitant.
That was unavoidable, too.
Even with mana awakening boosting physical abilities, few people would charge at a threatening monster without a second thought.
So my role wasn't over yet.
"Teacher Dias, if it's alright, could I handle a few more Trento?"
"What?"
"I'm not limited to swords. I can use magic, blunt weapons, spears, guns, bows—various weapons. If I demonstrate with each one, the other cadets should understand how to deal with Trento more easily."
"..."
Teacher Dias thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. Keep summoning Trento. Step up and show them, Eldra."
"Yes, sir."
Every time Teacher Dias summoned a new Trento, I switched weapons and tactics to take it down.
With a staff, I blocked its attacks with a shield, then hit it with offensive magic.
For gauntlets, greaves, blunt weapons, daggers, or spears, I dodged the branches like with a straight sword and landed a critical hit.
For ranged weapons like guns or bows, I kept my distance for safe, precise shots.
The shield I'd used to block Chisaki's super speed strike simply tanked everything head-on.
Showing the standard ways to use each piece of equipment eliminated the anxious, hesitant voices.
Seeing exactly how to move gave them confidence.
"That's it."
"Excellent work, Eldra!"
Teacher Dias, clearly delighted by the cadets' changed reactions, bellowed at them.
"Everyone saw what Eldra demonstrated! No one here is going to chicken out after that, right? If you are, quit the academy now! Line up one by one!"
At Teacher Dias's command, the cadets stepped forward in turn to face the Trento.
Those confident from the start used their own styles.
The others mimicked my movements and took them down without much trouble.
"As expected of Young Master Rubelt—you're the model for us all!"
Eli came over with a beaming smile after her turn.
"Thanks, Eli. But this is nothing."
"Of course! To you, Young Master Rubelt, this is par for the course! Ohohoho!"
"Your rapier work has improved since last time, Eli."
"Yes! I'm growing every single day—to be a fiancée worthy of you, Young Master Rubelt! Ohohoho!"
Eli's weapon was a rapier.
A magic swordsman style focused on thrusts, mixed with multi-attribute magic.
Since Eli could use basic elemental magic, I often took her into dungeons with diverse monster attributes.
"This is so boring~."
Slash!
Chisaki beheaded it in one swift strike, not giving the Trento a chance to attack.
"Hah!"
Isihoon took it down steadily with his straight sword.
"That's it."
Rize dodged all attacks flawlessly and finished with one strike.
"Foxfire!"
Kagura pulled a talisman from her bosom and used fire shamanism to defeat it.
Her quick motion slipping her fingers into her dress shirt was pure artistry.
"W-Wind Cutter!"
Yume hesitated at first but created a safe shield barrier and took it down with wind magic.
Most cadets fought without changing out of their uniforms, even if they drew weapons.
Only two days since enrollment, so it made sense—they needed time to pick dedicated gear and outfits.
In the game, you didn't see the party's custom combat outfits until the first dungeon practical.
In Blaze Blood, some characters had dedicated battle outfits, while others stuck with cadet uniforms.
I figured it was because they wanted to use their brand-new uniforms in combat, too.
Ordinary cadets—the extras—almost all used their cadet uniforms as battle gear.
And Yume was one who kept hers.
With most other characters switching to custom outfits, Yume's uniform emphasized her identity as the slightly ordinary childhood friend. It fit perfectly.
'The uniform suits Yume well.'
The academy uniform's design was so good that a DLC had all characters in combat versions for unity, and it trended.
Extras included bunny girl, cheerleader, maid, miko, swimsuit, academy-specified swimsuit, and more.
First playthrough on basic outfits, then DLC costumes from the second—standard procedure.
After every cadet had defeated one Trento, Teacher Dias spoke.
"Everyone did well. Some are still awkward, but I think you've awakened to the fact that you're hunters who hunt monsters! Next, this class will pit you against monsters with various traits before heading to the dungeon! Steel your resolve!"
In short, this class handled tutorials for attribute-specific monsters in advance.
The dungeon trip was in a week.
A dungeon full of neutral monsters like Trento, without special attributes.
"One round isn't enough! Get ready for more!"
Trento hunting continued until class ended.
After afternoon classes ended.
Yume, Kagura, and Chisaki went to check out clubs they wanted to join.
Isihoon was holding off but wanted to browse, so he wandered the school.
Eli bid me farewell and left in the Glassner family limo.
I planned to head home with Rize and browse cadet profiles for a suitable companion for Isihoon.
As I was about to tell Rize to call the limo.
"Rubelt Eldra, could you spare a moment?"
Current Student Council President Rahisha Runeberg called to me.
"What is it, President?"
"I have something important to discuss with you, Rubelt Eldra."
She smiled softly, exuding the aura of a leader.
As expected of Blaze Blood's powerful guest character—and someone who'd personally worked to improve perceptions of her race.
"I was just heading back to the estate... but since it's you, President, I'll make time."
"Thank you."
"No trouble. And feel free to use my name casually. It's easier that way."
"Hehe. Alright, Rubelt."
Using polite speech with everyone was Rahisha's trait, tied to her long-standing goal of improving racial perceptions.
"Rize, head back first. I'll talk with the President and follow."
"Understood, Young Master."
Rize nodded without protest.
"Oh, you could have come along."
"No, it seems she has business with me alone... I'd just be in the way."
"Thank you for considering that. Shall we head to the student council room together?"
I followed President Rahisha to the student council room.
"Everyone, could you step out for a bit?"
Rahisha smiled at the other executives upon arrival, and they promptly cleared out.
"No need to send them away, was there?"
"Not at all. You were considerate enough to send your maid, Rize Twain, ahead. I should return the courtesy."
"I see. Thank you for that. So."
I sat in the chair closest to President Rahisha among the empty ones.
"What do you want to ask of me? Rahisha Runeberg, Student Council President."
"Call me Rahisha, too. ...Rubelt. Have you considered joining the student council?"
As expected, her request was recruitment.
"Scouting me?"
"Yes. If you joined, it'd be a tremendous help. To the academy... and to hunter society. Please, let the student council make use of your strength and talents?"
She spoke with charismatic, polished eloquence, like a master orator.
An ordinary cadet would feel a surge of expectation and duty, shouting "Yes, President!"
But I was different.
I knew her goals—and while I might pursue her, I wouldn't be pursued.
"Hmm, I'm not fond of lies."
"Pardon?"
"Everything you said is true, of course. But... I think it's better to state your core purpose outright—the driving force at the center. Don't you agree, President Rahisha? Or would it be more honest to put it this way?"
I interlaced my fingers, flashing the sly smile of a chaebol or politician.
"Rahisha Runeberg, Student Council President, graciously scouting me to improve perceptions of the Central Folk?"
