Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Academy's Model Student
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After the class president election, right before lunch during fourth period.
Our class moved to the training hall.
Early in the semester, there had been a lot of announcements, so mornings were mostly theory classes to cover them.
But this was Hunter Academy.
From today onward, mornings would have a bit of theory, but most classes would focus on practical combat training.
Dungeon fieldwork alone doesn't wrap up in just an hour or two, after all.
Once Instructor Dias announced we'd start with free sparring followed by monster combat training like last time, the cadets paired off and began sparring.
Roar!
"Ohohoho! That's some serious power, Kagura!"
Shieeek!
"Ugh! You're no slouch either, Eli!"
I was watching Eli and Kagura sparring up on one of the arenas when—
"Raaah!"
Clang!
"What the hell, Chisaki?"
Chisaki charged at me, swinging her sword, so I drew my katana to block.
"You had the nerve to tattle to Dad yesterday! I had to stand holding that damn rock for an hour because of you!"
"Didn't expect you'd keep quiet about our spar, huh?"
"You knew I'd get chewed out if you told, so why'd you do it?!"
You knew that and still went all out with your ultimate technique?
"You're gonna drink Brain Spirit Wine, aren't you? No need to make a fuss."
"I'm thrilled about that! But it doesn't erase my anger from the punishment! I'm sparring with you until I feel better!"
Ah, this is just an excuse. She just wants to spar with me.
Fine, I'll humor her.
"Rize."
"...Understood."
I stopped Rize as she moved to lunge at Chisaki with her dagger.
Her fierce loyalty and affection toward me were utterly endearing.
"Aww~ Calling it off? A 2-on-1 would've been fun too."
Rize had known Chisaki was gunning for her and just let it slide.
Typical battle maniac.
"If you're thinking 2-on-2, mind if I join?"
A burly guy with orange hair and blue eyes, wielding a shield and mace.
Kudan Petris, a classmate and one of Blaze Blood's male supporting allies, approached.
"Oho. 3-on-1? Even better?"
"I said 2-on-2..."
"What's up, Petris?"
"Call me Kudan."
"Fine, then call me Rubelt."
"Got it. Rubelt, I've been curious about your skills. Especially since you used Aegis Shield. Who taught you that?"
For reference, Aegis Shield was Kudan's ultimate technique in Blaze Blood.
There's even a beginner's guide that says: Party up with Kudan first!
He makes an excellent tank early on.
"Instructor Jemuran."
"Jemuran, huh... Hard to believe that stoic guy would teach anyone..."
Jemuran was a pro hunter who taught the Earth Guardian Style that Kudan used.
He could wield ultimates and had top-tier skills, so the Eldra family hired him as a private tutor.
At first, he said he had no time to teach due to his hunter duties.
But offering triple his hunting earnings changed that.
Jemuran might be gruff, but he teaches thoroughly and precisely.
"I can use Aegis Shield too, but yours was on another level. So..."
"You want to spar with me to hone your skills?"
"Exactly. Mind if we do?"
"Of course not."
No harm in getting friendly with a canon character.
Besides, with me snagging all the heroines, Kudan would fill out Isihoon's party nicely.
"Since we're at it, let's make it 1-on-1."
"Hey! Priestess! Spar with me!"
"Rize, handle Chisaki for me."
"Understood. I'll give her a proper match."
Shing!
Rize drew her dagger, unleashing the bloodlust I'd stopped earlier with ferocious intensity.
"Ooh... That's some real killing intent. She's radiating hostility. Hehe... Now we're talking~."
Chisaki bared her teeth in a predatory grin, her attention shifting instantly to Rize. The two headed straight up to an arena.
"Alright, Kudan, shall we? What weapon do you want me using?"
"Ideally, I'd like to face you with Earth Guardian Style gear."
"Got it."
We climbed onto an arena. I held a large shield in my left hand and a mace in my right, just like Kudan, and we began.
It was serious sparring, but not desperate.
We blocked each other's strikes with shields and traded mace blows.
As expected of a defense specialist, his guard was rock-solid.
But...
Boom!
"Ngh! Every hit packs a punch."
With my mid-to-late game stats, I wasn't about to lose to Kudan.
If 100 is the cap,
Kudan's around 10 right now, while I'm already pushing 70.
Mid-game goal: max all stats.
Once we'd worked up a good sweat, Kudan sheathed his gear.
"Whew, I lose. You're the real deal, Rubelt."
"I'm the future head of the Eldra family, after all."
I stowed my weapons in Hepai and offered Kudan a hand.
"Good spar, Kudan."
"Same here. Thanks, Rubelt."
As we shook hands amicably,
Crackle!
"Not bad at all! Try this! Pure Lightning Barrage!"
"Like a rabid dog in battle. Excel Slash."
Clangclangclang!
On the adjacent arena, Chisaki and Rize were still going at it fiercely.
"...Should we stop them?"
"Nah, Rize knows her limits. She'll end it nicely even against Chisaki. Honestly, those two are fine... It's that pair over there I'm worried about."
I glanced at one of the training hall's arenas.
Roar!
Crackle!
"Huff! Huff! Why not surrender? Losing to number one idol Aika isn't embarrassing at all!"
"Hah! Hah! Cut the bullshit! Number one's the mature me, not some airhead like you!"
"Heh! Mature? Even a stray dog would laugh!"
"Still doing third-person cutesy at 20? Lame much?"
""...""
Roar!
Crackle!
The two idols, fueled by election grudges and mutual bad blood, were on the verge of exploding, glaring murderously.
""Raaah!""
Tatattang!
Chingchingching!
They screamed and charged like wild things—though even they held back from outright "die you bitch" yells unfit for idols, with bystanders watching.
No other cadets dared intervene in their vicious clash.
"..."
Instructor Dias watched silently, ready to bellow if things escalated further.
"Way more intense than on TV."
"You watch idol shows?"
"Just caught them on a talk show once. Figured it'd be cool having idols in class since they sing well... Ugh..."
Seeing them go from bubbly smiles to death stares must feel off.
Anyway, time to break it up.
"Number 5."
My wand appeared in hand for casting.
"Rubelt? What're you doing?"
"What else? Stopping those two first."
"Jumping in might backfire..."
"A normie would get shredded by glares, sure. But not me. Watch."
Using my mana awakener physique, I leaped straight onto Aika and Anastasia's arena mid-clash.
"Protect."
As I landed, a hemispherical barrier bloomed in the center, halting their charges.
"How about we call it there? You're both too worked up."
"You..."
"Rubelt Eldra..."
I drew the icy stares of the popular idols, doused mid-fight.
"Aika hates rude guys butting into her spars~."
"Mind stepping aside? I'm just sparring with Aika."
"This a spar? You're seconds from ultimates. Want Dias chewing you out like Chisaki?"
"Aika knows the line~ Now move? Aika needs to melt this ice queen with warmth~."
"No need to worry. Remove this barrier now. I need to instill some chill in that candle girl."
They made no secret they'd lunge the instant the barrier dropped.
"Sigh. So immature. Didn't want to go this far..."
Without dropping Protect, I pulled out my phone and messaged their agencies.
"Hurry up and drop it already~ Aika's getting mad~."
"Why pull out your phone? Quit messing around and—"
~♪
""Huh?""
Both their pockets chimed—their own theme songs as ringtones.
"Ugh, why now."
"The boss too..."
They answered simultaneously.
"Hello? Boss! I'm at the academy, why call?!"
"Boss, I said hold non-emergency calls while I'm here..."
Already pissed at the interrupted spar, their faces hardened at the agency heads' calls.
"Yes, boss? What're you talking about?"
"How'd you know I'm sparring with Aika..."
""What!?""
They whipped toward me in shock.
Right on time.
I dropped Protect, and they slunk over cautiously.
"Um... Lord Rubelt? Boss wants to talk to you..."
"H-Here, take the call, Lord Rubelt."
I took both phones and spoke.
"Thanks for the cooperation."
[Oh come on! No need! I'll chew out Aika good!]
[Same here, Lord Rubelt! Anastasia too! You're academy mates—gotta get along! Right?!]
[[Please keep supporting our agencies!]]
"Hahaha, naturally. I have high hopes for you all. No issues so far. Long as you two don't fight at the academy. Harmony is key, no?"
[[Wise words!]]
The heads of their massive entertainment agencies groveled to me.
Even the two hailed as "Variety Kings" in showbiz bowed low.
Why?
I'm their biggest shareholder and sponsor.