Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Protagonist (1)
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The club room was quiet.
Under the brightly lit lights, exactly five pairs of eyes turned toward me.
"Has everyone arrived now?"
It was the crown prince—no, Idrain's words.
I leaned against the wall and stood there. Creena hadn't told me what we did on the designated day.
Idrain glanced at me before opening his mouth.
"For starters, let's do simple introductions. As you know, I'm Idrain."
"We met at the clothing store, right? I'm Bell."
"Creena."
"Just call me Iridun!"
"Cr—Creviton."
After hearing all five names, I gave mine as well.
"I'm Deron Phillasia."
The club members' gazes lingered on my lips for a moment before fading away.
Idrain stepped forward slightly and spoke to me.
"Since it's your first time, you probably haven't heard the explanation, so let me fill you in. We only operate during breaks."
"During breaks... you say?"
"Yeah. Well, it's just group raids on permitted dungeons, nothing more."
The entire club raids dungeons together.
Officially, first-years can't enter dungeons, but that changes with seniors around.
With them acting as guardians, it opens a path into the dungeons.
No need to sneak in like with Lenoc's Cave.
"We have to do at least that much to keep the club going."
Bell chimed in.
Even as the crown prince, he couldn't just slack off indefinitely.
The club needed achievements and rewards to justify its existence.
Professors wouldn't tolerate a class that existed solely for lounging.
"This time, we've got permission for two dungeons. One of them is intermediate-level."
"That's pretty ambitious?"
"We've had solid results so far. The professor must've bumped up our rating."
Creena answered Iridun's question.
I hadn't even considered an intermediate dungeon.
Not that it was a bad thing. If we could clear it, it'd be prime real-combat experience.
'The academy itself uses a couple dungeons for practical training.'
As shown in the original story, mid-level dungeons were a huge help.
Adapting early to monster killing intent and the dungeons' unique ecosystems was always better.
Of course, non-combat students had the right to opt out.
No need for them to toughen up in places like that.
In the end, it was rookies hungry for battle experience who went in.
Those with raw power but no clue how to wield it.
Getting early access to dungeons was a massive perk.
Other clubs dipped in occasionally, but none hit them every break like this.
Dungeons were limited, and demand overflowed.
No wonder the saying went: "First-come, first-served for newbie parties."
"First-years haven't started ranking battles yet, right?"
"Yes."
"Yes...."
I nodded at Idrain's question.
"If we're thinking post-ranking battle... we should hold off on the intermediate one."
"Hit the beginner dungeon first?"
"Yeah. Clearing an intermediate as first-years is valuable experience."
True enough, we couldn't dive straight into dungeons after ranking battles.
We could if forced, but after dumping everything into rankings, normal movement would be impossible.
That was why Idrain was pushing the intermediate back.
He also seemed confident four of them could clear a beginner dungeon.
"I'll let you know the exact dates later. First-years, focus on exams and rankings for now."
The club members wrapped up quicker than expected.
Idrain stuck to dungeon schedules, no small talk.
No one opposed the leader, either.
It felt more like a briefing than a meeting.
But as I headed for the door, someone tugged at me.
Looking back, it was Creviton.
His hand trembled as he grabbed mine.
I looked down at Creviton. He was a bit shorter than me.
'Where do I know him from?'
I hadn't placed him at first glance, but I'd definitely seen him before.
Trembling like that while saying something...
Ah.
The Morax subjugation battle.
The student who'd yelled at Professor Ardin that it was no different from betting on who died first.
Now that I looked closely, it clicked.
"What."
I held no particular grudge against him.
Anyone would've reacted that way to an upper demon descending right in front of them.
That said, a hint of irritation crept into my voice.
I didn't hate the guy, but I couldn't exactly like him either.
He hadn't joined the fight, even if it was unavoidable.
"Th-that... I'm really sorry about the demon subjugation!"
"...?"
Creviton suddenly raised his voice and bowed his head.
I gave him a puzzled look and asked.
"Out of nowhere?"
"Just... felt like I had to."
He answered without lifting his head.
Weird guy. No one had even brought it up.
The Morax subjugation had become a virtual taboo among first-years, regardless of side.
Shame and embarrassment for those who'd bailed, trauma for those who'd fought.
And it instilled fear of demons across the board.
'Honestly thought everyone would just hush it up and move on.'
It could've blown over quietly.
No one had died, after all.
But Creviton apologized to me.
Sorry for sitting out the subjugation. He atoned with those words.
"Kuh."
I liked the look of him.
I smiled.
"How long you planning to stay bowed? Head up."
"You're... accepting my apology?"
"What apology? You didn't do anything that bad."
Just having the thought was commendable.
A name worth remembering, all around. Creviton.
I patted his shoulder and left the corridor.
**
"Spar."
"What?"
"Spar with me."
What kind of nonsense was this?
I stared at Lee Han in disbelief.
He'd come straight to me the moment we stepped into the hall.
How he knew my location, no idea.
But out of nowhere, he asks for a spar.
"I'm an invalid, remember? You know that much."
I raised the cane I'd been leaning on.
Though I'd mostly recovered by now.
Seeing the cane, Lee Han grimaced and backed off.
What wind was blowing to make him ask me for a spar?
When I voiced the question, he brought up Agnes.
"Agnes exploded in growth after sparring with you."
"Hm."
"I want to spar with you too."
That was the reason?
I stroked my chin and eyed Lee Han.
Agnes had improved, sure.
But that wasn't because of my sparring. She was just a genius.
Of course, Lenoc's Cave and the Morax subjugation had helped.
And now that Absolute Shadow had spotted her swordmage talent, it was aiding her too.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"Then to the training grou—"
"But just once. And no mana."
Lee Han's eyes went wide.
My conditions must've caught him off guard.
"No mana?"
"That's right."
He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.
I could guess his worries.
"Don't fret. My body's not so fragile it'll collapse from one spar."
"......Really?"
"Yeah."
He thought way too little of my constitution.
Wait, was it that frail?
Well, terminally ill qualified.
Still, after chugging all those elixirs, a spar wouldn't take me down.
Vomiting blood had tapered off a lot lately.
No more burning lungs or headaches, either.
It was like my body was adapting to the environment.
So yeah, I could enjoy some normal academy life.
**
Lee Han led me to a smaller training ground.
This out-of-the-way spot was one he frequented.
Whenever he wanted to spar someone, he always dragged them here.
Odd habit. I had no clue why.
"Say when you're ready."
In the center of the grounds, Lee Han stood gripping his sword.
Mid-guard. The foundational stance.
His upright form resembled an ancient tree rooted in place for ages.
How much time had he poured into holding that posture?
'What do you think?'
[Insane. Both you and him.]
Arxius whistled in amazement.
Original protagonist—had to be that level.
[Doesn't even look like he's lived twenty years, and he's got that stance? Monster. Absolute monster. Takes decades of sword-only focus minimum for something like that.]
In truth, Lee Han had focused on the sword for decades.
He swung it even without holding one.
The unique ability of a hero and protagonist.
His time flowed differently from ours. He could splinter a single second into decades.
'Training chamber.'
Whenever Lee Han needed thinking time, he dove into that chamber.
Repeating the same stance endlessly in empty space.
No wonder he had the ideal swordsman's form.
I propped my cane against the wall and stepped into the grounds.
Facing the original protagonist head-on, his presence crashed over me like a wave.
The unyielding emotion weathered through dozens, hundreds of years' worth of time—yet never broken.
And the effort that sustained it.
It stood before my eyes now, beyond mere words on a page.
I clenched my fist tight. Gave my feet a light shake.
Strength surged instinctively. Even without mana, it circulated through my body.
To sustain itself, my talent sought the optimal posture.
And optimal meant fundamental.
I twisted my body slightly and thrust out my right fist.
"Come at me."
I unfurled my fist and beckoned with my fingers.
Spars always kicked off with a little provocation.
And I fully intended to beat Lee Han.
Heroes always grew through defeat and trials, after all.