Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: 1st Grade Class (3)
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“Now that the teams are set, you should get a feel for working together. I'll watch from a distance, so just do whatever. If it's awkward, even self-introductions will do.”
Right after the teams were formed, Roel followed Professor Cigarette's guidance to the dedicated training ground.
“...Get a feel for working together?”
It was such a simple instruction that she had no idea what to do instead.
Roel glanced at her teammates while thinking things like, '1st Grade, is this really okay?'
“D-don't look over here!”
“Yawn...”
The esteemed young lady who wouldn't even meet her eyes.
The mysterious woman who had brought a pillow all the way here.
And the 5th Grader who had been inexplicably dragged into the 1st Grade classroom.
That was the current state of this team.
“Professor, I have a question.”
One male cadet shot his hand up.
“Cadet Evan, what's your question?”
The cadet named Evan adjusted his glasses and paused for a moment.
Then he got to the point.
“We all came here to become Heroes. We don't want to waste even a single day, but do we really have to do something useless like self-introductions?”
Professor Cigarette stared fixedly at Evan.
She let out a big sigh, then answered as if it were a hassle.
“Good point. It must be frustrating to be in the 1st Grade class and be told to do self-introductions.”
Professor Cigarette began looking around.
Like she was searching for a suitable test subject, she carefully deliberated before selecting one cadet.
“Cadet Sera. Come here for a moment.”
Sera stepped forward with a dazed expression.
Her strides were confident, full of her characteristic assurance.
The moment she reached right in front of Professor Cigarette.
Whoosh.
Professor Cigarette raised her fingertips and thrust toward Sera's face.
“...?”
Sera tilted her head slightly to dodge. It looked effortless, as if it hadn't been difficult at all.
“Sorry about that. You can go back now.”
Sera, still looking dazed, returned to her spot without a word.
With that, Professor Cigarette's sharp eyes scanned the cadets one by one.
“You are all here as 1st Grade Blessed Ones. Swordsmanship? How to use your strength? You already know all that well enough. Of course you do. The Academy doesn't assign grades lightly.”
Roel, who didn't know much yet, felt like objecting but held back.
“Of course, that doesn't mean I'm just going to sit back. All your training will be under my supervision. I'll observe and record everything. If I see any deficiencies, I'll provide personal guidance then, so don't rush me.”
Her educational philosophy was clear.
Hands-off oversight that only set the broad framework. A pretty irresponsible declaration that she wouldn't intervene deeply until necessary.
“So, for the time being, we'll focus on practical mock training. Any complaints?”
Evan raised his hand again.
“None, so we'll continue. Get to know your teammates.”
Evan quietly lowered his hand after his opinion was ignored.
Roel watched the scene quietly, then turned her gaze back to her teammates.
“Um, how about we at least do self-introductions...”
It was a cautious suggestion.
Though she'd ended up in the 1st Grade classroom by chance, Roel's evaluation was generously 5th Grade at best.
It was obvious she'd be in deep trouble if she upset these monsters in front of her.
Of course, no one responded.
Sera was busy avoiding eye contact, and the pillow girl was trying to sleep standing up.
“Um, hello...”
She felt like crying.
Roel began desperately searching for another way.
She was solely focused on somehow making this 'teamwork' happen.
“Self-introductions...”
“Yes! Self-introductions!”
Fortunately, before Roel could think of another option, the pillow girl reacted.
Her characteristically drowsy gaze turned toward Roel.
“How about we clash swords instead?”
“Pardon?”
What?
This sudden proposal?
“W-what did you say? I'm not sure I heard right.”
“Just what I said. Swordsmen learn more by clashing directly... Mm.”
The pillow girl trailed off.
It wasn't a lack of confidence so much as the hassle of speaking itself.
Roel couldn't understand why someone like this would suggest a direct spar.
Was this more comfortable for her than talking?
“Not a bad idea. We need to sort out the pecking order anyway. Who's going first?”
Sera suddenly jumped into the conversation.
Roel thought maybe eye contact was okay now, but Sera's head was turned exactly 120 degrees away from her.
The pillow girl blinked slowly before replying.
“You don't have to.”
“...What? Why not?”
“Why? Sparring with you would be pointless.”
A shocking statement.
Roel doubted if she'd heard correctly.
Didn't she know what would happen if she said that to Sera?
'Of course not, that's why she's saying it!'
With bated breath, she looked at Sera again.
Yeah, it might turn out okay surprisingly.
Sera wasn't that much of a brute...
“Ah.”
As if mocking Roel's forced optimism.
Sera grinned ferociously, forgetting to even turn her head away.
“Hey, pick up a sword.”
“Eeeh... Didn't you hear me? It's pointless with you.”
“I'll be the judge of that.”
Sera grabbed two wooden swords and handed one to the pillow girl.
Roel could feel the surrounding gazes focusing on the ominous atmosphere.
This wasn't good. If they fought on the first day, team harmony would be ruined for sure.
“I don't wanna...”
“If you don't, I'll assume you're scared.”
“Then go with that.”
Sera looked exasperated.
“What are you...”
“But listen.”
The pillow girl stifled a yawn as she spoke.
“You're already proven.”
“Hm?”
“What's the point of me fighting the 5th place?”
“...Hm.”
“Makes sense.”
Sera was convinced.
She nodded repeatedly with her arms crossed, clearly pleased with the pillow girl's response.
“But remember this. If I'd wanted to, I could've taken 1st place easy.”
“Got it. I'll take this then.”
“Do whatever!”
The pillow girl took the wooden sword Sera had brought.
Then she approached Roel and handed one over.
“Here, Roel.”
“...For real?”
“Yeah. This is quickest.”
Roel accepted the wooden sword with trembling hands.
The pillow girl stepped back three paces and raised her sword.
“My name is Laila. I'm curious about you, Roel.”
“Ooh... This is getting exciting.”
I watched the scene of Laila handing over the sword.
And I was desperately craving some chicken and beer right now.
Laila Bellakshi.
Even I, who'd only read about ten chapters, knew that name.
I remembered her being mentioned several times with the descriptor 'lazybones'... And sure enough, it suited her face perfectly.
[“Then, shall we begin?”]
Even though she'd suggested the duel first, her drowsy expression didn't change.
It wasn't just her face; she really seemed sleepy, which made her even more enigmatic.
This was it, right?
The lazy genius cliché.
The slacker who sleeps all day is actually ridiculously strong.
My heart was pounding.
[“...Got it.”]
Roel gripped her sword tightly.
I cheered inwardly and moved the mouse.
I wanted to see this scene up close.
Tension hung between the two.
More precisely, only Roel was tense.
No special signal was needed.
The moment the bead of sweat on Roel's chin hit the ground.
Both women charged at each other simultaneously.
A downward overhead strike. Roel seized the initiative with a powerful sword stroke.
Thwack!
A dull sound rang out.
Laila lightly deflected the sword.
Without stopping at defense, Laila prepared her next move.
A horizontal slash aimed at Roel's neck. Just before it hit, Laila halted her sword.
[“...Roel, are you not going to fight seriously?”]
It was a single line full of disappointment.
Roel didn't respond.
...No, she couldn't.
I could see strength entering the hand gripping the wooden sword.
That was 'frustration'.
“Hmm...”
It was because of me that Roel had entered the 1st Grade class, but that didn't mean she'd grown.
To quote Sera, she was still 'below standard'.
I pondered for a moment.
What to do.
Honestly, I thought it was too early to use this method.
According to the original plan, I intended to use it only after Roel had grown a bit more 'on her own'.
But if Roel got dismissed like this...
That would put me in a bad mood.
In the end, I turned on the mic and spoke.
“Roel, want some help?”
Roel, who had been gritting her teeth with a frustrated expression.
Her face relaxed for a moment.
But her response was unexpected.
[“...No.”]
A clear refusal.
I asked again in a slightly flustered voice.
“You need it, right?”
[“Still no. Who knows what you'd do with my body again?”]
Ah, that was the issue.
“Then I promise not to take over your body.”
[“...For real?”]
“Of course. I don't lie.”
[“Still no. Even if I lose, I have to do it with my own strength.”]
A resolute answer.
Though it wasn't the response I wanted, I felt deep satisfaction.
That's how a protagonist should be...
[“Here I go.”]
Roel signaled to Laila.
Boom!
Roel kicked off the ground hard and charged at high speed.
Cleaving the surrounding air, she advanced fiercely toward her target.
The two women's swords finally clashed properly.
[“Ngh...”]
Well, maybe this was better.
Helping Roel too much wasn't what the 'author' wanted.
The path where annoyances befall the protagonist but lead to growth.
That was my sole goal, and the method was stuffing in 'non-consensual experience points'.
Thwack!
Thwack!
The wooden swords clashed several more times.
Roel must have realized it by now.
That she could keep up only because Laila was matching her level.
I started typing on the keyboard.
It required a fairly complex command.
No possession at all—just using the keyboard to manipulate 'mana'.
I maximized my concentration and waited for the right moment.
[“Haaah!!”]
The optimal timing was sometimes the obvious one.
Like now, as Roel prepared her all-out strike.
Roel's sword moved swiftly.
Meanwhile, Laila prepared to defend with a bored expression.
At the same time, I hit enter.
[“...!”]
Laila, sensing something, turned serious in an instant.
She drew up mana, converted it to aura, and protected her body as best she could.
But I was confident.
The strike Roel was about to unleash would pierce that level of defense easily.
Due to external manipulation, Roel's mana began surging.
Roel sensed the anomaly too, but it was too late to stop her sword.
[Roel Griffith uses Cleave.]
Kwaaaaa!!
The Cleave she'd shown in her previous duel with Sera. Though much inferior to that one, it was still devastatingly powerful.
Blue light poured out in a range that could easily engulf a person.
[“Crazy...”]
[“What the hell was that?”]
Amazed exclamations rose from all around.
[“...Huh?”]
Even Roel, the protagonist of the incident, wasn't much different.
The dust slowly settled.
There sat Laila on the ground, dazed.
[“Cadet Roel, have you lost your mind...?”]
Professor Cigarette, who had blocked the Cleave instead, stood there with an incredulous face.
[You have acted very appropriately for your role.]
[Additional points have been accrued.]
[Bonus has been awarded.]
[+5000p]
[Remaining Points: 5850p]
I looked at the flood of notifications and said to Roel.
“Remember that sensation well.”