Freshman Evaluation: Top of Arcadia's 1st Year - Dante Vergilius
The title that makes your shoulders rise with pride just from hearing it. I'd only imagined it for ten years, but to think I'd actually claim it.
"Phew... I'm beat."
Right after the freshman evaluation exam ended, I was soaking in the dorm's bath. No matter how fast my body recovered, my mind needed a break too. I'd been prepping non-stop without a single day off.
"Hmmm~ The facilities are insanely good, huh?"
"Right? It's the national academy, after all. Gotta be at this level."
Lilia was also soaking in the bath in her spiritualized form. Even a slight glance revealed hints of pink skin, but I decided to ignore it. I didn't have the energy for that right now.
Still, all that hard work paid off.
I stared blankly at the ceiling, recalling the prize money I'd won. Combined with my existing scholarship, it was more than enough to cover four years at the academy. And since top students like me got tuition waived anyway, it felt like even more cash in hand.
"Master, I really thought you were gonna lose at the end there."
"Oh? That moment?"
She must mean the finals against Luel.
"Well... I was kinda holding back a bit."
"Still, she had you on the ropes. I was freaking out."
"It was a close call. She fought better than I expected."
In the original story, Luel would lose to Belloa by the slimmest margin, using it as a springboard for growth in a classic hero arc. But this time, I crushed her with overwhelming dominance, no drama needed.
Though she was shocked when I briefly used the stigmata.
The light stigmata, granted only to the protagonist hero. No amount of talent could replicate that. It was the sole key to beating the final boss.
"But I won, didn't I? I told you from the start I'd win... Doubting your master like that."
"Ah, ack! S-sorryyy!"
I let out a smirk and lightly pinched Lilia's cheek. It stretched soft and chewy like rice cake. Hard to believe she was a demon at times like this.
"Uwaaaah!! My cheeeek!!"
Weekend started tomorrow, so I was gonna crash hard this week.
My routine lately was pretty simple. Wake up, exercise, go to school, exercise after classes, eat, train some more. A brutal schedule laser-focused on power gains... but after nearly three weeks, it felt manageable.
Though doing this on weekends too? Debatable.
6 AM weekend morning. I was in the gym, hoisting dumbbells as usual.
"Huff...! Won't you try my handmade white gourd protein?"
"...Thanks, but I've got my own."
I brushed off the familiar pitch and refocused.
Heavenly Martial Body assists your training.
The dizzying rush hit every time I pushed my body, stats climbing in real-time. Seeing myself grow stronger made it impossible to stop.
Maybe crank up the intensity today?
As I finished a set and wiped sweat with a towel.
"Um..."
Someone tapped my shoulder from behind.
"Need a spotter?"
I turned naturally, and my eyes met a familiar yet unfamiliar face.
"...Luel?"
Blonde ponytail, matching light green eyes. The protagonist herself, frozen in tension as she looked at me.
"Y-yeah."
"What're you doing here?"
"Came to work out."
Her matter-of-fact reply didn't compute.
"...Aren't you in Libra Hall?"
"How'd you know?"
"Figured."
The academy had multiple dorms, split by gender then by grades. Luel, as I recalled, was in the top women's dorm—Libra Hall.
"But why...? You have your own gym."
This was the men's dorm. Women could use it, but none did.
"Figured I'd have to come here to find you..."
"...Me?"
Why seek me out? Still sore about the finals and want a rematch? I wouldn't mind.
"Yeah. Got a favor to ask."
"What?"
"Could you... train me?"
"............Huh?"
Did I hear that right? The knight department top asking the magic department top for training?
Luel, come on. What?
"Can't you ask a senior in the knight department?"
"No... I wanna learn from you."
She glanced at my face, cheeks flushing as she looked away. Sweat smell? Nah.
Damn, an unexpected hassle shows up.
Was it my performance in the finals?
"I'm a magic major."
"I know. But you handle your body better than me."
Made some sense. I was stronger than her right now.
Still annoying...
I'm dying training solo—now help someone else?
"I'll pay 100 ar."
"...Huh?"
100 ar—one-third of my scholarship. No small sum for a student.
"N-no..."
"150 ar."
"......Deal."
Money fixed everything. My mouth said yes before my brain caught up.
"Alright. You want me to bulk you up, right?"
"First, teach me how to move. Bonus if it builds muscle."
"Got it. Easy."
I only trained myself obsessively now, but as a transmigrator, I knew the perfect regimen for the protagonist's body.
"Trainee Luel."
".........Huh?"
"Your instructor can be a devil or an angel, depending on you."
"Instructor...?"
"Replies are 'Sir!!!' Got it?"
"........."
I bellowed at the dazed Luel.
"'Sir!!!' Got it!?"
"S-Sir!!!"
Training Luel got added to my routine unexpectedly, but it wasn't bad.
Personally raising the hero who'll save the world? Hell yeah.
I'm overseeing her spec-ups now. Not just boss-killing level—I'll make her skip town.
"M-Master? Slept in, and this is the situation?"
"What situation? Training, obviously."
"Not torture... training?"
Demons think dark. It was clearly training.
"H-heek...! I'm dying!!!"
"No, you can do more. Two more reps."
"Y-you said that last time too!!!"
Luel forcibly hoisting what looked impossible. A grin crept on my face unbidden. Normally impossible, but with that effort, doable.
Miracle's Manifestation amplifies your divinity.
And with the instructor restoring her muscles midway? Piece of cake.
"Luel, you're a swordmaster."
"R-right!?"
"Arms and legs are a swordsman's heart. Don't give up."
"A-aaaah!!!!"
Tears welled in Luel's eyes. Her ragged breaths screamed limit, but not yet.
Insight confirms the divine power's effects.
Whirrrrrrr!!!
Faint divine power leaked from Luel's body. It slowly settled inward.
"M-Master. Divine power's..."
"I see it."
That's why I pushed her this hard. Her light stigmata grants power fitting the trial—and helps overcome it. It saw her "dying" state as a trial worth conquering. Kinda was one, really.
"Alright, stop."
"Hek... heeeek."
Luel dropped the bar and collapsed. She stared at me with unfocused eyes, wiping sweat.
"Whoa... more succubus than me. Divine holder okay like that?"
"Ahem..."
"D-Danteee. Thought I was gonna die..."
A bit seductive, but instructors don't react. I'd endured a 24/7 succubus (denies it) already.
"Hek. Thought I was dead."
"Didn't die."
"...You got no friends."
"Ahem. I do?"
I lied at her jab and turned away. Not no friends. Just hadn't made any.
"Thanks anyway. Feels like real training."
She smiled softly at me. Heroic beauty nearly tempted me, but...
"What're you saying? We're not done."
"............Huh?"
"Just one hour in. Three more to go."
"...For real?"
I nodded at her question. Not because her "no friends" line irked me—no sir.