Forged in Magic Beatings and Freefall Fury
After I silenced the Crown Prince during the year-level showdown, training proceeded without a hitch. The magic department students practiced casting spells under Veronica's command, while the rest got pummeled by me alongside the martial arts department kids.
...What do you mean, "what's that sound"?
"Gaaahhh!"
"Hold on! Hold the line...!"
"Hahaha! Your muscles are getting even tougher...! You think you can make it if you can't even endure this!? Kraahaha!"
"Zeke...! It's because you're built like a tank!"
They were getting absolutely wrecked by my magic as a preview of the second-years' barrage.
'Gotta get used to it early.'
The role of the non-magic students, centered around the martial arts department, was to break through the onslaught and smash into the enemy lines. To do that, they couldn't drop before reaching the target. Which meant getting accustomed to magic attacks was key—and who better for that than me?
...Sure, what I used wasn't exactly magic but Jujutsu... but to these meathead swordsmen and muscle-brains, magic and Jujutsu looked the same.
And so, the scene unfolded: me standing there casually flicking out spells, while the close-combat students screamed as they ate magic blasts.
"Hahaha! Pour it on, Chief!"
"Nooo...! Zeke, don't drag us down with you!"
'Zeke's holding up the best, as expected.'
Oh, and for reference, Zeke was the barbarian-looking guy from the martial arts department.
'Zeke's surprisingly from the Empire's south, despite that look.'
Hell, I thought he was from beyond the Empire's northern border, some barbarian tribe scrapping with the Northern Grand Duke. But nope—Empire south. That was a fresh shock.
Anyway.
'Zeke just gives off good vibes.'
Unlike those romance-fantasy pretty boys who looked like they'd hide behind a girl, Zeke seemed like he'd pull his weight no matter where you threw him. Gut feeling.
"Umhahaha! Harder! More! Blast me with your magic, Chief! Hahaha!"
...Scratch that. That masochist psycho was definitely pulling more than his weight.
I was dialing back the Jujutsu power since I wasn't trying to kill anyone, but tanking it head-on and enjoying the pain? Way beyond expectations.
Especially when the other students were already rolling on the ground.
Aren watched the pain-enjoying Zeke for a bit, then quietly called over Veronica and the other magic students.
And then.
Whisper whisper—
"...For real?"
"Yeah. We're practicing anyway—might as well make it efficient."
"......"
Nod.
Soon, Veronica's group joined in, blasting me with magic.
It was basically a one-sided gang-up, but...
"Kyahaha! You barbaric sword-swine! Die! Die already!"
"Today's the day I repay all that humiliation...!"
"Ehehehe!"
...What the hell? Got a grudge or something?
The magic students pouring out spells looked way too into it.
'...Whatever, it's fine.'
...Training efficiency's up. Good deal.
"......"
Anyway, the training was super efficient and successful. Sure, it looked more like one-sided bullying than actual training... but hey, tempering, right? Our first-year vanguard was definitely tougher for it.
Mm-hmm.
…
"Chief! When are we practicing that aerial assault thing?"
After the tempering session, while the other students lay exhausted, Zeke—still looking pretty fresh—ambled over. His skin gleamed with an unnatural sheen, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Hmm..."
Aerial assault, huh. Yeah, we needed to do that...
'Who to assign it to?'
Zeke was a lock. Who else could handle it? Might as well have students who could sync with him do the drops...
"Zeke, can you pick out about three students tough enough to survive slamming into the ground from mid-air?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. They're gonna drop with you, so you pick 'em yourself."
Oh, and I mentioned it'd be brutally tough.
Zeke's eyes sparkled as he scanned the students. The romance-fantasy boys and others avoided his gaze like the plague. They were already beat—didn't want more pain. They weren't masochists like Zeke(?).
After a tense staring contest, Zeke named his three...
"You three sword-swine! You're with me!"
The romance-lead trio.
"Oh."
He picked the total opposites of himself.
'One barbarian and three pretty boys...'
Aren thought they clashed visually. Not exactly Beauty and the Beast...
...Wait.
'Actually, maybe they fit?'
In a romance-fantasy setup? Kinda worked. The Empire's big three, and the barbarian invading it. Just needed the barbarian to kidnap the heroine and it'd be perfect...
'Hmm.'
Meanwhile, the tagged trio scowled (Ferris excepted).
"...Why us?"
"......I don't wanna."
"Me neither."
Crown Prince, Jethua, Darsen, in order.
"Umhahaha! Because you held up the best! Gotta do the toughest stuff with me, obviously!"
"......"
The Crown Prince glared daggers at Zeke and me with his eyes. But soon, he reconsidered.
'...Wait. Tough job means standing out, right?'
'Could catch Adelia's eye. And if what Aren said is true, we'll get spirit help for the aerial assault...'
'Play it right, and I could stick close to Adelia.'
Crisis into opportunity. The Crown Prince's mind raced.
But he overlooked one thing: Jethua and Darsen thought the exact same.
The trio's vibe shifted subtly from reluctance.
And so, the aerial assault training kicked off, more or less.
Except.
"…………"
Contrary to their expectations, Adelia was helping Zeke.
'...This wasn't in the plan.'
The Crown Prince felt a pang of regret.
Adelia, oblivious or not, smiled kindly while chatting with Zeke and me.
"Asking a spirit to carry you? Hmm... Yeah, that should work."
She summoned one—not the holy spirit Lacia I'd seen before, but an elemental resembling a wyvern. Lacia wasn't suited for carrying people, and her uniqueness would draw too much attention anyway.
Thus, all four got their spirits assigned and took to the skies.
"O, oooh...!"
Zeke, riding the wyvern-like spirit, let out an exclamation of awe.
"This body of mine is flying through the sky...! Uhahaha!"
The romance trio, meanwhile, looked grim as death.
"......"
".........Sigh."
".........Kinda scary."
Last one was the Sword Saint's Disciple, Darsen. Seemed he had a fear of heights.
But true aces—er, true warriors—conquer their fears.
I gave the heartless order to jump.
"Now, reinforce your bodies with mana and slam into the ground."
"......?"
"...Slam into the ground?"
"Yes."
Just body-slam the earth. A mana-reinforced warrior plummeting with massive momentum was a living wrecking ball.
As the reluctant trio hesitated, I flew up alongside and shoved them off.
"Huh?"
"Uwaaaah!"
"…………"
The three hurtled toward the ground with a roar.
Land intact, stand up swinging swords, and training's done.
"Zeke, you jumping or what?"
"Hm? Ah, yeah! Got so caught up admiring the pretty boys' plunge!"
Zeke laughed heartily and leaped.
His laughter faded in an instant.
And then.
—BOOM!!
Confirming the massive impact from below, I smiled in satisfaction.
'Ten more reps should do it.'
Rumors of the first-year alliance rep team's training spread through the Academy.
Mostly weird tales of people dropping from the sky...
"Bullshit."
"No, I saw it!"
"This guy's lying again."
Nobody bought it. Makes sense—no one here knew the concept of aerial assault, jumping from the heavens.
Students dismissed it as ghost stories. And as the rumors ballooned—
"...It's been a while since the Academy."
Nobles invited to observe gathered, and the inter-year tournament began.