23. Training Preparation
While returning to the inn with Tia, I checked the abilities I had gained this time through Incubus Bond.
▶Incubus Bond
You share abilities with a partner with whom you have completed sexual activity.
Select up to your Proficiency Bonus (2) of your partner's abilities.
Select up to half your Proficiency Bonus (1) of your own abilities.
Some abilities are divided into multiple options.
Selected abilities are shared mutually.
Select one ability score in which your score is lower than your partner's.
That ability score rises by your Proficiency Bonus (2), up to your partner's score.
Select one ability score in which your partner's score is lower than yours.
That ability score rises by your partner's Proficiency Bonus, up to your score.
You may release this sharing at any time.
The ability I shared from among my own abilities was Incubus Gaze. The partner who received it cannot look into status windows or anything like that, but gains 54m of darkvision.
And the ability I received from Lee Se-rin was,
［Grace］Swordmaster
▶Master of the Sword
Damage you deal using a sword is always maximized.
▶Sword's Limit
You choose one type of sword.
Depending on the chosen sword type, you gain the following benefits.
●Longsword
When you use a longsword, it gains the finesse property.
When you wield a longsword with two hands, you gain a +2 bonus to your Armor Class.
A miracle-like Grace that makes the result always 15 when the damage range is 6-15.
Since the sword I was currently using was a longsword, I chose longsword as the sword type.
As a result of experimenting with Eira, abilities with options can be re-selected each time they are shared, so even if I end up using a different weapon, I can change it if I get the chance.
The most powerful ability I received from Lee Se-rin was the Perk, but the other ability was also considerable.
［Feature］Action Surge
When you move, you can perform one additional action, excluding magical actions.
Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again until you finish a short rest or a long rest.
An action refers to movement using the Primary Mana Circuit. In other words, even after unleashing a strike packed with mana or casting a powerful spell, I could move one more time.
Unfortunately, Action Surge cannot be used to cast spells, so rapid-firing True Strike is impossible, but I can now follow up a True Strike with an ordinary slash at least.
What I liked most of all was that it was an ability that recovered with a short rest. For me, who can gain the effects of a short rest through sexual contact alone, it practically meant I could use it about once per battle.
Meanwhile, the ability I received from Yu-na was,
［Grace］Archmage
Requirement: Spellcasting ability
▶Spell Modification
You gain Spell Points equal to your spellcasting ability score.
By spending 1 Spell Point, you can make the following modifications.
●Damage Modification
When you cast a spell that deals damage, you can use a secondary action to change the damage type to the damage type of another spell you have prepared.
●Saving Throw Modification
When you cast a spell that requires a saving throw, you can change the saving throw to the saving throw of another spell you have prepared.
You recover 1 Spell Point when you finish a short rest, and recover all Spell Points when you finish a long rest.
▶Spell Empowerment
When you cast a spell, you can empower the spell by expending spell uses.
●1st circle
Damage dealt by your spell increases by 1-10.
●2nd circle
Your spell's range is tripled.
It was an ability that twisted spells in irregular ways.
An ability that overturned spells from their very source—making quick monsters roll Constitution saves, making tough monsters roll Dexterity saves, and so on.
Element conversion is possible with the Sorcerer's Metamagic anyway, but is it really okay for an ability like this to exist? I wondered.
The other ability I received besides this was
［Feature］Arcane Recovery
When you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spells to recover.
The combined total of recovered spell-use levels cannot exceed half your level, and spells of 6th level or higher cannot be included.
After using this ability, you cannot use it again until you finish a long rest.
An ability that allows spell recovery during a short rest. Again, for me, for whom short rests are easy, it was a powerful effect.
Originally it required Wizard level rather than just level, but when shared, it was converted to just level.
Having obtained abilities that made me even stronger, I returned to the inn where I was staying with Tia.
"Do-hyeon. Wasn't there only supposed to be one woman receiving the drug?"
Tia came right up to me, sniffed at my body, and immediately drove in the knife.
"It just turned out that way."
"It just turned out that you ended up sharing a bed together?"
"The other person confessed to me, what was I supposed to do."
At those words, Tia's face flushed red.
"W-well, then it can't be helped. Do-hyeon, you wouldn't refuse a woman who comes to you, after all."
Apparently Tia was weak to this kind of talk.
Or maybe it could be the effect of the Achievement.
［Achievement］Harem Pure Love
Reward: The probability of discord arising among women who have affection for you decreases.
I decided to think about which one it was later, and brought up my business with Tia.
"Tia, we have time to spare, right?"
"That's right. The siege to attack the orc stronghold is five days from now, so how about taking a vacation until then?"
We had located the stronghold, but the hobgoblins still needed to verify it and finish battle preparations, so the assault was set for five days later.
"Is funding sufficient?"
"The disaster bounty will come out in a few days. With just the two of us, it's enough to live idly for half a year."
That much comes out?
Then I'd rather use that money to buy spells.
But when I asked Tia, she said payment would take time because they needed to confirm the subjugation status of the disaster.
Since the person called Rinos apparently didn't accept credit, what I did with Lee Se-rin hadn't been in vain after all.
Then let's get to the main point.
"Tia, I'm going to go help the students I used to spend time with."
Of course, whether they would consider it help was uncertain, but the pretext was help.
"At this time?"
Tia made a regretful expression.
Apparently she had wanted to spend this vacation with me.
"We'll spend the nights together, so don't worry."
"I-I never said anything like that!"
When I stroked the head of Tia, who was speaking through her attitude, she grumbled.
"Isn't that a group that's going to shatter to pieces anyway? Is there any meaning in helping them?"
"Seeing Lee Se-rin's party being exploited made me feel sorry for them."
"So you mean you'll help them become self-sufficient."
"Yeah. They need to experience some danger to come to their senses, don't they?"
"If that's the case, it will actually be helpful."
As she said that, Tia began writing something down.
"What's that?"
"A training plan. These are the things I was taught when I said I wanted to become an adventurer."
The image of Tia practicing archery in the dream came to mind.
It was probably the teaching method of Bel, who had helped her practice back then.
Tia being this cooperative was unexpected. I decided to keep my plan to discipline the lower group hidden for now.
***
After reading through Tia's training plan, evening gradually arrived, and I headed to the inn where the female students were staying.
Since no one was there yet, I said I would wait a while, and perhaps because I was a familiar face, the innkeeper readily brought me a glass of water.
After drinking the water, I went upstairs for a moment and visited Lee Se-rin's party, and Lee Se-rin seemed to have recovered in her own way.
"Hey, you. Don't you have any principles?"
While I was observing Lee Se-rin, Park Min-a asked me with a reddened face.
"This isn't Earth. I can live a bit more freely."
When I answered shamelessly, Park Min-a let out a shriek and chased me out of the room.
I went back downstairs and waited a while, and the female students and Kwon Chae-a returned.
"What, Do-hyeon, did you get kicked out?"
After telling the teasing Song Ji-yu that I had come because I had business, I requested a private meeting with Kwon Chae-a.
Kwon Chae-a's face stiffened for a moment, then she called me to her room.
"What is it, Do-hyeon?"
"I have good news and good news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"If both are good news, it doesn't matter which, does it?"
"I suppose so. The first is that Lee Se-rin seems like she'll recover."
"Really? That's a relief."
"Which means my support ends with the first day."
"......Still, I'm grateful."
"Really?"
Kwon Chae-a's face flushed at that question.
"You shouldn't tease your teacher."
"I had a hand in Lee Se-rin's recovery too, so you did well to come see me, teacher."
"I-is that so. Thank you, Do-hyeon."
Kwon Chae-a took my hand.
My conscience pricked at her pure gratitude, but I brought up the second matter.
"The next good news is that I have time to spare now, so I can help."
"Help?"
I explained it to the bewildered Kwon Chae-a.
"Your party and Song Ji-yu's party aren't doing proper combat, are they?"
"They're diligently catching animals in the grasslands around the castle."
"Not that kind of thing. They've never experienced the risk of injury, right?"
"That's right. It's dangerous, after all."
"At that rate, even if they reach level 3, they won't be able to fight like other parties. They have no combat experience at all, right?"
Adventurers' battles are grueling. According to Tia and Eira, even a battle considered uneventful could leave about one person injured.
Of course, part of my reason for making this proposal was a desire to legally punish the students, but I also didn't want the sacrifices made by Kwon Chae-a's and Lee Se-rin's parties to vanish meaninglessly.
Even if they reached level 3 through those sacrifices, wouldn't it be a problem if they just continued a life of earning 50 experience per day as they were now, or if they took heavy damage against easy enemies because they had no combat experience?
Kwon Chae-a reluctantly agreed with my words.
"So, I'll train you all for four days."
"Really?"
"Yes. But each person needs to prepare themselves mentally."
I explained to Kwon Chae-a, who looked puzzled at those words.
"If I help, it will be safe, but combat is still combat."
There would be no threat to their lives, but they could experience injuries. And since this place had magic that could heal injuries, they needed to learn that there was no need to fear being hurt. When I explained it that way, Kwon Chae-a seemed to accept it.
"I understand. Then I'll try persuading the students, so will you leave that to me?"
Rather than me, an outsider now, persuading them, it would be better for Kwon Chae-a, who was leading the students, to persuade them.
I waited alone in the room, and Kwon Chae-a went downstairs.
After some time passed, Kwon Chae-a returned with a bright expression.
"Everyone agreed."
"That's a relief."
I was relieved because I had thought I might need to go down and persuade them somewhat coercively.
Then, shall I collect some additional compensation here?
"By the way, teacher."
"Yes? What is it, Do-hyeon?"
To Kwon Chae-a, who looked pleased, I brought up something I didn't have to say.
"Me helping you is an act of lending myself to you, isn't it?"
"Huh? Y-yes, I suppose?"
"Then what can you give me in return?"
As if she had already anticipated this, Kwon Chae-a steadied herself.
"Do-hyeon, is the same compensation as last time sufficient?"
"Yes. As much as you like."
At those words, Kwon Chae-a began unbuttoning her blouse.
"Do-hyeon, it'll be mealtime soon, so could you be gentle?"
Meals are important, so I should make sure she can still go.
Kwon Chae-a's room heated up.
***
Kwon Chae-a was able to go down for her meal without incident.
I went down with her and watched the meal.
The table that had been full on the first day was now only half occupied.
But in terms of all the members being women, it was rather a pleasant sight.
I checked each person's status window one by one, going over their names and recalling their characteristics.
"What were you two doing with the teacher?"
Song Ji-yu teased mischievously. Singing was her specialty, and she had said she was aiming for an idol debut, hadn't she? Come to think of it, she often skipped class too.
Jo Su-min, fidgeting beside her, drew pictures, didn't she? She was the one who had her wallet stolen before.
Kwon Eun-seo, eating with a smile in front of them, had judo as her specialty, and I'd heard she could easily beat most male students.
Nam So-i, sitting beside her and eating, was in the volleyball club, wasn't she? Her hair turned gray by the mana reaction and her tall stature left an impression.
Meanwhile, the two people eating across from the teacher.
Son Yu-ju, the shorter one, had tied her black hair—unchanged in color by the mana reaction—into twin tails. She's still keeping that hairstyle, huh.
Instead, her eyes turning gold was striking. The robe she wore seemed to be one she had bought when she got her class; she must be fond of it.
Choi Da-in, the taller one, was dressed comfortably by contrast. Her hair dyed red by the mana reaction remained in my memory.
Both of them were people who often came over to chat when I was reading webtoons, so I knew their faces. Though we weren't that close.
I watched those students for a while and pondered what kind of training would let them experience the harsh taste of the labyrinth.