Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Teamless Team (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Today, Wednesday, was a holiday. Well, it was only called a holiday—it was really just an extension of the College Board. Everyone except me was probably deep into their team projects.
I felt too guilty to just goof off, so I came to the lake behind the old school building.
It was a secluded natural spot surrounded by tall trees, isolated even within the Endex grounds. This was the place where I'd first acquired Body Integration, so I often came here.
I was even thinking of buying a tent.
......Splash!
I waded into the lake and sat cross-legged.
Today's training was what I called "conscious Body Integration."
Of course, the danjeon in my heart was still pulsing on its own after the transplant. But just like how consciously taking a deep breath turns normal breathing into a "deep breath," I figured focusing on the danjeon's pulse intentionally might help somehow.
It was still just a hunch, though.
Body Integration was something my master had called a "beast's method," so there wasn't much known information out there.
——.
I focused my mind on the sensation in my abdomen—more precisely, my danjeon. I tried to make its throbbing as strong and large as possible. To pump out as much mana as I could.
In simple terms, I was trying to build up the "power" of my danjeon...
Grrrrumble——.
But I was hungry. And not just a little peckish—this was the kind of hunger you couldn't ignore, even with focus as an excuse.
Gruuuumble——!
I felt like I was starving to death.
I opened my eyes.
"Ah."
Lately, no matter how much I stuffed myself, my stomach would be empty again the moment I closed and reopened my eyes. Obviously due to my "growth."
"...No food around here?"
The lake was so vast, there had to be fish in it.
I dunked my face into the water, glaring around for fish. Plenty were swimming in the deeper parts.
"Pwah."
I shook out my wet hair. Climbing back ashore, I picked up the Askal Family Sword I'd left on my discarded clothes.
Gripping it tight, I plunged back into the lake, tracking the fish below the clear surface, predicting their paths—
"Hup!"
I unleashed my sword.
Askal style—still too embryonic to call it a proper school, but anyway.
Askal Style Absolute Sword: First Stroke, Sword Draw.
——Whiiish!
The blade carved a curve into the lake. The surface sliced sharply for a moment before calming again.
After a short wait, dead fish floated up. Split bones, torn flesh, bone fragments, chunks of meat, entrails—all gruesomely disassembled.
"Can't eat these."
I'd need to make shallower cuts. Enough to knock them out or kill them cleanly without mangling the bodies.
"This is trickier than it looks."
I gripped my sword again, preparing another Sword Draw—but paused.
"...Nah."
Thinking about it, why bother with the sword? There was no rule saying Absolute Sword had to use a blade. The sword was just a "symbol." Soliet could slice people barehanded, after all.
I tossed the real sword into the brush. In place of steel, I gripped leather—the scabbard infused with mana. I swung it along a similar arc as before.
Splaaash——!
A deafening roar echoed through the hills, and a spray of lake water shot skyward.
Soon, stunned fish bobbed to the surface: one, two, three, four, five, six—exactly seven. Most were intact enough to eat.
And on top of that.
[92 / 103 (-1)]
24-Hour Revision History: -1
The capacity consumed by Sword Draw had shrunk noticeably. It didn't show the details, but numerically, it was down about 2?
"Let's snag about twenty more."
I grinned.
....
Wipe off the dirt from the fish, then scale them first. Slice open the belly evenly and gut them thoroughly. Rinse the cavity clean, chop off the head, remove the fins.
[...There. That's how you clean fish easily. It might be tough at first, but stick with it. I've been doing this for over 15 years, so—]
"Easy."
I shut off YouTube. I skewered 13 cleaned fish and set them over a campfire. Look-See-Do had replaced 15 years of an expert's know-how.
For the record, I'd already filleted and eaten about 10.
Crackle—crackle—
Waiting naked like a caveman for the fish to cook, I pulled out this week's team project assignment.
"...How's this a key?"
There were two magic formulas to decipher. One indicated a location, the other was the key to enter the exploration site.
Thankfully, I'd pulled the exploration site's memory from the Notebook, but the key was the problem.
"Hmm..."
I kept staring anyway. Maybe intuition would kick in.
"...Ugh."
After a long while, I gave up.
"I'll figure it out when I get there."
For now, I'd head to the spot and wait—other teams would show up eventually. I could think about the rest then.
Crunch—!
I tore into a well-done fish.
The next day, Thursday morning.
"Nice to see you all. You look pretty worn out today."
Swordsmanship Studies instructor Gioli scanned the room as he spoke. He wasn't wrong—everyone looked beat. Even Elise and Soliet had a hint of fatigue.
Probably from the team project. Was that magic formula really that tough?
"Don't worry. We'll stick to theory today and wrap up early. Straight to the 'forms.' Open your textbooks, please."
Gioli really was flexible and considerate of his students.
"The most common forms in Swordsmanship Studies are the 'Five Basic Forms.' These five fundamentals form the base for countless sword styles."
But five minutes in, my eyelids were drooping.
So sleepy.
"The textbook explains them. Just mark the three starred ones for now."
Gioli picked up the chalk.
Was he about to write on the board? Mixing that chalk tapping with his soothing voice was basically a natural sedative.
"First, Triangular Slash is exactly what it sounds like—a triangular form."
I glanced at the textbook.
[Triangular Slash: Three strokes form a triangle.]
I'd barely ducked my head when I nearly dozed off.
"The three strokes connect continuously, but with advancing steps in between."
Gioli drew his sword, stepping forward and tracing three lines—whoosh.
"There, that's Triangular Slash. What stands out about it, Sion?"
Suddenly, he called on me.
"Uh..."
I had no idea. I hadn't even really watched.
"Just say what you feel."
"It's... splashy?"
"..."
Gioli shook his head. The other seniors smirked faintly, but didn't seem too bothered. Even Kain and Esher. Were team projects wearing them out too much to care about a guy like me?
"Anyone else?"
"It's optimized for offense."
Instant answer. Naturally from Elise.
"Right. Triangular Slash is built for attack. The advancing steps and strokes happen almost simultaneously, overwhelming the opponent. It's the most basic 'linked strike' and a key fundamental. Master this alone, and it'll be devastating in real combat. Next, anyone know about Circular Slash?"
"Suited for defense."
Quick reply again. But not Elise this time. It was a deep baritone.
"It can also deflect the enemy's blade."
Gerkken Kal Dun. He fixed his deep sea-blue eyes on Gioli. The instructor looked a bit surprised but soon smiled awkwardly and continued.
"Exactly. Circular Slash is ideal for blocking or deflecting enemy attacks..."
....
"We'll end class early today. You need to rest up for tomorrow anyway."
Gioli truly cared for his students.
He'd lectured nonstop for a full 180 minutes on theory, but still let us out a whole hour early—the mark of a true Endex adult.
"Copy the notes if you want, or snap photos."
The board notes boiled down to this:
[Triangular Slash: Three strokes form a triangle.
Circular Slash: One stroke forms a circle.
Curving Slash: Three strokes curve like a Z.
Quick Sword: Multiple strokes in disarray.
Chop: One very thick stroke.]
I also committed the stroke sequence diagrams and Gioli's personal theories to the Notebook. It was thorough enough to be worth remembering.
"Instead, you have homework: Learn all Five Basic Forms."
Kielly closed his textbook as he spoke.
"Upperclassmen will help check it next class. Due to scheduling, next week's sessions are 2 to 6 p.m."
Thankfully, not too hard. Look-See-Do would handle the Five Basic Forms easily.
"Now, last week's assignment: Submit your swordsmanship reports."
Research and observations on another person's swordsmanship.
I'd naturally chosen Soliet. Zero flaws, so it was nothing but praise—3,000 characters across twenty lines of compliments.
"Just leave them on the desk~"
Seniors turned in their reports one by one. I added my crumpled one to the pile.
"Soliet, team leader. Wanna head out together?"
But a sudden voice grated on my nerves.
Kielly. Why was this guy always dogging Soliet's heels?
"Team leader, you worked hard. Restaurant tonight? Reserved a great spot."
In the hallway, I walked a step behind Kielly, who was a step behind Soliet, glaring daggers.
Why was his head so flat from behind? And long hair on a guy? Cut it, you creep.
"Come on, let's eat together? Invited the team too."
Clink—
Something fell from his bag right then. An apartment keycard. I quickened my pace, picked it up.
"You know Dorussia? Barely snagged a reserva—hey."
I grabbed his shoulder, stopping his blabbering.
"What the hell, man."
He turned with an annoyed scowl. Soliet kept walking without a glance.
"What?"
Kielly asked, eyes locked on Soliet's retreating back.
"...You dropped this."
I held out the keycard.
"Wha..."
He scanned me up and down. Tsk—he snatched it, our fingers brushing.
This kind of clumsy accident pissed me off to no end. I could understand Rae's urge to slice my fingers off—it was that infuriating. But suddenly—
ZZZT—a spark flared in my mind.
Not some fateful spark or heart-tugging jolt. Nothing like that.
Just a sharp voice stabbing through: Wait. Aren't you my alumni? Your face rings a bell.
A past memory flashed before my eyes.
A "memory" from before my regression.
"What the fuck, asshole."
I watched silently as he snatched the keycard irritably and ran after Soliet, staring at his back.
"I remember now."
Soliet had asked if I'd taken the Arkne family's bribe, but actually, a few at Endex had. More precisely, a "family" that had.
Not Edsilra nobles, but from the nation of Silmurd.
—Killian de Elrn. You know me? Back when I was at Endex, my name... In Edsilra style, it was Killian?
"Killian my ass. Brain-dead fuck who can't even remember his own name."
I muttered mockingly and turned—then flinched. Elise Petra stood not far away.
"You really are..."
Her eyes, nose, and mouth all screamed contempt. Ridiculous, absurd, shameless.
"Even your jealousy is sleazy. Well, what can you know without any upbringing, huh?"
I flipped her off at her self-satisfied nonsense. Her brow twitched.
"...Get lost."
"You get lost."
"Hah."
Elise shook her head in disdain and walked off. Gerkken Kal Dun approached as she left.
"Here."
He held out a thick book.
"...Oh? Right."
It was the Exploration Dictionary we'd agreed on at the library Tuesday.
I planned to jot it into the Notebook. Too big to memorize whole— I'd do it page by page.
"Chocolate was tasty."
Gerkken looked expectant, but I replied coolly.
"No more. Scram."
"..."
He slunk off like a disappointed wolf.