Practical Training Flag Heist
"Still lacking in training, it seems."
Natasha said as she sheathed her air sword.
"……."
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
What would Natasha have been like if she'd been born in a world without mana?
Chapter 30: The Iaijutsu Swordsman Goes to School. Chapter 33: Why I Became the Villain.
Nah, probably not.
Environment shapes a person, after all.
"You've deceived me."
Natasha crossed her arms and said.
Mai must have tossed it aside out of boredom—Natasha was wearing just a single jacket over her white shirt.
"Deceived you how?"
"You clearly said... you wouldn't do club activities...!"
Natasha cried out like a warrior betrayed by her childhood friend of over twenty years.
"Natasha has been deeply wounded."
Natasha's face fell in sorrow.
That was when Yui-seol came trudging over from afar, yawning widely. She looked sleep-deprived. I suspected she'd been training late into the night again.
"What're you guys doing here?"
"Having an important discussion."
"Hm?"
"There are realms beyond what the uninitiated can comprehend."
"Sigh."
Yui-seol let out a deep sigh at Natasha's words and headed for the classroom.
True to her genius nature, she just ignored it outright.
I quickly followed after Yui-seol.
"W-Wait! Please wait a moment!"
Natasha hurriedly chased after Yi Han-su.
…….
"As you all know, today we have practical training."
Practical Training: 'Flag Heist'.
Teams are divided, and the goal is to protect your base's flag while stealing the enemy's.
"Ooh...!"
"Ah...."
Some students' faces darkened at the words "practical training," while others lit up.
Most of the support-type students looked pleased—after all, they're the most crucial in this kind of exercise.
Due to Orbis Academy's nature, most classes skewed toward warriors, mages, and archers rather than support.
There were few support users to begin with, and even they had to fight.
"The training site is Sector 7 Research Lab. Teams have been balanced by averages, so check yours."
A research lab probably meant a massive field. Likely the third largest sector in Orbis.
"All students will be randomly teleported to positions. That's all."
…….
"Hm."
I opened my eyes to a world of white walls and visible wiring everywhere. Definitely gave off research lab vibes.
Scanning around, no flag in sight nearby.
So I was on offense, not defense.
'…….'
Honestly, I felt zero tension. Just let's wrap this up quick?
But even if I felt that way, it'd be good training for the other students.
They didn't get many chances for chaotic melees, or complex battles like this.
Alright then... I'll just kill time slowly and snag the flag.
That was when I sensed a presence nearby.
Thud, thud.
"……."
"……."
A brief silence flowed as we each detected the other.
"A swordsman?"
One voice called out. I could tell who it was just from that.
"Yeah."
Slash!
No sooner had the word left my mouth than a slash rent the wall.
"Hm, different team, then."
Natasha lowered her stance.
Clink.
Whoosh!
The moment her sword cleared the sheath, five slashes manifested.
When swordsman meets swordsman, iaijutsu is common sense among common senses.
"Wha...?"
Natasha's eyes widened.
Why!
Yi Han-su bolted in the opposite direction at full speed.
"How can this be! To disregard such basic etiquette!"
Her despair was palpable. No, don't worry.
"I'll teach you. Everything Han-su doesn't know, can't do—Natasha will teach it all."
Natasha smiled as she pursued Yi Han-su.
Natasha thought to herself: I hope this is all just a dream from exhaustion after piano lessons.
A child delicate as a single flower.
"Stay by my side! Iaijutsu!"
Shing.
Natasha unleashed a barrage of slashes while chasing Yi Han-su.
Five slashes bore down on him—one real, the rest illusion blades.
But they... didn't connect.
Speed beyond imagination. Even keeping up was a struggle.
"Hah... hah... Stop running away. Natasha has reached her limit."
Predictably, Natasha hit her limit first.
"Ah......"
Natasha laboriously lifted her head, but Yi Han-su had already vanished somewhere.
****
This was the research lab's basement level 1.
Yui-seol cocked her head and said,
"You all ganged up just to catch me?"
"Yeah, strategically, bunching up seemed best."
Seo Ji-ho grinned as he drew the two swords from his waist.
'This is the closest passage linked to the flag...'
The most vital spot, so they'd allocated manpower carefully here.
Not all in one place, though—the other passages were guarded by reliable students too.
'Didn't expect to face Yui-seol right off the bat.'
Then, a student behind Seo Ji-ho shouted,
"No boyfriend tagging along for once—might be your chance!"
"What?"
Yui-seol froze solid for a moment.
After a beat, full comprehension hit, and she yelled,
"Th-That's not it at all!"
"Now!"
Team 1's overall rank 233, 'Schemer' Je-gal Rang-woo.
His ploy worked—Yui-seol charged in a huff.
Boom!
"Yi Han-su and I are just equals as friends...!"
Yui-seol shouted like she was making excuses, but Je-gal Rang-woo swiftly countered.
"Lame excuse...! Everyone who matters knows...!"
"What...? Everyone who matters knows...?"
"Now!"
Another opening exposed.
Seo Ji-ho didn't miss it, crossing his dual blades as he lunged.
Shing!
Yui-seol hurled her spear at the oncoming Seo Ji-ho.
Clang!
The clash of metal echoed through the lab.
"Now!"
At Je-gal Rang-woo's call, Team 1 students unleashed attacks on the now weaponless Yui-seol.
"Ngh...!"
But as expected of overall rank 2, Yui-seol.
She swiftly conjured mana chains to deflect the onslaught.
Kaboom!
Cold sweat trickled down Je-gal Rang-woo's neck.
'Damn, her resistance is better than expected.'
Fine then... time to create another gap!
"I see... must've misunderstood. Sorry about that."
At Je-gal Rang-woo's words, Yui-seol awkwardly laughed and shouted,
"Good, you get it!"
"Heard Yi Han-su and the transfer student are suspiciously close...?"
"What?"
"Looked like he was into her too."
But contrary to Je-gal Rang-woo's expectations, Yui-seol stayed calm.
Fresh cold sweat beaded on his neck.
Wrong answer, apparently.
But don't worry— a schemer always has backups.
Yi Han-su and Han Sia's first café encounter? Je-gal Rang-woo had been there by coincidence.
"Ah, misspoke. Meant Han Sia sunbae. Yi Han-su's a fan of hers, apparently."
"……."
In that instant, Yui-seol's aura shifted.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
The faint openings she'd shown vanished entirely, her expression chilling over.
Tap!
With a gesture from Yui-seol, the spear flew back to her hand.
Rattle!
At the same time, chains erupted from her left hand, coiling around the spear.
"If you thought baseless rumors would shake me, you're mistaken."
"……."
The abrupt change in atmosphere had cold sweat pouring down Je-gal Rang-woo's neck. His clothes were soaked already.
Simultaneously, Yui-seol hurled the spear.
Kabooooom!
So much mana the lab floor cracked.
Crack, craaack!
Rattle!
Yui-seol yanked her hand, and the chained spear snapped back instantly.
Then hurled again like a missile.
Kabooooom!
Seo Ji-ho judged the crumbling floor too risky and swung his dual swords to bat the spear away.
Clang!
He stomped the embedded spearhead.
Thud!
Grind... griiind....
She pulled the chain, but Seo Ji-ho's foot pinned it.
"……."
Snicker.
Seo Ji-ho smirked at the sight; Yui-seol scowled.
She tried to use her trait, but Seo Ji-ho's mana pressure forced a mana tug-of-war.
Bad position for her right now.
The second she committed, the students behind would pile on.
"Like my spear? Here, have it as a gift."
Yui-seol ditched the spear fast.
And drew chains from her left hand.
Rattle!
Twisting two into a spear-like form.
"Wha...?"
Seo Ji-ho's face twisted in shock.
Vmmm!
Yui-seol surged her mana.
And naturally, what followed was a technique.
Crackle.
Sparks flew from the chain-spear.
Not your everyday phenomenon.
Crackle, crrrackle.
Her mana morphed into electricity.
Whoosh!
Finally wreathed in red lightning, Yui-seol threw the chain-spear.
KABOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!