Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Physical Training Class
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March's first Monday of the week.
The long winter had finally ended, and warm spring breezes were wrapping around the campus. It was then that the first classes began for Arsen Academy's new freshmen.
Not in a classroom, but on the training field.
"Just twelve more laps to go!"
With Professor Miel's shout,
the students dashed across the wide field.
Why were they doing this on the very first day of the semester? Because Class 3's inaugural lesson was the mandatory subject "Physical Conditioning."
Not everyone was struggling, though.
"Huff! Hah!"
Ivela ran with a steady posture.
Her breathing was rhythmic too. Students like her, who had chosen the Military Studies Department as their major, lapped the field without much trouble.
On the other hand, those from the Magic, Arts, or General Studies Departments were on the verge of collapse. This was even harsher than the physical exam they'd taken during admissions.
Some among them looked half-dead.
"Hngh! Hegh! Grghhh..."
A girl staggering along, groaning in agony.
Noa. Was it her trembling legs, flushed face, or sweat pouring like rain?
Professor Miel rushed over and yelled,
"Noa Darshen, you're out!"
She must have figured Noa might actually die if left alone. Thanks to that, Noa barely avoided collapsing entirely.
Once seated in the cool shade of a tree,
Noa stared blankly at the field. As she worked to steady her ragged breathing, a water bottle suddenly appeared before her.
"Here."
"Ah, thank you."
The bottle from Professor Miel.
Cool water slid down her throat, snapping her back to her senses. Watching Noa, the professor then spoke.
"I just can't understand it. How did you pass the entrance exam with stamina like that?"
"I got a recommendation letter."
"Hm. Looks like you've got some solid backing."
Professor Miel looked convinced. Recommendation letters were only available to royalty or high nobility, after all.
"Still, it'd be wise to build up at least the bare minimum stamina. If you want good scores in the mock battle two weeks from now, that is."
"Ahaha, I do want that, but..."
"Rest up for now, at least."
After patting Noa's back lightly,
Professor Miel headed back to the field to run with the other students. Left alone, Noa pouted.
"...I really wish I could."
But she couldn't.
The reason lay in Noa's "features."
Noa's features, recently unlocked.
Of course, plenty of them were good.
"Mana's Eye" allowed her to observe mana flow with her eyes or intervene in it, amplifying or reducing the effects of spells or shamanism.
"Language Mastery" let her listen to, speak, and interpret any language.
"But the problem is..."
The two penalties at the end.
Frailty and Poor Stamina.
Frailty first: it reduced physical abilities by up to 70%, and training gains for strength and stamina points were quartered.
For example, if someone else raised their strength with 10 push-ups, Noa needed 40 just to see a gain.
"And Poor Stamina."
This one multiplied all stamina consumption by five times the average. So Noa tired faster than others and felt exhaustion more intensely.
"If not for these penalties, my grade would've easily hit S-rank..."
But that wasn't happening.
Every named character got 1 to 3 penalties for "balance."
Like Ullan's "Stubborn Head."
As she sighed at her frustrating reality,
Professor Miel's shout suddenly rang out.
"Ullan! You're done running!"
It was because of Ullan, who kept sprinting even after hitting the quota.
He was even showing off his remaining energy by full-speed lapping the entire time.
And the result?
A massive cloud of dust billowed wildly.
"Cough, cough!"
"Ugh! Dust in my eyes!"
The damage hit the trailing students hard. Professor Miel yelled urgently again.
"Stop running, you maniac!"
Ullan ignored her completely.
Watching the field turn into chaos, Noa stared at Ullan.
"Ever since he got Kazan..."
Ullan's stamina had improved even more.
Dozens of full-speed laps, and his breathing wasn't even disrupted.
The effects didn't stop there.
His physical limits had doubled too, so he'd only get stronger with training.
"Should I just go all-in on Ullan?"
He'd gotten Kazan, after all.
Dump every hidden piece and treasure she remembered onto him, and bulldoze the main scenario with his power?
She'd considered it.
But she couldn't decide lightly.
"Because Ullan..."
...dies fighting Giant King Largtan.
That was the fate, role, and purpose given to the named character Ullan. No veteran player had ever saved him from it.
"Sure, he's got Kazan this time, but..."
She still hesitated.
If she invested everything in him and he still met his doomed end, it would all be over.
As she pondered her future path,
"Silphy Rudhina, you're out!"
The second dropout occurred.
A gray-haired girl staggering toward her like she might collapse. Seeing her snapped Noa out of her thoughts.