5
Chapter 5
A place where not a single ray of light could penetrate.
Fwoosh—
A single ember flared to life.
"Then, let us begin today's meeting."
The person who sparked the ember opened the discussion.
"I assume you've all seen this quarter's Academy freshmen?"
A melodious voice, similar yet slightly different from the first, raised the topic.
"It seems the claim that this year has the highest number of Stigma bearers in history wasn't an exaggeration; quite a few are set to enroll. With so many files, there are some students who really stand out."
A man with a dignified voice shared his thoughts.
"Indeed. Weapon Master, the average level of the incoming students is quite high."
Screeech—
"Oh, look who decided to barge in."
Click, click.
"Barge in? What do you mean, barge in?"
The space, which had barely been visible beyond a few inches thanks to the single ember, returned to its original state in a burst of bright light.
"I think Hera is being too harsh. What do you think, Kai?"
"I agree with Rea."
"Too harsh? How exactly am I being too harsh, Professor Kai, Professor Rea?"
She spoke while looking at the two siblings, who looked remarkably alike.
"Now, now, don't scold her too much. They're still young; it's only natural they'd want to play around like this."
"Isn't it only because you indulge them in everything, Elder Wilhelm?"
"Ahem."
With that, she walked over and took her seat.
"I assume the others didn't show up, as usual?"
"Well, only a few ever come, but we have one more this time. The twins, you, and one sleepyhead over here."
He spoke while pointing toward a spot covered by a white cloth.
"Surely they haven't been sleeping here this whole time?"
"Oh, they did attend the orientation before coming here. By the way, what took you so long? I heard there was a fight—are you alright?"
"The students are fine. The other student didn't seem to mind much, and I've properly 'educated' the other one before sending them back. And Sieun... based on the length of the video, it should be ending about now, right?"
As if responding to her voice, someone pulled back the white cloth and spoke in a voice thick with sleep.
"Yawn... You actually played that back? Isn't that a bit cruel to the kids?"
"What a surprise to see you actually attending."
"Well, there are quite a few alchemy students this year, so I figured I should get a handle on them now, otherwise it'll be overwhelming once they actually start. I might as well weed a few out while I'm at it. Besides, I was actually the first one here."
"Whoa! Nova, when did you get here? I didn't even see you while I was setting up."
"Right? I didn't see you coming in either, Rea."
"I just told you, you twins, I was here first! And what is this cloth doing over me? You guys must have covered me with this white cloth."
"Really? I don't think I did. Rea, was it you?"
"I don't think so either. Kai, didn't you do it?"
"And what's with this photo next to me? It looks like a funeral portrait."
"Maybe Unnie Hera did it?"
"Maybe Noona Hera did it?"
"I've only just arrived. We've completely gone off-topic. Let's return to the main point; I assume you've all seen the freshmen from the orientation."
"I wouldn't have come here if I hadn't. Right, as for the Spirit Department... I wonder if there's anyone useful other than that one you found. Honestly, that kid is complete trash."
"That child is scheduled to arrive for the entrance ceremony. Quite a few students have contracted with spirits, and there was one student who stood out. Also, please take back the word 'trash'."
"Oho~ And who is this standout student?"
As she spoke, she gestured in the air, causing letters to float before them.
"Come on, give me the name already."
When she didn't answer, she playfully grabbed a few letters and tossed them at her.
"Lee Seo-ha."
As soon as she answered with a sigh of resignation, the other gestured in the air.
"From the First Continent, just like you. Their relationship with their parents is so bad it's practically non-existent. No contracted spirit. Stigma is from some common, unidentified Constellation. Physical abilities are basically average. Mana aptitude... wait, is this a test error? This is practically zero. Is their mana circuit blocked or something? How on earth did they even get into the Academy?"
With a wave of her hand, other letters flew forward and lined up.
"Their entrance scores were barely passing. Why were they even admitted?"
"That's enough. You're hacking the Academy database again, aren't you? Stop digging into another department's students beyond what a professor is permitted to see."
"Right? Usually, you'd actually stop her. This time you're just talking."
"Even if I stopped her, she'd just look it up privately after the meeting anyway."
"Well, since you're not stopping me, maybe I'll take another peek~"
*Guess you're curious too, huh?* she thought, as she continued searching for data.
"Old man, how did things go on your end?"
"Well, Sephi's daughter enrolled this time, so I had a little sparring match with her today."
"Oh! How was it?"
The others didn't seem interested, so they didn't bother interrupting.
"Hey, Hera! I found it. I found it! Come over here."
"Why are you calling me?"
"Since I found it, we might as well look at it together. Plus, I can find an accomplice to help me write the incident report."
"I decline."
"Fine, I'll just read it aloud then."
She organized the scattered letters and read them.
"Wow, this reads exactly like when I dug through your records ages ago."
Then, Nova fell silent, as if deep in thought.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
"It's not, right?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm asking if it's what I think it is."
"I'm not a fan of sentences with too many omissions."
"You don't actually think that's still possible, do you?"
"I honestly don't know what you mean."
"Bullshit. I've known you for years since we were in the same year. Do you really think just anyone can do what you did just because their background is similar? That was a straight-up miracle."
"A miracle, huh? That's your favorite thing, isn't it?"
"Something planned and intentionally triggered from the start isn't a miracle. As your rival, let me tell you: give up on that."
"If you want to call yourself my rival, you should at least earn the title of Hero."
"Damn it, I'm saying this for your own sake. I'll definitely get that title by the end of the year."
"Get it? You can't even enter the Demonic Realm."
"I can get in!"
"Yeah, yeah. Just try not to get eroded while you're at it."
"Seriously, why am I friends with her?"
Nova sighed, face-palming.
"You're the only one who thinks you're friends."
"Look at you. What's a girl with no friends other than me talking about?"
"I do have friends!"
"Name them."
"Uh..."
As Hera trailed off and Nova wore a triumphant 'gotcha' expression, a voice echoed from behind.
"Hey, old man, Nova is poking Hera's sore spot again. Right, Rea?"
"Yeah, Nova is roasting Hera for having no friends. Right, Kai?"
"Yep. Hera always eats alone because she has no friends, so Nova's just bragging about eating with her."
"Children, I think you're actually worse."
"..."
"Uh... I didn't eat with you because you have no friends; I ate with you because I'm your friend. Got it? And you guys, stop turning a WWE match into a UFC fight!"
"..."
"Rea, look, Nova is checking the room and trying to comfort Hera now."
"Kai, I've actually seen Nova eating with other professors or assistant professors."
"Rea, I've never seen Hera eat with other professors or assistant professors."
"I'm tossing the twins out."
He stood up, grabbed one twin in each hand, and marched them out.
"Ahem, you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"I mean..."
"I'm fine."
"Uh..."
"I'm fine."
Screeech—
"I left the twins outside."
"Thanks. They're better off abandoned."
She produced some salt from who-knows-where and flung it toward the door.
"Estella, that little brat, showed up at the Close Combat Department orientation."
Wilhelm brought up the topic first to break the silence.
"Oh, she's famous. She's easily the most well-known of the 'geniuses' this generation."
Nova chimed in, trying to shift the mood.
"And that bold little thing challenged me to a duel the moment the orientation ended. Hahaha!"
"Wow, imagine picking a fight with an old man, even if he's retired. Right, Hera?"
"I'm fine."
As always, the meeting—a gathering in name only—ended with everyone just saying whatever they wanted, barely touching the original topic.
***
In my original world, I'd seen a villain erase half of humanity with a single snap of his fingers.
But upon arriving at the hologram training room, I discovered an existence far more terrifying.
This ruthless being committed the atrocity of eliminating all melee weapons from my options.
"No!! Stop swinging the blade in a wide arc!"
"You're going to snap your wrist holding it like that!"
"With that axe, you'd be more effective smashing things with the back than hitting them with the edge."
"Put that chain sword down or you're dead. Seriously."
Thus, I was left with only ranged weapons.
"You're actually pretty good with a gun."
"I've had some training."
Though I didn't have a grudge against anyone.
"Then let's stick to guns. Why were you struggling with things you can't even use when you already have this skill?"
But guns have a problem.
"Do you have any workshop-made ammunition or firearms?"
"No. I can't even afford them."
"Huh? Oh, you've only used standard guns and ammo? Well, workshop locations are usually only known to a few."
"That's true. Even if I knew where they were, I don't have the money."
I couldn't afford the luxury.
Other weapons are fine even if they're basic mass-produced models.
In this world, you can simply reinforce them by enveloping the weapon in mana.
The method of reinforcement is simple.
Just maintain skin contact and flow mana into it.
The problem is that while the gun can be reinforced, the bullets cannot.
To be precise, it is possible.
You'd have to take the bullet out, reinforce it, reload, and then fire.
If you repeat that for every single shot, it works.
But that's completely impractical in a real fight.
That's why workshop-made weapons were created.
Weapons created by alchemists collaborating so that even ordinary people could have their own.
The drawback is the price.
It's insanely expensive.
Even standard firearms can be used, though they don't last long.
But bullets are meaningless against the Magic Beasts of the Demonic Realm unless they're workshop-made.
Even basic rounds capable of damaging mid-tier beasts cost hundreds per shot.
The reason is simple.
There's no demand.
Beast leaks from the various Demonic Realms are rare events, and even then, Stigma bearers handle them.
Consequently, large corporations abandoned the production of such ammunition and firearms, leaving it to a few hipsters; this created a bizarre market where bullets cost hundreds per round and guns cost thousands per piece.
"Um."
As soon as I mentioned I had no money, she stopped, as if she hadn't considered it. Dirty bourgeoisie.
"Shall we try the remaining bows?"
"Stop that nasal voice."
"Yes."
As if she doesn't do it herself.
When I lifted the longbow, the system detected it and summoned arrows before me.
I picked up an arrow, nocked it on the bowstring, and pulled back.
And...
"Hey, hey, stop. Stop. You're shaking so hard you look like you're holding a massage gun."
She approached, snatched the bow from me, and handed me a shortbow.
And so, I obtained the last remaining weapon.
I nocked an arrow and drew the string.
This was my first time ever drawing a bowstring. It felt smoother than I expected.
Seeing that I had no major issues, she didn't say anything else and just adjusted my posture.
I aimed at a straw dummy standing silently.
In truth, my 'aiming' was mostly guesswork.
I've seen archers use sights on their bows; I wondered why there weren't any here.
I frowned as I watched the arrowhead wobble continuously.
Should I hold my breath before firing, just like with the gun?
Inhale—
As I held my breath, the movement decreased significantly.
I released the string, and the arrow flew forward instantly.
"Oh."
"Oh."
"You hit it?"
"I guess."
"Bows aren't bad. Your form doesn't break before you attack, unlike with the other weapons. Honestly, I didn't even expect you to hit, but you did."
"I didn't expect to hit it either."
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
"How do I practice with a bow? Do I just shoot a lot?"
"No. You think a Magic Beast is just going to stand there and let you shoot? You need to shoot while moving now."
"Isn't that usually done after you've mastered shooting from a standstill?"
"You have to use your time efficiently."
"Come on, you can't say that to a complete beginner."
She gazed at me in silence, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Isn't that a bit too intense, though?"
"I have a personal philosophy."
"What is it?"
"Just keep doing it until it works."
"Damn it."