That Person (1)
My avatar had left Ivan's room and was in the midst of recruiting Simon and Iaco, but my main body was still attending the "Combat Self-Defense" class.
"I know you all possess considerable skill. However, no matter how capable a gifted individual may be, life can end in a scream in an instant. This Combat Self-Defense class is designed to equip you to overcome such dire situations!"
Standing before me now was Marcus, the boisterous muscle-bound professor in charge of first-year Combat Self-Defense, explaining the importance of the course.
Marcus Magnamut—a war hero who had displayed overwhelming prowess in the civil war twenty years ago as a trusted retainer of the current emperor, though he held no territory of his own.
A favored servant of the emperor, yet he taught Combat Self-Defense at the academy out of a desire to serve the empire.
Even the academy students who fancied themselves hotshots outside class sat in complete silence before him now, listening intently without a peep.
"By the will of the founding emperor who established this academy, all students are required to take this Combat Self-Defense course. Failure to attend or poor participation will result in expulsion from the academy at my discretion. I expect your full commitment!"
Even in a world ruled by strength and Gifts, making combat and sparring a mandatory subject...
What kind of guy was the founding emperor, anyway?
"It's impossible for all first-years to attend at once, so the class is divided into three groups: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. You lot are the Alpha Group, expected to have the highest combat prowess from the entrance process. Feel free to take pride in that."
In Deus ex Machina, the Combat Self-Defense classes were also split into three groups by skill level—the only course with formal "classes," despite others lacking such divisions.
It was a motivator for nobles, whose primary reason for attending was to uphold their honor as aristocrats.
Unlike commoners, nobles skipped entrance exams, so commoners were sorted by test results, while nobles were assigned based on family titles and status.
The player character Dia in Deus ex Machina barely passed her exam, landing her in the bottom Gamma Group.
Of course, midterm and final grades reshuffled groups each semester.
Climbing from the lowly Gamma to elite Alpha through growth and exams gave gamers no small thrill.
So why were there familiar faces—a pink-haired girl and a blonde—among the students before me?
As Professor Marcus explained, the Alpha Group students stood in neat rows.
I was positioned mid-row, spotting Amy and Dia tense in the front, hanging on his every word.
Amy wasn't in Deus ex Machina, so that made sense, but...
Why was Dia here? Did she ace the entrance exam?
What the hell happened?
"We'll have countless spars and drills ahead, but today is just orientation—one single bout to start!"
Right, the first match.
In Deus ex Machina, Marcus called two Gamma students for a demo in their first class.
Alpha and Beta would get the same treatment.
In the game, Dia—the one who'd toppled Cronia Messene's golem and stirred academy buzz—got picked...
...Wait. Actually, the one who crushed Cronia's golem this time was... me?
"Luke Perseino. Step forward!"
It was me. Of course.
"I heard you smashed Cronia's golem two days ago and drew out her true feelings. Impressive. Wrecking her golem is no small feat—even for veteran knights or mages! Reminds me of Siren after she graduated! Haha! I want to see your strength myself. Come show it!"
...Having resolved to reveal my power, this was inevitable.
Though I wasn't as strong as big sis Siren. Without Ignis burning holy fire, anyway...
Mulling it over, I stepped forward to face Marcus.
"Now, any student want to spar with Luke? I haven't seen the other first-years' skills yet, but back when the current second-years were freshmen, none surpassed this lad. No one else matched his feat against Cronia."
But no one raised a hand.
Strange.
Among them were battle maniacs and slimy types who loved lording over others—why weren't they jumping at this?
Beating me now would make their name across the academy. What was up with those show-offs?
"Hmph... All scared? I didn't expect freshmen so lacking in spirit."
Scared? No way. These guys never backed down from professors in my knowledge. They only flinched when big sis Siren showed up...
That's it!
Big sis Siren!
As her little brother who crushed Cronia's golem, they mistook me for her level?
...Plausible.
That explained the hesitation. Only Beta or Gamma daredevils would challenge Siren-tier.
"Disappointing, cowards. Can't even challenge a fellow freshman? Fine. I'll call the second student I'm eyeing. Dia. Dia, step up."
...Dia? The Dia I know?
Stunned by her name, I looked her way—and our eyes met.
Blushing, she slowly walked to Marcus.
"Academy entrance exam top scorer this year. The proctor sang your praises. High hopes for you. Give us a good show."
Dia took first in the exam? What really went down before enrollment?
We faced off at the instructed distance for the spar, other students retreating to spectator seats to avoid stray blows.
"Dia, never thought we'd spar on day one. With you, no less."
"Me... neither! I mean, I didn't expect us to kick things off."
How hard should I go?
I didn't know her exact level, but I could win.
I couldn't beat outliers like big sis Siren, but academy-norm students? Even sans Ignis.
But crushing her instantly might hurt her feelings...
Hmm. A balanced back-and-forth might be best.
"I know you're crazy strong. Overwhelming Professor Cronia's golem like that. Way above me, probably."
Avoiding my gaze at first, Dia steeled herself and met my eyes squarely.
"But... I have things to do here at the academy. To repay that person."
That person? Who the hell would Dia call that?
"So I'll give it everything! For that person!"
Who? Who dared mess with my Dia? I'd deliberately avoided her pre-enrollment—who touched her?!
"Ready!"
Marcus bellowed between us.
Ching.
Dia's bracelet morphed into a sword gleaming dark blue.
Gripping it summoned rings of water around her.
Mermaid Haupf's sword, Haufnis?
Figures. Some unheard-of bastard gave it to her.
A magic sword commanding water.
Explains her exam dominance.
But—who the fuck dared lay hands on Dia!
"Begin!"
As Marcus dropped his hand, Dia shot toward me like a bullet.
"Haaap!"
Klang.
Her swing met my pre-raised shield and bounced off.
"Kuh!"
A shield reflecting physical force. The rebound made her groan, but powerful water streams erupted from behind, hammering it.
Then—
Shatter.
The shield broke.
"I did it!"
As it shattered, water droplets spread spherically.
Clever. She'd slashed with the sword while secretly enveloping it in water from the blade.
Then probed for weaknesses through the water, piercing with streams.
She'd only seen my shield once before—yet planned this? Dia had such battle sense? In Deus ex Machina, I controlled her, so I'd never seen it.
"Iyap!"
Shield gone, she charged again—fists water-wrapped into gauntlets.
Trying not to hurt me, probably.
Softie.
Did she think I was a defenseless mage without shields?
Kwaang!
Thud.
Dia crumpled unconscious.
I caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her in my arms.
Sorry, Dia. The shield was just to gauge your level.
Didn't want you losing so anticlimactically.
But urgent matters arose.