Special Class Sparring Test
After a light breakfast, "We're heading to the training grounds."
I'd wondered what we'd do until the rest of the special class students gathered, but Instructor Esta called us straight there.
"Why the training grounds all of a sudden?"
"Special students need to be special."
Her answer to Unia's question was circular, but I could guess the intent.
"Trying to make a show of it? To make the special admission kids look like they've got some incredibly unique 'talent'?"
"Exactly. You've got it spot on."
Instructor Esta nodded gravely at my words.
"You two have some 'hidden talent' yourselves, but the special admissions coming in from now on? They'll be packed with kids boasting tremendous gifts."
"Tremendous talent... Specifically, what kind?"
Unia swallowed hard, her voice thick with tension.
"Already thinking about the competition?"
Esta chuckled lowly, teasing her.
"Rivalry is one of the driving forces behind academy students' growth, sure. But... I can say this with certainty. Unia?"
"Yes."
"In terms of mana potential alone, just looking at you is enough to make other students think you're the special admission."
Esta pointed at Unia's mana pouch, and Unia flushed, glancing my way.
"That's..."
"She's not wrong."
I nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Out of everyone I saw on the way to the academy, no one measured up to Unia."
"...Ho?"
Instructor Esta's lips quirked as she eyed me.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Talking potential, or just mana capacity?"
"Just talking about the 'container' itself."
I phrased it carefully, but Esta wasn't the type to miss the implication.
"What're you getting at?"
"What do you mean? It's obvious just by looking."
I deliberately shifted my gaze to their mana pouches so both could see.
"Unia's is bigger, Instructor."
"...Ha."
"Um, Phoenix...!"
"What'd I say that's wrong?"
Esta smirked, Unia panicked, but I just shrugged innocently, hands up.
"Guys can spot height differences at a glance. Same deal."
"What about compression from clothing?"
"Factoring that in too."
I held my hand out like I was scanning, grinning at Esta.
"97."
"......."
"Was I off?"
"......Tch."
Esta clicked her tongue outright but said nothing more.
"We were talking potential, so let's continue. Academy entrants are all geniuses with exceptional talents, but how you hone them determines your post-graduation path."
She sounded like a tutorial instructor, but it was just how the world worked.
"Unia. You've got 100 in potential. But can you fully tap it?"
"Uh... no."
Esta stated it flatly. No surprise—she'd seen Unia fight those monsters that attacked the mana train.
"Right. That's why you're here, still lacking. No need to worry. Study hard for three years, and by graduation, you might awaken that full 100."
In game terms, hitting level 100. Not everything could be gamified, but in Esdinas of the Blue Skies' world, women's max growth levels showed intuitively via their mana pouch. 100cm meant level 100 potential.
No wonder Binyu Group couldn't get in.
The academy had clear limits on who they could cultivate.
"Question. What do you think the 'kind of talent' we nurture here should be?"
"Pardon?"
"Unia seems fuzzy on it, but you know, right?"
Esta turned to me, demanding an answer.
"What do you think?"
"Nurturing beings with overwhelming combat power."
"Deeper?"
"Well... To produce 'heroes' who can overcome humanity's impending calamity?"
"Spot on."
She clapped approvingly.
"This place was originally a 'hero officer academy.' Not like the empire's military officer schools—a school for heroes."
"Heroes..."
"To raise world-savers. That's the academy's essence, no matter the reality."
Close enough. Dig deeper, and it was for heroes to fight hell-sealed demons.
"I see... Heroes to avert the apocalypse..."
Unia, who'd heard about Esta from me, took it differently.
"Got it. I'll study hard!"
"Dunno why you're burning with zeal looking at me, but good attitude."
Esta brushed off Unia's gaze, drawing her sword.
"First, let's check your combat prowess. To fend off cocky freshmen or upperclassmen picking fights."
"Pardon?"
Unia blinked in confusion.
"Combat prowess?"
"Yeah. Heroes come in all forms, but combat power's the foundation."
An instructor drawing on students. She'd hold back, but I knew Esta's style.
Starts by showing the overwhelming gap in power.
Canon Esta did that. This one wouldn't differ much—
"Unia. Hit me with your maximum output."
"......?"
Reverse?
"Pardon?"
"I'll block it."
Esta channeled aura into her blade. Pure white aura shimmered as she stood firm, sword pointed forward.
"A-are you sure?"
"Who's worrying about whom?"
"N-no, that's not—"
"Think the White Sword Saint title's empty?"
"...No, of course not."
Esta's low warning sobered Unia, who drew her own weapon seriously. Click, click. The slim rod from her pocket unfolded into a magitech bow. In normal clothes it looked tactical, but in a frilly dress? Total magical girl vibes.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh?"
"Not you, Unia."
As Unia nocked mana into an arrow, Esta glanced my way.
"You too."
"1v2?"
"......Gonna make me repeat it?"
Esta frowned.
"Special class or not, newbies all share that academy arrogance."
"Oh, I get it."
Academy trait: Freshmen cockiness. Even the famed White Sword Saint got the 'ice bridge hot pants' treatment. Most normal students respected her, but here we were.
"Come at me. Full power."
"Hm..."
"Why hesitate?"
"Well."
I stepped behind Unia, pressing close.
"I'm specialized in this."
"Eek?!"
I overlaid my hands on hers.
"...What now?"
"What I do best?"
"......."
"Got it. I'm... a sort of 'enhancer'."
"Enhancer?"
Irritation flickered in Esta's eyes, mixed with curiosity.
"Yes. Simply put, I can make anyone I touch stronger."
"Um..."
"Like this."
I adjusted Unia's stance, laying my hand lightly on hers.
"...Eh?"
Unia gasped in surprise. Together, we aimed the magitech bow at Esta.
"Mind if I get cocky once, Instructor?"
"Fine. I'll take this one."
"No lawsuits if blood's drawn."
"...Cocky brat."
"A-ahh...!"
Caught between us, Unia whimpered.
"I-I swear I had no idea...!"
Biting her lip, she poured mana into the arrow.
"G-gonna shoot for real!"
Emotion edged her voice. Even against the White Sword Saint, even as a student—genius freshmen always dreamed of landing one hit on an instructor.
"Firing!"
Unia drew the string taut. I tuned her flowing mana, refining the arrow's mana over and over.
Let Esta see my power's style.
Refining mana mimicked a swordmaster's advanced technique.
"!!"
Esta's eyes widened at the transformed mana arrow—my tuning. She readjusted her stance.
"Eh?"
Unia faltered as her aimed shot now tracked Esta's shift toward her brow.
"Unia."
I patted her hand gently.
"Trust and shoot."
"Trust?"
"The instructor's skill."
Teasing aside, sincerity now would offset it all.
Esta grinned.
I smiled back.
"Now."
We loosed together.
Pa—bang!!
Orange-gold mana arrow trailed sparkles like Unia's eyes. It resembled Esta's sword aura.
"Pass."
Before it hit, Esta swung wide.
Kwa—bang!!
Sword ki intercepted, exploding mana. Gold and white light mingled into mist. Unia startled forward.
"Did I—"
"Nah."
I grabbed her wrist, raising both our hands.
"We surrender."
"......Huh?"
"We lost."
I nodded back.
"Too serious against students, Instructor?"
"You made me serious."
Behind us.
"Not bad."
Esta prodded our backs with a finger, sword raised.
"Pass."
"...In what sense?"
"Unia won't get dragged off by random guys..."
Esta eyed me, chuckling low.
"And you... won't fall to average students easily."
That smile.
"Wait."
Then.
"......You said 'makes your partner stronger'?"
Shock colored her face.
"What ability was that...?"
"Trusting you too, Instructor."
I released Unia's hands.
"Wanna try it yourself?"
"......Cost?"
"Ah, if you're thinking mana drain—nope. Pure buff. Buff."
"......."
I offered my hand.
"Just needs some physical contact."
Like Chang Yeom said.
—Honestly, buffs work remotely, but how else to 'physically contact' academy heroines?
—Say skin contact activates and optimizes mana.
Physical-contact mana enhancement. My public academy ability.
"Ah."
And key point.
"Might sound awkward, but."
Learned post-surface, revealing now could complicate things.
"Works on women only."
Couldn't let guys touch me.
"Call it a women-only buffer."