Specialist Supporter P (2): Brief Evaluations of the Special Class Students
— Recorder
Instructor Esta
Late at night. Instructor Esta finished her analysis of our—more precisely, Unia's—combat capabilities.
According to her, Unia possessed quite impressive combat prowess for a freshman, just as I'd predicted. But she docked points for lack of real battle experience and infrequent practice firing magitech arrows with mana.
In truth, Unia had little combat experience. Though rated around C-rank, anyone who didn't get swayed by her looks and fought ruthlessly to win wouldn't find her an easy opponent.
Combat experience really is crucial.
I'd learned to fight through countless deaths and retries myself. The training from my days as seven-year-old Regiph had helped, sure, but what made me think I could take Esta one-on-one stemmed from Chang Yeom's endless simulations.
Since she's stepping up as a supporter, she won't be on the front lines anyway. Esta would hold her back. Unia would send me ahead. I'd only shown them close-quarters ability minimally, just enough to convince Esta I knew basic taijutsu.
I hid my full strength. By dulling my senses, I'd "perceived" Esta's ambush but my body hadn't "reacted" or "countered," fooling her.
Wonder how it'll go once she becomes an angel.
Angel Esta. Tyrant of Chastity. I'd faced her in the mental world Chang Yeom had manifested from the original game, dying to the Tyrant of Chastity several times.
Her martial arts style is a real pain. Against main-attribute specialists or ability users, I could counter easily. But pure martial fighters required direct weapon clashes. I'd been sliced so many times. Those damn sword strikes still haunted me.
"......."
I stopped walking. Lost in thoughts of Esta, I'd arrived at my destination. A wry chuckle escaped at the facility, untouched by staff, traces of neglect everywhere.
The bathhouse. It looked just like a hotel sauna.
Even though it's from 500 years ago.
Mostly magical facilities meant it had the basics, even if not full modern magitech. Had it stagnated for 500 years? No. It'd seem glitchy otherwise, but it was the reverse. If this old school's bath resembled a modern sauna, current ones were like medieval fantasy noble baths.
The devs' desperate bid to give the academy a modern feel. I was grateful.
And they'd built just one bathhouse in this massive old school building.
At least I can use it alone until others arrive.
Yes. This was the men's bath.
And the women's too.
The old school's bathhouse was singular; lore said men and women alternated times.
What bullshit.
It was contrived for mixed-gender events.
But I like it.
So what if contrived? A guy lounging, then a heroine slipping in to share the space—classic event scene.
—Original event. We claim it.
Chang Yeom had said.
—No need to let the protagonist snag it. The body I crafted is a work of art. Like K-drama male leads' shower scenes, you need to flaunt it to the heroines.
Sound logic. If baring a water-slicked torso could corrupt heroines against turning angelic, I'd strut this body shamelessly here.
I stepped in, opening the door. Cylindrical glass framed an open-air hot spring vibe; special magic glass blocked outside views.
Long neglect showed in restarted magic traces everywhere, but it felt like an empty 5-star hotel sauna—no big repulsion.
Splash.
I sank into the tub. Vast enough for a dozen, hot water soothing fatigue cycled endlessly.
Magitech's great.
Implementing modern facilities via "magitech" or "magic engineering" in fantasy. Many settings begged "Is this allowed?" but if enjoyable, indulge.
Cheongsam, bunny suits, shrine maiden outfits, mating declaration garb...
—The original heroines wore this stuff?
...Just an excuse to dress heroines up, right?
Chang Yeom had said in hanbok, teasing as I debated unwrapping her underboob bandages.
I'd taken the bait and—
Slide.
"......."
I surrendered to the hot water, eyes closed, listening.
Rustle, rustle. Footsteps and fabric whispers.
Couldn't distinguish perfectly yet, but those steps were definitely—
"Pardon the intrusion."
"...Instructor Esta?"
Instructor Esta entered.
Not nude, of course—in a swimsuit.
"...Instructor. What's with that swimsuit?"
"Academy instructor swimsuit for swim class."
"Uh, um."
Shocking in-game, even more so live.
"Do instructors have to wear such revealing swimsuits?"
Competition style. No rash guard, no thigh coverage—high-leg cut demanding resolve.
"The viewer's problem."
Esta shrugged indifferently, sitting opposite me in the tub.
"Instructor. Aren't baths meant for single gender?"
"Preparing for contingencies. Or do you distrust me?"
"No. I trust you, but didn't expect you'd actually come in."
"Nothing shameful."
Esta grinned, crossing her legs underwater.
"Adapting now so swim class isn't awkward later. Other academy boys... sometimes skip swim class entirely."
"Scared of exposing small sizes?"
"Blunt, but not wrong."
Esta pointed below the water.
"Phoenix. You especially need caution. You know why."
"Lest it grows and..."
"Some girls enter for marriage prospects. Talented ones snag fit guys pre-graduation for nightly bliss."
"Is swim class really about learning to swim?"
"Scheduling body-exposing classes in core curriculum hints at the old profs' shady desires."
"......."
The academy inescapably felt like a marriage market.
"Problem is, swim class exists this year too."
"What's wrong with swim class...?"
"Nearly was, but mana drain makes it riskier now."
Esta shook her head.
"Women too, but men especially. Mana and size are proportional."
"Isn't it different for women?"
"Strictly yes, but I've heard cases of growth."
"......Fair point."
This world's men could enhance length, girth, rigidity with mana growth. Life energy in their pouches tied to mana drain scaled with pipe size—bigger better.
In short.
"Men with more mana are bigger deals. Indirectly unlike women."
Esta nailed it.
"So, question. Just how much mana do you have?"
"...Instructor."
I shook my head firmly.
"Women can judge by size, but men aren't directly measurable."
"Then...?"
"Some inherit prime blood, blessed physiques growing big regardless of mana."
"......Can't deny that."
Esta nodded gravely.
"Uh. Ahem. Just to be sure."
Esta edged toward the point.
"Phoenix. Purely educational, hygiene-related, for academy morals and anti-terror."
"Sounds sinister..."
"Important. Because..."
Esta hovered her hand near the surface.
"Research shows."
Splash.
"Even this detects faint mana."
"......."
Esta flicked water, mimicking a vigorous spurt.
"Red Sol Phoenix."
Her gaze remained priestly, instructive.
"As a male student in dorms, how'll you handle self-relief?"
That question really made me ponder this bread academy.
Breadcademy. Is this okay?
"If no plan, I can introduce another instructor."
"Pardon?"
"Instructor doubling as 'infirmary' staff. Medical."
"......."
...This fine too?
"Her nursing should solve issues."
"Got it. Can't just stand awkwardly rejecting your kindness."
I raised a hand.
"I pass."