Hell's Group Assignment (2)
D-3 until the mock dungeon assault.
Early in the morning, with a free period ahead, I headed to Arsen Academy's physical training room. It used to be mostly second-years, but now it's packed with first-years.
Kyle Ivanstair, gripping a dumbbell, was one of them.
"Oh, Shion. Hey."
"Hey."
"Shion, your cast isn't off yet. You sure you're okay? If you ask for a pass, they'll probably let you sit it out."
I appreciated the concern, but for some reason, it brought a wry smile to my face. If I had even half his regenerative ability, that'd be great.
"I'm fine. You focus on recovering."
"Well, if you say so... Got it."
Kyle scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Then sharp glares shot from behind him. I tactfully stepped back a few paces.
"Hey, Kyle! What are you doing? This isn't playtime!"
"Y-yeah, coming now!"
"We have to explain it all over again because of you. Get over here."
Kyle got dragged off by his teammates. Good to see him doing well.
But besides Kyle, there were two more people I knew here. The first was Serin Anette, surrounded by cadets like a kindergarten teacher.
"...I already said that part. Plan B is more efficient."
"Isn't that overconfident? If that side breaks, everyone behind us gets wiped out."
"Then Plan A is even more unstable. Even with two snipers there, if the front line can't hold, it's useless."
Serin Anette was racking her brain. They'd merged two teams, so there were two leaders. With two brains thinking, the leaders were locked in a fierce debate. The rest of the team just stood awkwardly as bystanders.
This is why a team needs one leader.
"......"
"Huh...?"
I glanced over and locked eyes with Serin Anette. We exchanged a light nod.
And finally, Iri de Sugamond. She stood with her eyes closed, running the training battle simulator. She was honing the Sugamond family's secret swordsmanship, maximizing her bodily senses.
Her stance hadn't changed much from last time, but she'd picked up the feel enough to shed the minor flourishes.
I approached silently to avoid disturbing her and checked the current stage and difficulty. She'd taken my advice; it was set to level 1.
She must have decided to start from the basics.
Warning sound. Red lights flash.
Stage 1 began, and hologram enemies poured in. Iri waited until they closed in, then reflexively slashed.
Four or so enemies shattered in one strike.
But she was still inexperienced.
"Whoa, ack?!"
Iri stumbled as she reset her stance, her footwork tangling. She caught herself on the ground and looked up unconsciously—right at me.
"Oh, Shion. When did you get here?"
"......"
I pretended not to see and turned away. Playing dumb, I slipped out of the training room silently.
...That afternoon. At sunset, I headed to the clearing behind Arsen, where I'd arranged to meet Kazuha beforehand.
No one was around. The training room would be better, but she'd refused.
"This place is really more comfortable?"
"I have bad memories of the training room..."
At the time, I thought she was secretly practicing some family secret like Iri. But no.
"Truth is, I broke some equipment practicing at night, and I'm scared it's still there. Points deduction would be bad for me. I was too scared to check..."
"That table in the corner that got sliced? That was you?"
"H-how did you know...?"
How? My eyes have Telescopic Vision. The jagged edge from her whip had torn some cadet's uniform.
"Will I get points deducted if it's found out?"
"Who knows... Probably not. They won't deduct for accidentally breaking a desk during training."
Not like Rian von Hildegaard's blatant sabotage. Arsen invests generously in cadet training. They're not petty about minor damage.
"Anyway, did you practice what I mentioned?"
"Not yet. I'm trying, but it's not working."
A couple days ago, I'd sent her some whip-related info. Esperand had whip instructors, so it was secondhand knowledge.
Whips prioritize impact, but with good control, they can be versatile beyond weapons—like pulling a teammate from danger or snatching and redirecting falling objects.
A classic in old adventure movies.
If Kazuha got comfortable with her mana-alloy whip, she'd make a solid supporter.
"You know whips better than me, but I figured I could advise on versatility. No pressure."
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
She gave a quick salute and scampered off. Eastern origins emphasizing etiquette—she was polite like that.
"First, power control again."
Kazuha gripped her whip and struck a tree stump.
Boom—!
I expected a whoosh, but it roared like a cannon. The whip was barely visible—even to my Telescopic Vision. Insane power.
Dust settled, revealing the stump's thick bark shredded.
If that hit a cadet full force... Yikes.
"Whoa..."
"S-sorry..."
"Nothing to apologize for. Ease up and try again. Fix that habit of unconsciously channeling mana first."
Sincere advice. I'd made the same mistake in Esperand, leading to mana exhaustion.
Then a dark shadow loomed over us.
"W-wait a sec!"
"...!"
Crack—screeech!
The tree finally toppled. We dodged being crushed but ended up covered in dirt.
"...You okay?"
"Uh..."
Kazuha sat dazed from the shock. I pulled her up.
'Yuuki Kazuha's favorability rises slightly.
Why does it go up over something so minor?
...That night. Before heading to the guest house, I stopped by the student council building. Not for anything big—just to check one thing.
Second floor, infirmary. The nurse looked flustered by my sudden visit as she was about to close.
"So, can I get the cast off now?"
The mock dungeon was three days away. A cast would be inconvenient inside, and controlling the Glock's recoil one-handed was trickier than expected—especially amplifying firepower with mana.
But the nurse shook her head.
"No."
"Mock dungeon soon. The cast's getting in the way..."
"Taking it off now could reopen it. Or apply for a pass."
I shook my head. With random events already in play, I couldn't sit out.
D-2 until the mock dungeon assault.
The afternoon training room buzzed with first-years again.
"No, Kyle! Match the formation! If you keep charging alone, what about the line?!"
"Ah, messed up again. Sorry. Let's retry."
"How long will practice take like this? Ugh..."
I passed Kyle and Elin—bickering productively—and headed to the back, to the battle simulator. Not to use it, just to check on today's user.
"Hup..."
Iri stood eyes closed again. Sugamond secret swordsmanship. At this rate, she might awaken her talent sooner than expected.
"Hah!"
Crackle—!
She opened her eyes and slashed fiercely. A faint pink afterimage trailed her horizontal arc. Enemies there split in half.
But she had a ways to go. Effort wasn't enough for the demanding art; it needed time.
"Ack?!"
She tripped on her step again. Arms crossed watching, I finally approached reluctantly.
"Y-you... saw?"
"Saw it. Yeah."
"......"
Iri's embarrassed face, with her pink hair, looked just like a peach.
...An hour later, Arsen clearing.
I watched Kazuha whip trees from afar, inching closer when safe.
Her whip was vicious. Each swing boomed, shaking trees, but...
"Ah?!"
Crunch—!
Poor reflexes ruined it. The falling apple smashed on the ground again.
"This isn't working. How do you hit falling stuff...?"
She finally asked for help. I set down my apple and drew the Glock.
"Don't think fast. Watch carefully."
"Uh..."
"Don't aim at the apple. Aim at its trajectory."
Read the path, predict and intercept. It's instinctual—practice refines it. My Sharp Shooter talent gives me an edge.
I could demonstrate.
Bang—!
Bang—!
Clean shots, casings flying. Kazuha's jaw dropped.
Crunch—!
Both bullets pierced the falling apple, fragments scattering.
"Piece of cake. Easier for me as a sniper, but you—"
"Kakkoii (cool)..."
"What?"
She snapped out of it, shaking her head.
"Nothing! One more time!"
We practiced late into the night.
...That night, infirmary.
The nurse was cleaning through the window, but I entered anyway. Still open—good.
"So, when can the cast come off?"
"Be patient. It's not a one- or two-day injury."
No luck today either.
D-1 until the mock dungeon assault.
Afternoon training room. Past the crowd to the back simulator.
Iri eyes closed. So routine now, I leaned against the wall to watch.
Enemies charged; she opened her eyes. No real expectations, but something felt different. My Sense confirmed it—reacting strongly to her draw.
"...!"
She raised her sword overhead and slammed it down. A flash erupted.
My Telescopic Vision took it straight on. Blinking through, her sword hit the floor. The frontal enemy seemed to dodge, but...
Whoosh—
Holograms around her collapsed en masse. Iri, standing still, then flopped over.
Worried, I approached. She panted heavily.
"Shion, how was it? I did good, right?"
Drained, she grinned idiotically, no expression control.
But I saw it. She'd nailed the first form of the secret art. Even if basic, mastering it so fast was key.
"Not bad at all. See? Told you it'd work."
"Hehehehe..."
She deflated with a wheeze. Proud, I ruffled her hair thoroughly.
"Ack! Bangs! Don't touch the bangs...!"
Too weak to resist, she'd melt into the floor if left. Meant to perk her up, but her bangs were now a bird's nest.
"Bangs... curl... please curl them..."
"Hair curler? Where?"
"Cadet uniform pocket... front one, not back."
Sure enough, one in her pocket. She carries this stuff?
Won't touch bangs next time.
...Then to the clearing for Kazuha.
"Shion! Look! I did it!"
Beaming, she approached first, holding a perfect apple.
"Nailed it this time?"
"Yeah! Power control success!"
But behind her grinning self, at least ten trees lay felled.
"Won't this get points deducted? Property damage or something?"
"Dunno... Probably not?"
"Shion...?"
I don't know Arsen rules by heart. Forest damage might count, but whatever—better safe.
"Not sure, but... gotta dispose of evidence here."
"A-all of them?"
"Trees fall naturally. Stage it convincingly, no issue."
"You said 'stage it'?"
I shook my head. No better word.
"Anyway. I'll help. Let's try."
'Evidence disposal' sounded harsher than 'staging.'
...Infirmary.
Near midnight, the nurse sat waiting—cleaning done, probably for me.
Straight to it.
"Cast off now?"
"You come every day."
"Important. Feels much better."
Crack seemed healed. Knew from Esperand rolls.
"What do you think I'll say?"
"No?"
"Correct. No."
She ushered me out naturally. Door slammed as I turned.
A bit harsh on a patient, but past midnight—fair.
> [Current time: 00:01:05]
> [Today's set alarm - 07:00 Mock Dungeon Assault D-Day]