Chapter 73.1 - The First Year at the Academy - Aim (1)
Chapter 73.1 The First Year at the Academy – Aim (1)
In the lingering summer sun. Two boys were exchanging swords in the training hall.
I watched them and tipped my wooden cup.
The cold water flowing into my body feels good.
They had fought me earlier, and now they were engaged in a mock battle.
I thought about the "Appraisal" results.
Lambert has mastered "one-handed sword 2" and "spear 1," while Felix has mastered "one-handed sword 2," "spear 3," and "shield 1. Looking at this alone, Felix was better, but Lambert had a higher winning percentage in one-handed sword fights. Even at the same rank, there seems to be a difference in proficiency and tactics.
Since he asked me to lend him my strength, I have been practicing with him from time to time in this way.
But I wonder if that is enough. They want it, but there must be something else to do.
Mixed in with the sword fights, I could hear the academy students talking in the distance.
There is a magic training place ahead. They are probably going to practice magic.
The distant voices suddenly reminded me of Elphimia.
She had come to Selene to look for her grandmother, but now that she had completed her goal, she was beginning to lead a normal life. The other day she had strolled the town with Lola and brought an assortment of sweets. Of course, most of them are inside the stomachs of my intruders.
I also saw her consulting on magic. Since Elphimia had been out and about so much up until now. She probably couldn't consult even if she wanted to. By the way, the consultant was No. 2.
In any case, Elphimia was able to see her grandmother and could move on.
I kept my eyes on the two of them and opened my status.
I guess I've moved on a bit, too.
"Penetrate Gale".
It is an intermediate magic of the wind attribute and is one of the snipe-type magic.
Although its power is inferior to that of the ball and spear types, which are also intermediate magic, it boasts an outstanding range and high accuracy. It can hit a winged insect from 200 meters away as long as I can see it. But I can't see it tho.
According to a lecture on magic, this snipe system is a derivative of the spear system.
I thought the reason why I learned it so quickly was because I was shooting "Wind Bolt" so many times to scorch the invisible mansion. It was not just a random shot, but I was conscious of my accuracy. It seems that I was training "Penetrate Gale" without realizing it.
And I'm finally learning "Operate Water" as well.
Now all I need to do is learn how to use "Operate Soil", and I can pour the kneaded soil into the gaps I couldn't reach. That would complete the repairs to my house. The roof – not yet.
Other things like "one-handed sword" have gone up across the board, and I level 5 times since I came to Selene.
Not only is it going well, but it has grown considerably.
However, there is a problem.
Monsters around Selene were weak.
Compared to the forest of Leknod, the average level of goblins and nudloks is lower. I entered the forest quite often, but the only one I could call a strong enemy was the Goblin Leader. The Iron Golem and Lislia were unbelievably strong enemies, but they were inside Selen, and when it came to Lislia, I hadn't even fought her.
So, even if I continued to go to the forest, it's certain I would stop growing.
It's very troubling.
The fact that there are so many things I want to do is also adding to the problem.
Should I narrow down my goals, or should I broaden my scope in the hope of "increasing my growth potential"?
While I was agonizing over this, the mock battle was over.
The winner was Lambert, who, under the pretense of being pushed back, counterattacked with a "two-strike" strategy.
Felix was unable to overcome him, and Lambert knocked off his sword.
By the way, Felix can use "hard-hitting".
I – I don't remember anything. Well, it's good that I don't get hit. It's fast.
Really, why can't I remember?
The two jumped at the jug of water with ice that had been prepared and quenched their thirst.
They were covered in sweat and discolored clothes.
"Can you get enough water for a rash?"
Lambert asked, apparently uncomfortable with the sweat.
A lot of water. I can, but that's no trick.
"Let's give it a try."
I added water to the jug with "Pure Water" and used it as a catalyst to form an "Ice Bolt".
Waiting for the duration to pass, I cool the jug with the icicles that have fallen from it.
That is about as cold as I can get it.
I activated "Operate Water".
"Whoa, water!"
As if crawling, the water ivy grows.
When it came toward him, Lambert jumped back.
"That's pretty hard to maneuver. Don't avoid it, Lambert."
"No, what's this? It's disgusting!"
"Disrespectful"
Here's what I do to guys like that.
I add magic power and deploy water in a square pattern. I surround Lambert from both sides.
"Damn, I'm surrounded!"
Looks like he's having a good time.
Lambert desperately wields his wooden sword and fights back.
But the opponent is just water. There is no way he can cut it, and Lambert is entangled.
"Oh, it's cool!"
The water web took in his sweat and dirt and dispersed when it cooled the body sufficiently. It soaked into the ground.
Felix looks enviously at Lambert with a refreshed expression.
"By all means, Alter-sama!"
He pleaded and refilled the water. He activates "Operate Water" again.
This time, I stretch it straight up into the sky like a rope.
"This is fun. I can't use it in a real battle at all, though. It consumes a lot of magic power."
The distance he can operate it is about three meters, but its slow speed makes it impossible to catch an opponent.
And with earth or fire, but not with water, there is no point in catching them.
The water rope turns into a ball on Felix and falls in a weave.
As it wrapped around him, Felix said, "Oh."
And then, as he takes a breath, I cut in on a flabbergasted Lambert.
"I've been meaning to ask you, where are you headed?"
It was a genuine question, and one I was asking myself.
"Father's knight—that's not what you're talking about. Can you be more specific?"
"Yes, I am. He asked me to help, and I agreed, but there was not much I could do except mock battles. If I knew his target, I could lend a little more."
Lambert crossed his arms with a difficult look and looked at me.
"I have two older brothers. Both are smart like my father. So the battlefield will be my place."
"Then – should you learn to be a soldier?"
"I did that in the classroom. I don't know what it's all about."
Lambert blurted out as he remembered.
The lecture on the art of combat also includes military tactics. But to be honest, it was not much. In this world, the power of the individual is too strong. Real 1,000 slayers were possible, and advanced magic users were not much different from short-range missiles.
Be that as it may, according to Lambert, tactics could be more important than strategy.
That is troubling.
I remember some military tactics from my previous life, but I'm only a civilian.
When I told him I couldn't help him there, he didn't seem to be expecting it and nodded in agreement.
But this would only mean another round of mock battles.
After a few moments of pondering, a thought occurred to me.
"What is necessary for a soldier is leadership. No matter how good they are, they are useless if the soldiers do not move. During the field exercise, there was no one to lead the first-year soldiers. Why don't you try it for a start?"
Lambert's reaction was not encouraging.
"I understand what you are saying. But I don't think the Doris team will be silent. I'm on the same level as Sirzia."
"That's right. Well, I guess it's okay for our second half of the year. Let's see – that little ……."
"Reez?"
Felix immediately guessed.
After all, they think it's small.
"That little Reez is a surprisingly talkative guy. If it's too difficult for people suddenly become a commander, we can use a council system with the group leaders. There's a lot to learn from different opinions. We'll start by advocating, and if it else fails, it'll be an experience."
Lambert thought for a moment and nodded his head.
"If it's a council system, there will be less opposition. The problem is the first semester of next year. If I make such a proposal, Sirzia will say she's in charge. It would be the worst possible exercise."
Perhaps imagining this, Felix also looked deeply disgusted.
I waved my hand at them.
"Maybe, but don't worry. I don't think she'll come to next year's first-semester field exercises. She has neither the motivation nor the talent for alchemy."
"Really? Why did she take the course?
"Well. I don't know what a noble young lady is thinking."
It was to draw Elphimia in.
Elphimia is relieved that she doesn't seem to be following her around these days as if she's decided he doesn't have a pulse.
"Well, I think that's enough of a break. It's still before evening, so let's have another round, shall we?"
"Please."
I then had a mock battle with the two of them.
Both unleashed "Double Strike" and "Hard Strike," but I lightly avoided them as I had declared in my heart.
How to incorporate offensive skills into a normal attack is important. The two of them were overconfident about its power.
Then, while having a light meal at their usual restaurant, they made such remarks and paid attention to their trivial movements. When the sun went down, we parted ways and headed home.
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