Chapter 4: Combat Practice Exercises I & II (4 Credits)

The next day, my life as a homeroom teacher began on a full-scale basis, although in practice, little has changed from the prior years’ work.

As the homeroom teacher, I was required to attend homeroom both in the morning and at night, but I was not obliged to hold courses; as a result, I often spent my time in the infirmary tending to injured students who came in during recess or instructing Xeth, an assistant teacher who joined this year. From time to time, however, I would show up at other classes. This was not because I liked doing it. There were certain sessions that were dangerous, in which I needed to stick close by and be ready to assist an injured student at any time.

For instance, a lesson like the one that was unfolding right in front of me at the moment.

“All right, everybody!”

The pupils responded to the instructions in a vibrant manner after hearing Rivalz von Gheinsturth’s voice, which was as robust as his physical appearance.

“Today we are going to have a mock battle for next month’s student knight tournament! You will advance a grade this spring and be a senior. Don’t let your juniors catch you in a bad light!”

[Yes!]

The students’ expressions as they responded were youthful, yet they were beginning to exhibit a touch of fearlessness. This “practical combat training” was an exercise in which a select group of pupils would opt to participate rather than being conducted class-by-class. Students had to qualify as fifth-class magicians in order to register for the joint class; grade levels were irrelevant. That being said, the qualification of a fifth-class magician would be the simplest qualification for anyone who can generate magical power in their body with “Mana Awake”. Nevertheless, not many people undergo this exercise each year.

“Some of the first-year students are joining the class today. These individuals are among the elite who have mastered the use of magical power even before enrolling. The upperclassmen should welcome them with open arms!”

“Welcome huh… They don’t seem to be at all enthusiastic about welcoming them, in my opinion.”

Rivalz turned around.

“Oh, Teacher Kanaki.”

“Hello, Instructor Rivalz.”

For whatever reason, all the individuals conducting the combat exercises were referred to as instructors, not teachers. I always wondered what the disparity was between the two.

“Hey! You may give it your best since Teacher Kanaki is also present and will take care of any injuries.”

“No, there are limits, you know. I don’t have that much magical power.”

Rivalz’s raspy voice caused me to frown. Despite not being a wicked person, this person was just too unpredictable in many respects.

Afterward, the students began to do their exercises under Rivalz’s direction. The sight of this brought a sense of nostalgia to me, causing me to squint my eyes.

By the count, there were forty-three students taking this exercise so far. This represented less than one-tenth of the total enrollment at the school, but as more first-year students enroll, the overall number will gradually rise. Well, that was temporary, though, and the number will shortly revert to its current level.

Glancing around, I recognized the faces of students from my own class. It was Ortesia and Fina.

“Are you still curious about that student?”

Rivalz, who was next to me, caught where my gaze was resting.

“Well, that is… She is, after all, the Princess of this country, a semi-first-class magician, and a student in my class.”

I was taken aback by how she outshone everyone as the last person to introduce herself.

“That is true. I’ve been an instructor for more than 20 years now, but never before have I encountered a first-year student who is a semi-first-class magician. When Aldar first joined us, I was also astounded, but if it is only based on title, Ortesia is by far superior.”

“You’re referring to Rain Aldar, right? It’s true that he earned the second-class at the age of 18, but Ortesia is only 15, you know.”

I took a glance at the students who were silently doing exercises at the edge of the training ground.

Rain Aldar, the fourth grader. He was eighteen years old. He served as the captain of the “Kaguya,” the city Security Force composed of students from the campus, and was one of the school’s most gifted magicians, holding the qualification of a second-class magician. Due to his high caliber, he was strongly recommended to participate in the student knight tournament, but he brushed it off, claiming that he was not interested in it. The school would like to achieve results in the tournament, and this was apparently a headache for them, but the entrance of Ortesia this year should alleviate this problem to a small extent. Like Fina, this young man was oriental-looking, earning him a high reputation among the female students.

In due course, the students who had finished their physical exercises gathered one after another. The student knight tournament will be implemented through a one-on-one duel format. It was originally designed to cultivate real-world experience for young people aspiring to become knights of the Kingdom, with several casualties each year, but the conclusion was drawn that it would be a complete disaster, so now the tournament was held in the form of protective gear made of magical artifacts.

“For the sake of the new students, let me explain that the tactical vest I’m handing you right now is unique and constructed of fibers with magical power. Even if you are struck by magic while wearing the vest, it will mitigate some of the damage.”

At Rivalz’s explanation, some of the first-year students displayed a look of conspicuous relief.

“―If any of you are currently feeling relieved, you should leave right away. This is not a lesson; this is combat training for individuals who will one day fight on the front lines. I have witnessed a number of students who have been disabled for the rest of their lives because they took on the challenge with half-hearted determination. Anyone who is not aiming to be a knight should maturely withdraw from such training.”

The freshmen were clearly unnerved by Rivalz’s intimidation. Some even began to scurry around, but eventually a student sauntered up to Rivalz.

“I’m Karen Ortesia from the fourth class of the first year. I don’t mean to be indelicate, but I have a request for Instructor Rivalz.”

So it was you again huh…

Rivalz batted an eyelid at Ortesia, who wasn’t displaying a cool demeanor, while I dabbed my eyes.

“What is it? For the record, notwithstanding the fact that you’re the Princess of this country, I have no intention of favoritism here.”

“Of course not. It would be a disservice even to me, who enrolled in this academy to study to be a first-class magician.”

“…Hmph, excuse me for saying that. So what’s your business?”

“Despite my age, I am positive that I am in a stronger place than each and every one of the pupils present. Therefore, Instructor Rivalz, I would like to request that you individually train me.”

Against the cheeks, the air tingled.

A presence of practical bloodlust prevailed here from the senior students the instant Ortesia uttered the words. It was only natural. At the point when they were undergoing this exercise, they were undeniably elites. There was no doubt that they had been educated as gifted upper-class aristocrats from an early age, and their self-esteem was bound to be strong.

“―With all due respect, Your Highness Princess Ortesia. Even if it is Your Highness, I cannot dismiss those words.”

Here it came.

A male student who looked to be in his third year, stepped forward as if to represent everyone’s feelings.

His shining silver hair was meticulously styled, and it was obvious at first glance that he was a man of high rank.

“I am Luke Strait, a third-year student and a third-class magician. If you would be so kind as to allow me to be the opponent of Your Highness―”

“―I respectfully decline.”

“…What?”

The immediate reply made the student, who identified himself as Strait, blink his eyelids several times.

Rivalz started bursting into a peal of laughter uncontrollably as if he were losing it.

“Ahahaha! Strait, give up. You’re no match for Ortesia.”

“…! Instructor Rivalz, by all means, give me a shot at dealing with Her Highness…!”

“Ortesia is a semi-first-class magician. You’re not so foolish as to not know what this means.”

“Semi-first-class!?”

These students had the same reactions as the students in my classroom yesterday. Fina was the only one with a composed expression who was motionless and unmoving, though.

Ortesia was no longer even looking at Strait.

I have heard about it. The Princess was not fond of aristocrats. Apparently, Ortesia planned to abolish the current aristocratic system, which was riddled with corruption and negligence, in the future. Although she herself must have been exposed to danger more than once or twice because of this, judging from her behavior, it would seem that her will has not wavered.

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“No, even so, I believe we have more combat experience than she does. Let me do it!”

On the contrary, this seemed to have lit a fire in Strait’s heart.

Rivalz laughed amusingly as Ortesia fixed a new light in her eyes on Strait, who was seized with zeal.

“Oh, I see. All right, then, you two, Strait and Ortesia, you’ll take on each other first!”

“Yes!”

“…I understand.”

Nodding in a contrasting manner, the two of them soon entered the area enclosed by a rectangular white line in the center.

“Just to make sure, no dangerous magic or attacks that leave disabilities are allowed. Other than that, victory is achieved by rendering the opponent unable to fight, or by sending the opponent out of the area. You will stop when I tell you to. Is this understood?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Then, let’s begin!”

The instant Rivalz called out, Strait pointed his fingertip at Ortesia.

The ring-shaped magical tool on his index finger glowed faintly in response to the magical power sent to it.

“’Thunder’!”

A thin but luminous lightning bolt swept through in a straight line at Ortesia. For a surprise attack so early in the game, it was a fairly well-executed maneuver.

However, the thunder from Strait was drowned out right before Ortesia’s eyes. It was obstructed by the “Mana Wall” barrier.

It was not especially unexpected that Ortesia could fend off the present onslaught given her might, but…

“Did she just use a magical tool?”

“No, Ortesia didn’t use it. ‘Thunder’ is the swiftest lower-level magic, but it’s less powerful and is a point-blank attack. It is not a wonder that she used ‘Mana Wall’ to ward it off, but to think that this was done without using any magical tools.”

For a modern magician, a magical tool was a necessity, as Rivalz snarled.

To begin with, a magical tool was an object that had several magic formulas pre-written into it, allowing magic to be triggered by merely channeling magical power into it. In essence, it was a tool that could significantly reduce the amount of time needed to initiate magic. Taking Strait’s “Thunder” as an instance, it would take approximately one second for a hybrid-type magical tool, five-tenths of a second for the only-type, and 2.5 seconds without a magical tool.

To put it another way, despite that gap, Ortesia repelled “Thunder” without using her magical tools. With that alone, everyone present had no choice but to perceive the evident disparity between the two.

“…Since that’s the case!”

Of course, this was something Strait understood as well. Nonetheless, his combative spirit remained unabated, and he began his subsequent magic move.

Eight flame blades manifested all around Strait as his magical tool began to glow.

“‘Flame Blades’!”

The flame blades swarmed and soared in the direction of Ortesia in response to Strait’s shout.

With a certain accuracy, if not unparalleled precision, these blades surged toward Ortesia.

It was a textbook attack that capitalized on the narrow defensive range of the “Mana Wall,” but…

“―’Mana Wall’.”

“What!?”

In the same manner as before, each of those efforts was also fruitless. Even I was taken aback by this. The fact that “Mana Wall” protected against this attack implied that she deployed multiple “Mana Walls” at once without any magical tools.

“Are you done?”

“…! Not yet!”

Putting on a stern expression, Strait made his final attempt to win the duel. Sparks flew about him from the magical power. It seemed that he had kneaded a substantial amount of magical power.

“…’Flame Pillar’!”

A pillar of flames that could completely engulf an adult soon rose to prominence at Ortesia’s feet.

The heat wave from the activation reached us, and the students watching around the duel took a step or two back. Perhaps this magic was his trump card.

“―It’s futile.”

Rivalz, though, who was observing from the side, merely reasoned as such.

Within the following second, the potent pillar of fire was extinguished by Ortesia. Strait, who was standing there in disbelief, was struck by magic of the lowest level when she lifted her right hand.

“‘Red Magic Bullet’.”

Without even having a chance to scream, a red magic bullet whizzed through Strait. Rivalz signaled the end of the match.

From here on, it was my cue. I rushed over to Strait and checked his condition.

…No, he was not severely wounded, but it might be better to have him sleep in the infirmary just in case.

Ortesia’s words could be heard as I was about to carry Strait and step out of the white line.

“―I hope you are now convinced by my strength.”

“Oh. I can see why you are so overconfident. Indeed, with that kind of strength, I doubt you’ll have any enemies in your age group.”

“Then, from now on, I would like to ask you for your direct guidance…”

“―Rain Aldar. Take care of this first-year student who is getting self‐conceited.”

“…I understand.”

“…Are we doing this again?”

My fascination was aroused by this dialogue that I overheard from behind me, even if I didn’t like it. The duel between Aldar, the undisputed leader of this school, and Ortesia, the Princess of this country and a prodigy magician, in any case, would be a fine card that would ignite my heart, but the guy on my back was in the way. I should quickly leave him in the infirmary and return here.

I left the gymnasium, walking relatively quickly.

By the time I returned to the playing field, a deafening cheer had broken out, and Fina was standing by the entrance in a state of bewildered astonishment.

It seemed that the duel had already been determined.

Later, when I questioned Rivalz about it, he merely laughed heartily.

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