Chapter 49:
Two days before midterm week.
Reina, Ridipin, and I were training at the Trichi Hall as usual.
“I’ve opened my aura, but it still feels like I’m not ready to use the Serenia style properly.”
After the dungeon raid competition, Reina said she needed more time to get accustomed to her aura, so she focused on personal training.
It seemed she had forced her ki open, causing her aura to flow weakly.
Still, Lesta, who opened her aura the same way, was a candidate for the world’s strongest, so it should resolve itself over time.
Since Ridipin and I needed real battle experience, we sparred.
Fwoosh! Clang!
With arrows flying at a ridiculous speed, all I could do was slow them with magic and dodge.
Even knowing Ridipin’s attack patterns, I had no real means of countering her, so winning was tough even at full effort—and I could only use fire magic. Damn it.
Meanwhile, Ridipin seemed more interested in testing new techniques in real combat than actually defeating me.
She fired several arrows, then seemed to try controlling them, but it was still difficult for her.
While her focus was split, I closed the distance through the hail of arrows using Ignite.
However, Ridipin was already accustomed to Serenia techniques through training with Reina and, with her excellent evasion skills, easily avoided my attack.
She shot Flash at my chest.
Bang!
Pain like part of my body disappearing made me scream, but it was bearable.
Training with Reina and Ridipin had strengthened my resilience considerably.
As an aura break was about to begin, I quickly circulated my mana to release my aura.
Ridipin approached with a worried expression.
“Ar-Are you okay? D-Did it hurt a lot?”
“No, this is nothing.”
It wasn’t painless, but after taking so many hits, I had built up a tolerance.
Just as Lesta said—it was a bit annoying that it turned out true.
Still, after repeated sparring, Ridipin became comfortable using Aura Break.
From her earlier combat, it seemed she was steadily regaining her real strength.
Meanwhile, Reina, who was swinging her sword alone to refine her aura, stopped and watched us with a look of envy.
Like a puppy waiting for a walk, she looked so cute I wanted to tease her—but I suspected I’d get hit if I did. So, I casually suggested:
“Reina, want to spar with me?”
“Ah! …No, I need to refine my aura first, so I can’t yet.”
“Ridipin uses a bow, so it doesn’t feel like real combat. I really want to spar with you.”
“…Really?”
“Also, it might be good to see how comfortable you’ve gotten with your aura.”
Reina grinned.
“Ah, if you put it that way, I can’t refuse!”
“But I’m a bit tired now, so let’s do it later.”
“Hey! You’re teasing me!”
“I’m serious.”
I still had the stamina to spar with Reina, but I was indeed a little tired.
As we bickered, Ridipin timidly asked:
“Uh, d-do you not want to spar with me…?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that you’re too strong for me to handle yet.”
“S-So when you say it doesn’t feel like real combat…”
“That’s just because I’m weak.”
“I-I see… B-But I’m not causing trouble, right?”
“Not at all.”
The sparring might not help me much, but it was incredibly beneficial for Ridipin to regain her strength.
It had been proven in the game, and even during the recent ambush, Drenner and Ceres had commented on how well Ridipin performed.
“You’ve been a big help, so don’t worry about that.”
“T-Thank you.”
Ridipin smiled brightly, relieved.
Then Reina asked:
“So, when are we sparring?”
“Well… I don’t know when I’ll be ready.”
Reina glared at me and turned her back.
“Then I guess I’ll just train alone.”
I had messed up—maybe teased her too much.
“Sorry, I was joking. Let’s do it right now.”
“No. I won’t.”
She seemed seriously upset.
“I’ll buy you something tasty later.”
“Do you think that’ll work on me?”
“I heard that Chroi Bakery will release a new product soon.”
Reina perked up immediately—the most famous bakery among students and professors releasing a new item.
“Chroi Bakery… new product…?”
“If I’m lucky, I might get a sample. What do you think?”
Reina raised the corners of her mouth to answer but coughed first.
“Alright, if you go that far… I suppose sparring isn’t off the table.”
Aura changes color depending on the technique used.
In Serenia style, inspired by fire, the aura turns red when used.
Once the aura reaches a certain level, it manifests physically—in Serenia’s case, sparks fly.
Flames created by aura, not friction from the sword, surrounded Reina’s blade, which then aimed straight at me.
Without using aura, every strike was exhausting.
When Reina suddenly closed the distance, I dodged with Ignite and countered with Fire Spear, but Reina alternated Ignite and Flash smoothly.
Her swordsmanship seemed to have improved alongside her aura mastery.
After a few exchanges, Reina lowered her stance.
It felt different from Ignite, and I immediately realized her next move.
“Even if I can’t die, One Slash is too much!”
Last time I tried it, it barely left any powder!
But Reina smiled confidently:
“It’s fine! You can counter it!”
With that reassurance, there was no way to avoid it. I mirrored her stance.
Reina laughed, intrigued:
“Oh~. Going straight for a head-on clash! Then I’ll go all out too!”
I couldn’t beat Reina anyway, so I had to neutralize her power by using the same technique.
She drew up her aura and charged.
Wait… didn’t One Slash usually draw a circle in front first?
When I fought Lesta, I hadn’t had aura, so it was different—but now something seemed off. Still, I kept my stance and charged at her.
Serenia Style – One…
Before our techniques collided, Reina planted her sword into the ground and vaulted over me like a pole.
“That’s a lie!”
So that’s why she hadn’t used the full technique before.
Momentum carried me past her, and she flipped in midair to strike me.
“Ugh!”
I fell, and Reina landed elegantly, grinning confidently.
“How was that? Didn’t see it coming, right? You usually bait attacks and look for openings, so I tried it too.”
“Yeah… couldn’t react at all.”
Reina always pursued straightforward attacks, so I never expected her to use this kind of move.
Then she asked suspiciously:
“But you really just learned Serenia style from me, right?”
“I’m serious.”
“But somehow you seem more comfortable using it than I am, it’s frustrating.”
“I just modified it a bit for my convenience.”
Reina’s version was too rigid, requiring too much unnecessary force—I had adjusted it for easier use, and she noticed.
“Even that matters. Serenia style is about learning, adapting, and absorbing endlessly.”
“Isn’t that true for other sword styles too?”
“Other styles focus on fundamentals! I didn’t complain when you modified techniques because that’s how Serenia style works.”
“I see.”
I learned that for the first time today.
But it also meant Serenia style didn’t suit Reina—it was better for those who persist steadily without change.
Maybe that’s why Reina didn’t get much stronger in the game even after long use.
“Anyway, since you never learned it, you truly have talent. Hmph.”
“What’s with the last ‘hmph’?”
“I’m jealous. Learning swordsmanship by just observing a few times—what an amazing talent.”
Not quite that extreme…
At that moment, Ridipin, who had been watching from afar, approached.
“I-I think Reina is talented too!”
“But just talented isn’t enough. To become a knight captain…”
Reina bowed her head deeply.
Knowing what’s coming, I felt sorry for her.
After the ambush, it was uncertain if she could graduate safely, or even survive this semester.
It was my job to make sure she didn’t have to worry about that.
I lightly tapped her head.
“Ouch! Why’d you hit me!”
“You can use aura at this age, yet you worry about talent? Ridiculous.”
“T-That’s true…”
“You’re doing well. I don’t think anyone works as hard as you do.”
“Really…?”
“And if anything’s needed, I’ll help. Don’t stress over immediate things.”
Ridipin timidly raised her voice:
“I-I’ll help too!”
“See? That’s settled.”
Reina shyly smiled.
“So you’ll train with me all day?”
“Of course. We already are.”
“But you always take breaks after a bit.”
“Two hours is just a bit…?”
“Yeah. It’s a bit.”
I had no words, and Ridipin smiled wryly.
At that moment, a door opened, and Professor Hazen entered.
“Excuse me. Can we talk now?”
We paused training and made chairs and a table to sit.
“I came because of the intrusion during last week’s dungeon raid competition. Investigating and handling it took time, sorry for the delay.”
Though Hazen apologized, I honestly thought it wasn’t his fault. Without him, we could’ve died.
The others agreed.
“No, the intruder was at fault. It’s not the one who failed to stop them, and you’re not a mage, Professor.”
“Besides, Professor Hazen saved us.”
“No. Even then, if it weren’t for half of Astraea, my responsibility would’ve been huge. I’d have no words.”
His stubborn apology left us speechless.
“To summarize the incident, the intruder is dead. I let my guard down, but they soon turned to dust.”
Hazen didn’t mention anything else about Elpior. Fortunately, no traces of fighting were found.
“Do you know anything else about them?”
“They introduced themselves as Elpior and said they belonged to Lost Paradise.”
“I’ve never heard that name… Lost Paradise, huh.”
Hazen looked at Reina silently; she sighed.
“Yes. Just as you think. Probably because of me, the intruder came.”
The Serenia family was exterminated for colluding with demons, so it wasn’t hard to deduce.
“That wasn’t my intention. Sorry if it seemed that way.”
He apologized a lot today.
“Anyway, future intrusions can’t really be prevented. Well… that’s irrelevant now.”
Hazen stopped mid-sentence. He probably suspected a traitor in the Academy but couldn’t reveal it to students.
“I’ll keep an eye on you all just in case. If something happens, I’ll rush over immediately.”
Insane!
Hazen, who could barely move using a wish token, now promised to actively protect us.
This basically solved all intrusions! But after past experience, I wasn’t too hopeful—he always observed but couldn’t act until I intervened.
Still, it wasn’t bad. Twice missed, but now I had his attention by making Reina a top student.
“My story ends here. Any questions?”
“Uh… you mentioned using a wish token when calling the professor. How does that work?”
“Oh, that. Obviously, it shouldn’t be considered used. But…”
Hazen paused, sighed deeply, and said:
“Using a wish token at a restaurant is prohibited.”
Apparently, the amount Reina once spent on a full-course meal had been shocking.
