Training Seminar (1)
I’d gotten used to the Knight Department’s classes, and lately, I’d started chatting with students from other years whenever we crossed paths.
One evening, as usual, I was eating dinner with Belle and the others when––
“Oh, Joan, Belle!”
“Good evening, Senior Joey.”
“““““““Good evening.”””””””
Joey was one of Brother Gene and Young Master Eric’s fans I’d met at the Phantasmo Adventurers’ Guild—a third-year in the Knight Department.
“Did you hear? The Monster Subjugation Corps is coming this week to give instruction! Have you heard whether Brother Gene or Young Master Eric will be coming?”
“Huh? No, I haven’t. What about you, Belle?”
“No, nothing.”
“I see… so maybe it’s someone else then? Oh, sorry for interrupting!”
As Joey left, of course we all immediately started buzzing about the news.
“Getting trained by the Subjugation Corps? That sounds amazing!”
“But will everyone get to join?”
“Bet first-years aren’t allowed.”
“What!? No way!”
“Then we’ll just ask the teacher tomorrow.”
“““““““Agreed!”””””””
The next day, during homeroom, we asked our teacher about the Subjugation Corps’ instruction.
“Ah, that, huh? First-years can only observe.”
““““““““““Ehh!?””””””””””
“Can’t be helped. But even just watching will be a good lesson. You’ve gotta, you know—steal their techniques with your eyes.”
“““““““Steal with our eyes?”””””””
“Yeah. Sure, you’d grow faster with direct instruction, but by watching from a distance, you can see the flow of their movements and techniques more clearly.”
“And don’t worry—we teachers will explain what’s happening as we go. Just think of it as a living textbook in front of you.”
＊＊＊＊＊
And so came the day of the Monster Subjugation Corps’ training seminar.
Only the top ten students from each of the second through fourth years who wanted to join the Corps were allowed to participate. Among them were Vee, Prince Fred, and from Phantasmo, Joey, Chandler, and Ross.
As for the instructors sent from the Corps—it was none other than Brother Gene and Young Master Eric.
“I wish Brother Gene would teach us too.”
“Same here. Brother Eric didn’t tell me anything either.”
While we were grumbling to each other, the seminar began.
We were too far from the practice field to hear what they were saying, but our teachers used Physical Enhancement to relay the lecture content to us.
Once the practical training started, the students began releasing Intimidation pressure one after another.
“Ahh, that’s not good.”
“What do you mean, Teacher Brian?”
“Intimidation works well against people, but against monsters, it often backfires.”
“There are monsters intelligent enough to use magic, too. Against those, it’s basically the same as shouting your location.”
When I looked back toward the field, it seemed the instructors had said the same thing—everyone’s pressure had disappeared.
After that, each year group took turns sparring against a golem created by an instructor with an Earth attribute.
[Golem] A magically created automaton that faithfully obeys its creator’s commands. It boasts tremendous power and durability, but lacks intelligence.When I looked at Vee’s group, the ten of them were sitting in a circle discussing strategy. Prince Fred’s group was also talking with Joey and the others. But the second-years had already surrounded their golem and begun attacking—only to be completely overpowered.
“The second-years still can’t coordinate properly. See how the third- and fourth-years are talking things through first? Everyone’s got different strengths, so how they combine them to attack affects both battle duration and fatigue.”
“Well, you’ll study that sort of tactics in the latter half of your first year.”
“In this case, looks like Noah and Kazul are working out the fourth-years’ strategy. For the third-years… that’d be Prince Fred. Fair enough.”
Wait—did he just say Noah and Kazul? Where? Where?
Ah, there they are…
The two students standing on either side of Vee were ones I’d met before—at the tea party hosted by Her Majesty the Queen.
Noah Joshique, son of Duke Joshique, the Chancellor.
Honey-blond hair, blue eyes, and a beauty mark under his right eye. Every inch the picture-perfect “prince” type—and he knew it, using his looks to his advantage.
He even resembled one of the vocalists from that sixteen-member dance-and-vocal group I’d loved in my previous life.
Kazul Riverx, heir to Marquis Riverx.
Silky silver hair and black eyes.
His face, smile, and even his voice made me wonder if he’d been reborn from my favorite member, Kaz.
He’d smiled at me during the tea party and I’d nearly swooned, but that serious expression now… he looked so cool.
I never dreamed he’d be in the same class as Vee.
I absolutely can’t let them find out about my past life.
“The key to defeating a golem is the power source hidden somewhere inside—basically, the core. Remove or destroy it, and it stops. For this exercise, immobilizing it and then breaking the core is the fastest method.”
“There are different types of golems. This one’s a Sand Golem, but there are also Stone and Iron types. The victory condition’s the same—remove or destroy the core—but in real guild requests, you’ve gotta bring the core back, so don’t smash it recklessly.”
““““““““““Got it!””””””””””
The third-years worked together brilliantly: a lightning-attribute student used a whip-like weapon to coil around the golem’s leg, sending a Lightning Bolt through it to paralyze its movement. Then Prince Fred launched a Fireball straight at its head.
The fourth-years were even more impressive—Kazul used Water magic, Freezing Ice, to frost over the golem’s feet, holding it still.
Noah followed with a Wind Blade, slicing off its arm.
Then Vee enveloped her sword in lightning and slashed diagonally through the golem.
Boom!
With a crash and a cloud of dust, the golem collapsed.
““““““““““Whoa!!””””””””””
Clap clap clap clap…
What do you think about this chapter?
