NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Abnormal Growth Rate
“—Hey, Zero, let’s spar.”
It’s been a month and a half since the hellish training with Eresdia-Sama started.
As usual, it’s time to get my butt kicked by the instructor… I mean, to engage in a mock battle, and Fei as usual arrived looking completely exhausted, not bothering to hide his fatigue even a little.
He seemed a bit worn out.
“Hey… are you alright? Did a succubus suck the life out of you or something?”
“Haha, if that were the case, I’d actually be happy… honestly, I can’t stop feeling restless at night.”
That’s true.
“Well, we don’t have much time for that.”
“Exactly.”
“—Sigh…”
Just as we sighed while staring into space, Eresdia-Sama approached us.
“…Why are you two sighing?”
“—Because we’re about to get our butts kicked, and it’s causing us some male physiological issues.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand that at all and I don’t want to.”
She stepped back a little, clearly a bit taken aback by our dry laughter.
Being distanced by a woman like this is a kind of mental attack, and I felt even more down, which is basically expected.
“…By the way, why is Eresdia-Sama here with us?”
“I have no particular interest in you.”
“…”
“Hey, Fei! What the hell did you just say to my Fei?!”
As I noticed Fei sitting on the bench like a completely burnt-out boxer, I immediately jumped at Eresdia-Sama.
“What do you mean? You want to fight?”
“N-no way! Not at all, sis…”
As I was glared at and given a terrifying comment, I quickly rubbed my hands together in a nervous gesture.
With a sigh, Eresdia-Sama looked at me as if she was exasperated.
“—Pair with me. Today, I’ll show Instructor Lowe a thing or two.”
What a seemingly impossible suggestion she had just thrown out.
—The one-eyed Lowe.
Once feared on the battlefield, he’s known as an elite knight and instructor.
The soldiers from opposing nations would flee at the mention of his name, and mages would frantically cast spells in panic at the thought of facing him.
And now, we’re about to face such a warrior…
“…Well, it’s certain that no matter who pairs with me, we’ll get completely wrecked…”
“Get it together. You won’t survive on the battlefield with that attitude!”
Eresdia-Sama and I were recklessly preparing to take him on.
Our outfits consisted of lightweight armour that only protected our vital points, paired with plain wooden swords.
Of course, considering that it was a pairing between the strongest Eresdia-Sama and the fairly strong Zero, there were quite a few spectators (our peers).
“Hey, Zero, you’re probably going to lose, but at least try to land one hit! And for heaven’s sake, don’t drag Eresdia-Sama down with you!”
“Yeah, exactly!”
“If you drag her down, it’s the death penalty!”
“Sounds good, I’m in!”
“Hey!”
“You guys better cheer for me! I’m the one fighting out there, you know!?”
“—You can’t win even if we cheer, can you?”
“You should know that sometimes the truth can hurt people.”
As I made my serious rebuttal, suddenly the audience fell silent, and the atmosphere grew heavy when the white-haired Lowe, the instructor, stepped onto the stage.
He wore a one-metre-long wooden sword at his waist, and despite being well over sixty, his rugged physique was wrapped in a deep blue military uniform.
One of his eyes was covered by a scar from a cut, while the other, a piercing blue eye, sharply locked onto both Eresdia-Sama and me.
…During the interview, I didn’t really think much of it, but… he’s super scary.
So, I really have to face someone who looks so strong?
“…I can’t help but feel like I’m about to wet myself.”
After I made that weak remark, Eresdia-Sama shot me a look that was a mix of exasperation and disbelief, then, seemingly a bit excited, her cheeks turned crimson.
“What are you so scared of? You get to experience that one-eyed guy’s enhanced magic, right? Isn’t it awesome?”
“I forgot that you’re into that whole masochism thing, since I’ve just been getting beaten lately.”
She always managed to surprise me with her consistent masochistic remarks.
Really, this is why masochists can be so off-putting.
Getting hit by the instructor’s attacks would normally be fatal.
“…Are we done talking? I’m ready whenever you are.”
“…”
Both Eresdia-Sama and I stiffened at the overwhelming pressure emanating from Instructor Lowe.
After exchanging glances with each other…
“—【Body Enhancement Up】, 【Leg and Arm Strength, and Vision Enhancement Trident Up】, 【Material Enhancement Up】!”
We showcased the results of our hellish training (on the down-low).
A silvery aura enveloped my body.
A crimson aura surrounded Eresdia-Sama.
Each aura floated around us, dominating our senses with an overwhelming feeling of power.
The wooden swords we drew were lightly shrouded in each of our respective colours.
“—!?”
In just half a year since we became newcomers, Lowe, the instructor, and the spectators alike were astonished to see Eresdia-Sama, let alone me, using intermediate enhancement magic.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd… and the murmurs grew louder.
“No way! That Zero is using intermediate enhancement magic?!”
“Intermediate… is that the kind that usually takes a year for only a third of the trainees to master!?”
“How is that guy mastering something like that in less than half a year?!”
Yes, indeed, that intermediate magic.
I learned it thanks to my rigorous sparring sessions with Eresdia-Sama.
“It makes sense why he was chosen by Eresdia-Sama. Or maybe he and Eresdia-Sama were secretly doing something together?”
“What? No way would I, Fei, allow that! Hey, Zero, you better explain yourself later!!”
Heh… Oh dear, why are the bystanders so noisy?
Normally, I’d retort, but… this is what it feels like to be on a different level.
This is amazing; it feels incredible!
“…I never expected that not only Eresdia-Sama, who has been training as a noble, but even a commoner like Zero could master intermediate enhancement magic. I must commend you; even I am surprised.”
“Aw, it’s nothing special—ehehe, hehehe…”
“You’re creepy, you know? Your laughter and your movements.”
Eresdia-Sama, who looked taken aback by Instructor Lowe’s praise as I was almost losing my mind in joy, didn’t seem to affect me at all.
Getting praised by Instructor Lowe is just that rare.
“But—”
It came out of nowhere.
As I got carried away by the praise, Instructor Lowe opened his mouth as if to chastise me.
“—Don’t let it get to your head. —【All Status Enhancement Up】.”
This was above the intermediate level that enhances just parts of the body—this was an advanced enhancement magic that enhances conceptual aspects like offence and defence, and he cast it without incantation.
I was completely crushed in confidence, and all attention was suddenly stolen away.