Extra simply wants to live in Novel

"Before you win a battle, learn to win yourself."

– Sun Tzu

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[Tuesday's combat training, labyrinth exploration.]

Inside a dark cave created by Cube, Yoo Yeonha, Oreki, and the rest of Team 5 were in the middle of combat training.

"This looks like a scene from a horror movie," Hazuki whispered.

"Hoseung-ssi, Hazuki-ssi, can you see anything?"

Yoo Yeonha asked with a frown.

We were in an artificial dungeon designed after a dark labyrinth. The goal of the training was to break through the labyrinth filled with undead monsters and reach its center. Since the fog was created through mana with the darkness attribute, even the heroes would find it difficult to illuminate the cave.

The darkness around them seemed like a thick curtain, but Oreki could 'feel' the surroundings.

All of this was thanks to the evolution of his Arcanolemento.

And with this evolution, his abilities grew stronger. Oreki, who could previously only sense the position of things, could now discern who was who through the vibrations in the earth.

He could also see the environment as if it were in dim light, seeing objects and people as a gray or darker gray color. But this vision was limited to up to 6 meters.

But even without the gift, Oreki had other ways to get through such an environment.

His improved corporeality, his improved perception stats, his LOA gift, ended up improving his other senses, each in a different way, allowing him to distinguish obstacles and dangers, adjusting his movements with precision.

"No, I can't," Jin Hoseung replied.

"Neither can I…" Hazuki added.

"… Tsk."

Yoo Yeonha clicked her tongue in frustration and didn't ask any more questions.

"I…" Oreki began to speak, but was interrupted by Yoo Yeonha.

"Houtarou-ssi?" she called, cutting him off.

Oreki hesitated for a moment before answering, his eyes showing subtle disbelief. "I-I can see."

"Lead the way," Yoo Yeonha ordered, clearly pleased with Oreki's answer.

"Alright."

She seemed surprisingly willing to trust him, which indicated that the incident at the museum had changed her opinion of him.

"Really, Houtarou-san/ssi?" Hazuki and Jin Hoseung seemed surprised by this.

"The snipers must have good vision," Oreki replied, mentioning the same excuse Kim Hajin had used, even if the real reason was different.

They nodded in understanding.

"Yoo Yeonha, you better not walk there," Oreki warned, making her stop.

"Why?" She walked a little closer, curious.

"There's a hole with monster droppings in that direction," Oreki informed, continuing on his way as if he were talking about the weather.

She shivered and made a disgusted expression in the direction she was heading.

"Just follow me, we'll get there faster that way."

"Oh~ how reliable~"

Jin Hoseung commented, placing his hand on Oreki's shoulder as if they were great friends. Oreki, unmoved, pushed his hand away and advanced forward.

"I'm the only one who can see here, I have to be reliable."

Oreki didn't get a good feeling from Jin Hoseung.

From that point on, things flowed relatively easily.

Oreki guided the group, avoiding obstacles and informing Yoo Yeonha of any unavoidable threats.

When they encountered possessed spirits, Yoo Yeonha used her merciless whip to deal with them. For the undead, Jin Hoseung and Hazuki were in charge.

The walk was smooth, except for a few annoying monsters that were quickly neutralized.

Finally, they reached the center of the labyrinth, where they found only eight people, which meant they had come in third place. Oreki wasn't surprised by the ranking, since he didn't believe they could achieve a higher position than that.

"Yoo Yeonha?"

"Hey, Jonghak."

Shin Jonghak, who was casually sitting on a rock, 'acting cool' unnecessarily, called out to Yoo Yeonha. She ran up to him with a kind smile, showing a clear difference in her treatment of him and the others.

No thanks were directed to the rest of the group.

"Be thankful I'm not vindictive," Oreki thought irritably.

"This way."

Kim Soohyuk, who was waiting, read the group's time without caring about the touching reunion between Yoo Yeonha and Shin Jonghak.

"Team 5. 40 minutes. Third place."

As Hazuki and Jin Hoseung applauded, expressing their satisfaction and admiration, Hazuki said,

"Whoo. Your eyes are great, Oreki."

"You lived up to your trust," Jin Hoseung added.

"I'm the sniper of the group, I have to do my job properly."

For now, Oreki and his team, with the exception of Yoo Yeonha, sat on the ground. Hazuki was closer to Oreki than Jin Hoseung. Yoo Yeonha had already gone to Shin Jonghak, and Kim Suho was resting, so Oreki didn't even consider disturbing him. His skill consumed a lot of mana, even though he had a large reserve.

Not tired, Oreki thought about continuing his attempts at recreating a technique.

In about five minutes, another team arrived. Oreki wasn't surprised by who it was, since he had already been waiting for them.

"It's Nayun."

Seeing Chae Nayun's silhouette from the darkness, Yoo Yeonha approached, pretending to be happy.

For some reason, Chae Nayun was covered in dust. She tried to greet Yoo Yeonha, but she started coughing because of the dust.

This made Yoo Yeonha take a few inches back.

"Nayun? Are you okay?"

"Cough... yeah... cough."

Oreki let out a light laugh of amusement, already imagining what could have happened. But as quickly as the laugh came, it ceased when he felt a fierce gaze on the back of his head.

He turned towards the uncomfortable sensation. Unfortunately, the source was one of the most troublesome people at the moment.

Shin Jonghak was staring at him, with a not very pleasant expression. It was the kind of look that promised complications.

"Oh shit, why him?" he thought.

Oreki knew that this was not the best time to attract the attention of someone like Jonghak, especially in his current weak state. He needed to keep things under control.

Shin Jonghak stood up from the rock with a sardonic smile, his movements showing a defiant confidence. "I never thought I would see you here so soon. Your luck must be high today."

Oreki frowned. He wasn't in the mood to argue, but the provocation was clear. He tried a silent gesture of truce, raising his hand slightly.

Jonghak, with an irritated click of his tongue, looked away and started to walk away, but not before giving him one last threatening look. "Don't get carried away. Lucky for you, the instructor is around. The world isn't as forgiving as you think."

As the tension dissipated, Hazuki, with her mischievous smile, poked Oreki's cheek with a finger. "Hehehe. Looks like someone didn't like you, Houtarou-san~"

Hazuki was poking Oreki's cheek with her finger, smiling happily at his misfortune.

With a neutral expression, Oreki gave her hand a light pinch.

"Ouch!" She complained, but couldn't help but laugh.

"It's no fun seeing other people's misfortunes, Sakurai," Oreki said, still with a neutral expression.

"Liar..." a voice echoed in Oreki's mind, but he ignored it.

"Liar," she retorted, but her smile indicated that she was enjoying herself.

As Oreki looked at the ground with a comical bead of sweat running down his forehead, a loose rock, which seemed to be hanging from the ceiling of the cave, fell on top of his head. Luck was clearly against him today.

"Ah, what bad luck," Hazuki commented, laughing at the situation. "Better be careful today, your bad luck is catching up."

"It seems so," Oreki replied with a forced smile, scratching his head. He glanced around, noticing that Shin Jonghak was watching with a look of hidden satisfaction, probably enjoying the irony.

Oreki let out a resigned sigh, but he couldn't help but feel a slight warmth of friendship in the interaction. Ever since he lost his old friends, having someone like Hazuki around was nice.

Shaking those thoughts away, he glanced at all the important 'characters' to see what they were doing.

Kim Suho was still resting, his breathing steady and calm. His face displayed a serene expression, oblivious to the entire situation around him.

Shin Jonghak, as usual, was posing as if he were taking a photo for a magazine. He maintained a relaxed posture, but his eyes were attentive to everything, like a predator observing its territory.

Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun were talking a little further away. Every now and then, they would cast quick glances in Oreki's direction. Yoo Yeonha seemed to be assessing something about him, while Chae Nayun wore a mixed expression of curiosity.

"They're acting strange... Yoo Yeonha doesn't look at me like that, not after ignoring my existence for so long. Did she notice something about my abilities? Or maybe she's been assessing my actions since our interaction at the museum. And Nayun... she doesn't seem like she'll cause any trouble, since our interaction at the hospital was light."

Sakurai, still excited, interrupted his reverie. "Hey, Houtarou, what are you thinking so deeply about?"

Keeping his thoughts in the back of his mind, Oreki answered in a relaxed manner, "Nothing much, just remembering the Djinn incident at the museum."

She shivered a little, remembering the conversation they had before class started. "That situation sure sucked."

"It did. It was a pain having to fight him."

They continued talking, with Jin Hoseung joining them. Oreki didn't mention specific details, such as the fact that the Djinn had seen his and Kim Suho's memories.

As the three of them talked about the Djinn incident, Kim Suho woke up, his face taking on a serious expression as he caught the last part of their conversation. Yoo Yeonha and Chae Nayun, upon hearing about the Djinn, looked distant, each lost in their memories of the fight. Chae Nayun, however, still showed a fierce anger in her eyes, clearly eager to get revenge.

Shin Jonghak, who was nearby, overheard their conversation. Although he maintained his indifferent posture, Oreki could tell that he was paying attention to what they were saying.

***

Combat training was over for today.

Oreki still had to go to the academic club. After that, he would do my daily training.

The lack of desire to go to the club was evident in his walk.

"Ah, I'll be able to get the gun..."

Forgetting his momentary laziness, Oreki began to walk with more enthusiasm as he realized the opportunity before him. And speaking of opportunity, he saw her approaching the club's door — Yoo Yeonha.

She arrived at the club and, stopping in front of the door, took out a small hand mirror. She quickly checked her appearance, as usual. However, at that particular moment, her eyes met his.

"Hello." Oreki said informally.

"Hmm." was Yoo Yeonha's indifferent response, a vague, non-committal greeting.

After this brief 'greeting', Yeonha entered the club, with Oreki right behind her. She chose a seat bathed in sunlight, while he, more inclined to comfort, preferred a place where the air conditioning blew directly, a slightly darker corner of the room.

Yun Hyuk, the club president, was already on the podium. With his glasses freshly put on, he seemed focused on organizing his notes for that day's class.

Shortly after, the 43 new members arrived, accompanied by 20 veterans. At seven o'clock sharp, Yun Hyuk began the academic club's lecture.

"Good evening, everyone. The weather is starting to get..."

As Yun Hyuk spoke, Oreki already knew that he only needed to hear the part that really interested him: what the monster was. The rest, he would filter out automatically.

"As many know, the location of a monster's vital point can be decisive in combat. Today, let's use an example."

A hologram of a monster appeared on the screen. Oreki recognized the creature immediately. Despite its resemblance to a mountain tiger, its gigantic body, red eyes, and sharp teeth betrayed that it was no ordinary animal.

"This monster is known as the Mountain Tyrant," Yun Hyuk continued. "Ranked between the intermediate and high ranks, it was one of the first monsters to appear during the Outcall 50 years ago. However, to this day, its vital point remains unknown."

With a dramatic pause, Yun Hyuk smiled enigmatically.

"Or at least, that's the official information. In fact, it's very likely that some guilds or individuals have already discovered the vital point, but haven't made it public."

"Now, where do you think this Mountain Tyrant's vital point is?"

He then looked straight at Yoo Yeonha, waiting for an answer.

Yoo Yeonha, however, seemed a bit lost. She absentmindedly played with her hair, avoiding Yun Hyuk's direct gaze, clearly embarrassed that she didn't know the expected answer.

"Would anyone like to guess?"

A girl, her face slightly flushed, raised her hand. "Is it… his nose?" she said hesitantly.

Oreki watched with slight contempt. To him, it was obvious that this girl was just trying to impress Yun Hyuk, without any real interest in the subject.

***

On reflection, he considered that he might join that club even if Yoo Yeonha wasn't there. The information shared there was indeed interesting, and he didn't underestimate the usefulness of a good network.

At the end of the session, Yun Hyuk casually announced, "We have a party planned at a nearby restaurant! It would be great if you could come!"

As expected, Yoo Yeonha seemed interested.

Oreki, aware of the opportunity, decided to follow her, but this time, there was something different about his posture. Instead of a casual approach, his presence now seemed sharper.

He stepped in front of Yoo Yeonha to intercept her.

"Hey, are you going?" He broke the silence, but his voice had a slight hint of teasing.

Yeonha didn't respond right away, her eyes narrowed, and a slight tension in the air. Her silence didn't faze him; on the contrary, he seemed to enjoy the hesitation.

"Dear Yeonha-ssi…" He continued, his voice sounding forced with exaggerated formality, but carried a hint of veiled sarcasm. "I was wondering if you plan on attending the after-party. Or do you have more… important matters?"

She stared at him with a look of disbelief, clearly picking up on his mocking tone. The indignation in her gaze would have intimidated many, but he simply raised an eyebrow in defiance.

"Aren't you busy?"

She snorted, as if dismissing him, but he could tell her interest was piqued.

"Why are you going?"

"Aren't you curious about where the Mountain Tyrant's vital spot is?"

Oreki smiled—a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Curious about where the Mountain Tyrant's vital spot is?" His voice sounded almost carefree, but there was a hidden note in the lightness.

"What?"

Yoo Yeonha asked again as she frowned. She looked completely irritated and disbelieving.

"I would be curious if I didn't know." Oreki repeated, his voice maintaining a calm tone despite her growing displeasure.

"I understood the first time." Yoo Yeonha's frustration and growing irritation were evident. But he seemed to enjoy her growing stress.

He tilted his head slightly closer to Yeonha, as if the mere fact of having to explain was an annoyance. "The vital spot is on the heel of one of his hind legs," he said.

Yeonha let out a forced, skeptical laugh. "How absurd are you…"

Before she could finish, he interrupted her, leaning a little closer, his voice low and filled with disconcerting certainty. "There's a blue mark. DNA decides whether it's the right or left side. No one has figured it out yet because no one has looked where they should."

She paused, speechless. For the first time, a slight hesitation crept across her face. He noticed, of course, and his smile widened slightly.

"His body is hard, but that mark…" He paused, raising his hand to lightly rub his own temple. "It's soft. That's the vital spot. Easy to knock down… if you know where to aim."

Yoo Yeonha watched him with a mixture of skepticism and… curiosity. Even though her face was still masked with distrust, he could see the spark of doubt—a spark he had skillfully planted.

Though skepticism was prevalent, she knew that ignoring potentially valuable information could be a mistake.

"…Why should I trust you?" Her voice was still sharp, but now there was a new layer, as if somewhere she was beginning to weigh her options.

"Because I want something in return." His smile was barely detectable, but the implicit promise was clear. There was no charity in his words—just a cold exchange.

"What do you want?" She crossed her arms, still trying to understand his motivations.

He stared at her directly, his expression betraying no genuine emotion. "Will you believe me?" His voice sounded carefree, but there was something unsettling about his bluntness. "I have other valuable information. We can benefit from each other."

Yoo Yeonha frowned, clearly suspicious, but the seed had already been planted. "Once again, why trust you?"

"Because there's no reason not to consider the possibility." His voice was silky, each word meticulously chosen to provoke doubt. "Think of it this way: if I'm wrong, what do you lose? A few minutes? But if I'm right… you'll have a head start on your goal."

Oreki rubbed his temple again, as if he had a headache.

She kept her eyes fixed on him, her gaze weighing every word. She was hard to break, but he knew that every time she hesitated, she was closer to giving in.

"I'm not easy to fool, Oreki," she declared firmly.

"I don't expect you to be," he replied calmly. "I just hope you're smart enough not to let an opportunity slip by. We both know how treacherous the world out there is. Having someone trustworthy and helpful by your side can make all the difference."

At that moment, Yun Hyuk appeared, pushing them both aside with an unnecessarily intrusive presence.

"Hey!" He exclaimed, his tone condescending. "Don't you think you're pushing it, kid?"

Oreki didn't bother to look directly at Yun Hyuk, keeping his eyes fixed on Yeonha.

"Am I bothering you?" He asked Yoo Yeonha, without a hint of concern in his voice.

"Yes." Yeonha's response was dry and clipped, but he didn't seem fazed. His smile only widened slightly.

Yun Hyuk chuckled, his satisfaction evident, but Oreki remained impassive. "Are you coming to the after party too?" Yun Hyuk asked, his tone falsely comradely.

"I'm not interested." Oreki replied, his contempt clear.

Yun Hyuk shrugged and, with one last sneer, followed behind Yoo Yeonha, who was already starting to walk away.

"Yoo Yeonha-ssi." He called out to her, his voice carrying a persuasive tone.

She stopped, but didn't look back.

Oreki adjusted his tone of voice with his art to convey more trustworthiness.

"You won't regret trusting a little more in people you can't control," he said, with a calmness that masked something deeper.

Yoo Yeonha's body shivered slightly at his words, but she kept her posture rigid and kept walking. Yun Hyuk followed her, casting one last look of disgust in Oreki's direction.

As the two walked away, Oreki remained still, watching them with eyes that betrayed no immediate emotion. Silence took over the room for a moment.

"You were more subtle than you normally would be." The voice echoed in Oreki's mind, cold and familiar. His 'other self' always appeared in these moments, a presence he couldn't ignore at every moment.

"There was no point in being aggressive. She's already on the hook." Oreki replied, without moving his lips, the dialogue happening in his mind.

"You tried to act like me, didn't you?" The inner voice had an almost mocking tone, testing the limits of his patience.

Oreki let out a light sigh, outwardly calm, but inwardly, he felt the growing tension of fighting for control. "You like to take unnecessary risks. Every person has a breaking point, and hers hasn't reached it yet. Besides, I have my reasons that you already know."

"You always play it safe. But remember, sooner or later, they'll start to see you as predictable."

He clenched his fists lightly, but soon relaxed. There was no point in debating any further. "Are we done here?" the 'other me' asked, as if wondering if he had any chance to act.

For the third time, Oreki rubbed his temple.

"Blood..."

Without saying anything else, Oreki turned towards the academy, feeling the slight weight of internal conflict. But he knew, deep down, that Blood was never completely silent.

***

On a dark night, Yoo Yeonha was deep in thought as she tapped her pen on the table, the dry sound echoing in her quiet office. Her gaze was fixed on documents that she could barely focus on. Her mind, however, was far away.

Tomorrow, the elite team of the guild 'Essence of the Strait' would go out to hunt a Mountain Tyrant.

They had secretly purchased information about the location of a single Mountain Tyrant living in Kumgang Mountain, and they had already confirmed its size with a scout.

It was estimated to be of the upper-intermediate rank, Grade 1. The strength of its skin had reached Promentium, a tough ore found after the Outcall. As such, the guild would earn an astronomical income if the hunt was successful.

But despite all the potential glory and reward, Yoo Yeonha was uneasy. The nervousness that was bothering her had nothing to do with the success or failure of the mission, nor with the safety of the hunting party.

She rubbed her temple absently, as if something was bothering her. A gesture that reminded her of someone else… Oreki.

"That interaction... What did he mean by all that?" she thought, recalling the conversation they had had.

Oreki rubbing his temple repeatedly, his speech mysterious, his calm unsettling. He had been different then, less playful, more somber.

"Curious to know where the Mountain Tyrant's vital point is..." She repeated what Oreki had said.

At the time, she had scoffed at the idea. How could he know something that no one else did? But there was something in the way he said it. It wasn't what he said, but how he said it. The confidence in his tone of voice, the smile that didn't reach his eyes, and that repeated gesture of rubbing his temple...

He was strange, even uncomfortable.

But at the same time, he didn't seem to be lying. On the contrary, the more he spoke, the more he challenged her to believe him, casting a doubt that had haunted her ever since.

"A blue mark on the heels..." How ridiculous that sounded! And yet, she couldn't completely rule out the possibility.

Uncertainty ate away at her rationality. Why would he have shared that with her? It didn't make sense. He clearly had more to his goal than just a favor—maybe even to manipulate her, but to what end?

Yoo Yeonha gripped her pen tighter. He had caught her off guard, dropping hints, watching her every reaction, waiting for a mistake.

And in the middle of it all, that annoying habit of rubbing his temple as if he were stressed. That gesture had unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

In the end, even if she hadn't shown it, he had planted a seed of doubt. What if he was right?

Suspicious of Oreki was natural, but ignoring him completely might be foolish. In the position she was in, she couldn't afford to ignore any advantage, no matter how insane.

Yoo Yeonha sighed wearily. Deep down, the biggest reason for her concern wasn't the Mountain Tyrant or the hunting mission. It was the guild's internal politics.

She needed something to stand out, to cement her place as the true successor. The vice-leader was gaining too much power, threatening her position. She needed a victory, and fast.

In the end, she made a decision. She turned on the smartwatch on her wrist and hesitantly made a call.

"…Um, Uncle?"

"Yes, young lady."

The voice of Kim Sangho, her father's veteran and right-hand man, sounded on the hologram screen.

Yoo Yeonha opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. A blue mark on her heel?

"Am I really going to let that lunatic influence my decision?" she thought, irritated with herself. But the question remained: "What if he was right? What am I doing letting myself be fooled by that madman's nonsense?"

But despite the doubt, she couldn't shake the thought. The way he rubbed his temple, that cold smile... It all kept coming back to her. Oreki knew something she didn't, and even if he was joking, the possibility was real.

— "Um, I'm saying this just in case..." she began, shame starting to take over. She closed her eyes.

— Yes, young lady? — Kim Sangho insisted, waiting.

"What do I have to lose?" Yoo Yeonha justified to herself. If he's wrong, there'll be no harm. But if he's right... Clenching her fists and forcing herself to speak, she took a deep breath.

— "If things seem rough, try looking at the heels of your hind legs."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.

— The heels of the hind legs? — Kim Sangho frowned, clearly confused.

Of course he was confused. Yoo Yeonha was too. But she couldn't risk ignoring the information, no matter how absurd it seemed. Oreki's voice kept echoing in her mind. He had spoken with such certainty...

— "Yes, the heels." She hesitated again, but continued: "If there is a blue mark, try to stab that place."

After hanging up the call, Yoo Yeonha leaned back in her chair, her mind still turning over the events of her conversation with Oreki.

There was something deeply disturbing about him, something she still couldn't fully understand. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that Oreki knew more than he was saying.

"I should investigate him..."

***

Arriving at his room in the middle of the night, after an exhausting workout at the gym, he sighed deeply.

"I still don't like working out at the gym," Oreki said, remembering that in his old world he only trained with his own body weight.

The day had been harder than expected; his body was used to the routine, but with his recent increase in strength, he had to adjust all the weights to challenge his new limits.

Now, despite the physical exhaustion, there was still one important task left: mana control.

His evolution in magic control was progressing. He could channel mana into some objects and even parts of his body, which was remarkable considering the fact that he had only recently appeared in this world so abruptly.

However, the mana would have to wait. The most pressing problem was Yun Hyuk.

"Kim Hajin has the SP to transform his pistol into other weapons," he thought, pursing his lips in frustration. "But I don't."

This severely limited his options in combat. He could buy multiple weapons and switch between them as needed, but the speed of switching between them would be slower, and it would be a considerable financial investment.

Money… that was another crucial point. "I need to check the prices of the Desert Eagle and other weapons."

With his mind made up, he turned on his smartwatch and entered the website of a weapons dealer: Essential Arsenal.

It was the largest weapons supplier operated by the 'Essence of the Strait' guild, and its reputation left no doubt as to the quality of its products.

Although higher-grade weapons were usually sold at exclusive auctions, Essential Arsenal offered a wide range of weapons manufactured by high-quality factories.

[Welcome to the Essential Arsenal.]

As soon as he entered the site, he was greeted by an impeccably designed interface, reflecting its status as the most popular among mercenaries and hunters.

New items were prominently displayed on the home page, while a bar at the top listed categories such as swords, spears, bows, and rapiers. But his goal was clear.

He clicked on the firearms category.

A plethora of options appeared: revolvers, rifles, and sniper rifles. His focus, however, was the Desert Eagle, the most expensive and renowned pistol in the arsenal. What caught his attention was the detailed description:

===

Desert Eagle

– Feel the transcendental power!

Built with a magical amplification device, it increases the power of magical bullets! Due to its enormous recoil, the Desert Eagle is recommended only for experienced shooters.

* Weight: 3,5948kg (1,2938kg with added weight reduction magic effect)

* Length: 333mm

* Identification and contract required for purchase.

===

The image of the weapon on the website was impressive. The platinum barrel gleamed elegantly, while a majestic eagle was carefully carved into the hilt. Although it looked more like a work of art, the weight and bulky size made it clear that this was a weapon of formidable power.

"It's too expensive," he muttered, frowning.

"I need this weapon," he concluded, though he knew the price was out of reach at the moment.

Turning off his smartwatch, he pondered.

The Desert Eagle would have to wait until he could talk to Yoo Yeonha and negotiate. Once he finally obtained it, he would head to the hunting grounds, find Park Soohyuk, and with that, make enough money to later go after the Aether.

But before anything else, there was something I wanted to review.

---

▷ "Arcanelement"

[Rank: Advanced] [Attribute: Arcane/Elemental] [Evolution – Rank 9] [EXP 9%]

— Elemental Mastery:

The user can infuse their weapons or objects with arcane and elemental energy, granting them magical powers and special natural properties. The strength of the infusion depends on the amount of mana injected.

— Advanced Versatility:

The user can choose from a wider range of elemental magical effects, such as fire, wind, ice, or electricity, as well as fuse elements to create new combinations.

— Deep Elemental Connection:

Allows the user to sense and manipulate the elements around them with heightened perception, providing an advantage in combat against opposing elemental abilities.

---

He smiled in satisfaction. It was a powerful ability, and there were no plans to change it for now.

With everything planned for the next day, he sat down in the lotus position.

He took a deep breath, feeling the flow of mana in his body. There was still much to do in terms of training in mana control, but little by little, he was mastering this new power.

Now, focused, he began to train his mana, preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead.

***

"Another day," Oreki said as he left his room, this time more prepared than usual.

As he walked through the academy's corridors, his eyes quickly caught sight of the cadets in groups, chatting animatedly with their friends. For many people, this scenario might evoke a feeling of discomfort or even loneliness.

But not for Oreki. With the music flowing in his ears and his growing mana control ability, he felt unperturbed. Nothing seemed capable of throwing him off balance.

Suddenly, his elemental connection alerted him. He felt the slight change in the air, the soft footsteps, and even the familiar scent of someone approaching.

"What a surprise to see you awake so early, Sakurai," Oreki said, turning to face Hazuki, who was about to tap him on the shoulder. "Good morning."

"You didn't even let me scare you," she replied with a pout, puffing out her cheeks in an almost childish way.

"Don't make so much noise next time, Sakurai." Oreki walked slowly back toward his room. "So, why did you wake up so early today?"

Hazuki followed Oreki's pace, walking beside him. "I was playing until late, hehe. Oh, and you can call me Hazuki."

"That... sounds just like you. And you can call me Oreki, it's easier."

They continued walking in silence for a few moments, until Oreki broke the silence. "Hazuki, can I ask you a question?"

"You already did," she replied with a mischievous smile.

Oreki gave her a slight sarcastic smile. "Then, can I ask you three questions?"

"Right~."

"Why did you decide to use the sword?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Whenever I see you with your katana, it seems like you have a special connection to it."

Hazuki's smile softened, becoming almost nostalgic. "It's a long story... Do you want to hear it?"

"We have an hour until class starts, so yes. But before you tell me..." Oreki held up his finger dramatically, as if adjusting an imaginary pair of glasses.

"Hmm?" Hazuki looked at him, amused.

"Let me guess your story."

"Sure, go ahead," she said, laughing.

"Hmm, you're a descendant of an ancient samurai family. They fought in some great war and gained prestige. Am I right?"

Hazuki let out a short, sincere laugh, shaking her head. "You're not completely wrong, but you're not even close to guessing everything," she replied, still with the nostalgic smile on her face. "Yes, I come from an ancient lineage, but it's not just samurai... it's something much more specific."

"Ah, so there's a story behind it," Oreki replied, crossing his arms, pretending to be deep in thought. "Let me think. Legendary swords? Some secret technique passed down from generation to generation?"

Hazuki let out a soft sigh, clearly amused by his attempt. "I'll tell you, then. My family is directly descended from Itō Ittōsai. He was one of Japan's greatest swordsmen and the founder of the Ittō-ryū style of kenjutsu. His style shaped much of Japan's sword fighting tradition, and I... well, I'm one of the last heirs to that legacy."

"Itō Ittōsai...," Blood's cold voice rang out in Oreki's mind. "I think I've been in the mind of someone from that lineage... I can't remember who, but he had an insatiable thirst for blood. Interesting, don't you think?"

The atmosphere changed slightly at this revelation, and Oreki could feel the weight of Hazuki's words. He was silent for a moment, processing what she had said, as they continued to walk side by side.

"Itō Ittōsai, huh? I heard about him somewhere… but I didn't know you carried such a legacy."

Hazuki nodded, looking straight ahead as she spoke, her tone more serious now. "When I was little, my grandfather taught me the basic principles of Ittō-ryū. He said that although the katana is a weapon of war, it is also an extension of the body and soul. Learning to use it is like learning to know yourself deeply."

"Blah, blah, blah…" Blood interrupted sarcastically, his voice dripping with contempt. "These stories of 'souls' always make me laugh. In the end, what matters is the blade cutting through the flesh. They always fall into the same cycle of violence."

Oreki remained calm, not letting anything show. "So, it's not just a matter of tradition for you. It has a personal meaning," he continued, ignoring Blood.

"Yes," Hazuki replied, a lightness in his voice. "I really feel connected to the katana. As if I'm carrying not only the strength of my family, but also the will to continue that legacy. Training with the sword, for me, is much more than learning techniques. It's a way to understand myself better and to honor the path my ancestors walked."

"I see..." Oreki murmured thoughtfully. "That explains why you always seem so in tune with your katana. It's as if it's a part of you."

"Part of it? Yes... and also the key to its destruction. You could break that connection in an instant, Oreki. Wouldn't that be fascinating?" Blood's voice was tempting, but Oreki remained focused on the conversation, controlling his growing irritation.

Hazuki smiled, this time more lightly. "Exactly. The katana isn't just a weapon. It's a reflection of who I am, and as long as I can, I'll keep honing my skills, not just for myself, but for my entire family."

"She has no idea what she's really talking about... reflection? She'll find out the hard way eventually. What do you think, Oreki? Are you really interested in this 'reflection'? Or would you rather see how she'd react if that blade were taken away from her?" Blood chuckled, and for a brief moment, the air around Oreki felt heavier.

"Well, that's deeper than anything I could have imagined," Oreki admitted, his expression almost one of admiration. "I always thought you only liked swords, but now it makes perfect sense."

They continued walking in silence for a while, the surrounding area becoming busier as other cadets headed to their respective classes. Hazuki glanced at Oreki, breaking the silence.

"So, what do you think? Are you going to start training with swords too? Who knows, maybe we can have a duel one of these days."

Oreki smiled, this time with a hint of defiance. "Duel, huh? Who knows. But for now, I think I'll stick with my pistol. It seems more my style."

"Coward," Blood whispered with contempt. "Always running away from real conflict. A duel would be a good chance to show what you're really made of."

Oreki's irritation made him respond to Blood: "Okay, Blood, enough. That's a total insult to me. I'll die if I do that now."

Hazuki gave a soft laugh. "I knew you'd say that." She then quickened her pace. "But one day you'll want to try something different, I'm sure."

"And when that day comes, you'll be the first to know," Oreki replied with a playful smile, as the two continued walking towards the classroom, ready for another day of training.

"Will she? Or maybe she'll find out first... in a more painful way." Blood muttered before falling silent again, disappearing into the depths of Oreki's mind. Oreki kept his face serene, without any sign that a mental battle had taken place.