chapter 16
I could have guessed that Gerard would come running.
Because I was the one who poured fuel on the burning fire in the first place.
But I didn’t activate [Contemplation] just to know how the other person felt.
If you concentrate with [Contemplation] activated, you can look at the world as if time passes slowly. was able to respond
“Suck!”
uh? Are you still fast?
I barely block Gerard’s fist with a guard.
I feel a sharp pain in my arm. To be honest, it hurts enough to doubt whether there was any meaning in guarding. Still, this is probably something I added or subtracted.
If it wasn’t for that, I would have flew away with the guard up.
“Ugh… … ?!”
Gerard’s face could be seen between the raised arms. The moment I thought our eyes met, Gerard’s expression was stained with bewilderment.
damn it It is the influence of [contemplation].
This eye puts pressure on the opponent.
It may have been perceived as if I had a hidden card.
Be prepared. Gerard will be a little more serious.
Ta-ang!
Before Gerard’s other fist could fly, he ducked backwards to avoid it, but it wasn’t enough.
However, I was able to manage to parry my attack by hitting Gerard’s wrist with the palm of my hand.
Despite breaking the attack in the middle, the palm that cut the wrist is rather painful.
Is this the right skill to use with simple physical abilities without using skills that correspond to skills?
there are no monsters
So now what’s next? How are you planning to attack?
Concentrate. In the world that seems to have slowed down, I stare at Gerard’s right arm extending toward me.
My posture is not good right now.
Even as he bent backwards, his sense of balance was completely lost as he cut off Gerard’s arm.
Yes, I am losing my balance and falling.
If so, the opponent’s attack is likely to be a form of stamping and pressing me.
Anyway, Gerard’s center of gravity is too focused, so he won’t be able to land a proper blow.
Once again, raise your guard and crouch down as much as you can.
This attack is also unavoidable.
If so, even if you take some damage, you should be next.
“Suck!”
“What… … ?!”
But it was different. Gerrard didn’t punch over my guard.
rather the opposite. Gerard grabbed my arm with the guard up.
“uh… … ?”
And I flew No, it was thrown.
I realized in that moment.
As of now, Gerard’s attack can’t be stopped no matter what.
One shot, but Gerrard didn’t make an extra attack.
The victory has already been won.
Gerard, I, and everyone gathered here could see that fact.
Such humiliation in public.
Normally, I would have avoided it, but I had no choice but to attack.
“after… … . After all, geniuses are different.”
As I barely landed in the air, Gerard approached me with a friendly smile.
His gait was relaxed, and he still had a friendly smile on his face, but even if it wasn’t [contemplation], you could tell he was perplexed.
“… … Thank you. I apologize for the rudeness earlier.”
“Yes? no. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just be passionate about your work?”
“thank you.”
I had no intention of ignoring it in the first place.
I just wanted to understand the opponent’s ability even a little bit.
As a result, what I was sure of was an objective indicator that I would not be able to beat Gerard as I am now.
So, I need to be prepared to win.
“Professor Gerard. Could I ask you for sparring like this more often in the future?”
“Yes?”
If you sparring with him, you will be able to check his habits and favorite skills.
Of course, in practice, it may not be as helpful as you might think. Even if he knows his habits, there is no way that the person who has trained for a long time does not know them.
He must have prepared one or two countermeasures. Besides, isn’t he a professor who teaches combat skills anyway?
My crude skills, which I will learn in a short time, will be meaningless.
“The situation I am in right now is more precarious than I thought. If it’s good for you, would you like to train me?”
“ah! Yes, no problem. Ha ha ha ha ha! There is still sparring among the class curriculum. Student Oz’s physical ability is higher than I thought, so I’ll face him myself.”
So what I’m going to do is the opposite.
I am persistent, incomprehensible
I’ll show you the same loophole. I will repeat the same mistakes.
A trap that I can prepare in advance because I know the human named Gerard from the beginning.
That much should be the minimum condition to trap him, and it will be a dagger.
“thank you. Professor Gerard. Shall we start with gymnastics then?”
“Ha ha ha ha ha! Thank you for your understanding, student Oz. Warming up is important!”
I’m sorry.
I’m going to show Gerard the deadliest lies.
The day he can understand me will never come.
* * *
Just as Tuesday’s dungeon was a fire attribute, Wednesday’s dungeon is naturally a water attribute dungeon.
If there was one problem, it was the fact that water was filling up from the entrance of the dungeon heading underground.
“No this… … .”
it’s okay right?
The day dungeon on Tuesday was a lava field, but it wasn’t hot.
So it will be the same here.
Even if there is standing water, there will be no problems with movement or breathing.
“Suck!”
Taking a deep breath, he entered the dungeon. Although the background is underwater, there is no resistance to movement.
Maybe I can breathe, but I can’t help but feel a sense of rejection.
“Puha!”
After holding my breath to the limit, I came out of the dungeon. I guess I wasn’t ready mentally yet.
I was more worried about the pain from getting water in my nose than the fear of being stabbed or magically unknown, which I had never actually experienced before.
I learned something new.
“Hoo-wook… … Whoop… … .”
After holding my breath for a while, I checked my clothes. Not even damp, not even wet.
So, that water pooling in the dungeon was no different from hallucinations.
I didn’t know that, but… … .
“Okay, let’s go again.”
After staring blankly at the entrance to the dungeon for a while, I made another decision. I didn’t even breathe this time.
I’ve already made up my mind
Getting water in your nose is just a pain you have to endure for a while.
I coughed a few times as if I was sick, and my nose was in pain for a while from the unknown pungent feeling.
“uh… … ?”
But despite my firm determination, I couldn’t enter.
It wasn’t a weak sound like my feet didn’t come off.
I couldn’t enter the dungeon as if something was blocking it.
The entrance to the dungeon is blocked by something like a transparent wall that cannot be felt.
[Contemplation – Activate]
Immediately after activating [Contemplation], I checked the entrance of the dungeon.
It’s an abnormal situation. But there were also some things that were expected.
If that prediction is correct, it is natural that [Contemplation] cannot do anything.
“… … I can’t see either.”
As expected. With the [Contemplation] of seeing through reason, I couldn’t interpret that unknown curtain.
I don’t even feel like trying to interpret it.
Until now, [Contemplation] has had one thing in common with things that were impossible to even basic interpretation.
That’s when it’s implemented as an in-game system.
It was the same this time as the [Mana Ruler] or the [Space Barrier] that I used did not know the principle.
“Is it a daily limit?”
As with most games, there was a daily limit for daily dungeons.
In the game, you can challenge the floor you want once.
On Tuesday, I thought there was no such restriction because I pushed all the way down from the first floor. But no.
The restriction was to enter the dungeon itself.
“It’s gotten worse.”
In the original game, when the clear failed, the opportunity was not taken away, but it was just a shame. Anyway, today’s dungeon was blocked.
beginner magic
[Static Ball]
Pajik-!
I tried beginner magic as a test, but as expected, the magic could not pass through or destroy the wall.
[The Ruler of Mana Lv. One]
If you can’t pass through the barrier with normal magic, how about a skill using [Master of Mana]?
“Um… … .”
I still can’t get used to the flow of mana that flows out in a lump due to [The Ruler of Mana].
The total amount of mana Oz has is more than expected. If it’s a beginner magic level, it’s enough to be able to fire all day long.
The higher the difficulty of the magic, the greater the amount of mana consumed, but it would not disappear at such a rapid rate.
If other magic feels like opening a faucet and receiving water, [Ruler of Mana] feels like scooping out groundwater itself with a bucket.
Anyway, the magic completed in that way is what N-class wizards use… … .
[Dig]
“Damn it, please!”
How can you do this in such a crude situation? Come up with some attack magic!
Yes, since I don’t want to waste the completed magic, I decided to try another experiment.
I dug near the entrance of the dungeon with the finished [Dig].
It doesn’t look like something interfered with it.
After that, [Mana Ruler] was repeated until a skill of SR or higher was obtained. However, even if the power was high, it could not break the wall.
I can only think of it as being protected by some sort of law.
And the closest thing to that law is probably… … .
“Is it ‘outside’?”
There is some relationship between the entrance of the dungeon, which is being followed by the law, and the broken sky. And maybe the game-like abilities I have.
* * *
About a week has passed.
I didn’t check what came out of the dungeon on Wednesday, but it was probably <Undine’s Water Drop>, an ingredient for a potion.
In the day dungeons on Thursday and Friday, various types of wood and metals needed to make equipment came out, and on Monday, <Moon Shards>, a good for strengthening equipment, came out.
Most of them were unusable even if you could get them now, so I decided to focus on the class while reducing the time I went to the dungeon each day.
The most important of these is, of course, the intermediate magic class.
“That, that, that… … The composition of [Fire Wall] is… … .”
[Contemplation – Activate]
“Yeah, by combining the spells of ‘immobilization’ and ‘ascension’ here… … .”
Intermediate magic, taught by Professor Aira, is an important subject for me even now, so I haven’t missed it since the first day.
Unfortunately, unlike beginner magic, I couldn’t use intermediate magic after seeing it once or twice.
The problem was that I hadn’t melted down the knowledge of Oz yet. I couldn’t accurately draw the spell.
“If you put the formula of ‘firing’ in between… … .”
Even if I had the knowledge I received from Oz and learned the formulas that make up magic, I was the one who actually drew them.
Magic is used in a fairly complex way.
Things that came out of games or cartoons had a lot of mathematical aspects, but in the world of <Broken Sky>, it was closer to the art side.
“A spell like this is complete… … .”
The magic composition formula was like drawing a wide sentence.
If beginner magic had straight lines intertwined in a simple circle, the curves blended in smoothly from intermediate magic.
Furthermore, from the advanced level, the realm reached the 3rd dimension, and magic beyond that could even be called a kind of art.
“Hmm… … .”
“Oops! Oh, Oz student? What, is something wrong?”
“No, thanks. Let’s move on. Aren’t the other students waiting?”
“Ugh… … .”
Of course, just because you are good at art doesn’t mean you can be good at magic.
This is because when drawing spells with mana, others started by refining mana itself.
It feels like only the desired amount of paint is dispensed from the faucet.
Of course, with the ability of [contemplation], I was able to say that it was the same as holding a pencil from the beginning.
The only problem is that I can’t draw very well.
My will tries to draw a straight line, but it keeps drawing a curve.
That’s strange… … . Why is this like this?
“Professor Ira. Could you show me again?”
“Oz students… … . If I am wrong, please tell me.”
“Fine.”
“I mean, can I do it well? I just made a mistake because I wasn’t feeling well. The advanced mage status was obtained the right way! I tested properly!”
“I know.”
Contrary to the game’s impression, Professor Aira was quite a troublesome person.
In the game, she was a beautiful woman with a meaningful and mysterious atmosphere, but now she is always stained with anxiety like a puppy in the rain.
Of course, this is my position, so that reaction is understandable.
It must feel like you are working on it and the division commander comes and is looking at you with meaningful eyes.
Of course, I’m not the division commander, and I’m half kicked out now, so I don’t have the right to do that.
I don’t think Professor Aira doesn’t know that either… … . It seems that the fact that Oz is a far superior person than her is in itself uncomfortable.
But don’t you think that reacting like a seizure like that is rather suspicious?
No, considering the characteristics of [contemplation], is such a reaction natural?
Of course, I have no intention of disabling [Contemplation] because I couldn’t use magic properly without it.
“All, the next magic is the composition of [Parma Shield], which is an intermediate level of phenomenon magic… … .”
[Parma Shield] is an intermediate level magic, but it did not exist as a skill in the game.
It is said that it is a skill that creates a small circular barrier, but it does not seem to be very useful because the area to be hit is small.
Still, isn’t this the first magic you’ve ever seen?
I should write something here.
“What are you writing now?!”
“Professor Aira, don’t worry about me and go to class. Aren’t other students anxious?”
“I am more anxious that the Oz student is looking at me with such scary eyes… … no! it’s nothing! I have no complaints! So, if you erase what you just wrote… … .”
“… … .”
a really tired person
In the end, I memorized the intermediate magic class in my head with the writing utensils removed.
Fortunately, Oz’s body had excellent memorization skills when it comes to magic, so there was no problem.
* * *
There was only one thing I needed to focus on right now out of other subjects other than intermediate magic studies.
It is a basic combat technique taught by Gerard. In fact, until recently, I had been thinking about how to deal with him and Eleanor.
At first, I thought I might talk to Tia. But for now, there is no evidence other than a heart attack.
If you bring up the oath of mana, they will take care of you, but that doesn’t work either.
Most importantly, Tia still doesn’t know Eleanor’s true identity.
Because she is a dragon with overwhelming power, she does not investigate the personnel attending the academy.
However, if I mention the Oath of Mana, there is no way that she will not question the existence of Eleanor.
I’m going to ask what happened to me and Gerard.
Eleanor’s identity cannot be revealed yet. No, even if it’s true, the fact that she is the Key Person must be hidden.
The phenomenon of cracks in the sky that is still not grasping the galpi.
He may have a clue about the phenomenon, and at the same time, a Key Person like Tia herself.
If the fact is caught early on, the main story is too twisted.
Basically, I didn’t intend to follow the main story straight-forward, but there are a few exceptions.
It is a relationship between Key Persons.
The difficulty of the main story may suddenly jump if their relationship changes too soon.
“Suck!”
“Kuk!”
So, I have to deal with this matter.
To that end, I made up a habit while sparring with Gerard over and over again.
“… … You have a habit of stretching out your left arm when you get flustered. It may be unconsciously trying to stop the opponent, but it can become a fatal weakness later.”
“Not later, but I feel that way now… … .”
Whenever I was cornered, I always stretched out my left arm. The reason why I chose that method was not different.
Because on the first day of basic combat arts class, the action he took to finish me off was a throw.
“If the swordsman is your opponent, your arm will be cut off, and if you are a fighter like me, your joints will be smashed or thrown.”
“I know it in my head, but… … . It must be difficult.”
“I understand. Habits that develop in an emergency are hard to break.”
“Yes… … .”
Rather than articulating, he likes to toss opponents into the air and strike at defenseless opponents.
That’s why I give him an arm to make it easier to catch and throw.
There were times when I failed to land and sprained my ankle, but the plan is progressing steadily.
“Professor Gerard, do you think I can break this habit in a week?”
“You mean a week? Well… … . Come to think of it, the practice period for the first year is coming soon.”
“Yes, if possible, it would be nice if we could fix it in the meantime… … .”
When I pointed to Gerard and the students staring at me and suggested that my weakness had already spread to so many people, he scratched his head.
“Anyway, I think the week will be difficult. It would be best to prevent it from going that way in the first place.”
“okay… … .”
With this, the first plan was completed.
He’s thinking I won’t be able to break this habit in a week, at least. If so, it will be the same in practice.
The first practice of 1st grade is in a week.
A dagger that penetrates the gap of Gerard, who will express his anger at Eleanor, has been completed.
“I will ask you again.”
“Anything for a passionate student.”
And I was thrown, holding my left arm just like before.
“Put.”
People around me began to hold their breath and ridicule me as I continued to be thrown in the same way.
yes, laugh make me laugh Plant the prejudice that you will never succeed.
Because your ridicule will make my blade even sharper.