I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

3

Calen Snowhite.

I know this character better than anyone else.

No, it’s impossible not to know.

If there were no variables, she was always confidently guarding the frontlines of my party.

“For now, sit.”

I offered her a seat.

“You don’t have much luggage. Is it usual for the Knight Department?”

In response to my question, Calen shook her head.

“No, Sofujak-nim. Since my 1st year, I’ve been using the Knight Department’s main cabinet, so all my belongings are there. I only keep daily necessities and books for exams in the dorm.”

Hmm, is that so?

As far as I remember, unlike the Magic Department, all grades in the Knight Department use the same main building.

Indeed, the most important virtue for a knight is camaraderie or something like that.

Unlike the rampant individualism in the Department of Magic, the knight department, which values cooperation, strongly emphasizes the feeling of camaraderie among all grades.

In short, the story was that he almost only came to the dormitory to sleep.

“This is how it’s implemented······.”

Even in the original game, Calen Snow White could only be found in the knight department’s exclusive training hall for 2nd-year students from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

“Hm.”

Calen placed the bag he brought on the desk and took out several books from it.

〈Ecology of Monsters 2〉

〈Practical Use of a Knight’s Mana〉

〈Introduction to General Swordsmanship〉

I know well about the knight department.

After all, the most famous and the production company, known as ‘Jungsa,’ started from this very knight department.

Unlike magic, which emphasizes theory and research, the knight department places a higher emphasis on practical training and combat.

Exams also focus on practical skills like hunting monsters in the field, rather than being mainly written like in the Department of Magic.

Anyway, those two books were familiar to me as well.

〈Ecology of Monsters〉 is about the ecology of monsters, as the title suggests.

〈Practical Use of a Knight’s Mana〉 is just a detailed theoretical reference book.

〈Introduction to General Swordsmanship〉 is an advanced textbook from the 〈Introduction to Basic Swordsmanship〉, focusing on applied movements after teaching basic stances.

Watching Calen organizing the thick books with a grunt, I suddenly became curious.

“Calen.”

“Yes, yes!”

Seeing Calen answering promptly, I hesitated for a moment.

‘Well, he’ll figure it out on his own.’

So, I just need to say it at the right time.

Since we’ll find out in a few days anyway, there’s no need to complicate things by bringing it up now.

I casually spoke to Calen.

“Would it be okay to take a look at the Introduction to General Swordsmanship?”

“Oh, yes! Here it is······ Oops!”

Thud.

Calen’s elbow, about to hand me the book, hit the bag on the desk, causing something to spill out from the overturned bag.

“······I-I’m sorry.”

Flustered, Calen, with flushed ears, hastily started picking up the scattered items on the floor.

I also bent down and picked up a few things that had fallen to the ground.

“Bandages······?”

As I murmured, Calen suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Ah, sir! Th-that’s for, for preparing for injuries! Y-you may not know, but swinging a sword often leads to minor injuries, so······!”

“I didn’t say anything, though.”

“······.”

What’s going on.

His face was extremely pale.

“Still, the Knight Department is bound to have a lot of injuries. Be careful not to overburden yourself from now on. Also, mind your manners. Nobles should conduct themselves properly.”

“Yes, yes!”

······Let’s not think about it anymore.

After neatly erasing the current situation from my mind,

I unfolded the ＜Introduction to Basic Swordsmanship＞ handed to me by Kalen.

······Of course.

It didn’t even enter my mind, nor did I understand.

“Oh, there’s a stick… Is it for training…?”

I lightly replied to Kalen, who was feeling the wooden stick placed next to my desk in confusion.

“Yeah, I’ve been taking the basic swordsmanship course since my second year. Since my body is a bit frail, you see.”

“You don’t look that way…”

“Just swung that a few times earlier and got muscle pain in my arm.”

“Isn’t that serious?”

Indeed. Why is that so, I wonder.

If I’m going to be a good guy in the game, might as well make some improvements.

My body, as seen in the mirror, is already the epitome of the golden ratio.

Yet my strength is only at 3.

I felt like tearing my hair out at the despairing figure.

The initial average stats of playable characters are at least 14.

Even considering that the average for miscellaneous extra students is around 12, I am nothing but intelligent trash.

Of course, I have no intention of becoming a world-class powerhouse… Just planning to raise myself enough to save my own skin.

“What are your stats like?”

“······Stats?”

As I suddenly asked Kalen in front of me, he looked at me with a surprised expression.

It was a face that questioned why I was asking that.

No, you already know yours anyway.

That’s the development maximum spec with legendary items and the initial abilities are a bit fuzzy.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s okay. But… even if I wanted to tell you, what are stats? Steak? Are we eating it?”

······What?

I looked at Kalen with a puzzled expression, but he just shrugged with a face that seemed even more unknowing.

······No stats?

Just in case, I added a bit more explanation.

“It’s a function that represents physical values with numbers. Have you heard of anything similar before?”

“No, I haven’t. But having such a feature would be convenient. You could immediately see the results of your training.”

Hmm.

Even if Kalen, the practice bug, was ignorant of the ways of the world, he wouldn’t be unaware of this.

I obtained definite information.

Even if it existed in the game.

In this world right now, it seems that the concept of ‘stats’ does not exist.

······Then what about me?

How can I see this?

I turned my head and quietly stared at Kalen.

“······Lord Sohujak?”

‘Character Information.’

My vision sharpened.

As I focused my gaze, a blurry blue window emerged.

[Affinity with the character is too low, only character information and stats can be viewed.]

······Got it.

〈Hyelin Snowhite〉

The beloved daughter of the Snowhite family, a noble family in the northern duchy of the empire.

She harbors an unspeakable secret due to a curse she received in her childhood.

18 years old.

Currently a second-year student in the Knight Department at the Royal Selenium Academy.

During her first year, she spent all her time in the training grounds, earning the nickname “Practice Bug” Kalen.

▶Stats

【Strength: 15】

【Magic: 13】

【Stamina: 16】

【Intelligence: 9】

【Willpower: 18】

▶Elemental Affinity

[Viewable from Affinity LV.3 onwards.]

▶Skills Possessed

[Viewable from Affinity LV.3 onwards.]

‘Hyelin Snowhite······.’

Displayed under her real name in the character information window.

With this, I was certain.

Though the concept of ‘stats’ doesn’t exist in this world, it seems I can see them as skills.

“Hmm.”

As long as the conditions are met, I can see everything from stats to skills of any individual.

Perhaps my skill, adorned with ‘???’ at the bottom, signifies its effect.

Information about others becomes a definite weapon for me.

If I steadily build up affinity, can I even see their skills?

There might be a way for the person themselves to reveal it. Still, seeing once is quicker to understand than just listening.

‘Leaving that aside, she must be a playable character after all.’

Willpower of 18.

If a single stat surpasses 17, they are considered a genius, and 18 is the pinnacle of human capability.

Exceeding 20 would lead to being revered as a god.

However, if we were to focus on just one aspect, Kalen has already surpassed genius level.

By the way, Evnis has a strength stat of only 20 at the initial stage. Quite intimidating.

“S- Sir Sohufjak…?”

For a moment lost in thought, Kalen couldn’t meet my eyes.

“Oh, my apologies. I have many scars on my hands.”

Trying to brush it off without making a big deal out of it.

“Pardon? Pardon?”

“Hmm?”

Hmm.

Was this a reverse effect?

Blushing, Kalen quickly hid his hands behind his back.

Seeing that, my head was starting to ache.

To be so obvious and yet no one noticed…

No, if it weren’t for my experience, I might not have noticed either.

I probably just thought he was a rather cute guy.

‘I might strain my mind at this rate, so I should request a room change soon…’

That’s what I thought right after.

“…It’s not something I’m proud to show Sir Sohufjak. Things like these scars.”

“Why?”

“Scars are the result of wounds, and wounds occur solely because of my lack of ability.”

Kalen let out a self-deprecating laugh with a dark expression.

I casually glanced at his face.

“Don’t they suit you?”

“Um, excuse me?”

“On the contrary, let me ask you one thing. There’s a knight with hands as fair and beautiful as snow, and a knight with hands full of scars. Which one do you think is more knightly?”

At my words, Kalen hesitated for a moment.

“This is just me asking for your opinion, so don’t feel pressured.”

“Um, well. In my personal opinion, a knight with hands full of scars. That’s what I think.”

“I agree.”

I nodded lightly.

“Scars on the hands are proof of inadequacy and failure. However, those who have tasted countless failures are bound to understand inadequacy. Someone who has overcome numerous trials starting from the bottom is more valuable than those who rode on the glory of their lineage to achieve success. Knowing inadequacy leads to understanding how to strive, and knowing how to strive leads to climbing higher.”

Well, that’s just my perspective.

Kalen’s eyes widened.

Handing her back the “Introduction to General Swordsmanship,” I said,

“That’s how I see it. So I believe there’s no need for you to feel ashamed of your scars on your hands. Rather, it makes you more trustworthy.”

This is not a message to Kalen, but to Hairen.

Not from Adrian, but from ‘me,’ who spent only ten hours in the Salenium Saga, to her.

…I don’t know if the sincerity got through.

But.

I could roughly tell.

Calen, who was looking down at the book I received, murmured in a soft voice.

“So, it seems that Prince Sohjak has indeed changed.”

I didn’t understand the meaning.

At that moment.

[Your affinity level with Hyelin Snow White has increased.]

[Hyelin Snow White feels slight trust towards you.]

[Current affinity level: LV.1]

The affinity level has risen.

What’s going on?

“Shall we go eat? Have you tried the meals at Merin Hall?”

“I haven’t tried it yet.”

“Well, then it will be my first time.”

Calen smiled at me.