Among the 100th batch of entrants to Hernan Academy, whose skills improved the fastest?

Without question, that person was Luca.

Already, among the lower-grade students, he had no rival, and even among the upper grades, there would be only a handful who could defeat him.

Then, who was the person who had spent the longest time at the academy with Luca?

Again, without question, it was Ottbo.

Except for Bella, Ottbo was the person who had been with Luca the longest since entering the academy.

That much, Ottbo was greatly influenced by Luca.

And equally, he experienced many crises.

The Pia Forest expedition, the Mission to rescue Milia, the incident with the artificial magic stone and Martin Curves during practice, the academy terror incident, and even the Albino affair.

Ottbo was practically present for almost every major event.

Moreover, he played an active role to some extent in all of them.

Though, it seemed he was not fully aware of it himself.

“Should I call it intuition? When I see something, I just get the feeling, ‘Ah, that’s something I can’t handle.’ But Igar Hetoph wasn’t like that.”

“What do you mean…?”

At Ottbo’s words, Milia made a sour face.

Ottbo scratched his cheek in response.

“So… I just feel like, if I fought, I’d win.”

“…?”

In the past, Ottbo was afraid when he saw Igar.

Not only because of his family but also because, instinctively, he knew he would lose in a fight.

But now, that wasn’t the case.

Not only had his threshold for fear increased, but as he experienced significant incidents and steadily trained with Luca in between, his basic fitness had developed, and he’d grown accustomed to combat using magic.

He had grown, literally.

At Ottbo’s words, Luca looked at him with admiration in his eyes.

“Excellent, Ottbo. That’s the spirit. Just win the fight.”

Luca Traverse’s inner self, resurfacing after a long time.

He seemed moved by Ottbo’s attitude, which perfectly matched the philosophy that if you win the fight, everything resolves itself.

“What on earth happened in the past month…?”

Seeing Ottbo, who had grown as bold—no, as fearless as Luca, Milia let out a deep sigh.

Then, as if giving up, she shook her head.

“Alright. Then let’s just test your abilities today. If there’s anything lacking, study it on your own.”

“Okay! Thank you!”

“Then I’d better go see that guy, too.”

When Luca stood up, Milia looked puzzled.

“That guy?”

“The one who ended up joining our bet.”

“Ah~.”

He had to go see that guy, the first subordinate of Starry.

* * *

“What? A bet?”

“Yes. Ottbo and I are pretty much going to cover the scores, but you also need to get at least the minimum score.”

“Why should I…?”

Luca showed up unexpectedly and started talking about a bet.

Hav looked at him with a stunned expression.

Moula, who was next to him, tilted his head.

“Am I participating too…?”

“I decided to leave you out because apparently there’s no one in the arcane science department who’s on par with you. If you joined, there’d automatically be a guaranteed first place.”

“I plan to take first place, too!”

At Luca’s words, Hav frowned, as if his pride was hurt.

“I think you could do just that. But there’s something I’m worried about.”

“Worried?”

At the word ‘worried,’ Hav looked puzzled.

Luca spoke bluntly.

“You’ve done well so far, but this time too, under no circumstances should you use your master’s techniques.”

“That’s… ah…”

Hav made a complicated expression.

He had now learned the secret of his master, Bern Doyner.

So he understood that using his master’s techniques could be problematic.

“The basics are fine, but anything related to that… To be clear, anything related to the Doyner family’s techniques is absolutely forbidden.”

“Ugh… r-right?”

The Doyner family had committed a taboo.

If he used techniques connected to them, who knew what would happen.

“I’m just telling you in advance because I worry you might get greedy and use your master’s technique to try for first place in the exam. There’s no need for you to go that far.”

“I-I can get first place with pure skill, anyway!”

“In terms of pure skill, you might. But that guy will use his family’s techniques—then how will you win?”

In magic and alchemy fields, the grades depended on how well one used their family’s secret techniques.

Of course, it was hard to aim for first place with basics alone.

Realizing this, Hav clicked his tongue.

“You’re right.”

He could blame no one.

He was rather glad to have realized it early.

If he’d accidentally used the Doyner family’s technique and someone noticed, it would have been a disaster.

“You don’t have to be first. Just aim to place within the top three. That way, at the very least, we won’t lose.”

That’s why he had come.

If both Luca and Ottbo took first, Igar and Brace would automatically get at least second.

Even if Archiond got first, their combined total would be five points.

In other words, as long as Hav placed within the top three, they’d have at least a tie.

If Igar or Brace slipped to second or third, it was even possible to win.

Listening to the conversation, Hav suddenly asked as if he’d thought of something.

“Then what do I get if we win?”

“…”

He hadn’t considered that.

Luca gazed at him silently for a moment, then clicked his tongue.

“I have a bit of cash. And, of course, a cash card.”

“… Sounds good!”

Hav’s eyes sparkled.

In truth, Luca had framed the reward as meager, but seeing Hav’s reaction, something dawned on him:

Alchemists always needed money.

They always needed funding, and now Luca was in a position to provide it.

“Then if it’s a draw, I’ll give you 5,000 gold. If we win, 10,000 gold—right away.”

“Really?!”

As the saying goes, generosity comes from the granary: with more money, Luca became more openhanded.

At his offer, Hav’s eyes widened in delight.

“Great! I’ll do my best to get into the top three!”

Money isn’t everything, but there’s nothing like it.

Seeing Hav burning with determination, Luca chuckled.

“It won’t be easy, but give it your all.”

* * *

Luca, who had been tasked with substituting for Kryphi’s SA-class beginner swordsmanship class.

He carried a stack of bothersome paperwork and headed to Kryphi’s office.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

As soon as Luca stepped into the office, he asked,

“Can’t someone else be assigned to this class?”

“Hahaha. There’s more to mind than you think, right?”

At Luca’s grumbling, Kryphi laughed out loud.

Being a teacher wasn’t just about teaching.

Teachers had to instruct according to the curriculum, evaluate students, and mentor students who requested extra teaching.

However, thanks to the special circumstances and the exam being only a week away, Luca was exempt from the extra teaching load.

Still, he had to do things like handle student evaluations and training ground reservation paperwork, which was why he was carrying a stack of documents.

“You said teaching was all there was to it.”

“If that were all, you’d be just teaching. At least, you’re not the one reading and signing those papers.”

Kryphi laughed again, taking the documents Luca placed on the desk and setting them aside.

“Thanks to that damn old man running away from S-class duties, it hasn’t been easy for me either. I ask for your patience.”

“Ha… Once the exam is over, can’t it be assigned to another teacher? Or can he come back?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think he’ll return, but I’ll positively review transferring it to another teacher.”

Kryphi laughed, put down the pen he was holding, and stretched.

Then, getting up from his seat, he said,

“I’d like to rest a bit. How about some tea?”

“I’m fine with water.”

“Haha, right, you always are.”

The first time Luca had visited Kryphi’s office, he’d also asked for water.

With a faint smile, Kryphi fetched a teacup and some water and headed to the sofa.

Settling onto it, Kryphi sipped his tea and said,

“I always wanted an S-class assignment, but now that I have it, I feel a bit strange.”

“Is it difficult?”

“It’s not hard. But… In S-class classes, the teacher’s position holds a bit more weight.”

In other classes, the teacher often felt led around by the students.

Most were nobles’ children, and the teachers were, in fact, nobles without real power—so they couldn’t treat the students strongly.

But S-class was taught by people highly valued even by the nation.

Such people were nearly unapproachable nobles; even the scions of great houses couldn’t criticize them.

“Besides, and it’s strange for me to say this, but now I get pretty good treatment. Even the Empire keeps sending offers to keep me with them.”

“That’s good news.”

“Haha, yes. It’s a dream come true since long ago.”

Kryphi took another sip of tea and spoke in a detached manner.

“Yet I don’t find it particularly enjoyable.”

It was the very moment he had longed for: social advancement.

He, who’d grown from lowborn status, was now revered by all.

But despite this dearly sought situation, he felt strangely hollow.

The reason was clear.

“When I look into the eyes of those who try to befriend me now, they remind me of myself from the past. That I once longed for such an ugly thing… No wonder my own master was so disappointed in me.”

He felt nothing but bitter, realizing that what he’d once yearned for was so unsightly.

Luca, after taking a sip of water, answered in his usual flat way.

“If this is just venting, mind if I go? I have to study for the exam.”

“Hahaha! What are you saying? You’re going to be the top scorer in the swordsmanship department, anyway.”

The fact that Luca was substitute-teaching already meant he would get the highest score in the basic swordsmanship course.

“And with your swordsmanship, you’ll obviously be first in the swordsmanship department tournament, so what are you worried about?”

As mentioned before, the martial division had actual combat tests.

It was a rigorously ranked tournament: first place got 100 points, and the rest received their scores based on percentages.

In short, it was fierce competition where only first place could get the top score.

“There’s one person besides me who could get first place in the tournament, right?”

“What do you… ah.”

Kryphi flinched.

There was indeed one.

‘With Isella around, I shouldn’t just assume I’ll be first.’

Their win-loss record so far was about fifty-fifty, but he couldn’t assume he’d win in the tournament.

The stronger Luca became, the more she’d use her full power.

‘She’s not the type to hold back.’

She wouldn’t lose on purpose.

She might underestimate Luca and go easy by accident, but not if she knew his strength for sure.

“Shall I give you a little tip?”

“A tip…?”

Luca looked puzzled at the word.

Kryphi grinned slyly.

“I meant to teach you after the exam anyway… but under the circumstances, why not give you a taste now?”

“A taste… You don’t mean…?”

Kryphi reached out his arm sideways.

Then, the sword hanging on the wall flew into his hand.

Shwoo! Snap!

“!”

A feat of manipulating a sword with pure magic power—not spell magic— Flying Sword Art.

It was a moment where you could feel that Kryphi’s abilities had reached a higher realm.

Kryphi twirled the sword lightly and smiled.

“I’ve completed it. Your swordsmanship.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep