“Ugh, I’m so hungry.”

“Didn’t you eat breakfast?”

“No… I overslept…….”

The classes at the Hernan Academy were, by Korean standards, quite relaxed.

First of all, just having the first class at 9 a.m. made it manageable.

‘They give a lot of breaks in between and often finish classes early, which is nice. Not that the class level is low, either.’

To Luca, who had even survived nightly self-study in high school, this was really nothing.

“Look at Luca. He’s fine!”

“Milady! I’m fine too!”

“Isella, there’s no need to compete over something like this……”

As they took common classes together, the four of them had naturally become a party.

Watching them, Luca felt as though some longing unfulfilled in his school days was being satisfied.

On top of that, since his party members included a princess hiding her status and the imperial family’s secret weapon, it felt like playing secret games kids would love in their youth, making it even more fun.

He also liked there was a certain immature second son of an count household filling the “younger sibling” position for him—something he had never had. Even if they were the same age.

Anyway, perhaps because they were all still young, the four had grown quite close in just three days.

To be precise, everyone except Isella had gotten close.

Isella still kept her guard up against Luca and Ottbo, showing kindness only to Milia.

“Let’s hurry and go eat lunch. Should we go to the second student cafeteria?”

“But it’s too far from the building for our next class. Let’s go to the third student cafeteria.”

“The menu there isn’t that great, though.”

Although they complained about the menu, they headed for the third student cafeteria.

“What’s the afternoon class?”

“Basic physical training.”

“Ugh, why is that a core subject?”

“They say it’s required for the health of young students.”

“That’s ridiculous……”

For Ottbo, who claimed exercising caused ‘magic power loss’, basic physical training was nothing short of a nightmare class.

“Why is basic physical training three hours long…….”

“You need to work out for three hours for your body to feel the effect.”

“E-effect?”

“Take this opportunity and show some interest in physical training. A man should have at least some muscle.”

“I-I’m a mage, you know. And Luca, you—”

Ottbo was about to say, you’re as skinny as me, but when he looked, Luca’s arms were actually rather thick, so he shut his mouth.

Milia laughed slyly at the sight.

“I like guys with thick builds.”

“A-ah, milady! I have thick arms too!”

“Isella, you’re a girl……”

They finished their meal with light banter, then went to a café for coffee and cake before heading toward the seventh sports field for their next class.

“How can you eat cake after a meal?”

“Hehe, girls always have a separate stomach for dessert.”

“No matter what, are you really going to finish a whole cake and not just a piece……?”

“A woman’s body is a mystery. Don’t even try to understand.”

“Wow……”

They chatted idly as they arrived at the seventh sports field.

However, there were fewer students gathered than expected, and everyone looked rather glum.

“What’s up with the mood here?”

“Yeah, everyone seems kind of gloomy.”

“What’s the name of the professor for this class?”

Suddenly, Luca, who had been silent, spoke up.

Ottbo tilted his head and replied.

“Wasn’t it Professor Mantas Servoca?”

“… What?”

The moment Ottbo said it, Milia’s face went suddenly pale.

Luca looked at the oblivious Ottbo and spoke.

“Why did you sign up for this class?”

“What do you mean? I just did. We have to take it anyway.”

“I mean, why did you choose Professor Mantas’ physical training?”

“?”

“I guess you didn’t know.”

Ottbo sensed something wrong and noticed Milia’s face had gone bad at Luca’s meaningful words.

“Huh? Milia, what’s wrong?”

“Ah… ah…….”

“Milady! Please, calm yourself!”

Milia started to tremble.

Isella rushed to check her complexion.

“Why… why did you sign up for this class of all things!”

“I just, I didn’t think much……”

“Aaagh! I’m doomed!”

Luca had signed up for the class following Ottbo, and Milia had chosen it because of Luca, so it had all been decided without her true wishes.

Milia slumped down, ruffling her hair.

Now, even Ottbo sensed something was seriously off.

“Lu-Luca. Why? Is Professor Mantas famous? In a bad way?”

“Hm… I don’t mind, personally……”

Luca stroked his cheek and jaw lightly, chuckling.

“Seems you and Milia are in for a tough time.”

“R-really?!”

“Oh, and you won’t need to bother taking an interest in physical training anymore.”

“… Why?”

“Well.”

Just before Luca could finish, someone walked onto the podium in the middle of the field.

A sturdy old lady with sun-baked bronzed skin and short, snowy-white hair stood there, dressed in a full Hernan Imperial Army officer uniform.

“Welcome to my basic physical training class! I am Mantas Servoca, former commander of a special assignment unit in the Hernan Imperial Army!”

Her voice boomed out and students’ attention snapped to her at once.

After glancing around, she continued.

“I’m sorry for skipping orientation for personal reasons! In return, as students of the continent’s foremost Hernan Royal Academy, I promise to raise your basic physical abilities higher than anyone else’s! Understood, everyone?!”

She might be aged, but the power in her voice was no joke.

Just hearing her made them straighten their backs instinctively.

Luca glanced at Ottbo and finished the words he’d left unsaid.

“She’ll make sure you get in shape.”

“Ah…ah…no……!”

“You there! Silence!”

So opened the gates of hell for Ottbo.

* * *

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

“There is only one way to build basic physical strength: push your body to its limit so its capacity may grow!”

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

“So, everyone, run with all your might until every drop of magic power and stamina is spent!”

“Huff! Huuuff! Huuuff!”

Professor Mantas’ class was simple.

Running. But not just any running—they wore special auxiliary equipment developed by a magic research institute.

The gear continuously drained the wearer’s magic power, changed in weight, and even provided some physical recovery. Running in it was agony.

Especially for mages, who generally have plenty of magic power but poor stamina, it was even worse.

Just look at Ottbo, half dead already.

“You may use healing magic if you’re tired! You may also reinforce your body with magic power! The key is to use up all your stamina and magic power and keep running!”

“My…my ears hurt……”

Even without a microphone, professor Mantas’ voice boomed so loudly that it hurt the students’ ears as they ran.

As if sheer exertion weren’t enough, now their ears were ringing too.

“In this situation… what’s with those two……?”

Two people were exceptions.

For warriors, this class was actually quite fun.

Especially if there was a rival to compete with.

“The max weight of this equipment is way too low.”

“Coincidence, I agree.”

Luca and Isella. The two were running around the field at a dominant pace.

“Those two have so much energy! Everyone, work hard and follow their example!”

“Huff…huff…huff……”

“Mon…monsters……”

Watching the two lap the field three times for every one lap the others managed, the other students were left in awe.

Beep! Beep-beep!

“All right! Rest! Recovery is also part of proper training, so don’t overdo it—rest between runs!”

During the three-hour class, they alternated 50 minutes running, then 10 minutes rest.

Although Luca and Isella tried to keep running even during the breaks, professor Mantas stopped them, so they had to rest.

“Not a bad class. For once, I’m glad I followed you in.”

“Huff…huff…huff……”

“You’d usually have some snide remark, but you’re silent. Must really be tough, huh.”

Luca grinned at Ottbo, who was lying on the ground, drenched in sweat and panting.

“M-Milady! Are you all right?”

“Huff…huff… Isel… Isella…don’t…leave me……”

“Milaady!”

With Isella acting as Milia’s pacemaker, there was no more competition for Luca on that front, so he decided to stick with Ottbo and run alongside him.

“Huff…huff…huff……”

“Keep your head, neck, and shoulders straight. Relax, open your chest.”

“Huff…huff……”

“Control your breathing. If you breathe randomly, it’ll be even harder.”

“In—out, in—out, in—out……”

“Good. Keep that up.”

With Luca running alongside, Ottbo’s posture improved noticeably.

As Ottbo steadily regained control as he ran, Luca smirked.

“That’s it. Keep that up for thirty more minutes……”

“Aaagh……”

“Hey, stay with me.”

Telling a mage with no stamina to keep running for thirty minutes was cruel.

But thanks to the gear’s support, he could manage somehow.

“All right! Since it’s the first day, we’ll stop after two sets. Good work, everyone!”

“Huff… huff……”

“Enjoy your weekend!”

With that, professor Mantas left as coolly as she’d arrived.

But the students were too exhausted to even say goodbye.

Once she was gone, Luca looked at Ottbo, collapsed on the field and panting.

“He’s dying.”

“Huff…huff……”

“Anything you need?”

“Huff…huff……”

“Hm, I’ll go get you some water, at least.”

Luca grinned and went to fetch water, but there was none nearby.

He had to go to the faucet further away.

As he approached, three people appeared in front of him.

“Hey! Luca Traverse!”

“?”

Three strangers, all second-year B-class students.

“We don’t like you, punk.”

“Out of nowhere?”

Their comment was so random, Luca looked incredulous.

But mistaking that look for fear, the second-year trio grinned as they encircled him.

“Yeah! I’ll feel better once I rough you up!”

“Haha! Scared? You really should’ve kept a lower profile, then!”

“Hm……”

Watching them, Luca made a strange expression.

He’d seen this scene somewhere before.

“I said I’d take on his bad luck, but I didn’t think it’d happen so soon.”

“What’s he talking about?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Luca put his water bottle down and rolled his wrists.

Then he sneered at them.

“Why just stand there? Come at me already.”

“Why you little—!”

The second-year trio charged him all at once.

* * *

Thud! Thud! Crash!

“Ack!”

“Wh-what’s with this guy? Didn’t he take Professor Mantas’ basic physical training?”

“How does he have this much energy?!”

Up against three second-years, Luca was nearly dominating them.

The trio was baffled.

With the barest movement, Luca dodged their attacks and tapped vital spots, sending them flying, and then swaggered a little.

“To come at me with this level of skill, you’re at least ten years too early.”

“A-aren’t we only a year apart?”

“Don’t feed him lines! Attack again!”

Luca remained relaxed.

All his training had been in pursuit of surpassing Wylde Traverse, the most talented swordsman of the era.

In order to overcome that difference in talent, he’d put himself through hellish training.

To him, “basic physical training for first-years” was nothing compared to what he normally did.

But the second-year trio had no way of knowing that, so they just kept switching off and charging in, trying to wear Luca down.

“Damn, if we just keep hitting, he’ll drop eventually!”

“It’s three on one! No way we lose!”

“Heh. Not even worth hitting back.”

They hadn’t learned proper martial arts, so Luca easily slipped their blows just by tilting his chin or stepping back.

He dodged with minimal movement while they went all out. It was obvious who would tire first.

“Huff…huff…huff……”

“Why… why won’t…”

“Didn’t land… a single hit……!”

In the end, without even hitting him once, the second-years exhausted themselves.

Luca looked at them with contempt, then cocked his head.

“So, want to tell me who put you up to this dumb stunt?”

“W-what are you talking about……?”

“I have a pretty good guess, but I’m just checking. If you tell me who put you up to it, I’ll let today slide.”

At that, the trio looked at each other uncertainly.

“S-should we talk?”

“They said we’d regret it if we did!”

“What else can we do! If word gets out we got crushed by him, we’re done for at the Academy!”

“That’s true, but……”

“Fine, I’ll say it!”

One finally stepped up to answer.

“The one who ordered us to beat you and disgrace you was M——”

Bang!

Just as he was about to answer, the student’s head suddenly exploded.

A deadly silence fell.

Everyone had a look of utter confusion, unable to process what had happened.

Bang! Bang!

But that didn’t last. The heads of the other second-years burst too.

Blood and brains sprayed everywhere.

Stunned, Luca found he couldn’t keep up with the surreal situation.

‘What… what’s happening……?’

“Oops, what’s all this, then?”

“!”

Just then, a gentle, honey-sweet voice came from behind.

Turning, Luca saw a new arrival and froze.

—Silvery long hair, eyes nearly closed behind a monocle, looking the classic scholar but hiding intentions behind a gentle smile that inspired trust in all who saw it.

A clear description surfaced.

This was an original character from the story.

And as Luca realized exactly who was standing before him, for the first time since his possession, his heart began to pound.

‘… I’m screwed.’

He’d run into someone he absolutely wasn’t supposed to meet yet.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

A boss battle?

And an unbeatable boss, at that?

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep