At the sound of that voice, I looked at Julia, who stood in front of the entrance.
Julia Metz.
At this point in time, she was the only first-year student in the Knight Department with a Master-level trait.
In terms of strength alone, she could easily rank within the top 30 of the Hero Department.
I did beat her once, but that was purely luck.
At that time, Julia was off guard and instead of her main weapon, the spear, she was using a rapier.
I knew this already, but to think she's on the same team as Aisha.
Fighting them would be quite a challenge.
Their team is a strong contender, right behind Neike's team.
I nodded at Julia.
"Nice to see you."
"I didn't expect to see you here, Theo... but then again, I shouldn't be surprised."
Julia approached us.
She spoke to Aisha.
"Anyway, thank you for choosing me, Aisha. I always found it difficult to strategize. When someone as smart as you, came looking for me late Sunday night, I was overjoyed—"
"St-stop right there! Anyway, nice to meet you, Julia."
Aisha hastily cut off Julia's words and reached out her hand.
"Hmm, I was just expressing my gratitude. Regardless, it's good to see you, Aisha."
Julia shook Aisha's hand.
Aisha looked at me and spoke.
"Anyway, we're going to go now! Even if you're the next head of the Waldeurk family, you're still a competitor right now!"
Aisha seemed to be in a hurry.
Something urgent must've come up.
"Understood."
After all, we are competitors right now.
After Aisha and Julia left, I closed my eyes and grasped my longsword.
I recalled her movements, captured through my [Observer's Eye].
Her gestures are now deeply ingrained in my brain.
Imitating Piel's sword, I danced.
Piel's weapon is a rapier.
My weapon is a longsword.
But the concept of the sword remains the same.
Take what can be taken, and boldly discard what can't.
Practice the sword technique that I've been constantly training and imagining, recreate it not in Piel's body, but in my own.
Including Neike's sword technique, the movements of the Sword Master in the game, and all other 'sword techniques' that I've seen so far.
Thanks to the influence of [Twisted Noble's Dignity], the awkward and crude parts are eliminated.
My current movement greatly deviates from the original form of Piel's sword dance.
I don't know for how long I was focused.
"Oh, Theo. What's that movement? It's quite unique."
At some point, Irene was standing next to me.
"I was trying to recreate a sword technique that impressed me."
"I've never seen that sword technique before... Did you create it yourself?"
"Yes."
Something recreated to suit me.
"It seems incomplete as of now... but once completed, it looks like it'll be more beautiful and practical than any other swordsmanship I've seen before. You're still in the process of developing it, aren't you?"
Far from her usual impassive expression, Irene looked serious.
...Correct.
Swordsmanship isn't something you can create in a few days.
The swordsmanship I demonstrated just a moment ago is my interpretation of what I've seen in the original game, combined with what I've learned and observed since I fell into this world.
Master-level traits like Sword Master and Weapon Master dramatically enhance one's fundamental understanding of weapons.
If I were to acquire master-level traits, perhaps I could complete it.
"Indeed, it's still incomplete. It's just an expression of my shallow enlightenment."
"Still... to have come this far is really impressive. Theo, honestly, you were at a dismal level before entering the academy."
Irene looked up at me, intrigued.
She seemed to want a response.
What could be a suitable excuse for a situation like this?
"I didn't want to become a disgrace."
"·····Excuse me?"
Irene's eyes widened.
I looked back at her calmly.
"Anyway, we don't have time to chat like this. Let's move, Irene."
"...Alright."
Irene and I moved to the training field.
An exclusive space with no one else.
There, Irene and I had a sparring match for the first time in a while.
After crossing swords for a while.
'As expected of Irene.'
Her skills have improved dramatically.
Although my skills had improved, without the help of [Overload] and [Magic Cartridge], I would barely be able to handle her sword strikes.
Of course, even that itself was a significant improvement.
Among the numerous nicknames players of the original game gave Irene, one was 'the strongest in the human world'.
She wasn't at the level of Neike, Piel, or the leaders of 'Equilibrium' and 'Turning White', or the Swordmaster of the Great Forest, but it was a nickname given to her regardless because she far surpassed everyone else.
Of course, it's a story for after she graduates from the academy and some time has passed.
If Irene keeps growing at this pace, she will get the [Sword Master] trait within half a year.
"Your skills have improved, Irene. As expected, you didn't slack off in training."
"······Hehe, that's my line. Theo, you seem to have transformed into a completely different person."
Irene shyly smiled, wiping the sweat trickling down her straight collarbone.
······Transformed into a completely different person.
Compared to the original Theo, it's not false to say that my ability has changed in such a short period.
However, with this level of skill, winning the Knight Department tournament will be difficult.
I see a small chance of victory against the team of Aisha & Julia by devising a tailored strategy and pinpointing their weaknesses, but I can't see any chance of beating Neike's team.
As I'm the only one who knows Neike's exact skills at this point.
He's hiding his true strength.
He has never shown his real abilities after entering the academy.
Despite that, he's maintained his position as the #1 of the Hero Department.
He's a real monster.
‘Neike is an insurmountable mountain.’
Even if I exhaust all the mana of [Magic Cartridge], use surprise dagger throwing techniques, and push [Overload] to its limit, I'm unsure if I can land a single hit on him.
Winning in a head-on battle is impossible no matter what I do.
But as much as I know about Neike's abilities, I also know about his personality.
'I can't help it. The only way to win······ is one.'
Although my current body belongs to Theo, before the possession, I was Neike when I was a player of the original game 'Kyren Zena Chronicles'.
I spent over 20,000 hours playing from his perspective.
Having gathered my thoughts, I spoke up.
"That's enough. Let's talk strategy now, Irene."
"What kind of strategy? We don't even know who our opponent will be······ The draw only comes out on Thursday."
"We should easily make it to the round of 16. But the real problem is from that point on, where only strong teams remain. Based on the information you gave me, I've tried to analyze which teams might advance."
"Already? Wasn't today the day of the exam?"
Irene looked at me with wide eyes.
I responded nonchalantly.
"The test wasn't a problem since I've been studying all along. There's something you should know, Irene."
Saying this, I cast debuff magic, [Paralysis], on Irene.
Irene was frozen with her eyes wide open.
I lifted her [Paralysis] spell using [Magic Nullification].
Irene asked in a bewildered voice.
"What, what was that just now...? I couldn't move... was that magic? Theo, you can't use magic, right?"
"I can't use powerful magic, but I can cast these kinds of debuff spells. No one else, other than you, knows of this."
I said it matter-of-factly.
Aisha, having spent several days together, might have noticed that I can use [Focus] magic, but she wouldn't have thought I could use debuff magic itself.
Naturally, the other students don't even know I can use magic at all.
Debuff magic will serve as a hidden trump card.
The moment they underestimate our team, assuming it to be just two swordsmen, I can land a heavy blow.
During the tournament, it's a given that you can't use artifacts, let alone items like a [Debuff Recovery Potion].
Irene said with a somewhat lonely expression.
"...I see. I won't ask how you managed to use magic."
"..."
"Because you said you'd tell me everything around this time next year."
That's what I had said at the restaurant before.
But seeing her lonely face, I couldn't think of what to say.
Looking at my silence, Irene tried to force a smile onto her sad face.
"Anyway, I trust you, Theo. Let's aim for victory now that things have come this far!"
Then, with a grin, she extended her hand towards me.
Keeping my composure, I nodded and shook her hand.
"······Why are you saying such obvious things, Rin?"
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Anotha one, later tonight.
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