Chapter 128 - Conversation
"Tch. Bastard."
"He still dares to show his face."
This has become a daily occurrence for me as I was walking in the corridors of the academy. The students were talking while looking at me with disgusted expressions.
After the incident related to the joint dungeon was solved, at least on the surface, the students had now returned to their original daily lives.
Of course, considering they are nothing but a bunch of youngsters who didn't know about life outside with the countless dangers awaiting them, their worries and the topics that they were talking about were also nothing but rubbish.
Even the fact that such rumors without any base whatsoever took ground in the academy and in their mouths showed how shallow humans or society are.
Just like a bunch of sheep that were being herded by the shepherds, most of their opinions and their thoughts were being manipulated by the environment around them, mostly stemming from the lack of critical thinking.
Though, for me, all those things or how I was being perceived didn't matter too much. From the moment I came to this academy…
No, from the moment she left, I had been alone in this world, and this probably won't change in the future.
So, for me, whatever people thought about me won't matter as long as something directly affecting my goals occurs.
THUD!
As I sat on the desk and put my books on the table, I started looking at today's lecture points. Even though I didn't care much about my notes, I also didn't want to drop out randomly, so I was putting in minimal effort.
Moreover, thanks to my traits, I was able to learn and understand the topics at a fast rate, which made it a lot easier for me to study before the class started.
[Introduction to Mana for Hunters]
This was the lesson of today.
[Study of Mana, 3rd edition, by. Alena Frostborne]
The book we were using was also written by a person who was pretty famous amongst the magic scholars.
'It was written in a clear way.'
I had been studying the subjects from this book for a while, but because I lacked the basics of mana before, I wasn't able to comprehend the complex investigation of mana shown in this book.
But that was no longer the case right now, thanks to Senior Maya's guidance. Because of that, I didn't have any difficulty studying this topic.
Just as I was reading the book, suddenly, I felt someone approaching me.
"Hey, Astron."
It was both the familiar and unfamiliar voice of the certain annoying guy.
"….."
I didn't answer and just continued reading the book, just to convey that I wasn't interested in talking with him.
"Hey, I know you can hear me."
Of course, being the annoying guy he is, he didn't back down but rather approached me more.
"Hey….."
Not being able to ignore him anymore, I raised my head and looked at the guy now sitting in the empty seat beside me.
"What is it?" I asked, clearly with the intention of displaying that I didn't want to talk. Though, the innocent smile on his face was still there.
His fluttering blue hair was now cast to the right side, giving him a quite handsome look.
'Indeed, he is the main character.'
Just up from his shoulder, I could see some girls in the class casting glances at him rapidly. Of course, considering this guy's identity and his face, it made sense.
"What did you do on the weekend?" Ethan asked.
"Just usual."
"Usual what?"
"None of your business."
"Hmm….Hmm….You are the same as usual." Ethan said, looking at me.
His face did contain slight remorse as if he was thinking about something. He was playing with his thumb, and that was something he did whenever his mind was occupied with something.
Though, reading his body didn't mean I could read his mind. "What does that even mean?" As I asked what he meant, the answer I got was
"Nothing."
this….
"Tch….Just say what you want, and don't waste my time any longer." I said, looking at him with an irritated face.
"Okay, okay."
"So?"
"I wanted to ask if you are free after the lessons today."
Hearing his question, I thought about what I was going to do. Aside from training, there wasn't much to do for me for the time being.
"I will train; why did you ask?"
"Then, how about we have a spar."
"A spar?"
"Yeah. Just like in the lessons."
"Why not wait for the practical lesson?"
"Our partners are going to change from now on."
"…I see." I didn't know how he did, but it seemed he learned that our partners would change this week's training.
"So, what do you say?"
Hearing his question, I pondered about the idea for a little. The fight I had yesterday and my progress so far.
'It is a good opportunity.'
Without fighting with others, all the training I have done would be meaningless, and I know that I am developing a lot better when I am in a combat environment.
"Fine."
"Th-"
TAK!
Just as he was about to continue, the door of the classroom opened, and the professor of the lesson entered the room.
"ATTENTION!"
He was a serious professor with a non-giving temperament.
"I will call you after classes end."
Whispering like that, Ethan left my side and returned to his own seat as the class was about to start.
"Open your books."
And, with the words of the professor, the class started.
******
After the banquet was finished, Ethan returned to the academy. However, the events of that day still kept lingering in his mind.
His fight against the Demonic Human and how strong enemies were.
The fact that even the Blackthorns were targeted by them meant no one was actually safe.
And he also understood how weak he was when he finally met someone that strong. But he also knew he learned something new.
Something inside him did change while he was fighting with that man. And, because he knew that fact, he wanted to test the change he had.
"What are you pondering about?"
At that second, Lucas' voice came beside him with his usual laughter on his face.
"Nothing."
He replied.
Ethan could easily ask Lucas for a spar, or it could be Julia. However, he knew the difference between their stats was too much for the time being. Though he was sure, he could catch up to them sooner or later.
But then again, he wanted to test himself against an opponent that he was a lot more close to.
He wanted to compete against someone like himself.
"Yeah? Is it the usual 'nothing,' or is it really nothing?" Lucas asked with a clear smirk.
"..."
"Anyway, what are you going to do now that classes end? Do you want to grab a meal?"
"No. I want to train."
"Training, huh? Are you hyped up now that yesterday you were left behind?"
"Shut up."
"….Though, it might be a good idea to train. Should we do it together?"
"No. I already promised someone else."
"Ho? Who is that someone? Should I conjugate you now that you finally found your own way?"
As Ethan heard that, he sighed, trying to hide a faint smile. Lucas always had a way of pushing his buttons, and today was no exception.
"No, not a girl," Ethan replied, his voice tinged with exasperation. "I'll be sparring with a guy."
Lucas let out a low whistle. "It is him, isn't he?" His gaze was directed at the boy, who was slowly picking his things up.
"Yes."
"Why are you this interested in him anyway?"
When that question came, Ethan also thought about it for a second, and he immediately came up with an answer.
"He is good at fighting. You saw that too, didn't you? How he knocked that guy down at that time."
"I know it, but is it all? If you were only thinking about fighting prowess, there are quite strong people around you, right? Like this lord here."
"Yeah, I get it. You are strong. Don't make it cringe."
"So? Why him?"
"Well, talking with him is quite fun."
"From my side, it doesn't look like you are talking with him, though. It is more like you are trying to chase a lady that is not interested in you. Are you into such play?"
"...."
"You need to see your expression right now."
"You also need to think about what you are saying before actually saying them, you know?"
Lucas chuckled, thoroughly enjoying his friend's exasperation. "You're right. Sometimes, I can't resist getting a reaction out of you."
Ethan shook his head and turned his attention back to the conversation. "Anyway, it's not about any kind of 'play.' He's just an interesting guy. His way of thinking, his experiences... they're different from anyone else I've met here."
Lucas raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued this time. "Different, huh? In what way?"
"I don't know. It is just different. I felt challenged whenever I was with him."
"Fair enough," Lucas conceded, his teasing manner fading into genuine curiosity. "So, where is he now?" As he said, he looked at where the boy was picking his things up just now, and that place was now empty. "It seems he didn't wait for you, huh?"
As if just realizing that fact, Ethan immediately stood up and started packing his things up. "Tch…You talked too much."
"It was you who couldn't get up, no?"
"Sigh….I will see you later."
With those words, Ethan stood up and started walking rapidly to the outside of the room, leaving Lucas alone.
"I guess I should play around a little."
******
Just as Ethan left the lecture building, he immediately started looking around to see clues about Astron.
'Where did he go?'
Just now, he was inside the place, so it didn't make sense that he went further just in seconds.
"You are late."
At that moment, suddenly, he heard a voice coming from his back as well as a presence made itself known.
FLINCH!
And that made Ethan flinch.
'What?'
He wasn't even able to sense Astron approaching, let alone sense any movement. It was as if he appeared out of thin air just now.
"Were you waiting here?"
"I was."
Ethan turned to face Astron, still surprised by the sudden appearance. "You're... really good at sneaking up on people, aren't you?"
He just shrugged his shoulders as the response.
"Anyway, let's not waste any time, follow me."
With those words, the two started walking in the academy grounds.
Chapter 129 - Conversation (2)
"Are you ready?"
In front of me stood the boy who would one day save the world. His wavy blue hair, toned muscles, and bright green eyes were all showing signs of eagerness as if he was looking forward to this moment.
"I am."
I still didn't know why Ethan purposefully wanted to spar with me, but this opportunity was something that wouldn't come often.
In my hands, I was holding the two daggers that I had been using all this time while fighting in close combat range --The daggers that the academy gave me.
'My stats should be enough to compete with him toe-to-toe for a while.'
I thought as I raised my daggers while Ethan grabbed his spear with his hands. We were now inside the academy's special training grounds.
I am saying special because not every student can enter here. Ethan's surname as Hartley would come in handy in such situations, even in the game. Though at first he refused to use this special building, it seems he had a change of heart.
'Probably in the banquet.'
I thought. I wasn't present while Ethan was fighting in the banquet hall, but it wasn't that hard to see what had happened at that time.
"Then, shall we start?"
With those words, Ethan took his position.
"Yes."
SWOOSH!
The moment he heard my confirmation, he immediately rushed to me with a clean movement, his muscles bulging.
However, I was ready for his attack. Immediately, tensing my muscles, I sidestepped the stab aimed at my shoulder.
SWOOSH!
The spear passed right through my arm.
"Hiss…."
I winced in pain as the blade nicked my skin, a shallow cut on my arm that stung.
It was clear that Ethan wasn't holding back. His strength and agility were impressive, and his skill with the spear was evident.
But I couldn't let the pain distract me.
'He is a lot better than before.'
This was my first impression as I saw the spear retreating back, and that meant I also be serious at my maximum level.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Following the spear's retreat, countless other stabs came, each of them threatening me to get injured.
CLANK! CLANK!
However, this time, I was not going to get caught off guard. As my eyes continuously read his muscles and his spear's trajectory, I parried the attacks with my daggers.
CLANK!
Sparks flew with each confrontation, but I knew things wouldn't be like that for a long time. Even though I was able to parry his strikes and match his strength thanks to my improved stats, the thing I lacked was my constitution. Which meant, in the long run, I was going to lose eventually.
'I need to close the distance.'
And because the spear's length was longer than daggers, Ethan was in the safe zone, attacking me without risking himself.
CLENCH!
Seeing his muscles getting ready to attack, I also readied myself.
SWOOSH!
As the spear immediately flashed and attacked me from a distance, I could see it was aimed right at my side stomach.
THUD!
And that was what I was expecting him to do.
SWOOSH!
With a quick and calculated response, I lunged forward, my daggers aimed at his midsection. Since I didn't have any chance to use my speed even from the start of the spar, now was the time to move.
SLASH!
Immediately appearing right before his face, I slashed with my daggers.
"You have improved."
I could see Ethan mumbling. Since this was the first time we were exchanging blows after the time I had spent in the Chrono Groove, my speed was a lot faster than what he remembered.
SWOOSH!
However, as if it didn't matter, Ethan's eyes locked onto my movements, and with astonishing agility, he shifted his weight to the side, avoiding my strike by a hair's breadth. It was as if he had anticipated my attack, his reaction almost preternatural.
'What?'
I was initially surprised by how he easily evaded my attack, but I knew I had the momentum now.
I pressed on; my movements were fluid and aimed right at the places I determined in my head.
I launched a series of strikes, each targeting what I perceived as openings in Ethan's defense. However, he remained elusive, dodging and parrying with uncanny precision.
Something had been changed, and it was not only the way he was acting.
The way he fought and evaded was also a lot different from the past when we had sparred with each other at the practical lessons.
'This is weird.'
CLANK! CLANK!
I thought as I attacked with my daggers consecutively, trying to overwhelm him with the frequency advantage of my dual-wielding.
"I can see it."
I could again see him mumbling between his breaths as suddenly our eyes met.
STAB!
And the moment they did, Ethan's spear trajectory changed from trying to parry my attacks with his spear to attacking sweep.
'Fast.'
That was all I could say, as I could see the fast swing coming right to my feet. Since I was in the posture of attacking, I didn't have enough time to evade the attack while maintaining a good position.
SWOOSH!
And, to evade the attack, the only thing I could do was retreat back, giving up the advantage I got by closing the distance.
"Huff…."
My breathing was slightly ragged as I stood away, facing Ethan.
"Astron."
At that moment, I heard my name from his mouth.
"What?"
While catching up my breath, I raised my head and looked directly into his eyes.
"I want to ask something."
With his spear pointing to the sky, he was looking at me with a serious expression.
"….."
"Will you answer?"
"Depending on the question."
"Don't worry, it won't be that personal."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
"…."
"Then, what do you think about demon contractors?"
As those words left his mouth, I was left speechless for a second, not expecting such a question to come.
*******
From the start of the spar, Ethan had been serious against Astron. After the exploration in the dungeon, it was the first time they would be exchanging blows, and he was looking forward to seeing his improvement.
And as he expected, Astron didn't disappoint him. He had improved a lot more than he was expecting him to do.
However, as their spar continued, the urge to talk to Astron grew bigger and bigger. For some reason, rather than talking with Lucas, Julia, or his other friends, he wanted to get Astron's opinion on the recent event.
"Then, what do you think about demon contractors?" As those words left his mouth, he could see Astron getting surprised for a second, definitely not expecting him to ask such a question.
However, following the initial reaction, Astron's frows burrowed, his eyes seemingly getting darker for a second.
Seeing this, Ethan suddenly felt chills all over his body, as if he had made a mistake.
"Calm down." Ethan, spear at the ready, took a brief pause from their spar and started his inquiry. "I just want to know your opinion about demon contractors. Are they all evil?"
It was a question that was bothering him for a while.
Astron's demeanor remained stern and unsmiling as he responded, "Demon Contractors and evil." He mumbled as he raised his dagger, looking at the reflection of himself on the blade. "Why did you ask?"
Astron's response was another question, which caught Ethan by surprise. "Recently, I encountered some demon contractors...."
Astron urged him to continue with a simple, "And?"
"And, while I was exchanging blows with one, I got the opportunity to talk," Ethan explained.
"What did he say?"
Ethan chose his words carefully, "He said humanity is weakness, and they were transcending that weakness."
Astron's expression remained cold as he replied, "I see."
Ethan, undeterred by Astron's stern demeanor, continued the conversation. "I couldn't help but feel that some of these demon contractors have their worldviews manipulated, or perhaps they're driven to desperation. They end up making these contracts as a way to survive in a world that's often cruel to them."
It was what he had been thinking. What if those people were contracting demons as a last resort? What if they were good people who were taken to the edge?
Was it right to simply label them evil?
"Does it matter?" Astron's grip on his dagger tightened as he replied.
"What?"
"Does it matter what their past or what their conviction is? Does it matter if they were pushed to the edge by the world? Does it matter if they really believed they were doing something good?"
His words continued as his purple eyes shone. Ethan was taken aback by his words, not expecting such intense emotions to come from that mouth.
"What do you mean?"
"The thing we call evil. You asked if they were all evil, right?" Ethan could see Astron's hand clenching so strongly that the veins on his forearms were protruding.
"From the eyes of someone like you, who hadn't been directly harmed by the demons, you may try to sympathize with them, and it may be challenging to label them directly as evil. After all, you are the type of person who wants to be a hero, aren't you?"
Ethan felt as if he had been read like a book. Of course, if it was Astron, Ethan knew he had the capability to understand things.
"But, from the eyes of the people who lost someone dear to them at the hands of demons, this question you are asking as the one holding the power will be enough to anger them."
As Ethan heard those words, he remembered the people who were being slaughtered by demon contractors and his essential reaction and his anger as a stranger. But what could the people who were dear to those who died at that time have felt?
Anger? Despair? Hatred?
"At the end of the day," Astron continued, his voice low and unwavering, "what matters is not if they are evil or not."
"Then—" Ethan began.
Astron interrupted, determination etched in his features. "You asked me at the start what I think about the demon contractors, didn't you?"
Ethan nodded, silently urging him to continue.
At that second, Ethan could see Astron gritting his teeth, his expression changing into something he had seen for the first time in his life.
He could feel instinctively – the immense amount of hatred oozing from the guy before him.
"The answer is not that hard," Astron said, his grip on his weapon tight. "They are my enemy."
Ethan was taken aback by the stark declaration.
"And I will keep moving forward," Astron affirmed, his purple eyes shining in the, "until I exterminate the enemy."
"Until I get back everything for everything that had been done to me, done to her."
'Her?'
Ethan wanted to ask, but he couldn't as he could see Astron's face.
"So, shut the crap Ethan."
The weight of Astron's words hung heavy in the air, leaving Ethan with a profound sense of the darkness and determination that fueled his friend's actions.
"And grab your weapon; the talk is over."
Chapter 130 - Conversation (3)
"And grab your weapon; the talk is over."
As those words left Astron's mouth, he raised his daggers once again. Ethan could see his face right now, and he understood the fact that he was no longer in the mood for talking.
The conversation they had was already enough, and Ethan learned quite a lot of things both about the boy before him and the questions in his head.
"As you wish."
And now it was time to continue the spar, just like any other cadet of the academy would do.
"Good."
With that, Astron immediately blasted himself off, approaching Ethan and closing the distance.
SWOOSH!
In a matter of milliseconds, Astron appeared right before Ethan's face with his daggers coated in the mana of grey color.
'I won't hold back either.' Seeing that, Ethan also decided to take the spar to another level by activating his mana and coating it with his spear with it.
'This feels incredible.' As if a pattern was being shown before his eyes, Ethan could feel the trajectory of the attack.
His senses were telling him to dodge to the right side, and in his head, his institution drew the trajectory.
CLANK!
The two young fighters clashed their weapons meeting in a flurry of sparks. Ethan's spear had the advantage of reach, and he was determined to use that to the maximum.
From the day he was born into the family of Hartleys, he was always one with the spear. He remembered the first 'toy' he held.
It was the spear of the first patriarch.
The Legendary Dragon Slayer.
The first toy he held was the weapon that belonged to the being that slayed Dragons.
And from that day onwards, his life was always filled with spears. Coupled with his father's and sibling's strict personalities, his basics were close to perfect.
Spear of Hartley. 「Seven Lines of Aggression」
It was a perfect example of basics and the reason why Hartley's always started learning spear at the age of five.
It was a special way of using the spear.
Even in this age, people always compared spears to swords. In essence, they were different, and the first patriarch of the Hartleys was the first one to put that into basics.
Rather than using a spear like a sword by using it as a flexible way, the way the patriarch used it was different.
'Spear is a one-directional weapon.'
A spear user was different from a swordsman. The leverage of their movement was different from that of swordsmen.
Swordsmen would be flexible and could attack all directions easily, but for Spearman, things were different.
They wouldn't be able to turn and defend themselves when an attack came from behind since, in essence, it was harder for them to turn their body 180 degrees, and slashing was harder for a spearman, adding to the first point.
Knowing that the first patriarch utilized a different concept. Rather than forcing the spearmen to be flexible, he decided to strengthen the direction spearmen faced.
To do that, he divided the space into seven different dimensions. If it were recent times, it would be known as the cardinal vectors, but at that time, there were no such terms, and the patriarch created it on his own.
Ethan was the one to master such a spear.
CLANK! CLANK!
And, now, he was reaping the benefits of his efforts. In front of the relentless assault of Astron with dual daggers, Ethan was continuously deflecting his attacks using his spear and the feeling he was getting.
CLANK! CLANK!
His spear moved with calculated precision, parrying Astron's relentless dagger strikes.
He could sense the flow of the battle, understanding the path of each attack before it came. The Seven Lines of Aggression, a unique spear technique passed down through the Hartley family, allowed Ethan to maintain his focus on the seven cardinal vectors.
"Ha!"
Astron's attacks were swift and deadly, and just like him, Astron also seemed to focus more on basics, but Ethan's spearplay was bound to be different.
With each clash, Ethan subconsciously analyzed his opponent's moves, looking for an opening. It was not something on an analytical level but more of an instinctual thing.
Something he did without knowing how he did.
'I can feel it.'
And right now, his instinct was telling him to attack. He felt an opening, a fraction of a second when Astron's right arm was exposed.
STAB!
Without hesitation, he struck. His spear lashed out with incredible speed, aiming directly at Astron's arm.
"Arghk!"
The spear tip connected, and Astron winced in pain as the sharp point pierced his arm while releasing a groan.
Blood welled up around the wound.
"It is not over yet."
STAB! STAB!
Ethan didn't let up after the initial strike; he pressed the attack, taking advantage of Astron's momentary vulnerability.
His spear became a blur, aiming for Astron's limbs and torso. Each precise thrust sought to maintain the upper hand in their spar.
Astron staggered backward, his injured arm causing him pain.
"Grr…..
Yet, he didn't yield. Instead, he clenched his teeth and raised his daggers to parry Ethan's rapid thrusts.
The two young fighters were locked in an intense battle, their skills and determination on full display.
Ethan's eyes gleamed with a fiery spirit. "You're good, Astron, but this won't be enough." He shouted as he continued his relentless assault.
He knew what Astron was capable of and the reason why he had chosen Astron as his sparring partner here, and now he wanted to see it.
"Come on, show me what you're really made of!"
The protagonist of the game shouted, showing his spirit for improving himself.
"Tch…..Bastard."
The only answer he got was a curse, but Ethan could feel Astron was getting angry. He could sense his demeanor changing.
CLANK! CLANK!
Parry after parry.
The spear met with the daggers as Ethan continued pressuring. The two young fighters continued their intense duel. Their movements were swift, and the sound of their weapons clashing filled the air.
Ethan's relentless attacks were driving Astron to his limits.
'This guy. He is not giving me any chance.'
Whenever Astron wanted to counterattack, as if what he wanted was read, Ethan would simply block his path, not letting him move as he wished.
'This injury doesn't help either.'
Adding the injury to Ethan's relentless assault, it was clear that he was going to be pushed back.
'I hate the smile on this bastard's face.'
For some reason, Astron was annoyed. He wanted to erase the smile on Ethan's face. Even though he would probably refuse to admit it, his pride didn't want him to be looked down on.
"Come on!"
With one other shout, Ethan rushed at Astron once again. He was getting bored. Even though the talk he had with Astron helped, the fight was rather underwhelming.
"Try to block this."
Spear of Hartley.「Three fangs of snake.」
Ethan's spear moved just like a snake, stabbing three times in a second. His spear, coated with mana, left afterimages as if to confuse the enemy.
'Show me what you are made of, don't disappoint me.' Ethan thought to himself as his spear moved.
STAB!
The first stab landed safely, as Astron wasn't able to either evade or deflect.
STAB!
The second stab also landed, injuring Astron from his right shoulder.
With the two attacks landing, Ethan felt his disappointment rising.
FLINCH!
As he put his strength into the final and strongest attack of the special move, he suddenly felt something once again, as if his attack was not going to work. But it was late to stop the last attack.
Just as Ethan attempted the third strike, Astron's movements seemed to shift in an uncanny way, and his eyes followed Ethan's movements clearly.
Ethan could feel something was different now.
CLANK!
With almost perfect timing, Astron managed to deflect Ethan's final attack with one of his daggers. The two weapons clashed, and to Ethan's surprise, the spear's trajectory was nullified.
It was as if Astron could read his move perfectly, countering him with remarkable precision. As if he could also feel it.
THUD!
It was in such a manner that the spear's head was pointed upwards, breaking Ethan's posture.
It was the perfect time to counterattack.
GRIT!
Ethan could hear Astron gritting his teeth in pain, and he could also see the arm he used to deflect his attack lost his strength.
SWOOSH!
But, if Ethan knew one thing, that would be the fact that Astron's strength came from relying on countless different weapons.
Bows, daggers….
Barehand was one of those.
THUD!
As the palm coated with mana approached Ethan, he once again could feel the trajectory of the attack and where the attack would hit him.
His body guided him on its own as his left elbow was lowered, trying to block the strike.
However, the strike he was expecting didn't come, as well as the feeling he got disappeared.
"Huh?"
Ethan let out a surprised sound as something different happened.
"So, you were doing it in such a way." As he heard Astron mumbling to himself, he felt a cold feeling on his neck.
As if something was poking him.
Something deadly.
"What?"
It was Astron's dagger touching him on his neck. The arm he thought that became null was standing just like any standard arm.
"It is my win, Ethan."
As those words left Astron's mouth, Ethan was left dumbfounded, looking at the dagger alone.
"How?"
Was the only word he could utter.
Chapter 131 - Conversation (4)
In this world, there are things that are given to us from the start that are very important in our lives and hold significant value.
However, most of the time, we wouldn't be able to learn how to use all those things in the most efficient way.
A person can be strong, but they may not necessarily be able to utilize that strength in the best way.
But, as we live our lives and age, by our nature, we develop and evolve. And, as we evolve, we gradually get better at utilizing things that are gifted to us from the start.
This was the same as my [Perceptive Insight].
The trait that enabled me to grasp the essence of the 'things' that I had 'observed' and I had 'studied' faster than normal.
I had been training with my dagger, with my bow skills, and with my mana control, utilizing this trait while observing how other people did, but as I used the trait more and more, I realized that my trait wasn't limited to things like swinging weapons or combat.
I could get better at things related to daily life or utility. Like how to run in the most optimal posture, how to make a meal without giving up a huge amount of time, how to sleep in the wilderness with your guard up, how to scan the terrain to get a better position, how to stretch and train my muscles for optimal body...
The examples could go on like that, but essentially, my trait's only limit was actually my own thoughts and myself.
And, while I was training with Ethan and sparring with him, I realized one thing. He was actually reading my moves in such a way that his body was moving on its own.
As if, rather than thinking about how he needed to move to evade or deflect my attack, something else was doing it for him.
'He is a real protagonist.'
It was something that I had never encountered before and something that differed Ethan from other people in this world.
If he was the protagonist of this world, then he was bound to be different, and that was now showing itself.
He had the talent in combat that could be easily seen. But what was that talent, I asked myself.
The answer that I came up with was the thing that people in this world called 'Mirage.'
It was not something that was known worldwide but something only a handful of close combatants knew.
Those who had the talent to 'feel' their weapon instinctively.
As if they knew what to do even before they could see or sense. If this were a video game, people would call it script.
But identifying something and understanding how it worked were two different things, especially when it came to things that I couldn't directly see with my eyes.
Things that were more like a 'concept.'
However, while continuously parrying his attacks and getting hit, suddenly, a thought came into my head.
'What if I can perceive how he does it?'
That what-if question was the tiny spark that ignited the idea in my head.
If I could get how Ethan was able to do it somehow, that meant I could also do it like Ethan did, and more importantly, I could create something to counter it.
And thus, for me, the second phase of the spar started.
As I was pushed back by his spear, at first, nothing came into my mind, as if what I was doing was pointless.
However, as I continued to fight with him and tried to attack, gradually, things started appearing in my mind.
As if something was telling me to defend in this state…..
Or it was a thread that appeared randomly and stated when I should have attacked. But even then, it was not complete.
I wasn't able to keep up with Ethan's way of doing that and the way his spear moved.
But, at that one strike, when his spear stabbed me three times.
At the third stab, I was able to 'feel' it. And, my dagger moved on its own to parry the attack. I was able to glance at that Mirage even for one second.
However, was that enough?
If I and Ethan had the same thing, then he would surely be able to counter the attack I was going to follow with.
Then, another 'feeling' appeared in my mind, different from the previous one. And, as if to showcase that feeling, this time, I moved my body. First, it was a palm, and then it was a dagger strike.
But I instinctively knew Ethan wouldn't be able to sense it, let alone understand it because it was my own interpretation of countering the Mirage.
*******
"You should never stop doubting Ethan."
I said as I retracted my dagger from Ethan's neck.
'It hurts.'
My arm was hurting, and it was shaking. My body was tired from the continuous spar, and my low constitution was now showing its deficiency.
"I should never stop doubting, huh?" Ethan mumbled as he grabbed his spear, pointing to the ground. "You are right." He had a slight smile on his face as he said that. "I guess nothing is indomitable in this world."
Different from me, Ethan wasn't that tired, and neither was he injured that much. I was able to land a bunch of hits on him, but none of them went past his skin and were strong enough.
"Then, should we call it a day?" Ethan asked, looking at my arm.
"We should," I answered. I could grab a potion and heal myself, but I needed some things to think about, and I didn't want to talk any longer.
"See you later then." As Ethan said those words, I grabbed my bag and left the room with my arm in pain, walking to my own room.
********
"What a crazy guy," Ethan mumbled after Astron left. "But, it was an eye-opener."
For him, who had just recently discovered how it 'felt,' he was excited like a child finding a new toy.
But, now, that excitement was cooled down.
"They are your enemy, huh?"
He raised his spear once again as he mumbled while opening a certain app on his watch.
"I really wonder what happened to you."
The curiosity grew, but Ethan wasn't someone to disrespect other people's boundaries just because he was curious.
"Let's wait until you open yourself."
[Single Training Mode activated. Stage 5. 10 seconds to start.]
With those words, he activated the training mode of the room as golems appeared in front of him.
Just like the guy who left, Ethan was apparently a training maniac as well.
******
[Horde: Sir, the items you have requested us to sell have been sold.]
Sitting in my room, I was looking at the message that came from the special hacker group I had hired.
[Good. Were there any obstacles or any way to trace back?]
[Horde: No, sir. We are sure there wasn't anything that could be suspected. As you requested, we made it so that the dungeon materials you had sent were sold under the name of Blackthorns, and we are sure even their own employees can differentiate it.]
[Well done. Keep the money in that account; I will contact you when I need cash."
[Horde: Understood.]
As I closed the message, I looked at the gun in my hand.
"The money is slowly flowing."
I sent some of the items to Horde, as they were rather easy to find, and opted them to sell those.
"But, two hundred thousand Valer, huh?"
Considering the fact that Irina was able to simply give me 150k Valer without getting stingy, it was clear that this amount of money was not that much.
However, it was enough to invest.
"Adding the money that will soon come from Emily's guild, it should be enough to play with the stocks for a while."
As I had said, my [Perceptive Insight] enabled me to understand things faster, and that also applied the analysis of the stock market.
Even though it was rather a gamble and contained a lot of risks, as I studied the stocks, I gradually got better at it.
"At the end of this semester, I will be rich enough."
With that thought, I started wandering in the stock market as the time to go to sleep approached.
*******
Inside the bustling grounds of the academy grounds, the site of the practical lessons was filled with students.
Some had sleepy expressions, while others had excited ones.
As they gathered, whispers and conversations swirled among the students, particularly about their recent joint dungeon practice.
"Ugh, I got the lowest grade in the last joint dungeon. I hope this one goes better," one student confessed, a hint of concern in their voice.
Another student chimed in, "I heard the grading was pretty harsh last time. I don't want another bad score."
A third student held a hint of pride, saying, "I did decently, but this time, I'm aiming for a perfect score. We need all the points we can get."
As they discussed their past performances and aspirations for the upcoming practical lesson, there was a mix of determination and trepidation in the students' voices.
One drowsy student interjected, "What's even the point of striving for high grades? They don't measure our true talents."
A fellow student teasingly responded, "Coming from someone ranked 87th, Julia, it doesn't carry much weight."
Julia let out a nonchalant yawn. "I don't need to convince anyone. I just want to sleep."
Her peer inquired, "What kept you up last night?"
Julia chuckled, "I was playing that new game."
"New game? Tell me more."
"The one where you can fight to your heart's content."
Amid the students' chatter, a commanding presence suddenly made itself known.
"Attention."
It was their stern instructor, Professor Eleanor, who had silenced the discussions.
"As you all know, mid-terms are approaching, and we are about to enter the second half of our semester." Professor Eleanor's words carried the weight of responsibility, anchoring the students' focus on the academic journey ahead.
"As we progress into the second half of our semester," Professor Eleanor continued, her gaze sweeping across the assembled students, "there will be some adjustments to your sparring partners. This change is designed to enhance your training and provide you with a broader perspective on combat."
A murmur of curiosity and excitement rippled through the students. The prospect of encountering new sparring partners brought a sense of anticipation.
"I encourage all of you to use this opportunity to challenge yourselves," Professor Eleanor urged, her stern expression softening slightly. "Embrace new perspectives and strategies. It's through such diversity that we grow and improve."
She paused for a moment before delivering a stern reminder. "However, this doesn't mean you should neglect your studies. Mid-term exams are approaching, and your academic performance is just as important. Do not underestimate the value of knowledge in becoming well-rounded warriors."
With her final words of encouragement, Professor Eleanor raised the paper in her hand.
"And now, I am going to announce everyone's sparring partner for today."