While my Avatar was conning Ivan’s room and recruiting Simon and Iako, my real self was still participating in the “Combat Self-Defense” class.
“You all know you have some skill. But no matter how talented you are, life can end in a flash. This ‘Combat Self-Defense’ class is designed to help you overcome such situations!”
In front of me stood Marcus, a boisterous muscle-bound war hero and the first-year instructor for the “Combat Self-Defense” class, explaining the importance of this lesson.
He’s a celebrated war hero who displayed overwhelming presence during the civil war 20 years ago as a trusted aide to the current Emperor, Marcus Magnamut.
Though he’s a favorite of the Emperor, he teaches ‘Combat Self-Defense’ at the Academy because he wants to dedicate himself to the Empire.
Even though students of the Academy usually strut their stuff, nobody dared to speak up and everyone quietly listened to him.
“According to the wishes of His Majesty the First Emperor, all Academy students are required to take this ‘Combat Self-Defense’ class. If you do not participate or show poor attitude, you will be expelled from the Academy based on my judgment. So I expect all of you to participate earnestly!”
Even in a world where abilities exist and power reigns, to make combat and dueling a core subject seems a bit much…
What on earth was the first emperor thinking?
“However, it’s impossible for all first-year students to participate in this class at once. Therefore, we will divide into three groups: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. You are the Alpha group, expected to have the highest combat abilities among new students. You can take pride in that.”
In “Deus Ex Machina,” the “Combat Self-Defense” classes were also divided into three groups and levels. While other subjects had no such division, this class uniquely holds that concept.
Nobles coming to the Academy are primarily seeking honor as nobles, so this honors both their standing and provides motivation.
However, unlike commoners, nobles do not take entrance exams. Therefore, while commoners are divided based on their entrance exam results, nobles are assigned classes based on their parents’ titles and families.
In “Deus Ex Machina,” the character I controlled, Dia, barely passed her entrance exam and ended up in the lowest Gamma class.
Of course, divisions can change every semester based on midterm and final exam scores.
The progression from the lowest Gamma class to Alpha through growth and exams provided gamers with quite a thrill.
But why do I see familiar pink and yellow heads among the students in front of me?
While listening to Professor Marcus’s explanation, the Alpha class students stood in neat rows.
I was positioned in the middle, and I spotted Amy and Dia in the front row nervously listening to Marcus.
Amy was a character who didn’t appear in “Deus Ex Machina,” so I could let that slide…
But why is Dia here? Did she pass the entrance exam with excellent scores?
What on earth happened?
“There will be countless battles and guidance in the future! But today is merely an orientation class, so I would like to conduct just one duel!”
Right, the first duel.
In “Deus Ex Machina,” Marcus called two students for a duel in the first class of Gamma.
He would likely do the same for the Alpha and Beta classes I’m in now.
In that class, Dia, who had made a name for herself by defeating Cronia’s golem, was probably one of the chosen…
Huh? Now that I think about it, wasn’t I the one who defeated Cronia?
“Luke Pulsreino. Step forward!”
Ah, it’s me. Right.
“I heard you smashed Cronia’s golem two days ago and unveiled her true intentions. Wow, defeating Cronia’s golem is no easy feat, even for veteran knights or wizards! It reminds me of our now-graduated student, Seiren! Hahaha. I want to see your skill for myself! Show it to me!”
Well… since I’ve decided to show my strength, there’s no backing out now.
But I’m not as strong as Sister Seiren. Unless Ignis were around, I could hold my ground, but without her…
While thinking this, I stepped forward toward Marcus.
“Now, is there any student who wants to duel Luke? I haven’t had a chance to see everyone’s strength yet and don’t know how capable this year’s first years are, but when the second years just entered, nobody was stronger than Luke. No one achieved such a feat against Cronia.”
But nobody raised their hand.
How strange.
Among the students, there should be duel enthusiasts and lazy guys who enjoy pushing others down, yet they’re not stepping forward?
This would be the perfect opportunity for someone to announce themselves by defeating me! What’s up with those attention-seekers?
“Hmm… Are you all scared? I never expected first years to lack so much courage.”
Scared? No way. Those guys weren’t even fazed by the professors I know. They only seemed scared when Sister Seiren came… Is that why?
Sister Seiren!
Are they mistaking me for an equal since I displayed overwhelming power against Cronia’s golem, being Seiren’s brother?
…That’s quite possible.
If so, I could understand why no one would step forward. Only an equal to Sister Seiren would dare challenge me, and those would be found in the Beta or Gamma classes.
“What a disappointment, cowards. Not even the courage to ask for a duel, and you’re first years like me. Fine. Then I’ll have to call upon the second student I was looking forward to. Dia. Step forward.”
…Dia? The one I know?
Upon hearing the name, I turned to Dia in surprise, and our eyes met.
She flushed as she slowly walked toward Marcus.
“The top student from this year’s entrance exam! The invigilator praised her highly, and I have great expectations for you. Show us a good duel.”
I can’t believe Dia ranked first in the entrance exam. What on earth happened before that?
We stood facing each other a distance apart, ready for the duel per Marcus’s instruction.
The other students sat in the audience, a safe distance from any potential fallout.
“Dia, I never expected to duel you on the first day. Especially not against you.”
“Me neither… no, I mean! I, I wouldn’t have thought we’d start off with a duel together.”
How intense should this be?
I don’t know what Dia’s ability is, but I’m confident I can win.
I can’t defeat someone like Sister Seiren, but I can beat an average Academy student without Ignis.
But if I were to win outright, Dia could get hurt…
Hmm… maybe a fair duel with some back-and-forth would be best.
“I know you’re incredibly strong. You overwhelmed Professor Cronia’s golem. You’re probably way stronger than me.”
Dia, who couldn’t meet my eyes, seemed to make a decision and looked straight at me.
“But… but I also have something to achieve here at the Academy. I owe it to that person.”
That person? There can’t be anyone worth mentioning for Dia.
“So I’ll do my best! For that person!”
Who is he? Who would dare to lay a hand on my Dia? I specifically kept her from meeting anyone before entering the Academy!
“Ready!”
Marcus, who stood between us, shouted.
As soon as the signal dropped, Dia shot towards me like a bullet.
“Haah!”
Clang!
Dia swung her sword at me, but it bounced off my shield.
“Ugh!”
The shield reflects part of physical attack power. The recoil made Dia wince, yet three powerful streams of water shot from behind her and slammed into the shield.
Then…
Crash!
The shield shattered.
“I did it!”
As the shield broke, droplets of water spread out in a sphere.
So that’s it! She hit the shield while simultaneously encasing it with water.
Then she found the shield’s weaknesses through the water she’d wrapped it with and broke through.
She must’ve only seen my shield once, yet she devised this level of strategy.
Did Dia possess such an excellent combat sense?
In “Deus Ex Machina,” since I controlled Dia, I never had a chance to see her instincts.
“Hyah!”
Having shattered my shield, she lunged at me again.
This time, she wrapped her punches in water, forming gauntlets.
She must have done that to avoid hurting me.
But.
As if.
Did she think I’m a powerless wizard without my shield?
Boom!
Thud!
Unconscious, Dia fell straight into my arms before hitting the ground.
Sorry, Dia. The shield was just to check your strength.
I didn’t want to let you lose so easily like this.
But something important just came up.
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