"Change into your training uniform and grab a weapon that suits you. Those are the only weapons you can choose," he said, pointing at a wooden stand with training weapons like a wooden sword and a staff. "I'll be waiting for you in the ring."
He left, slamming the door.
With him gone, I finally let out a long, relieving sigh.
"I better start preparing."
Although I haven't learned any new spells... I have managed to learn a tiny little trick.
I call it fake incantationless magic. It's not actual incantationless magic, but to others, it might seem that way. In reality, I chant the incantations beforehand, using up the required mana for each spell. By doing that, I leave it reserved for later—for when I actually need to cast it.
Why go into a desert with an empty water bottle you have to fill, instead of going in with one that's already full?
Sometimes I'm really amazed by my own genius...
...
Given how dumb I usually am, I don't know how I'm the only one who came up with this trick.
"Great winds that have been whistling in the eternal, scorching desert that divides our continent ever since the beginning. Sing on this battlefield to blind all those who dare cross you."
Strong sandstorm incantation complete.
"Winds of the north, attack my opponents with a force akin to the weapons used by the warriors you blessed."
Neutral northern wind weapon set incantation complete.
"Spiritual winds, bless my weapon."
Quick wind infusion incantation complete.
...
"Desert winds, blind my enemies."
Quick sandstorm incantation complete.
These are the four spells I've decided to use.
I can feel sweat forming on my forehead. I'm still getting worked up over just four spells.
I'm taking a lot of time... I could probably excuse myself by saying I was getting used to a sword since it's not the kind of weapon I tend to use.
I changed into the uniform given to students for training and physical classes. I grabbed the shortest sword I could find and headed out.
"What took you so long!?!" the unnamed teacher was visibly angry.
"I'm not used to longer swords, haha," I tried to excuse myself with a fake smile. "I'm only used to wielding shorter ones, so it took me a while to get used to it."
"Who cares!? I didn't ask for your life story!"
...Asshole...
On the right side of the ring stood both Hellen Goldenlaw and Lycree Doolvo.
"While Mr. Tramer is the one who decides if you pass this part or not, our own conclusions about how the sparring goes are also taken into account," Lycree explained.
"Your final evaluations will be given to you after this last part. But you shouldn't worry about past things. Just focus on your match with Rick."
"Understood."
Rick Tramer, you're a background character. Just one of the teachers mentioned to have started a revolution against Director Hellen.
You're probably one of the faceless, no-name units I killed in many of my playthroughs.
Even so, you're a wall I have to break through to enter Aurum Academy.
"Ready..."
Due to my inexperience with a sword, I assume a simple stance with my blade in front of me.
"FIGHT!!"
"[Sandstorm]"
I raised my left arm and cast my strong sandstorm spell.
A large flow of sand formed within a radius that covered the entire ring—my opponent wouldn't be able to escape it.
"Wha—"
"No incantation!?" I could hear their surprised exclamations.
That doesn't matter right now. I have bigger problems.
The teacher yelled out, rubbing his eyes.
Quickly, I closed the distance between us and began swinging my sword.
While it's true I was treating the sword more like a large stick or a branch you'd find on the side of the road, to me—someone who lacks swordsmanship—this practice wooden sword is just a stick to hit people with.
I struck every blind spot he had... which basically meant I attacked every part of his body—arms, legs, stomach, chest, head, and back. I left no spot unhit.
"Raah! You shitty brat!!!"
He was desperately trying to block my attacks and reposition himself.
"I'll kill you as soon as I catch you!!!"
That's right—keep getting angrier and more desperate. That only gives me a bigger advantage.
"Stop fucking with me!!!"
He blocked me!?
That was just luck. Right?
He blocked me again. And again.
Thud.
He... he hit me.
"Haha! So you get hit and immediately retreat?"
He leaped toward me.
How!?
Now he was the one on the offensive, and I could only defend or dodge.
"Don't underestimate me, you brat!"
His movements were kind of sloppy—which meant he was still blinded.
"Hrk!"
He hit me with a horizontal slash, sending me flying. Thankfully, I had a safe landing.
"Winds of purity that are as unchangeable as they are fierce..."
As he began his incantation, I started running toward him.
"...bring your being into this field..."
I won't make it in time.
"[Defog]"
The reason [Sandstorm] is considered a weak spell: it can be negated by a simple utility spell like [Defog]. With just a neutral incantation, even a strong terrain spell can be dispelled.
"Not so tough now, are ya?"
He swung his sword. Even though I blocked it, I was pushed back.
"I don't know how you did that, but casting such a useless spell against a skilled warrior? Ha, don't be so full of yourself."
Warrior...
!!!
One of the warrior class's skills—[Battle Sense]—can reduce the effects of vision-debuffs if the user's level and stats are high enough.
"Today was a great Saturday..."
He looked up.
"I had a date with a beautiful girl. She was the love of my life..."
He began walking toward me slowly.
"We were gonna get married, have three kids. We were gonna buy a house in the Raychmen Kingdom and spend our days as grandparents, watching the sunset on those beaches..."
He grabbed me by the collar.
"But you ruined it all. Our first meeting..."
He lifted me.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WATCHING HER!?"
He started shaking me.
"Do you have nothing to say? No empathy? Don't you want to apologize for all the pain you've caused me?"
He stopped shaking me.
...
"[Sandstorm]"
"Aaaaaah!"
Since it was a quick incantation, I aimed my spell directly at his face.
"[Wind Infusion]"
My sword was imbued with a weak wind—just strong enough to cut fabric. Like the uniform my opponent was gripping.
As soon as I cut my own uniform, I punched him in the face, forcing him back a few steps.
"[Wind Ram]"
I aimed the spell at the ground and immediately jumped to attack him.
My plan worked—the sound of the spell impacting the ground confused him, causing him to attack in the wrong direction.
The moment he missed, I punched him in the face with all the strength I had.
He fell backward, and before he could get up, I placed my imbued sword to his neck.
Clap.
"That's all for this match, don't you think, Rick Tramer?"
The blonde woman stepped into the ring and ended the fight.
"Tch."
He rubbed his eyes.
"Now, Alen..."
She looked creepy—her calm tone and smile clearly forced.
"Both Miss Lycree Doolvo and I found your lack of incantation to be a key point of your arsenal—one we weren't told about."
"Hehe, well, you know... if I revealed my ace before the fight, I would've lost."
I had to tell a half-truth to stay alive.
"Hohoho, I see."
Even her laugh was unsettling.
"Well, you may have had your reasons for hiding that information," she said as she opened her left eye. It was the same ocean-blue as her right—but with a white, star-shaped pupil.
"But I'd strongly advise you not to keep these kinds of secrets from us in the future. Am I clear, Alen?"
"As clear as water!!"
I instinctively stood straighter.
She closed her left eye and smiled calmly.
"That's a good answer."
She walked back toward Doolvo.
"You don't seem ready to tell us your secret now, so we won't force you... for now."
She stopped in front of the old woman.
"We do have three years to make you confess, after all."
...
Wait. Does that mean...?
They probably guessed what I was thinking based on the shocked look on my face.
"Yes. Starting Monday, you'll be one of Aurum Academy's students," Lycree said cheerfully—completely different from the others who tested me.
"Yes... I'll try my best."
"You can start by taking these bags with you to your dorm," Hellen added, pointing at all the luggage I brought with me.
Finally, I'm a student at this academy.
And starting Monday... the game finally begins.