Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Episode 13 The Secret Room (5)

Episode 13 The Secret Room (5)

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【Herac Leonhardt】

Gender : Male

Age : 21

Status : 2nd year Olympia Academy

※ Status

Strength : 2

Constitution : 2

Agility: 2

Mana Capacity: 10

Mana Efficiency: 10

Mana Sensitivity: 0

※ Unique

【Ultimate Physique】

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Finally, my Agility stat has climbed to 2.

All that relentless training has paid off.

Before school started, I poured my entire day into working out, and even after school started, I didn’t skip a single session.

It was bound to happen.

‘A load off my mind.’

I focused on getting my stats to 2 before the inter-year competition, and I finally succeeded.

Now, no matter who shows up from the Knight Department, I won’t be pushed around in Agility.

To be precise, my Agility stat is still lacking compared to the Knight Department students, but it’s convenient to think of 【Ultimate Physique】 as providing the necessary correction.

Either way, I’ve secured my chances of winning. Jackpot.

Another change is how the stat numbers are displayed.

※ Stat values can now be seen with decimal places.

I don’t need to feel frustrated waiting for the next whole number anymore.

The gap between 1 and 2 felt endless, but now seeing how far I’ve progressed between 2 and 3 will be easier.

Good. Good.

“…Hey! Can you hear me?”

Lost in my own little bubble of self-satisfaction, a shrill voice cuts through from my side.

Irina is glaring at me, her twin tails bouncing around.

“I’m asking what the hell is going on here.”

“Weren’t you already aware?”

“No! I just saw you guys fighting and helped out.”

“Well, now…”

Since I’m the protagonist, I just assumed I’d stumbled into a side story.

A bit confusing, I guess. Still, I am grateful.

‘If Irina hadn’t come, I’d have taken massive damage.’

Likely a minimum of a retirement.

Even if I’d achieved the objective of protecting the protagonist, Isolet, I’d have been badly hurt so it would’ve been hard in the end.

No matter how you slice it, it’s all thanks to Irina.

“Thanks. It’s because of you.”

“Huh? What is?”

Irina’s eyes were wide.

I carefully explained it to her, who didn’t understand.

The legend passed down in Olympia, the secret room. And the countless martial arts manuals hidden here.

Irina’s reaction to the whole story was simple.

“There was such a thing? Then let me join too.”

“You’ve already been doing it together, what are you talking about?”

“Oh? Is that so?”

She dealt the final blow to the werewolf with her own hands, what was she on about.

I left the girl, who seemed to have lost her bearings and was rolling her eyes, behind.

This time, I looked at Isolet.

“……”

I was trying to ignore it… but something’s not right.

No reaction to anything Irina was babbling, just looking up at me quietly from the side.

Both hands shyly gathered at her chest.

Both cheeks flushed crimson.

Both eyes wet and trembling.

‘…What’s wrong with her?’

Can’t you open your eyes properly? Your gaze suddenly got weird.

“You okay?”

“……Yes.”

Thankfully, she answers.

But still, something’s not right.

Her voice is so wet, it feels like touching it would leave moisture on your hand.

What is it with this girl? She’s normally a character with a stiff tone. What happened.

“…Thanks to you, I lived.”

She bows her head deeply.

Hmm… now she seems more like Isolet. The person I know is back. That’s a relief.

“Alright, well, that’s that. How about we start with introductions?”

As the only elder here, I try to lighten the atmosphere.

Irina and Isolet are meeting each other for the first time.

They have many trials to face as the future dual protagonists, and it would be good if they could become allies here.

“Introductions?”

Hm─ Irina’s chin lifts.

Suddenly taking an arrogant posture, she looks down at Isolet. Isolet, still with flushed cheeks, looks up at her.

“Well, fine. My name is Irina Elethal. I’m the valedictorian of the first year in the Magic Department. Though I guess you already knew that, right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Isolet’s way of speaking is slowly returning to normal.

Her flushed cheeks return to their usual pale color, and Isolet politely bows her head.

Then, Irina, getting more excited, starts to chatter.

“I don’t think more words are necessary. You and I are rivals, we can’t lose to each other. It’d be awkward if we got too close, right?”

“That’s what everyone around us thinks. It’s true.”

“……”

Perhaps it was that Isolet’s expression didn’t change at all that bothered her.

Irina pouts her lips, then grins, as if she just thought of an interesting topic.

“Kukuk. Come to think of it, are you, by any chance, thinking of becoming this person’s disciple? Seeing as you came all the way to the secret room with him, it seems likely.”

“Pardon?”

“Sorry, but I was the one who received the offer to be his disciple first. And I’m the most qualified to be his disciple as well. I suggest you give up on dreams you can’t achieve quickly.”

“……”

Irina’s sudden remark makes Isolet’s eyes widen.

…I’m just as bewildered, myself.

‘Is she crazy?’

Why is she suddenly talking about disciples?

She was the only one going on about it when we talked about going to the secret room the other day, and she’s doing it again this time.

What on earth does she think of me…

But, unbelievably, Isolet takes it a step further.

“Then, you will be my senior sister.”

“……Huh?”

“Although I became Master Herak’s disciple late, please, take good care of me.”

Isolet bows her head deeply.

Irina freezes, utterly unable to comprehend the statement. There’s no way she expected an answer like that.

Well, same here.

‘Just please, leave me alone.’

Why are you two so desperate to be under me when you’re the main characters?

It’s dizzying that these guys, who will clearly become stronger than me with time, are saying they want to be my disciples.

“……Uh. Okay.”

Ultimately, Irina also wrapped up the conversation awkwardly.

In many ways, it was a victory for Isolet.

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward atmosphere settles in.

Embarrassed by the situation she’d brought upon herself, Irina reaches into her pouch. It was to bring up a different topic.

“So, uh, anyway. Look at this. It fell out when the werewolf died.”

“Oh.”

What Irina held was an internal organ.

It had separated so cleanly that it was hard to believe it had been inside the werewolf just moments ago.

It even looked lively, as if still living.

A ‘drop item’.

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【Werewolf’s Lung】

A thing that fell out from a werewolf’s body.

With a little bit of processing, it could become a useful item.

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‘This dropped, huh.’

Drop items that sometimes appear when you defeat a boss monster.

The pieces were all different, and out popped a lung.

‘Probably had some kind of howling effect attached to it.’

If I brought it to an alchemist, it’d be worth something.

But first, the question was who’d take the item.

“Looks like some usable material. Who’s gonna grab it?”

“I’m good.”

Isolet answers immediately to my question.

She looks up at me, giving a gentle smile.

Definitely making sure I knew she wasn’t concerned about taking it.

“The main credit for taking down the werewolf goes to you, senior. I’ll step aside.”

“Oh, thanks?”

Wow, I didn’t expect her to back out so cleanly?

I mean, yeah, I was the key player in taking down the werewolf, but Isolet’s contribution wasn’t small either.

If she hadn’t cut its skin, Irina wouldn’t have been able to land the finishing blow with magic.

Why is she being so nice to me…

“Well, I don’t care either.”

Maybe something about Isolet’s smile rubbed her the wrong way.

Irina pouted and threw me the 【Werewolf’s Lung】.

“You did all the work taking down the werewolf. I just finished it off. It’s obviously yours.”

“…Huh. Not being a brat here?”

“What do you take me for?!”

*BAM* – Irina’s eyes widened as she glared.

I was kinda joking, but she’s reacting fiercely. Somehow, I can’t help but feel more drawn to Isolet than Irina.

Anyway, my close-range combat stat went up to 2, and I also got the 【Werewolf’s Lung】.

But I haven’t gotten the true reward from the side story yet.

“Let’s go now.”

Time to head up the stairs and get the skill book.

*

“What should we read first?”

“We don’t have time to look at everything one by one.”

I climb the stairs, guiding the two behind me.

Irina and Isolet trailed after me like I was some sort of teacher. They seem to trust me quite a bit.

“We need to hurry back, considering tomorrow. Just grab one you like and let’s meet up again.”

“Why just one? We could take several.”

“Don’t forget this place is a magical structure.”

I point a finger at Irina’s question.

Over there, a corridor shrouded in darkness. There’s a window showing the night sky.

This means in this space intertwined with magic, we can’t let our guard down.

In the original story, grabbing more than one usually doesn’t end well.

“Taking more than two could get you in trouble. The exit could close, and we might be stuck here.”

“Ugh… That sounds awful. Fine, I’ll trust my perfect senses to find the best book.”

Irina agrees with my explanation and heads straight to the shelves holding magic books.

Of course, I’m more of a physical type, so I have no business going there.

So, I’m about to head to the shelves holding swordsmanship books, when Isolet softly smiles and sticks right next to me.

Like she’d been expecting this.

“Shall we, Senior?”

“Aren’t you curious why I’m coming this way?”

“Because you’re Senior.”

…That doesn’t explain it? No, it does, but it’s way too simplified.

Anyway, Isolet seems to have figured me out.

As we approach the shelves, countless skill books come into view.

“Hmm… There are many interesting ones.”

“Just pick one by your gut feeling. Your gut is always right, after all.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

She’s the protagonist, so whatever she picks will probably be correct anyway.

While Isolet stays put, flipping through a book, I move further in.

The place I reach isn’t the swordsmanship shelf, but rather, a shelf of books dealing with the ‘body.’

‘In ＜Song of Sword and Magic＞, swordsmanship is practically the alpha and omega.’

Knights may train their bodies, but ultimately, they end up with the sword.

Those who use axes, spears, bows, etc. don’t achieve greatness.

Why? Because that’s the setting. Take it up with the production company.

‘Basically, everything except swordsmanship is just dummy data.’

So, originally, even these ‘physical’ books I’m looking at are useless.

But as long as I have my 【Ultimate Body】, these things will actually be what bring me the most power.

‘【Soaring Heart Fist】, 【Azure Dragon Kick】, 【Shadow Steps】……’

Various martial arts manuals catch my eye.

But these aren’t enough.

I need the culmination of martial arts and cultivation techniques that deal with the body. A skill book that covers everything in one go.

And this is it.

‘【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】.’

A complete package encompassing everything from fist techniques to cultivation methods.

The ＜Song of Swords and Magic＞ production company said they threw it in for fun, but who knew it would be so useful here.

Anyway, let’s read it.

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【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】

※ Preface

To the one who holds this manual, congratulations.

I wrote this book to complete the vessel to become a hero.

First…

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I don’t really need to read it properly.

Just skimming through it is enough for it to seep into my body.

I roughly flip through and close the book, and a change occurs in the status window.

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【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】

1. Finger Flick

[Acquisition Requirement: Strength, Stamina, Agility stats all at 2]

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‘Got it.’

Finally, I’ve got a ‘skill’.

Now, we just need to prepare for the future based on this.

“Are you finished?”

“Yeah.”

Before I knew it, Irina and Isolet were by my side.

They each had a secret manual tucked under their arms, and just by looking at the covers, I could tell what they were.

‘Irina took 【Rewind】, and Isolet took 【Charge】.’

They both have a good eye. Picking out only the best of the best.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

We walked down the stairs and towards the hallway.

The secret room, with all its work complete, was silent. Only the moonlight seeping through the windows quietly lit our path ahead.

And we returned to the elevator and stood on it again.

“How do we go up?”

“Same as when we came down. Just stand still and it’ll go up again.”

While we waited for a few minutes, I silently observed the two heroines.

“Hmph hmph. What a night this has been. But gains are gains, I guess…”

Irina hummed, seeming slightly excited.

“……”

Isolet said nothing, just looking up at me.

“What’s wrong?”

“……Senior.”

I spoke, wondering if there was a problem.

Isolet then reached a hand out towards me.

Her pale hand shone white in the moonlight.

“Could you… take my hand?”

“……?”

What’s the signal here?

Why is she suddenly asking me to hold her hand?

In an instant, various questions and worries flashed through my mind.

“Well, alright then.”

Just a moment ago, I thought Isolet might be shaken from the battle, so I held her hand.

After all, she’s just a girl who’s barely become an adult. Even if she’s the protagonist, she can’t not be nervous.

“Thank you.”

Isolet tightly clasped the hand I held,

and her smile as she thanked me was quite lovely.

*

After parting with Irina and Isolet.

I returned to the dorm and looked at the item in my hand.

‘[Werewolf Lung], huh.’

I want to transmute this for alchemical use, but.

Since I acquired it so suddenly, it won’t be easy to come up with a plausible explanation.

There’s a high probability I’ll be questioned on how I got it.

If that’s the case, then I have a good idea.

‘Let’s go to that guy.’

To the alchemy otaku in the second year of the magic department.