Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

It worked when I said “Chapter 21”

It worked when I said “Chapter 21”

After all the events of the inter-school exchange had finished.

A warm breeze stirred in Olympia, welcoming late spring.

It was perfect weather for exercise.

Thud, thud, thud.

The footsteps running along the academy path were light.

I’d left the dorm early this morning to go for a run.

It was the same routine as always, but there was one thing different from the norm.

It was the reaction of the students.

—There he goes again, running. That Herak guy.

—He really works hard. I respect that.

—Doesn’t he run every single day? I guess magic really is about the body, huh?

—Hey! Herak! Good work!

‘…Why are they like this?’

I didn’t really care about the Knights Department students, we were always like passing strangers.

But the Magic Department students were being especially friendly to me.

The scorn and ridicule they used to show me was nowhere to be seen.

The way they looked at me had somehow begun to be filled with admiration and support.

The problem was, I didn’t know why.

The only thing I could think of was winning the inter-school exchange…

‘I don’t think I did anything *that* great.’

Wasn’t it just me beating up Jackson a bit?

Sure, it was an underdog rebellion, the last place beating the seventh, that was all true.

But was it enough to wipe away all their previous prejudices and turn things around to this extent?

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

“Hehe. You’re making a rather puzzled face, senior.”

A clear, softly-spoken voice came from beside me.

My running mate, Isolet, the kind I’d feel empty without now, was smiling at me.

“Are you *that* confused? About the change in the attitudes of the magic department students.”

“Well, honestly, yeah. I haven’t really done anything, you know?”

“That’s not true.”

Isolet actually contradicted my thoughts.

She drew a soft smile and calmly explained the reason to me.

“I heard that the knight department often won against the second-years. Since you won, wouldn’t that reverse the evaluation?”

“I know that much. But it’s weird, them cheering me on while running.”

“It was shocking.”

Isolet recalled the memory of that day.

The birth of a trendsetter, witnessed by all the students in the Colosseum.

“There are probably many students who were captivated by the overwhelming power you showed… And more than anything, it’s significant because you opened up a new horizon that didn’t exist before.”

“…That damn battle mage thing, huh?”

“Yes.”

She nodded with force.

That concept, already flowing from Isolet’s lips with the utmost familiarity.

‘Battle mage’. It made me squirm.

“It’s a very hot topic even within the knight department. An innovation blurring the lines between knights and mages. Even us first-years haven’t stopped talking about it.”

“…”

What the hell is going on?

So, to summarize what she’s saying.

The combat style I showed at the inter-grade exchange match shocked others.

Because of that, they started considering me a unique and exceptional existence, and their evaluation changed for the better.

I heard that my combat style was a fresh approach, mixing only the strengths of knights and mages…

‘What the hell is she on about.’

Who said that?

Me?

…Continuing this topic was going to make my head hurt, so I passed the baton to Isolet.

“Speaking of which, it’s a shame. You were also good enough to win.”

“Mmm. That’s right.”

Haha. Isolet gives an awkward laugh.

Helene had dragged her to watch the first-year top match.

Isolet and Irina’s duel ended in a draw.

The academy faculty held many long meetings about it before reaching a conclusion.

If it was difficult to say either side had won or lost…

They’d simply declare that there would be no first-year champion.

Because of that, Isolet didn’t get to be the champion despite fighting so well.

“Honestly, it would be a lie to say I’m not disappointed… But Ms. Irina is clearly skilled as well. It was a good match, so I have no regrets.”

“That’s admirable.”

This one’s really become a proper person.

Maybe it’s because she’s the protagonist, but she’s so decisive.

Isolet definitely wouldn’t be the type to bother me.

“Ah, there’s just one thing I regret. I wanted to become Senior Herak’s number one disciple, but I failed.”

“Huh?”

Number what now?

I stare at Isolet at that absurd statement.

She looks up at me with a firm face, not a hint of hesitation.

“Actually, I’m also very interested in Senior’s ‘Battle Mage’ style. I’ve already found the knight classes uninteresting. If I could receive personal instruction in Senior’s combat techniques, I’d be so happy.”

“…You too with that nonsense?”

“Hehe. I know Senior is troubled, but please understand it’s the ambition of a young junior.”

Isolet, smiling brightly as she says that, is quite beautiful.

Flawless, fair skin, a lively expression.

She really is a proud junior with no faults…

“I’ll think about it.”

I didn’t think she’d get fixated on Battle Mage stuff and become a nuisance. Seriously.

I felt bad ignoring Isolet too, so I humored her roughly.

Even as she ran, she politely bowed her head.

“Thank you. There’s really no one but you, Senior.”

“…Don’t lay it on so thick.”

What is my standing in Isolet’s heart, anyway?

A fresh curiosity bloomed.

*

Today was [Theoretical Magic] lecture day.

The Theoretical Magic instructor, Margaret, was a woman with perpetually circling glasses.

Famous for her boring lectures while wearing a white coat, in typical scholar fashion.

Most students either slept or barely listened.

Unless you were in a position where you *needed* to absorb knowledge, like me, you basically didn’t listen.

So I entered the lecture hall without much thought.

The students would be, as always, slumped over their desks killing time, and no one would pay attention to me, who was entering late.

That’s what I thought, anyway.

*Creak*.

The moment I opened the lecture hall door, every single student’s gaze turned to me.

Then, one by one, they got up, and soon enough, they swarmed me in a rush.

It was a welcoming I couldn’t understand.

“Hey, Herak! You did running again today, right? That’s amazing!”

“That time you blew Jackson away felt so good. It was so cool.”

“What was that magic? Or, was it not magic? Battle Mage or something, that!”

Everyone was firing questions, like they were bursting with curiosity.

The sudden situation made me look dumbfounded, and the commotion subsided again.

Then they looked at each other, sizing each other up.

*Swish*. One student approached me and spoke.

“Herak.”

“What.”

“Um, well… I’m sorry for everything.”

“……?”

What is this, a Leaf Village-like development?

Stunned by the sudden apology, I just stared blankly.

He scratched the back of his head as he apologized.

“I’m sorry for ignoring you before because you were a replacement. I thought you had no talent, but turns out you had your own magic.”

“And Jackson won too! That annoying brat!”

“Yeah. Anyway, sorry for everything. I mean it.”

He then bows deeply at the waist, in a quick motion.

Even beyond this guy, all the cadets surrounding me are bobbing their heads in apology.

I just stand there, watching the scene.

I don’t know how it looks to them, but my heart feels pretty lukewarm about it.

‘You’ve got the wrong person.’

The one you guys ignored wasn’t me, it was actually Herak… right?

I just happened to possess this body and used the cheat-like powers it had to do what needed to be done.

Even if I accept this apology, honestly, I don’t really care.

But I can’t exactly say that to them.

In the end, I just nod my head, accepting their apology appropriately.

They’re just barely adults, anyway.

I’ll just let it go since they’re young, making these immature mistakes.

“Yeah, whatever. I get it. It happens.”

“……! Really, thank you, Herak!”

The cadets’ faces light up at my forgiveness.

They must be excited, because they begin introducing themselves one by one.

These guys, they seriously never even introduced themselves to Herak before… did they?

“I’m Sampson!”

“I’m Thomas.”

“Sophie! Nice to meet you!”

“Uh, yeah.”

Okay, I get it, can you just go already?

Can I go back to my seat?

But the cadets still have no intention of moving.

While this commotion was happening at the classroom door…

*Screech!*

The opposite door slams open, and Instructor Margaret bursts in like she’s in a hurry.

“Okay, okay. Silence! Everyone back to your seats!”

“N-yes, yes…?”

Question marks bloom on the faces of the students returning to their seats, answering docilely at first.

It’s a level of energy that Professor Margaret, the Theoretical Magic instructor, has never shown even once before.

“Alright! Quickly! Are you all seated? Then I’ll call roll. Penel—”

But Margaret, completely unconcerned with the students’ reactions.

Adjusts her round glasses and quickly rattles off the student registry.

Her usual static tone, the rigid classroom atmosphere, is nowhere to be found.

“Samson, Thomas, Sophie—”

As if she can’t bear not to call someone soon enough.

Margaret hurriedly calls attendance and then.

Calls out the name of the very last, substitute student.

“And! A second-year student in the Department of Magic, the victor who defeated an opponent ranked dozens of places above him in the Inter-Grade Exchange Tournament, and the creator of the Battle Mage, blurring the line between knight and mage. Herak, are you here!”

“Huh?”

What was that?

There were a lot of modifiers there?

I answer the call, looking rather bewildered.

Margaret seems practically ecstatic, gesturing at me and calling me over.

“There. Herak. Please, come forward. Today, your place is beside me.”

“No, professor. What are you talking about?”

“Oh, dear. I was so excited I skipped over the explanations, didn’t I? Understood. I’ll tell you right now.”

Beyond her round glasses.

Her eyes, burning with a scholar’s obsession, widen as she declares to me.

“This lecture will disregard the existing syllabus.”

“Huh?”

“We’re throwing it all out. There’s nothing as important as the ‘Battle Mage.’ However, as I do not know much, I’d be grateful if Herak could become my one-day assistant!”

So, in other words.

To summarize Margaret’s words, she’s asking me to help her.

And teach about Battle Mages.

“……???”

…I don’t know either, though?