Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

30th Element Infusion

30th Element Infusion

Another day, same as ever.

I’ve been consistently exercising with the goal of increasing my stats as much as possible before the duel with Apollo.

After finishing my daily workout, I sat by the lake and was about to wash up when Isolette asked me,

“I heard the news. You’re dueling with Senior Apollo.”

“Yeah. Why, you gettin’ a little interested?”

“Of course. How could I *not* be interested in your actions, Senior? It’s the proper duty of a disciple, after all.”

…No, that wasn’t the kind of answer I was hoping for.

I figured she’d just cheer me on or watch to try and improve her own skills, something like that.

I didn’t expect her to straight-up say she was interested in *me*…

“But Senior Apollo’s skills are the real deal. As someone in the same department, I see him occasionally, and he definitely lives up to being the top student.”

“Well, yeah. I’m not expecting it to be easy either.”

“Still, I’m not worried. Senior Apollo’s physique isn’t a match for Senior Herak’s.”

“Huh?”

What the hell is she on about now?

There’s no way Apollo’s stats are lacking compared to me, right?

I question her with a look, and Isolette smiles brightly as she explains.

“I’m very interested in the human body. I have a good eye for these things, and I can easily see someone’s potential.”

It’s a script that occasionally pops up in ＜Song of Sword and Magic＞.

The Knight Department students who’ve met Isolette have often had their physiques evaluated by her, and because she’s surprisingly accurate, players often throw it around as lore.

Guess it’s working here, too.

“Oh yeah? Compared to Apollo, what about me?”

“Senior Apollo is, first and foremost, a typical genius. He has the potential to have a body superior to the average person, as long as he puts in a reasonable amount of effort.”

“Hoo. And me?”

“Senior, you…”

With my 【Ultimate Physique】, I wonder what kind of evaluation I’ll get.

I urge her on with a look of considerable anticipation.

“Actually, I couldn’t feel anything.”

“Huh?”

That’s way different than I expected?

“Your potential, your growth capacity, I couldn’t grasp any of it. It’s the first time that’s ever happened, even after holding your hand.”

“Kinda kills the hype.”

“No. It’s precisely because of that, that I’m drawn to you, Senior.”

…That’s a pretty dangerous word choice. Better be careful, eh?

“There isn’t a physique my eye hasn’t been able to discern. But you, Senior, I couldn’t figure out… This means, you possess a potential so immense, even I can’t comprehend it.”

“Hmm. Thanks for the compliment.”

It seems the physique cheat definitely swayed Isolet’s heart.

She’s giving me an evaluation she wouldn’t even give to the Chairman.

“So, I’m not worried. Though, of course, it won’t be an easy fight.”

“That’s true.”

As Isolet said, with the physique cheat’s boost, even my stats would allow for hand-to-hand combat.

But, that alone isn’t enough to surpass Apollo’s combat power.

A more certain method.

I’ll need technique.

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【Twelve Constellation Fist】

2. Fist: Element Infusion (Uncertain state)

[Acquisition condition: When understanding ‘Elemental Magic’]

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‘This has to come through, soon.’

I did get a grasp of it after Angelina’s assistance the other time.

Even now, I can spark flames or scatter ice around my arm.

But that’s not ‘magic’.

‘I need to realize magic that only I can use.’

In a way, it’s also a battle mage-only magic.

But to me, someone unfamiliar with the concept of magic, being told to create my own magic is quite unfamiliar.

If only someone could give me some advice…

“Do you have a concern?”

“Yeah. Lately, I’ve been trying to create a magic, but it’s not clicking. It’s difficult to do alone.”

“Hmm. A battle mage magic, is it? Then it will certainly be difficult to assist you.”

“You said it. There’s no proper advisor…”

Most mages in this world just follow existing spells.

There’s a reason why the academy was so shocked and fluttered about my battle mage style.

They’ve long forgotten the act of creating new magic, which is why I’m so astonishing to them.

“…Hmm. A mage who could be of help to you, senior… Being in the Knight Department, I’m not really sure.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Or, how about Irina? She’s your disciple, so she might offer some clues. I’ve been talking to her quite a bit lately, and she seems eager to meet you.”

“Well, that kid is ultimately similar— no.”

The words, which I was initially just going to brush aside, suddenly snap me to attention.

‘Irina Elethal.’

The main character of the mage route, she’s a genius mage ranked within the top three in ＜Song of Swords and Magic＞.

Though her potential hasn’t fully bloomed, she currently possesses considerable talent.

If it’s her…

‘She might definitely be of help.’

“Thanks. Isolet. I should get going.”

“Are you going to see Irina?”

“Yeah. Thinking about what you said, Irina seems like the solution.”

I get up from my seat, waving my hand dismissively.

As I gave my thanks, Isolet gave me a gentle smile.

“Hehe. I’m envious. Irina, who receives the attention of Senior Herak. I’m in the Knight Department, so I’m out of the loop on things like that.”

“No, you’ve already been a great help? You’re being too hard on yourself.”

“Then please remember this. That it was I who came up with this idea.”

…Isolet, does she perhaps feel competitive with Irina?

Judging by her tone, it kind of seems that way… It’s very disconcerting.

I don’t know why I’m worth that kind of competitive spirit.

“Anyway. Got it. See you later.”

“Yes. Again soon.”

*

Irina Elethal, top of her class in the Magic Department, first year.

That alone might make some feel envious, perhaps even jealous.

But for her, lately, it wasn’t a good modifier at all.

She’d rather shed that status.

It means stress.

“Disappointing, Irina.”

A flinch, a sigh-laced tone digging into my ear, makes my body tremble.

Irina, ever the prideful one, tries her best not to show it.

Even so, her head dips, an unavoidable surrender.

“It’s understandable you couldn’t win the inter-departmental competition. Truly, I’d bend over backwards to forgive that.”

“……”

“But… to hear you’re on good terms with the top student of the Knight Department—that is something I cannot excuse.”

*Thwack!*

The pointer slams against the desk.

Professor Digory, the first-year instructor for the Magic Department, wore a deeply displeased expression.

His lips twisted as he sat across from Irina.

“Just what is the meaning of this? Explain yourself.”

“No. It’s just…”

“You’d better tell the truth. Dare to defend the Knight Department in front of me, and I can’t say what I might do.”

The honorific “Ms.” from her entrance exam had vanished.

Clearly establishing a superior-subordinate relationship, a brand pressed into Irina’s very skin, Digory continued to tap the pointer.

Yes.

Irina hated this attitude of Digory’s.

No, to be honest, she hated the whole culture of the Magic Department.

‘Why are you all so desperate for a fight? Really.’

So what if she was friendly with a Knight Department student?

It wasn’t as if she particularly liked that girl, Isolette.

It was just that they connected during the inter-departmental competition, became acquainted, and had a few conversations.

That rumor spread, reached Digory’s ears, and now she’s being grilled here.

‘This is irritating. Seriously.’

What business is it of yours what I do?

Who I choose to befriend or not.

Magic Department pride and all that, I’m sick to death of it.

“Nothing to say?”

…I can’t very well say that to this damn four-eyes, so Irina lowered her pride as far as it would go and apologized.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I won’t acknowledge them, even if we meet.”

“You thought well. As it should be for the representative of the magic department, and for a first-year I’m guiding.”

Ugh, how annoying. Do you think that’s how I am?

I’ll act even more knowledgeable when you’re not looking!

“……Well, whatever. It’s almost time to feed Hirari.”

“Hirari?”

“This snake, that is.”

What a lame, unfunny naming sense. Seriously.

Digory opens the door to a cage near his desk.

Inside, a baby snake, dripping with fluid from its scales, writhed, and just looking at it made me shudder.

Digory, incongruously, smiled as if he found the snake incredibly adorable.

Then he opened a bag nearby and tossed a worm from it.

*Chomp!*

He watched, satisfied, as the snake he called Hirari swallowed it in one gulp, and muttered,

“That’s Hirari for you. You’re the only one.”

“……”

A bizarre name and off-putting affection.

But this was a habit of summoners.

‘Digory is also an instructor in summoning magic, after all.’

Magicians who summon and control monsters, summoners.

Digory, among the most skilled of them, was famous for showing affection to his familiars.

Though, I didn’t expect him to give a weird name like Hirari…

“Alright. You can go now.”

“Yes.”

I don’t want to be here even a second longer.

Irina mentally cursed Digory as she left the instructor’s office.

Each step she took was heavy.

She had entered the school with such high hopes, but it turned out to be nothing but annoying, tiresome things.

She was so stressed, she just wanted to go back to the magic tower.

‘Is everyone here obsessed with the inter-departmental competition, or what…?’

The only exceptions might be Ruby and Sapphire?

They’re all the same, except for those kids.

……No, there was one more.

A man with dull blonde hair.

Unusually muscular for a mage.

A senior who often fought with the knights but never went around badmouthing them.

Herak.

‘Maybe that senior would have been different.’

I heard he was viciously attacked right before a duel not long ago.

Apparently, he actually fought them off.

Even so, he didn’t use it to slander his opponents, so the students are busy singing his praises.

“…I’d like to meet him.”

I want to ask him directly.

What he thinks of the knights.

If he hates them for getting in his way.

What he thinks about other mages’ disdain for the knights.

If only I could…

“Hey. Irina.”

“Whoa?!”

That scared me!

I was so lost in thought, I hadn’t been paying attention to my surroundings.

Speak of the devil, Herak was leaning against the wall across the hall.

“How you been?”

“W-What’s going on? Do you need something from me?”

“Yeah.”

His answer is as plain and concise as ever.

I paused for a moment, wondering how to respond, but it seems I don’t need to.

‘This is what I wanted.’

I need to ask him this time.

“Alright. I had something I wanted to ask you too, anyway.”

“Okay. Let’s change the location then.”

Pulling her hand, Herak urges Irina to follow, and she scurries to catch up.

Just as they were about to leave for the cafe to talk, Herak muttered, as if something had suddenly occurred to him.

“…Hey. But, no, right?”

“What?”

“Isolde is also way too interested in me, and if even you’re like that, it’s gonna be a bit of a problem for me.”

“Wh, wha, what nonsense are you spouting?! Why would I?!”

“Just before, you said you wanted to meet me once. I heard it all.”

“Th, that’s…!”

…Wait, he heard even that?!

Just how much was I spacing out to say that to myself?!

“N-no, I didn’t! It’s not you!”

“Then, what was it you wanted to see me about?”

“Ugh, well… if you wanna think that way, fine!”

“Geez. Okay, okay.”

Burning cheeks.

Irina raises her voice, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Herak shook his head at her antics, but Irina’s pounding heart wouldn’t calm down so easily.

It was the pure innocence of a woman yet to realize her own feelings.