Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Episode 8, Highly Developed Muscles (2)

Episode 8, Highly Developed Muscles (2)

[Introduction to Elemental Studies] A silence fell over the training grounds.

Thud, thud─ A massive rock, placed there by Instructor Angelina herself.

Toward it, that not a single student had even dared scratch, a student was approaching.

But it wasn’t that every student maintained silence.

It was because the identity of the student challenging the task was far too unexpected.

“……Is he crazy?”

A muttered soliloquy, as if whispered.

Soon, as if in response, the training grounds began to fill with the jeers of the students.

“Has that b*stard lost his nerve? Why is he going for that?”

“He’s a complete nutjob. What’s a guy who can’t even use magic going to do?”

“Hey, hey. Leave him be. He says he’s going to do something.”

“I’ll acknowledge him if he even moves a speck of mana.”

No one expected Herac to succeed.

Because they knew well the disgrace Herac was known for amongst the second years of the magic department.

‘A Spare.’

A guy who shouldn’t have even been able to get into Olympia in the first place.

A talentless nobody who wouldn’t even be seen if the Chairman hadn’t personally recommended him for special admission.

And even after getting in, a kid who couldn’t use a single spell, hanging on with the special favor of being exempted from practical scores.

Some suspected ‘mana blindness’.

If that was the case, it would truly be laughable.

A magician who can’t feel mana? That’s like a knight without limbs.

“A disgrace to the magic department.”

That’s why Herac was hated by his peers.

Even though he can’t use magic, he’s in the same position as them.

And because of him, the knight department is sneering, saying a ‘spare’ got in on special admission.

Not a single thing was pleasing, and they had been looking down on Herac—

“……Haa.”

Berry’s brow furrowed, reading the mood.

The mocking gazes her peers were giving were nothing short of cruel.

If she were the target of those gazes, she wouldn’t even be able to sleep from the shame.

And yet.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking……”

Her teammate. Herac walked right into the hellfire pit on his own.

He stood defiantly before the rock, eyes of his peers like daggers stabbing into him.

Berry was almost impressed by his audacity.

‘Can he actually do it?’

He stepped up so confidently, he must have a plan.

No, he better have a plan.

“……”

Herak said nothing.

He simply stood squarely before the rock, mimicking the motion Instructor Angelina had made.

He raises his arm. Stretches it toward the rock, folds three fingers.

Then, he pinches his index finger and thumb together, pulling taut.

It might appear just a simple, normal pose.

But.

“……what the hell is that?”

Berry suddenly noticed.

From Herak’s hand, all the way up his arm to his shoulder, his muscles were twitching.

Muscle cells rioting, screaming. Reaching to draw on every ounce of strength they could muster.

Completely focused, Herak’s eyes were fixed on the rock, unblinking.

The beads of sweat tracing his cheek somehow exuded a masculine charm.

The instant she saw it, Penell came to mind.

Turning to look, she was already shining with wide, bright eyes.

“Haa. That idiot.”

Of course she was.

He knew Penell was bothered by Herak.

Knowing it, he tried even harder to keep them from getting involved.

‘Love at first sight, she said…’

Penell had told him, in secret, she liked his looks.

Truth be told, most male magic students looked similar.

Lean and devoid of muscle, typical of wizards.

So, she purely fell for his face.

And.

“Gulp.”

After a swallow of spit, belonging to no one in particular.

Herak flicks his fingers.

In that instant, the rock explodes.

THWaaaSH─!!!

“……?!”

Berry’s eyes widen in shock.

‘What, what was that?’

A sight unbelievable even after seeing it with her own two eyes.

The instant Herak flicked his fingers, the rock lost its form.

That massive, solid thing, without so much as a scratch on it.

Now it had lost its shape, shattered into pieces scattered across the ground.

Thud… thud…

The sound of falling debris belatedly echoes.

Followed by the acrid air filling the training ground.

The cadets, belatedly reacting, quickly back away.

“What the hell, damn it. *Cough!*”

“He broke it? Really broke it? Is that even possible?”

“Did, did he use magic…? That b*stard?”

“The rock’s smashed to pieces…?! Damn it, not just a scratch, he blew it apart!”

Such an impossible reality, naturally, is met with a cacophony of shouts.

Each cadet tried to make sense of what Herak had done.

They all reacted with a mix of shock, denial, envy, and various other emotions.

But one fact was undeniable, they all had to admit it.

“……He broke it. That b*stard.”

He had completed the task given by Instructor Angelina.

*

“My arm aches.”

He presses down on his throbbing arm muscles with his other hand.

The acupressure helps a little, but it doesn’t seem like a muscle ache that’ll easily go away.

It was because I’d poured in so much power.

‘I used too much strength trying to break the rock.’

A hardness that looked impossible to even scratch at first glance.

Even with my 【Ultimate Physique】, it seemed hard to budge, so I went all out.

I shattered it, but it feels like my arm is shattered too.

“……Oh my.”

As I’m rubbing my arm in front of the collapsed rock,

Angelina, who had been far away, finally appeared.

Tap, tap. Her reaction as she approached me was simple.

“What is this?”

Pure question.

“I did say I’d give a reward if it was finished today, but I didn’t expect a student like this to actually appear.”

Half dumbfounded, half impressed.

Angelina’s gaze flickered towards me.

“Is it Herak-gun? That broke this?”

“Yes.”

I answer calmly, without showing any reaction.

My arm is hurting, so I can’t even be bothered to react.

“Hmm. Impressive….”

She said, and slowly approached the rock.

Then she picked up a piece of rubble and examined it.

At that moment, someone among the students shouted.

“Instructor!”

“Yes. What’s the matter?”

“We can’t be sure. That guy could have used black magic!”

“……?”

Angelina blinked her eyes.

I was just as dumbfounded.

‘Are they crazy.’

They saw me break it with their own eyes, but they’re still denying it.

“That guy, he can’t use magic, right? I think maybe he broke it with some other weird technique. Could you take a look!”

“Y-yeah, maybe…”

Other students subtly nod, swayed by the student’s claim of possible cheating.

It’s just so unbelievable that they’re all going along with this absurd train of thought.

“Hmm.”

Angelina glanced casually at the pile of rubble.

Unswayed by the students’ forced arguments, her expert opinion as a skilled mage was─

“It was magic.”

“……Huh?”

It was an obvious fact.

“I can sense traces of mana in the rubble. If you mix mana into the wind and fire it, this is what happens. It’s definitely a magical phenomenon.”

“O-oh….”

“Well, that doesn’t mean it was a Wind Gun, though. It’s a bit different from the results of a Wind Gun. Even I don’t know what kind of skill Herak used…”

She shrugged, looking at me.

Her gaze held a considerable amount of interest.

“…He passes, obviously. Herak gets full marks.”

Full marks.

Herak Leonhardt, who hadn’t received a single practical exam score until now, received full marks.

The students’ mouths hung open.

“And that student who called it sorcery? I remember you quite clearly.”

“U-uh, well….”

“If you’re going to slander someone else, you should prove yourself first. If you fail the task….”

Angelina’s lips curled into a smile.

Her smile alone looked like it could kill a person.

“…Look forward to it?”

“Eek!”

A pathetic scream.

Regardless, let’s confirm the important stuff first.

“So, am I free now?”

“Yes. Herak, you’re free until the other students complete the task. You can spend your time as you like.”

Yeah, I like that.

Wasn’t particularly interested because of Berry, but I gave it a shot. Turned out well, so it’s a win.

Time to crush some workout.

‘Come to think of it, I felt magic.’

It wasn’t intentional. Impossible in the first place, since I’m magic-blind.

Probably just my body cheat causing some unreal phenomena.

Making a simple act of flicking wind with my fingers look like magic.

I turn around, satisfied.

Let’s go back to where I chucked that rock. I can just do dumbbell curls there again…

‘Ah.’

There’s that guy over there, wearing a dumb expression behind his glasses.

Berry’s staring right at me.

I suddenly got curious and asked Angelina.

“So what happens to Berry? Since it’s a combined team score, does she also get a perfect score?”

“Ah, Berry-ssi, you mean? Of course, she gets a perfect score. Changing teams was a good thing for her in the end.”

“Hmm.”

Ended up doing someone else a favor.

‘Whatever.’

If it shuts Berry up and keeps her from bothering me, that’s good enough.

“……”

Thump, thump─

I push forward through the crowd. All the classmates standing in front of me look away and step aside.

‘Tsk, tsk.’

All that shit-talking earlier. But the results are different, so now they’re all silent.

“Hey.”

“……”

“Got nothing to say?”

I finally stood before Berry.

He looked up at me, dumbfounded.

“Ugh. Just don’t mess with me anymore. I’ll take care of myself.”

“……Uh, how did you do that?”

“What?”

“The rock, how did you break it?”

Her voice is trembling quite a bit.

Where did the one who was spitting venom at me a moment ago go?

She’s turned into a rather docile woman.

Of course, I have no need to tell her. And she wouldn’t believe me if I did.

“Just… well.”

“What?”

“Mind your own business. It’s not something that can be explained.”

“……A-are you crazy? What kind of confidence is that? Do you think saying that makes you look cool?”

Berry is getting all worked up, just screeching away by herself.

I wave my hand roughly, signaling her to move, and sit back down.

Picking up the rock I just parted ways with.

Time to start exercising.

‘I should rest my sore hand.’

I’ll get it treated at the temple when I’m done.

While Herak is absorbed in her workout,

Berry, thanks to her, already finished this assignment and went to see her friend.

“Congratulations, Berry. Full marks.”

“Mhm.”

Penel greets her with a bright smile.

Usually, seeing that smile would warm her heart and chase away worries, but—

“Herak is really amazing, isn’t she?”

“…….”

“But how did she do it, hmm. I’m curious. Did you hear anything?”

“……No.”

For some reason, it wasn’t easy this time.

“Haa.”

Headache.

Berry sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Penel.”

“Hm?”

“I think I understand… why you care so much about Herak.”

“Ohoho, really?”

Her smile, seductive, held not a hint of doubt.

Falling for someone is terrifying, isn’t it. For the ever-so-bright Penel to be this love-struck.

‘I guess I have to protect her.’

She knew Herak had some impressive qualities, sure.

But still.

Penel was Berry’s precious friend. She couldn’t just let her go all giddy over some guy.

That’s all it was.