Entering the Game with a Cheat Physique

Elemental Magic (2)

27. Elemental Magic (2)

*Thump, thump-thump—*

Explosions shake the training grounds.

Cadets practice magic in the dirt pits dug by Instructor Angelina.

However, Point Burst is an intermediate spell, so not everyone is mastering it quickly.

“How’s it going? Are you getting the hang of it?”

“No. I’m doing what the Instructor does, but I’m not sure.”

Samson, Thomas, and Sophie, who are in my group, said the same thing.

Watching them move their arms back and forth, checking their magic, I remembered the conversation from just before.

What? I’m *not* two-timing?

That’s really surprising. Rumor had it I was going to duel Apollo to save Berry.

And in [Theoretical Magic], Penelope even stroked my arm… Is that not true?

How the hell are rumors about my relationships spreading like this?

The three of them, hearing my answer, didn’t believe it, shook their heads.

Then, they exchanged glances, nodded to each other, and said this.

It’s okay, Herak. I understand.

Yeah, they say heroes are prone to that.

As a woman, I’m a bit uncomfortable, but…well, I have no right to meddle in other people’s love lives.

‘Why are you jumping to conclusions?’

I’ve never had any ulterior motives towards Penell and Berry.

In fact, I’ve been trying my best to avoid getting close to them, the ones who are bound to be tangled up with the main character.

So why does everyone around me think I’m having a thing with them? It’s truly baffling.

“……Ugh. That’s it. I need a break.”

“I surrender too. Let’s do it later.”

The group members return, seemingly making no progress in their practice.

They plop down around me, taking a rest.

“Intermediate magic is tough, isn’t it? It’s completely different from the lower levels.”

“I thought I’d already gotten a handle on fire magic, but I was wrong.”

“Seriously. It feels like I’m starting elemental magic all over again.”

I can’t manipulate magic, so I have no reason to participate in the assignment.

Besides, I’m exempted from practical grades, so the three of them are engrossed, heads together, pondering over it.

There’s nothing I can do to help anyway.

“Elemental magic, you said?”

But one word caught my ear, and I jumped in.

“Huh? Herak, what’s up?”

“Are you good with elemental magic? I’ve been looking into it lately.”

“Well… If you’re asking if I’m *good* at it, the answer’s no…”

Sophie glances at the other two.

Samson and Thomas also wear awkward expressions.

They weren’t among the top students in the second-year magic department.

Therefore, you could say they’re not the right people to teach me elemental magic well.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Someone who’s too good might not understand how someone who’s not doing well feels.

Ordinary students like them could be better at accommodating me.

“It’s okay. Just help me as much as you can. Like, with the fire magic you were just talking about.”

“Well, if you put it like that, I guess we can’t refuse. What do you want to know?”

“How to handle ‘elements’.”

To master the second skill of the [Twelve Stellar Paths], ‘Elemental Infusion,’ I need to first understand ‘Elemental Magic’.

It’s just that, as a possessor, it’s a bit difficult for me to do that right away.

First, I need to understand the concept of ‘manipulating elements.’

“Hmm. Well, since we’re learning Point Burst, I’ll explain it using the fire element.”

Sophie nodded at my question and rolled up her sleeves.

She extended her smooth arm to get into position, probably channeling mana.

“Herac, you can’t feel mana, so you might not see it. But I’m releasing mana into my arm right now.”

“Okay.”

“If I link that to the surrounding air and transform it into flames, that’s ‘Fireball.'”

A low-level fire magic, Fireball.

A small fireball flickered into existence on Sophie’s arm.

She extinguished it and continued her explanation.

“Just now, the instructor linked to the dirt pit far away and created a bigger explosion.”

“Anyway, the main point is ‘transforming mana into flames.’ Just understand that.”

“Right. Other elements are similar. Transforming mana into elements is elemental magic.”

The three of them continued their explanation, chatting away.

Taking in their teachings, I slowly focused on my inner self.

‘Transforming mana into elements, huh.’

Truthfully, I can’t really feel it yet.

But since they taught me so earnestly, I should repay the effort.

I extend my arm. Mana existing on my skin, I assume its nature is changing.

If it becomes flames and ignites…

“…”

Failure. No change occurred.

Disappointed, I lowered my arm. Sophie comforted me.

She must think I’m disheartened.

“It’s okay. Everyone is like that at first.”

“Yeah. And you can’t feel mana, right? It’s natural.”

“Right. It took even us a long time. You—”

Their encouragement continued for a bit, until…

* * *

The entire training ground reverberates with the sound.

An explosion, too powerful for the cadets’ clumsy skills.

It meant a spell had been successfully cast, or mastery had reached an equivalent level.

“What was that? Who did it?”

“Already? How did they do that?”

Heads swivel immediately among the group.

Every cadet in the training ground is staring at the source of the noise.

A woman with braided black hair stands there.

“……”

She looks like even she’s startled, hand covering her mouth.

Berry was the one who made the explosion.

—How did she do that? She did it already?

—Nah. It’s nothing compared to Penel. It probably wasn’t a real success.

—But it’s Berry, isn’t it? She wasn’t that good.

A commotion erupts here and there.

The cadets all try to analyze the situation.

But, finding the answer proves impossible.

“Seriously, how did she do that?”

That went for our group, too.

“Berry succeeding this fast? Is it for real?”

“She was about the same as us… When did she get so skilled?”

“Did she practice without us knowing?”

The three of them, with similar scores to Berry, tilt their heads in confusion.

It’s a surprising situation for everyone.

Okay, Penel, but for her friend Berry to achieve such impressive results as well?

“……Heh heh.”

As if pleased by their reactions.

Berry secretly breaks into a smile, then her eyes meet mine.

“……”

Looks like he mouthed ‘thanks’ to me.

I had a rough idea what was up, so I nodded back.

“Hey. No way. We gotta go, too.”

“Yeah, wasn’t time to rest.”

“Herak. We’re heading out.”

Inspired by Berry’s growth, the other teammates also took off for training.

Just as I, left alone, was steeling myself to roll up my sleeves again…

Tap, tap.

Instructor Angelina, who’d been going around giving advice to each group, approached.

“Resting well, are you, Herak?”

“Ah. Instructor.”

I bowed my head in greeting.

She gently settled down next to me and spoke in a soft voice.

“I heard the news. You’re having a duel with the top student of the Knight Department.”

“Yes.”

“Heh heh. Sorry to keep you tied up with lectures, with your busy schedule. Don’t you do your usual training?”

“……”

There was an expectation hidden in her subtle tone.

*‘I’ll turn a blind eye to whatever you do in class, so you better win that duel,’* that’s what she meant.

Honestly, all those mages are just itching to beat a knight.

But I don’t particularly feel like working out right now.

Piling up more stats isn’t going to close the gap with Apollon.

Rather than that…

“Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“Could you give me some guidance? About the concept of ‘manipulating elements’?”

“Hmm. What do you mean by that?”

I explained the situation to Angelina, whose eyes were shining.

After listening to my story, she nodded slowly.

“I see. So you need it for the duel.”

“Well, yeah, that’s the gist of it.”

“Good. I also have many questions about Herak, so as your instructor, I’ll guide you thoroughly.”

Angelina reaches out her hand.

She gently takes my arm, then slowly releases her mana.

“Here. I’m holding Herak’s arm right now. Can you feel the mana transferring?”

“A little bit.”

Even with a mana sensitivity of 0, if you slam mana into someone through skin contact, you can’t help but feel it.

“Focus on that sensation. From now on, I’ll guide Herak’s mana to be elementalized into fire, so feel the flow.”

“Yes.”

Following Angelina’s will, the mana vibrates.

The layer of mana covering my skin, it changes its properties according to her intent.

Colorless, formless pure mana takes on a form.

It becomes a shapeless red substance.

Whoosh.

It flares up into flames on my hand.

“That’s how it’s done. Can you feel it?”

“Yes. It’s amazing.”

What Angelina just did for me was ‘the sensation of mana being elementalized.’

I didn’t achieve it with my own power, but it was successful with her assistance.

Even just feeling that first sensation is a huge gain.

‘But it’s not enough.’

Still, this isn’t the end.

My status window hasn’t actually changed.

────────────────

【Twelve Stellar Fists】

2. Fist: Elemental Infusion (Undetermined State)

[Acquisition Condition: Upon Understanding ‘Elemental Magic’]

────────────────

“This isn’t magic after all. I’ve only made you understand the concept of handling elements, but actually casting magic is a different matter altogether.”

“How can that be done?”

Might as well keep going while I’m at it.

I asked, thinking I could get more out of her, and Angelina chuckled.

“I wouldn’t know about that. I have no idea what magic Herak can use.”

“Ah.”

“The concept of a battle mage is still foreign to me, how could I teach it?”

“That’s true.”

Since the magic I use is different from other mages.

She could only help me understand the feeling; the magic itself was something I had to realize on my own.

That’s what she was saying.

Yeah. This is a good result, even just this much.

The rest is up to me.

“Thank you. You’ve been a great help.”

“Heh. Is that so?”

A tutorial session, ending on a warm note.

It was time for Angelina to leave now, but…

She smiled, and then said to me.

A proposal that has led countless college students to their doom.

“So, how about joining my team?”

“…What?”

“I’d like to have you by my side, Herak, and do some research. If you work under me, I can help you even more. What do you say, isn’t it a good offer?”

“No. I’ll pass.”

A graduate school offer, as if.

There’s no way I’d do it unless I was crazy, so with a stiff face, I shook my head.

Angelina left with a very disappointed look on her face.

…That was a close call.

*

Robert, the 2nd-year instructor of the Knight Department.

A student was in his office, having been called in.

“So. I heard the news, Apollon. You’re having a duel.”

“Yes.”

Apollo faced Robert with a relaxed expression.

A training instructor should be an object of reverence for a cadet.

But Apollo’s demeanor was nothing but easygoing.

Because they were already in cahoots.

“The opponent is that ‘Battle Mage’ causing a stir lately, or so I hear… You’ve chosen a peculiar one.”

“Well, he just doesn’t know his place, so I’m going to put him in it.”

“Good.”

Robert curled the corners of his lips at his disciple’s response.

This was why he liked Apollo.

That arrogant nature, that disdain for the unworthy.

That’s what made him worthy of being the top student in the second year.

“I have high hopes, Apollo. I don’t doubt you’ll secure our victory.”

“Thank you, Instructor.”

“Of course, our Knight Department will provide you with corresponding support. …You understand what I mean?”

“Certainly.”

Apollo also twisted his lips into a smirk.

He was hardly oblivious to what Robert was implying.

‘Do as you please.’

That’s how Robert put it in a roundabout way.

…Meaning he’d cover up any mishaps before the duel.

“Now, go. I’ll be awaiting good news.”

“Yes. We’ll be sure to bring glory to the Knight Department.”

After bowing his head, Apollo left the instructor’s office.

He’d walked quite a ways through the Knight Department lecture hall.

Before he knew it, his gang was trailing after him.

“Is everyone here?”

They were mostly high-ranking second-year students of the Knight Department.

Among them was a cadet ranked 4th in the second year.

Having gathered his gang, Apollo

issued his command with an arrogant smile.

“Disrupt him. Go find him before the duel and mess with him.”

“How far? How much do I intervene?”

The fourth ranked second year.

His question, the one who leads the gang right below Apollo.

“Turn him into a cripple.”

Apollo commanded with a sinister smile.

It was a plot to make it impossible for Herak even to stand in the duel arena.