How To Survive Clichés

Chapter 18

It was a good thing that the storyline wasn’t deviating from the original, aside from Yoo Suho’s quest for recruiting allies, but he shouldn’t be allowed to shine in practical training. With his current stats, it would be difficult to eliminate the magic misfit cliché.

[Status Window]
– Name: Damian Draco (New Star)
– Mana: C (Deficient)
– Stamina: E-
– Strength: F+
– Agility: F+
– Intelligence: D
– Talent: –
– Trait: Possessor
– Achievements: Victory in the Casual Duel
– [Available QP: 6]

There were six points in total. I had intended to save up a bit more after removing the third-rate clichés, but I couldn’t think of any more uses for them.

So far, I had earned points thanks to rumors about being a ruffian, but I needed to distribute them considering that no more opportunities might arise before practical training.

In that case…

It might be better to invest in mana.

If mana was insufficient during practical training, there would be no solution. Increasing my mana amount was crucial, especially due to the mana deficiency.

I allocated one of the points to mana. A red warning appeared on the status window with the following explanation:
[Warning! You need to invest 3 QP.]

…Right.
I had forgotten about that.

Once stats reach a certain level, it’s natural to require more points or time to advance further. It’s not efficient to raise a stat by one rank with just one point.

‘It’s hard to earn in reality, and spending it is quick; it’s the same in novels.’

I couldn’t avoid distributing points, so I ended up investing 3 points into mana.

‘As for the remaining points…’

I looked at the status window again.

Hmm, should I invest in Strength and Agility?

Both were at F+, the lowest rank, so wielding a sword or even holding it would be challenging in this state.

I decided to invest one point each into Strength and Agility, raising both to E-.

For the last point…

After a moment’s consideration, I decided.

‘I’ll invest in Stamina.’

Fortunately, Stamina increased to E rank.

I checked the status window one last time.

[Status Window]
– Name: Damian Draco (New Star)
– Mana: C+ (Deficient)
– Stamina: E
– Strength: E-
– Agility: E-
– Intelligence: D
– Talent: –
– Trait: Possessor
– Achievements: Victory in the Casual Duel
– [Available QP: 0]

Hmm.

‘It’s much better compared to when I first possessed this body.’

Nevertheless, the stats were still at a pitiful level. If no more points were to come up, the only option was to keep going to the training room.

At that moment, Professor Harpe levitated training wooden swords in front of the students. I naturally turned off the status window.

“Everyone, pick up your training swords.”

Clack—

The students grasped the training swords that floated in the air one by one. These wooden swords were inscribed with enhancement runes. Though they were just wooden swords, they could achieve the hardness of steel when mana was applied or when the runes were activated. They were widely used in first-year classes and casual duels.

‘Real swords are still prohibited.’

Of course, from practical training onward, students would be allowed to use real swords made of steel, as they would be facing actual magical beasts rather than just dummies.

I sighed quietly.

The thought of facing magical beasts, let alone fighting against Yoo Suho with a real sword imbued with mana, was daunting.

This was assuming that Ian hadn’t become a corrupted spirit mage, of course.

Once all the students had picked up their wooden swords, Professor Harpe spoke as if she had been waiting.

“Everyone, take your positions.”

There were no specific positions assigned.

On the expansive lawn, the students naturally arranged themselves in rows and columns. As a result, students were shuffled around to line up in order.

My position was…

The fifth row.

I had just been standing still, and students seemed to avoid standing too close to me. It seemed that those who didn’t want to be associated with Damian had naturally kept their distance.

‘It’s convenient to be thought of as a ruffian sometimes.’

Ian, who had been next to me, had somehow ended up in the back row. Holding the wooden sword tightly with both hands, Ian had a somehow sad expression.

I looked around to check Yoo Suho’s position and locked eyes with Tio. Tio, who had been scanning the area, spotted me and waved his hand enthusiastically.

“……”

I pretended not to see and continued to check Yoo Suho’s position.

‘As expected, he’s in the first row.’

As in the novel, Yoo Suho and Professor Harpe were eyeing each other closely. Feeling reassured by the sight, I turned my head and locked eyes with a student standing next to me.

It was Princess Yuri Elloa.

‘We keep running into each other more often than I expected.’

I gave a brief and light nod of greeting. The princess returned the gesture, though her eyebrows slightly furrowed, which seemed a bit uncomfortable.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

She wouldn’t have understood why I requested to move to the White Guardian’s dorm.

The reason was surprisingly simple.

‘The princess needs to become a magic swordsman.’

[Special Skill: Ability to view status of characters.]
[Status Window]
– Name: Yuri Elloa
– Mana: A+
– Stamina: A-
– Strength: A-
– Agility: A
– Intelligence: A-
– Talent: Insight (A-), Demon Slayer (Pre-awakening)
– Trait: Magic Swordsman
– Final Goal: Curse Resolution

Demon Slayer.

It was one of the traits of the swordsman that had appeared consistently from the first dimension, specialized in slaying demons. While Demon Slayer was powerful against demons, magical beasts, and magical beasts’ types, it was less effective against humans.

Moreover, Princess Yuri Elloa likely received swordsmanship training against people in the royal palace, so it was probably thought that she lacked talent in swordsmanship. Of course, even though she was above average in every subject, she excelled in all her studies.

‘It’s okay if it’s not swordsmanship.’

However, the only way to lift the curse on the First Princess was to eliminate the demon who cast it. If her talent were to awaken and she followed the White Guardian’s curriculum from the next year, she would become a significant asset not only to herself but also to Yoo Suho.

“……”

As the awkward silence grew, the lesson officially began.

“Magic swordsmanship primarily involves channeling mana into the sword to create a blade or applying elemental magic for ranged combat.”

The students, holding their wooden swords with both hands, began channeling mana into them.

“But above all, the basics are crucial. It’s not about decorating the sword with flashy runes and mana, but about dealing fatal blows with minimal movements. Magic swordsmanship starts from there.”

Whoooosh—

Training dummies, resembling magical beasts, poured out of Professor Harpe’s spatial pocket. These dummies, each resembling a different kind of magical beast, stood before the students.

The students looked at Professor Harpe with confusion.

“The dummies in front of you are magical beast dummies. They will be adjusted to your level. The types will also be set differently. For the remaining time, do not use mana and try to defeat them on your own.”

The students stared at each other with bewildered expressions.

…Don’t use mana while facing magical beasts?

The students clearly displayed their confusion with expressions that said, “What nonsense is this?”

“…This is ridiculous.”

“I’ve never even learned proper swordsmanship.”

“This is a bit unfair.”

One student gathered the courage to voice their complaints.

“So this is no different from being a knight, right?”

Professor Harpe, seemingly bored, rubbed her ears and replied.

“Do you think the magical beasts will just let you off because your mana is depleted?”

It was a straightforward answer to a simple question. Professor Harpe sighed and added:

“There will be no deductions like in other classes, so consider this practical training.”

The students’ faces brightened. However, they turned ashen a moment later.

“But, if it looks like you’re slacking off, the training will double.”

Professor Harpe grinned ominously, causing the students to look horrified and reluctantly nod.

“Begin.”

At the professor’s signal, the magical beast dummies began to change into various grotesque shapes. Some of the dummies grew larger than the students while others shrank.

The students swallowed nervously, tightened their grips on their swords, and charged at the dummies in front of them.

Clang! Thud!

“Argh!”

“Ugh, ack!”

While students from the White Guardian’s Tower swung their swords gracefully, others wielded their swords in a more regimented manner.

I too gripped my sword tightly.

It wasn’t bad to have learned swordsmanship beforehand. In fact, it was advantageous.

Given the mana deficiency in my body, there would surely be moments of mana shortage.

‘Better to work hard now than regret it later.’

However, I soon began to regret this thought.

I nearly lost my sword several times due to the dummies’ attacks, and the blade frequently missed its target.

My hand gripping the sword ached.

Every time this happened, I tried to correct my posture and grip the sword tighter.

I was out of breath.

Of course.

I had never used a sword in reality.

‘Even though I secretly hoped otherwise.’

As they say, there’s nothing as elusive as medicine for the sick, and unlike the clichés in novels, the body didn’t remember things automatically.

Noble children typically received various lessons from a young age, and swordsmanship was always included.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Damian didn’t apply in this case.

It made me realize once again how impressive Yoo Suho was.

The dummies reacted to attacks with remarkable precision. When the blade approached their bodies, their right claws would extend first, and when aimed at their heads, they would raise their legs to create distance as if to protect themselves.

The attack pattern resembled that of a “wolf,” but…

Damn, dodging the attacks while swinging the blade was incredibly difficult.

I quickly recalled the settings in my mind.

‘It’s a novel, so I’ve read about it countless times.’

[Grade 8 Magical Beast Wolf: If it feels disadvantaged, it will lift its front paw to threaten and then create distance. … It strikes twice with its claws facing forward … If you get close, be careful not to get bitten by its fangs…….]

I furrowed my brow, trying to remember the wolf’s weak points.

The weak points are…

‘The back of the neck. Or the cartilage between the knee joints.’

I quickly assessed the situation.

‘Without using mana, I can’t reach the back of its neck.’

All I could do was simply stab and swing. I calmly maneuvered the blade, waiting for an opportunity.

And finally.

Clang!

The magical beast dummy lifted its front paw high. I seized the moment and darted between the dummy’s legs. Just as it was about to strike, I thrust the blade from the inside of its knee to the outside.

Thunk—

As the sword struck, the magical beast dummy let out a scream as if it were real and thrashed about. This caused me to lose my grip on the sword, and I eventually dropped it.

The dummy, still furious, raised its claws to attack me.

“Stop.”

As the time limit expired, the dummies vanished like smoke.

Only then did I exhale the breath I had been holding.