Chapter 206: Special Class for Awakened Ones (29)
The Martial Arts lecture held at dawn the next day proceeded almost exactly like the one I had attended on Tuesday.
The only differences were that Helga and Lissy had joined the class, and that Fjodora announced a newly opened dessert corner in the cafeteria before handing out energy bars made by a pâtissier.
The morning lecture that day was Skati’s 【Dagger Techniques】.
Since it was not restricted to the Special Class for Awakened students, I ended up taking it alongside the regular second-year students...
Why did Nidr enroll in this lecture?
He had not used a dagger during the last Martial Arts Tournament, and the same had been true in the original novel before the remake.
Moreover, Nidr looked down on others precisely because he believed himself to be special.
In my opinion, he was not the kind of person who would willingly accept instruction from “a mere criminal.”
Did the original author intervene again...?
Not only were all the second-year members of the Special Class taking 【Dagger Techniques】, but the professor, Skati, was also a major character.
There could hardly have been a more suitable lecture in which to insert Nidr, a named villain.
It seems Author Senna intends to provoke periodic conflict between Reisir and Nidr, then corrupt Nidr during their time at the academy.
The thought left me with complicated feelings.
The life of a supporting character, disposable by nature, was tragic.
But the protagonist’s life, forcing him to witness those deaths each time, was even more so.
And the villain, driven toward ruin by the twisted personality the original author had bestowed upon him, was no less pitiable.
If I kept thinking that way, I felt my resolve might weaken.
Worried that I would fail to remain properly vigilant against Nidr and Sveinn, I was making a concerted effort to empty my mind when the original protagonist spoke.
“Don’t mind him.”
Startled by the remark, which sounded as though he had read my thoughts, I widened my eyes without realizing it.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you worried that Nidr might try to harm me or something?”
“...Why would you think that?”
“Well, Nidr is glaring at me with open hostility, and you’re staring back at him with an uncomfortable expression.”
The notion that Reisir had seen through me had been nothing but my own delusion.
Without the slightest doubt, this protagonist of someone else’s novel believed that I was merely worried about him, and he was quietly pleased by it.
If mine had been a delusion, then Reisir’s could only be called utterly preposterous.
It was truly astounding, but I could not bring myself to deny it.
If I did, he would inevitably ask, “Then why were you looking at Nidr like that?”
Left with no other choice, I let out another “Hmph!” that day, turned my head away, and evasively avoided the subject.
The protagonist of someone else’s novel grinned at me.
Fortunately, I did not have to endure his gaze for long.
Less than a minute later, Skati opened the classroom door and appeared.
“Nice to meet you all~! I see a few students who weren’t here last year~? Since you’re second-years, you must have registered for this course knowing that I’m a criminal, right~? So I’ll skip the explanation of my circumstances and the instructions for changing your course registration~.”
After delivering words that did not suit her cheerful tone at all, Skati called out the students’ names and took attendance.
Only ten students, myself included, had taken 【Dagger Techniques】 last semester.
This time, however, Reisir, Ríolíkin, Vigdís, Helga, and Nidr had all joined.
Perhaps because the appearance of the Demon Realm had made the need for self-defense a major concern, five more students had enrolled, increasing the class size by half.
“Oh, right! Until last year, my lectures mainly focused on throwing techniques, but starting this year, I’m planning to teach close-quarters combat too~. That way, you can use a dagger as a secondary weapon when an enemy gets too close for you to use your main one~?”
After finishing attendance, Skati closed the register, tossed it into her inventory, and began explaining the course plan.
“You know~. Monsters often don’t use weapons, right~? Only some of you will ever have to enter a Demon Realm, but... you could still suddenly be caught in the emergence of one... I actually think some of you may have registered for my course because you were anxious about that possibility... That’s why I made this decision, so please understand if I train you more strictly than I did last year, all right~?”
Was she worried about the students’ safety?
Though she soon returned to her usual tone, Skati’s voice had sunk briefly as she spoke.
It also took a little longer for the complicated emotion on her face to fade.
“For now, since this is our first class~, I’ll begin with a demonstration to show you what you’ll be working toward!”
Last semester, she had immediately taught us how to hold a dagger before abruptly ordering us to throw one.
I assumed she must have spent the vacation thinking through various methods and developing a more efficient teaching system.
...At least, that was what I thought until Skati looked directly at me and declared,
“All right~, experienced assistant, step forward~!!”
Apparently, Skati had merely wanted an opportunity to say that line.
Or perhaps Author Senna had wanted to write it.
“Karvaldr~? Come to the front~.”
“...Why am I Professor Skati’s assistant?”
“Because the academy administration told me to supervise and guide Karvaldr~! Since I’ve become Karvaldr’s academic advisor, that makes Karvaldr my assistant, doesn’t it~?”
“That is not how academic advisors and assistants are assigned.”
“......It isn’t~?”
“No, it is not.”
At my flat denial, Skati’s shoulders sagged, and she looked visibly dejected.
Perhaps she was reluctant to retract her promise of a demonstration merely because she had no assistant.
“Then, Karvaldr, the only student to earn a perfect score last semester, our honor student, step forward~!”
...Her next remark made me regret not simply obeying when she had called me her assistant.
The rank of 【Dagger Techniques】 recorded in my Skill Window was only E.
The only reason I received a good grade in last semester’s 【Dagger Techniques】 lecture was that the other students never practiced outside of class. The examination was made extremely easy to match their level...
My brow furrowed instinctively.
Overwhelming embarrassment sent heat rushing into my face.
“As expected of Lord Karvaldr! The only perfect score! That’s incredible!”
“I know, right? And the dagger isn’t even Kar’s main weapon...”
As though the situation were not embarrassing enough already, Ríolíkin and Vigdís added their comments, making it even more awkward.
I thought the same thing during yesterday’s Practical Combat Preparedness lecture... Why are these two so perfectly in sync?
Had Author Senna designated them as reaction characters?
Or were they doing this of their own free will?
I had no way of knowing the truth.
“Karvaldr, you can do it!”
I had no idea why the original protagonist was joining in either.
Nor did I want to know.
“Meow, meow, myaaow, myah.”
Yor shook her head from side to side and patted me on the shoulder.
I could not understand her exact words.
But judging from the situation and her gestures, she seemed to be saying, “You have no choice, so go and do your best.”
Every student’s gaze was fixed on me, and Skati showed no sign of backing down.
If I continued lingering there and wasting time, I would only invite unnecessary criticism.
Thus, I had no choice but to step forward reluctantly.
“Karvaldr’s main weapon is a whip, which isn’t commonly used, but~? Since it’s a mid-range weapon, I think he’ll provide a good example of how to use a dagger as a secondary weapon~. He uses the whip at both long and close range, after all! And those of you without a main weapon should pay close attention to how I fight using only daggers~.”
After addressing the students, Skati handed me a belt containing ten practice daggers.
I accepted it and strapped it on without complaint.
It would have been more efficient to store the daggers in my inventory and draw them instantly when needed.
However, that was not a movement the regular, unawakened students could reproduce.
And there’s no benefit in flaunting privileges available only to the Awakened in front of Nidr and provoking his sense of deprivation.
As I drew my whip, I turned my head slightly toward Nidr.
His hostile gaze remained fixed on the original protagonist.
Even considering that the demonstration spar had yet to begin, his behavior was far from normal.
Just as in the original novel before the remake, he must have arbitrarily concluded that Reisir had grown strong with ease by enjoying the special privileges granted to the Awakened, then stolen the tournament victory from him.
He was likely sharpening the blade of resentment within his heart.
No. More precisely, Author Senna implanted those emotions within Nidr, and he is currently being swept along by them.
After releasing a deep sigh, I deactivated 【Character Analysis】.
The spar was about to begin, so I would soon have to use the skill again, but I could not afford to let my thoughts wander during the match.
“The purpose of this demonstration is to show dagger techniques, so I won’t use any Ether skills~. But Karvaldr can use enhancement skills. They only improve your physical abilities, right~?”
That was not their only effect.
I also possessed a skill that accelerated my thoughts.
Still, I had no desire to be beaten helplessly during a public demonstration.
Setting my conscience aside, I resolved to use 【Character Analysis】 and activated 【Encouragement】.
Since I have to do this anyway, I might as well give it my best...!
After activating both 【Encouragement】 and 【Exaltation】, I met Skati’s eyes and gave a slight nod to signal that I was ready.
“Then I’ll begin~!”
Unlike Kaldrun, who had yielded the first move, Skati charged toward me while throwing a dagger the instant she shouted.
Skati was also carrying only ten daggers.
Perhaps because she had no intention of wasting them carelessly, she threw only one.
I drew a dagger with my left hand and knocked hers aside, then swung the whip in my right to check Skati’s advance.
Skati deflected my weapon with one of her daggers.
Since it was only a probing attack, it would have been easier for her to evade it than to deflect it with such a short weapon.
She had probably done so because the purpose of the spar was to demonstrate as many applications of a dagger as possible.
That final thought triggered 【Character Analysis】.
I controlled the flow of Sky Blue Ether and adjusted the speed of my thoughts.
Then I saw Skati take her next step in an excruciatingly slow motion.