Chapter 202 — New Training is Always Fun

1

Manus showed two small shackles.

It was quite a primitive training method.

But it was also a training method that held someone’s romanticized ideals.

A training method where one couldn’t tell if they were learning martial arts or undergoing extreme physical conditioning.

It didn’t take long to realize these weren’t simply heavy shackles.

Strange magic was contained within them.

“This is quite an unusual magic.”

“Oh, you noticed that already? Yes. Various spells are cast on them.”

Professor Jennifer slightly lifted her uniform pants.

There, the same shackles Manus was holding could be seen firmly gripping her ankles.

From what Manus could read, there were two types of magic cast on the shackles.

Magic that restricted the user’s mana, and magic that gradually applied load to the body to transform muscles.

Perhaps one couldn’t advance to the next level without training the body to the extreme.

Seeing Manus’s eyes asking for an explanation, Jennifer began speaking.

“Legs are parts we always use. So they have enough strength. But it’s quite difficult to handle them freely. Since they’re always stretched downward.”

“Does this device complement that aspect?”

“If you train while wearing these, your muscles will become sufficiently flexible. Then you can use them freely like hands.”

Manus nodded.

And if he added mana-enhanced techniques, he would be able to use techniques that combined destructive power, flexibility, and versatility.

Manus put on the shackles.

Click, the latch locked and the magic circle activated.

Instantly, mana concentrated firmly in one place.

The mana that had settled firmly around the heart area slowly began to rotate.

“This is…”

“Yes, it’s not just a device that suppresses mana. It will slowly rotate and collect mana like a safe.”

“I see.”

It was a strange feeling.

Was this how it felt to refine inner energy in martial arts novels?

His body felt heavier but it was fine.

It was something he could sufficiently adapt to.

“Now then, you run too. You’ll need to run as if starting from the beginning.”

“Understood.”

Manus also began running following Melanie.

His body felt so heavy it was as if he had become a normal person.

But no matter.

If this would make him stronger, he could do anything.

“Whew-.”

“Senior, huff, Se-Senior is running too! Huff!”

Manus just nodded in response.

Manus, who originally had excellent physical abilities, had dropped to a level similar to Melanie’s.

Thanks to that, the two could run side by side.

Melanie heard the spirits whisper.

At first she thought they were just matching her pace, but apparently not.

-Wow! They put on something strange!

-Storing mana!

-They got weaker! Not so scary anymore!

What kind of training were they planning to do?

She watched Manus’s back as she ran forward again.

Having him there made motivation overflow.

Moreover, it was also time to fight against powerful enemies.

‘Let’s do our best, Melanie!’

She put strength into her legs.

Watching the two running neck and neck, Airane smiled.

“Manus. Indeed a talent worthy of the professor’s attachment. If only he had aptitude for spirit studies too…”

“If we made him learn spirit studies on top of everything else, 24 hours wouldn’t be enough. He’s already plenty busy. I was half forcing it too.”

“It’s regrettable as a professor. Still, fortunately there’s at least one spirit user among this year’s first-years.”

Jennifer nodded.

She understood Airane’s feelings well.

While anyone could learn martial arts, nobody wanted to.

There was no reason to undergo extreme physical training when they could just shoot things from a distance comfortably.

Professor Jennifer always spent her days as if on vacation, and the same was true for Airane.

Both of them spent more time handling Academy affairs or family business than teaching classes.

It naturally became an opportunity for them to grow closer.

“Anyway, I’m keeping an eye on Melanie too. Let’s raise her well.”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I felt such motivation. The spirits like her too.”

The way the two looked at Melanie resembled parents’ eyes.

The look of parents watching their child grow admirably.

Melanie was growing steadily, living up to their expectations.

Perhaps by the time vacation ends and the second semester finishes, she would have grown brilliantly.

And maybe she might even contract with other spirits.

2

“You ran well. Now then, let’s start the real training.”

“Whew…”

“Your adaptation is faster than expected. And… something else has changed too.”

“You noticed right away.”

Jennifer examined Manus thoroughly and nodded.

Whatever happened, his body had changed as if he’d received some illegal procedure.

But she couldn’t think of it that way.

Caesar.

That one thing explained all the strange phenomena.

16 to 25 years old.

It was the period when physical changes occurred most actively.

A time when unfulfilled talents could bloom freely.

“Techniques using feet… there’s not much special about them. We just transferred what we imagined directly.”

“By what we imagined, do you mean things like shooting mana with feet?”

“Right. If you add attributes to that, you can create effects similar to magic without magic circles.”

With those words, Jennifer lightly swung her foot.

It felt like a gentle breeze passed behind Manus.

But the result was massive like a butterfly effect.

Kwaaa-!

The breeze turned into a whirlwind and sand scattered with a thunderous roar.

The ground being cratered was just a bonus.

Jennifer added an explanation.

“The advantage of this technique is that you don’t need to form magic circles. And you can adjust the power through controlling mana input.”

“The efficiency is overwhelming.”

“Instead, the mana consumption is terrible. Only someone with a ridiculous mana capacity like you could use it. That’s why martial arts also researched methods using magic circles.”

Manus nodded.

Magic circles acted as a kind of amplifier.

A tool that helps achieve maximum power with minimal mana.

But martial arts didn’t have such amplifiers so mana consumption felt different.

They said as the power increased, the mana required increased exponentially.

The next stage was what came out to compensate for that.

“This sports festival will be quite tough. I hear many formidable ones are participating… it would be quite embarrassing if my disciple doesn’t win.”

“Don’t worry. I plan to win by any means necessary.”

“Then, you’ll need to learn the next stage too.”

If you have a goal, you must keep running without stopping.

It was a mindset Manus had learned, even if just a little.

And so the training time passed.

The sports festival was also approaching moment by moment.

3

Meeting time with all professors gathered.

Today’s agenda was about what events to hold at the sports festival and what gimmicks to use for entertainment.

Especially this year’s second years were a hot potato in themselves.

“So I was thinking, how about setting particularly difficult trials this time?”

“Physical ability, mana control, and what else should we add?”

“We should test instantaneous judgment and combat ability too.”

“How about a melee? It would be good to measure various variables beyond just fighting according to set rules.”

Hooh-.

It was a good idea.

The sports festival was also a space for professors to unleash their imagination.

Stages created by combining things they’d always wanted to try.

Like [X-ing Team Go!] events mixed with fantasy.

This too was an extension of the game developers’ imagination, but.

The professors, who had no way of knowing this fact, poured out their imagination freely.

“Very well. This time, let’s create a stage where mages, warriors, and guardians alike can participate in an all-out battle.”

“Excellent!”

The meeting’s enthusiasm increased.

In the second semester, there weren’t many fun things to do because of various events.

The sports festival day was also one of the few days professors looked forward to all year.

How could they make students eat dirt.

How could they make students eat crow!

Their usually suppressed sadistic tendencies began creeping out.

“Then how about this.”

Professor Jennifer, who had been quietly listening, opened her mouth.

Everyone looked at her, and Professor Jennifer spoke with a grin.

“Let’s make a bet.”

“…A bet?”

“Yes. The winner gets to plan all the field trip programs. However they want!”

“Hooh… that’s interesting.”

Todd, the Eagle Class head professor, had his eyes light up.

Field trip.

A week-long trip where they could legally make students do whatever they wanted.

Of course it was a program with free time and various experiences, but this time was different.

Professor Jennifer wore a wicked smile.

“I’ll bet on Caesar Manus. He just came asking to train.”

“Then I’ll bet on Castro.”

“No, no wait. Does everyone agree? Leaving the field trip to one person, really!?”

Professor Trail, who prided himself on having perfectly normal thinking, objected.

Is this really okay?

Can they really decide something as important as a field trip so rashly!?

“Why not, it sounds fun.”

“Indeed. It’s something I’ve wanted to try.”

“No… this doesn’t make sense. We should go through proper meetings…”

“Come on, this kind of thing is fine sometimes. I’ll negotiate with the chairman.”

Professor Trail looked at the other professors with a dumbfounded expression.

What are these people thinking?

Were they always this hungry for such strange things?

Though he couldn’t hide his confusion, everyone except him was already half-consumed by madness.

Professor Trail pondered considerably.

Is this really right?

But… thinking about it, when else would they get to make such a bet?

Right.

The professors had been working too hard too.

“Sigh… I’ll report to the chairman.”

“Oh, then let’s do that. Anyone else want to bet?”

“Oh, then I’ll bet on student Guillermo.”

They had already lost their reason and started betting.

Guillermo, Castro, and Manus.

With Dave, one of the second year’s main characters, out, the victory candidates were narrowed to these three.

“Huhu… good. Then let’s each make our plans.”

“Excellent. Then how about this. Let’s keep the events strictly secret from professors participating in the bet.”

It was a good method.

The professors all agreed one after another.

What would His Imperial Majesty think if he saw this state of affairs.

Professor Trail let out a small sigh.

While watching the professors enthusiastically discussing outrageous methods, Trail reluctantly joined the conversation.

But they say that day, the one who spoke most passionately was none other than Professor Trail.

–TL Notes–
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