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Chapter 32. During Training

Even though there's outdoor training scheduled a month later, we still have to attend classes properly. Well, I don't really have anything specific to prepare for the outdoor training, but the class content has changed to focus on combat situations for the sake of outdoor training.

Until now, it's been quite basic... mostly things related to the kingdom's laws, but now we're having classes on what to watch out for when fighting magical beasts. Well, I guess the academy wouldn't want students getting seriously injured during outdoor training.

"Haa... I'm sleepy..."

"...Shouldn't you focus and listen properly?"

"Nah, tell that to the girl sleeping next to you."

Because a famous adventurer has come to explain the points to note when fighting magical beasts, all students belonging to the Magic Knight Department are gathered in a place like a gym. Naturally, since the content of the discussion is quite basic, many students are sleeping.

Although we're grouped together by factions for class, Ivy and Ash are diligently taking notes, but Elixira isn't making progress with her pen, and I never intended to take notes from the beginning. By the way, Nina is still asleep with her arms crossed.

"Teaching us to watch out for the agility of magical beasts... well, that applies even to normal beasts, doesn't it?"

"There's no point in starting with complicated things."

"But even if they say humans walk, it's not useful, is it?"

"...It's fine if you don't take the class seriously, but could you at least be a bit quieter?"

"Okay."

Since I got scolded by Ash for talking with Elixira, I'll just keep quiet until the class ends. Ivy completely ignores such things and takes notes meticulously, but if Ash's task is transcribing the lecture, Ivy's notes are just minutes of a meeting.

"Now that class is over, shall we go somewhere?"

"I'm going to the library."

"Oh, I have something to do."

"...Well, same as usual."

"Oh? Where are you going? Hunting magical beasts?"

In order, Elixira, Ivy, Ash, and Nina are saying things that make no sense.

While Elixira going to the library and Ash to the training grounds are normal, Ivy's cheerful smile when mentioning "something to do" feels suspicious, and Nina's talk about hunting magical beasts is just barbaric.

"You guys lack cooperation... oh well, whatever."

I wonder how it is as a faction, but it might be more dangerous to force together these individualistic folks, so maybe it's okay to leave it as it is. Since I do what I like, others can do what they like... or something like that?

"If you're free, want to come to the training ground with me? Regarding that matter, you know."

"It's fine, but... what matters?"

"The Grimoire. Just figure it out."

Ah... come to think of it, Ash really wants to manifest the Grimoire no matter what. I don't mind cooperating, but... I'm not sure if I alone can give perfect advice.

"Hey, Nina, mind accompanying me for a bit?"

"Hmm? Sure thing."

Since Nina can't use the Grimoire and is a reliable force in terms of sheer strength, she'll be a good help. Alone, I can only see from the perspective of someone who can use the Grimoire.

We arrive at the training ground where Ash usually practices, and it's already been several tens of minutes. It was supposed to be a discussion on various methods to master the Grimoire... but I was silently watching Nina, who was wielding her twin swords like a storm, and Ash, who was desperately trying to parry them with his soft swordsmanship.

"Guh!?"

"Ha! Not done yet!"

Nina's consecutive strikes are formidable. For Ash, who intends to parry all attacks with soft swords, handling such rapid strikes is undoubtedly challenging. Moreover, Nina's swordsmanship is unconventional for a swordsman, not conforming to any set forms. Sometimes, she strikes from angles that seem like mistakes... but for Ash, who tries to parry set forms, those are particularly difficult to deal with. Truly... a natural enemy.

"Ah."

Finally unable to parry, Ash's wooden sword is deflected by Nina's kick and falls in front of me. With a smile on her face, Nina presses the wooden sword against Ash's throat, while Ash raises both hands in surrender with a wry smile.

"I give up... I never expected there'd be a magic knight who wields such fierce strikes."

"I'm not aiming to be a magic knight though."

"...With this level of skill?"

"If I graduate from the Magic Knight Academy, it'll still be advantageous as an adventurer. So, I only enrolled to graduate; I have no intention of becoming a knight of the country."

I understand why Ash looks at Nina with disbelief, but why did you look at me after that? I didn't give any hints, and recently, I've been thinking becoming a magic knight might be good too, you know? Apparently, the pay is good.

"Whether you become a magic knight or not doesn't matter. The issue is if there are any clues to mastering the Grimoire."

"There aren't."

"I'm not skillful enough to think about such details while swinging a sword."

They both confidently deny it. Still, Nina, you should think a bit more while wielding your sword.

"Anyway, why doesn't Theodore show us his Grimoire?"

"Well, showing it off to others is uncomfortable... it's my trump card, you know?"

"Theo... don't be so stingy about it."

"Well, it's normal to be stingy."

Why does it feel like I'm the bad guy here? It's not normal to flaunt your Grimoire to others. Only someone like Elixira would do that without hesitation.

"So, how do you activate the Grimoire then?"

"Huh? Well, I activate it by envisioning the shape of the Grimoire... probably just imagining the shape of my own soul..."

I have no clue about Grimoires... there's absolutely no useful information written in ancient books. It might be different if I could read ancient languages, though.