"Magecraft is really amazing, no matter how many times I look at it."
I voiced out my thoughts while watching the video of my combat training.
"Being able to reenact a phenomenon impossible to human beings, sure is addictive."
"That being said, the fact that this world's residents can use the power of Mystery without it being degraded too much is impressive."
'I wonder if it is because of its being widespread, along with Dungeons and monsters, that it has any impact on this? With that being said, Alaya did one heck of a job here.'
I cut off my wandering, though, and focus on the elephant in this room, or rather on my status window.
"Now, what should I do about this glowing spreadsheet. I couldn't create any gift or setting since my True Magic is sealed. Magecraft wouldn't cut it, and I can't leave Cube for too long, so the only thing I can do now is raise my base stats. There is also the condition I set for The Counter Force."
I turned off the window and took out a piece of paper from under the study desk. It was the contract that I had signed with The Counter Force, ensuring that I could stay here. Besides the original agreements that have been given to me, there was another clause that had been written in the contract:
▷Clause 8: Being connected to The Root will be granted a demand not in conflict with Clause 1 at any given time. In exchange, Being will provide individuals listed in Clause 5 with any help demanded by individuals. Being is not required to help any individuals who are not acquainted with Being, as well as any potential Threats to Humanity.
I didn't write the second part of this Clause. It was originally a guarantee so that I could live comfortably here. Even without it, I would still help them one way or another. Watching them in the future would serve as a pastime entertainment. After all, it is boredom that killed immortals.
With that being said, I look at the set of papers lying on top of my desk with names on top of each.
"Kim Suho, Shin Jonghak, Chae Nayun, Rachel, Yoo Yeonha"
"These are the ones that are in the Cube, my class as well. And out of all of them, only Jonghak has the qualification for both, while the rest are only Heroic Spirit."
"This should be interesting. I wonder how they would turn out in the future."
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Yoo Yeonha was analyzing the video from the day's combat training. With several drones filming each team, she could see the battle from multiple angles.
The more she thought about it, the stranger this '1st place' seemed.
By looking at him in the video, it didn't seem that he was running at all, he was flying across the field.
And he didn't just overwhelm the giant monster, he killed it outright in two hits.
The most absurd thing was how he did it. To create a weapon out of nothing but mana is already hard enough. He even topped it off by punching it so hard that the said weapon just exploded and flew straight through the giant's throat, leaving a hole in its neck.
Yoo Yeonha takes a closer look at the man's hand.
"Pile... bunker."
'So not only is he strong, he's even smart as well. To be honest, I'm a little scared if I had to face him here.'
Then she suddenly received a message.
[What's up?]
It came from Shin Jonghak. Yoo Yeonha tapped away on the hologram keyboard with a grin.
[Analyzing the video from today.]
[Why are you doing that now?]
[I'm going to inherit a guild in the future, so I have to look for promising talents.]
[There are none in your team. They're all trash.]
Yoo Yeonha snickered. He was right, but also arrogant. She would've found such behavior detestable from anyone other than Shin Jonghak, but the fact that he was Shin Jonghak turned it into chicness. It wasn't logical, but the reason she liked Shin Jonghak was far from logical.
[How's that gun-shooting guy?]
"Haha."
So he was curious after all. He had a pretty cute side.
[He's okay. He did a man's worth of work. Exactly what you'd expect from rank 934.]
'In 2.78 seconds. He shot 60 bullets in just 2.78 seconds with a handgun at that.'
'Is it even possible to draw and shoot that fast, or is it because of the gun's hidden automatic trigger?'
Ding Dong —
The bell rang in the middle of her thoughts.
[Ah, my room service is here.]
Yoo Yeonha hopped towards the door and opened it. Her neatly dressed butler waited in front. She was happy to see the butler her father picked out for her.
"Thank you, Sechan."
The butler respectfully bowed. Yoo Yeonha took her food and came back to her seat.
[I'm back. Were you waiting?]
Yoo Yeonha lifted the dome-shaped lid off the elegant silver platter.
[No.]
She had ordered fast food. A hamburger with a side of fries and a bottle of Coke, a meal only for commoners.
First, she munched on a fry.
[What did you order?]
Shin Jonghak asked. Yoo Yeonha casually replied.
[Just the usual. A little bit of foie gras entier.]
Kim Hajin P.o.v
Our first class was anti-personnel training, a 2-hour class where cadets simply paired up and sparred.
Cadets used training weapons to avoid injuries and make grading easier. Kim Suho paired with Yi Yeonghan and Shin Jonghak paired with Kim Horak. Or that should have been what happened.
"Tatsuya Shiki, please spar with me."
"You, fight me."
Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak both said out loud.
I scream in my mind.
'What? This isn't how it's supposed to happen.'
'Have I done something wrong? Or is it the Co-author doing?'
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3rd P.o.v
"Hey, Kim Suho, I was here first. Stand back and wait for your turn."
"Now now, there's no need for us to fight. I'm sure we can talk this out."
"No we cannot. Either I'm fighting him, or I'm fighting you for the right to fight him."
"Calm down, Jonghak."
While two of the most talented cadets were arguing, a pair of eyes was currently watching them with amusement.
'So Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak reach out to me immediately. As expected of top cadets.'
'Kim Suho seems like the person who would help anyone out of kindness, would act out of pride.'
'These two are nearly the opposite of each other, the two sides of a coin.'
Shiki looked around and saw that the three of them were attracting a lot of attention.
'I should resolve this before it gets out of my hands.'
"Shin Jonghak, give the guy a break."
"What did you just say?"
"Hey, hey, easy, easy, what I'm saying is it's not that bad to let Suho go first?"
"What do you mean by that?"
'He bit the bait.'
"How about this? I will spar with Kim Suho now, and if I lose, that means I'm not worth your time." I smirk and turn my head toward Kim Suho and back at Shin Jonghak.
"Go on."
"And if I win and later you beat me, then by default you beat Kim Suho. You get what I'm saying?"
Jonghak furrows his brow, stares at me, and looks at Kim Suho before turning back at me. He put up a smile.
"Well, ain't you a smart guy. You can fight him all you want. And if you do win, you're fighting me next, understood?"
"If that's what you want."
"Ha↑ha↑ha↓ha↓, that's a promise for you now. Come on, Horak, you're fighting with me for now."
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Shiki P.o.v
Shin Jonghak left, leaving the two of us behind. That guy is easy as long as you know where to push.
"Thank you, Shiki."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For being patient with both of us."
"It's fine. I only fed him a bit of ego. It's no big deal."
"No. Thank you really."
"It's no big deal. What's wrong with you?"
"Haha, sorry."
'This guy and his self-righteousness'
" *Sigh* What are you sorry for? Are we gonna spar?"
"Ah! Yes, of course. Are you gonna bring your weapon?"
"What?"
"Are you gonna bring your weapons? I didn't see you bring anything."
"Oh↓. It's fine. I don't really need one for now."
"Are you sure about this?"
"It's fine. No need to worry about me."
I raised my hands in a boxer's style and gestured to him to attack. I subtly activate my magic circuit.
"Ok. Don't say I didn't warn you?"
He's drawn his training sword and points it toward me. Despite his warning, Kim Suho had yet to make any move.
'Interesting. He knows he cannot attack carelessly. So I'll strike first.'
"Not coming? Then allow ME!"
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Hajin P.o.v
"Rank 934 Kim Hajin, get up."
"Hah hah hah, I, I can't."
"What do you mean you can't get up?"
I can feel my abdomen crying in pain. The instructor punched me straight in the face when I was distracted by the crowd. I can't let this go on, or I'm gonna be lying in bed for days. Why did I have to be paired with an instructor when I chose a gun?
"Hah hah wait wait, time out, time out."
"What is it 934?"
"I can't continue."
"Yes, you can!"
"My body won't move."
"It will!"
The instructor forcefully pulled me up.
"Put your guard up and do something!"
She ordered, but the handgun in my hand felt heavy.
"Can i just watch the other spar? Or at least take a breather."
She frowned at me. She must have thought that I didn't take this seriously. She takes a glance at everyone else.
"Fine, take a break. Don't ask for another next time."
"Hah hah, I survived." Something must have caught her attention.
"Now, about that problem."
I don't have my laptop here, so I wouldn't be able to find out who he was. But I have to know if he's an ally or not.
"Where are they? Ah! There they are. And they are sparing."
I don't see Jonghak with them anymore. It's ok, that Shiki guy is more important right now.
As I watched the two figures spar, I felt that something wasn't right about one of them.
'Is Suho losing right now? How?'
I was speechless.
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