Chapter 13 - The Secret Room (5)

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【Herak Leonhardt】

Gender: Male

Age: 21

Status: Olympia Academy 2nd Year Student

※ Status

Strength: 2

Stamina: 2

Agility: 2

Mana Capacity: 10

Mana Efficiency: 10

Mana Sensitivity: 0

※ Unique

【Ultimate Physique】

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Finally, my strength, stamina, and agility stats have increased to 2.

All that constant training has paid off.

Before school started, I devoted entire days to exercise, and even after classes began, I didn't skip workouts.

It's only natural.

'What a relief.'

I had been focusing on growing my stats to 2 before the Inter-year Exchange Competition, and I've finally succeeded.

Now, no matter who comes from the Knight Department, I won't be outmatched in physical stats.

To be precise, my physical stats are still inferior to Knight Department students, but it's easier to think of 【Ultimate Physique】 as compensating for that.

Anyway, I've secured a possibility of winning. It's a total win.

Another change is the way stat values are displayed.

※ You can now check stat values to the decimal point.

Now I don't have to feel frustrated waiting for the values to increase.

While the gap between 1 and 2 felt long, it'll be easier to check how much I've improved between 2 and 3.

Good. That's good.

"...Hey! Can't you hear me?"

As I was quietly rejoicing in my own development, someone calls out to me in a shrill voice.

Irina was glaring at me, shaking her twin tails back and forth.

"I asked what on earth is this situation."

"Didn't you come knowing?"

"I don't know! I just came and saw you fighting, so I helped."

"Oh, brother."

I thought she had entered the side story properly since she's the protagonist?

I don't quite understand, but I'm grateful.

'If Irina hadn't come, I would have taken a lot of damage.'

That would have been at least a retirement.

Even if I achieved my goal of protecting Isolet, the protagonist, it would have been difficult since I'd be badly injured.

One way or another, it's thanks to Irina.

"Thanks. It's all thanks to you."

"Huh? What is?"

Irina's eyes widen.

I explain calmly to her who doesn't understand.

The legend passed down in Olympia, the secret room. And the numerous martial arts manuals hidden here.

Irina's reaction after hearing the whole story was simple.

"There was such a thing? Then let me in on it too."

"What are you saying when you've already joined in?"

"Huh? Is that so?"

What nonsense, after finishing off the werewolf with her own hands.

Leaving behind the girl who still seems confused, rolling her eyes.

This time, I looked at Isolet.

"......"

I had been trying to ignore it, but... something seems off.

Regardless of Irina's chatter, she quietly looks up at me without any reaction.

Her hands clasped shyly at her chest.

Her cheeks flushed red.

Her moist, trembling eyes.

'...What's wrong with her?'

Are your eyes not working properly? Your gaze suddenly became strange.

"Are you alright?"

"...Yes."

Thankfully, she answers.

But it's still not normal.

Her voice is so moist that it feels like it would leave wetness if touched.

What's with her? She's supposed to be a character with a stiff way of speaking. What's going on?

"...Thanks to you, I survived."

She bows her head as she says this.

Hmm... now she's more like Isolet. The Isolet I know is back. That's a relief.

"Yeah, well, that's fine. Shall we start with introductions first?"

As the only senior here, I try to change the atmosphere.

Irina and Isolet are meeting for the first time.

They'll have many trials to overcome as dual protagonists in the future, so it would be good if they could unite here.

"Introductions?"

Hmm─ Irina raises her chin.

She looks down at Isolet with a suddenly arrogant posture. Isolet still looks at her with flushed cheeks.

"Well, alright. My name is Irina Eletal. I'm the top student of the 1st year Magic Department. But you already know that, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Isolet's manner of speaking is gradually returning to normal.

Her flushed cheeks regain their fair color, and Isolet bows politely.

This makes Irina even more excited, and she chatters on.

"No need for further words, right? You and I are rivals, we can't lose to each other. It would be troublesome if we got too close, wouldn't it?"

"That's how others see us. You're right."

"......"

Perhaps displeased by Isolet's unchanging expression.

Irina pouts her lips, then suddenly grins as if she's thought of an interesting topic.

"Kukuk. Come to think of it, are you thinking of becoming this person's disciple? Seeing as you came to the secret room just the two of you, it seems like it."

"Pardon?"

"I'm sorry, but I was the first to receive a disciple offer from him. And I'm the one most qualified to be his disciple. I recommend giving up on impossible dreams early."

"......"

At Irina's sudden statement, Isolet's eyes widen.

...I'm just as bewildered.

'Has she gone mad?'

What's with this sudden disciple talk?

She was like this last time when I talked about going to the secret room, and now she's doing it again.

What on earth does this girl think of me...

But surprisingly, Isolet goes even further.

"Then you must be my senior disciple."

"...Huh?"

"Although I became Herak senior's disciple later, please take good care of me."

Isolet bows her head.

Irina's body stiffens at this incomprehensible statement. She probably didn't expect such a response.

Well, I'm the same.

'Please just leave me alone.'

Why are these protagonists so desperate to be under me?

It's dizzying to have these characters, who will surely become stronger than me over time, saying they want to be my disciples.

"...Uh. Right."

In the end, Irina reluctantly concludes the conversation.

It was Isolet's victory in many ways.

"......"

"......"

The atmosphere becomes awkward.

Embarrassed by the situation she brought upon herself, Irina puts her hand in her pocket. It was to bring up another topic.

"W-Well, anyway. Look at this. The werewolf dropped it when it died."

"Oh."

What Irina held in her hand was an internal organ.

It looked so cleanly separated that it was hard to believe it was inside the werewolf just moments ago.

It even seemed full of life, as if still alive.

It's a 'drop item'.

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【Werewolf's Lung】

Something that fell from the werewolf's body.

It looks like it could become a good item with some processing.

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'So this dropped.'

A drop item that occasionally falls when defeating a boss monster.

The parts vary, and this time it's a lung.

'It probably granted the Howling effect.'

It would be useful if taken to an alchemist.

The question is who will take this item first.

"Looks like a useful material. Who wants to take it?"

"I'm fine without it."

Isolet immediately answers my question.

She looks up at me with a gentle smile.

Clearly appealing that I shouldn't worry about her taking it.

"The main credit for defeating the werewolf goes to you, senior. I'll step back."

"Oh, thanks?"

No, I didn't expect her to withdraw so readily?

Sure, I played the most crucial role in defeating the werewolf, but Isolet's contribution wasn't small either.

Without her, we couldn't have cut its skin, and then Irina wouldn't have been able to deliver the final blow with magic.

Hey, why is she being so nice to me...

"Well, I don't mind either."

Perhaps irritated by Isolet's smile.

Irina pouts her lips and throws the 【Werewolf's Lung】 to me.

"You did most of the work in defeating the werewolf anyway. I just finished it off. It's obviously yours."

"...Hmm. You're not going to throw a fit here?"

"What do you take me for?!"

Flare─ Irina glares at me.

I meant it as a joke, but her reaction is harsh. It's not my fault if I feel more drawn to Isolet than Irina.

Anyway, my strength, stamina, and agility stats have increased to 2, and I've obtained the 【Werewolf's Lung】.

But I haven't yet received the true reward of this side story.

"Let's go now."

It's time to go up the stairs and get the skill book.

***

"What should we read first?"

"We won't have time to look at everything one by one."

I guide the two behind me as we climb the stairs.

Irina and Isolet follow me closely as if I were their teacher. They seem to trust me quite a bit.

"Considering tomorrow, we need to return quickly. Pick one that you like and gather back."

"Why just one? We could take several, right?"

"Don't forget that this is a magical structure."

I point my finger at Irina's question.

Far away, the corridor wrapped in darkness. There are windows showing the night sky.

It means we shouldn't let our guard down in this space intertwined with magic.

In fact, even in the original work, nothing good happens if you take more than one book.

"If you carelessly take two or more, who knows what might happen. The exit might close, and we might not be able to get out of here."

"Eek... That sounds terrible when you put it that way. Alright, I'll use my perfect sense to find the best book."

Irina, agreeing with my explanation, heads straight to the bookshelf with magic books.

Of course, I have no business going there since I'm a physical type.

So as I was about to go to the bookshelf with sword technique books, Isolet softly smiled and stuck close to my side.

As if she had expected it.

"Let's go, senior."

"Aren't you curious why I'm coming this way?"

"Because it's you, senior."

...That doesn't explain anything? Well, it does, but you've skipped too much.

Anyway, it seems Isolet has figured me out as a person too.

As we approach the bookshelf, numerous skill books come into view.

"Hmm... There are many interesting ones."

"You can choose by intuition. Your intuition will surely be correct."

"Fufu. Thank you."

Since she's the protagonist, whatever she picks will surely be the right choice.

While Isolet stays in place and opens books, I move further away.

Where I've arrived is not the sword technique bookshelf, but the one dealing with 'physical body'.

'In < Song of Sword and Magic >, swordsmanship is essentially the alpha and omega.'

Although knights train their bodies, they ultimately end up with swords.

Those who handle axes, spears, bows, and such don't achieve greatness.

Why? Because that's the setting. Take it up with the developers.

'Essentially, everything except swordsmanship is just dummy data.'

Therefore, originally these 'physical body' books I'm looking at would be useless too.

But with my 【Ultimate Physique】, these will actually bring me the most powerful strength.

'【Bear Heart Tiger Fist】, 【Blue Dragon Stance】, 【Dark Shadow Step】...'

Various martial arts manuals catch my eye.

But these are not enough.

I needed a skill book that encompasses everything, martial arts that handle the body, the essence of mind techniques.

That's this one.

'【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】.'

A comprehensive work covering everything from fist techniques to mind techniques.

The developers of <Song of Sword and Magic> said they added it for fun, but who knew it would come in handy here.

Anyway, let's read it.

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【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】

※ Preface

Congratulations to you who hold this secret manual.

I wrote this book to complete the vessel of one who will become a hero.

First...

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There's no need to read it properly.

Just skimming it with my eyes is enough for it to seep into my body.

After flipping through it casually and closing the book, a change occurs in my status window.

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【Twelve Star Cloud Fist】

Ground-Striking Art

[Acquisition Condition: When strength, stamina, and agility values are all 2]

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'It worked.'

Finally, I too have a 'technique'.

Now I can prepare for the future based on this.

"Are you finished?"

"Yeah."

Before I knew it, Irina and Isolet had approached me.

They each had a secret manual in their arms, and I could tell what they were just by looking at the covers.

'Irina took 【Rewind】, and Isolet took 【Charge】.'

They both have good eyes. They've picked only the best ones.

"Let's go now."

"Yes."

We walk down the stairs towards the corridor.

The secret room, where all tasks have been completed, was quiet. Only the moonlight seeping through the windows quietly illuminated our path.

And returning to the elevator and stepping onto it again.

"How do we go up?"

"It's the same as coming down. If we stand still, it'll go up again."

While waiting for a few minutes, I silently observed the two protagonists.

"Hmm hmm. What an unexpected turn of events in the middle of the night. But a gain is a gain..."

Irina, making nasal sounds and seeming slightly excited, and.

"......"

Isolet, looking up at me without saying a word.

"What's wrong?"

"...Senior."

Thinking there might be a problem, I called out to her.

Isolet gently extended her hand to me.

Her fair hand shone white in the moonlight.

"Would you hold my hand?"

"...?"

What kind of sign is this?

Why is she suddenly asking me to hold her hand?

For a moment, various questions and concerns flashed through my mind, but.

"Well, if you insist."

Thinking that Isolet might have been shocked by the recent battle, I took her hand.

After all, she's just a girl who's barely become an adult. Even if she's a protagonist, she can't help but be nervous.

"Thank you."

Isolet tightly grasps the hand I've taken.

Her grateful smile was quite pretty.

***

After parting ways with Irina and Isolet.

Returning to the dormitory, I looked at the item in my hand.

'【Werewolf's Lung】, huh?'

I'd like to change this so it can be used in alchemy.

But since I acquired it so suddenly, it's not easy to make up an excuse.

There's a high chance I'll be questioned about how I got it.

In that case, there's a good method.

'Let's go to that guy.'

To the alchemy otaku of the 2nd year Magic Department.