Chapter 2 - 7 Days Before School Starts

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【Herak Leonhardt】

Gender: Male

Age: 21

Status: Olympia Academy 2nd Year Student

※ Status

Strength: 1

Stamina: 1

Agility: 1

Mana Capacity: 10

Mana Efficiency: 10

Mana Sensitivity: 0

※ Unique

【Ultimate Physique】

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The current state of my status is not good, to put it mildly.

The knight department stats of strength, stamina, and agility are all at 1.

Considering that the average value for these stats for a magic department student who doesn't use their body much is 3, this is a really low figure.

*'No wonder.'*

I had a stocky build with thin arms and legs.

Moreover, even the magic department stats are useless.

It's a bit surprising that the mana capacity and mana efficiency are at the maximum value of 10, but.

In the end, with mana sensitivity at 0, it's just a case of all show and no substance.

What use is capacity or efficiency when you can't even sense mana in the first place?

But there's no need to worry.

Using my cheat, 【Ultimate Physique】, listed in the unique section, raising strength, stamina, and agility is no big deal.

Just like I'm doing now.

"Hut, two, hut, two."

I exhale and inhale quickly.

My legs step lightly forward, then stretch back.

With your upper body fixed straight. Just run forward maintaining balance without swaying posture.

To an onlooker, it's just ordinary running.

Apart from running with correct posture, it's not a particularly special exercise, but.

Even with just this, remarkable changes are occurring.

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【Strength has increased!】

【Stamina has increased!】

【Agility has increased!】

【Strength has increased!】

【Stamina has increased!】

【Agility has increased!】

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Notification messages constantly appearing in the corner of my vision.

Even with simple running, stats are increasing.

Considering how difficult it is to display a single sentence saying 'strength, stamina, agility values have increased', this is an absurdly fast growth rate.

*'Of course, the values haven't risen to 2 yet.'*

But I guarantee it's rising much faster than when I was playing the game.

This incredibly rapid growth rate is due to this:

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【Ultimate Physique】

※ Heavenly Martial Body: A destiny born for martial arts.

Stats (strength, stamina, agility) grow rapidly with each body movement.

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Heavenly Martial Body.

A crazy cheat that increases strength, stamina, and agility just by moving the body.

Thanks to this, I was reaping growth just by running around Atenel Island where Olympia Academy is located.

Come to think of it, it's already the third day, isn't it?

*'It's not tiring at all.'*

It's the third day since I possessed a character in <Song of Sword and Magic>.

After hearing about the risk of expulsion from the Vice Chairman and declaring that I would win the 

Inter-year Exchange Competition, my daily routine has been the same.

Running along the Olympia Academy grounds, and doing weight training at the lakeside in the southern part of Atenel Island.

The surprising thing is that I don't get tired at all.

Probably thanks to the Indestructible Body.

"Hut, two, hut, two."

So today too, I'm running around Olympia.

The grounds are so vast that if I focus, hours pass by in no time.

Naturally, other students would watch me too.

─What's he doing?

─Don't know. Suddenly running around like crazy.

─Wow, shit. Isn't he tired? I saw him at the lecture building earlier, and now he's running at the dormitory too.

─But why is a magician doing exercise?

─How should I know? He's just a loser anyway. He's probably just struggling before getting expelled.

The evaluations weren't particularly good.

*'Well, there's no need to feel hurt at all.'*

As they say, the train keeps moving even if dogs bark. Why would I be shaken by such slander and fail to achieve my grand goal?

*'If you don't want to die, you need to get your act together.'*

If I don't want to get expelled and leave the academy, I absolutely need to raise my strength, stamina, and agility now.

Only then will I have a chance in the Inter-year Exchange Competition.

That's why I'm grinding out this workout.

"Hut, two, hut, two... Phew. Running done."

Alright, now the morning routine is over.

The scenery gradually changed.

The gleaming, beautiful buildings of Olympia Academy disappeared.

I arrived at the lush lakeside in the southern part of Atenel Island─

"...Huh?"

There was an uninvited guest who had arrived first.

The lakeside of Atenel Island has clear and clean water quality.

It's pure enough to drink when you're thirsty from exercise, or to wash off sweat.

Thanks to this, it was my favorite spot perfect for weight training, but.

"Why is she here?"

A female student with bright red hair tied in twin tails, her shoulders clearly exposed.

Just from her appearance, I remembered who she was.

The top student of the Magic Department entering as a freshman this year.

A magic prodigy who followed the elite course at the Magic Tower.

And a playable character.

*'She should be taking the entrance exam right now.'*

How did she end up here?

"Hmm."

I ponder for a moment.

Just as I was about to enjoy weight training leisurely in my private space, an outsider has intruded.

How should I respond?

*'Let's ignore her!'*

Nothing good can come from getting involved with the protagonist.

The original story will progress on its own anyway, I just need to stick to the academy.

So, let's cleanly ignore her and.

"Hup!"

I rotate my body 180 degrees on the spot.

My vision flips. The world looks upside down. In other words, a handstand.

From this position, I just need to stretch my hands forward and walk.

"Hut, two, hut, two."

Walking in a handstand position.

At the same time, I move my legs back and forth to work on my lower body.

With the physical cheat, working on both upper and lower body simultaneously is no big deal.

"Hut, two, hut, two."

Now. How many laps should I do?

Around the lakeside, 100 laps should be good─

"...Ah, shit. What the hell! You're in the way!"

Screech!

The protagonist, who had her back turned to me, shouted sharply upon seeing me.

What's with her?

***

"Hey, you. I don't know what you're doing, but can you stop this weird behavior? It's distracting."

*Arrrr─*

Her bright red twin tails swaying as she snapped at me.

The protagonist and top student of the Magic Department, Irina, was complaining to me.

"What did I do?"

"What do you mean?! You're walking on your hands like a madman, how can I not be distracted?!"

"Hmm... Is it that bad?"

Well, I guess it could be distracting if you're trying to concentrate.

"Besides, this isn't your private property. What business is it of yours what someone else does here?"

"I'm in the middle of the entrance exam. It's a sensitive moment. Are you going to take responsibility if I don't get the top score?"

"That's not my problem. By the way, why are you speaking informally? I'm a second-year student."

"...Are you?"

*Hmph!* A forced polite speech tacked on.

Irina snorted and looked back at the ball in her hand.

*'Ah, that's it.'*

The entrance exam for the Magic Department at Olympia Academy.

First, they present various types of magic balls to the students.

Each magic ball is locked with mana, and you need to unlock it with precise mana control. The test ends when you take out the small marble inside without damaging it.

There are various difficulty levels from easy to hard, and in the original story, Irina chose the most difficult ball.

However, the question is:

"You chose the hardest one yourself, so why are you making a fuss? Just do it quietly on your own."

"I've already figured it out! I've calculated how the gears are intertwined and how to release it."

"Then why?"

"...The mana control is not easy. It's obvious I'll get hurt if I make even a small mistake. I was just taking a break here for a moment."

*'I see.'*

Talented freshmen might be able to forcibly break the shell of the magic ball and take out the marble.

Therefore, Olympia has taken one preventive measure. The moment someone tries to forcibly break the locking mechanism, an electric current surges from the magic ball.

However, even if it's not cheating, with the most difficult magic ball, a mistake alone can cause the current to flow.

That's why Irina is handling the ball so carefully.

"I want to unlock it quickly and finish the exam... Ugh, how am I supposed to concentrate with someone doing handstand walks next to me?"

"Geez. How annoying... Anyway, you can solve it if you just take your time, right?"

"That's right."

Can't be helped then.

I don't want Irina to drag this out and prevent me from doing my weight training.

Moreover, I'd rather not attract unnecessary attention by getting too involved with this protagonist.

Let's end this quickly and send her away.

*'If Irina hadn't figured out the solution, I wouldn't have helped.'*

But she says she's already found the answer.

I guess I should lend a hand, considering it as saving time.

"Hey. Give me that."

"What? Are you crazy? If you interfere with a freshman's entrance exam..."

"It's not like that, just give it to me."

I grasp the magic ball reluctantly handed over.

Touching it with my hand, I can feel it. If I were to carelessly handle this, a sharp electric current would surely burst out.

But it's meaningless before my 【Ultimate Physique】.

*Crack!*

"...Huh?"

A stupid gasp.

Irina's eyes widen to the size of saucers.

Her green pupils capture the debris left in my hand.

Because I broke the shell of the magic ball.

Then, *Bzzzzt─!!!* A terrifying electric current sparked in front of me.

"Are... are... are you crazy?! Don't you know what happens if you break that?! An electric current bursts out!"

"Oh, yeah. It did come out."

"No, it's not just 'it came out'...! Huh? ...Why are you fine?"

After getting excited on her own, she finally asks blankly.

I shrugged my shoulders in lieu of an answer.

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【Ultimate Physique】

※ Magic Slayer: A blessing born from magic insensitivity.

Almost fully immune to magic.

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A blessing obtained by Herak, who had magic insensitivity.

Mere magic contained in a magic ball can't harm my body.

The electric current just now? It was ticklish.

I casually toss the marble extracted from the debris to Irina.

She caught the marble, still dumbfounded.

"What... what is this... How can a person do such a crazy thing...??? Is this even possible...???"

Irina continues to mutter to herself in astonishment.

Incomprehensible.

What just happened is utterly impossible to accept by her common sense.

A man breaking a magic ball with his bare hands.

Saying it was ticklish when electric current should have zapped his hand!

In the end, curiosity overcame caution in Irina's mind.

"H-hey. You, how did you do that... No, you've already gone that far?! And in that posture again?!"

*'Huh?'*

Where's that dog barking?

It's hard to hear clearly because I'm walking on my hands.

Well, it's probably not important.

I ignored it and walked around the lakeside.

Until Irina, who was looking at me with an amazed expression, finally left.