Instead of a Crafting Hunter skill, the reason I was so intent on training in the newly learned Ice Magic wasn't simply to increase my proficiency.
If that were the case, it would be better to just call the Clone Instructor back.
My goal was to lay the foundation for the Ice Magic itself—how to conjure ice flowers, how to exhale cold air without freezing my own body.
'Well, entrusting everything to the clone is an option, too. But that's how strategy in games works.'
Just like rock-paper-scissors, there are times when you need scissors, and times when you need rock or paper.
To survive the Rifts that would appear in the future, it was essential to cultivate my own skills.
"It's not like I can just coast through the upcoming dropout test, either."
When taking the test, there would inevitably be a moment when I had to showcase my skills in front of the examiner.
A minimal attack.
Or minimal self-defense capabilities.
Create and shoot Ice Awls.
Freeze the floor to create an ice rink.
Although it might not even reach Instructor's toes, it would be enough, just enough, for a Crafting Hunter to show off.
Ice Magic training was essential! I didn't know what would happen next, but…
"Hoo…"
I took a deep breath, repeatedly raising and lowering the Magical Power I had returned to its original position.
Maintaining concentration was much more difficult than I thought.
The Magical Power I tried to keep at the tips of my fingers kept fluctuating, and my hands became numb with cold after only a few attempts.
There were even moments when my Magical Power almost backfired due to a loss of concentration.
"Damn it, this isn't easy."
I guess it's impossible to get used to a skill in just one day after learning it…
I was struggling with ice shards for a long time.
Creak.
The back door of the training ground opened, and a ray of red sunset light stretched into the training ground.
Who is it? Instructor?
But when I turned around, there was an unexpected person standing there.
As soon as I saw that face, I frowned unconsciously.
It was an unexpected acquaintance.
"What, Leo, is that you?"
"Jason?"
"You've rented out the whole training ground, living the good life. Is your training going well?"
"…Yeah."
"Good for you! When you left the swordsmanship school, you acted like you were going to drop out altogether, but seeing you find another path makes me feel relieved."
The academy's swordsmanship school.
It happened a few months ago.
I couldn't find answers in crafting skills, so I knocked on the door of the swordsmanship school.
The academy's warrior trainees choose an after-school school according to their skill system, and one of them was the swordsmanship school. Jason was a guy who entered the swordsmanship school at the same time as me.
'But now I'm taking supplementary classes from Instructor Seraphine as part of the dropout program.'
His intentions were obvious.
He was probably sneering at me, saying, "A guy who dropped out of the swordsmanship school is now putting up a pathetic struggle."
He was always that kind of guy. He lived with a sense of superiority and tried to climb over others.
"Hey, come on in! You can use it here. This guy is my classmate."
"Hi. Long time no see?"
"…Excuse me. My name is Emily, and I'm a prospective student entering next year."
Come to think of it, it seems he didn't come all the way here just to harass me.
Two female students appeared from behind Jason.
One was Sophia, a girl with glamorous blonde hair down to her shoulders, who looked like an "insider" at first glance.
She was an academy classmate and a rowdy girl who often appeared in gangster groups.
She gave a slight nod, as if she wasn't interested, and plopped down on a chair in the corner of the training ground.
And the other one was…
'Amazing. I didn't expect her to show up so soon. And like this, too.'
Emily, a female junior trainee with a red skirt, a white blouse, and neat long hair.
Her sleepy eyes and the long rapier at her waist are impressive.
There's one reason I know her.
Emily was a promising swordsmanship student who entered through special admission in the early part of Dominant Evil's story and played an important role as the protagonist's helper.
Jason patted my shoulder exaggeratedly and laughed.
"Ah, we have a junior that our school is putting a lot of effort into. We were just taking a look around in advance."
"Is that so."
"I was wondering where to go since most of the training grounds were full, but I came here because you were using it alone. You're not going to be stingy and not give up your spot in front of our junior, are you?"
"...."
'There's no way the training grounds would be full on a holiday.'
He's telling obvious lies.
He's clearly trying to belittle me in front of his junior.
But it wasn't like I had rented out this wide training ground all to myself, and there was no need to stir up trouble. Moreover, I didn't want to alienate Emily, who I didn't know anything about yet. She was an important person I needed to get on good terms with in the future.
"Use it as you please. I was about to finish up anyway."
I was about to leave the training ground, gathering my gloves and the remaining odds and ends.
But Jason blocked my way. A sly smile was on his face.
"Hey, where are you going in such a hurry? Now that we've met like this, we should show our junior what the skills of our academy's warrior trainees are like, don't you think?"
"…What do you want me to show? I'm not involved with swordsmanship anymore."
"If you're not involved, why? Seeing skills from various systems is all experience."
Jason picked up a wooden practice sword from a basket in the corner of the training ground and twirled it around as if to show off.
Sophia giggled as she watched him from the side.
"Kekeke, Jason, you look like an extra villain. Hey, if you're not going to do it, just run away. It's only your loss if you hurt yourself while trying to save face."
"...."
On the other hand, Emily seemed unsure of what to do with the two people's conversation, glancing at me slightly before lowering her head.
Ha. It's just like a game world, this predictable event.
I keep thinking, but it's a bit tiresome.
I've long since abandoned any petty pride during my months of failure, but considering my relationship with Emily, I couldn't turn my back and run away.
I sighed briefly and carefully put on my gloves.
"…A light showcase would be fine, I guess."
"What showcase?"
"A demonstration of the prototype I made."
"Hee, come to think of it, you were originally in crafting, right? The prototype is that weird-looking glove?"
Sophia's eyes widened, and she chimed in with interest.
Jason shrugged, resting the wooden sword on his shoulder.
"Okay, sure. A prototype made by a dropout. Shall we take a look? Just don't embarrass yourself in front of our precious junior, okay?"
'Embarrassment.'
The picture he wanted was clear.
Me, flailing around with a clumsy creation.
'If that were the case, I wouldn't have even started, you bastard.'
I had no intention of fighting in the first place.
There was nothing to gain from facing him with a wooden sword right now. Rather, it was better to show him my skills as a 'Crafting Hunter'.
Especially in front of Emily, who would stand out in a few months.
I took a deep breath. I awakened the faint sensation of Ice Magic that had taken root in my body and let it flow into my hand.
And then I stopped it.
I condensed it to stay at the tip of my finger.
Jason adjusted his grip on the wooden sword and lowered his stance. He looked like he was about to rush at me at any moment.
"Here I come!"
Jason shouted and kicked off the floor, rushing towards me. And I concentrated all the Magical Power I had gathered into the crude glove on my palm!
'Create an ice rink!'
Power is Magical Power.
Implementation is imagination.
I'm confident in imitating something.
The overwhelming wave of cold that Instructor Seraphine had shown.
If I could copy even a part of it and display it here, that would be enough.
I squeezed out the faint Magical Power in my body and released it all at once, as if exhaling!
Crack!
With a sudden chill, the floor between me and Jason began to freeze with a loud noise.
But it wasn't the smooth ice rink I had imagined.
Like an angry wave frozen in place, the ice rink rose grotesquely with jagged and sharp ice fragments mixed in.
'Ugh!'
At the moment the Magical Power was released, I didn't have the skill to control it delicately enough yet.
But the power itself was quite plausible, thanks to pouring everything I had into it.
With a ridiculous sound, he tumbled onto the uneven ice floor.
"Kuh! What is this! Ice? How, how did you…?"
"Huh? What is that? Did Leo really do that?"
"…Amazing."
"What?"
Jason was furious at Emily's small whisper and tried to get up from the ice, but even that didn't seem easy on the bumpy ice rink. He kept slipping and flailing.
"Hey! Leo! Aish, you… when did you learn something like this!"
"Well, it's still a bit rough."
The middle of the glove, which had been tattered by the previous technique, had a hole in it, but I sent my hand behind my back to avoid being caught.
Honestly, I was a bit surprised too. I didn't expect such a plausible result.
Just seeing that gangster's expression made me feel like some of the past grievances were fading away.
Sophia, who had been sitting still in her chair, also came over and squatted next to Jason, who was flailing on the floor.
"Jason, why don't you just end it here? I don't want to be on the bad side of the Crafting Hunter."
"Are you going to be like that too! I'll definitely win if we keep fighting!"
"Yeah, you probably would. But you saw it too. That thing."
"Ugh…!"
"It was enough to indulge in acting like kids. I've done everything I can."
Jason barely stood up on his trembling legs.
He was still glaring at me, but his eyes were filled with bewilderment instead of the previous ridicule or contempt.
He tried to say something, but his lips only twitched a few times, and then he turned away.
"Tsk, he's doing that again. What a temper."
Sophia shook her head as if she was pathetic and followed Jason. Then she smiled at me and winked.
I'll, see, you, later.
Her lips moved clearly.
"Our cute Emily, let me introduce you to another place, let's go!"
"…Yes, senior."
Emily also left, following the two. Just before leaving the training ground door, she turned back slightly and gave me a light bow.
Is this good for a first meeting?
I sighed deeply and sat down on the floor. I felt all the strength drain from my legs.
"Haa, I'm tired."
Was it because I had concentrated all my nerves for a short moment? My whole body was stiff.
As expected, this body has too little Magical Power. To think I can't even use a Lv.1 spell properly and end up like this…
The only Magical Power increase skill I got was 'Growth Period', which I learned today, so that says it all.
Well, still.
"Have I grown a little…"
Me, who has been living by being criticized for months, has grown.
The corners of my mouth twitch for no reason.
I was staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Thud.
Suddenly, my vision was blocked, and I felt a cold sensation on my forehead.
"Huh?"
Surprised, I groped for what had fallen on my forehead and found that it was an ice-cold towel.
And Instructor Seraphine was standing by my head.
"Instructor?"