Chapter 66 Chapter 17.1 - Normal Life
"Good…."
Lying on the ground, I looked around myself.
"I am getting better."
Before me were the scattered bodies of the worm crickets. A type of insect monster that had merged into one and became a weird-looking chimera.
"My speed of shooting is improving along with my mana control."
As I mumbled that, I raised my bow and imbued my mana into my arrow.
'This is the blue color I saw at that time.'
It was the color that appeared when I shot that bullet to the head of that demon contractor.
'Solar Eclipse. It felt like the way my mana exploded reminded me of the sun.'
The bullet of that attack was certainly strong, and I felt like the mana I imbued at that time was a lot harder to contain. It was like, from the start, the mana was about to explode.
'It is going with the same pattern as the book shows. Then, that means the last one will be that black-purple-colored one.'
'New moon.'
'I have yet to understand how I can change from one type of mana to another, but right now, just learning their properties is enough.'
It was progress, nevertheless. When it came to my mana and trait, everything was an Enigma, just like the name showed. It was truly hard, but that was also what made it a lot more rewarding to explore.
"In any case, let's return."
Looking at the clock, I saw it was nearing 3 AM. After what I had witnessed in the museum, there was no way I could be sleeping soundly instead of training.
And this was the first step, reducing sleep and training more. Just like that, I was about to leave the training rooms, but there I saw a young woman training with her bow.
Her black hair swung as her arrows flew one by one.
'Senior Elara.'
I thought to myself.
The marksmanship she was showing was something I would not forget. It was quite insightful and enabled me to integrate my technique even better.
Even though I was still in the progress of perfecting my aim, thanks to all those people around me, I could see myself improving slowly.
SWOOSH SWOOSH
As the two arrows flew, one of them was aimed at the ground while the other one was flying somewhere else.
CREAK
The first one to hit the ground made it freeze.
"Kik!"
And the hologram of the monster immediately noticed the frozen ground and changed its path, turning to sides.
SPURT
But that was exactly what Elara was aiming for, as the arrow immediately struck the monster's eye.
'A crafty way of using her elements.'
I mused. Her way of using her bow was elegant as ever, and today too, I learned another lesson.
'This must be enough.'
SWOOSH
Just as I was about to leave, suddenly, I felt something approaching.
THUD
As I slightly tilted my head to the side, I saw an arrow hitting the ground. Getting surprised by the sudden attack, I turned my face to the assailant.
"Senior, what is the meaning of this?"
I asked. This was something that would be considered very rude no matter where you were at. Be it an academy, outside world, or dungeon.
I could see Elara's slight smile on her face as she slowly approached. I didn't say anything and just stayed there waiting for her to come.
"Junior, don't you think it's a bit discourteous to observe your senior's training and depart without a proper greeting?" Elara's voice was light, and her playful tone indicated she was in an amicable mood.
"Someone might also think interrupting a senior's training just for the sake of greeting is a rude action. I think it is a matter of perspective." I answered, not backing off from her gaze.
Indeed I may have looked a bit rude to constantly watch her, but it was not like she was trying to hide her training either. She was using a normal training room where anyone could see.
"Heh…It seems you are good with your words." She answered. For some reason, it seemed her serious expression was gone, probably because she was tired.
I nodded in acknowledgment. This was something I was proud of, as I had the tendency to argue even for the smallest things I deemed I was right, at least if I was in the mood to do so.
In any case, for some reason, this woman was talking to me. I didn't remember any encounter I had with her after the first day, so it was a little weird to talk like that.
Elara's smile softened as she studied me. "You're a hardworking junior, it seems." As she said, she signaled the training grounds around us. "Only you and me are left here."
I inclined my head, acknowledging her words. "Thank you."
She seemed to sense my half-hearted gratitude. "Well, I won't keep you any longer. If you ever need pointers or advice, don't hesitate to ask."
Just like that, she left, but I was left slightly weirded at the sudden interaction I had with this woman who was normally serious.
'Is she drunk?' I even pondered about it but soon discarded this thought. There were no signs of her getting drunk, so that was just a random assumption.
Anyway, it wasn't like that was something big, so I just discarded my thoughts and reached my room.
*****
"Elara, do you see this boy here?"
Elara Holden, the vice-captain of the Archery Club, recalled the opening day of the club when she and their club advisor, Instructor Ethan, greeted the incoming freshmen. She cast her mind back to that moment when they stood amidst the crowd.
"Which one?" Elara inquired, glancing at the sea of unfamiliar faces. The gathering was a mix of young boys eager to join the club.
"The one at the back," Instructor Ethan clarified.
"Ah… The one with purple eyes?"
"Yes."
"So, what's special about him?" Elara's voice held a trace of skepticism. She was wary of favoritism and was not inclined to pay special attention to any specific student.
"He's not special in the conventional sense," Instructor Ethan replied. His words caught Elara's interest, as she knew he was not the type to show undue favoritism.
"Then?"
"I'm the one who invited him to join."
"You invited him?" Elara raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the revelation.
"Yes."
"But why? He doesn't strike me as remarkable."
"In a superficial sense, no, he doesn't appear remarkable. And that's what you'll think when you see him training for the first time."
"Why are you so invested in him?"
Instructor Ethan's tone held a hint of intrigue. "He recently transitioned from using daggers to wielding a bow."
"He switched from daggers to a bow?"
"Yes. At first, I thought he might be a random student seeking attention, but after overseeing his weapon change exam, I can confidently say that he has natural talent. He passed stage 5 of the exam on his first attempt."
"Stage 5? Is that supposed to be impressive?"
"It might not be for someone who has trained their whole life with a bow, but especially if their specialization is close combat, how do you think they will do?"
Elara pieced together the information, asking, "So, what are you suggesting?"
"I believe he is awakened, probably with a trait specifically suited for archery. His accuracy was far too advanced for a beginner. You'll understand if you watch the training footage. This boy possesses an innate aptitude."
"If you're this adamant, I'll keep an eye on him for a while. But don't expect anything extraordinary."
"Good. I'll let you decide, and I won't impose."
"All right, then."
As Elara recalled the conversation, she chuckled softly, shaking her head at the memory.
'What an unexpected twist,' she thought, her smile fading. She had initially dismissed him as an ordinary student. She had even checked his name and past records, confirming his status as the lowest-ranked student in the academy with a reputation for being aloof.
Consequently, she dismissed Instructor Ethan's claims as an overestimation. Despite this, she had dutifully observed his training footage. And what she had seen had astounded her.
'How did he progress so rapidly?'
He seemed to absorb knowledge like a vortex, each piece adding to his skill set. His physical attributes might be lacking, but his rapid improvement was captivating.
'An intriguing case.'
As she watched him leave the training room at 3 AM, a mixture of curiosity and fascination welled up within her.
'Where are you headed when the confines of your body only hold you back? What is the place you are going to reach even in the presence of such weakness?'
As her thoughts trailed off, a crazed smile formed on her lips. She absently wiped away the drool that had escaped her mouth.
'I want to see it.'
Elara's grin turned slightly maniacal as she left the Archery Club, her excitement apparent in her demeanor.
As she too slowly made her way out of the Archery Club, she forgot to erase her smile.
Just like that, in the middle of the night, a crazed woman was walking inside the forest….
*******
"Good morning, Cadets," Eleanor White's voice resonated as she entered the classroom, striding purposefully toward her desk.
"Today, you will be participating in Combat Training Against Monsters," Eleanor continued without delay. "Similar to last time, this will involve dungeon exploration."
She started to inform everyone about their training. It was her way of doing things; she disliked spending time talking about useless things and immediately broached the subject.
My keen senses allowed me to catch the quiet murmur that rippled through the classroom in response to her announcement. Some students exchanged excited glances, while others seemed apprehensive.
I heard a hushed conversation between two students nearby:
"I hope we won't run into anything too dangerous."
"Last time wasn't a walk in the park, that's for sure."
Hearing them like that, I couldn't help but shake my head.
'These kids will never learn, won't they?'
If someone with such low stats like me could hear what they were saying, then a seasoned Hunter who ranked three digits in the entire world would easily do so.
And just to prove that, as the whispering persisted, Eleanor's piercing gaze swept across the room. The room fell into silence as though responding to her unspoken command.
"Am I interrupting something?" she inquired, her tone unyielding.
The students quickly averted their eyes, realizing that their conversation had caught the attention of their instructor. Eleanor had a reputation for maintaining a no-nonsense classroom environment.
"Tch. I asked you a question, right?" For some reason, Eleanor looked slightly angry.
'This woman probably got out of the bed the wrong side.' I thought.
"No, Instructor White," one of the students replied, her voice slightly shaky. It was a girl that was sitting on the front side, and she was always loud in her conversations. It was her innate habit, as it didn't seem like she was doing it for attention. She was not someone that talked with boys anyway.
Eleanor's stern expression conveyed her expectations clearly.
"I suggest you focus on the training ahead rather than engaging in idle chatter."
"I am sorry, instructor."
"It is good that you know your faults, unlike someone."
As her piercing words echoed, naturally, everyone's eyes turned to me. At this point, they knew that she was talking to me since the confrontation between me and she was famous.
I eventually simply ignored her words and kept my gaze on her. I didn't think I did anything wrong; thus, I didn't answer.
"Anyway, let's start." Eleanor's gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each cadet. "Today's exercise will challenge your teamwork, communication, and adaptability. You will be exploring a simulated dungeon environment, working in teams just as you did during your first practical lesson."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "However, this time, your objective is different. You are not tasked with defeating a specific monster. Instead, your goal is to reach the endpoint of the dungeon. The path will be challenging, and there will be various obstacles in your way."
As she said that, her eyes pierced through me.
"And I suggest everyone participate in this dungeon. We are here to learn and improve ourselves, not to laze around."
Still not unbothered by her words, I simply sat there and watched her start the lesson. It was obvious that she was blatantly targeting me as an outlet for her emotions, but we were no longer kids.
In the end, mere words will never be enough to get a reaction from me after all.
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