Chapter 67: ☆Self-chosen...
The next day after embracing Elysia-san and Erika.
It was past 7 AM.
I greeted Elysia-san and Erika as they woke up, had tea together, and then left Erika-san’s house.
When I returned to [Suzuya], I hugged Nimi tightly and gave a wry smile while remembering what Merinu-san and Roll had told me.
It was completely my own mistake, so I immediately lowered my head and apologized to both of them.
Merinu-san, with an exasperated expression, said, "Lady is still recovering, so please be gentle," and I bowed my head and apologized again.
Roll, her face bright red, said hesitantly, "Instructor... from now on, close the window," and I bowed and apologized.
If she said it that way, she was right, but I had completely forgotten.
Nimi seemed worried about my awkward expression, so I explained.
Nimi, who was usually kind, smiled troubledly but gave me a strong warning about the incident.
So I immediately bowed my head and apologized to her as well.
...From now on, I should watch my surroundings a little more... before acting...
I honestly didn’t have confidence in not overdoing it.
When standing before beautiful lovers, the rationality I usually suppress simply flies away.
I let out a small sigh and started preparing to head to the academy.
Before leaving [Suzuya], I hugged Nimi once more, kissed her, and then headed to the academy.
At the academy training ground, the students were sitting on the ground.
I stood in front of them, arms crossed, and began my lecture.
"You have all improved a lot in the skill level of your favored weapons, right? Here is a question for you: do you think there is any meaning in raising other skill levels?"
The students began whispering to each other and consulting.
Roy was talking with Lucy, and Erika was standing alone with her arms crossed, thinking.
By now, Erika’s breasts were resting on her arms and swaying as standard.
As I glanced at Erika, I noticed the three songstresses looking at me. I called Aurora.
"Aurora, what do you think?"
"...Instructor, raising any skill levels other than your favored weapon and attribute magic... does it even work?"
"Ah... I see..."
Aurora spoke with a troubled expression, and the others nodded silently at her words.
Indeed, the fastest and most efficient way to raise skills was to focus on your favored weapon and attribute magic.
But if someone asked whether you could raise other skills, the answer was that you could raise them.
The problem was that it required five to ten times the effort compared to your favored weapon and attribute magic.
Well, mainly because the number of attacks increases as your skill level rises.
So, when you attack, your skill level rises more slowly than with your favored weapon and attribute magic.
That was why students mostly raised only their favored weapon and attribute magic, and even when they raised other skills, they didn’t know why it had happened.
I explained this to the students, and their faces showed surprise and confusion.
Erika, who was standing nearby, was now giving me a sulky stare.
I raised my voice to silence the buzzing students.
"Let’s continue? Good. It does rise, but only to a certain extent... but do you think the effort is worth it? ...What do you think, Roy?"
"...If there is a benefit, then..."
Roy said that, and I nodded.
If you don’t know the benefit, no one will bother to raise it. ...But I do know a little about it. More accurately, if everyone observes each other, they will naturally understand.
"...Observe?"
Erika tilted her head while swaying her breasts slightly and spoke.
Roy and Lucy exchanged glances, then both turned red and looked away shyly.
...Hey, you two... you did it, didn’t you?
"For example, a swordsman using a short sword is fast. A longsword user is accurate. A greatsword user is strong."
The students nodded while looking at me, some with serious expressions and some with surprised ones.
It sounded right, but people rarely realize it.
It wasn’t something that deserved blame. When people are fighting for their lives, they don’t have time to care about others.
Especially soldiers and adventurers — leveling up through training, hunting, and patrols.
The people who truly pay attention to themselves or observe others are very few.
"From now on, raise the skill level of the weapon you think you need. I will give advice and hints. Think about which weapon’s skill level is necessary for you while training. And every three days, do a simulated battle with me. You can test it during the simulated battle, right? ...I almost forgot — don’t forget to raise the skill level of your favored weapon either. Also, don’t rush. Alright, training starts!"
The students each went to the weapons leaning against the wall and started thinking hard.
Good. Keep thinking. You can consult with each other, it’s okay if it takes time, but don’t leave it to others... choose for yourselves.
By thinking and finding the answer yourself, you won’t lose to seduction when the next event comes.
I stood with my arms crossed and smiled at the students who were struggling in front of their weapons.
"Raide Instructor... is it okay?"
"...What is it, Roy?"
I turned when I heard my name. Roy had a slightly dark expression and was standing with Lucy.
Lucy looked worried at Roy’s face.
I faced Roy, tilted my head, and rubbed my chin.
Roy lowered his gaze, then looked at me with empty eyes and a dark expression.
"Raide Instructor... is my swordsmanship too basic?"
"...I think it’s pure knight swordsmanship."
"Should I... change it?"
Roy lowered his gaze again, clenched his fists tightly as if regretting something.
I looked at Roy and gave a wry smile, understanding what had happened.
...This reaction means contact once, right?
In the game, Roy will seal his emotions until the next event, which is why the students get seduced.
He is the leader, so he looks unreliable and gets seduced easily.
...Contact has happened, so it’s confirmed.
"Roy, basic swordsmanship isn’t weak."
"...Eh?"
At my words, Roy looked up in surprise. I smiled at him.
Lucy also showed surprise at my words, so she must have been there too.
By the way, there are many different sword schools.
What Roy was using was knight swordsmanship, the origin of all knight swordsmanship in the kingdom.
If I said that, I would be saying that all kingdom knights are weak.
Roy is serious, responsible, and skilled at applying skills.
If I had to give him advice, there was only one thing.
"Roy, have you read any books about knight swordsmanship from countries other than the kingdom at the library?"
"No... I haven’t."
"Then read them... and incorporate any styles that suit you."
"Eh, but... that..."
"That would be your swordsmanship."
"...!?"
Roy’s eyes widened in shock.
No matter how much you mess with it, if it is based on the foundation and you think about and incorporate it yourself, then it is your swordsmanship.
I placed my hand on Roy’s shoulder and said sincerely,
"Having a foundation means you can apply it. But applying it doesn’t mean you’ll think of it immediately. Listen. The books are for that. Our ancestors wrote them to leave their knowledge and technology for future generations."
"Ancestors’... swordsmanship..."
"I’m not telling you to copy... You should understand now?"
"...Yes."
It wasn’t copying. It was incorporating your own swordsmanship by thinking about it.
At my words, Roy nodded — small at first, then larger.
The dark expression returned to his usual bright, confident look, and light returned to his eyes.
I smiled at Roy and patted his shoulder.
"Don’t forget? What you did wasn’t in vain. Hold your head high."
"Yes!"
Roy bowed to me with a smile, and Lucy also bowed with a happy expression.
I gave them permission to go to the library and watched them run to the library.
I stood with my arms crossed, looking at their backs, and smiled.
When Erika-san suddenly peeked out from beside me with a sulky stare, I turned to the students.
"You’ve learned a lot, haven’t you?"
"A little."
"...Raide-san’s ’a little’ isn’t little at all."
Erika-san’s breasts swayed as she puffed her cheeks. I laughed and walked toward the students.
It wasn’t just Roy who needed advice.
I would do everything I could and happily give advice and hints.
That day’s training was mainly about choosing weapons and having students consult with each other.
It was also a day when I realized how difficult it is to give advice to others.
