Even if Simon was scary, work had to be done. The teaching assistant spread her fingers. "There's a reason I insisted on a mock duel. For students who are lost and don't know their strengths, like you, pushing them to their limits eventually reveals the answer. You find out what you rely on in the most dangerous and crucial moments." "Ah..." "In your case, you started with summoning techniques by your own will, right? But once you were cornered, you instinctively switched to martial arts without a moment's hesitation. You seem to have a talent for it too. Do you need to think about it any further?" "..." Simon felt a pang of guilt. To say, 'I just used martial arts because she got close,' wasn't entirely true. Even while sending out three skeletons, Simon had already completed his Jet Black body enhancement and was preparing for close combat. It was almost an instinctive movement. "I'm not asking for an immediate answer. Take your time to think about it~" "Thank you, Teaching Assistant." After Simon left, the teaching assistant secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In the distance, she saw her senior teaching assistant guiding a student. The senior was wearing a protective vest, and the student, also in a protective vest, lay sprawled on the floor with a dazed expression. It looked like they had just finished a tough session. The student who had received advice from her senior also thanked them and left. Now was her chance. "Waaah! Unnie!" The teaching assistant ran and threw herself into her senior's arms. "It was so scary!" The senior frowned and pushed away her junior, who was whining with a childish lisp. "You started the sparring guidance, and now all the students are clamoring for a fight! It's annoying." "...Hmph." "Anyway, what was so scary?" The teaching assistant pointed a finger at Simon, as if tattling to her mother. He was alone in a corner, deep in thought. "Ah, Special Case #1, Simon." "I thought he was cute, but he's scary. It's the first time my heart has pounded like that while sparring with students." The senior peeled off her whining, immature junior and crossed her arms. "So, what advice did you give him?" "I basically told him, 'You're damn good at martial arts, so why are you so fixated on summoning?' but in a roundabout way." "Hmm." It was true that with only a few summoning spells learned in the early first year, one would inevitably fall behind in the current duel evaluation. There were a few subjects that were advantageous in the initial duel evaluation, the most prominent being Curse Studies and Martial Arts. Summoning Studies and Necromancy were cases that required a bit more time. 'Is he struggling because he's a summoning major? Well, he can only afford such a luxurious 고민 now.' There was no point in talking about it now. She thought that once he fell into the lower squads and became more desperate, his perspective would change. 'Or, if not, then like a genius...' Her mind briefly recalled Simon facing the Cyclops. 'He might come up with a new method.' * * * After the mock duel with the teaching assistant, Simon felt his mind was even more complicated. It was like two different thoughts were clashing. Still, one thing became clear. 'For this duel evaluation, skeletons alone won't be enough.' He slowly recalled the sparring session with the teaching assistant. Honestly, the skeletons were no help at all. Instead, they were exploited by the opponent as a means to land a curse on Simon. He had to change. To survive here, he had to constantly adapt and grow. It was the moment a new challenge arose for Simon. "Simon!" Simon, deep in thought, raised his head. Kamibarez, smiling brightly, was waving and approaching. Dick and Mei-rin followed side-by-side, bickering about something again. "Hmph, hmph, how could you not land a single hit?" Mei-rin stuck out her tongue and teased, while Dick gritted his teeth in frustration. "Ah, I just went easy on you because you're a girl!" "Yeah~ The guy who couldn't land a single hit next~" Before Dick could retort, Mei-rin giggled and ran behind Simon. "Speaking of which, Simon. You said you had something to think about alone, but then you were sparring with the teaching assistant again?" "Yeah. It just happened that way." "Did you win?" Simon scratched his head with an awkward smile. "How could I win against the teaching assistant?" As he said that, Simon's gaze drifted towards the teaching assistant. She happened to be looking at Simon too, and when their eyes met, she quickly scurried away. 'Why is she like that?' Simon tilted his head. "Ah- but isn't this duel evaluation too stressful?" Dick scratched his head vigorously. "Not all Necromancers just go around fighting. There are scholar types and research types too. No matter how old the tradition, it's too barbaric." Kamibarez nodded timidly in agreement. Mei-rin, on the other hand, squinted her eyes and smiled. "It's only stressful because you're weak." "I said I went easy on you earlier!" She snorted, as if it was nonsense. "This is just my opinion, but no matter if you're a scholar or whatever, if you're in the bottom 10% in combat ability, you're just not skilled. You're disqualified as a Kizen Necromancer." At that, Kamibarez was seen drooping her head sadly. The wings fluttering behind her also drooped. "Ah!" Mei-rin, belatedly realizing Kamibarez's reaction, sweated profusely and approached her. "Ah, no! I wasn't talking about you! You're a vampire, from the great Ursula family!" "But I... I'm not very confident in fighting." "Don't worry! I'll take responsibility and train you!" While the two girls chattered, Dick sighed deeply and came over to Simon. "Still, you're lucky. No pressure for the duel evaluation." "No. I'm worried too." "Heh heh, really? I've been looking around, and everyone seems to want to avoid fighting you at all costs..." At that moment, Simon's eyes sharpened. His right hand shot up beside his head with a 'Wham!' as something flew and hit it. 'Thud!' "Gasp!" Dick gasped in surprise. Dust scattered around from how hard it was thrown. Simon moved his eyes to look at it. It was a protective vest. Step. Step. "Simon Pollentia." Hector approached. Behind him, his faction members chuckled, following like bodyguards. "Put it on. Let's fight." "..." Simon sighed softly and adjusted his grip on the vest. And then. 'Whoosh!' The vest flew back at incredible speed, hitting Hector's hand this time. He barely managed to reach out and catch it, but a bead of sweat dripped from Hector's forehead. "Get lost. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now." "...You bastard!" Hector's face turned red and purple. Veins bulged in his neck, and his fist glowed with Jet Black. Enraged, he strode forward, and Simon didn't back down, raising his head. "Don't. Hector." At that moment, Mei-rin ran between Simon and Hector, blocking them. "...Mind your own business, Ivory Tower." Hector said coldly. "You're not a child, why are you acting like this? If you keep acting like a thug, I'll call a professor." Hector's lips trembled with rage at the interruption. Then he spat out, "Serene's lackey." Instantly. The atmosphere turned chilling. Dick's eyes widened, Kamibarez's face turned pale, and the faction members flinched, looking back at Hector. And most of all, Mei-rin's eyes went wild. A Dark Flare magic circle unfolded in her palm. 'Dangerous!' Hector was unarmed, and the student protection period was over. Moreover, using an offensive spell on an defenseless Hector during class wouldn't end with just a disciplinary action. Simon quickly ran towards her. Hector stood still, a smirk on his lips, as if daring her. "Stop." Simon, Mei-rin, and Hector all froze simultaneously. The teaching assistant had somehow appeared between them, smiling. "Is something wrong?" Her approach was so fast they didn't even have time to register it. Even in this situation, Simon quickly covered Mei-rin's palm, and Hector bowed respectfully. "Nothing happened, Teaching Assistant. We apologize for causing you concern." Hector was practically a tyrant among students, but to professors and teaching assistants, he maintained an image of a polite and respectful student. Hector turned his back and muttered, 'Let's go.' His faction members glanced back and forth between the teaching assistant and Hector, then quickly followed Hector. "...Hmm." The teaching assistant looked back at Mei-rin. Mei-rin flinched, then quickly bowed her head. "Hector, Mei-rin. Both of you are warned, so be careful. You almost did something Professor Jane would hate the most just now." Fortunately, the teaching assistant left without making an issue of it. As the suffocating atmosphere lifted, Dick let out a deep sigh. "Ah~ I really want to smash Hector's head, damn it. Just one good hit. That crazy psycho." "Mei-rin! Are you okay?" "Ah, yeah. I'm fine, Kami." She took a deep breath and said. "I just... well... lost my composure a little." It didn't seem like 'a little.' As Simon thought that, Mei-rin raised her head and said. "And you." "Hm?" "Can you let go now? It's embarrassing." Simon was still holding her hand. Simon nodded and let go of her hand as if it were nothing. "Haa, seriously." She came closer, grabbed Simon's hand with both of hers, and turned his palm up. His palm was bright red from the burn. "Are you crazy? It was a Dark Flare magic circle, and you just grabbed it with your bare hand?" Simon just gave an awkward laugh. Mei-rin frowned and pulled Simon's wrist. "I'm taking him to the infirmary for a bit." "Ah, yes! Go ahead!" * * * They went to the infirmary for treatment. Fortunately, it was a minor burn. The treatment ended with applying ointment and wrapping it with a bandage, and the two returned to the training hall. "...Simon." "Hm?" "Why did you cover my palm?" Simon shrugged. "You're asking the obvious. It would have been a big problem if the teaching assistant saw you trying to use magic." She cleared her throat. "Earlier-" "Thank you, Mei-rin." Both of them spoke at the same time. She quickly turned her head away. "For stopping Hector and me when we were about to fight." "..." "Then you almost fought Hector yourself, but this time I stopped you. So we're even." Simon chuckled, but Mei-rin had a very complex expression. "Anyway, Simon. That's your problem." "...?" "You're too kind. You know? It's annoying how thoughtful you are. But." She strode closer and grabbed Simon's shoulders. "This time, it won't work." "...?" Then she took a deep breath, closed her eyes tightly as if making a decision, and said. "Tha. Nk. You!" After shouting that, she ran off to the training hall as if escaping, all by herself. "..." Simon, who had been momentarily stunned and blank, let out a small laugh. [Like father, like son.] Pier's sub-body clicked its tongue.
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