[Raul PoV]
Days passed, and the qualifying rounds were nearly over. Starting tomorrow, the academy students will undergo their final exams before the Grunbelt Academy Tournament commences.
As for the Disciplinary Committee members, only Piers, Viera, and Scarlett managed to qualify for the main tournament. Currently, I am training two of them in the duel area to prepare them for what's to come.
"Have either of you awakened your respective Codices yet, Viera, Piers?" I asked them.
If I recall correctly, Viera possesses Wind Nature Mana, while Piers has Iron Nature Mana.
Viera can utilize her Nature Mana to increase both the speed and destructive power of her arrows. She can also enhance her agility if she learns the Windfoot spell and masters efficient mana consumption. Piers, being a Brawler, will obviously use his Nature Mana to bolster his offense and defense.
"One of my Profound Codices is Silent," Viera answered.
"I haven't awakened any of my Codices at all," Piers replied.
Since Viera and Piers were not NPCs in the original game, I don't know their specific abilities or Profound Codices. That's why I had to ask, so I could provide them with training suited for the tournament.
"Alright, Piers. Just focus on practicing the Iron Body spell continuously so you become more accustomed to using it during combat," I instructed the short man. "Viera, there is a combat trick I want to teach you by utilizing your Profound Codex."
Unlike my Featherstep technique, which only silences the sound of footsteps, Viera's Silent ability can negate every sound she produces. This includes her arrow fire.
"Do you know the trick called Vanishing Step?" I asked.
Viera simply shook her head.
"This trick can make you disappear from an enemy's sight even in an open area," I said, proceeding to explain the technique.
Vanishing Step is a trick where a player disappears from their enemy's perspective by constantly moving into their blind spots. The human eye has a field of vision of about 180 degrees. This means they have a blind spot of the same size. Players can exploit this blind spot and use the Featherstep technique to move undetected.
However, this trick is only effective for a single strike for Featherstep users. But for someone with the Silent Profound Codex like Viera, she can silence her attacks—something Featherstep users cannot do. This allows Viera to continuously strike her enemies undetected if she combines it with hit-and-run tactics.
"This trick requires high observation and agility, Viera," I told her. "After this, try to practice what I've told you with Piers, understood?"
"Ready, Captain!"
Having delivered what Viera needed to learn, I left her alone with Piers to train. Soon the academy tournament will begin; I have planted almost all the seeds for my plan—only one remains.
And that is to blackmail the person who will be conducting the participant drawing for the tournament.
***
[Emilia PoV]
It has been several months since we started our field practice. Finally, all the third-year students are able to return to the academy. Currently, I am heading to the Lancer Club, which I lead. I want to see how the members are doing after being away for months.
The qualifying rounds for the third-year students have also begun for the main tournament. However, I am not participating in this round because I am already ranked within the academy's top ten. This tournament will be contested by 32 people from various years.
If I'm not mistaken, 12 second-year students and 4 first-year students successfully qualified. That means 16 third-year students will participate in this tournament.
Arriving at the club room door, I heard the other members seemingly in the middle of a discussion. What exactly are they discussing? Curious, I immediately opened the door. Suddenly, the members stopped talking and looked on in silence.
"President Emilia! You're back!?"
"We've been waiting so long for you to come!"
Eh, what's this? It turns out they really missed me. Am I that well-loved in this club? I'm actually moved by their attitude.
"What happened? Why are you all suddenly looking so sentimental?" I asked as I entered the room.
"This is bad, President! Our club is in danger!" one member said.
Huh, in danger? Did something happen to the club while I was away? Or did they get into a conflict with another club?
"What happened?" I asked.
"Our club budget is going to be cut by the Student Council next year!" he answered with a grim expression.
Hearing this, my mood darkened. The club budget is vital for financing our activities both inside and outside the academy. At the start of the year alone, we held training sessions during holidays in specific locations to increase members' exposure to real combat, and this required no small amount of money. If the Student Council cuts our budget, the members' development will be hindered.
Sometimes I don't understand the academy's policies. If they truly want the students to grow faster, shouldn't they support us to the maximum? Instead, they force us to face this difficult situation.
"But President, we can cancel the Student Council's decision by defeating that man!" one member said.
"What do you mean we can cancel their decision?" I asked, curious.
It wasn't usual for the Student Council to provide a cancellation condition for a decision they had already made. Something was fishy here. I smelled something foul.
"You know Raul de Garcia, don't you?"
Isn't he the one who replaced Renald as the leader of the disciplinary committee? What does he have to do with this?
"He challenged us, President," a member said. "He said that if one of the students from this club can defeat him in the Tournament, the Student Council will cancel this decision."
Hearing the members' explanation made me feel that something was amiss. Why would the Student Council entrust this to a second-year student? Did they truly look down on the Lancer Club enough to make this challenge? Fine then, I will prove that their judgment is wrong.
"Don't worry, I will defeat this man named Raul," I told them. "I will go see Raul de Garcia now to accept his challenge regarding this matter."
Hearing my words, the members began to cheer joyfully. It seemed they had great faith in my ability to defeat this man, and it was my responsibility to meet their expectations.
***
[Raul PoV]
Grunbelt Academy has a total of 24 instructors with various expertise. Most are recruited from among the academy's graduates. However, there is one instructor they recruited from outside the academy—and even outside the Empire.
He is Instructor Tevaz Dagestan, who teaches history. Instructor Tevaz also happens to be the one who will perform the drawing for the tournament participants, as he has no background within the Empire. However, "Tevaz Dagestan" is not the man's true identity.
Seventeen years ago, the academy invited Tevaz Dagestan, a historian from the Grand Duchy of Wiena, to teach here upon the Headmaster's recommendation. In truth, the Headmaster did not know Tevaz Dagestan personally and had only read his books, knowing his physical features only through the biography in the books. Tevaz Dagestan accepted the invitation and set out for the Empire by carriage.
However, mid-journey, the carriage was attacked by bandits, and only a few survived. One of them was a man named Hans Rivera. He was a fan of Tevaz Dagestan's books and shared similar physical characteristics. After Tevaz died in the bandit attack, Hans found the invitation letter and fled with some of Tevaz's belongings. He assumed Tevaz's identity and went to Grunbelt Academy to replace him as a history teacher.
No one had suspected him until now, and I am going to blackmail him into making the tournament drawing exactly as I want it. After walking around the academy for a while, I finally saw Hans walking while reading a book.
"Instructor Tevaz," I called out.
Hearing his fake name, he turned toward me.
"Hmmm... why are you calling for me here?" the instructor asked with an indifferent tone.
I approached him and gave him a sadistic smile. Seeing this, the instructor furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Instructor Tevaz, I have a request," I said. "Could you arrange the tournament drawing to be exactly as I want?"
Hearing my request, the instructor began to look at me like I was an idiot.
"What do you mean by that? Of course I can't do such a thing," he replied lazily. "If there isn't anything important to ask, you shouldn't bother me; I'm busy."
He began to walk past me.
"In that case, I will make a deal you cannot refuse, Instructor Tevaz," I said in a cold tone. "Or should I call you—Hans Rivera?"
Upon hearing me use his real name, the instructor froze. He turned back to look at me, but after a moment, he resumed walking to distance himself.
"Vilvera City—Hernand Duchy, a 17-year-old girl working as a florist."
The instructor stopped again. That was the name, address, age, and occupation of the secret child the instructor had before coming here. He couldn't afford to have this revealed, as his identity would be exposed to the academy. Besides, I had other evidence if this failed to make him cooperate.
"Who are you, really? How much do you know about my life?" the instructor asked, his voice dripping with hatred.
"It doesn't matter how I know your true identity," I replied, wanting to get straight to the point. "If you comply with my request this time, your identity will be safe and your life undisturbed."
"How do I know you won't continue to blackmail me after I comply?" the instructor asked, sounding very cautious.
"We can perform a Blood Pact ritual if you'd like, Instructor," I suggested. "But we don't exactly have the time to prepare that right now, do we?"
A Blood Pact is a covenant that cannot be broken. If one party violates the agreement, they die instantly due to the special magic of the ritual. However, as the developer of this game, I know the loopholes and weaknesses of this ritual.
"No, we will perform that ritual only if you ask for more than what you are asking now," the instructor replied as he walked toward me. "Now, how do you want me to arrange the tournament drawing?"
I smiled, seeing my plan proceed smoothly. I handed the instructor a slip of paper containing the drawing formation I had prepared.
.
.
.
After successfully blackmailing the instructor, I walked over to check on Viera and Piers' training progress. I hope they at least have a secret weapon for the tournament to put up a fight against their enemies. Those who qualify for the main tournament are the best of the best in this academy. Therefore, many nobles and military personnel will be present to see who is worth recruiting in the future.
"Raul de Garcia..."
My thoughts were interrupted when someone called my name from behind. Turning around, I saw a woman with short brown hair staring at me coldly.
If I'm not mistaken... she is Senior Emilia de Cataluna—daughter of Marquis Fran de Cataluna—an Imperial General responsible for the Northeast border of the Aragon Empire.
"Is there something I can help you with, Senior?" I asked, though I already knew her intention.
"Previously, you challenged the Lancer Club, saying you would cancel the budget cuts if one of us could defeat you in the tournament, right?" Senior Emilia said with a look that seemed to belittle me. "We accept your challenge!"
I smiled at her and offered a handshake.
"So, if I win, the Lancer Club must accept the Student Council's decision without protest, Senior," I said confidently.
Senior Emilia then grasped my hand as a gesture of agreement.
"Hmfftt... You are too arrogant to make this deal, Raul de Garcia," the Senior said, looking determined. "I will make you ashamed in front of everyone present for having underestimated our club!"
Is that so? Is that really the case...? Instead, I will drop you all into the abyss of despair and use it so that I can unlock my other abilities and become even stronger!