Chapter 73

Before the possession, I heard a story while taking on a contract. They say that a person’s life is similar to building a structure.

The materials, size, and appearance of a building are determined by its purpose and the surrounding environment and circumstances. In dry areas, roofs are built flat. Conversely, buildings in rainy tropical regions have tall roofs.

The surrounding environment also affects the types of construction materials available. Whether to use beams or walls depends on what the situation allows. You can’t build a bamboo house in the Arctic, after all.

A person’s life is much the same. The people you meet in certain places of society affect the materials to construct your life’s building and the size as well.

Of course, it’s up to the individual to design the building and decide how to use it.

So what kind of building will we Violets become?

“…Lower your arms! You were the ones who asked me to teach you how to use various weapons! Raise your arms!”

“Ugh!”

I don’t know!

If we are to be compared to a building, the Violets are an ongoing construction using a mix of all sorts of odd materials. We’ve got a rough outline, but the requirements keep being added, and we keep gathering various materials.

“Aha, so this time we’re going to practice group battles? I don’t mind, but are you ready?”

“Yep! Let’s start right now!”

If you mix everything together, won’t it be a shoddy construction? Not at all. To build something sturdy, you have to use various materials. Just look at reinforced concrete! When materials with different properties are blended, it becomes a great building material.

In the same way, to become stronger, I intend to learn every single technique I can.

“What? You want to duel? Fine. What? You’re okay with using live ammunition? Do you want to get punished?”

“Just kidding! Just kidding!”

With the first week of October upon us, I attempted various training sessions.

At school, I was learning Weapon Techniques from Instructor Frederick.

“A shield isn’t a bad choice. People see it as decorative, saying it has its limitations, but that’s just the opinion of self-proclaimed experts who only pick out the defensive aspects of a shield.”

The training was conducted without using magical power. Frederick moved the round shield attached to his left arm with fluid motions. The sword I swung was easily deflected.

“Don’t block every attack straight on; you should deflect them. That’s basic knowledge for one-on-one matches and against monsters alike.”

The Violet Clones waiting in the lodging moved in unison like they were doing gymnastics. Everyone focused on the movements transmitted by the clones in the field and wielded their weapons.

“And, yes! Just like that! You can use it when you counterattack too. You’ve got some quick reflexes today.”

At the private training ground in the same timeframe, the armed Violet Squad utilized the shield movements they had learned in real-time as they faced incoming spear tips.

-Swish!

“Ugh!”

Irene rushed in, creating a small gust of wind. As she sent magical power through her shield, she aimed and swung her body with precise timing. Block!

“Ugh!”

I couldn’t block it. I fell over. Abort!

The Violet Squad charged in. The violet-haired girl among us fought like a lion. She may say she’s going easy on us, but she’s still as fierce as a storm and overwhelming like a tidal wave.

To face such a strong opponent, we had to move as one. We retreated in perfect sync during defense and thrust our swords simultaneously during offense.

Out of the ten sword strikes I unleashed, one hit her body. The sword was immediately deflected by a magical barrier, but for just a moment, I noticed Irene twitch slightly.

“Got it!”

Just as I was celebrating, we were caught by a swirling spear shaft and fell over.

“Violet? Are you really okay? Even if you’re a clone…”

“Keep going!”

Finally, at the Central Area, inside an abandoned factory with no one around, Violet-102 was locked in a desperate struggle with a girl taller than her.

“I said don’t hold back, so I won’t. Got it? Ha… I’m such a rocky person…”

“Thanks for granting my wish, Kalia. Here I go!”

While Kalia hesitated, I circulated magical power through my body, compressing it like a spring before leaping forward. At the same time, flames erupted from Kalia’s body.

Mimicking the way Irene wielded her spear earlier, I aimed for Kalia’s waist. The spear cut through the air, and the spot where she stood exploded as debris flew into the air. Kalia jumped up, kicked off the side wall, and approached me. I quickly switched to my sword and countered. She moved gracefully, using nearby pillars and structures like stepping stones as she breakdanced.

“What kind of bouncy ball is that? I can’t see her!”

“Focus on defense and look for a chance to counterattack!”

I faced her wild sword dance head-on. After exchanging several strikes, I spotted an opening. The moment her sword clashed with mine, I twisted my wrist slightly to change direction. Kalia’s right-hand sword was thrown off course. I pulled out my hammer with my other hand and swung it.

“I won!”

Suddenly, a dark muzzle pointed at me. I had forgotten about the magnum revolver she held in her left hand.

“Eek!”

-Bam! Bam! Bam!

At the moment of a small explosion that disrupted my stance, she kicked me with her shield. I had underestimated that Kalia’s main weapons were a one-handed sword and a gun. That was my mistake.

Looking at the shield, which was a mangled mess, I realized that if I hadn’t pulled another shield from the inventory right away, it would have been the end of me.

Seeing the rubber bullets bouncing on the floor, I noticed they were on fire. Quickly getting up, I prepared to counterattack again when Kalia, with a pale complexion, threw aside her weapon and rushed toward me.

“…You? Are you okay?”

“Why are you coming over? Aren’t you going to help with the duel?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve gotten so used to using my Unique Ability that I shouldn’t be igniting bullets… You’re really okay, right?”

“No problem. Let’s keep going! You know I don’t mind taking a few hits!”

“…No, this won’t do. I definitely can’t use a gun. Even trying to control my strength this much, it’s still like this.”

Feeling uneasy, Kalia holstered her revolver and readied herself to fight again. After that, Kalia engaged sincerely in our duel, but perhaps due to earlier events, the strength of her attacks had weakened.

It seems it will take more time to have duels that feel like actual battles with my friends.

*

Adjusting my methods and diligently training while learning various things,

I felt like something was missing. What did I overlook?

While pondering, I walked through the school courtyard and spotted a blue-haired male student. He had the face of a light novel protagonist; it was Lucian! I didn’t expect to see this four-star wizard again after such a long time.

Since we had different departments and the school was so large, we rarely crossed paths. Even though he is one of the playable characters who shines in the main story, right now, we are just strangers.

As I walked by, he glanced at me and flinched, retreating a bit.

“Was it you…?”

“…?”

“The red-eyed girl who took down a fourth-year senior… Violet. Right? You’re here to challenge me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t give me that nonsense. If not, why are you standing in front of me? If you’re thinking of dueling, I’ll accept.”

“No, you’re blocking my way right now?”

What’s wrong with this guy? Lucian smirked at my confused expression and raised his gloved right hand. A multitude of glowing small magic circles floated up.

Is this guy always like this? He didn’t act this way in the main story.

I instinctively stepped back. How annoying.

“What? Are you really thinking of running away?”

“No, there’s a student council behind us!”

“What?”

The moment he turned around, I concentrated magical power in my legs.

“There’s nobody there! Gah! Violet! You coward!”

I hurriedly dashed away from that spot. What kind of idiot is he?

“Was Lucian always this weird?”

“It’s five years before the main story now. Maybe he had that personality when he was younger!”

Fortunately, he didn’t chase after me. What a weird guy, picking unnecessary fights.

“There are some crazy concepts among wizard characters originally.”

While I was gossiping and whispering through the Violet Network, one of the Violets suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, right. A wizard, that’s it.”

“What about the wizard?”

“I realized we haven’t learned something yet. Magic!”

“…!”

That’s right, magic. I had been so focused on training that I forgot about it.

*

To destroy the academy, what I need are close combat skills, firepower, and magic.

I’m diligently honing my close combat skills and trying to equip myself with firepower as well.

“About that thing made with fertilizer. Did you have any results?”

“It wasn’t just results; it was amazing! I almost got caught in the act!”

To access military weapons and various threatening armaments, I had no choice but to use the black market or rely on my shallow knowledge of game mechanics. It’s somewhat of a breakthrough for me, but it’s taking some time.

Now, what remains is magic. The issue is who to learn it from.

First, I went looking for Daphne. Her strength comes from her powerful Unique Ability, but she’s the only friend I know who can use magic.

“You want me to teach you magic? Well, the professor in charge of magic… was a bit eccentric. I’ll help you as much as I can from what I know!”

Daphne responded to my request with a beaming smile.

So, after school.

“Magic is, according to the theory… Can you understand? Now let’s try to move some magical power, shall we?”

“No, I didn’t understand anything! This won’t do?”

While Daphne was smart, I was not. So, after tackling several sentences one after another to analyze their meanings, I barely grasped the gist of it. I struggled with Daphne for a long time, but I couldn’t even get to the first letter of magic.

In fact, even if I learned it, there were challenges. The abilities of the Awakened Ones spring from their imaginations. As far as I know, Daphne only excels at magic that assists others. Considering her kind personality, her direct offensive magic skills barely reach self-defense levels.

I wondered if there was someone nearby who could teach me magic. There was one person.

“Our senior? The one we looked up to?”

“Let’s ask the instructor for a favor. Even just to get in touch…”