Yoo, PolterGlast here
This is the LN version of Dragon Chain Ori
I've read the LN version and I found there are some differences between the LN and the WN.
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This chapter was brought to you by the collaboration between PolterGlast and Saekano Translations.
Volume 1 Chapter 1
A Boy Trapped in Chains
Translator : PolterGlast
Solminati
Academy.
A
school built in the academic city of Arcazam, where youngsters from all over the Arcmel continent gathered to study.
It
was a place where students who did not reach a certain level of achievement
were dropped out without mercy.
He
is there.
Nozomu
Bountis.
He is a second
year student at Solminati Academy and belongs to the 10th class, the lowest class in this meritocratic school.
On
the chest of his white-colored uniform, he wears a black nameplate indicating his lowest grade.
Falling
asleep in the afternoon sun, he remembered the time when he first came to this
school.
It
was two years ago that he came to this school. He came to this school with his best friend to support the dreams of his loved one.
Lisa
Hounds and Ken Notice.
They
were his childhood friends who had spent the time together since they were
children in their hometown, and Lisa Hounds was his girlfriend whom he had been
in love with before he came to this school.
They
first met when she moved with her mother to Oire Village, his
hometown.
The
village where Nozomu was born and raised was on the border of a small country
that had friendly relations with major powers.
The
land was relatively fertile, so there was no shortage of food, but it was an ordinary agricultural
village with little change in its daily life.
While Nozomu was fishing in the river that flowed through the village, a girl who had just
moved to the village approached him.
"Nice
to meet you, are you free right now?"
The
whole thing started when Nozomu looked back at the girl who called out to him
in a stuttering voice.
She
was a beautiful girl with short crimson
hair, wearing a beautiful one-piece dress. Her eyes, which were filled with
confidence but trembled with nervousness, were like jewels that attracted young
Nozomu's attention.
Nozomu’s face gradually heated up, and his heart was beating fast. It really was love at first sight.
"Y-, yeah, umm...... I’m free, I think? Are you--……"
"G-, great! Alright, let's chat for a bit! I'm Lisa
Hounds, nice to meet you!"
And
so began the conversation between the two young people.
They exchanged words
as they were surrounded by the rippling river flowing by the bank.
She
originally traveled with her parents who were Adventurers, but after her father passed away, she seemed
to have returned to this village, her mother's hometown.
Because
of her many travels, Lisa's communication skills were better than those of boys
and girls her age. Nozomu talked about the village, and Lisa told him where she
had been traveling to and what she had been doing.
"So
you're an adventurer… What kind of places have you been to?"
Adventurers.
As the name implies, they are people who explore the unknown and open up
uncharted lands.
It
was not a story that Nozomu, who lived in a peaceful village, could relate to.
However, as a boy who yearned for tales of heroism and adventure, Lisa's story
intrigued him.
The fact that the one
speaking was someone he had fallen in love with at first sight was also a
reason why he was so absorbed in her story.
Thus,
the two lost track of time in their first encounter and talked until the sun
went down.
Their
relationship began as childhood friends. It was around the time when they both
reached the second stage of adulthood that their relationship took a major
turn.
Nozomu
began to grow taller and Lisa's body was gradually becoming more feminine.
"I'm
going to Solminati Academy."
She said this to
Nozomu with a hint of nervousness, just as she did when they first met.
It was the same as
leaving the village where they had spent their lives together. Nozomu was attracted to the girl he had
fallen in love with, but he was also frustrated by the fact that she, whom he
had been attracted to since he was a child, was leaving the village.
"In that case,
I'm coming with you too ......"
Nozomu
found himself impulsively saying such words.
Hearing
Nozomu's words, Lisa's eyes widened.
"What
are you talking about? Nozomu, you are
going to stay in this village, aren’t you?
If you leave
this village, uncle and aunt will……”
Nozomu's
family was a farmer, and he was the only child.
Therefore,
Nozomu was a valuable and indispensable worker.
His father, in particular, would be strongly
against it.
"The girl I love wants to pursue her dreams, of course, I want to help her."
"L-, love....."
Lisa's
wide-open eyes were filled with confusion, and she spoke in a fluster.
However,
while her expression reflected her confusion, her cheeks were tinged with a
bright red color that could not be hidden.
Nozomu,
who had finally spoke of his long-held feelings, was determined to support her.
"Thank
you... I'm so happy."
Lisa,
perhaps moved to tears, gently pulled herself onto Nozomu's chest.
The
two of them put their hands on each other's backs and their lips naturally .......
"A dream?......"
The
bell, signaling the end of the lunch break, pulled Nozomu back out of his dream and back to reality. Nozomu got up, brushed the grass
off his uniform, and headed to his classroom to attend his afternoon class.
The vow he once made
to her. The fact that he could no longer fulfill it made him forcibly push it
out of his mind.
◆
In Solminati Academy,
which adheres to a meritocratic system, the difference in rank is a clear
indicator that distinguishes students from one another.
The academy was
established with loans from countries on the Arcmel continent after the demonic
beast disaster known as the [Great Invasion] that occurred 20 years ago.
Regardless of birth or
status, if a student was able to rise to a higher rank, they would be able to
train in a suitable environment, and by the time they graduated, they were
guaranteed to be a prosperous person.
However, if one were
to fall to a lower rank, they would receive criticism from those who were
originally higher.
Not to mention the
treatment of those who were originally lower in rank.
In such a school,
Nozomu belonged to the tenth class, which was the lowest class in the school
year.
As he walked down the
corridor, he was met with hate-filled gazes.
"Damn, why is
that dropout still here?"
"What a surprise,
I thought he had already dropped out of school voluntarily."
Thoughtless,
indifferent words were directed at him. In this academy, where students were
constantly exposed to fierce competition, they had no time to pay attention to
those who were lower than themselves.
Even if they did,
their voices and gazes would be dyed with contempt and ridicule. But this was
still better because it could have been worse.
As Nozomu entered the
classroom, the atmosphere felt damp and sticky against his skin. Murky, sharp
gazes were directed at him. Ignoring the stares, Nozomu went to his seat, where
he found malicious words carved with a knife.
[Get out of here!] [A
disgrace to the school] [Fucking bastard who is worse than a loser]
When Nozomu glanced at
his surroundings, several students turned to look at him with grins on their
faces.
By the looks on their
faces, it was obvious who had made a mess of Nozomu's desk.
They giggled and
sneered as they watched Nozomu silently sitting in his tattered seat.
The tenth-class
students have no standing in this academy.
Of course, it is not
as if they are lazy. They are talented youths who would be called prodigies
back in their hometowns, and they have been working hard to deserve it.
However, in this
academy, where the best from across the continent gathered, their brilliance
was overshadowed by the brilliance of others stronger than them.
Solminati Academy's
class-based system is designed to stimulate students' competitive spirit and
encourage their growth to greater heights.
However, this system
that expects total achievement also has its downsides.
Students who fall
below a certain level are completely demoralized and drop out without mercy.
Because competition is
so fierce, people expect rewards and praise from others, and those who make it
to the top acquire a special kind of sense of superiority. Conversely, those
who fall to the bottom lose confidence and suffer from a sense of inferiority.
The hierarchical
teaching system, which is designed to lead those at the top to higher
positions, naturally creates a tendency for those at the top to look down on
those at the bottom.
But keep in mind that
the lower-ranked students were also talented children who were called prodigies
in their birthplace. And because they were such children, they had little
experience of being treated with contempt and were not used to being in an
environment where they are looked down upon.
The pressure they
experience is greater than they can imagine.
They couldn't overcome
the barriers no matter how hard they tried. They were praised as gifted
children, but they were buried in the lowest class, and the feelings of
depression were building up.
And those who could no
longer endure such a situation turned their gaze to those who were even
inferior to them. An outlet for their accumulated inferiority complex. At the
bottom of that pile was Nozomu.
"It's futile. Why
can't he just give up already?"
"He's making me
feel like I'm on the same level as him, and that really irritates me."
Their conversation was
full of malice and contempt, albeit spoken in a whisper, but at a volume that
Nozomu could surely hear.
Nozomu covered his
ears, but poison seeped into them, and his heart ached with a dull pain. He
gritted his teeth and endured the dull pain with a blank expression plastered
on his face as he looked down at his tattered desk. As if he was holding on
until the storm passed.
But even if Nozomu
himself tried to ignore it, the malice still came
at him from the other side.
"Yo, bottom of
the barrel, did you come to class again for no reason? "
The low, mocking tone
of voice was directed at Nozomu. He looked up to see three boys standing in
front of his desk, glaring at him.
The one who spoke to
him was a particularly large male student standing in the middle of the three.
He was a young man
with short blonde hair.
Mars Dickens.
He is considered to be
one of the most problematic students not only in this tenth class, but in the
whole second year as well.
Mars was a student who
should have been in a higher class, but due to his belligerent personality and
bad behavior, he was stuck in tenth class.
Despite Mars'
provocative words and gaze, Nozomu kept his head down and his expression didn't
change in the slightest. At once, Mars' expression changed and he expressed his
displeasure at the sight of Nozomu, who did not respond at all and proceeded to
prepare for class with an indifferent attitude.
"Look at him, he
can't even talk back."
"Exactly, even
his childhood friend, the Red-Haired Princess, abandoned him. Maybe it's time
for him to stop dreaming."
As Mars looking down
at him, Nozomu could only remain silent. Looking at the two, the cronies on
either side of Mars raised their voices. As if in sync with their voices, the
students around them began to laugh as well.
Abandoned. Hearing
these words, Nozomu gritted his teeth hard .
"Hey, are you
ignoring us!?"
As Nozomu's
consciousness sank, one of Mars' cronies, mistakenly believing that he was
being ignored, kicked Nozomu's desk while raising his voice.
Nozomu's body was
thrown onto the wooden floor along with his tattered desk, and his fallen
textbooks made a rustling sound.
One of Mars' cronies,
who thought they were being ignored, raised his fist into the air as Nozomu
quietly began to put his desk back together.
But before he could
strike Nozomu down, the classroom door slammed open and a tall man walked in.
"What are you
guys doing?"
"Ugh,
Caskell-sensei... N-, no, I was just giving this dim-witted fellow a little
lesson."
Caskell Matthiart.
He is the homeroom teacher
for the 10th class of the second year, and has been the homeroom teacher for
Nozomu and the other 10th graders since the first year.
He is a male teacher
in his late 20s, dressed in a neat black outfit, and has a refined figure, but
he has a somewhat condescending and overbearing look in his eyes.
With a frown on his
forehead, Caskell glanced at Nozomu, who was putting back the fallen desk, and
realized what had happened.
"Haa...... Do it
after class. Don't be a bother."
"Y-,
yes...."
But Caskell neither
questioned nor condemned Mars' cronies.
To this male teacher,
Nozomu and the others were students unworthy of his teaching, like pebbles on
the side of the road.
"Take your seats
and open your textbook, you pebbles. Don't waste my time."
Hearing the heavy and menacing
voice, the other students rushed to their seats and opened their textbooks.
The end of the second
school year was approaching, and soon there would be final exams. If they
didn't get the necessary grades here, they would be expelled without question.
Even if they could advance to the next grade, they would be in the bottom class
again.
Of course, the
homeroom teacher's judgment also played a role in the grades.
But while the other
students returned to their seats, Mars was the only one who didn't move from in
front of Nozomu's desk.
"Mars, get your
ass back to your seat."
"Shut up, lowly
teacher. I can hear you without you having to yell."
"Lowly, you
say... You, to say such words to me, a teacher..."
"Hmph... I guess
you indeed in charge of this garbage dump."
Mars sneered at
Caskell's anger and returned to his seat while glancing at Nozomu, who kept his
head down.
Caskell flushed at
Mars' attitude and was about to unleash his anger, but before he could do so,
the first bell of the school day rang in the classroom.
"Tch...... Mars,
come to my place after school, you hear me!"
Caskell seemed to have
no choice but to say that to Mars, opened his textbook, and started the class.
"As you may
already know, magic is a technique that uses one's own mental power to manifest
various phenomena by acyivating the magical elements in one's body, but it is
possible to activate not only one's own magical elements but also those of the
outside world, in other words, the environment."
The lectures Caskell
presented were mostly related to magic.
The history and
geopolitics of the countries on the continent were also taught in the academy.
"When using
large-scale magic, it is often done with magical elements from the outside
world. Such magic is called ritual magic, and originally originated in Shinto
rituals in which prayers were offered to spirits, local deities, and so on.
Ritual magic is also one of the two deployment methods in today's magic. It is
also the origin of the chanting method and the formation method in today's
magic."
Although Caskell had a
bias towards students from the tenth class, he was still a teacher at Solminati
Academy, and with his young age, his lessons were concise and very easy for the
students to understand.
The students dutifully
copied the writing on the blackboard. For Nozomu, in particular, the written
exam was the one in which he could get the most points out of the exams held
periodically, so he was very serious about it. For a particular reason, he was
hopelessly inept at practical exams.
"Tomorrow, we
will be experimenting with ritual magic and the effects of the presence or
absence of catalysts and their advantages. Ah right, Nozomu Bountis, you don't
have to participate. You're particularly inferior even among the pebbles. You
can't do anything even if you participate."
"I will join
......"
A flat reply that
could be either acceptance or resignation.
Hearing Nozomu's
helpless words, Caskell didn't seem to be bothered.
"Alright. Then,
stay on the side. Don't get in the way."
Hearing Caskell's
dismissive words, several class students chuckled.
"Don't make a
fuss, you trashy pebbles. From my point of view, there's no difference between
you all and him. You black-stained nameplate bearers."
Hearing Caskell's
mocking words, those who were laughing at Nozomu fell silent.
At Solminati Academy, the
rank to which each student belonged could be easily identified at a glance by
their nameplates.
And the black
nameplate was only for the lowest, tenth class.
For students in this
class, this black nameplate was an abomination.
Caskell nodded as
silence returned to the classroom and resumed his lecture.
Nozomu's mind sank
remembering what happened in the past as the class continued in the cold
atmosphere.
◆
Red-Haired Princess.
This is the nickname
given to Nozomu's childhood friend and lover, Lisa, at school.
She showed her talent
soon after entering the school and quickly rose to the top of her class in no
time.
On the other hand,
Nozomu's grades were not so good. He was originally not a studious student, nor
did he have any experience with swords. He also didn't have the same talent as
Lisa.
It was a miracle that
he was able to enter Solminati Academy, and it was no surprise that his grades
were not as high as they should have been.
Even so, Nozomu did
not give up, and he devoted himself to his lessons every day, and Lisa
supported him wholeheartedly.
He had friends who
helped him, and Nozomu struggled to live up to their expectations.
Even if it was not
possible now, he would be able to grow someday. A faint hope.
However, that hope was
shattered.
Due to "an
incident" that happened to Nozomu, he was unable to improve his abilities
any further, and in fact, he found himself in a hopeless situation where he was
at an even greater disadvantage than before.
His already low
performance plummeted even further, and he actually fell to the bottom of the
class.
Naturally, the people
around him became more and more critical of him day by day, and some of them
even resorted to direct bullying.
But his girlfriend,
Lisa, was not willing to leave him.
They spent more time
together and practiced together to reduce the ill will directed at Nozomu.
They weren't always
together because the dorms were divided by gender, but she always took Nozomu's
side, and he was even more encouraged by her feelings.
However, their
relationship came to an abrupt end one day.
"Goodbye."
In the summer of their
first year, Nozomu was suddenly told by Lisa that she would be leaving him. Even
though she had always supported Nozomu, whose grades were not good, without ever
showing a single disgusted expression on her face.
Nozomu was still
unable to understand why. His mind was spinning, and everything was vague and
unreal like a hallucination.
She turned her icy
gaze away from Nozomu and walked away without looking back. From then on, she
would look at Nozomu as if she were looking at a piece of filth.
Nozomu was dumbfounded
by the sudden breakup. Before he knew it, news of their breakup spread
throughout the school, and he was blamed for it.
Lisa dumped Nozomu
because he had betrayed her and was seeing another woman.
Nozomu himself had no
recollection of this and immediately denied the rumors, but those around him
refused to believe him at all.
Lisa was a role model
student who was called the Red-Haired Princess because of her looks and
abilities.
Nozomu, who had been
dating Lisa, was initially the object of jealousy due to his poor grades, but
when word spread that he had betrayed her, his reputation dropped dramatically.
Every single one of
Nozomu's friends left, and some of them joined those who had been ridiculing
him before and began cursing him in even worse terms.
He went to talk to
Lisa, but she merely returned a cold stare and did not answer Nozomu's
desperate questions.
Nozomu was completely
rejected by Lisa. Even so, he continued to try his hardest.
He took his classes
seriously at the academy, and he also subjected himself to even more rigorous
training.
He knew that if he
kept his promise, one day he would be able to .............
However, that feeling
was also shattered.
On his way home after
tormenting his body until it was a wreck, he saw something unbelievable.
There she was, smiling
next to a man with light-pigmented blond hair, a man Nozomu knew well.
Ken Notice.
He was one of Nozomu's
childhood friends and best friends from the same hometown.
Unlike Nozomu, who did
not get good grades, he was one of the top students in the school.
He was personable and
gentle in temperament, and like Lisa, he was someone who joined in Nozomu's
training.
From what he had
heard, Ken, his other childhood friend, comforted the heartbroken Lisa, and
they began dating right after that.
At first, Nozomu could
not believe it.
But seeing the two of
them smiling next to each other, and working together so well in practice that
they outshone the other pair, Nozomu was forced to understand that he no longer
had a place next to her.
◆
After class lectures,
the next class was practical training.
The grounds of
Solminati Academy were vast, and in one of the several training grounds,
practical training for the tenth class was being conducted.
The content of the
training was about personal training. In the training hall where the class was
held, each student was wielding his or her own weapon while facing a wooden
scarecrow.
"Next, the
students are paired up for a combat training. We will decide the pairings. Use
Qi-jutsu and magic as you wish."
Both Qi-jutsu and
magic are techniques that exist in this world.
Qi-jutsu is a general
term for techniques that use life energy called Qi. Magic is also a general
term for techniques that use mental energy called magic power.
Both are secret
techniques that have been passed down in various forms, including rituals and
folklore, throughout the Arcmel continent.
In Arcazam, these
techniques have been discovered, collected, compiled, and systematized, and are
now passed on to students in the form of education.
At the words of their
supervisor, Caskell, the second-year tenth class students were confirming their
respective opponents for the combat training.
One by one, pairs were
formed, and the one who became Nozomu's opponent was .......
"Hey, bottom of
the barrel. My condolences."
It was Mars, who had
been involved before the previous class lecture. He wore simple leather and
metal armor over his school uniform and gauntlets covering his upper arms.
The uniforms of
Solminati Academy were originally designed to be sturdy for combat, but some
students, like Mars, wore armor over them to protect themselves.
He pulled out the great
sword on his back with his right hand, and swung it widely as if to show off
his strength. The generated wind pressure shook Nozomu's hair.
Mars was a crude man,
but his fighting ability was quite impressive.
Nozomu sighed heavily
and drew the dummy sword at his waist as if he was ready to face him.
His weapon was called
a katana, a sword unique to the archipelago nation of the Far East.
The blade, which was
specialized for slashing and stabbing, was said to be able to easily cut
through even steel when used by a master.
However, due to the
high level of skill required to handle it and the rarity of the blade itself,
it is not widely used on the Arcmel continent.
However, for Nozomu,
who for some reason had difficulty relying on physical strength, Qi, or magic,
it was the most suitable weapon, and the only one with which he might be able
to find a way to make use of in a fight.
"Let's get
started, it's a waste of time dealing with such useless bottom-feeder."
The thick blade, which
was thicker than Nozomu's katana, although made of wood, would still be quite
intimidating to those who were facing it..
"Well then,
begin."
With an indifferent
signal from Caskell, the combat training began.
Mars, with his greatsword
at the ready, stepped towards Nozomu at once.
"Uoryaaaa!"
"Haa!"
With vigor, Mars swung
his greatsword down.
Nozomu tried to parry
the attack with his katana, but the moment the two blades collided, he was
stopped by the powerful force pressing down on him.
"Guh......~!"
Nozomu stomped one of
his feet and swept Mars' slash aside, slamming the greatsword he had parried
into the ground.
Quickly, he stepped
forward, slid past the dummy greatsword that fell to the ground, and attempted
to cleave Mars' torso.
"Too slow!"
But Mars was faster
than Nozomu, and with one hand off the hilt of his greatsword, he parried
Nozomu's slash head-on with his gauntlet. Mars then took a step forward and
punched Nozomu in the face.
Nozomu quickly lowered
his head to avoid the oncoming fist attack, but Mars didn't care and forcefully
drew his greatsword with his one remaining hand.
Due to the close
distance between them, the greatsword did not carry enough momentum, but Mars
forced Nozomu away with his own monstrous strength. A gap opened between them
and the two of them separated.
"Zee~ei!"
"~...... Haa!"
The greatsword and
katana crossed each other many times.
Mars tried to crush
Nozomu by utilizing his greatsword's wide range and arm strength, and Nozomu
tried to get closer to the distance his katana could reach.
For a while, the
attack and defense took place using only swordsmanship and physical prowess,
but then both sides opened a gap again as they were both deflected by their
crossed weapons.
"Enough, let me
destroy you!"
As Mars muttered those
few words, a flame-like torrent of Qi rose from his body, and the sense of
intimidation emanating from him swelled up at once.
Qi-jutsu.
Qi-jutsu is a
technique originating from the eastern part of the continent, in which one's
life force is raised and various phenomena are manifested.
Mars, with a rising
flame of Qi, stepped toward Nozomu at once.
His speed was
incomparable to anything he had ever done before.
Taking advantage of
the physical strengthening provided by Qi-jutsu. Mars caught Nozomu within his blade
range and swung his greatsword at him at once.
"~ !"
Nozomu also quickly
used Qi-jutsu and jumped to the side to avoid Mars' greatsword.
The greatsword swung
down with a roar, rolling up the ground and scattering dirt and sand.
"Damn, you dodged
it, huh?"
Mars, perhaps
dissatisfied with his failure to land a blow, sneered.
Mars pulled out his
greatsword, which had been stuck in the ground, and slashed at Nozomu again.
Nozomu, facing Mars,
also released all his Qi and intercepted it.
He used his Qi-jutsu
to strengthen his body to deal with the greatsword that roared at him from
above, below, left, and right.
However, Mars'
Qi-jutsu body strengthening was much more effective than Nozomu's.
Every time Mars'
greatsword struck at him, *Gong!*, the impact was so powerful that it
reverberated to the core of the body, and Nozomu's body was swept from side to
side, making him dizzy and making him retreat.
Still, Nozomu gritted
his teeth and managed to endure it.
He managed to regain
his balance with his enhanced physical strength. Just before he lost his
balance, he managed to hold on and relay the impact by stepping back with his
feet.
"I've had enough
of this!"
Perhaps because his
opponent, whom he thought he could crush immediately, resisted more than he had
expected, Mars' frustration grew, and he became more vigorous.
Mars' slashes
accelerated, and an intense storm of sword blades with increasing momentum
slammed into Nozomu. Then, with a roar, Mars' cleaving blow struck Nozomu.
Nozomu's body was thrown back along with a loud sound.
The gap between Nozomu
and Mars widened even further.
Mars, who took pride
in his originally blessed physique and the amount of Qi, was able to use
Qi-jutsu effectively. On the other hand, Nozomu was inferior to Mars in terms
of strength, and the physical strengthening effect he could exert was not
comparable to the Qi he consumed.
Even so, Nozomu swung
his dummy katana in an attempt to retaliate.
He tried to read Mars'
line of attack, which had become monotonous due to his frustration, and was
somehow able to reduce the impact by aligning his dummy katana with the direction
of the attack.
He knew it was futile
resistance.
He could only barely
manage to handle it, as there was no room for Nozomu to counterattack. And if
he couldn't fight back, he knew exactly what would happen next.
Finally, his limits
came. Unable to handle Mars' heavy blow, his stance collapsed, and before he
had time to recover from his collapsed posture, he was hit by a returning
blade.
"Go to
hell!"
Nozomu quickly placed
his own dummy katana between Mars' greatsword and his own body, but he was still
unable to stop his opponent's enhanced slash.
*Clang!* Along with
that sound, the dummy katana shattered, and Mars' greatsword struck Nozomu's
body.
Nozomu's body was sent
flying and slammed against the wall of the training ground.
The impact on his chest
suffocated him, and his sight was blurred in his agony.
"Tch~, you
maggot. What a futile resistance."
Nozomu lost
consciousness as he heard Mars' abusive words.
◆
A pitch-black field of
vision and a consciousness that drifted vaguely within it.
What awakened him was
an intense pain that felt like countless needles piercing his body from the
inside.
"Ouch!"
His whole body shook
involuntarily, and he shrank back.
As he sat up, Nozomu
finally came to realize where he was. He was in the school infirmary, on the
bed for the sick. The white sheets were reflected at the edge of his vision,
and on a small table beside the bed were Nozomu's neatly folded uniform coat
and his katana.
"Oh, are you
awake?"
As if prompted by the
cool voice, Nozomu turned his head and saw a woman in a white coat sitting on a
chair in front of the infirmary's office desk.
A young woman with
glasses. She had a quill pen in her hand, and an ink bottle and a piece of
paper beside her hand, as if she was writing something.
Her name is Norn
Altina.
She is the school’s
infirmary doctor, and the word "intelligent and beautiful" fits her
perfectly.
Apparently, Nozomu was
brought to this infirmary after fainting in the combat training class.
"You were brought
to this infirmary after fainting in the combat training class. Do you feel any
pain anywhere?"
"...... My back and
chest hurt a little, and I’m a little lightheaded, but other than that, nothing
else."
"I see. I've
applied the medicine on your back and chest, but if you feel discomfort
elsewhere, or if the pain persists, you can always come to me. It would be bad
if you just endure it and it gets worse."
Nozomu had been a
regular customer of the infirmary since he became a student. So, naturally, he
also knew Norn.
"Thank you for
taking care of me"
"Don't worry
about it. It is my duty to treat the injuries and illnesses of the students.
However, your attitude has not changed, huh. You could be a little more open to
me, you know."
With a smile on her
beautiful face, Norn placed her hand on Nozomu's shoulder. There was not the
slightest hint of disdain for the inferior student Nozomu in her smile.
Unlike Kaskell, Norn
was one of the few people who did not treat Nozomu, the lowest in the second
year, differently.
"U-, umm……"
Unlike Norn, who had a
more open attitude, Nozomu's gaze drifted in the air, as if he was lost.
Norn smiled wryly at
Nozomu's obviously unnerved behavior. It had always been the case that this
student had such a distrustful attitude.
At that moment, loud
footsteps came echoing from outside the infirmary.
"Norn~~, how is
Nozomu-kun doing~~~~?"
With a prolonged
voice, someone opened the door of the infirmary vigorously and walked in.
It was a female
teacher in her early twenties with long wavy brown hair, gentle eyes, and a
neat appearance.
The brown-haired
beauty looked around the infirmary to check on Nozomu, who was on the bed, and
ran towards him with a smile on her face.
"Anri. This is
school, you know. Even if you're talking to me, you must address me by honorifics
when you're here."
"Eh~~, there's no
one here, so it's fine~~~~. "
"He's here too,
you know."
Norn, pointing at
Nozomu, while reprimanding the beautiful woman for calling her by her name as
soon as she entered, but she didn't seem to care.
Anri Var.
She is a teacher
working at Solminati Academy and currently serves as an assistant to each homeroom
teacher.
Anri Var is a popular
teacher among her students because of her beautiful face, but the main reason
for her popularity is her personality.
Although she was
inexperienced as a teacher, she was a kind woman who always showed her sincere
attitude towards her students, even to those in the lowest 10th grade. She
didn't consider them useless like Caskell did.
Anri was still young
and her duty was to assist the homeroom teacher, but despite her gentle tone,
her straightforward behavior earned her a great deal of trust from the
students, regardless of rank.
If one had to name her
shortcomings, one would say that she has a tendency to use words as if she has
a few screws loose from her head.
However, the fact that
she was chosen as a teacher at this school when she was only in her 20s was
proof that her abilities were not based on her loose language and behavior.
"Good grief, your
attitude is troubling me. Well, it's always been that way …..."
Norn sighed as she put
her hand on her forehead as if she had a headache.
Anri and Norn. They
were both from this Solminati Academy and had been best friends since their
school days.
They hit it off when
they first entered school and have been friends ever since.
Nozomu had heard about
this from both of them. And he envied them for having such a relationship.
Friendship and love.
Both had different forms, but their strong bond was too dazzling for Nozomu,
who had fallen into loneliness.
"Nozomu-kun, are
you injuries alright~?
"Y-, yes, it’s
alright now."
As Anri gazed at
Nozomu's face with concern, Nozomu held back the emotions that were about to
burst inside his chest and averted his gaze to cover them.
Nozomu's vision was
filled with Anri's face.
Her worried eyes,
along with the sweet scent that reminded him of a fruit that was unique to
adult woman, made his heart skip a beat.
"W-, wait,
sensei, you're too close. Please move away a little."
"B-, but~~"
Nozomu involuntarily
backed away, but Anri, who was merely concerned about Nozomu's injury, closed
the distance without hesitation.
Nozomu tried to get
away from the approaching Anri by moving to the edge of the bed. For him,
suddenly being approached by such a beautiful woman, made him stiffen
awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Norn sighed
heavily again at the sight of best friend pressuring a student.
"Haa~ .......
Anri, he'll be fine. He had bruises on his chest and back, and a mild
concussion, but the pain will subside soon."
Nozomu nodded in
affirmation of Norn's words.
"Really~~?"
"Y-, yeah, it’s
true..."
In her squinted eyes,
there was a will to see through Nozomu's current condition and an equal amount
of concern for his well-being. Anri peered at Nozomu for a while, but
eventually, perhaps believing her best friend's diagnosis, she quickly moved
away from Nozomu.
"…... I was
worried about you, you know. Nozomu-kun, It would be bad if something were to
happen to you."
"He'll be fine,
Anri. He won't quit just because of this."
"Gosh, Norn sure
is cold."
"I only say this
because I have a good grasp of his condition."
Since Nozomu was a
regular visitor to the infirmary, Norn was well aware of his condition.
Although Norn was just
stating that there was nothing to worry about, the important thing was that
Anri did not like Norn's tone of voice so she was puffing up her cheeks.
At that moment, the
bell chimed, signaling the end of the school day.
"It's already
past school day, huh? ......"
Looking out the window
of the infirmary, Nozomu saw that the students who had finished their day's
classes were heading home one after another.
Nozomu got off the
bed, put on his uniform coat, and put his personal katana back on his waist.
"Excuse me,
Norn-sensei, Anri-sensei, thank you very much for your help."
"Ah, wait a
minute, Nozomu-kun, just to make sure, are you still going into the Spasim Forest?"
"Y-, yeah.
Sometimes ......"
Anri made a difficult
expression upon hearing Nozomu's words.
Spasim Forest is a
dense forest that surrounds Arcazam, the city where Solminati Academy is
located.
A wide variety of
plants and animals grow in this forest, and there are students and ordinary
citizens who earn their living by hunting and gathering in the forest.
Considering the reason
for the establishment of the Solminati Academy, the forest is also a useful
place to gain experience in actual battles with demonic beasts.
However, while the
abundant forests are a blessing to the people, they are also home to powerful
demonic beasts, and many people die or go missing every year in these forests.
"Nozomu, you've
been in this town for almost two years now, so you know that the Spasim Forest
is very dangerous in several places. Especially deep in the forest, there are
many monsters and beasts that even experienced adventurers and knights are
afraid of …"
"......Yes, I
know."
"That's why~,
Nozomu-kun, I think you should form a party~. I understand that it's hard for
you to form a party with other students, but ......"
"I'm sorry, Anri-Sensei.
I'm doing fine for now, and I'm in a hurry, so I'll see you later...."
Nozomu left the
infirmary as if to run away without hearing Anri's words until the end.
Anri's hand was
extended toward Nozomu, but her hand only grasped empty air as if she couldn't
reach him.
"There he goes."
"Geez~, Listen to
your teacher until the end~!"
Norn smiled wryly at
Anri, who looked upset and angry.
"But neither Anri
nor Nozomu-kun has changed."
"Gosh~. Norn says
something selfish again ......"
"It can't be
helped. Do you know how many times this exchange has been repeated since the
day you met him?"
The first time Norn
and Nozomu met was when he was in his second year of school, whereas Anri first
met Nozomu about six months ago.
The first time they
met was when Anri came to visit Nozomu in the infirmary during a break, worried
about him after he had been injured in a combat training and was covered in
bandages.
"I remember at
that time, Nozomu-kun wouldn't listen to you at all ......"
"He still
wouldn't listen to me even now! I'm worried about him, that's why I told him to
form a party~~!"
In the beginning,
Nozomu only responded to Anri's concerned appeals with curt replies such as,
"I'm fine", "I'm used to it", and so on. Even now, he has
not changed much.
"I understand
your concern over Nozomu-kun, but isn't it difficult for him to form a party
because of his ability?"
On the other hand,
there was a hint of resignation in Norn's tone of voice.
Due to rumors
circulating in the past and his lowest grade, Nozomu has been completely
isolated from the other students.
In this meritocratic
school, no one would be crazy enough to party with such a student.
Aside from the
conflict with his girlfriend, there was another reason why Nozomu fell to the
bottom of the class.
It was due to an [Ability]
that manifested during his first year of school.
Abilities are a
general term for skills that manifest regardless of race.
The underlying cause
of why these abilities are manifested regardless of race is not known, but it
is said that when they are manifested, the person can receive various benefits
depending on the ability, and it is said that there are countless types of
abilities.
Nozomu's [Ability] is
called [Ability Suppression].
When manifested, it
suppresses the person's abilities, preventing them from growing beyond a
certain level.
Furthermore, the
effects of items, magic, and Qi-jutsu on suppressed abilities are obviously
lower than those of ordinary people.
Although it is an
extremely rare ability, it does not benefit the individual at all, but rather
drags him down. In Nozomu's case, three of his abilities (physical ability,
magic power, and Qi) are suppressed, which is a huge disadvantage for him in
practical skills.
This [Ability
Suppression] further weakened Nozomu's already poor performance, and in
practical skills he ranked last among his peers.
He was only able to
advance to second year due to the results of the written exam, but even so, he
had to take two additional exams during the exam for advancement.
No student would party
with such a weak and unpromising person.
"B-, but~~"
Anri, on the other
hand, did not seem to want to give up yet and was anxiously shaking her body.
As a kind-hearted
woman, she probably wanted Nozomu to form a party at all costs.
"Besides, he
still avoids strangers."
"............"
Hearing Norn's words,
Anri fell silent.
It was about a year
ago that Norn was assigned as the infirmary's doctor, and since that very first
time she saw Nozomu, his condition had been very bad.
His physical injuries
were often gruesome, but more than that, his mind was in shambles.
He would answer if
asked about his physical injuries and pain, but he would not answer any
questions related to his mind, such as the problems he was having.
Even when she made
simple small talk with him, he would only respond in silence.
"Every time the
treatment was over, he would return to his training without hesitation, and
then he would visit the infirmary again with his new injuries. Sometimes he
would visit the infirmary early in the morning, so when I asked him what he had
been up to, he said that he had gone into the Spasim Forest alone. Moreover,
when I asked him how long he had been doing this, he replied that he had been
doing it almost every day since the first year ......"
His behavior was
indeed a concern, and Norn had questioned him several times to warn him, but
his response was not good.
"Thanks to you,
Anri, he started to talk to us a little bit. But it's not enough, and besides,
his behavior hasn't changed at all."
It was largely due to
Anri's efforts that Nozomu began to speak normally, though only slightly.
Norn's best friend,
who didn't care about such a personal space, had been able to shorten the
distance between her and Nozomu, who had rejected others, thanks to her natural
cheerfulness and kindness.
Thanks to this, they were
now able to make small conversation.
However, there hadn't
been any progress beyond that. He refused to talk about his worries or
anxieties, and he wouldn't stop going into the forest alone.
Silence descended
between Norn and Anri.
"But if I keep
trying, I'm sure he'll be able to open up~. Nozomu-kun, he definitely has a lot
of things to tell, but if everyone knew better about him, they would realize
he's not the boy the rumors say he is."
Norn nodded in
agreement with Anri's words.
Nozomu has been given
various bad names as an insult to him, but if one were to get to know him
better, that person would quickly realize that he is not the person the rumors
say he is.
"And not only the
students, but also the teachers say that Nozomu-kun has no talent, but I don't
think that's true~."
"Do you have any
basis of your opinion?"
"He can't do
anything about his innate Qi or magic power, but he can hone his sword
techniques~~. I don't think his sword techniques is something that should be
ignored."
"Indeed, I also
thought he could hone techniques that don't rely on Qi or magic, such as
swordsmanship and spearmanship..."
The teachers were
indifferent towards Nozomu because of [Ability Suppression] he had. The
teachers at the school didn't have the time to continuously teach students who
weren't expected to improve.
If you can't do it,
just quit.
That's the way most of
the teachers in this school are, and teachers like Anri are rare.
When she was asked if
there was no room for such students to grow at all, Anri said that was not the
case.
Nozomu could learn
techniques such as swordsmanship and spearmanship, and even if his total amount
of Qi and magic power did not increase, his skill in handling them would have
no problem. What needed to be emphasized was the "limit" of his
abilities, not his techniques.
"Hmm, how is
Nozomu-kun's skill in katana-jutsu?"
"I've seen it
during Caskell's class~. I'm not an expert in katana-jutsu, so I don't know
much about it either, but ......"
"But?"
"There were times
when I thought it was a little scary~. He was just one step away from defeating
his opponents, who were hopelessly superior in terms of Qi-jutsu and magic. And
it was a very close one, you know~"
Even in tenth class,
the students of this academy are better trained than ordinary soldiers from any
other country.
In fifth class, most
students are at C rank, and some students in third class and above have reached
B rank.
A C-rank is equivalent
to an experienced soldier. Even among adventurers, this is the rank of those
who are reasonably skilled.
Naturally, the
physical abilities of such people, enhanced by Qi-jutsu and magic, were
unmatched by ordinary people.
It was surprising to
Norn that Nozomu could confront such an existence head-on.
"I had always
thought his body was well-trained, but not to the extent that he could confront
such an existence head-on... "
But at the same time,
it made sense. Norn was not an expert in martial arts or swordsmanship, but as
a doctor, she had examined the body of such warriors many times.
She had seen Nozomu's
body, and her impression of his body was that of a [superb sword forged by a
skilled blacksmith who works tirelessly and without sleep].
A well-proportioned
body without unnecessary fat or excess. A body that, despite the heavy shackles
of [Ability Suppression], had overcome pain repeatedly in an attempt to break
those shackles.
His body was not built
through natural talent, but like a sword wielded by a master swordsman, it had
been trained to the utmost, without waste, through training so rigorous that it
was almost hard to believe.
More than anything, it
was the countless scars on his body that caught her attention.
Not only lacerations
and bruises, but even new stitches marks that Norn could not remember, were
found in many places on Nozomu's body.
"That's why I
told him to consider stopping."
"I see, Norn also
said something like that to him...."
"I was merely
saying it as an advice from a doctor. I just don't want to see more unnecessary
injuries. You know what I mean, right?"
Once again, silence fell
between the two.
Norn and Anri looked
at each other for a moment, but then, suddenly, Anri's gaze shifted to the infirmary
window.
"Even so, is it
wrong that I want him to be rewarded?"
"...... No, I think
so too."
Prompted by Anri's
gaze, Norn also looked out the window.
There, she saw Nozomu
running out of the school building.
"But is it really
possible to acquire that much physical strength and katana-jutsu on his own?
...... "
As Norn watched Nozomu
run out from the other side of the main gate, such a question suddenly popped
into her mind.