#103. Memories of Summer (2)
“Ugh, I thought I was going to die.”
Kane groaned.
Although he managed to escape the Kraken’s leg, he seemed to have suffered a great shock.
“I still feel the octopus legs all over my body. Ouch……”
He looked like a monster human with the Kraken’s suction cup marks all over his body.
I tried to remove the mark with bio-magic, but it ultimately failed, so I decided to just leave it alone until it healed naturally.
“You told me, it’s all experience and it’ll become memories.”
“I don’t need any experience or memories of being trampled on the Kraken Bridge!”
The kraken that had attacked Cain was subdued by the rest of the men with magic.
Senia cut off his legs with the Progressive Blade, and Charlotte killed him with her ice magic.
‘Fire magic was ineffective because the enemy was underwater. We couldn’t use lightning magic either because there was a risk of us getting electrocuted.’
As I continued to gain practical experience, I cooked using the kraken corpse.
Kraken has a strong ammonia smell and sour taste, so it is not tasty if eaten on its own. Southern fishermen process it and eat it with a lot of seasoning… … but we can use magic to adjust the taste.
“Okay, that’s all!”
“This makes it look like a really big octopus or squid. And it smells like it too.”
“I didn’t eat things like this where I used to live…….”
Kraken full course meal on a deserted island beach.
I felt like I was on a real summer vacation, having a barbecue around a fire in my swimsuit.
“Eriol, so what are we going to do today?”
“We’ve had some practice against the Kraken, so let’s just rest on this island today. It might rain again.”
“Okay. Then, come with me today….”
“I’m tired, I guess I should read the book I bought in Besachia.”
“…….”
Tirpith slumped his shoulders after hearing me.
“Eriol really likes books.”
“Why are you suddenly like this…….”
“I rarely read books that aren’t related to magic.”
“That could be the case.”
I am a person who cannot live without books, but I do not force others to read books.
“I hardly ever read books either.”
“I read almost exclusively novels… which I borrowed from the maid who worked at home.”
“Because acquiring knowledge in various fields is a basic quality for a nobleman, I have read a lot of books since long ago. Although not to the extent of Eriol.”
It’s interesting that each person has slightly different reading habits and tastes.
I’ve never seen anyone like him before, though.
“But Senior Tirp, if you don’t read books and don’t go out to play, what do you usually do? Do you have any hobbies?”
“I just study magic during normal times. I don’t really have any hobbies.”
“Wow, there’s a reason he’s ranked first in the second year. If Eriol is a bookworm, then Tirfi-senpai is a bookworm.”
“Hey, Kane. You shouldn’t be so rude to your senior.”
“It’s okay. I’ve heard similar stories from my peers.”
Tirp said with a calm expression.
“I’m not that great of a person. If we’re only going by innate talent, I’m probably inferior to you all.”
“…….”
“And since I’m not very good at studying, I had to invest more time into studying than others to maintain good grades.”
As the atmosphere grew slightly tense, Tirpitz shrugged.
“But now that I have acquired some basic skills, I don’t have any problems going on summer trips like this. I guess you could say I have quite a bit of free time.”
“That’s… fortunate.”
The reason Tirpitz was able to participate in this trip was because Rudbout gave the order.
It started with Rudbout’s evil intentions… … but thanks to that, Tirpitz was able to enjoy his summer trip leisurely.
‘I hope this will be a good experience and good memory for Senior Tirp.’
When I was thinking like that.
Tirpitz looked around at us and opened his mouth.
“While we’re on the subject, I guess I should tell you something.”
“A story?”
“After summer vacation, the second semester begins. Instead of attending lectures in the classroom like in the first semester, we visit each department and do practical training.”
I’ve heard it before.
In the first semester of the first year, professors from each department came to the classroom and gave basic lectures.
However, starting from the second semester, we will go to each department to receive instruction.
“You will visit each of the ten departments of the Academy: Elements, Biology, Electronics, Light, Command, Space-Time, Production, Medicine, Transmission, and Principles. Once you have completed your practical training in each department, the second semester will be over.”
“…….”
“Each department grades students during their internship. These grades will be heavily weighted in the second semester comprehensive evaluation. There will also be midterms and finals, just like in the first semester.”
When you become a sophomore, you choose a ‘major’, which department you will focus on.
That is why going around and experiencing various departments in the second semester of the first year was also preparation for choosing a major in the second year.
“And separately from this, a large-scale practical evaluation called the ‘Joint League’ is conducted.”
“Joint League Matches……”
“It is a mock practical evaluation in which first and second year students participate at the same time. The final ranking at the end of the second semester is reflected in the comprehensive evaluation.”
“Senior, if first and second year students participate at the same time, wouldn’t it be disadvantageous for first year students?”
“That’s right. But anyway, the comprehensive evaluation is separated by grade level. First-year students just need to gain an advantage over other first-year students and do their best against second-year students.”
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“ah…….”
Senia nodded with a look of understanding at Tirp’s explanation.
“For reference, last year I… ranked 101st in the joint league.”
“101st place?”
“Is this Senior Tirp?”
Kane and Charlotte opened their eyes wide.
“Because I was a first year student last year too.”
“No, no matter what……”
“Last year, I was a second-year student… The current third-year students are very skilled. I tried my best, but I couldn’t compete with the skilled third-year students.”
3rd grade.
These are seniors whose faces I will never see at the academy.
Because everyone is outside the academy these days.
“But I think you can rank higher this year. I’ve been watching you all this time, and your talent is truly outstanding.”
“Senior Tirpii……”
“If you build up your skills by gaining as much practical experience as possible during the summer vacation, you will definitely be able to do well in the joint league. Of course, it will also help with departmental training.”
Tirpitz looked at us and said, maintaining his usual calm expression.
“The Southwestern Dadohae is home to a variety of monsters, and is a great place to practice magic without worrying about what other people think. I’ll teach you as much as I can, so let’s work hard for the remaining time.”
The way Tirpitz spoke like that was truly that of a ‘trustworthy senior’.
* * *
We traveled around the southwestern islands and had many adventures.
I hunted monsters and explored dungeons that weren’t on the map.
Then, I played in the ocean in a swimsuit, and leisurely read a book… … I had a really fulfilling time.
‘This kind of life isn’t so bad.’
Late at night.
I was sitting on the sandy beach working.
This was because the teeth had to be extracted from the newly hunted serpent corpse to rebuild the automatic defense system.
“Can I help you?”
A voice was heard from behind.
It was Tirpitz in a swimsuit.
I was doing an external inspection of the Lusitania, but I wonder if it’s all finished.
“No, it’s almost finished.”
“okay.”
Tirp nodded and sat down next to me.
And I looked into what I was working on.
“…….”
I could hear faint breathing, but it didn’t disturb my concentration.
Eventually the work was done, and I pushed the wreckage of the Serpent towards the sea.
They will cycle the ecosystem by becoming food for other marine life.
“I guess I’ll be leaving here tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Summer vacation is almost here.
Now that we’ve seen most of the tea ceremony, it’s time to head back to the academy.
“Senior Tirp.”
“What is it?”
“Would you like to join the Rangers club?”
“…….”
After hearing my question, Tirpitz was silent for a moment.
“You haven’t joined any other clubs.”
“Yes, it was my grandfather’s instructions.”
“If we’re Rangers, Professor Rudbout will also allow it.”
From our perspective, it would be reassuring to have a capable senior like Tirp join us.
We created a club among ourselves because we didn’t want to worry about what our seniors thought, but I think it wouldn’t matter if it was Tirpitz.
Other kids won’t object either.
“well.”
Tirp hesitated.
I guess I never expected to receive an offer like this.
“I don’t know. I……”
“Then how about doing it like this?”
“yes?”
“Come and spar with me.”
As I said that, I stood up from the sandy beach.
“If I win, Senior Tirp will join the Rangers.”
“I can’t decide that on my own. I have to ask my grandfather….”
“Including that.”
“yes?”
“If Professor Rudbout objects, you should persuade him.”
“…….”
Senia also made her intentions clear to her brother.
Tirpido could do it too.
“Eriol.”
Tirpitz stood up slowly.
He spoke in a calm voice, brushing the sand off his legs.
“Come to think of it, we’ve never really had a proper fight.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
When we first collided, I just used my optical magic to escape.
Even though we traveled together, we never actually practiced together.
“Once the league starts in the second semester, there is a possibility that we will compete against each other.”
“That’s true too.”
“If you fight me here in advance, it can be a rehearsal.”
“Actually, I had that in mind too.”
Yes, that’s right.
I wanted to fight Tirpix once beforehand.
Because he was the most talented academy student I’ve ever met.
“And one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Because I want to observe my senior’s space-time summoning magic more clearly.”
“…….”
Space-time summoning magic.
I have not yet formally learned this high-difficulty magic that summons beasts from another world.
But during that time, I watched Tirpich fight with summoning magic many times.
Before the second semester started and the construction and practical training officially began, I wanted to do more thorough pre-study.
“I see. So there was such a calculation.”
Tirpith nodded slowly.
“Understood. Let me show you my summoning magic up close.”
“thank you.”
“But Eriol, let me tell you one thing in advance.”
“Tirfi said, placing his hand on his heart.
“My main magic is not space-time summoning magic.”
“…….”
“Because it doesn’t even have the spiritual origin of ‘summoning’ in the first place.”
Ingrid has the ability to summon.
Tirp’s spiritual origin is different.
“I have never used my main magic in real combat in front of you.”
“Why?”
“That’s obvious.”
Tirpitz said in a cold voice.
“Because there’s a chance we’ll be competing against you in the second semester joint league.”
“…….”
Yes, that’s right.
No matter how much his grandfather forced him to do it, if Tirpitz himself didn’t have the will to win, he wouldn’t have been able to maintain the top spot.
As the strongest player in the second year, she is aiming for first place in the joint league.
He wanted to hide his main magic from us, who could be his rivals.
“Eriol, even if I were to face you right now, I wouldn’t use my main magic. It’s enough.”
“…….”
“If this were a real life-or-death match, you, with your brilliant ideas, might have a chance of winning. However, it would be difficult to win against me in a normal mock match. After all, I’m a senior.”
“In his usual calm voice, Tirpitz spoke.
“If you don’t mind… I’ll deal with it.”
“All right.”
I nodded slowly.
“Please do me a favor.”
“yes.”
Under the moonlight of the southern sea.
We slowly distanced ourselves from each other.
In that standoff, a large wave came crashing in, making a crashing sound… …and the showdown began.
