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Davion continued, "Of course, everyone has their role on the battlefield. But how long must ordinary soldiers act as shields to protect mages?"
"Well, obviously, mages are slow and have low defense. But once they reach a certain level, they can unleash tremendous area-of-effect magic."
"I want to become a mage who can protect myself and fight. I didn't apply for a double major to show off because my mana is a bit higher than my classmates. I will also diligently practice magic. But if I have to go to a battlefield where hundreds or thousands of soldiers die protecting me, I don't want to be a mage."
"...Keep going."
"If I can have the movement and defense to protect myself, wouldn't it eliminate the need for countless soldiers to die just trying to buy time?"
Half of it was sincere, and half was just rambling.
Davion wasn't particularly concerned about the soldiers who died in place of mages.
In a previous iteration, he had once seen Professor Stella daringly confronting Professor Sirims when sending students to the battlefield.
Davion was now rambling, mixing in the thoughts of Professor Stella that he had vaguely heard at the time.
"If I can successfully grow into such a mage, wouldn't it be a model case that could change future combat methods?"
Professor Stella stared intently at Davion.
"Why did you think that?"
'Now it's time to deliver the decisive blow.'
Davion remembered that one phrase from Professor Stella that had made the always calm and composed Professor Sirims furious.
"Because I thought it was cowardly."
"Cowardly?"
"Hiding behind swordsmen and soldiers, just showing off their magical power."
"Haa..."
Stella leaned deeply into the sofa and touched her forehead with her right hand.
A long silence.
Stella spoke first.
"First. My class isn't that easy. You'd better be prepared."
"Then you mean you'll accept me into the Swordsmanship Department?"
"Second. I'm okay with it, but I don't know what the Head of the Magic Department will say. I'll try to talk to them."
"Thank you, Professor Stella."
"I didn't like it when you were doing dangerous nonsense on the entrance exam. But you're a student with different thoughts than you appear. Davion Nahone."
That evening. Professor Sirims' office, Head of the Magic Department.
"What? A double major?"
"Yes. He wants to double major in Magic and Swordsmanship."
"Nonsense. A kid who emits that much mana at only seventeen years old, what's with the double major? I've already placed him in the Magic Department's gifted program."
"I received his pledge that he would not neglect his Magic studies."
"Classes are one thing. What about Mana Cultivation? He'll barely have enough time to cultivate mana like crazy, and you're saying he'll split his time to cultivate internal and external power together? You know how inefficient that is, Stella."
"He says he can do it, so let's trust him and watch."
"Just what did he say to you that you're being so supportive?"
A momentary look of bewilderment crossed Professor Stella's face.
She couldn't very well say that she had discovered a new and excellent mage archetype, different from those like them.
"Oh, it's just interesting. If you're so worried, let's watch for just one year. If he doesn't produce satisfactory results during that time, he can just concentrate on Magic."
After a moment of thought, Professor Sirims spoke.
"Alright. But one year is too long. If he gets the top score in both subjects on the final exam this semester, we'll allow him to continue the double major."
"Top score in both majors? With effort, he might be able to get the top score in Magic, but there are students in the Swordsmanship Department who have been training in swordsmanship their whole lives. Getting the top score in just one semester is impossible."
"Didn't he say he was confident he could do it? I can't compromise any further either. This isn't just my desire. I just don't want the future of a talented mage to be ruined."
It was unreasonable.
For a student who had trained in magic his entire life to get the top score in Swordsmanship in just one semester was nearly impossible.
Moreover, he had to take Magic classes as well.
But Professor Sirims' words were also more logical.
This could potentially ruin the future of a promising mage.
And Professor Stella was also curious.
Just how far would the potential of Davion Nahone, who had defeated the Hydra in the entrance exam, reach?
"...Alright."
"Good. I'll allow the double major for now. He won't even have time to sleep if he doesn't want to fall behind. That Davion."
"Davion, are you just going to sleep again today?"
"Yeah. I told you, I don't do Mana Cultivation."
Nubes looked at Davion with a puzzled expression and started Mana Cultivation alone again today.
He calmly sat down and tried to feel the surrounding mana, but he heard Davion's voice from the bed.
"Focus on cultivating external power."
"Huh?"
"You should focus on raising external power."
"Really? I'm actually focusing on cultivating internal power because I'm not very athletic. That way, my movements will improve even a little."
"Instead of covering up your weaknesses, think about how to strengthen your strengths."
"Strengthen my strengths?"
"Yeah. Your natural physique and muscles. If you focus on cultivating external power, you can become the best tank. It's more efficient to enhance what you're good at than to try to be good at what you're not."
"Ah... really?"
"That's what I think. If you don't trust me, ask the professor tomorrow."
"Okay. I can't not raise external power anyway, so I'll cultivate external power for today. I should also apply for a consultation with the professor tomorrow."
"Good thinking."
After talking with Nubes, Davion lay in bed and opened a swordsmanship book.
He needed to study in advance to not fall behind the students who had been doing swordsmanship pre-study.
Before he knew it, time had passed, and the magic clock on the wall pointed to midnight.
Davion, who was looking at the swordsmanship textbook, heard an alert sound.
Ting.
An alert window appeared in Davion's vision.
=====
The Swordsmanship major has been decided, and Mana Points can now be allocated to 'Internal Power' and 'External Power'.
=====
Fortunately, Professor Stella seemed to have persuaded Professor Sirims well.
'Point Breakdown.'
=====
[Mana Points: 8,050]
―Magic Power: 298,832
―Internal Power: 0
―External Power: 0
=====
His gaze lingered on the number 8,050 written next to Mana Points.
After a moment, the number began to tremble.
As Davion's eyes moved, the number followed his gaze.
When he moved the number over Internal Power, it turned yellow.
'Five thousand.'
5,000 out of 8,050 Mana Points went into Internal Power.
His lower abdomen warmed up, and he felt an energy he had never felt before circulating inside his body.
He could feel the hot energy circulating through every blood vessel and into every corner of his body.
Davion, who had been lying down, jumped up and swung his arms.
He could definitely feel his body movements becoming lighter.
'So this is what Internal Power is. Just allocating 5,000 points, and I can feel such a vivid change.'
Davion's gaze moved to External Power on the alert window. Of course, the number followed as well.
'Three thousand and fifty.'
The remaining points were allocated to External Power.
=====
[Mana Points: 0]
―Magic Power: 298,832
―Internal Power: 5,000
―External Power: 3,050
=====
Pain rushed through the muscles of his entire body.
Snap, crack.
He could feel his body hardening as muscle fibers repeatedly broke and regenerated.
When he clenched his fist tightly, he felt a strength he had never felt before.
'It's different from when I allocated points to Magic Power. I can feel the change immediately.'
The same was true for both Internal and External Power.
He had only allocated 5,000 and 3,050 points each.
But he could feel the changes in his body well enough without having to go outside to run around or use exercise equipment.
'If I allocate hundreds of thousands of points to Internal and External Power like I did with Magic Power, how will my body change?'
Allocating points to Internal and External Power was just the beginning.
He couldn't help but look forward to the changes ahead.
'Skill Status.'
=====
[Skills]
―Blessing of Hydra Lv.2
=====
As he increased External Power, the level of the Blessing of Hydra skill also increased.
'It didn't increase as much as I thought.'
Davion decided to be satisfied with confirming that the skill level had increased.
He had an unlimited number of points left to gain in the future.
He might be a bit behind in swordsmanship at first, but he was confident that he could catch up with the other students quickly.
Davion, who could allocate Mana Points just by rolling his eyes a few times, could dedicate himself to swordsmanship training while others were spending long hours on Mana Cultivation.
The next morning.
Knock knock.
Nubes, who had woken up early today, opened the dormitory door at the sound of the knock.
The manager handed him a small piece of paper.
"A message for Davion-nim."
Nubes took the paper from the manager.
The paper had a short phrase written on it: 'Double Major Approved.'
Nubes asked Davion, who had just come out of the shower.
"What's this, Davion? It says Double Major Approved?"
"Yeah. I told you. I'm going to major in Swordsmanship too."
"Really? Not joking? Is it even possible to complete two majors?"
"I don't know. I saw in a book that it used to happen often until a few hundred years ago. Double majors."
"Anyway, that's amazing, Davion. But do you even know how to use a sword?"
"No, I don't. I have to learn now."
"Everyone's been doing a lot of pre-studying."
"Didn't you hear Professor Mateo yesterday? He said that what we've been learning might be wrong, so we have to learn again from the beginning at Elton Academy."
"That's true, but..."
As they were talking, Davion finished getting ready to go out.
"Let's go. We have our first Swordsmanship class this morning."
"Oh, right. Let's go."
Swordsmanship classes are held outdoors.
A large training ground north of the academy.
As they headed to the training ground, someone slapped Nubes on the back with a loud thud.
"Nubes! You're so big, I can see you from far away."
"Oh? Bellum. Hi."
"Hi. Where are you going, Davion?"
"Going to class."
"What class? You don't have Magic classes today, do you? Luna stayed up all night cultivating mana and is sleeping in late now."
Nubes answered instead.
"Davion is majoring in Swordsmanship too. Double major."
"What? Double major? Is that even possible?"
Davion answered briefly.
"It's possible."
"But Davion, do you even know how to use a sword?"
"No, I don't. I'm majoring to learn."
Bellum looked at Davion with a dumbfounded expression.
Then, as if something had come to mind, he clapped his palm with his fist.
"Oh, right! Then do you know this?"
"What?"
"The first Swordsmanship class is sparring. Kind of like a level test?"
He didn't know.
Sparring from the first class.
Davion was still in a state where he didn't even know how to properly hold a sword.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Every year, the first Swordsmanship class is sparring. My sister told me."
"Damn it."
Davion knew he would be sparring soon, but he didn't think it would be the first class.
It was only natural since he had never taken a swordsmanship class.
He had allocated all of the Mana Points he had gained through the two Hidden Quests last night to Internal and External Power.
But it would be at a ridiculously low level compared to students who had been cultivating Internal and External Power their entire lives.
If he had known this would happen, he should have learned how to hold a sword from Nubes last night instead of looking at the swordsmanship textbook.
Nubes asked.
"Are they ranking us?"
"No. They just spar once and that's it. The professor will probably evaluate our skills in the process."
"I see."
"Nubes! You're super strong, right? You look like it."
"Me? Actually... I don't have much talent for swordsmanship."
Nubes was unnecessarily honest.
"What? You look and are built like a Royal Knight Commander. Is your mana affinity low?"
"My mana affinity is just average, but, well. I don't seem to have any talent. But after hearing Davion last night, I changed my mind. Maybe I do have talent."
"What does that even mean? You don't seem to have talent, but maybe you do."
"It's not all about moving fast and drawing out flashy auras. That's not all there is to being a swordsman."
"So you're saying you're going to push through as a power character?"
"You could say that."
"Yeah. That suits you too. The build."
As they were talking, the three of them arrived at the training ground.
A temporary arena had been set up in the middle of the training ground.
It was made of several pieces of solid-looking stone, smoothly cut and joined together.
The square arena was about 20 meters wide and long.
And in the middle of it, Professor Stella was standing tall.
"Alright, class time is almost here. Line up in two rows in front of the arena!"
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