"I thought you were a bit better just because you carried me on your back and ran through the forest, but I guess not."

"Uhh..."

Ottbo, who was collapsed on the floor, groaned helplessly.

Luca only looked at him with an air of pity.

"Can you endure practical training with that level of stamina?"

"I'll... somehow manage...?"

"If you hold us back in class, I'll abandon you."

At Luca's firm words, Ottbo lifted his head with difficulty.

"No matter what, I won't slow us down. I didn't just get into S-Class for nothing."

"Oh? So you're finally going to show me then – your family's weapon."

The Gress family, famous for drive magic, and Ottbo who could at least handle drive magic properly, even if he wasn't proficient in other magics.

Luca didn't get to observe the class assignment exam, so he wouldn't know, but since he was in S-Class, Ottbo using the Gress family's weapon should be fairly strong.

"They said I can't normally use it, but I'm allowed in exams and the like."

Even if he was the scorned second son of the family, blood was still blood. For the family's image, they must have decided that he needed to display some power in public situations.

"Can you show me what it's like, by any chance?"

"Huh? Uh, sure!"

Ottbo nodded readily—it didn't seem to be the sort of secret weapon you'd expect from a noble house.

He promptly pulled out a square-shaped plate from his pocket and poured his magic power into it.

Whir! Clack!

A magic circle appeared on the plate, and as if being 3D-printed, something made of light began to materialize. Once it had formed to a certain extent, Ottbo stuck his hand in, and as if the light was clothing him, it covered his arm up to the elbow.

Fwoosh!

"This is it."

"Ho..."

When the light vanished, a gauntlet-like device was attached to Ottbo's arm. It was an intriguing device made up of various magic stones and magic circuits.

"Does it shoot lasers or something?"

"That would be pretty cool, but to put it simply, it's just a remote. It doesn't have any function like that."

"A remote?"

Ottbo, instead of replying, infused magic power into the gauntlet. Two of the embedded magic stones began to glow, and a magic circle appeared behind Ottbo, summoning something.

Boom!

"!"

"The formal name is Portable Armored Soldier Summoning and Control Device—usually called an Armored Controller."

The summoned model was more than twice the size of any armored infantryman Luca had seen before. Called an armored giant, it was the type of armored soldier that looked extremely powerful, now standing tall behind Ottbo.

"... That's a bit surprising. I can't believe you can use something like that."

Seeing something he'd only read about in the war arc of the novel in person was surprisingly moving. Maybe not quite as impressive as when Luca first saw Wylde, but it was plenty of fresh shock nonetheless.

Ottbo gave a sheepish smile at Luca's admiration.

"I'm usually not allowed to use it, so I've never shown it before now. But I'll be using it in practical training."

"If you have that, you probably don't even need me."

"Oh, come on. It's not quite like that. I can't use it for very long anyway."

Saying so, Ottbo resummoned the armored giant and stored the Armored Controller back into the plate.

"Even with the Gress family's technology, it's not easy to keep an armored giant activated for long. The kind that can be stored in an Armored Controller are only the most lightweight among the armored giants. It's fine for academy class level, but I've heard mass-producing and deploying them in war still isn't possible."

"With that controller and drive magic, can anyone pilot it?"

"The magic circuit embedded in the controller is a Gress family circuit, so not just anyone can use it. Of course, if you gave a skilled pilot enough time, it might be possible."

Ottbo looked quite proud.

"Also, it's not easy to operate an armored giant. I've worked pretty hard so I can manage to handle it, but for ordinary people, just getting it to move would be tough."

"I don't suppose your average person will have the opportunity to pilot an armored giant anyway."

"Uh, no, I mean for a typical pilot. Like the ones who drive armored infantryman or armored tanks in a war..."

"I was joking."

"It's hard to tell whether you're joking or not sometimes..."

Looking at Luca, who deadpanned that it was a joke, Ottbo broke out in a nervous sweat and adjusted his clothes.

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about me holding you back. At least as long as this is around during anything that affects grades, there won't be a problem."

"Being good at piloting armored soldiers is a skill too, so I don't mind, but I admit to others it might look like you're cheating."

"... That's not wrong."

The academy allowed the use of armored soldiers or magic tools in exams.

There were even schools of thought in both the magic and Magic Machinery departments dedicated to building those very things—banning them would be problematic.

Besides, being able to use them well, or even obtain them, was its own kind of skill.

The power of a family that could provide students with armored soldiers and magic tools capable of getting them top scores in exams couldn't be ignored either.

However, from a student's viewpoint, it wouldn't be seen in a good light.

"Honestly, I'd be fine if I was good at something else too, but I'm only good at this."

Ottbo's gaze was bitter; even though he was learning magic from Milia, there was no way he'd improved after just a day or two.

"That's why you just have to train harder. If you work diligently, you'll see results in the end."

"... Huh?"

Here came Luca's talk of effort again, and Ottbo looked flustered.

"Looks like you've rested enough for your energy to return, so let's start training again. At least there's nothing left to throw up now."

"I... uh... uhh..."

Whatever Ottbo had wanted to say, he eventually gave up, hanging his head in defeat.

"Then let's start with push-ups again."

"Spare me..."

"Guess it doesn't feel that hard to you after all."

"Just kill me..."

"It's not a plea from the heart. You're still fine."

"..."

Luca really was a trainer from hell.

* * *

After a full Saturday of training, Ottbo finally collapsed.

"Since practical starts on Monday, I'll let you rest on Sunday."

"You'll... let me rest...?"

Luca sounded like someone you'd leave training to, but Ottbo didn't dare protest, afraid of what might happen if he did.

"Hehe, young master. It seems that, for all your words, you've gotten along well with the Gress family's second son."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I just enjoy seeing it."

"Heh. Enjoy seeing it?"

"Thinking of the sharp-edged young master you used to be at the family estate, this is much better~."

Luca pouted but didn't say more. Indeed, ever since spending time with Ottbo, something heavy inside both Luca and Luca Traverse had started to fade.

"The eldest sons of both families apparently don't get along, but at least the second sons do."

"Are big brother and Ottbo's brother on bad terms?"

"They're in different grades, so they don't clash directly, but they do sometimes run into each other as rivals at festivals or competitions."

At Hernan Academy, regular festivals and competitions were held every year. Whether it was the festivals or competitions, their rankings were usually divided into lower grades (1st–3rd years) and upper grades (4th–6th years).

"I heard that the Gress family's eldest son is a year older than the young lord, so they missed each other last year, but a lot of people are looking forward to how things will go this year."

Wylde, now a 4th-year upperclassman, was such a prominent figure he even served as student council president. The Gress family's eldest son, Perca Gress, who stood as Wylde's rival, also drew considerable attention.

"In fact, those two might not care much about each other, and it could just be gossip-mongers making a big deal out of it."

"Is that so."

"Once practical and the midterm evaluations are over, it's the Foundation Day, so you should start preparing for it too, young master."

At Bella's words, Luca tilted his head.

"Preparing? For what?"

"Oh, young master! You really should know a bit about the academy's festival!"

"I know the basics. First years are just supposed to enjoy it, aren't they?"

It would be strange for Luca, savior of the academy and reader of the original, not to know about the festival. He knew there were no real preparations required for first years.

"That's usually true, but since you're in S-Class, you have to compete for first-year representative!"

"... Ah, that."

The event to elect grade representatives was one the protagonist first experienced as a second year. In first year, only S-Class students could run for grade representative.

'The protagonist also tried for grade representative in the second year, but got disqualified due to an incident involving a sub-heroine.'

Remembering that storyline, Luca nodded inwardly, and Bella spoke up.

"The young lord also served as first-year representative, so you can't lose!"

"I'm not interested in that, but I don't avoid challenges either."

"You're so cool, young master! The only other notable first-year this year is the eldest son of Marquis Robette, but you don't need to worry much about him!"

Luca rolled his eyes a little at Bella's words.

'Marquis Robette's eldest son? That must be Arqyond Robette.'

He was a character from the original work. Not a real villain, but someone the protagonist fought in one of the games during Foundation Day in his first year.

Every year after, they'd have a match in the same game, and the academy arc closed with their head-to-head record at two wins each.

'It'll be nice to see a familiar character like this.'

He had a bright personality and would admit defeat graciously after losing a game. Whenever the festival arc appeared, he brightened the plot with his presence.

"No matter the opponent, I won't let my guard down. I'll just do my best."

"Such admirable resolve, young master!"

"By the way, other than regular training, is there any special preparation necessary for running for grade representative?"

At Luca's question, Bella stopped to think carefully, then smiled broadly.

"Come to think of it, not really. Maybe at most preparing a speech?"

Luca raised an eyebrow at 'speech.'

"A speech? Why?"

"The first-year representative is pretty much a popularity contest. But you're already popular, so just prepare a decent speech and you'll be fine!"

"... What?"

That was completely unexpected.

"You really have to give a speech?"

"It's more about which candidate puts on the flashiest performance at the selection games, so you don't really need to worry. But if you don't do any speech at all, it's treated as if you didn't participate and you'll be disqualified."

"Hmm..."

Luca looked a bit troubled.

'I hate standing in front of people.'

Both Luca and Luca Traverse preferred a straightforward fight to speaking in front of a crowd—public speaking was just uncomfortable for him. Or maybe, he was simply shy about speaking in front of large groups.

Bzzt bzzt!

"...?"

Just as he was worrying over the grade representative selection, something buzzed in his pocket.

'This is...'

It wasn't his phone, nor his student ID. It was the modified student ID gifted by informant Bogus.

Bogus: Luca Traverse

Bogus: Are you busy right now?

Luca: What is it?

Bogus: I'd like to talk to you about our business.

Bogus: Would it be okay if we discussed it in person?

Bogus: If you haven't eaten yet, let me treat you to a meal!

Luca: Hm...

Luca: Alright, let's do that.

Luca made a strange face at the word "business," but since he had nothing better to do, he decided to meet.

"Bella, I've got an appointment—I'll be going out."

"Is it a woman?"

"No."

"How sad."

"... A woman, huh."

Luca put on a curious expression.

"Young master?"

"... No. I guess it does involve a woman."

"Huh? Really?"

Bella looked a bit taken aback.

Luca spoke as he left the room.

"I'll be back after a meal."

Meeting with Bogus had suddenly become a more important affair.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=What does Luca mean it involves a woman?【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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