When I stated my business at the reception desk, the receptionist gave me a blank look. Then, in a practiced tone, she apologetically informed me.
"First-timers are required to take the Adventurer Training first. It's regulation..."
"Huh...? Training?"
The words escaped my lips. My only goal was battle, and more battle. The word training sounded so tedious.
But the next moment, a certain possibility occurred to me.
(Wait, if it's training... there might be something like a mock battle.)
The moment I realized there was a chance to fight, I answered immediately.
"Alright, I'll take it."
"Understood. In that case, please proceed down this hallway to the training room. Also, normally this is done in a group with other new recruits, but the instructor was free this time, so we'll be able to guide you through it individually."
----
In the room I was led to, there was a single, huge man. His arms were thick, his shoulders broad, and his unshaven face and bald head left a strong impression. The moment he saw me, his eyes narrowed.
"Well, well... Look what we have here. A young master from a noble house?"
"Ah, former."
"Former...? Well, whatever. Ahem... Today, you'll be doing both a lecture and a mock battle. You got a problem with that?"
"So I just have to beat you?"
"Whoa, I didn't say beat... What's with you? You're raring to go."
The man let out a dry laugh, slapping his bald head.
The training began with the lecture.
The ranking system that starts at F-Rank, how to accept quests, the cut of the reward, and, the responsibility for failing a quest. Cases that result in having to pay damages, how to handle situations where you've caused trouble, and so on... The rules were surprisingly detailed and strict.
(...Somehow, I get it?)
Every single explanation flowed smoothly into my mind. I could understand the complex regulations and past precedents as if they were all connected.
(That's right. I have Academics: Lv. 3, don't I...)
Alphons had been slated to one day inherit his marquisate. Now that I realized this Skill, which included the memories of his commensurate noble education, could be useful in such an unexpected situation, my spirits lifted a little.
(Still... this is surprisingly well-organized.)
In the game, the Adventurer's Guild and Adventurers were little more than background elements for the main story. The lore was vague; they were treated as just some organization that apparently existed, or so I thought.
But now, actually listening to the explanation, I saw that it had a proper system, a proper structure, and was properly managed. It wasn't just flavor text; it functioned as its own society.
(Yeah... this world is a game, but it's also not a game, is it?)
Before I knew it, I was becoming even more engrossed in this world.
Now that I was once again experiencing the effects of the Academics: Lv. 3 Skill, if even a non-combat Skill could work like this,
(Then my combat Skills must be even more amazing... right?)
I was dying to find out right this instant. That's why I said to the man in charge of the training:
"Shouldn't we get to the mock battle soon?"
"...Don't you have the common sense to think about taking a little break after the lecture is over?"
"I do. After the mock battle."
"You really are nuts."
Despite his words, the man, Gilius, heaved himself to his feet.
--
The mock battle was held in the Guild's training grounds. The ceiling was high, and the ground was hard-packed earth. Lined up around us were replica weapons.
"If we go all out, well... you might die. So we'll basically stop just short of hitting. Got it?"
"Yes. So, I'll stop when it looks like I'm about to beat you."
"What's with that condescending attitude of yours...?"
With the signal to begin, I took a single step forward.
My first battle, no, to be precise, my first battle in this body. But in that instant, I understood.
It was all too natural.
The angle of my foot as it kicked off the ground, my center of gravity as I stepped in, the trajectory of my sword as it cut through the air. My body moved as if it had done this hundreds of times before.
In my hand was a practice sword for the training. Even so, the quality of the wood, the density of its core, and the minute vibrations that traveled up my palm all flowed into my brain as if I had become one with the tool.
(Is this... the effect of Swordsmanship: Lv. 1?!)
Perhaps it wasn't just the Skill, but Alphons's own natural talent. He might have been a spoiled brat, but he was still supposed to have been entrusted with a marquisate one day, it wouldn't be strange for him to have abilities to match.
Before me, the giant Gilius took his stance. It was simple, yet left no openings. The moment his right arm moved, my body was already beginning to evade.
The wind grazed my cheek as Gilius's practice sword cut through empty air. At the same time, I stepped in and launched a counterattack.
A counter. But this was just training. I brought the tip of my sword to a dead stop, an inch from Gilius's shoulder, a vital point.
"What the...?"
Gilius froze for a moment. He stood there defenselessly, as if he were a training dummy that had just reacted.
(This is fun... My body, the world, everything looks so vivid!)
My breathing deepened, and the edges of my vision grew sharp. The contraction of Gilius's muscles, the shift of his center of gravity, I can see everything.
If this was Swordsmanship: Lv. 1, what about Lv. 2? Or Lv. 3? Or even higher? What in the world would I be able to see then?
"Next!"
"W-Wait, wait, calm down for a second!"
Gilius held up his hands. But I was too excited to have the composure to listen.
"Hey, this is a mock battle! You're taking it too seriously...!"
I didn't answer. I just readied my sword. Something had already begun.
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Thank you so much for reading this far!!
I hope you enjoyed it!