To be honest, Izumi didn't need any sort of training exercise.If he felt like it, he could just unleash a single ultimate move and wipe the entire battlefield clean—First place guaranteed.
After all, ranking was determined by how many monsters you defeated.
But while he didn't need practical training…Koneko, Eriri, and the others definitely did.
They were all still F-rank rookies, practically newborn chicks in terms of combat experience.This academy trial existed precisely to let newcomers learn the ropes of real battle.
So Izumi's plan was simple:Let the girls handle the fighting while he sat back and watched the show.Then, at the end, he'd simply clean up anything left and boost the group's total points.
But first—He needed to prepare their equipment.
Even if the weapons he projected were one-time-use Noble Phantasms, they were more than enough to power-up the girls for this trial.
Izumi looked at the four girls gathered before him and spoke.
"Alright, I'm giving you all some gear. For the trial, I won't be fighting. Everything will depend on you. The only thing I'll guarantee is that none of you will die."
"The rest… will be up to your own strength."
"After all, you can't just stay behind me forever and be freeloaders, right?"
Hearing this, Katou Megumi's eyes flickered, and she nodded quietly.She understood perfectly.
So did Asia.The two had already decided—they were part of Izumi's party, long-term.Which meant they needed to learn to fight and act independently.
Seeing no objections, Izumi began his projections.
First: a strangely shaped staff.
A staff shaped like a mystical spindle—"Pandemonium Caduceus", a healing-type Noble Phantasm.It could repair wounds from curses, magic, or anything else. A universal restorative tool.
"Asia, this one is for you," Izumi said."With this paired with your 『Saintess's Smile』, your healing ability will reach its strongest potential."
He handed her the staff.
It was Medea Lily's Noble Phantasm, perfectly compatible with Asia.
Asia's eyes sparkled instantly.The moment she held it, she could feel the gentle magical energy inside.It was light, warm, and easy to channel.
Izumi nodded in satisfaction.
Next: four small daggers.
"Rule Breaker – Miniature Variant."
Four D-rank short blades—Not enough to activate the true Noble Phantasm's full effects,but more than enough to serve as actual combat weapons.
Especially since the blades naturally dealt bonus damage against female enemies.
He handed them all to Megumi.
"These are yours, Megumi. They deal extra damage to female-type monsters. Combined with your talent, they'll suit you well."
Megumi stared at the daggers.Then at Izumi.
"Why aren't you giving me a staff that increases magic?" she asked deadpan."I already learned magic bullets, you know."
Of course—Megumi was still obsessed with the idea of being a mage.
Izumi rubbed his forehead.
"You're an assassin! What staff? What mage? Don't tell me you're trying to be that Empress."
"Who?" she blinked. "What Empress? What are you talking about?"
Izumi waved her off.
"Never mind. Just take your knives and go stab things like a proper assassin."
Next: a pair of gauntlets.
"Holy Iron Fists."
A pair of relic gauntlets once used by a certain iron-fisted saint.They excelled against dragons and humanoids—Perfect compatibility for Koneko, whose martial skills were her main focus.
He tossed them to her.
"Yours."
Koneko said nothing, simply equipping them immediately.
Lastly: Eriri.
Here, Izumi paused.
What Noble Phantasm does a summoner even need…?
"…Ugh."
After muttering to himself for a moment, he decided to just give her a simple but solid choice—
A magic-boosting staff.
Eriri accepted it cheerfully.The moment she learned the staff increased mana capacity, her mood brightened even more.
More mana meant…
More summoned tentacle monsters.
Great.
The crowd, of course, witnessed everything.
As Izumi projected weapon after weapon like a walking armory,the surrounding students could only stare, speechless.
The neighboring class looked especially envious.
Then a certain dumpling-loving gyaru—Yuigahama Yui—brightened and hurried over.
"Umm! Izumi-kun! Do you sell your weapons?"
Izumi blinked.
Then sighed.
"Can you even afford them?"
"And besides, these are made from my mana.They disappear once they're far away from me."
"So stop thinking about it."
He shut her down immediately.
The meaning was obvious:
If you want my weapons, you'd have to join my party.Otherwise, forget it.
Yuigahama wilted like a dried flower.
"I… see. Sorry for bothering you…"
Many others who had the same idea also fell silent in disappointment.
Izumi only clicked his tongue.
Megumi and the others didn't comment.It wasn't their place.
Once everyone finished forming their teams, the teachers started guiding the students toward the large teleportation circles prepared nearby.
Each group would be sent to a different location inside the training labyrinth.
And so—One by one, the teams stepped into the magic circles, awaiting the start of their trial.