My second day at Prism is a bit more physical since today we have practical training. We pair up with someone who has the same type of weapon as us and we fight against them, not for real though, which is why we have iron weapons but only for training. As simple Prism students, it should be impossible for us to get hurt. Well, except for the boy with green hair and green eyes who had a gun and was training with an Instructor to avoid hurting anyone.

Everyone thought he was crazy because firearms could no longer harm intelligent beings or monsters, so they were abandoned. But what no one knew was that this green-haired, green-eyed boy would become one of the greatest and strongest Heroes in the future, even causing problems for the protagonist.

Shin-hee: Let's go again, my slave! (One knee on the ground, leaning on his katana, out of breath)

Wan: Well, King Shin-hee, you'll have to work on your endurance first, and although I don't know what your gift is, you'll need to prioritize your katana training (standing without much trouble, barely out of breath)

Shin-hee: I'll win without using my Flame of the Abyss and Death!

Wan: *Is his chuunibyou syndrome really affecting his gift?* (rests his head on his staff and leans on it) Understand this, you'll need to master at least the basics of katana handling to last more than 40 seconds against a monster if you have any issues with your gift.

Shin-hee needs to improve a lot of things, but I have a hunch he's destined for great things; he certainly has enormous potential.

Wan: Rest a bit, and then we'll go again.

As I turned to see Ama-ne's level with the bow, I noticed that her dexterity was excellent. It really didn't seem like it was her first time, but after watching for a bit longer, I noticed some issues.

Wan: (behind Ama-ne) You're not straight enough, Ama-ne. You're too tilted when your target is quite far away, and when you release the string, you put all your strength into your hips, which makes you tire faster and reduces the power of your shot.

Ama-ne: Hah! (jumps) Y-you scared me...!

Wan: Sorry, just try to apply what I told you.

Ama-ne: O-of course! W-wait (fumbles with her arrows, trembling a bit)

Wan: (places his hand on Ama-ne's, then helps with the arrows) *Her hands are clammy.* No need to stress. I couldn't tell you this before because I was pointing out what was wrong, but you're actually doing really well. So don't worry. Look at your target, aim, then release the string and let the arrow do its job.

Ama-ne: (takes a deep breath, then smiles broadly) Y-yes, thank you!

She then made a shot better than the previous one, but it wasn't perfect.

Wan: Let me have your bow for a moment; I'll show you how to do it.

Ama-ne: O-okay, here (hands him the bow and quiver).

I took the bow, placed an arrow on the string, and got into the perfect position for shooting at that distance. I put some tension on the string and released it after checking again that the target was still. The arrow hit the target, which was 50 meters away, in 7 seconds, which was pretty fast for the other students but actually just decent for mid-rank Heroes. But before my arrow reached the target, I had already shot two other arrows simultaneously, which formed a perfect small triangle in the center of the target.

Wan: I hope you've remembered and absorbed what you saw.

Ama-ne: (stars in her eyes) Y-yes! Thank you!

I handed her back her bow and then went to help Kim Jaesang, the boy with green hair, green eyes, and a pistol.

Kim Jaesang (I'll just call him Jaesang): Thank you, your help was invaluable! (a broad, bright smile)

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Wan: No problem, it was my pleasure to help. (turns away)

Jaesang: W-wait! You didn't tell me your name!

Wan: Hypnos, and I already know you're Lee Jaesang. Until we meet again.

Jaesang: See you next time (gives a quick wave).

[Thanks to your interaction with the character 'Lee Jaesang,' you have earned 2 tokens.]

[The character 'Lee Jaesang' seems to like you.]

Wan: *Hmm, that's enough for now.*

I then went looking for a partner, but everyone seemed to already be paired up. Everyone except Mia, Sangho, who seemed to be negotiating - not to say begging - Mia to pair up with him, and finally, a beautiful elf with long white hair and red eyes standing alone, holding her rapier, watching the others train.

Wan: *Anna... a sub-heroine.*

In a literary context, "sub-heroine" could be translated as "secondary heroine." This would describe a female character who is not the main protagonist but plays an important role in the story, often supporting or contrasting with the heroine, or rather the heroines in the case of IT0. Anna is the princess of the elves; she is quite talented and destined for great things. I know this because I've read it. She generally offers financial support and a bit of political power to the protagonist.

Wan: (quietly approaches Anna) I see you're alone too.

Anna: (takes a few seconds, then turns her head toward Wan) Oh, yes indeed.

She seemed pensive. I must have interrupted her thoughts as she was watching the others train.

Wan: Would it bother you if we trained together?

Anna: N-no! It's fine, let's train together...!

Although she tried to hide it, she was really happy to have finally found someone to train with, and I was satisfied to have found someone worthy of training with me. No offense, but helping Shin-hee improve by training with him is fine for a while, but I also want to practice. It's been two and a half years since I last fought someone with a weapon. So, we quickly found a spot with enough space and stood facing each other 10 meters apart.

Wan: Oh, and would it be okay if we used our magical powers?

Anna: Huh... Oh, uh, yes, that's fine, but you might end up getting hurt, you know?

The elven princess Anna is known for having a unique magical power associated with the wind element since childhood. So yes, it could indeed hurt me, but I need at least that to first fight on equal terms and second to learn the principles of magical power and be able to counter it. At those words, I wanted to smirk, but nothing. My face and voice remained monotone.

Wan: Don't worry, and although I have little magical power, mine is also dangerously sharp, so it's perfect.

It was a lie, but it must have convinced her because she got into a combat stance and released a bit of her magical power.

Wan: *...Wow... I can feel it; it's really dangerous...*

I've gotten myself into some real trouble, and you have no idea. I sense danger when it's present... and right now, there's a huge one in front of me.

Wan: *Who sent me to get into this mess...*

As she concentrated her magical power and sharp-looking wind swirled around, I thought I should stop this powerful concentration. So I planted my staff in the ground, jumped, launched myself forward by pushing off with my staff, and as I was in the air in front of her and slightly above, I took my staff, which was still in my hands behind me, and struck with it quite forcefully and vertically.

Wan: (stopped by the magical wind) ...This bothers me.

I hit harder, and as we were clashing, her with all her magical power and me with all my physical strength, I was finally sent flying backward by her magical wind, but too bad for her, as fast as I am, I kicked her left side at the neck, even though unfortunately, because of the wind, my foot couldn't strike as I wanted, but I still managed to deal some damage.

Wan: Your wind... damn... sorry, I mean, shoot, it hurts.

Anna: I warned you... (places her hand on her neck) ...and your strike... gave me a strange sensation...

The blows I deliver sometimes aim to cause internal damage rather than external. Of course, this can be dangerous, so I never do it intentionally; it's unconscious.

Wan: *Seeing that magical power, I feel like giving up... this isn't a fight that a 'giftless' and 'magically powerless' person like me can win...* But... all of this is incredibly exciting.

A challenge is only a challenge if it seems insurmountable, and that's why... this isn't even a challenge because I know I can win.

Wan: (runs toward Anna) *If her wind can be used at a distance, then I'll be in big trouble.*

As I ran toward her, she sent a gust of wind that blew my hair back, revealing my eyes. But at that moment, I was focused on one thing: "victory."

Wan: Aim for victory (a very thin black and red circle forms around Wan's pupils).*

**My eyes cause anyone who sees them to have their strongest emotion at that moment intensified to the point where it becomes the only emotion guiding them. But it's different with elves; they have a way of experiencing emotions that is quite distinct from humans, so my eyes won't have an immediate effect on them and will take about twenty minutes compared to humans. That's where the second ability of my eyes comes in. As I mentioned before (Chapter 3), they allow me to amplify a particular emotion to a very high intensity. In this case, it was 'the desire to win.' In short, I used my eyes to make sure she continued to fight, and as a result, a very thin circle red around my pupils.

4 minutes later

Wan: (with cuts all over, heavy breathing, holding himself up with his staff)

If my cerebral cortex didn't prevent me, I'd probably be smiling with satisfaction.

Wan: (rearranges his hair and covers his eyes)

Anna: (on both knees, leaning on her rapier, heavy breathing, a bruise on her neck, and probably more bruises under her clothes) Yes, that was certainly an excellent fight. (smiles with satisfaction)

Well, I didn't lose. I won, but only by a little—really, by just a very, very small margin.

Wan: That was really fun. I hope we can do this again.

[Thanks to your interaction with the character 'Anna,' you have earned 3 tokens.]

[The character 'Anna' seems to consider you strong and likes you.]

Wan: Not bad...

Starting tomorrow, I won't be at Prism for an indefinite period, so being able to look forward to fighting like this again when I return is quite encouraging.

Sangho: (gives Wan a strong pat on the back) Fight me next.

Wan: (falls forward) ...

I was really annoyed.

Wan: (still with his monotone expression and voice, muttering to himself) Dad said not to get mad at those weaker than you.

Sangho: You really make me want to hit you, you know that, right!?

Wan: (gets up and clenches his fist) You want to fight?

Sangho: Hell yeah, you got it all figured ou—

Wan: Sorry, Dad. (kicks Sangho in the groin) Go take care of your private parts first, young master.

I was really annoyed. After such a fight, he dared to provoke me. Then, as if on cue, an instructor came over to treat our injuries: Anna's bruises, my cuts, and Sangho's... testicles.

[Thanks to your interaction with the character 'Lee Sangho,' you have earned 3 tokens.]

[The character 'Lee Sangho' harbors resentment towards you.]

Wan: That's already 3 tokens earned.

Shin-hee: (writing in a small notebook) That was quite educational. Next time, my blade will be on their level; I know it.

_________________

End of chapter |