Thwack!!! Thwack!!! Thwack!!!
The sound of a wooden sword striking a training dummy echoed loudly. Many people nearby glanced in the direction of the noise, but they weren't looking because of the sound itself. It was because they saw that the one swinging the wooden sword was the same young man who had just caused trouble that very morning.
Of course, that person was me.
But no matter how many challenging or mocking stares I received, I tried my best to ignore them and continued to swing the wooden sword in my hand at the dummy with steady rhythm.
Close-quarters combat skills are an extremely important part for warriors or magic knights. However, this school's curriculum focuses mainly on magic. But that doesn't mean they don't teach close-quarters combat at all.
The place I was in was called the Weapon Training Building. It was located inside the Knight Branch's school building. This was another building dedicated to teaching students direct combat skills beyond the use of magic. Naturally, it wasn't very popular, as most mages believed that magic alone was sufficient, thinking it was unnecessary to train in these combat fundamentals.
Heh heh... but those fools have no idea how wrong that thinking is. Close-quarters combat is the most crucial part of surviving in this world. It's true that it plays a smaller role in battles that are primarily magical, but if you can close the distance on a mage who isn't proficient in melee combat, they are no different from a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
Of course, if I train even more and manage to integrate my combat prowess with my own magic, then whether my opponent is a knight or a grand mage, I'm confident I can take them all down.
However, that kind of training takes many months... no, it could even take decades. Therefore, I need to shorten that time by finding supplementary equipment to help.
There are still many inventions I need to create to aid in combat, but I'm still hindered by my lack of complete understanding of the crafting expertise required. So, I think I should start by attending classes at the Inventor's Branch building first. After that, I can come back to train my magic while also practicing swordsmanship.
Two months, huh... It might sound long, but that's actually a very short amount of time.
What I'm worried about right now is... can I fight against Akana Sey?
Akana Sey's strength depends on the game's player. If they were diligent in hunting monsters to increase their skill levels or dealt with bandits outside the city, it's possible that fellow could now be as strong as a second-year student.
But even without any training... Akana Sey is still as strong as a mid-tier mage, which is the same level as this Alan. Even so, I can't be careless.
If that guy chose to play as a dark element user, I would be at a significant disadvantage. Dark element magic is the only type that I feel is the most difficult to deal with among all the elements.
The importance of the elements comes in many forms, categorized into various types such as defense, offense, and healing.
Light Element primarily focuses on healing, but it can also be used as offensive magic. It is extremely powerful against undead-type monsters or ghouls, and most importantly, against the demon race. Currently, experts in the light element are very rare, causing every school and city to be in high demand for high-level light mages to help the common people and eliminate invading demons.
Fire Element emphasizes quality and quantity. The fire element is considered the most destructive magic among all elements. It also has the property of melting and destroying everything it touches. It can be called a primary magic that everyone must learn.
Water Element is used for healing, similar to the light element, but its properties are different. Water magic is generally not an offensive type; its heart lies in healing and defense. However, that's not to say water magic can't be used for combat. In fact, against someone who specializes in the fire element, a water element user would have a considerable advantage.
Wind Element users are mostly support types, much like water element users. Most people who specialize in this element use reinforcement magic almost exclusively. A very small minority have offensive spells. That's because wind magic is difficult to control, requiring immense concentration for each use. Otherwise, the magic one intends to cast might be reflected back at the user. Overall, the wind element focuses more on support and is difficult to use in combat. Even so, those who specialize in the wind element gain greater agility than anyone else, allowing them to move very quickly, whether on the ground or in the sky.
Earth Element Hmm... if you think of the earth element, you probably think of defensive magic. But earth magic can also be used for offense, and in various forms depending on the user. With its solid defensive spells and offensive spells that can attack from any direction as long as one is on the ground, the earth element can be said to be a very formidable element. However, what I said refers to true experts. Most people who primarily use the earth element will master one aspect first, and might even stick to that one aspect for their entire lives. Therefore, finding someone truly skilled in this element is quite difficult.
Dark Element is the element that can be called the most overpowered among all the ones I've mentioned. Dark magic enhances the power of other elements several times over. Furthermore, when reinforcement magic is used, the dark element further increases the body's stats. That's not all; dark magic doesn't require one's own magical power to be cast but can use magical power from nature instead. This means that when casting dark magic, the user barely has to expend any of their own magical power. However, it has a drawback. If one cannot control the dark magic drawn from nature, that natural dark power will take over the user's body. In the end, if the magic's owner still cannot regain control, the only thing that awaits is death.
Of course, in the game, the original Alan was once possessed by dark magic and killed.
Not wanting to make the same mistake as that fool, I chose to ignore the use of dark magic and intended to use the magic that the original Alan was normally skilled with instead. Even though I am confident enough to control it, I think it's better to save that thought for later.
I glanced at the bracelet on my wrist. It showed that I had about 30 minutes left.
Looks like I'll have to stop here for now.
But just as I was thinking that, my wind magic suddenly warned me that something was flying toward me.
Clang!!!
The wooden sword in my hand struck the object with great speed.
A rock?...
I stared at the broken piece of rock on the floor. Shortly after, I heard the sound of clapping from in front of me.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Your skills haven't dulled at all, Alan. Truly fitting for the next in line to be king." Although the words were spoken in praise, the tone was nowhere near what was said.
Seeing the person walking towards me, I narrowed my eyes at the man with irritation.
Tch... to run into the one person I wanted to see the least.
The man approached with a wide grin on his face, as if he were mocking him. Although they had the same hair and eyes, their faces were completely different. To be honest, the man's face was somewhat on the sweeter side. But even so, his personality was nothing like his cute face.
His name was Seyfirus Akas Osen.
He was one of Alan's half-brothers, and also a villain in the game I used to play.
"Heh heh... Why the scary face? Or could it be... you're annoyed to see me?" the sweet-faced young man, Akas, said in a taunting tone.
The people around the training room, seeing that the atmosphere was turning sour, started to look over.
Tch... His presence here is no coincidence. He definitely came here intentionally to pick a fight with Alan.
That was because Akas was the one who hated Alan the most. The reason was that in his childhood, from the moment he was born, Akas never received any love from his father. This made him constantly envious of Alan, who always received affection from those around him.
From envy, it turned into resentment. Whenever Akas met Alan, he would always use provocative words to anger him. Therefore, it was not surprising that the two of them often quarreled.
Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to fall for such pointless provocations.
Right now, I have more important things to do than to get involved in this nonsense.
I started to walk past Akas without a word. But in that instant, I saw a smirk form on his face.
"Hey, Alan... you're tarnishing the name of the Seyfirus family, you know."
My feet stopped dead in their tracks.
"I heard about the news this morning. What a shame... to be the next in line for the throne, yet you couldn't even defend against two measly little spells."
"Haha, and with this, how can you dare to call yourself the favorite son of King Daias..."
"Don't you think so, too?" Akas said, glancing at Alan out of the corner of his eye. He was certain that Alan would be furious at his words.
But at that moment, Akas had to show a look of surprise. Because what he saw on Alan's face now was a calm, neutral expression that he had never seen before.
"Are you finished speaking..." Alan said in a flat voice, so steady that even Akas was left speechless.
Seeing Akas fall silent, Alan walked out of the training building, leaving Akas's figure behind, still staring at his back with a stunned expression on his face.