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Everyone occasionally indulges in such fantasies while living a busy life.

“If I had multiple bodies, that would be great!”

Especially when assignments pile up or work becomes overwhelming, you can’t help but wish for someone to do it for you. There are so many things to do and so many things you’d like to do, but with only two hands, you can’t do everything.

But I was different. If I had the will, I could do anything.

In a situation where dreams had turned to reality, our efforts went beyond just making bombs or trivial plans.

Right now, I was training in two places simultaneously.

First, at the academy’s indoor training ground, Violet 24 was getting enthusiastically beaten up by Instructor Frederick.

In front of me was a batting machine used for baseball practice, and I was doing my best to dodge the rapidly flying balls.

“Focus up! Do you think the balls will avoid you if you just stand there? Run!”

“Ugh!”

With magical power concentrated all over my body, I was madly running in every direction.

At the same time, at a private training ground somewhat distant from the school, Irene was fiercely charging at Violet 65 with her sword.

-Clang! Clang!

“Whoa!”

“Concentrate on the duel, Violet!”

“Got it! I’ll go again!”

Rolling and tumbling, I fell again. But that’s okay. It’s training after all.

“You’ve got guts. Shut your mouth and get ready!”

“Is it okay? Alright, I’ll go back in!”

At the same time, in the two locations, the Violets set aside their embarrassment and got back up, running at each other, tumbling, and rolling again.

***

Let’s turn back time to a few days ago.

Through past experiences, we realized the necessity of training.

“The numbers are important, but we need to improve the quality level.”

“We can’t be helplessly trampled like last time!”

The most definite method to improve our skills here was training. Fortunately, there was one person at this joke of an academy who could teach us.

“Let’s go to the instructor!”

After class was over, I headed to the training ground where I attended close-combat classes daily. Instructor Frederick was still there, inspecting various weapons for sparring.

“Instructor! Please teach me!”

“…You little brat. You’ve been half-hearted in class and even skipped once. What made you suddenly want to learn?”

I had no words in response to the instructor’s reproachful glare. I felt a pang of guilt. I had indeed skipped class for a few days due to Lack of motivation.

“And what do you want me to teach you? I already taught you the basics of using cold weapons in class.”

“Not that! I want to learn how to harness magical power! I want to learn body enhancement techniques!”

At my request, Frederick’s eyes wrinkled, as if in disbelief. His scarred face looked slightly intimidating as it crinkled.

“Right now? Haven’t you seen the syllabus? Either way, you’ll soon learn it in class in a few weeks. Did you understand? Now go.”

“Y-Yes… but can’t you at least give me a tip right now?”

Frederick got angry.

“Am I your private tutor?”

“…Ugh!”

“I see why you’re here. You probably want to pick a fight. I heard you dueled that fourth-year punk and troublemaker. What, did you think no one would notice? It seems like the rumor has spread even to my ears as an instructor. I often hear about duels, but I never thought the protagonist would be a first-year student I directly teach.”

Frederick’s eyes slowly twisted, casting a dark shadow.

“You took a beating, huh? Lucky you won… But you, kid, just because you have a unique ability doesn’t mean the world is a joke. You thought you could smash anything in your path just because you quickly unleashed sword energy? Tsk tsk…”

“…”

“Also, body enhancement is on a different level than magical energy release. If you learn carelessly, your muscles or nerves could get damaged. You’ll barely get the hang of it after training for a few weeks. Just learn it when others do. Above all, I’m an instructor. I can’t carve out extra time to give you special treatment. It goes against fairness. Do you understand?”

I was left speechless.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Seems like you don’t even know how to apologize properly, huh? Get going. The weather is starting to get cold.”

I was flatly rejected. Indeed, I tried to poke around, but it seemed futile. It was unreasonable logically as well. Frederick entered a small office within the gym.

“Should I learn from another friend?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Unfortunately, Irene didn’t have the ability to teach anyone. She was smart and talented, but being smart and teaching someone were separate matters.

“Watch carefully. Just channel the magical power this way,”

“Understanding anything from that ‘this way’ is impossible!”

Daphne was the same.

“Violet. Did my explanation help? Did you understand the theory?”

“Uh… I understood!”

“You clearly didn’t. Oh dear…”

I even took the time to ask Kalia, but there was another problem.

“Ah, Violet. Sorry, but I can’t help you with this.”

Kalia used her unique ability, Ever-burning Flame, seamlessly performing body enhancement and magical energy release as if breathing.

The techniques a normal Awakened One can grasp through training and those attained through a unique ability are as different as sharks and whales. It wasn’t something that could be learned.

A unique ability, like my clone technique, is a superpower that can be naturally used as if handling one’s own body.

Teaching body enhancement techniques to me would be as pointless as an eagle teaching a wolf how to flap its wings.

Everyone around me were just talented girls.

“Should I look for someone else?”

I walked towards the gym exit, contemplating whether to look for someone else when the door suddenly burst open and a stranger walked in.

“Long time no see, little junior. Is Vulture around?”

“Who are you?”

“Oh, you don’t recognize me?”

After glancing around, the man rubbed his face with his hand, revealing the sharp features of a middle-aged man wearing glasses.

“Professor Albert!”

“Professor Albert, ‘sir’, I suppose! Still lacking in manners, huh? You little brat. …Frederick! Frederick! Where are you?”

Hearing his name called, Frederick came out with his eyes wide open.

“…Iggret? Damn it, why are you here…”

“Let’s talk. You jerk. Right now!”

While I was standing there blankly, the two entered the office. A moment later, incomprehensible shouts could be heard, and something crashed or exploded noisily.

“Is this how Polaris greets someone?”

About ten minutes later, the two burst out of the office, loudly opening the door.

“I’ll check for detailed information later at dinner, but…”

“Yeah, with ten mouths, I really have nothing to say… but huh? Why aren’t you leaving yet?”

“Did you eavesdrop on us?”

The mood didn’t seem good, so I quickly shook my head.

“No! I came here to ask the instructor to teach me.”

Professor Albert adjusted his glasses slightly.

“Alright, what is it?”

“Body enhancement… I don’t know how to do it.”

“What? Still that again? Why aren’t you going back right away…”

Frederick pointed at me, but Albert interrupted him.

“Isn’t it just simple?”

“Why are you saying that?”

The two old men began to whisper to each other.

“Hey, you brat. It’s basic! Just teach him!”

“What did you say?”

“Don’t you have time? The kid wants to learn something. Why would you refuse?”

“I’m not a private tutor, and why? No need to prep him….”

“No need to prep? Back in our day, we were supposed to have advanced past magical energy release and body enhancement by now. The school’s level dropping forced adjustments, didn’t it? And isn’t there no other first-year asking actively in this stupid den besides this kid?”

“…Hmmm…”

“You weren’t like this before. Where did that instructor who used to teach tirelessly day and night go? What about your sense of responsibility as a teacher?”

“Responsibility? That’s not something you should be saying…!”

Although I didn’t understand Professor Albert’s motives for supporting me out of nowhere, I looked at them with hopeful eyes, thinking it was better than the alternative.

Frederick ultimately changed his attitude.

“…Fine! Sure. Let’s just do it that way. Albert, I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, that’s how it should be! Junior.”

Professor Albert raised his head and confidently looked at me.

“Thank me, junior. Thanks to me, you can now learn what you need from that old instructor!”

“…You jerk.”

“I’ll see you at dinner.”

As the professor left, the instructor didn’t hide his annoyance.

“Damn it, that Iggret, here of all times…”

“Instructor! So you’re going to teach me right away, right?”

“Yeah. We’re starting right now. I have plans tonight, so let’s just do it for an hour today.”

I didn’t know why the instructor’s attitude changed so completely.

But isn’t it better that way?

***

At the same time, Irene and Violet 65 were getting ready to finish their duel outside of school. To do this, they even rented out the entire private training ground.

“Alright, as long as you haven’t learned proper magical power usage yet, I’ll spar without enhancements too. Ready?”

“Yep! Come at me with all your strength!”

Unlike her usual school uniform, Irene was dressed in a black coat, vest, shorts, and various protective gear. I was wearing the specialized black outfit I used for infiltration.

“A sword? Wasn’t your main weapon a spear?”

“It’s not that I can’t use it. I’ve learned the basics.”

While Irene checked everything, I rummaged through my inventory. As I tried to pull out a sword, a rapier that looked like it was burning red caught my eye for the first time.

“This is…!”

“Flame Blade? Why is this here? When did I pick it up?”

“Is it really that? Check it out!”

As the Violets in another area immediately replicated the 5-star weapon.

A much cruder rapier appeared than the original, entitled [Burnt Flame Blade ☆☆☆].

“What’s the difference?”

“The stars being reduced means… it’s a sign of decreased performance.”

“Violet? What are you doing? That sword…”

“Nothing!”

It felt a waste to wield such a precious 5-star weapon at that moment. I didn’t even know how to use it.

I put the rapier away and took out the one-handed training sword I had been using.

“I can only go over the basics with you in swordsmanship and movements. My best is to serve as a sparring partner. Understood? Alright, come in first!”

“I’m on it!”

I gathered all the flimsy things I had learned so far and charged at Irene.

“Gahh!”

As she lightly twisted her blade, I dropped my sword.

“It’s reckless. Don’t just swing mindlessly; watch your opponent’s movements. Got it?”

“Yep!”

And so the training for the Violets began.

 

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