Chapter 64 of the Weapon Replicator of the Academy

Lesson 17: Substitute Teacher (2)

"......Wow......"

Someone muttered.

The students' eyes were filled with tension and excitement. All their interest in me had completely faded.

Aiji is the object of envy for all the swordsmen in Constel. No, it's not just swordsmen.

The fact that I, his younger brother, am treated with such contempt and neglect is largely due to Aiji.

...No, it's true that Frondier himself was excessively lazy, but still.

"Though it will be a short time, precisely because of that, my teachings will be unrelated to the existing combat techniques."

Aiji said, indicating that he would disregard everything they had learned so far. Surprisingly, the students were pleased by this.

They must be expecting some special lecture from Aiji.

...But from my perspective, having daily one-on-one sparring sessions with Aiji, I can see the future of these students.

"From today, you will learn the very 'basics.' Forget about Aura."

They will experience a perfect blend of 'suffering' and 'boredom.'

"Let me show you an example first."

Saying this, Aiji scanned the students.

Whose name would his indifferent gaze pick? Would it be me?

I can almost hear the students' hearts pounding.

"You there."

Aiji pointed at Aster.

"What's your name?"

"Aster Evans."

"Good. Come forward."

The students thought, "Of course." Some even glanced at me, probably wondering if I would be favored and chosen.

Since I haven't learned from Aiji, they can afford to think so leisurely.

"Let's see if you can land a hit on me. I'll be unarmed and won't strike back. Use any weapon or method you like."

"Except divine power, right?"

"Divine power is also fine. However,"

Aster's eyes lit up at Aiji's words. His clothes billowed, and his hair turned white.

But.

Thud, thud. A dry and unimpressive sound.

Aster was on the ground. Aiji's finger was on his neck.

"I wish you could."

"......"

Aster didn't respond. His eyes were dazed. He didn't know why he was lying there.

To an outsider, it just looked like he had tripped and fallen, a simple sequence of movements.

But as long as the students think it's that simple, they will end up rolling on the floor countless times.

"Shall we try again?"

"......Please, sir!"

Aster got up with renewed vigor.

Aiji asked,

"Why do you think you fell just now?"

"......Because the teacher is faster than me."

Aster gave his answer. His honesty in admitting his inferiority is commendable, but...

"No."

The answer was wrong from the start.

"Let's try again."

After a few more repetitions, Aster managed to exchange a few moves, but...

The result was the same: he ended up on the ground, still without any damage.

Aiji's expression remained unchanged, just as it was when he entered. He didn't even show any disappointment when looking at Aster. His face clearly said, "This is expected."

Does he realize how much despair that face instills in his opponents?

"Repeating until you understand is good, but today we have an appropriate demonstration partner."

Damn.

I cursed inwardly.

I had a feeling this would happen.

"Frondier."

Aiji called me. Everyone's eyes turned to me.

"Come forward."

As I slowly walked forward, I felt like I had become the human sloth Frondier.

I don't want to.

"......Sir, teacher."

Someone raised their hand and spoke.

"What is it?"

"Is Frondier a suitable opponent?"

As they said, most of the students looked at me with doubtful eyes.

Aster couldn't put up a proper fight, so why should you?

Aiji calmly replied,

"Frondier is just a demonstration partner. The level of skill doesn't matter."

Some seemed to understand, while others didn't.

It seemed to fuel the suspicion that I was being favored because I'm Aiji's younger brother.

Whatever, you'll see soon enough what kind of treatment I'll receive.

"Frondier, just as in your usual training."

"Yes."

I took my stance. One hand on the dagger at my waist, the other to keep an eye on Aiji.

Drawing the weapon, swinging it, and defending—all done in the shortest possible time. Completing the action before it's noticed.

I learned this from Aiji during our training, ingraining it into my body.

As a result,

I managed to draw my dagger before Aiji's hand reached me.

Swish—

The dagger sliced through the air. Aiji dodged my strike and moved forward.

And this time, unlike with Aster,

Aiji's left hook came at me like the wind. The entire process, from preparation to execution, was almost invisible.

I ducked, barely avoiding it, feeling a slight tension in my muscles as it grazed my head.

In this fight with me, there's no rule like 'not attacking.' I could hear the students holding their breath.

After a few more exchanges, my movements with Aiji seemed natural, like a predetermined sequence.

But there's no such thing as a predetermined sequence. It's just a series of processes I've barely managed to learn after being thrown and rolled countless times.

Each time, I'm presented with numerous options and have to quickly choose the least worst one.

Aiji sets the problems, and I just respond.

So even if I manage to hold out a bit longer, the result will be the same for both Aster and me.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

I was hit in the abdomen and stepped back. Aiji advanced steadily.

Damn, every time I see this, it feels like I'm facing a demon. It's probably not far from the truth.

I swung my dagger while stepping back, and Aiji entered my arm's inner side to block the attack.

My defensive attacks while retreating lacked power, and Aiji was merciless when he saw an opening.

I was hit on the shoulder, abdomen, and arms. Even these were the results of my best defenses.

Eventually,

With a loud thud, I was on the ground. Aiji grabbed my collar and tripped me with a judo-like technique. There was no mercy.

"Frondier, your movements have become larger. Be careful."

Aiji said.

I had noticed this myself. I had been dealing with chimeras recently.

"Aster, how did you find the sparring just now?"

Aiji asked.

Aster glanced at me, lying in a mess, and said,

"Clearly, he fought better than me."

"Is Frondier faster than you?"

"......At least in that sparring, speed didn't seem to matter."

"Right. Then what was different?"

Aster thought deeply. Meanwhile, I got up and dusted myself off.

The students looked embarrassed at my beaten state. They won't suspect favoritism anymore.

After some thought, Aster gave his answer.

"......Prediction?"

"Exactly. That is the 'basic' of combat."

Aiji then looked around at the students.

"The basic of combat is predicting the fight. Inferring what action the opponent will take from the shift of their shoulder, waist, or center of gravity."

The reason Aiji can easily subdue Aster is that he can see what the opponent is about to do.

"From that perspective, Aster's movements are still large and simple. The same goes for you all."

The students looked a bit skeptical but no one contradicted Aiji. After all, Aster is the best among them.

"During my lectures, you will learn this. No matter how talented or how much divine power you have, in real combat, you might be hit before you can even use it. Just like Aster just now. This isn't a matter of mindset; it's a matter of technique."

Indeed, Aster never managed to use his divine power from start to finish, even though he knew Aiji would block it.

"Any questions?"

Someone raised their hand. The student looked somewhat dissatisfied.

"What is it?"

"Sir, but that kind of approach, well, it seems like it's only for fighting humans."

Another student chimed in,

"Right. We came to Constel to deal with monsters."

Graduating from Constel to become professionals, or to become court knights or mages to deal with monsters.

Eventually, to fight and defeat 'the monsters outside' and expand the boundaries of humanity.

This is the dream of Constel students and the ultimate goal of humanity.

To the students who harbor such dreams, the sparring just now seemed meaningless.

Aiji said,

"Do you remember when your seniors were defeated by 'the monsters outside' recently? The incident where eleven died in Tebben."

...That's the story I told Quinie.

The students swallowed hard. The atmosphere became solemn.

"One of your seniors had an amazing insight and predicted the invasion of the monsters outside. He was an outcast, unable to integrate into the group. Yet, eleven still died. Why do you think that happened? Because the monster was large and powerful? Because it was a giant the size of a house?"

No one answered. Some lowered their eyes.

"The monster was just a wolf walking on two legs. But it hid in the darkness, predicted human paths, and bit each one in the neck from unseen angles. Sometimes it killed with a single claw. After hunting, it washed the blood in rivers or lakes to make tracking difficult, and its footsteps left no clear traces."

The students' faces showed disgust. It was a wolf, but its actions were no different from a human's.

"Outside, there are many creatures with intelligence surpassing humans."

Only then did the students understand.

Why Aiji could become a teacher at Constel so quickly.

"The combat I teach you is extremely focused on fighting monsters. The reason you don't understand this is simple."

No one fits Constel better than Aiji.

"You've only faced stupid monsters so far."