Chapter 8

EP.8 Home Run

The main purpose of the welcome party is ultimately to build connections.

In this industry, luck and skill are important, but the presence or absence of connections is equally crucial.

While Chao Ren's field of activity spans various areas, the most representative one is undoubtedly 'monster hunting.'

Given that they risk their lives fighting monsters, the danger is self-evident.

Operating as a solo individual is riskier than forming a small party, which, while potentially reducing profits, is overwhelmingly safer. It might even be more profitable than solo activities.

However, there's a saying in the world:

When five people gather, one of them is bound to be a scumbag.

How can I know that the guy behind me won't stab me in the back and kill me?

No matter how much the association has established a credit system and checks personal information before forming a party, who can predict what will happen in the world?

'That's why connections are important.'

The connections built over the four years until graduation will inevitably shine when you meet again in the field.

It's more efficient and stable to work with people you've built a long-term relationship with rather than those you've just met.

This is why the school encourages building connections. Besides, if you're admitted to Shiyoram, you're generally guaranteed some potential.

Originally, I should have been gradually building connections with my classmates here.

Even if I decided to go solo, raising their goodwill wouldn't hurt; it could even be beneficial.

'...I'm tired.'

In the game, it's just a matter of selecting a few options, but now I have to walk around myself or engage in real-time, face-to-face conversations with people who initiate them.

Moreover, since most of them come from good families, their true intentions to gather information seep through in their conversations, making it even more exhausting.

The special admission student label. Despite the doubts, people approach to build connections early, thinking of the possibility of winning the lottery. After somehow dealing with them, I fled to the bathroom.

'...Should I go back now?'

Attending the party is mandatory, but there's no rule that you have to stay until the end. Some people might have left after just seeing the start.

With my spatial awareness in this state, I can't check everyone, but I can distinguish a few main characters by their gender, build, and, most importantly, the nature of their mana.

I stayed only to observe the main characters who mostly gathered in one place, but there's no reason to stay any longer. To be precise, I'm tired and want to go in.

After checking that no one was in the bathroom, I took off my gloves.

I carefully examined the faucet to distinguish between hot and cold water, then washed my hands with warm water.

Since the last time I was scalded by the sunflower showerhead, I've been extra cautious when using the faucet.

-Tap

While walking out of the bathroom.

Someone bumped into my shoulder. Fortunately, it wasn't a hard collision, but I almost fell to the ground for the second time that day.

"Tsk."

The person who bumped into me clicked their tongue as if to make me hear and disappeared down the opposite corridor without an apology.

Was it an accident or intentional?

If it were the first time, I might think it was an accident, but with this happening a few times, it leans more towards subtle bullying.

'Ah, well.'

With the person already gone, I was left hanging. After a moment of absurdity, I sighed deeply and continued walking.

'...At least it's not too severe, so that's a relief.'

This morning, I fell to the ground.

Comparing the two shoulder bumps, Hong Yanhua's approach was much more considerate.

One was a light shoulder bump, while Hong Yanhua's was a full-body tackle.

But Hong Yanhua has a fiery temper; her nature is on the good side.

Thinking about it, the person just now might not be that bad.

They didn't spit, punch, or kick me. They didn't grab my hair and swing me around.

Most importantly, given their level of internal mana, if they had intended to hurt me, my shoulder might have been torn off.

Compared to those guys in the past, this was quite gentle.

– Ahhh...!

– Hey, hey, ...right?

– ...Game... not visible...

"?"

Noisy sounds reached my ears.

The direction was the center of the party. Something must have happened. I hurriedly quickened my steps toward where the party was in full swing.

– Bang...!

"Ugh...!"

"Ha-ha! What's wrong? Your sword is getting slow!"

With my spatial awareness expanded, I could see Hong Yanhua swinging her sword fiercely on the stage.

– Clang!

The swords clash several times in the blink of an eye, repeatedly parrying and engaging. The clear sound of impact rings in my ears, and the male student who was sparring with Hong Yanhua frowns and takes a step back.

He immediately responds, pulling more mana, determined not to lose. But Hong Yanhua's sword moves first, as if it's impossible for him to win.

– Clang!

– Clang, clang, clang...!

A dazzling sword dance. Cheers and exclamations flow from the audience below the stage.

'Ah, there's this event too.'

I was so preoccupied that I had forgotten. Just as the welcome party was reaching its peak, a few main characters would engage in a friendly sparring match to foster camaraderie.

Hong Yanhua, with her combat enthusiast tendencies, was almost certain to participate... and her opponent was usually either Bai Ailin or Katsuki Yusei of the Three-Form Sword.

Katsuki Yusei is a member of the Japanese clan, the Three-Form Sword, and a main character with a unique ability related to swords.

'I was startled.'

I was shocked by the sudden swordplay, but upon closer observation, I noticed that no mana was being released outside their bodies; it was only enhancing their physical strength. The weapons were practice wooden swords.

Most importantly, neither of them was using their unique abilities.

I calmed my racing heart and focused intently on the visual and auditory data.

'...Wow, how do they move like that?'

I couldn't help but be amazed.

The swords clash and retract several times in the blink of an eye, and the natural transition to the next move in their swordsmanship left me in awe.

Even if they were just sparring, if they were to hit a regular person with such sword strikes, something would surely burst.

'When can I get to that level...?'

My initial amazement turned to shock, and then I felt a sense of determination that I needed to reach that level someday.

'...No, don't be discouraged. I can do it.'

I caught the feeling of giving up and shook my head.

Thinking about it, I'm in a much more advantageous position than they are, right? Even though it's a game, I have knowledge of the future and possess not one but three unique abilities that others are born with.

Plus, I have three curses, but if I can resolve them, they won't be a negative factor for me.

'I can do it.'

I will. I will definitely break the curses and enjoy a happy, cozy life.

With this renewed resolve, I observed the sparring match closely.

The swords clash firmly, producing a dull sound, and at certain moments, they collide several times in quick succession, producing short, sharp sounds.

As I watched the sparring match, which alternated between offense and defense, I felt something strange.

I wondered if a complete novice, who had no connection to combat, could feel anything from watching this. But with my spatial awareness, I gained several insights.

'What is this?'

A complete novice who had never experienced proper training. In the past few days, I had only memorized basic texts, and even those were related to mana, not martial arts.

Using my spatial awareness, which can collect vast amounts of spatial data within the observable range, I dissected their combat process.

I could sense the momentum.

Grip method. Why hold the sword that way? Why deliberately expose a gap while attacking? Why not press the attack at that moment?

At first, I couldn't answer these questions. The pile of unanswered questions grew.

But at some point,

I started to form my own answers.

They create gaps by lightly swinging the sword. Light but not weak. Instead of one strong strike, they insert several weaker ones to control the number of strikes.

'Why can I read this?'

I felt a sense of wonder.

Of course, I have the unique ability of being a jack-of-all-trades.

While I may not reach the pinnacle in any one field, I can achieve above-average proficiency in almost all areas.

This ability includes 'swordsmanship.' Since I have the potential for swordsmanship, it's not strange that I can read and analyze their movements.

But it feels like I can read them too well.

The information I receive through spatial awareness and visual information is different.

The eyes can't recognize movements faster than the human eye. The same goes for spatial awareness. However, the information received through spatial awareness is stored deeply within me.

As this information accumulates, I have more references.

It's not just that. The clear, deep blue and burning red mana emanating from their bodies, and how their internal mana forms a rigid structure, can be felt.

Mana affinity.

'Ah.'

It was then that I realized.

These three abilities are organically connected.

Through spatial awareness, I perceive the world, and with the enhancement of being a jack-of-all-trades, I delve deeper into understanding it.

Additionally, through mana affinity, I can sense the flow of mana, which would otherwise be limited to spatial information.

The same applies to other aspects. The abilities interlock, creating a synergistic effect.

The connection of these three abilities was a revelation.

'Did I think wrong?'

Honestly, I wondered if choosing to be a jack-of-all-trades was a mistake. Isn't a versatile ability just mediocre?

As the saying goes, a sparrow trying to follow a stork will tear its legs. Isn't it better to focus on one thing rather than dabble in many?

But looking at the current phenomenon, I might have thought wrong.

'If I use this well...'

A thrilling sensation, as if my head was being pulled out, washed over me.

At the same time, my spatial awareness violently fluctuated, then started to flicker.

Information would close and then open, as if the world was disappearing and reappearing.

Something is changing in my spatial awareness.

Meanwhile, the friendly sparring match was nearing its end.

Throughout the match, Hong Yanhua had been pressing her opponent, smiling in satisfaction. With one strike, Katsuki Yusei was sent flying.

"Ugh...!"

Taking a defensive stance, he was caught off guard by the sudden gap and was pushed off the stage.

But Hong Yanhua wouldn't let this opportunity slip. She quickly pushed off the ground and pulled her arms back, gripping her sword tightly.

A powerful strike. The large movement would normally make it easy to dodge, but with Katsuki Yusei's current stance, it was impossible.

The sword, pulled back, flew in a large arc, like a blunt weapon.

"Final─!"

A loud battle cry. Yusei gritted his teeth and thrust his sword forward.

– Bang!

With a sound like a cannon firing, Yusei's body, unable to fully absorb the impact, was launched like a baseball.

'Wow.'

How hard must she have hit him to send him flying like that? Despite the thrilling excitement, I couldn't help but gape in amazement as Yusei's body, launched like a cannonball, headed toward the wall...

?

'What?'

What is this? My thoughts froze as Yusei's body flew toward the center of my spatial awareness.

"Ah! This... W, w, what? Damn, wait...!"

Hong Yanhua's panicked cry. The noise from the audience below. The center of my spatial awareness... it's getting closer to me.

Ah, I see.

It's coming straight at me?

The thrill had made me realize this late.

I moved reflexively to dodge, but this frail body didn't respond as I wanted.

Surprisingly, no one was around me, meaning there was no one to help.

'Oh s─'

Collision. My consciousness faded. It felt like stars were twinkling in front of me.

Strangely, though,

Through the fading consciousness, I saw an illusion of Hong Yanhua running toward me, sobbing.

Her fiery red hair, like flames, was flying in the wind.

Oh.