The male students, having changed into their gym uniforms, headed for the drill ground.
In the vast drill ground, there was another class besides Class 5.
All the classes that had overlapping Combat Studies classes were present in the drill ground.
Of course, due to the enormous size of the drill ground, there was no overlap in the activity areas.
Professor Sena stepped in front of the students who were gathered on the dirt ground.
Hallingd observed Sena's class from behind.
"In Combat Studies, we conduct training to apply your abilities. Any questions, students?"
Iliana raised her hand.
"Yes, Iliana."
"What exactly does 'applying abilities' mean? Is it different from the training we do in our major subjects?"
"It's different. Let's take magic as an example. Iliana, make a Fireball."
Iliana, who aspired to be a dual-class swordsman and mage, easily created a Fireball the size of a fist.
"Alright! How will Iliana maximize the efficiency of that Fireball?"
"Hmm! First, I'll inject more mana into the spell structure. And if I add a damage-boosting spell and a spell-copying spell!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Fireball grew larger and then split into two.
"This is how I can maximize the efficiency of the Fireball!"
"Is that all?"
"Huh? Um... well, I could add another spell here..."
Seeing Iliana's flustered expression, Professor Sena smiled kindly.
"It's okay. Next, Chelsea?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Are there any other ways to further maximize the efficiency of the Fireball here?"
"I'm sorry, I can't think of anything else besides what Iliana said."
"I see. Then, next is..."
The magic major students subtly avoided eye contact.
How could they not know that even the top magic student in the class couldn't answer?
"Leo?"
"Yes."
"What are the ways to maximize the efficiency of the Fireball here?"
"Control. Even if you increase the power, you need to be able to hit the target to maximize efficiency."
"Correct! I'll give Leo 5 points for the question."
The students looked disappointed at such a simple answer.
"You tend to focus more on increasing power rather than control when training your abilities. That's why most students are not very good at controlling their abilities."
The students looked confused at the mention of poor control.
How could they, who use their abilities every day, have poor control?
"Here's the problem."
Professor Sena summoned a wind elemental, Sylph.
"Any student who can capture this Sylph will get extra points. You can use all your abilities, no matter what."
The students, fired up, tried to catch the Sylph.
However, no one could catch the Sylph, which was neither particularly fast nor powerful, because it dodged their attempts with agile movements.
Even when several students attacked simultaneously, they still failed to catch it.
"Pant! Pant! Maybe that's not a Sylph!"
Kai, lying on the ground, panted heavily.
"Huff! Huff! Then what is it?"
Chelsea, sitting down, retorted.
"How should I know?!"
As the Sylph, floating in the air, placed its hands on its hips and made an "ahem!" expression,
Whoosh!
A flame aura surged.
Leo, who had been standing still, suddenly dashed at the Sylph.
The Sylph tried to escape with a relaxed expression.
Leo increased his speed, closed the distance, and reached out his hand.
The Sylph dodged with a "shh!"
Flame aura shot from Leo's palm, blocking the Sylph's path.
As if anticipating this, the Sylph made a turn in mid-air.
However, the wall-like aura quickly turned into a rope and chased the Sylph.
The Sylph, caught off guard, panicked and suddenly increased its speed, escaping into the sky before the rope could wrap around it.
"Oh, Sylph! That's a foul!"
The Sylph looked apologetic at Sena's words.
It seemed to have used more power than allowed out of surprise.
"Still, excellent, Leo."
Sena clapped her hands.
"As you saw, Leo didn't use much power. Combat Studies is about applying such techniques in combat."
The students of Class 5 understood Sena's point about poor control.
Professor Hallingd, observing the class from behind, chuckled.
'Sure enough, that kid Ein would drool over this.'
In terms of aura control, Leo was expected to be the top among the first-year students.
"Hmm, not very elegant."
Crackle!
With a spark, a golden aura flashed and enveloped the Sylph.
Thud!
Before the Sylph could react, it was caught in one hand.
Thump!
The male student, Duran, landed on the ground and glared at Leo.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Indeed, Duran! A truly outstanding skill, befitting the top student!"
"Thank you."
Duran said to the middle-aged teacher.
"Wow? Strange? Halin, the most respected professor in Lumern, none of the students in your class could catch the Sylph, but our Class 1 student caught it easily, huh."
Hallingd looked at the middle-aged teacher in a fancy outfit with a tired expression.
"Ah! Now that I think about it, isn't Class 5 the class with the lowest average? Oh, I forgot and said something inappropriate."
"Class 1 and Class 5! I'm proposing an inter-class competition! Surely you won't back down? Of course, I won't blame you if you do! Our elegant Class 1 has three top students, after all! Hahahaha!"
Sedgen pointed to the three students at the front of Class 1, including Duran, and laughed cheerfully.
Leo spoke to two of the students.
"Hello? Elegant and beautiful Class 1 students."
Celia and Chloe, who had been bowing their heads, looked up and glared at Leo with terrifying eyes.
Of course, Leo was not fazed by such a reaction.
"Assistant Professor. Why is that professor acting like that?"
Chelsea asked, looking bewildered.
"That's Professor Sedgen. He's a professor from the same batch as Professor Halin."
"If Professor Sedgen is as famous as Professor Halin, isn't he also a renowned professor?"
"He's known as one of the best professors in Lumern."
Unlike Halin, who had a notorious reputation, Sedgen was a teacher many students wanted to learn from.
However, among the graduates, Halin was the most respected professor, followed by Sedgen.
According to Sena, this was why Sedgen had a strong sense of rivalry with Halin.
The students of Class 5 watched Sedgen provoke Halin in various ways.
'Professor Halin doesn't even blink.'
'Professor Sedgen looks pitiful somehow.'
Unable to bear Sedgen's persistent provocations, Sena said,
"Professor Sedgen. It's the first class today, so a sudden inter-class competition is a bit..."
"Oh! Senna Tilia... I mean! Assistant Professor Senna!"
Sedgen spread his arms and approached Senna.
"How long has it been! I've been worried about you! Seeing you as an assistant professor makes me feel so proud!"
"Thank you for your concern."
Senna smiled awkwardly and greeted him.
"Anyway, Assistant Professor Senna! It doesn't matter if it's the first class! As a Lumern student, you should be prepared for unexpected situations!"
"Still..."
"Our proud Class 1 students are always ready for an inter-class competition! Aren't they?"
"That's right!"
"Indeed, elegant!"
Sedgen, looking satisfied, made Karl chuckle as he approached the Class 1 students.
With his characteristic charm, Karl teased the Class 1 students he had befriended during the temporary class period.
"Really elegant! Class 1 students!"
"Do you want to die?"
"Stop teasing us?"
A few Class 1 students, including Celia and Chloe, growled at Karl.
However, Karl continued to tease them.
"What kind of competition are you proposing?"
"Hehehe! I knew you wouldn't back down! Are you really okay with this? The students of Class 5 are sure to lose, right?"
"I don't care about winning or losing."
Halin said in a monotone.
"What's important is that the students learn something, regardless of the outcome."
"Then your students will learn the feeling of defeat!"
"If they learn the feeling of defeat, I can teach them how to rise from it. And..."
Halin smiled slightly.
"They can also learn the ease of being a winner."
Seeing Halin's impressive response, the students of Class 5 looked impressed.
"Assistant Professor Senna was right!"
"Even if he speaks harshly, our homeroom teacher clearly cares for us a lot!"
"I respect you! Professor!"
Sedgen smiled cruelly.
"Good. Then let's make a bet. The losing class will clean the first-year classroom toilets for a month. And the losing professor will buy drinks for the winning class!"
"Fine."
At this answer, a scream erupted from Class 5.
"Ahhh!"
"How can you accept that so easily!"
"Hey, beautiful ladies?"
Karl, who had been teasing, was now sweating nervously.
"Even if we're friends, can you go easy on us? Maybe aim for a tie?"