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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sparring
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[Hmm, something feels a bit lacking...]
"What are you planning to do now?"
[Isn't it a shame to just pick a weapon and head home?]
A shame, my foot.
"Anyway, we have plenty of time. There are three whole years left at the academy..."
[No! Three years is just an illusion! It's practically a one-year academy...!]
"That's true, but... I don't think there's any need to rush that much. It's not like material will come up every day."
The author was right, though.
The fate of academy novels.
By the mid-to-late stages of the novel, they leave the academy...!
And usually, that's early in the second year, once all the academy tropes have been exhausted.
As if I wouldn't know that.
Still, using up two episodes in a single day seems a bit fast-paced, doesn't it?
...I smell something. Something's fishy.
His voice seemed to tremble slightly, too.
"How many chapters did you write yesterday?"
[Huh? ...W-why are you suddenly asking that?]
"You have a backlog, right?"
[...]
Just as I thought.
It seems he went on a writing spree without thinking.
But after the spree, he probably ran out of material to write for tomorrow.
He clearly needs material right now, so he's desperately looking for something to patch things up.
"That's outrageous. ...Hmm, what should I do?"
[P-please, Reader. I'm in big trouble. I need material!]
"Then why don't you just look at other people?"
[Aargh, it's a bit hard for me to look at anyone but you, you know! You know that! Please, I'm begging you!]
My author always acts without thinking, that's the problem.
As much as I'd like to leave him hanging for being so outrageous, I can't actually do that.
I'd also heard that it takes more energy than you'd think for the author to leave my sight and directly check on other people.
In the end, if the author stops writing, I'd be at a much greater loss.
What would happen if the author, who molds the world of the novel however he pleases, suddenly let go?
Would the world stop? ...Ugh, I don't even want to think about it.
In the end, I let out a soft sigh and accepted the author's request.
"I guess there's no helping it. This is just for this one time."
[Woohoo! As expected of my Reader! I love you!]
"But if you go on another thoughtless writing spree next time, you'll be in trouble."
[Yes!]
Speaking of writing sprees, one question came to mind.
What does the author do when new material isn't found?
Even if a major incident occurs and he milks it for a few days, there's no way to avoid a blank period.
No matter how much of an academy it is, incidents wouldn't be happening all year round, would they?
When I subtly asked him about it, I got a refreshing answer.
[I go on hiatus?]
"...What?"
[It's fine, since it's an irregular serialization anyway!]
"What's fine about that?"
A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me.
Memories of "my own small novels" that died after only one or two irregularly serialized chapters flickered through my mind.
Oh, no!
"Alright, let's do it. For the early development of an academy story, what was there...?"
[There's sparring, and dungeon raids, right?]
"Should we go with sparring?"
Dungeon raids, for example, can be used sufficiently later.
But it's material that loses its flavor if you milk it too many times.
In contrast, sparring can be inserted in many places.
For the author, who struggles for material every day, sparring is perfect.
[Great! Then I'll immediately update the schedule...]
After a short while.
Claire, who had disappeared to the faculty office telling them to wait a moment, returned to the classroom.
"My apologies. We were planning to finish early today, but the plans have changed. I'd appreciate it if you could spare a little more time."
"Huh? You said we were done here?!"
"That was the plan, but for some reason, we've been told to compare the students' skill levels. They said we should have sparring matches to foster camaraderie."
The students groaned.
Of course they did.
It was their first class, and they were told they'd be dismissed early today, but now extra class time had been added.
It would be strange if they didn't complain.
Claire knew this fact, so she could only give a bitter smile.
"Put on your gym clothes and come out to the training grounds. It will be over quickly, so I'd appreciate your cooperation."
"Alright..."
The students seemed to realize there was nothing they could do and gave up.
Everyone started heading to the changing rooms to change their clothes.
[Hmm, breasts really should be like this...]
"...What are you staring at?"
[The breasts I created.]
Isn't he a bit too shameless?
Female students were changing clothes nearby, so I tried my best to avoid looking their way while changing.
But an attack came from an unexpected quarter.
I never thought *I* would be seen...
Unable to spare a thought for anyone else, I hastily changed into my gym clothes.
[Ah, what a shame. I wanted to see more.]
"..."
I don't even know what to say.
Perhaps it was because I lingered for so long, trying not to look at the other female students' clothes.
Before I knew it, I had left the changing room, which was now empty of all students.
"Alright, everyone's gathered. Let's see, there are 20 of you in total... Good. Pair up in twos."
"Huh?"
I looked around, flustered.
Everyone was awkwardly pairing up.
To foster camaraderie... so that's what it meant.
But I hadn't gotten close to anyone yet.
[Hehe, it seemed like characters often paired up in academy novels! So I wanted to try it too.]
If the author were in front of me, I would have grabbed his head and shaken it vigorously.
It's truly regrettable that I can only hear his voice.
I hastily turned my gaze in Shiu's direction and saw a blonde female student, spear in hand, approaching him.
Oh, no...!
I subtly unraveled a thread from the arm-sleeve I wore under my gym clothes, just in case.
The moment she opened her mouth to say something, and took a step forward... I'd make her trip!
Now!
"Kyaaah?!"
*Thump, bang.*
While everyone's attention was focused on her, who had tripped over the thread and fallen, I quickly walked over to him.
"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble, would you like to be partners with me?"
"...Me?"
"Yes. Hehe, it's a bit embarrassing, but I haven't gotten close to anyone yet."
Please, please, please...!
There's nothing more awkward than being paired with someone you don't know.
A-and come to think of it, I heard that guys go crazy for a girl's upward gaze and aegyo.
...I've never been involved with a girl, so I don't even know if that's true.
It's really, truly not my intention, but.
Aside from my narrow eyes making me look suspicious, I'm also a beautiful bishoujo.
Dark black hair, slightly wavy, reaching my chest.
Breasts sized between large and average, leaning towards large.
A woman with captivating red eyes and a charming smile.
If this guy is a man, wouldn't a bishoujo like me, with my eyes squeezed shut, doing aegyo, win him over?
It's a foregone conclusion that I need to get close to Shiu anyway.
Catch Shiu, whom I *must* get close to, by any means necessary VS. spending an awkward time paired with a stranger?
It's definitely the former!
Alright, I'll swallow my shame and give it a try.
"Won't you partner with me?"
[Whoa, she's flirting...]
"Shut up, Author."
I leaned forward slightly, and then I gave him a crescent-eyed smile!
How's that...!
To top it off, I even tilted my head slightly!
You're totally falling for me, right?! You want to spar with me, right?! Huh?!
...What? Why no reaction?
"That's strange..."
"I-I'll do it! I will!"
"Hmm...?"
I thought I might have failed, wondering if he was the type of protagonist who wasn't interested in women.
But he suddenly and urgently expressed his acceptance.
What was that?
Well, it's good for me since it won't be awkward.
"Then, I look forward to working with you."
Should I give him one last bonus?
I flashed him a bright smile.
How's that? Pretty, right?
***
"Kyaaah?!"
A student who was approaching me suddenly tumbled onto the floor.
A loud noise made me instinctively turn my head, and there she was, a woman standing before my eyes.
Yes, Arte Isis. It was her.
"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble, would you like to be partners with me?"
"...Me?"
I didn't think it was possible, but I unconsciously looked behind me.
Just hoping it wasn't me.
"Yes. Hehe, it's a bit embarrassing, but I haven't gotten close to anyone yet."
If you haven't gotten close to anyone, then go get close to someone!
I wanted to say that, but Shiu didn't have the guts to.
Because the dagger she held in her hand was too distracting.
She was just repeatedly tossing it into the air and catching it, as if bored...
But to Shiu, who already found her suspicious, it was a chilling action.
"Won't you partner with me?"
Should I accept this?
Had Shiu's mind ever been this active in his life?
Countless simulations flashed through Shiu's mind.
...At that moment, Arte brought her face closer to mine.
She looked up slightly, tilting her head.
To a stranger, it would seem like a pretty girl's cute aegyo.
But I won't be fooled.
She clearly has some ulterior motive for approaching me.
As proof, look.
Those eyes, faintly visible between her narrow eyes that seemed to be smiling.
Those eyes that seemed to pierce right through me.
Alright, here, I'll refuse...
"That's strange..."
The moment I decided to refuse.
The smile vanished from her face, and the dagger in her right hand glinted in the sunlight.
The moment I saw that expression, all the simulation results in Shiu's mind were wiped clean.
"I-I'll do it! I will!"
Before he knew it, Shiu was urgently shouting.
As if, if he refused, he wouldn't be able to wake up after taking a single nap.
"Then, I look forward to working with you."
Her bright smile looked like a devil's grin.
An expression that seemed to say, *You can't escape*.
Shiu thought.
He wouldn't be getting much sleep for a while.