章 21: 19: Training
"The important thing is to never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason to exist."
— Albert Einstein
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Oreki came out of the bathroom after taking a quick shower, feeling refreshed. He was especially pleased with his body art. Training early in the morning had become much more efficient.
"Ah, the sweet blessing of enhanced recovery," he thought with a smirk. "Less time dragging myself along, more time to improve." He chuckled as he remembered how exhausted he used to be after training.
But his mind went back to his stats.
Luck decreased, Charm increased.
"What the hell happened for this to happen?" Blood grumbled in his mind. "Invariable stats don't change... unless something specific happens."
Sitting on the bed, Oreki frowned, equal parts irritated and confused. "I know... This shouldn't be possible. Much less make sense."
He stood still for a moment, until an idea struck him. "The book."
"What book? And how would a book be related to this?" Blood said, confused by the connection between the book and the decrease in luck.
"The Book of Investigation, you idiot. It might give us answers."
Blood huffed impatiently, but Oreki was already deep in his deductions.
With a gesture, Oreki summoned the Book of the Emblem. He knew that the more specific the question, the better the results would be. Lying down on the bed, he put his hand to his bangs, playing with his hair as he thought.
"What could be the reason for the Invariables changing? The physical awakening? No, impossible... that doesn't make sense."
"Animas? Maybe, but without proof... I'll leave him as a suspect. Along with possible other entities like him."
"It's not just bad luck. It would be very foolish of me to think that it would be that. There is a cause, and it may be subtle, but it's there."
"This isn't going anywhere. Just ask for the ans-" Blood began impatiently, but was cut off abruptly.
"Shut up. I'm thinking." Oreki said, his voice filled with a cold anger that made Blood close his mouth, not wanting to prolong the discussion that was about to take place.
And then, a clue finally formed in his mind. "The Hound of Lucios... He has my memories. If there is anyone capable of influencing this indirectly, it would be his master. Or perhaps, a demon... or another entity that I have not yet perceived."
Oreki pondered for a few more seconds, organizing the investigation priorities. "Demons, Animas, gods... these entities are the most likely."
"Okay." Oreki muttered, resolute. "Let's get straight to the point." He asked the book, confident: "Who or what caused the change in my Invariable stats?"
Immediately, he felt a sudden fatigue take over his body. His vision began to blur, and his mind grew hazy.
When he blinked, he was no longer in bed. He felt weightless, floating in an undefined void.
"Let's see what you're going to show me," he murmured, bracing himself for the answers that were to come.
Oreki felt the familiar sensation of weightlessness, floating in the dark, ethereal void created by the Book.
"Strange. This didn't happen last time." Oreki concentrated on using his elemental connection to see if it would work.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
The darkness soon began to stir, forming hazy silhouettes that gradually took on defined shapes.
This time, however, the hint seemed particularly dense. Something or someone was interfering.
"Great. It must be interference right off the bat," Oreki thought, feeling his mind begin to weigh down with the effort of keeping his focus.
The silhouettes in front of Oreki adjusted, revealing a barely recognizable but subtly distorted scene. He floated effortlessly on what appeared to be the top of a mountain, though its contours were vague, as if seen through a fogged mirror.
The sky above was heavy, a fabric of dark clouds, rippling slightly, suggesting that something in reality was out of place. In the center, a hooded figure moved slowly, shrouded in a thin mist. The figure paused for a moment, letting out a muffled laugh, as if struggling not to laugh.
"Is this the entity... or a projection of it?" Oreki thought, trying to gather information as quickly as possible. He realized immediately that the Book could be confusing when there was interference, and he needed to keep his mind clear.
Suddenly, the figure raised its hand, and the surrounding scenery began to spin. Distorted images and words flashed through the air. They were concepts mixed together, disorganized, as if the very vision itself was being manipulated.
Then, everything stopped.
The figure turned to him, revealing a pair of glowing, shapeless eyes. "Don't get involved in something you can't confront, idiot human. You're crossing the line." A voice echoed in Oreki's mind, not as a sound, it wasn't even Blood who said it, but it had an overwhelming sense of authority. It was a clear warning that the entity would not be easy to unravel.
"Whether you are gods or demons, you are very idiotic," Oreki thought, holding on tight as the scene swayed around him.
His mind began to tire. He knew he didn't have much time before the vision would fade and he would be forced to return. The figure disappeared, and the world around him became a vast array of incomprehensible symbols—the limit of the Book's vision, suggesting that there was more to discover, but not at the moment.
Before he could process what was coming next, he was pulled back. The impact was sudden, and Oreki fell heavily onto the bed, his breathing ragged and his head throbbing with pain. He felt as if he had been beaten on the head dozens of times.
Blood, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke: "That was almost useless."
Oreki, still panting and in pain, looked up at the ceiling. "No... not entirely useless. It was actually a good clue, considering what might be intervening."
He now knew that a force was deliberately manipulating his statistics. The question was why and who it was, as well as whether they would change anything else in the future.
As fatigue took over his mind, he reflected: "If an entity is trying to 'balance' me, then my strength is starting to worry something bigger..."
And he knew that finding out who or what was doing this would be crucial to what came next.
"So, what did the Investigation genius find?" Blood said mockingly.
Oreki let out a tired laugh, enjoying the sarcasm. "I narrowed down the options... and one of them is becoming the most likely."
"So, which one is it?" Blood pressed, curious.
"Read my mind, I'm too lazy to explain." Oreki replied, slowly standing up. He picked up his backpack and started walking towards the door.
Today he would attract the attention of yet another main character.
Just as he was about to open the door, he heard a light knock on the other side. He opened it and found Hazuki, who had a friendly smile and a glint of surprise in her eyes.
"I knew you'd be late today," she said with evident satisfaction, proud of her foresight.
Oreki looked at her in confusion. "Late? I'm sure I left with plenty of time."
Hazuki laughed, her Japanese words jumbled up in excitement. "Yes, welcome to the latecomer club."
"How depressing," Oreki muttered as he closed the door behind him and began walking down the hallway.
Hazuki trotted along beside him, skipping a little to keep up with his pace. She pouted, dissatisfied. "I thought the model student would be upset about being late," he said with a hint of teasing.
"I've been late many times before," he replied, the nostalgia of having skipped or arrived late to class in his previous world evident in his voice. "Only here at Cube do I maintain punctuality."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You should learn to be more punctual, like me."
Oreki responded with a slight, wry smile. "I'll use you as an example from today on."
"Oh, sure," Hazuki replied playfully, giving him a light shove on the shoulder. In the next instant, she seemed to realize something. Her fingers began exploring Oreki's shoulders and arms.
"That's harassment..." Oreki commented, not caring about his friend's unusual action.
Hazuki stopped, staring at him with a curious expression. "When did you get so... strong?"
He raised his eyebrows in surprise, but his tiredness was evident in his eyes. "How did you realize that with just a touch?"
Hazuki hesitated, looking disconcerted. "I can't explain it... I just realized it."
Oreki could have pressed, but something in his SP made him realize that Hazuki didn't want to talk about the subject anymore. He shrugged, letting the question go. "Let's just say I have my secrets. Even Sherlock Holmes would be intrigued."
"How forced," she said with a short laugh.
"Never mind."
The two of them walked in silence until they reached the classroom.
When they entered, they were greeted by a small commotion. Yi Yeonghan was posting some posters on the wall, while a group of cadets murmured and pointed at the papers.
"Hey everyone, the results of the 'Phenomenal Realm Analysis' exam are out!" Yi Yeonghan announced with a satisfied smile.
Oreki and Hazuki walked over, thankful that the teacher was not in the room. The surrounding cadets were excitedly discussing the results and comparing their standings. Most of them seemed either relieved or disappointed, but everyone's attention was focused on the paper on the wall.
Hazuki glanced at Oreki, a glint of curiosity flashing through his eyes. "Let's see how you did."
"I already know where I sat." Oreki said nonchalantly, walking to his usual seat. A slight arrogant smile appeared on his lips.
Rank 1. Houtarou Oreki
Rank 2. Rachel
The reaction was immediate. Some cadets looked at Oreki with surprise and even a hint of envy; others with barely concealed anger. Yi Yeonghan, sensing the tension in the air, turned and nodded in approval.
"Congratulations, Oreki. First place, not bad, especially on that exam," he commented with genuine respect.
"Thanks," Oreki replied casually, not giving it much thought.
Hazuki stared at him, surprised and proud. "Wow, you really nailed it!"
He shook his head, remembering the exam with distaste. "I hated that test... there were too many questions."
As the room erupted into lively conversation, Oreki heard a sound that caught his attention.
Snap
A sound like a chopstick snapping in half rang out. Oreki glanced toward the desks behind him, where only one student was sitting.
Two halves of a pen rolled onto the desk. Beside them was the pen's supposed owner, Rachel, who was staring at the exam results in a daze. Her mouth was slightly open, as if she was in great shock.
"Interest caught."
***
At Cubo, Rachel, a foreign student and English princess, stands out despite the difficulties of Korean. She does her best to maintain her reputation and represent England. Worried about the result of the "Phenomenal Realm Analysis" exam, she notices a curious look from a not-so-strange man.
She didn't know his name, but she felt the gazes of other cadets falling on him. Immediately, Rachel realized that this man was Houtarou Oreki. The man slowly looked away and started a conversation with a girl with long greenish hair, but Rachel made sure to remember his face.
She had seen him many times in the library, always reading some books or taking some to read. All the books he took were always on different topics.
Rachel began to covet his study method.
***
There was a slight commotion over the fact that Oreki had taken first place in the written exam on "Phenomenal Realm Analysis," a topic widely known to be one of the most difficult in Cube. Rachel didn't say much, but the teacher praised him, despite Monday's teacher being different from Friday's.
"Looking at Houtarou Oreki's cadet answer sheet, one can see that his knowledge and insight into the subject are truly impressive, to say the least. I hope that other cadets can learn from his passion for studying. Once again, theory is very important."
That's what the teacher said. For Oreki, such a thing couldn't have been less important. But what was more important was being able to see the expressions of those who had looked down on him because of the rumors twisting in anger.
In any case, he left the room the moment class ended, with the cadets still staring at him. Hazuki stayed behind to talk to some of her friends.
He was heading towards the training center to test his newly unlocked physique.
The path was empty, which was a welcome change after a busy day.
"Will it be calm until Sven makes his move?"
"Oreki." A female voice called out from behind him.
"I thought too soon." Oreki muttered to himself, turning to the familiar voice.
It was Chae Nayun. She, for some reason, wanted to talk to Oreki, but a certain 'obstacle' of white hair delayed her.
Her expression hardened a bit. "What are you mumbling about there?"
"Nothing important." Oreki said, feeling happy that Chae Nayun wanted to talk to him. "Do you need me for something?"
"Are you going to train?"
Oreki tilted his head slightly to the side, confused, but with an idea in mind. "Yes, I am. Are you going to ask me to train with you?"
"..." She looked at him, disbelieving. "Are you always like this?"
"Beautiful?"
"No, annoying." She snorted.
"Hmm." He pretended to think, a slight playful smile on his face. "Maybe."
He resumed walking toward the shooting practice field, not rushing, as if certain she would follow.
"Hey, wait for me!" Chae Nayun finally followed, irritated, but not admitting that he had guessed her request correctly.
They walked side by side, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, a faint discomfort lingering between them. Since the hospital, their conversations had been few, almost nonexistent.
"Have you thought about the weapon switch I mentioned earlier?"
Oreki's question seemed to break the tension of the silence, but it also brought a slight glint of irritation to Chae Nayun's eyes.
Chae Nayun huffed, annoyed, her gaze fixed straight ahead. "I already told you, I don't need your opinion on that. I'm not going to lose to someone like you, anyway."
Oreki laughed softly, teasing. "I'm honored to be the target of such a skilled cadet."
The tension in the air increased. Chae Nayun narrowed her eyes, challenging. "You talk a lot for someone who's so far down the ranking."
"I have a big mouth," Oreki didn't back down. Instead, he stepped slightly closer, keeping his voice calm. "But honestly, Nayun, the difference between our abilities isn't that big."
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued but with obvious irritation. "You're too full of yourself. You sound like Shin Jonghak."
Oreki didn't miss the opportunity. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said with a playful smile, before softening his tone to sound more reasonable. "But listen. How about a more serious training session? Not the basic one, but something that really tests your potential."
Chae Nayun huffed again, pride surging through her veins. "You never stop suggesting that, do you? I've already told you, I'm an archer. I don't need anything else. You clearly don't understand what it means to specialize."
Oreki knew she would resist. He kept his tone light, but his next words were careful, appealing to her competitiveness. "You're great with the bow. Better than I could ever be. But is being great enough for you? We both know you can't stand the thought of being behind anyone. Imagine what you could do with a close-range weapon, something that gives you more control in close combat. A sword, for example."
She hesitated for a second, as if considering his words, but soon shook her head. "I don't need a sword. I'm not a swordsman."
"Not yet," Oreki said softly, lowering his guard a bit, as if he were being more sincere. "But what if your opponent gets too close? Are you going to keep relying on just your bow? What if that's what makes you lose a crucial fight?"
"Why do you insist so much on this?" Her voice now sounded more uncertain, as if she were trying to convince herself otherwise.
"You're talented." He looked her directly in the eyes, his tone now softer, with a small smile. "I'm not underestimating you as an archer, Nayun. I just think you have more potential in something else than even you believe. Let's test it. If it doesn't work, you stick with the bow. But... what if it does?"
She took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing a bit, as if she was weighing her options.
"Why are you talking like I'm a child?"
"Maybe I am," Oreki replied with a lighter smile. "But tell me, what do you think of the idea?"
She stayed silent for a moment, pondering, until she remembered the Djinn from the museum.
"Fine," she finally said with a heavy sigh. "I'll give you a chance. But if this is a waste of time, you're going to regret provoking me."
Oreki smiled, victorious. "I can't wait."
They reached the training grounds, where the few cadets present barely noticed their entrance.
"But you're going to train with the bow too," she shot back, not giving him a chance to refuse.
"Of course," Oreki replied confidently. "Fair enough."
The two kept walking until they arrived at the archery training area, where the sound of the three cadets talking filled the space.
Nayun looked at Oreki with a mix of curiosity and irritation. "You're up first, then. Let's see how bad you are with a bow."
Oreki smiled, accepting the challenge. "Seems fair."
They walked over to the archery range. Chae Nayun grabbed a spare bow and handed it to him. It was a much simpler model, nothing compared to what she or other archers used, but functional enough for someone like Oreki, who clearly had no experience.
"This isn't like shooting a gun," she said as he took the bow. "It requires control, patience, and precision. Let's see if your big mouth matches your skills."
Oreki raised an eyebrow and adjusted his posture. "And you lack patience."
With slow movements, Oreki positioned the arrow on the bow and pulled the string, feeling the tension build, every muscle responding with precision.
He took a deep breath, using his [Corporeality] ability. Chae Nayun watched closely, a faint, mocking smile on her lips, already anticipating failure.
But Oreki remained calm. Focusing, he adjusted his posture with almost imperceptible precision, his body awareness refined by his skill. Every movement of his arms, hands, and shoulders was meticulously calibrated. The flexibility and connection between his mind and body allowed him to correct even the smallest deviations.
Oreki kept his gaze fixed on the target, which was 100 meters away, a very close distance, considering the fact that the one shooting was a Cubo cadet.
Feeling the flow of tension between the string and his breath, Oreki then released the arrow.
The arrow shot forward, flying with impressive precision for a beginner. It cut through the air, nearly hitting the center of the target and embedding itself with a solid thud.
Chae Nayun remained silent, the smirk slowly fading from her lips. She narrowed her eyes, surprised by the result.
"Phew, almost made me call myself Robin Hood."
"That... was luck," she said, trying to mask her surprise with disdain.
Oreki lowered the bow with a slight smile. "Maybe it's more than luck." He turned to her, his tone casual.
Chae Nayun stayed silent, her eyes still on the target. Something about the way Oreki handled the bow bothered her. He seemed too relaxed, as if he hadn't made any effort. It struck at her pride.
"Again," she said abruptly, uncrossing her arms and pointing at the bow in his hands.
Oreki raised an eyebrow, amused. "Afraid it was more than luck?"
"I just want to see if you can repeat it." She stepped forward, facing him. "Or are you going to run after one lucky shot?"
He smiled slightly, accepting the challenge without hesitation. "As you wish."
With fluid, natural movements, he prepared again. Once more, his [Corporeality] ability made his body adjust to the bow and the string's tension almost instinctively. He drew the arrow again.
He aimed once more, breathing deeply. Chae Nayun watched him closely, not looking away.
The arrow flew. This time, with even more confidence.
It hit the target with precision, almost in the center, just two centimeters off, but equally impressive.
Chae Nayun pressed her lips together, frustrated. She didn't want to admit it, but seeing Oreki shoot with such accuracy made her feel challenged. "Okay," she said, a little more curtly than she intended. "Seems like you're not that bad after all."
"I'm glad to finally earn your approval," Oreki replied, his voice full of light sarcasm.
She scoffed, grabbing the bow from his hands. "Let's see if you can beat me in a real competition, then."
"We've gone from experiment to competition?" Oreki remarked, with the sarcastic smile he always had when around Nayun.
"This is not an experiment," Chae Nayun retorted. "It's to see if you really have a chance to beat me at something I'm good at."
"Oh, so you're admitting I'm at your level?" Oreki teased, keeping his smile.
"Not in your dreams," she shot back, placing an arrow on the bow and positioning herself with expertise. "Get ready, because I'll show you how it's really done."
Oreki stepped back, crossing his arms as he watched her with interest. He made sure to use all of his analytical abilities to learn something from her.
Focused, Nayun took a deep breath and drew the string. Her movements were fluid, her stance firm, like a true expert. She released the arrow, and the sound of impact echoed in the training field.
The arrow struck the dead center of the target.
"Now that is hitting the mark," Chae Nayun said, lowering the bow with a victorious look towards Oreki. "Now it's your turn to keep up."
Oreki tilted his head, seeming to consider the challenge for a moment. "So that's how it is? If I hit the center too, does that mean we're tied?"
"Tied?" Nayun laughed, full of confidence. "Good luck with that."
He picked up the bow again, this time adjusting his posture with more focus. He drew the string once more. When he released the arrow, it cut through the air with silent speed.
The impact was clear. The arrow embedded itself right next to Nayun's, touching the edge of the center.
Chae Nayun narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased. "You're improving... but it's still not enough."
Oreki smiled calmly. "Maybe next time, I'll hit yours dead on."
"Let's head to the warrior training field."
When they arrived at the warrior training grounds, the atmosphere changed completely. Chae Nayun stopped, surveying the area for a brief moment, her expression carrying something more subtle.
The two entered an empty training booth.
Chae Nayun walked over to the weapon rack, picking up a short sword with ease, twirling it between her fingers as if it were nothing. But Oreki, with his perceptive acuity, noticed the slight stiffness in her movements, something she was trying to hide.
"You said you wanted to see me with another weapon, right?" Nayun said with a disdainful smile, forcing herself to keep the confident tone.
Oreki narrowed his eyes, aware of what she was feeling. He walked over to the weapon rack and grabbed two daggers, spinning them with ease. His body moved with experience thanks to his CC and constant training. He knew very well he wasn't an expert in close combat, but the combination of his body control and movement analysis compensated for that gap.
"Let's see what you can do, Nayun," Oreki said challengingly, observing every nuance of her stance. "Don't worry, I won't go easy just because you're out of your comfort zone."
She stared back at him, the competitive glint still in her eyes. "I'm not out of my comfort zone," she lied, gripping the sword tighter than necessary.
Oreki kept his eyes fixed on her. His Keen Insight allowed him to see the panic masked behind the competitive glint in Nayun's eyes.
She had overwhelming physical strength, he knew that, but her fear and lack of technique prevented her from unleashing her full potential. For now, she was still an unpolished diamond.
"Ready?" Oreki provoked, his tone calm, but his eyes firmly focused, prepared to analyze her every move.
And Oreki would be the one responsible for refining her.
She took a deep breath, forcing a confident smile. "Always."
Chae Nayun was the first to move. She advanced with impressive agility, her body a manifestation of raw power, but her actions were too cautious for someone with such physical strength.
She tried to keep the sword in a defensive position while delivering quick strikes, but there was hesitation in her movements, a lack of fluidity.
To Oreki, the hesitation was almost painful to watch. He knew, through his Corporeality ability, exactly how she should be moving to maximize her power, but her inexperience was interfering with every decision she made.
He blocked her attacks with ease, moving fluidly and precisely, but instead of counterattacking immediately, Oreki stepped back, slowing down the pace of the fight.
"Don't close your eyes when you attack," he commented, trying to gauge her reaction.
Nayun forced a response, her jaw clenched. "It was just a slip-up!"
She attacked again with more force, but Oreki felt the imbalance. Her strikes were becoming more erratic, as if she were fighting against something inside herself. Taking advantage of a small opening, Oreki quickly closed the distance between them, moving aggressively.
At that moment, he saw a shadow of panic in her eyes. The sword wavered clumsily in her hands as she instinctively retreated, trying to push him back with a wide swing, but it lacked the necessary conviction.
"Impressive strength, but lacking technique. And a high amount of mana." He was aware that pressuring her too much could worsen the fear she already felt, so he offered some analysis instead.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves and forcing a bitter smile. "I'm still not convinced."
"Then let's continue."
Oreki advanced again, this time with more speed, the dagger in his left hand making a half-moon motion. Nayun tried to block him, but her short sword trembled in her hands. She was strong, no doubt, but fear and lack of technique prevented her from controlling her power properly.
"Give me a break!" Nayun shouted, frustration finally breaking through the facade of confidence she tried to maintain.
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