Now the apprentices knew this practical training instructor was serious. They had initially thought his skills were nothing special.
But in that mont, all the apprentices were curious to see how he would face the living monster. They were also terrified the demonstration would end in a mistake no one wanted to witness...
Colin ignored the apprentices’ reactions and walked straight toward the nearby Vine Blight.
’I spent so much ti preparing this lesson over the last few days. I’d be pretty frustrated if I couldn’t demonstrate it completely.’
’I can’t guarantee these apprentices will get anything out of it, but they should at least get to experience one full class.’
Just as Colin ca within five ters of the monster, a wave of vines once again surged from the Vine Blight’s base, coiling tightly around his ankles just as before.
The Vine Blight extended its right hand again, and countless tendrils shot out from its palm.
Colin raised his left hand high, his right hand simultaneously gripping the Dagger at his waist as he recited a Spell.
The instant he drew the Dagger, its blade burst into Fla.
Enhancent: Erald Fla Sword!
The Fla blood, instantly severing the branches extending from the Vine Blight’s arm.
At the sa ti, however, more branches had already coiled around Colin’s calves and torso.
Without hesitation, Colin recited another Spell and, with a backhanded thrust, plunged the Erald Fla Sword into the Vine Blight’s head.
With a SIZZLE like a red-hot iron plunged into cold water, a burst of foul-slling white steam erupted from the gaps between the vines.
At the sa ti, the vines around the Vine Blight’s head shot out to bind Colin’s wrist, while the vines on its body suddenly spread open like a gaping maw, preparing to clamp down on its prey.
Reciting another Spell, a small fireball appeared in Colin’s hand.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the Flaming Arrow into the Vine Blight’s chest, blasting a small pit filled with smoldering embers.
By now, the Vine Blight’s tendrils had almost enveloped the entire upper half of his body.
Unfazed by the danger, Colin continued to recite the Spell.
Flas erupted once more in the palm of his free left hand, and another Flaming Arrow shot out, striking the Vine Blight in the head.
Under this furious barrage, the vines making up the Vine Blight’s body suddenly disintegrated, collapsing to the ground in a heap of smoldering, withered tendrils.
Colin let out a breath of relief and pulled the remaining vines off his body.
The classroom was now utterly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.
After silently picking up his Armor and weapon from the ground, a flicker of thought activated the Magic of the demonstration area, teleporting him back to the lecture platform inside the classroom.
There was still not a single sound in the classroom.
Every apprentice was staring intently at the practical training instructor who had just reappeared on the platform.
Colin held up the Dagger in his hand for the apprentices to see.
"Just like that. As a Mage, aside from Casting, I recomnd you carry a Dagger and practice drawing it quickly. You never know when a little thing like this might save your life. Also..."
Colin rolled up his sleeve and lifted the hem of his tunic.
His well-muscled abdon and arm were covered in large gashes and bruises. The Vine Blight hadn’t been as helpless as it looked.
The apprentices below felt their scalps tingle just looking at the wounds.
Yet the instructor on the platform had remained calm enough to continue Casting Spells after taking that Damage, and he didn’t even look much older than them!
Only then did they truly understand that even when using only Cantrips, the gap between their combat abilities and their instructor’s was as wide as the heavens and the earth.
After displaying his injuries, Colin continued, "When you’re out on an adventure, you must check your physical condition and tend to your wounds after every single battle. Right after you’re injured, adrenaline will dull the pain. You have to be careful that an unnoticed injury doesn’t get you killed in the next fight."
The mont he finished speaking, soone started to clap. Then, one by one, the other apprentices joined in, until the classroom was filled with thunderous applause.
’I guess I managed to bluff my way through that...’
Colin sighed in relief. ’Well, that was worth the thirty Gold Coins, at least.’
"Alright, that’s all for today’s class," he said, reciting the final instructions Morel had given him. "Each of you is to write a four-thousand-word paper. You’ll turn them all in to Professor Lextex."
The applause in the classroom instantly turned into a collective groan.
Colin chuckled.
Their familiar reaction reminded him of his own school days.
’Although, from what I’ve read, the Magic Academies in this world are actually quite cruel.’
’Magic itself is a difficult thing to control.’
’What’s more, the environnt for research in this world isn’t exactly ideal.’
’So Magic Professors will even go so far as to eliminate other professors for research resources. Even worse, so collaborate with demons to advance further down the path of Magic.’
’These Mages basically treat their apprentices as test subjects and slaves.’
’The Black Tower Apprentices, on the other hand, are so innocent mainly because of the Master of the Black Tower’s strict internal supervision. On top of that, they all co from well-off families and haven’t yet been beaten down by the real world. After all, studying here isn’t free.’
After the practical training class ended, the apprentices filed out of the classroom.
Colin put his gear back on.
Before leaving, he glanced back at the remains of the Vine Blight in the small pit.
’Just a few months ago, when dealing with the Frostland Druids, Kase and I treated these things like a major threat. And during my first carriage escort mission, I was almost killed by an even weaker Twig Blight.’
’I never thought I’d reach a point where I could take one down while explaining key concepts, like I was dissecting a frog.’
At that mont, his attention drifted to his mission Panel.
-----------------
[Commission: Academy Course]
[Rating: 2]
[Reward: 100 Skill Level]
-----------------
’I got a rating of 2 just for killing a Vine Blight?’
Colin mused, ’The rating must be related to my teaching performance. As far as practical combat instruction goes, I think I did a pretty good job.’
"Colin, I’m mad at you."
Colin turned to see Sela standing behind him.
The young woman’s head was slightly bowed and her cheeks were red. Despite her words, her tone was soft and gentle.
"Ever since we t at the last Yule Festival, everyone in class knows what a good student I have in you," Sela said. "But I only know Tier One Magic. They’re definitely going to make fun of now."
"Couldn’t be helped. If I hadn’t improved quickly, I’d probably be dead by now," Colin said with a laugh.
"So what great battles have you been in, Instructor Colin?"
"The Blight incident in Silverpine Village a few months ago. I was involved in that," Colin said, ntioning a relatively well-known event.
Sela had only been teasing and didn’t expect him to give a serious answer.
She thought for a mont. "You an the operation against the Frostland Druids? I only heard that a large number of field agents and mbers of the Gray Squad handled everything."
"I was just one of those ’large number of field agents.’ A naless nobody," Colin joked with a smile. "You’re bound to improve after a battle like that, right, teacher?"
At that, the smile vanished from Sela’s face.
For a sheltered girl like her—a flower in a greenhouse—the thought of a peer she knew fighting for his life against monsters while she was living happily at the academy was clearly a profound shock.
She frowned, sighed, and said softly, "Colin, it must have been so hard for you..."
Before Colin could respond, Sela smiled again. "Well, keep it up, my good student! I’m looking forward to the day you beco a Professor of the Black Tower. That job will surely be much easier than what you’re doing now."
With that, she waved and dashed away.
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