The classroom filled up unusually quickly today.
The lingering emotion from yesterday hurried the students.
After finishing my required liberal arts course, I arrived at the classroom as if I were flying and filled a seat.
Even though there is still nearly an hour left of the lecture.
It felt like time was passing unusually slowly.
An hour that felt like a month passed-
Gulp-
At the exact time, Professor Lucas opened the classroom door and appeared.
He stood before the students with a posture that still showed not a trace of dishevelment, imbued with noble dignity.
Continuing from yesterday, today I will cover the advanced course on the
Thump-
As Lucas snapped his fingers, 20 combat dolls entered the classroom along with his assistant, Lit.
These are the combat dolls I used for a demonstration at the conference. They are the latest models equipped with Dust Industries' cutting-edge technology.
When the news of the conference and demonstration came out, the reaction was explosive.
"A demonstration at a conference? The one everyone is talking about as amazing?"
"Wow, that's amazing! You aren't planning to show that demonstration here, are you?"
The prevailing opinion was that the lecture Lucas gave at the conference was truly fantastic.
It is to the extent that President Alan praised it highly in an exclusive interview.
The students hoped that Lucas might reenact the lecture from back then, but this was not intended for that purpose.
"I have entered the information of Grasco's cultured swordsmanship, the Periad Sword, into this combat doll."
As Lucas gestured, the combat dolls aligned and moved toward the students, one per person.
"You just need to engage in mock sparring with them. As I said, the combat dolls will only use the Periad Sword. You must neutralize the combat dolls solely through the manifestation of the 'Form'. Once the combat dolls are neutralized, the practice is over. Any questions?"
"doesn't exist!"
"Very well. Begin the sparring."
At the same time as Lucas declared the start, a piercing light formed in the eyes of the battle dolls.
For your information, the combat doll will be using magic power, so do your best.
Whirring-!
Ah, wait a minute.
* * *
This duel, which appears unfair at first glance, was an essential prerequisite for the analysis of 'form,' the core task of today's lecture.
And since the midterm exam must also be taken under the same conditions, there is also an experiential purpose.
"Eden, receiving it with magic power is also forbidden."
"Karen, concentrate. Consciously eliminate the output of magical power."
There are also students who occasionally get choked up and try to unleash their magical power.
It is unavoidable, as it is likely a habit that has continued almost like instinct since the moment magical power was manifested and imbued into a weapon.
That is why we are trying to secure it in advance.
The moment you rely on magic power, everything you have lectured on so far will be completely wasted.
He ordered them to continue concentrating so that they could master the lectures more perfectly.
Five minutes passed, and ten minutes passed.
Naturally, no student has neutralized a combat doll.
After 30 minutes, a reaction is slowly starting to come in.
Of course, from the students' side, not the combat dolls'.
In addition to the fatigue from yesterday, I could clearly see my body growing heavy.
A showdown between an inexhaustible combat doll and a human with physical limits.
Above all, the doll even uses magical power.
Although humans may appear to be at an overwhelming disadvantage—
"What did you learn from yesterday's lecture? Recall yesterday's lecture."
That is not the case.
This practice is thoroughly planned to ensure it can be cleared.
The actual combat doll's output was significantly reduced, and the input data was the low-level swordsmanship 'Periard Sword'. Furthermore, the combat doll does not attack first.
If the students attack, we simply respond accordingly.
"Ugh…"
"Ugh! Hah, gh!"
The students grew increasingly exhausted.
His breathing became heavy, and his posture collapsed.
Even after an hour has passed, no student has succeeded in neutralizing it.
"stop."
The limit for students confirmed by
The practical training is over.
As soon as the end was declared, the combat doll's output was turned off, and at the same time, the students' new bodies crumbled.
It seems no one has succeeded in neutralizing them.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed.
Still, I thought at least one or two would succeed.
"...."
The moment I was about to open my mouth in disappointment.
[A new notification has arrived.]
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A flood of notification windows melted away the disappointment like snow.
The corners of my mouth naturally try to turn up.
No.
I need time to compose myself of this joy.
"...Let's take a 10-minute break."
I forced myself to suppress the smile that was threatening to come out, quickly turned around, and left the classroom.
* * *
"...Let's take a 10-minute break."
Professor Lucas left the classroom, leaving behind only a strange expression never seen before.
It was an expression they had never seen before, but the students could tell.
That is an expression of deep disappointment.
It looks like the professor is really disappointed.
"No, but wasn't it a game we couldn't even compete in the first place?"
A feeling of injustice surged up inside me.
I sparred with an opponent using magic power for nearly an hour.
Considering they endured the weight difference between an adult and a child for a whole hour, isn't that actually impressive?
"That's right. Actually, just holding out is a big deal. Your standards were just too high, Professor."
It's impressive that you withstood a magic-using opponent barehanded.
Some students agreed.
at that time.
Dejan, who had been listening to their conversation, opened his mouth.
"Didn't you feel it? The combat doll did not strike first. Even though it manifested the sword technique of the Periad Sword, that technique never turned toward us until we signaled our intention to attack."
"Ah, that's right. I made those combat dolls, so I know them well. You can't just take them on at this level."
Ailon also chimed in.
"...!"
It was only then that they seemed to realize something, too.
"Surely, there must have been a way. The professor isn't the type to give us problems without answers."
As I felt even in the theory lectures, there was always an answer to his questions.
Of course, they were not standardized questions, but rather the result of thought and deliberation; however, they were questions for which answers clearly existed.
This practical training will be no different.
The answer… … must have been.
It's just that they didn't know.
"Still, wouldn't it have been difficult for you, Professor, to fight against a magic-using opponent using only the manifestation of 'Brother'?"
"hmm...."
They thought for a moment and came up with an answer.
It should work.
That's right, that gentleman will be fine.
It will definitely work.
"I suppose such a Q&A is meaningless for him."
Even the student who voiced the opinion couldn't help but nod, recalling the strength Lucas had shown.
But that is why I wanted to see it with my own eyes.
What Lucas's answer is.
* * *
I will continue the lecture.
I barely managed to compose myself and returned to the classroom.
He continued the lecture from the podium that he had not been able to finish earlier.
"What do you think is the reason you failed to neutralize the combat dolls?"
It is because he fought without magic power.
That is the correct answer.
At my positivity, the students looked at me with expressions that seemed to say, "What kind of nonsense is this?"
"It seems you are mistaken. If the skill levels are the same, the one with superior magical power is stronger. That is an immutable truth."
"B-but, Professor, without using magic...."
"Assuming the skill level is strictly 'equal.' If there is a vast difference in ability, the presence or absence of magical power becomes completely irrelevant. What do you mean by 'level' here? Dejan, you keep answering."
It is a difference in... levels.
"You are right. Where does the difference in mastery come from? It stems from an understanding of martial arts. The 'Periard Sword' unleashed by the combat doll before your eyes possesses a tremendous level of technical perfection. However, that does not mean this combat doll has a superior understanding of martial arts compared to you."
Combat dolls are nothing more than things that move exactly as programmed.
The understanding contained within it is bound to be lost.
"But Professor, wouldn't demonstrating such a high level of technical perfection itself serve as proof of understanding?"
Ailon, the creator of the combat doll, countered.
Looks like they have a hidden agenda.
I was puzzled.
As the creator of this combat doll and a genius of magical engineering, Ailon knows better than anyone that human understanding and machine understanding are different.
However, pointing that out like that is proof that there is some ulterior motive.
Sure enough—
So, I would like the professor to demonstrate!
Did they plan this while I was out of the classroom?
It was clearly visible that the students were in agreement.
"...good night."
I anticipated that a situation like this would occur from the moment I planned this practice. That is why I entered 'Peripheral Sword,' the most fundamental swordsmanship, and set the output to the lowest level.
Whirring—clack!
The combat doll at the very front moved and stepped onto the podium.
Woong!
At the same time, he emitted a red glow from his eyes and raised his momentum.
The output is stronger than I thought.
I am once again amazed by the talent of these guys for holding out for an hour with something like this in front of them.
However, this is not the time to be impressed.
Make sure everyone takes this to heart.
Because now is a time for learning.
* * *
Whirring—clack!
The combat doll began to move.
At the same time, an extraordinary energy overflows.
"W-You're going to take that on without magic?"
The students watching swallowed hard at the ominous momentum.
That thing in front of Lucas is because Ailon specially removed the output limits to match Lucas's level.
Therefore, the aura they emitted was different from the combat dolls they had faced.
However, Lucas does not show a single change in expression.
Ssng-
The battle doll's sword was drawn, and it began to move.
Periard Sword.
It was just that the output of magical power had increased, but it gave them a sense of pressure on a completely different level from what they had faced.
Lucas still calmly looked at the battle doll's 'Periard Sword' and spoke.
"Behold, this 'Periard Sword' also begins with 'Good'."
Lucas's sword was slowly drawn.
Not a magnificent sword, but an iron sword easily obtainable from Grasco's workshop.
However, it seems to emit an extraordinary aura just by being in that hand.
Lucas's sword extends.
At the same time, naturally, the combat dolls' attacks also begin in earnest.
Overwhelming sense of intimidation!
However, Lucas moved lightly, as if finding such intimidation ridiculous.
"By destroying this line...."
Thump-
With a single light touch, the sword technique revealing the combat doll was disrupted.
Without missing that moment-
Crash!
"like this."
It happened in a flash.
Just as the sword Lucas was holding moved once, the situation ended right there.
It was dishearteningly simple.
As such, anyone can do it easily.
… … No.