Chapter 174

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Episode 41 - Statistics Window [1]

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Sunday at noon.

After returning to the Academy, I went to Classroom B-1 and entered a spacious training room.

There were all kinds of weapons carefully arranged on a long weapon rack.

At the center was a large thirty-meter square platform.

Further back, there was a gravity room and various training equipment.

After entering the training room, Clementine looked at me and greeted me.

"Ehm, thanks for... accepting my offer."

"You’re welcome. I don’t have anything else to do anyway."

Yesterday, when Clementine came looking for me to train her, I initially thought about refusing, since I really have no experience training someone.

Although I trained Charlotte once, it was simply so she could learn how to use her Stellar Attribute abilities, not any other kind of training.

Clementine wanted to become stronger; she wasn’t looking to gain abilities or awaken some desired Trait.

That was why I wanted to refuse, but then she offered me a deal I couldn’t turn down.

"But is it really okay for you to do anything I ask, just once?"

"Yes, I don’t mind."

She seemed even more embarrassed than yesterday, but in any case, that was her offer.

To ask her for anything I wanted.

And as it happened, that offer would be very helpful to me because there was one thing I would like to ask of her.

Since Clementine and I weren’t that close, it was very difficult to talk to her, let alone ask her for something.

’Although I can’t ask for something excessive like a relic or some valuable item that only her family possesses, since her own family despises her after all.’

Rather, it would be something that only she could offer me, and in any case, it wasn’t something truly difficult or impossible.

"So, how do we start?"

"....."

"You seem very excited, don’t you?"

"Of course I am. If there’s a way to become stronger, then how could I not be excited?"

Well, she had a point. Anyone would be excited to experience a significant increase in power or, at the very least, a noticeable one.

"Mhm."

I rubbed my chin while "looking" at Clementine; more precisely, using my Mana Sense, my senses, my Weakness Detection, and my True Sight.

All of these Traits help me understand everything that is wrong with a person, from their weaknesses to their mana circulation.

Before my, the colors of mana appeared.

A white, ghostly, almost transparent color. The Void Attribute had that kind of unconventional hue.

Her mana circulation, the most obvious weaknesses and the smallest, hardest-to-find ones, even the way she observed her surroundings.

I was able to notice countless flaws in Clementine, so after several minutes of silence, I finally came up with a way to train her.

’Maybe I actually have talent for being a master.’

After creating the training plan, I opened my mouth and said:

"Well, I already know how to fix everything you’re doing wrong."

Clementine blinked in confusion.

"I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong. I don’t show any weaknesses in combat, nor do I lack strength, endurance, or anything like that."

I shook my head.

"No, actually, you’re doing so many things wrong that I don’t understand how you haven’t noticed."

In truth, she wasn’t the only one. When I use Weakness Detection, I can instantly notice every mistake made by any person.

Since I had conducted the practical exams during the last week, I had also used Weakness Detection on the other main characters.

And I have to say that every one of them has obvious flaws; well, with the exception of Lumina.

Although even in her case, I can still notice a small flaw, albeit very rarely.

After all, perfection is not something that can be achieved so easily, no matter how many lives a person has lived.

"D-do you mean that you’re looking down on me?"

At her words, I smiled and walked toward her.

Clementine took several steps back, startled by my sudden approach.

I reached her in an instant and then moved back in the blink of an eye.

Then, from my perspective, I found one of her many weaknesses and, using the tip of my finger, pressed the left side of her abdomen.

"...."

"Aaah!"

Clementine cried out as she retreated from me at high speed. Her body looked as though an electric current had struck her.

The temperature of her face rose, and she stared at me while breathing heavily.

I laughed at the sight as a smile spread across my face.

"W-w-what do you think you’re doing...?! A-and why are you laughing?"

She clenched her teeth in embarrassment. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

’She’s very adorable if it weren’t for her personality.’

Coming out of my thoughts, I said:

"Well, that was a demonstration of your many weaknesses and mistakes. If you don’t believe me, I can prove it on several other parts of your body."

Clementine wrapped her arms around herself and stepped back.

"D-don’t come any closer. From now on, there will be a five-meter distance between us."

I raised my hands in surrender.

"Alright, so now you believe me."

Clementine let out a sigh and, after spending some time lost in thought, nodded.

"W-well, I guess that’s true... but a ticklish spot isn’t a weakness."

She shouted the last part, trying to hide her embarrassment, referring, of course, to the place I had pressed.

It was a sensitive spot, and not just any sensitive spot; it was the most sensitive spot, one capable of provoking intense ticklish sensations.

"Any area that is ticklish is still a weakness, because it means it’s one of your vulnerable points. Simple as that."

Over the months, I had corrected every weakness I could find.

Of course, there were still many weaknesses left for me to fix, but in general, I had already dealt with the easiest ones to identify.

Unless my enemy had Weakness Detection, it would be difficult for them to find any of my weaknesses.

Clap!

I clapped my hands together and said,

"Alright, let’s begin. First, I’ll point out all the weaknesses anyone could take advantage of at a glance. Then we’ll test your senses, which I’ve noticed are where you’re weakest, followed by your bad habits when it comes to sword movement..."

I listed an endless number of flaws; Clementine’s expression gradually worsened as she listened to everything we had to go over during the day.

Clearly, my words had made her aware of all her mistakes.

If she lacked talent, she would probably dismiss my words as absurd or meaningless.

But she was intelligent and talented, so she listened without interrupting me.

Finally, we began the first training session.

***

Hours passed, and according to Clementine, it was already around eight in the evening.

I decided it was time to end the training.

There hadn’t been much physical activity throughout the day because, first and foremost, Clementine needed to become aware of all her bad habits and mistakes.

And even though there hadn’t been any progress yet, it didn’t matter.

In any case, her biggest problem was her weaknesses, so I told her to focus mainly on that.

A person full of openings and weaknesses was the easiest to defeat in a battle where each person’s life was on the line.

As we were leaving the training room, I suddenly remembered something and took out a couple of elixirs from my Inventory.

"Take these. If you want to improve as quickly as possible, drink all of these elixirs."

They were elixirs that increased overall stats; some of them would eliminate part of her physical weaknesses.

And most importantly, these elixirs would finally allow Clementine to reach the Peak Stage of Four Stars.

"Elixirs... W-wait, wait, those things are way too expensive, and I thought you were a commoner. Besides, where did you get all of that?"

In response to her repeated questions, I simply said,

"I may be a commoner, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to manage my money."

Technically, I could become rich legally, but I preferred fast money.

So I took it from every villain I could find.

However, Clementine didn’t need to know that.

She looked at me with obvious suspicion.

"Just take them. And in case you didn’t know, Professor Lunia is my master, so getting elixirs is very easy for me."

"Professor Lunia."

I nodded at her surprised reaction. Any cadet would know that being Professor Lunia’s disciple practically guaranteed free access to potions and elixirs.

Of course, if I wanted her to prepare elixirs for me, I would have to obtain the rarer materials myself; it wouldn’t always be free.

"Well, alright."

Clementine took the elixirs and stored them away. Shortly afterward, we each went our separate ways.

Finally, after returning to my room, I sat down on the living room sofa.

Letting out a sigh, I reviewed everything I had done throughout the day.

From returning to the orphanage to visit Astrid, who for some reason was far more intelligent than a girl her age should be.

To all the training I had done with Clementine.

I had covered most of her mistakes, and with the elixirs I had just given her, she would become even stronger.

She would probably advance to Five Stars during this summer break.

’It would be great if all the main characters awakened the Divine Body.’

Still, I’ll at least make sure they all awaken the Transcendent Body.

I need them to become stronger, and only then will I stop worrying about their safety.

Shortly afterward, I took out several elixirs from my Inventory.

’Anyway, I should unlock the Statistics Window now. I’m curious to know which stats I need to increase before advancing to Five Stars.’

I had put it off until later, but it was time to find out what my stats looked like.