Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World - Chapter 103.3 - The Second Year at the Academy - Joint Exercise 1 (3)

The sound of metal clashing echoes across the grasslands.

On the second day afternoon, the joint training began.

Students of magic centered around Elphimia activate strengthening magic such as [Physical Up Other].

In response, students with blue cloth wrapped around both arms march out.

Lambert, Felix, and Elliot move out, but I remain in the main camp.

In the morning, squad leaders gathered under Captain Soval for a strategy meeting.

As the open grasslands offer no advantage for clever tactics, the opinion arose from the seniors who experienced joint exercises last year that the key to victory is how close one can approach the enemy’s territory before the battle begins.

Soval adopted this approach and then disbanded the squads.

Many magic students are not adept at close combat or have limited magical power.

They weren’t very useful on the front lines.

Therefore, those with high mobility are positioned at the vanguard to cut deep into enemy territory as planned.

As a result, the vanguard, including those charging into enemy territory, consisted of 25, followed by eleven in the rear guard and 10 in the archery unit.

I thought I’d be in the vanguard, but apparently, the seniors volunteered eagerly, so I was thrown into the archery unit with Karmal.

The vanguard approaches the enemy units with red cloth.

When the 3rd-year archery commander raises his arm to signal a halt, shooters including myself line up in rows and nock their arrows.

“Release!”

Arrows are released simultaneously, raining down on the enemy’s vanguard.

However, they are all blocked by shields, and the battle between the vanguards begins as if nothing happened.

No injuries?

I spin the arrow and examine the arrowhead.

“If these were real, they’d pierce through the shields.”

“You’d get serious injuries then.”

Karmar next to me responds as he holds his bow.

For safety reasons, the arrowheads are removed and replaced with thick fabric.

With this, not only the power but also the distance of the shots gets compromised.

“It’s begun.”

“We couldn’t penetrate the enemy lines as much as we thought. Did they send out fast troops as well?”

“Seems likely.”

Soon, the attacking units are fully deployed, but no arrows are coming from the Edgim squad.

It seems none brought any bows, not even the archery unit.

“Abandoning long-range attacks and thickening the front lines.”

“Should we head for support?”

“Let’s do that.”

Gradually, the front lines expand, and battles break all over the grasslands.

When ordered by the archery unit commander, we resume shooting, and I get permission to run to the left flank while Karmal runs to the right.

The total number of troops gathered on the front line is about ninety.

Split into two armies, they engage in fierce battles all over the grasslands.

Especially the second years, who have little experience in group battles, are struggling.

Just being hit a little doesn’t count as a fatal blow, so inexperienced students are still fighting back while being hit with wooden weapons.

However, depending on where they are hit, it could be considered a fatal wound, and they are forcibly removed from the battlefield by the judging teachers and senior students.

So far, there have been no dropouts, but with both sides having fewer troops, they might collapse soon.

Screams and curses fill the air as allies slip through, replaced by 2nd years who falter after receiving a blow.

I see several third years and even some second years ahead.

I sigh inwardly.

Will everything go according to plan?

I deflect the wooden sword swinging down at me and keep moving forward.

The Edgim squad begins to surround me as I push forward.

They’ve gathered nicely. Alright, keep attacking.

I hold up my wooden sword and fend off attacks coming from three directions.

Before the exercise began, I consulted with Lambert about how far I should go.

If I go all out, I could take down the main camp alone, but that wouldn’t be a good exercise for me or anyone else.

So I suggested.

“How about going to the front line, mainly focusing on defense, and only switching to offense when the situation turns unfavorable?”

Lambert witnessed the Halvish battle.

He seemed concerned about the disparity in strength, so he immediately agreed to my proposal.

So, I started training in defense, but—

The second years are being overly cautious.

While the third years swing their wooden swords vigorously, the 2nd years cautiously poke their swords forward.

It stings a little to see such timid movements.

Well, it can’t be helped.

According to Cody, Lambert and I are considered the strongest candidates among the second years, during the previous outdoor training in the first term, several people witnessed me running around, which made me even more feared.

I don’t understand why just running around is so scary, but anyway, the exercise won’t be meaningful for me.

So, reluctantly, I pretend to trip and purposely let the 3rd year’s attacks land on me.

Yeah, that hurts a lot.

When I show signs of pain, the second years’ faces brighten up.

See, it’s not scary! We can take them down together!

Seems like they’ve understood my thoughts, as the second years become more proactive in their attacks.

That’s the spirit.

I barely deflect the wooden swords and let them hit me a little to reassure them.

My performance, combined with their enthusiasm, kept the second years swinging their wooden swords energetically.

But really, is it this troublesome to be in the spotlight?

Halvish must have had a tough time without any opponents.

I recall the swordsman known as the strongest in the academy and suddenly realized something.

So, was he so skilled in shield techniques because he only focused on defense like me?

If that’s the case, maybe having a target rather than just defending would be more beneficial for training.

Halvish only had ‘Shield Strike’ after all—

I remember my fight with Klaus.

Before receiving [Decisive Blow], what broke through my defense was the intermediate defense skill [Protection of the Beast].

It was neatly blocked by the shield, but the skill itself isn’t exclusive to shields.

I deflected the incoming attack, reminded of Klaus, and ended up taking a direct hit.

It’s quite challenging.

Wait a moment. Let me gather my thoughts.