Only a month ago, Hunter Seraphine was appointed to the 15th Dropout Special Management Program at the academy.
As an elite who had been active on many fronts, she was given the seat of honor among the five Instructors.
She was assigned as the head Instructor of a total of twenty dropout trainees.
'By order of Academy Headmaster Rene Moreau, Instructor Seraphine, the third seat of the Ice Arts School and elite Hunter, is hereby appointed as the head Instructor of the Dropout Special Management Program, 『Rebound』.'
As you know, the dropouts' skills are the lowest in the academy.
Most of them are given the contemptuous evaluation of 'not worth teaching,' and 70 to 80 percent of them end up being thrown off the cliff.
Only about three students a year, with a very slim chance, break through the wall, survive, and can leap again.
Among them, Leo was the least promising student in Instructor Seraphine's eyes.
Despite being a Crafting Hunter, he had no talent whatsoever, and thirty failures were clear evidence of that. She had already concluded that there was no chance he would overcome the wall.
But just two days ago, something changed.
The boy, whose will had been broken by his own weakness, returned with a special talent. Instructor Seraphine had never seen or heard of such a case.
'But it's true. He's changed.'
He had not only learned new crafting skills, but had also grown physically and mentally.
Instructor Seraphine knew better than anyone that it was not due to her enthusiastic teaching.
'...I don't know what he's thinking anymore. But one thing is certain: the student I'm teaching is finding hope again and trying to climb the stairs.'
Then, as an Instructor, her job was clear.
She had to help her student leap toward the surface once more.
"Leo! Are you even paying attention! What are you going to do if you can't even dodge that kind of attack?"
"Heeek, y-yes, Instructor!"
Instructor Seraphine planned a special training session for Leo.
High-intensity physical training that would push his body to its limits.
At Training Ground 1, Instructor Seraphine stared at Leo with sharp eyes.
Clang!
An Ice Awl grazed his cheek and pierced the wall. Usually, he would have screamed and collapsed, but he was gritting his teeth and enduring.
Only slightly, but his body's reaction speed had also increased.
'Of course, that doesn't mean he's outstanding.'
What she was paying attention to was not the talent itself, but the fact that the growth curve of the dropout, which had been stagnant for months, was finally showing signs of movement.
That was why she had suggested intensive hell training to him just a few days ago.
'E-excuse me? H-h-hell training?'
'That's right. It means your skills are starting to improve. It means you're finally breaking through the wall of talent. If you miss this moment, you won't be able to turn back, even if you regret it for the rest of your life.'
'W-well... I think I'd rather do some self-study...'
'No questions asked! You still haven't gotten rid of that rotten attitude!'
'I'm sorry!'
She had taught many students since retiring from the front lines due to injury. She had met many cases similar to Leo. She knew how to handle them.
'He's the type who shines when pushed hard.'
"Your posture is collapsing, Leo. Your reaction speed is still far off!"
"I-I'll fix it!"
At her words, a cool chill enveloped the training ground, and dozens of Ice Awls were created in the air. They were sharper and more numerous than before.
Thwack! Swish!
Leo desperately threw himself around, dodging the Awls. His movements were definitely more agile than a few days ago, and he occasionally knocked away the Ice Awls with his gloved hands.
Each time, a faint mist similar to her own cold energy could be seen rising around the gloves, but Instructor Seraphine deliberately ignored it. After all, the result was what mattered.
'Those crude gloves must be imitating my ability.'
Crafting Hunters often analyzed and imitated the abilities of others and applied them to their own creations.
Seeing her student clumsily imitating her own ability was unpleasant as a Hunter, but at the same time, she was an Instructor at the academy. She couldn't deny the strange sense of pride that welled up inside her.
The struggle to survive somehow.
It was admirable.
'But it's still not enough.'
Such clumsy imitation is meaningless in real combat.
She pushed Leo even harder. The speed and trajectory of the Ice Awls became even more unpredictable. Leo screamed and began to roll around the training ground. His whole body was already soaked with sweat, and his thin training uniform clung to his body.
His wet uniform, which was particularly noticeable, and his slightly exposed neck.
Instructor Seraphine found herself involuntarily drawn to the movement of his Adam's apple, which twitched each time he gasped for breath.
"Hmm?"
In that instant, her concentration wavered.
One of the Ice Awls, its aim slightly off, struck the ground next to Leo, in the shadow he cast.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Leo didn't notice. Instructor Seraphine was even more surprised.
She couldn't believe she had made such a ridiculous mistake. Feeling her face flush, she coughed awkwardly.
"Let's stop here for today."
"Huh? But there's still training time..."
"Your condition isn't good. I'll replace the remaining time with an explanation of the next training plan."
"A-alright."
Instructor Seraphine said nothing more and hurriedly left the training ground. She felt Leo's questioning gaze on her back, but she couldn't afford to worry about it now.
'What is it? Why do I feel like this...'
Her heart was pounding strangely, and she wondered what this unfamiliar sensation was in her lower abdomen.
It was a feeling she was experiencing for the first time in her twenty-eight years, which she had devoted to the survival of humanity.
Master's Domination Lv.1 (Active)
Charm Imprint Lv.2 (Active)
She had no idea that a 'forced skill' that only slaves who were subordinate to others could obtain was attached to her body...
A short time later, Instructor Seraphine, who had lightly washed away her sweat in the simple shower room next to the training ground, felt the strange sensations from earlier subside to some extent after finishing her shower with cold water.
'It must have been a mistake.'
However, when Leo, who had also finished showering, approached her, shaking his wet hair with a towel, Instructor Seraphine felt her head heat up slightly.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, Instructor. Thanks to you."
"We finished early today due to my poor condition, but that won't happen again. Be prepared."
"Yes, I will keep that in mind!"
Instructor Seraphine opened her mouth in her usual cold tone. She tried to suppress the strange sensations from earlier.
"There are a few things I need to tell you about the upcoming course."
"Yes, I understand."
"First of all, the Dropout Reorganization Test is coming up in a few weeks. You know that this test is your last chance."
Leo swallowed nervously, looking tense. She held up two fingers toward him.
"This Dropout Test will consist of two parts. The first is a basic physical fitness and Hunter skill assessment. The second is a mock Rift raid."
"When you say mock Rift..."
"You will be deployed to one of the Rifts that has been completely cleared, and you must achieve a specific goal within a set time. At this time, the examiners will closely evaluate your judgment, adaptability, and ability to cooperate with your teammates."
Leo's face turned noticeably pale.
Instructor Seraphine felt a sense of bewilderment at the sight.
He had always been terrified of the word Rift, but this time it seemed even worse. It was as if he thought the Rift he was going to enter was dangerous.
"I-Instructor, is that completely cleared Rift really a safe place?"
"Of course. 'Completely cleared' means that all risks and variables have been completely controlled. The Rifts used for testing are especially well-managed for safety."
Instructor Seraphine answered firmly, but the anxiety on Leo's face did not disappear.
'Is this also due to the trauma of the past few months?'
Instructor Seraphine knew that her student had failed to break through to the designated area of the lowest-level Rift thirty times in a row.
Thinking about it that way, she felt sorry for him.
She tried to control her voice, which was about to soften, and continued.
"...And the supervisor who will oversee the test is the academy's head vice principal, William Kraus."
"Ah."
"Vice Principal Kraus tends to value the ability to improvise in unexpected situations. Therefore, we plan to conduct intensive mock training over the remaining period, assuming various variable situations."
She briefly explained the outline of the training plan she had prepared. Mock training assuming various traps and complex terrain, survival training to survive with limited resources, etc., were truly harsh contents worthy of the name 'hell training.'
After finishing the explanation, Instructor Seraphine looked at Leo's reaction. The boy, who would normally be looking down at the floor with a desperate expression, was surprisingly listening to her calmly. And finally, he opened his mouth.
"...Instructor, would it be okay to make some modifications to the training plan?"
"Modifications?"
Instructor Seraphine raised her eyebrows slightly, as if surprised.
A dropout asking to modify her training plan.
While she thought it was presumptuous, she strangely wanted to hear what he had to say.
"Speak. I'll consider it if you have a valid reason."
"Yes. As you said, Vice Principal Kraus is strict, but he also has one peculiar habit. He places great importance on first impressions."
"First impressions?"
Leo continued in a confident tone.
"Yes. If you make an impressive appearance at the beginning of the test, you are likely to receive a significant bonus in the subsequent evaluation. Conversely, if you make a disappointing appearance at the beginning, it will be difficult to get a good score, no matter how hard you try to make up for it later."
Instructor Seraphine listened to him with her arms crossed.
'That makes sense.'
What he said about Vice Principal Kraus's tendencies was exactly in line with her impression of Kraus.
Evaluating and dividing people based on first impressions. Wasn't that what that old geezer often did?
How Leo knew that was a question, but it wasn't an important issue.
'This kid was preparing for the Dropout Test in his own way.'
Instructor Seraphine understood Leo's intention.
He must need time to create a new product, right?
It might be a pretty effective method for a stubborn old man like William Kraus to suddenly show a surprising growth on the day of the test.
Instructor Seraphine nodded briefly.
"Alright. I'll accept your opinion. The training for the remaining period will proceed as planned, but I will allocate an additional three hours of autonomous training time per day. I will not interfere in any way during that time."
"...Thank you for your consideration, Instructor."
She didn't know what he was planning to make, but it was probably something that imitated her skills, like last time.
The sight of her student struggling to surpass her, or to resemble her.
Just imagining it made Instructor Seraphine feel a strange tickling sensation in the corner of her heart.
'What is it? What is this feeling?'
Once was a mistake, but twice was a different story.
'Is this what people call lust? Am I at the age where I need a man?'
If not, what was this tickling feeling?
"...Is it admiration?"
It might be a cowardly self-justification, trying to find her own dream, which had been broken by injury, in the potential of that immature student.
Instructor Seraphine looked at the lights on the training ground ceiling and smiled bitterly.
There was a time when she swore to dedicate herself to humanity. For that oath, she had lived believing that personal feelings and personal happiness were luxuries.
For her to react to just a young male student.
'Would I ever meet a man like that? Endure, my body. Since I swore, you must not break the oath.'
As if to steel herself, she stood unperturbed on the cold training ground floor.
She steeled her heart.