Chapter 62 - My Fighting Style [2]

I looked around the dagger area for a while, trying to find a lucky encounter of some sort where a legendary item is mysteriously placed in the level 1 section.

I carefully scanned the lower display racks, checking behind the standard iron blades to see if some ancient heirloom had been misclassified by the vault managers.

Or a bound dagger hiding somewhere like an ordinary weapon.

I kept an eye out for any strange, dust-covered scabbard or an unpolished hilt that might secretly hold a powerful hidden enchantment.

But alas, that kind of thing doesn’t really happen in real life just because you’re looking for it.

The academy’s inventory system was far too strict and organized for high-tier artifacts to simply slip into the basic storage wing unnoticed.

In the first place, I’m not even the protagonist.

Those insane strokes of random luck and hidden treasures were meant for people like Zion, not a side character like me.

"I guess this will do."

I mumbled as I took a dagger with a thin, silver blade. It was made for stabbing just like my rapier, but the edges of it were sharp too. The handguard has a cool golden design, and it was practical, it will defend my hand from being cut.

I lifted the weapon off its display stand, feeling the smooth metallic balance as I held the grip in my right hand.

The grip of its handle is fine for me as well.

The leather wrapping around the hilt felt sturdy and comfortable, offering a tight hold that wouldn’t easily slip during fast movements.

It was the best dagger I could see around. It lacked grand legendary properties, but its pure material quality and clean craftsmanship made it the most reliable choice on the racks.

*****

I stayed and searched still for anything that might catch my eye even though I already picked an item I want to take from the armory.

I carried the silver dagger in my hand, slowly walking through the adjacent weapon aisles to inspect the spear racks and shield stands.

Zion and Cindy were still picking after all, so I might as well look around.

Since my they were taking their time examining their own options, I used the extra minutes to familiarize myself with the vault layout.

And then, after about a total of an hour since we got to the armory... Zion and Cindy finally decided on what they would take.

They stepped out from their respective aisles, carrying their chosen items as they walked back toward the main circular lobby.

And so, we met up in the middle.

... ... ...

We gathered near the central pillar where the attendant was standing, setting our selected gear down to compare our choices.

"What did you get?"

Cindy asked me as soon as we got together.

She leaned forward slightly, peering at the slender silver blade resting casually in my hand.

"A dagger."

I simply said and showed it to her.

I held up the weapon by its hilt, letting her inspect the sharp silver edges and the intricate golden handguard.

"That’s a fine dagger."

She said, admiring its look and blade. She probably likes it because it’s similar to her weapon. She gave a small nod of approval, appreciating the clean design and lightweight build of the sidearm.

"Anyway, I got these boots."

Cindy said as she showed Zion and me a pair of black leather boots. She held up a sleek pair of dark footwear crafted from smooth, high-grade leather with reinforced soles.

"They’re enchanted to mask the sound of my footsteps and to increase my speed. They resize on their own too based on who wears them, so it’s super comfortable."

She explained excitedly. She pointed to the faint rune carvings running along the heel, showing off the magic circles that activated the stealth effects.

What she got really fits her fighting style, it increases her stealth and speed. It’s just as I predicted.

The enchantment directly complemented her agile movement and surprise attack tactics, giving her a massive edge in scout and ambush missions.

"What about you, what did you get?"

Moving on, the two of us turned to the silent Zion and then I asked that.

We shifted our attention over to him, who was standing right beside us with a huge, unstoppable grin plastered across his face.

He looked back at us, then with a wide smile on his face—

He raised both of his arms into the air, puffing out his chest with sheer pride.

"THESE!"

He exclaimed that and showed a pair of cool-looking knight gauntlets that he was wearing. He flexed his fingers, showing off the heavy, polished metal plating that covered his hands all the way up to his forearms.

"It can block strong attacks, and it was enchanted to make whatever I was holding lighter, so my swing strength and speed will jump by a lot!"

He said with brimming eyes. It was a really cool looking pair of gauntlets, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t envious.

His excitement was completely overflowing as he explained how the weight-reduction enchantment would allow him to swing his blade effortlessly.

Anyway, with that done—

Our group had successfully finalized our individual choices, satisfied with the rewards we had picked out from the first level.

The three of us went to the staff guarding us to inform them of our choices, Zion was basically skipping on our way to her because of how happy he was with what he got. He bounced on his feet with every step, admiring his new heavy gauntlets like a kid who had just received a brand new toy.

Cindy was even laughing at him a little for that.

She covered her mouth with her hand, giggling softly at Zion’s completely unreserved display of pure joy.

... ... ...

The female staff member carefully examined each of our items, checking the registration numbers against her tablet to verify their classification.

... ... ...

We filled out the brief clearance forms on her desk, signing our names beside our corresponding choices to mark the official transfer.

... ... ....

Finalizing our rewards was easy, we just registered our name for our item, then we returned the bronze plaque to them.

The entire process took less than five minutes, with the attendant offering us a polite bow as she approved our selections.

And after that, we were out of the armory.

We pushed through the heavy iron doors, stepping out into the bright afternoon sunlight and fresh outdoor air of the campus.

Today is Monday, but there were no classes, and it will be like this tomorrow too because the test just finished yesterday. The academy is giving us two days to rest.

The faculty had officially canceled all lectures and practical drills to allow the freshmen time to recover their physical stamina and mana reserves.

’Tine to go on with my plans.’

I thought to myself, trying to get ready for what the future will bring.

I needed to use these two free days productively to organize my schedule, secure extra funds, and prepare for upcoming main scenario events.

... ... ...

I spent the remainder of Monday mapping out my training routines and reviewing the key plot points of the early game arcs.

... ... ...

Tuesday passed by just as smoothly, with me spending hours practicing with my new dagger alongside my primary rapier [Frost].

... ... ...

Wednesday brought the resumption of regular classes, plunging us back into the demanding academic life of the academy.

*****

Time passed by more quickly than I realized.

The daily cycle of morning lectures, afternoon practical combat classes, and late-night physical training quickly blurred together into a steady routine.

I ran around the academy preparing for the future events, the test was just the beginning after all.

I made sure to stock up on basic mana potions, map out the campus routes, and keep a close eye on the overall political balance of the class.

Days passed.

The initial excitement of the dungeon evaluation results slowly died down, replaced by the relentless pressure of academy coursework.

I attended all my classes and trained afterwards. I also started planning for the events that I will be caught up with.

Every single night, I pushed my body to its limits, refining my control over Ice Powers and training my reaction speed with short blades. I was also being lectured by Ahri on how to improve my buffing and devuffing skills.

And just like that, before I know it... Half of the month had already gone by!

Two full weeks passed in the blink of an eye as I balanced my academic duties, personal combat training, and external responsibilities.

And currently—

I was standing in the middle of a bustling kitchen, holding a heavy serving tray balanced carefully on my palm.

"Vael, bring this to table B5 on the second floor."

The head chef called out from behind the service counter, sliding a fresh plate of hot food onto my tray.

"Got it, boss."

I replied instantly, picking up the order and turning toward the dining area stairs.

I’m working in the same restaurant where we first had our meeting with Crystal and Cordelia.

The dining establishment was just as crowded as ever, packed with hungry students and staff members during the peak lunch rush.

I got a part time job just like I said, and I’ve been here for two weeks now as well.

Working here provided me with a steady stream of income to fund my daily expenses, helping me stay financially independent while keeping my savings intact.