Enrollment and the Armament’s Challenge

‘Wait, I merely came to accompany you… Never mind, since I’m already here, I might as well indulge her.’

Handing her student ID to the senior student, Xiu Lan calmly inquired, observing his surprised expression, “Senior, do I meet the enrollment qualifications?”

“……Are you truly the ‘Living Dead’?”

‘The ‘Living Dead’ was an epithet some classmates had bestowed upon Xiu Lan, a jibe at how she managed to remain remarkably sprightly despite her tattered body, moving like a zombie—a true medical marvel.’

‘It was unexpected that this nickname had circulated all the way to the Combat Department, reaching even the ears of the senior student handling admissions.’

‘In a sense, she had become quite renowned, hadn’t she?’

“The Living Dead? Who’s that? What a hilarious nickname.”

Villy chuckled, nudging Xiu Lan with her shoulder; had she not witnessed the ‘idiot’ herself yesterday, practically omnipotent as she soared through the heavens and delved into the earth, Villy might have actually believed the moniker.

‘Alas, lies invariably crumbled before the undeniable truth.’

Ignoring her friend’s playful taunt, Xiu Lan replied, “Yes, Senior. Please tell me if I can join the Combat Department.”

The senior student fell into contemplation, then, after a moment of internal debate, addressed them both, “The two of you, come with me for a test.”

“Students in the Combat Department are assigned ‘Armaments’ (TL Note: A special weapon or combat gear). Theoretically, these Armaments impose no specific physical requirements; whether you are a frail elderly person or a spry teenager, an Armament can enhance your combat capabilities.”

En route to the training room, the senior student explained, “Allow me to first introduce you to the origins of the Armaments.”

[Armament]

‘Forged by unknown technology, these special armaments were originally exclusive to the ‘Grey Wind’ faction, but after the establishment of the Outer Realm Alliance, they were distributed for use across major cities.’

‘Once an Armament is fully mastered, even an ordinary person can contend with transformed beings like vampires.’

‘Hunters, so-called, are warriors capable of wielding Armaments with complete freedom.’

‘However, the use of an Armament comes with a stringent condition.’

“That condition is adaptability. While difficult to explain, an Armament’s effectiveness hinges on the user’s level of adaptability; those with high adaptability can sustain the Armament’s state for extended periods, while those with low adaptability… might find it unreliable, even failing intermittently. You can surely imagine what happens when one suddenly loses strength in the midst of battle, can’t you?”

“Adaptability? That’s utterly fantastical,” Xiu Lan quipped.

“Then how does one improve this adaptability?” Villy inquired.

“Through consistent practice, naturally.”

“But that explains nothing, does it?”

“Cough, cough. We’ve arrived. This is the Combat Department’s testing facility.”

Within the spacious, brightly lit hall, students were sparsely scattered, engaged in various activities, each wielding an assortment of weapons and continuously practicing their swings before large projection screens.

Leading the two of them to the counter, the senior student announced in a clear voice:

“First, allow me to introduce myself. My surname is Chen, and my given name is Gu. I am the head of the Combat Department here at Xuyang.”

“Ha, so you’re a teacher?”

“While I will instruct you, I don’t technically hold the title of ‘teacher.’ I merely possess more seniority from having been here for a longer time. You may simply address me as ‘Senior’.”

“Now, I’ll take you to try out an Armament.”

“Wait.” Xiu Lan raised her hand to ask, “Does this mean we’ve successfully enrolled?”

“Precisely. You are now students of the Combat Department.”

“But we haven’t done anything yet…”

Before Xiu Lan could pose another question, Villy, finding her exasperating, clapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her forward.

‘Still, this girl was incredibly light, as soft and airy as a rag doll.’

Accepting a pale blue bracelet from Chen Gu.

‘So this was the so-called Armament?’

‘She felt as though she had seen it somewhere before…’

‘Oh, she remembered now—Yao Jing had one too.’

“Put on the bracelet, concentrate, and visualize the weapon you desire.”

Following the senior student’s instructions, she proceeded to use it.

The bracelet projected a blue light screen, into which Xiu Lan reached, drawing forth a silver-white longsword. Its exquisitely crafted blade shimmered brilliantly under the lights.

“What a truly beautiful sword. For you to recall it so clearly, it must have left a profound impression on you.”

‘No, I don’t recognize this sword at all.’

Xiu Lan mused internally, though she did sense a significant surge in her own strength.

Recalling how she usually wielded her Shadow Sword, she swung forward with considerable force, only to be dragged down by the immense inertia, tumbling headfirst into the ground.

“Ouch.”

“Are you alright?”

Villy rushed over in a flurry, helping Xiu Lan to her feet.

‘For some reason, despite having witnessed Xiu Lan’s extraordinary prowess, Villy invariably found herself unable to fully relax her guard.’

“Cough, cough. This is precisely the issue I mentioned earlier: insufficient adaptability when using an Armament leads to extreme instability in power.”

“As for improving adaptability, it will gradually increase day by day as long as you wear the bracelet, and you can also accelerate its growth by training more extensively here.”

“However, I must emphasize one crucial point: Armaments are strictly forbidden for use outside the campus without proper authorization.”

“Next, let me explain the ‘Tiers’ of Armaments. We categorize them based on the level of mastery into:

“Stable Tier, Practical Tier, and Mastered Tier. Your immediate goal is to achieve the Stable Tier, as only then can we arrange your next phase of training.”

“While I hate to dampen your spirits, the number of students who graduate from the Combat Department with a Mastered Tier Armament is exceedingly small. Most pivot towards other fields like tactics or research, graduating in those areas instead. I hope you’ll persevere.”

‘…….This feels like plunging into a bottomless pit.’

“If you have any other questions, feel free to ask them now.”

“I understand, Senior Chen Gu. Thank you for your explanation,” Villy said gratefully.

Xiu Lan then asked, “I’ve had a question for a while now: why does the Combat Department seem to have so few people, with not many even signing up?”

“…….”

Chen Gu fell silent.

“Hey, hey now, there isn’t some other trap, is there, Senior Chen Gu?” By the end of her question, Xiu Lan’s voice carried a hint of menace.

“Because the Combat Department at Xuyang is relatively weaker compared to the standards of other institutions.”

“Students genuinely aspiring to become Hunters largely go to Prosperous Star Academy; the competition there is fierce, and the teaching quality is superior. Here, most are either transfer students or those who decided on a whim.”

A gentle, familiar female voice offered the explanation.

“Senior Rosa!”

Xiu Lan looked at the golden-haired senior student before her with surprise and delight. Rosa held a leash in her right hand, and following it, Xiu Lan spotted an elf wearing a collar. Their eyes met, and Tina offered Xiu Lan a bright smile.

“…….”

“…….”

‘They certainly knew how to have a good time.’

“Cough, cough. Long time no see, Rosa. Have you finished with the commission from the Supervision Bureau?”

‘Perhaps due to a persistent throat condition, Senior Chen Gu habitually began his sentences with a cough.’

“It truly has been a long time, Senior. The vampire-related matters have entered their final stages, and I’ve found myself with some free time. However, I never expected you, Liu Yu, to enroll in the Combat Department; that truly took me by surprise.”

Rosa walked over to Xiu Lan, smiling, and patted her shoulder, clearly exceptionally pleased with the young woman’s choice.

“Yes… ah…” Xiu Lan replied stiffly.

‘At this point, the initial excuse of merely accompanying someone for a visit was utterly unspeakable.’

‘Who, in their right mind, would forgo the convenience of a lighter when starting a fire, choosing instead the primitive, ancient method of rubbing sticks together?’

This was the thought that arose in Xiu Lan after her seventh attempt at constructing an Armament. Her spirit was weary, her body exhausted; a lifetime of practice couldn’t compare to a Feral Hound (TL Note: A type of transformed creature, often used for combat or as a pet) awakening its powers overnight.

‘It was an issue she could easily resolve by merely manipulating shadows, yet here she was, expending such painstaking effort in training. Why, oh why, had she even signed up for the Combat Department?!’

“Liu Yu, stop daydreaming and continue constructing your Armament.”

Senior Rosa’s rebuke struck like a peal of thunder, echoing through Xiu Lan’s mind, and her halted movements mechanically resumed.

After adequately introducing the Combat Department to Xiu Lan and Villy, Chen Gu returned to his admissions post to slack off. However, Senior Rosa, who had yet to depart, had no intention of letting the two off the hook.

Under the guise of pre-class review, she initiated an impromptu special training session for both Xiu Lan and Villy.

Continuously constructing Armaments to enhance adaptability was Senior Rosa’s prescribed method. Yet, for someone who relied solely on cheats in a fight and whose willpower and physical strength were utterly lacking, this was pure torment.

‘Her ninth attempt.’

“I can’t go on, Senior! Waaah… it hurts so much, I’m so tired. Am I dying?”

Xiu Lan collapsed onto the ground, utterly disregarding her image, but instead of receiving concern from her senior, she was met with Tina’s unbridled laughter:

“Hahaha, that one over there just completed 26 attempts, and you’re already giving up after nine? Hahahaha, could you be the legendary good-for-nothing?”

‘Villy was actually this strong?’

Xiu Lan was startled.

‘Damn it, was that person a genius?’

“Sigh.”

Observing Xiu Lan, whose face openly broadcasted her complete surrender, Rosa reluctantly abandoned the idea of further drilling her. She gently ruffled Tina’s hair and said:

“The Combat Department’s class schedule has been sent to your phones. Make sure to check the times… especially a certain someone. If you disappear again, I fear I truly won’t be able to resist beating you.”

“Understood…”

‘So, Senior Rosa had been holding a grudge about her previous truancies all this time.’