The primary purpose of the welcome party is ultimately networking.

In this industry, luck and skill are important, but the presence or absence of connections is just as crucial.

The field where superhumans are active varies, but if we were to pick a representative one, it would indeed be ‘monster subjugation’.

Gambling one’s life to fight monsters, the danger is self-evident.

It’s overwhelmingly safer to form a small party and work together than to act alone, even if it might mean earning a bit less. In fact, it could even be more profitable than going solo.

However, there is a saying among the public:

“Where there are five people, there’s bound to be one piece of trash.”

How would I know whether the person behind me harbors ill will and might stab me in the back?

No matter how much the Association builds a trust system and checks personal information before forming a party, who can predict where life will take us?

‘That’s why connections are important.’

The connections made over the four years leading up to graduation shine when you reunite on the field.

In a rush, it’s more efficient and secure to work with those with whom you’ve built a rapport over a long time, rather than with someone you’ve just met.

That’s why Shio-ram encourages networking. Besides, if you have been accepted into Shio-ram, you’re almost guaranteed to have potential.

I should have been building my standing with my classmates here as well.

Even if I had decided to go soloing, raising my favorability with others wouldn’t hurt. If help is offered, there’s nothing to lose.

‘…I’m tired.’

In the game, all it took was a few clicks of the choices, but now I have to go around myself, or react in real-time and face-to-face with those who approach me.

Moreover, most come from prominent families and seem eager to extract information during conversations, which makes it all the more tiring.

The label of ‘special admission student’. Despite the skepticism, considering the chance of hitting the jackpot, I’ve managed to fend off those trying to build early connections and have now escaped to the bathroom.

‘…Should I head back?’

Attendance at the banquet is mandatory, but there’s no rule that you must stay until the end. There are probably a few who just stopped by and left early.

With my spatial perception in this state, I can’t confirm everyone. But I could distinguish a few people by gender, physique, and especially by the nature of their magic.

I stayed only to observe the main characters who gathered, but there’s no longer any reason to stay. Precisely, I was too tired and wanted to go in.

Checking that the bathroom was empty, I took off my gloves.

After carefully examining the water faucet and distinguishing between hot and cold water, I washed my hands with warm water.

Ever since I got scalded by the sunflower showerhead last time, I’ve been extra cautious when using the faucets.

– Thud

As I walked out of the bathroom,

someone bumped into my shoulder. Fortunately, it wasn’t a heavy collision, and I only staggered a bit, but it was close to me rolling on the floor for the second time that day.

“Tsk.”

The person who bumped into me clicked their tongue as if to make sure I heard, then disappeared down the opposite corridor without any apology.

Was it a mistake, or was it intentional?

If this was my first time experiencing such an event, I would think it was a mistake, but after several similar incidents, I’m leaning towards the belief that it’s some kind of malicious harassment.

“Ugh.”

Before I could say anything, the person vanished, leaving me hanging. Shaking off the absurdity, I sighed deeply and moved on.

‘…At least the force was weaker than this morning.’

Comparing the two shoulder bumps, I realized just how kind Hong Yeon-hwa’s actions were.

One was a light shoulder bump, and the other was a full-body tackle by Hong Yeon-hwa…

Despite Hong Yeon-hwa’s fiery temper, her nature leans towards goodness.

And thinking about it, the person just now might not be all that bad either.

They didn’t spit at me, nor did any punches or kicks come flying my way. They didn’t grab my hair and swing me around.

More than anything, judging by the level of inner magic, if they had hit me with intent, my shoulder could have been torn off.

Compared to those bastards from the past, maybe this level of behavior is considered nice.

– Aaahhh…!
– Hey, hey, you…!
– …Can’t… see…

“?”

A noisy commotion reached my ears.

The noise was coming from the center of the banquet hall. Was there some kind of trouble? I hurried towards where the banquet was in full swing.

– Crash…!

“Ugh…!”

“Haha! What’s wrong? Your swordplay has slowed down!”

With that, I expanded my spatial perception and saw Hong Yeon-hwa swinging her sword vigorously on stage.

– Sssszzzssh!

In the blink of an eye, swords clashed and parried repeatedly. Along with the clear sound of impact, the male cadet dueling Hong Yeon-hwa frowned and took a step back.

He tried to compensate by increasing his mana, but as if it were futile, Hong Yeon-hwa’s sword moved first.

– Clang!

– Clang clang clang!

The flamboyant sword dance. Even the exclamations and cheers flowed from below the stage.

‘Ah, there was such an event too.’

Standing there dumbfounded, I managed to dredge up some locked-away memories.

I had forgotten due to being preoccupied with other matters. When the freshmen welcome party was really heating up, a few main characters would engage in friendly sparring as a way to build camaraderie.

Hong Yeon-hwa, with her battle-hungry personality, was almost certain to participate… and usually, her opponent would be Baek Ahrin or Katsuki Yusei from the Three-Sword Style clan.

Katsuki Yusei is a leading character who is a member of the Japanese clan Three-Sword Style (劍三形) and possesses a unique ability related to swordsmanship.

‘I was startled.’

Frightened by the sudden swordfight, upon closer observation, I noticed that the magic wasn’t being expelled outside the body but was contained within for physical enhancement. The weapons themselves were wooden swords for practice.

More than anything, both sides were not using their unique abilities at all.

My heart, which had been racing, calmed down, and I focused intently on the audiovisual information.

‘…Wow, how do they move like that?’

I found myself impressed without realizing it.

The sword strikes several times in the blink of an eye and is immediately followed by a fluid transition to the next movement, eliciting my admiration.

Even if I were to be trained, if someone were to land such sword strikes on an ordinary person, wouldn’t something burst?

‘When will I ever be able to do that…’

The initial admiration turned into horror, and then I naturally felt appalled at the thought that I would have to reach that level someday.

‘…No, don’t feel dismayed. I can do it.’

I shook off the deflating emotion vigorously.

Thinking about it, am I not in a much more advantageous position than them? Even though it’s a game, I have knowledge about the future, and while most people have one innate unique ability, I possess three.

Plus, I’ve unfortunately inherited three curses, but if I solve these, it would be as if I have no negative factors working against me.

‘I can do it.’

I will resolve the curses and enjoy a happy hermit life.

As I made the promise for who knows how many times, I continued to observe the sparring closely.

The swords collided with a solid sound, and at times they clashed several times in quick succession, creating a brief and rapid noise.

Watching the back-and-forth duel, I felt something strange.

A layman with no relation to combat like me, what could I possibly perceive from watching that? But as I concentrated on my spatial perception, I realized I was gaining a lot.

‘What is this?’

An outsider who has never experienced proper training. These past few days, I’ve only memorized basic texts, mostly on magic, so I know even less about martial arts.

My spatial perception, which can collect an extraordinary amount of space within the observed area, dissects every aspect of their fight.

The momentum is readable.

Grip technique. Why do they hold the sword that way? Why do they bother to create openings with their attacks? Why don’t they push through at certain moments?

At first, I couldn’t come up with an answer. Question sheets with no solutions piled up.

But gradually,

I began to mark my own answers.

Swinging the sword lightly to create openings. Light but not weak. Not a single strength but several weaknesses strung together to take advantage.

‘Why can I read this?’

I wondered.

Of course, I possess the unique ability known as Jack of All Trades.

Although not reaching the peak in any one field, it’s a versatile ability that allows me to reach above average in almost all areas.

That versatility includes ‘swordsmanship’ as well. I must have an aptitude for swords, so it’s not strange that I can read and analyze them.

But it seems I’m reading them too easily.

There’s a difference between information perceived by spatial perception and visual information.

The eyes can’t recognize speeds beyond dynamic vision. Spatial perception is similar. However, information taken in by spatial perception is securely stored within me.

Information accumulates. More and more reference material is available.

And it’s not just that. I can feel how the clear azure and blazing red magic emanate from their bodies and how the magic forms a rigid structure within them.

Magic Affinity.

‘Ah.’

That’s when I realized.

These three abilities are organically connected.

Through spatial perception, I’m receiving the world more deeply, aided by the adjustment of Jack of All Trades.

And with Magic Affinity, I can feel the flow of magic, which would normally be limited to space.

The same goes for other aspects. Abilities are interlocking, creating a synergistic effect.

The linkage of the three abilities. It was an epiphany.

‘Was I wrong?’

Honestly, I thought choosing Jack of All Trades might have been a mistake. Isn’t a versatile ability rather mediocre?

The saying goes, ‘A quail trying to follow a swan will tear its legs.’ When digging one well is barely sufficient, how could dabbling in multiple areas lead to success?

But considering the current phenomenon, I might have been wrong.

‘If used properly, this…’

A thrilling excitement surged through me as though my hair was standing on end.

Simultaneously, my spatial perception began to fluctuate wildly, then started flickering.

Information switched off and on. As if the world disappeared and reappeared with the light being switched on and off.

There’s a change happening with my spatial perception.

In the midst of this, the friendly duel was approaching its climax.

It was Hong Yeon-hwa, who had driven her opponent back throughout the duel with a satisfied smile, who sent Katsuki Yusei flying.

“Guh…!”

An attack that found its target in a moment of weakness during a defensive posture. Before being flung outside the stage, he managed to find his footing.

But Hong Yeon-hwa wasn’t one to miss that opening. She swiftly kicked off the ground and pulled her sword-bearing arms back.

A full-powered strike. The motion was so large that normally, it would be easy to avoid, but for Katsuki Yusei, whose stance had crumbled, it was impossible.

The sword drawn back. It flew forward, tracing a large arc as if swinging a bludgeon.

“Last one─!”

A spirited shout. Yusei clenched his teeth and thrust his sword forward.

– Boom!

With a sound like a cannonball hitting its target, Yusei’s body, unable to fully deflect the blow, was launched like a baseball.

‘Wow.’

How powerful must the strike have been to send a person flying like that? Amidst the exhilarating rush, as I stood in awe with my mouth open, Yusei’s body, shot like a projectile, headed towards the wall…

?

‘Uh.’

What is that? My thoughts paused as I saw Yusei’s body, flying directly towards the center of my spatial perception.

“Kyah! This… Gee, uh, uh? Oh sh*t, wait a minute…!”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s frantic shout. The noise from below the stage. Gradually, that object, coming closer to the center of my spatial perception… closer to me.

Ah, I see.

It’s flying straight towards me, isn’t it?

I was too engrossed in the excitement to notice it.

I moved reflexively to dodge, but this frail body didn’t respond as I thought it would.

Shockingly, there was no one around me. In other words, no one to help.

‘Oh shi─’

Collision. Consciousness drifted away. It was as if stars twinkled in front of my unseen eyes.

But strangely,

beyond the fading consciousness, I saw the vision of a tearful Hong Yeon-hwa rushing towards me.

Her red hair seemed to burn as it fluttered around her.