Walking out of the stadium, I then began to explain. I couldn't help but notice Alleus leaning in closer. Thinking back, I supposed that I didn't thoroughly explain everything to her.
I explained how we were in a novel and how there would be a two second intermission between chapters being written unless the author wrote chapters simultaneously, in which case the intermission wouldn't happen.
Of course, I decided to hide the fact about the status system from the man known as Index because it was valuable information. I would tell Alleus about it later, though, because she was my most trusted ally. Wait, was that why her name was Alleus? Because it rhymed with ally?
As I continued to explain, his expression didn't change much aside from the occasional nod of understanding.
After I finished, he asked me:
"This conclusion that you speak of, is it near?"
"The novel has recently passed its hundred-chapter mark, and judging by the context clues, it's nearing its end."
Muttering what I had just replied to him, he continued:
"Alright then. Just make sure that you tell me when the next arbitrary writing happens. I just want to speak with Incus."
Who did he think I was? He was obviously going to try to attack Incus! Since his intelligence stats were so high, I was expecting some grandiose reason as a manipulation tactic.
"Okay."
***
Reaching the healer's hall, we stood just outside the door. The walk here was very awkward, but thankfully, Alleus was here to shed some light.
"So, supposed to be a hero, how—"
Never mind. Out of all the possible nicknames, why on earth did she have to pick that one?
"Be careful with your words. He's much stronger than Incus…!" I nudged her by the shoulder.
Blinking at me, her face then grew pale.
"W-w-why didn't you tell me, you fool…!"
"Ahem." Interrupting our whispers, the man—Index—cleared his throat loudly. "So what's your question?"
Stumbling with her words, Alleus eventually did as asked.
"…I was just wondering how you ended up in such a state."
"Ah, where should I start? Suppose at the very beginning. I was a part of an experiment made by the seven kingdoms in an attempt to make heroes…"
Listening intently, he began to explain how the seven kingdoms had made three trials for becoming a hero. The first trial was based on one's strength.
The children alongside him would be trained by knights and would do physically demanding activities that pushed one's muscles to agony.
This trial would last up until their early preteenage years. If one managed to live through the ordeal, the second trial would be training one's wits.
This trial was the easiest, as all they had to do was learn how to manipulate crowds of people, such as micro-dosing agendas into a person that they wanted on their side. On top of that, they learned every single demon kindred and how to combat them.
This trial would take up a few years to complete, and the success rate for passing was guaranteed. The third trial, however, was the most gruesome.
The children, now made into young men and women, would have to battle demons that had been captured alive.
The seven kingdoms had no remorse for them, as they would send only the strongest demons, the weak ones serving as their nutrition in order to toughen them up. This final trial split into two parts.
The second part of the trial was killing all the other candidates. But once he had completed the trial, the seven kingdoms had grown impatient for results and decided to summon a hero from another world—Incus.
Because of the details in his story, I was led to believe that the author had thoroughly written a chapter or a few about him but had abandoned him by writing him off. Not only that, but I was sure his ability to keep his mind came from his unique skill: Absolute Clarity.
"Foolish, isn't it? Slaughtering all of my comrades and bathing in the blood of their progress, yet I had been thrown astray. Crawling out of the dungeon that the experiment took place in, I watched as Incus ventured off for her first adventure. But I noticed something. The people around me became soulless dolls. I couldn't talk nor interact with them unless they were near Incus or other people like Steinen."
A revelation struck me. That last thing he just said—did that mean that people could keep clarity when near characters who were being currently written about? It must be.
"Huh? That shouldn't be possible. No one can keep their mind intact when away from Incus, so what do you mean that you noticed people becoming soulless dolls?" Alleus wondered.
"For whatever reason, I can keep my clarity no matter how far Incus is from me. I did try talking to other people near Incus, citizens in villages, but they wouldn't believe me when I told them that the world was cursed. But now I know that I'm just a simple character, made solely for plot development."
Sniffling, Alleus pulled out a small folded piece of paper from her pocket, which revealed three balls of chocolate when unfolded. Handing a piece to Index, she took one as well before putting the rest back in her pocket.
Staring at the chocolate with a strange look, Index popped it in his mouth when he saw that Alleus ate hers.
***
After Incus recovered, we went to the dormitory.
Alleus and I began our sparring. Index was sitting in the back watching us very intently, which made me very self-conscious.
"Wrong. Just wrong."
Stopping our clashing of blades, we looked at him in confusion. What was wrong?
"What's wrong?" Alleus took a drink from a wooden cup.
"Everything. From your form to your shifting of weight."
"Mine?" she asked.
Shaking his head, he pointed at me.
"It's you, boy. Your swordsmanship is sloppy. Unlike your friend, she has a deep understanding of the sword."
Picking up his sword—not bothering to use his short sword—he then pointed his blade towards me.
"I'll make that sloppiness of yours into a refined beauty."
Out of nowhere, he lunged at me.
Blocking a thrust, he scraped his sword against the sharp end of my sword and rammed down on the guard of the Fire Hero's Sword.
"Argh."
The sudden impact put a strain on my wrist, which made me drop my sword.
"You have so much left to learn."
Cutting in, Alleus looked with bright eyes.
"Hey, can I join in on the training too? It would be unfair if you stunted my ability for growth. Pretty please! Fighting with Ring has grown stale. I've practically mastered his attack patterns."
How rude of her. I wasn't a stale fighter! Who was she to criticize me when I beat her fair and square in the tournament, and she had that eye of hers that could foresee one's actions?
***
Over the coming days, we spent our time training with Index after classes. He wasn't interested in learning as he already knew everything that was being taught, so it held no interest for him.
Alleus' attributes had increased:
[Attributes]
[Physical | lv l: 4]
[Stamina | lvl: 4]
[Intelligence | lv l: 3]
[Mana | lvl: 2]
But she wasn't the only one. So had mine:
[Attributes]
[Physical | lvl: 3 (+1)]
[Stamina | lvl: 3]
[Intelligence | lv l: 4.5]
[Mana | lv l: 1]
But because of the enclosed space, I didn't train using the ability of the Fire Hero's Sword, as it would not only destroy our valuable furniture but could also set the entire dormitory ablaze.
I really wanted to learn the skill of Blade Aura, but it required one to enter a state of absolute concentration in battle against an opponent where their every attack could kill. Index could kill me whenever he wanted to, but because he held back against me, I wouldn't be reaching that stage anytime soon.
During this time, Steinen had also been recovering.
***
On one particular night, Incus snuck off into the training auditorium where Steinen and his father were.
"Huh…? What's going on?" Alleus tiredly yawned as I was dragging her. I didn't bother waking up Index because of his unique skill.
Looking up at the window screen in the air, it seemed that Steinen and his father had made a deal. Because of the absolute humiliating loss that Steinen had gone through, his father told him that unless he landed a strike on him, he could no longer accompany Incus. Not wanting to leave Incus in the dark, he immediately told her.
Once we reached the auditorium, Steinen glanced in Incus' direction.
"So you've come after all."
"Don't be too happy. Make sure that you land a strike on your father first."
With a formal bow, Steinen picked up his great sword and began to swing.
Finally waking up, Alleus watched in a daze.
The clanging of two heavy steels permeated throughout the academy.
"You're years too early to be swinging recklessly at your old man!"
Ignoring his words, Steinen continued his onslaught of attacks.