As I walked through the hallway, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the stares and hushed whispers directed at me. It was a familiar scene – being the strategist with no exceptional combat abilities, I often faced doubts from others about my place in the Aegis Defense Agency.
"Hey, isn't that the guy with no combat skills?"
"Yeah... How did he even get here?"
I let out a resigned sigh, brushing off the comments as I made my way towards the Aegis Administrative room.
Inside the administrative room, I noticed a striking young woman with long blue hair cascading down to her waist and captivating blue eyes. She appeared to be on a call but had noticed me entering the room. With a graceful gesture, she signaled me to take a seat on the nearby sofa.
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I sat down, waiting patiently for her to finish her call. I wondered if she was talking to someone important.
Once she concluded her conversation, she smiled warmly at me and said, "Oh look who it is, Arihara, the strategist of Squad 14. I've heard about your tactical skills in today's mission."
Her kind words caught me by surprise, and I couldn't help but blush slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Director Hoshino."
"So, what do you need today?" Director Hoshino inquired, taking a sip of her coffee while reviewing some papers.
"I'd like to test my abilities again."
"Test your abilities? Isn't this the tenth time?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I just want to be absolutely certain, and this will be the last time."
Director Hoshino regarded me for a moment, studying my resolve. She then set her coffee cup down and stood up, swiping the air to access her system skills. "Fine, follow me," she commanded, leading the way out of the administrative room.
Curiosity and anticipation stirred within me as I followed her.
"Are we going to the training room?"
"Yes, This time I'll be training you personally."
"Thank you, Director Hoshino."
"Don't worry, we don't want any of our juniors to die out there," Director Hoshino reassured me, her voice filled with a sense of responsibility and care.
As we entered the training room, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Trainees and trainers alike glanced in our direction, their conversations coming to a halt as they recognized Director Hoshino's presence.
"Is that Director Hoshino?" one trainee whispered to another, their curiosity evident.
"Yeah, what is she doing here?" another trainee questioned, perplexed by her unexpected appearance.
"Is she here to assess our skills?" a trainer speculated, trying to make sense of the situation.
Whispers filled the room as they noticed my presence beside the director.
"Is that him? The guy with no combat skills?" a trainee remarked, recognizing me.
"Dude, you're right!" his companion responded, equally surprised.
"What is he doing with Director Hoshino?" the questions continued to circulate among the trainees, their curiosity piqued.
Director Hoshino remained unfazed by the attention, her focus solely on our purpose in the training room. She guided me to a designated area, where I would have the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities once again.
"Here we are," she gestured towards the room. "You're aware that we have three types of classes, right? Attacker, Gunner, Support, and All-Rounder."
"Yes," I replied, nodding in understanding.
"First, let's see what you can do as an attacker. Take this," she handed me a katana.
I grabbed the katana, slightly tilting my head in confusion. "What are we going to do?"
I noticed she had already positioned herself at the opposite end of the room. "Sparring," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Sparring? I thought we were here for training!?"
Director Hoshino raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Training and sparring often go hand in hand, Arihara. It's time to put your abilities to the test and see how well you can handle yourself in combat."
"Plus, that's the same reason I'm pushing you to unlock your potential. But don't worry, even if I land a hit on you, you'll instantly regenerate because this training room is specifically designed for sparring. However, take a look above you," she pointed upwards. "You can see the damage indicator."
"I understand, but..."
"No 'buts'," she interrupted firmly. Director Hoshino retrieved her customized katana from her system inventory, assuming a combat stance as she charged toward me.
My instincts kicked in, and I swiftly raised my own katana, meeting her attack with a resounding clash. The sound of our blades reverberated through the training room as we engaged in a high-speed exchange of strikes and parries.
Director Hoshino's skill and experience were evident in her every move. She pushed me to the limits of my abilities, testing my reflexes, agility, and strategic thinking. I focused on her every motion, analyzing her patterns, and countering with calculated precision.
I took deep breaths, attempting to recover my breath after the intense sparring session. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and I could feel the fatigue in my muscles. Director Hoshino stood nearby, observing me with a thoughtful expression, tapping her chin in contemplation.
"Hm, Arihara, why do you attack like a worm?" she questioned, her voice laced with curiosity.
I glanced up at her, still panting slightly. "Because I lack the proficiency in swinging and striking techniques," I admitted, acknowledging my limitations in direct combat.
Director Hoshino nodded in understanding, her eyes studying me intently. "I see. However, your agility is quite surprising."
I blinked in surprise, not expecting such a comment. "Agility? But I've always considered myself more adept at strategic thinking and analysis rather than physical prowess."
She approached me, a thoughtful look on her face. "Indeed, your analytical skills are impressive, Arihara. But I've noticed something during our spar. Your agility, your ability to dodge and maneuver."
I pondered her words, trying to comprehend their significance. "Are you suggesting that my agility could be a valuable asset in combat?"
She nodded, a hint of a smile forming on her lips. "Absolutely. Not everyone excels in all aspects of combat, but each individual possesses unique strengths. Your agility could be your hidden advantage, enabling you to outmaneuver opponents and gain the upper hand in battle."
"Thank you for your kind words, Director Hoshino," I replied gratefully, accepting her extended hand to help me to my feet.
She smiled warmly and gestured for me to show her my stats. I nodded and swiped the air, summoning my system interface and accessing my statistics. "It currently shows ATK: 20, DEF: 30, SPD: 120, and Luck: 90."
Director Hoshino studied the displayed stats, her eyes focusing on the Speed attribute. "See? Your speed is actually quite impressive," she pointed out.
"Thank you, Director Hoshino!" I bowed respectfully to her, expressing my gratitude for her guidance and encouragement.
She smiled warmly at me and reassured me, "No worries, Arihara." As she prepared to leave the training room, she paused for a moment and turned back to face me. "Remember, even if you may lack combat abilities, your role as the strategist for your squad is already invaluable. Your intelligence, analytical skills, and ability to devise effective strategies make a significant impact on the battlefield."
Those words resonated deeply within me, filling me with a sense of purpose.
I nodded. "Thank you, Director Hoshino. I will continue to give my best and support my squad to the best of my abilities."
With a final nod of acknowledgment, Director Hoshino left the training room.