Maki did not let the matter drop. Stepping forward until she was nearly face-to-face with Sol, she asked, "What's your Cursed Technique?"
Sol met her gaze. His dark red eyes were unreadable.
"My Cursed Technique is physical enhancement."
The answer eased some of the trio's suspicions. Cursed Techniques came in countless forms, and a technique that combined physical enhancement with exceptional perception, while uncommon, was hardly impossible.
Maki's shoulders relaxed slightly, though the scrutiny in her eyes remained.
"Even so," she said with a snort, "only that irresponsible teacher would have a first-year instructing second-years."
Panda, on the other hand, accepted the explanation surprisingly quickly.
"Then, Sol, do you see any areas where I can improve?"
Sol shifted his attention to him.
"You rely too heavily on your weight and durability while defending. Against opponents with extreme speed or attacks that possess penetrating properties, you'll be at a significant disadvantage."
He casually demonstrated a subtle shift of his body, showing how force could be redirected rather than absorbed head-on.
"When blocking, focus more on redirecting incoming force instead of relying solely on toughness."
Panda immediately copied the movement.
His eyes widened.
"Oh! This feels different! It actually works!"
Inumaki Toge also looked at Sol expectantly.
Sol turned toward him.
"Your Cursed Speech is powerful, but you've become too dependent on it. Your close-quarters combat skills and basic cursed energy control have fallen behind. If you face someone capable of resisting or interfering with Cursed Speech, you'll be placed at a severe disadvantage."
He paused.
"Strengthen those areas during your daily training."
Inumaki nodded thoughtfully.
"Mentaiko."
Maki watched as Sol effortlessly identified another set of critical weaknesses.
Any lingering disdain disappeared completely.
She was proud, but she wasn't stubborn. If something could genuinely make her stronger, she was willing to learn, even if the person teaching her was a first-year.
"Hey."
Her tone was noticeably softer.
"What about me? Other than what you mentioned earlier, are there any other flaws I should address?"
Sol looked at her, his gaze calmly sweeping over her posture.
"You're too focused on offense."
Maki frowned slightly.
"You lack sufficient awareness and countermeasures against non-lethal techniques or cursed tools designed to restrict movement. In combat, preventing an opponent from acting can sometimes be more important than defeating them outright."
Maki froze.
It was not something she had considered deeply before.
Because she lacked cursed energy, she often pursued the fastest and most direct path to victory. In doing so, she had overlooked other possibilities.
The moment Sol pointed it out, she realized it was a genuine weakness.
"...I understand."
After a brief silence, she nodded.
Over the next several hours, the atmosphere within the training ground gradually shifted.
Maki, Panda, and Inumaki no longer viewed Sol as a mysterious first-year student. Instead, they treated him like an unusually capable consultant.
Training continued, but they frequently paused to seek his opinion.
Sol still spoke sparingly. However, whenever he offered advice, it was precise and effective.
He never introduced techniques beyond their understanding. Every suggestion was built upon their existing foundations and their own cursed energy systems, simply refined into more efficient forms.
The results became increasingly apparent.
As they adjusted according to Sol's observations, their attacks flowed more smoothly, their defenses became more effective, and their control over cursed energy grew more precise.
Eventually, the setting sun painted the sky crimson, signaling the end of training.
Maki wiped away her sweat while watching Sol gather his belongings.
Her expression was complicated.
In the end, she could not stop herself from calling out.
"Hey, Sol."
"Hm?"
Sol paused and turned toward her.
"Are you coming tomorrow?"
The question sounded slightly awkward coming from her.
Sol nodded.
"Yes. That's how my assignment is arranged."
Maki clicked her tongue.
She said nothing else and headed toward the showers.
Panda grinned and waved a paw.
"See you tomorrow, Consultant Sol!"
Inumaki quietly added,
"Salmon."
Sol nodded in return and left the training ground.
Back in his dormitory, everything was as quiet and orderly as before.
He walked to the window and watched the sun disappear behind the distant mountains. Orange-red light stretched across the forest, bathing it in warm colors.
The day had gone more smoothly than expected.
Although the second-years had initially been skeptical, they were practical people. Once they saw results, they quickly accepted methods that improved their abilities.
That saved him considerable trouble.
This kind of everyday routine was completely different from the world-shaking battles and monumental events he had experienced in the past.
Yet it carried a unique sense of peace.
He did not dislike it.
After a while, he moved to the tatami mat in the center of the room and sat down.
He was not training or meditating.
He was simply relaxing.
At his current level, growth no longer came from simple accumulation of power. It required deeper understanding and integration of what he already possessed.
Time passed quietly.
Eventually, a faint set of footsteps stopped outside his door.
The presence lingered there.
Whoever it was seemed hesitant to knock.
Sol opened his eyes.
A faint glimmer passed through his dark red eyes.
He had already sensed who stood outside.
"Is something wrong?"
His voice was neither loud nor forceful, yet it carried clearly through the door.
The person outside seemed startled.
Their breathing faltered briefly.
A moment later, the door opened slightly.
Maki Zen'in stood in the doorway.
She had changed back into her dark-blue uniform. Her hair was still damp from a recent shower.
Without the intensity of training, she looked noticeably less composed than usual.
"Cough."
She adjusted her glasses awkwardly.
"You're still awake?"
"No."
Sol looked at her.
"I was waiting for you to stand outside my door a little longer."
Maki's expression stiffened instantly.
Sol's lips curved slightly.
Then he added,
"Yes, I'm awake."
Maki shot him an annoyed look before taking a slow breath.
"About what you said earlier."
Her expression became serious again.
"The part about my lack of options against restrictive techniques."
She paused briefly.
"I've been thinking about it."
Looking directly at him, she continued,
"If it were you, what would you do?"
The question had clearly occupied her thoughts for quite some time.
Setting aside her pride as a second-year student, she had come here sincerely seeking guidance.