Chapter 23 - If You Don't Want to Die (1)

After the [Theoretical Magic Studies] lecture ended.

In the empty classroom where all the students had left, Penel sat in a daze.

The sensation she had just felt moments ago was still vivid.

'It was so firm...'

She remembers the hot blood flowing through his arm.

She remembers the effort etched into the manly rough skin.

And she remembers the solid muscles symbolizing Herak's special power.

"Haah..."

How could he have built such a good body?

The Herak she remembered wasn't the owner of such a physique.

Rather, he was more... skinny like other magicians. Yes.

'Of course, his face is handsome.'

In fact, Penel had already given Herak a passing grade for his appearance when she first met him.

Excluding secondary elements like physical beauty, she had purely taken him to heart based on his face alone.

That's why Penel was rather proud of herself.

'I'm different from you all.'

The question of who would like to touch Herak's skin.

She remembers the female classmates who raised their hands along with Penel at that time.

Really, it's ridiculous. You all weren't even interested in Herak originally.

'Even though you didn't like him originally. I liked him from the start, I even appealed to him, I'm special...'

She's different from the latecomers who belatedly entered the race.

Penel Moira, she was properly the frontrunner in the Herak competition race.

...At least, that's what she thought.

Haah. By the way, it's still so vivid. That hot, firm arm. I wonder if I could touch it again...

"...Penel!"

"Hyeek!"

She's startled by the voice hitting her eardrums.

Awakening her consciousness that had been immersed in thought, she sees a woman glaring at her right in front.

It was Penel's friend, Berry Rosemary.

"Get a hold of yourself. You've been lost in thought since the lecture ended."

"Huh, oh? Umm. Yeah, that's right."

Penel herself doesn't know what she's answering.

Looking at her friend who's flustered after belatedly coming to her senses.

Haah─ 

Berry sighs and hits the nail on the head.

"Is it because of Herak?"

"Hmm?! No, it's not!"

"Liar."

Berry's flat gaze.

It's obvious to anyone that it's because of a man, but she's pretending it's not.

Berry sometimes found this aspect of Penel unreliable.

How will she ever confess being such a klutz?

"I saw you trembling with joy when you touched Herak's arm. You looked so happy. You were even about to drool."

"N-No...! That never happened...!"

"I saw it all. You might not have known, but all the classmates behind you saw it too. The rumors will spread now."

"Uuugh..."

Penel's eyes well up with tears at the unexpected shame.

In the end, Berry softens at her friend's weak appearance and backs down a bit.

"...Do you like it that much? That Herak won the Inter-year Exchange Competition?"

Berry suddenly recalled the memory of that day.

The Inter-year Exchange Competition. When Penel lost to Apollon again this time.

How much she comforted Penel, sticking by her side in the stands as she was upset.

Even then, she couldn't cheer up well, and while Berry was wondering what to do─

Oh? He won! Herak won! My goodness, could this be real?

Even though she had been depressed, she seems to cheer up just seeing her man.

As soon as Herak stood in the dueling arena, Penel forgot about her defeat and became immersed, and the moment the winner was confirmed, she jumped up as if nothing had happened.

That's how happy she was.

If the last place beats 7th place, the championship is confirmed.

Then Penel's defeat wouldn't matter anymore.

Of course, Berry was happy about that fact too, but...

"You're too severe. Penel. You're showing your feelings too much."

"U-Ufufu. Is that so? Should I restrain myself a bit?"

"Yeah. Actually, I don't care at all how you conduct your love life, but you should at least do it to a degree where others don't notice. You never know what might happen."

"Hmm... That's right. You're right."

She's nodding, but it doesn't seem convincing at all.

In the end, Berry brought out a bold measure.

"This won't do. Penel, you need some advice. At least someone who can make you not look like a complete novice."

"Huh? Who would do such a thing?"

Penel's eyes blink as she looks at her.

Berry answers, her round glasses shining.

"She's right next to you."

Penel's reliable friend who has mastered love through all kinds of romance novels.

***

I walk out of the classroom and onto the street.

Normally, I would have squeezed in some exercise, but I don't feel like it now.

It's because of the questions filling my head.

Herak's mana layer operates on a different principle from mana sensitivity.

Margaret clearly said.

The mana layer covering my body, that it moves according to my will.

However, it's a very unfamiliar topic to me.

'There was no such setting in the original work either.'

As mentioned in the lecture, humans use mana that circulates inside and outside their bodies.

The problem is that whether casting magic or emanating aura, what's important is that it's meaningless if you can't feel the flow of circulation itself.

That's why magic insensitivity is such a powerful handicap in this world.

'But that's becoming an advantage in reverse.'

I don't think this phenomenon occurred just because of magic insensitivity.

If that were the case, the original Herak wouldn't have lived such an insignificant life.

In other words, it's right to see this as a result of 【Ultimate Physique】 combined with magic insensitivity.

This is as far as I can conclude for now.

To go further, I need to obtain more information.

Then from whom should I acquire it?

'It's obvious.'

The reason why Herak Leonhardt came to Olympia in the first place.

The person who made special arrangements to even exempt him from practical scores.

I need to meet her, the Chairwoman of the Academy.

The Chairwoman is currently absent from the academy.

I already know the timing of her return.

She won't be back at least at this point.

"Because she needs to replace that magic stone."

I stop walking.

At the end of my gaze is a tall tower.

A tower rising high in the center of Olympia, its top visible from anywhere.

Inside it is the 'magic stone' that creates Olympia's environment.

The role of that magic stone is simple.

It makes Olympia's mana density much denser than the outside, promoting the growth of students.

But it's become outdated at the Act 1 point, and the behind-the-scenes story is that the Chairwoman left on a business trip to find a magic stone to replace it.

"Hmm."

There's no way to meet her right away.

However, I want to let the Chairwoman know that I want to meet her.

So what should I do?

While pondering, I heard a clear voice calling me.

"Oh! Hello, Senior Herak!"

A tension overflowing with energy despite her small stature.

Ruby from the newspaper club waves her hands here and there as she greets me.

"Wow. I watched your duel last time. It was really amazing!"

"It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"Thanks to you, the article I wrote was very popular. Hehe, I was worried at first about how it would turn out. I didn't expect there to be such a hidden plan. I was amazed."

Why is her tension so high? She's not even listening to what I'm saying.

Ruby circled around me again this time.

She keeps talking as she draws circles, probably because she's so excited.

"There's still so much to write about you, senior. The school administration has been pressing me to find out more..."

"Oh."

Oh.

Come to think of it, there's just the right person.

Not someone difficult or awkward to meet directly like the Vice Chairman or instructors.

Someone who's a student like me, but at the same time has a close relationship with the school administration.

Ruby Duer.

If it's her, she should be able to give a hint to the Chairwoman through the school administration.

"...Actually, I have a lot I want to ask too. But whether to accept an interview is up to you, senior..."

"Ruby."

"Yes?"

Ruby, who had been chattering away, opens her eyes wide.

I made a proposal to her.

"You said you wanted an interview, right? Let's do it."

"...Oh?! What's the matter, senior!"

"But."

Do me one favor.

***

The Knight Department's side room.

A space where only 2nd year students, and among them only those with high ranks gather.

Someone was kneeling there, trembling.

"P-Please forgive me!"

The body of the man shaking his voice is covered in blue bruises.

Bruises and wounds visible here and there.

In this clear scene of violence, Jackson was begging and begging.

"Apollon! I just made a mistake... I'm definitely not useless!"

"Is that so, Jackson?"

Several knights surrounding Jackson.

There are students with lower ranks than Jackson, but no one is afraid to use violence against him.

Because the leader of the group has cast out Jackson.

"You lost to the Magic Department. To a mere trash who's only the last place... As a result, you gave up the victory of the Inter-year Exchange Competition."

"H-Huk..."

"Is there any reason I should forgive you?"

In front of Jackson kneeling.

Apollon's eyes are cold as he brushes back his slicked-back hair while sitting in a chair.

It means he has no intention of forgiving Jackson.

It can't be helped.

If Herak hadn't caused an upset, Apollon would have won again this time.

"Until now, our family has been looking after you, but. I guess that's about to end too, Jackson."

"N-No! Please forgive me! If you give me one more chance..."

"Take him away."

As Apollon gestures with his chin, the knights surrounding Jackson move.

They roughly grab the struggling Jackson with their hands and drag him out of the room.

They already know too.

That someone who has fallen out of Apollon's favor can no longer be part of the group.

Jackson, who had been bullying weaker students with his shoulders held high until now, will now have his position reversed.

"Hmm. I really don't understand."

After Jackson disappeared from the room like that.

Apollon tapped the armrest with a seemingly annoyed expression.

Tap, tap, tap 

With each tap of his finger on the armrest, his eyes narrow.

"How could he lose to such trash?"

He was genuinely puzzled by this.

He was just trash who was only a loser after all.

Recently he's being called 'Battle Mage' or whatever, but Apollon didn't believe it at all.

At best, he must have won through coincidence and conspiracy.

Compared to himself, who shines as the top student of the 2nd year Knight Department, he's a worthless lowborn.

...However, there was one point about Herak that bothered even Apollon.

'Penel.'

My small and cute Penel.

The unpleasantly disturbing rumor that she seems to be somewhat fond of Herak.

That had spread beyond the Magic Department to the Knight Department and irritated Apollon.

'That lowborn who doesn't know his place...'

Dare he go after Penel?

The woman I should personally deflower and sully?

As Apollon's brow furrowed even more as he became displeased.

Another gang member approaches his side.

To relay the story he had just heard.

"What is it?"

"Apollon. A rumor that just came in..."

The gang member whispers something in Apollon's ear.

The incident that happened in the [Theoretical Magic Studies] classroom today.

The story that Penel liked stroking a man's arm.

"...Grind."

As soon as he heard the story, Apollon grinds his teeth.

Anger boiling up inside.

Why is Penel giving attention to such a lowly trash?

Over me, Apollon, the son of a marquis family?

"I need to go out."

Apollon immediately stood up from his seat.

This won't do. The anger burning in his chest moves him.

Let's go meet Penel and let her know.

Who has the right to have her.