Chapter 3 - 6 Days Before School Starts

The Magic Department's freshman orientation.

With six days left before classes begin, the new students who had taken their entrance exams earlier than the Knight Department gathered in one place.

In the large lecture hall used for announcements to first-year students, Irina surveyed her surroundings.

─Hey, which magic ball did you take? I got the easiest one.

─Weak. I did one a bit harder than that.

─What should I do? My marble cracked. Look at this.

─Wow, I thought I was gonna die when the current suddenly zapped out. Scared the crap outta me.

They were huddled in small groups, discussing yesterday's entrance exam.

They showed each other the marbles clutched in their hands.

Most were much easier compared to Irina's.

"...Hmph."

Somehow, she felt quite pleased.

Choosing the most difficult level and completing it brilliantly. I really am amazing.

'Well, there was a bit of minor assistance in the middle, but...'

A monster who could shatter the magic ball's shell in one go and not even blink when the current zapped out.

She wondered what kind of person he was, but it wasn't an important issue.

After all, Irina would have unlocked it eventually even without him.

It just saved her some time.

─Look at that. That's the one who...

─Yeah, you're right. The one they say is the next candidate for Magic Tower Lord.

─The marble in her hand is the most difficult one, right? Heh, how did she manage to solve that?

─They say she's a magic prodigy. She's on a whole different level from us.

The reactions of those glancing at her from around the room were full of praise.

Magic prodigy. 

A title she had never lost while being educated at the Magic Tower.

Of course, this time, she hadn't solved it entirely on her own, but...

"Well, it's not like I asked for his help anyway."

If he volunteered to help on his own, so what?

I don't have anything to feel guilty about.

"Oh? Irina, hello there?"

At that moment, someone plopped down in the seat next to Irina.

The casual way they sat down showed no hesitation.

An attitude that didn't seem intimidated at all by Irina, the magic prodigy whom almost all the freshmen thought would be this year's top student in the Magic Department.

"Is this the first time we've met since that visit to the Magic Tower? Have you been well?"

"Hello, Your Highness."

Well, of course, a princess would naturally act that way.

A woman in a dress with her brilliant golden hair braided long.

Princess Helene flashed a bright eye-smile. She seemed quite pleased to see Irina.

"Are you also in the Magic Department, Your Highness?"

"Ah, no? I'm not in either department. It wouldn't be appropriate for a member of the royal family to take sides. I'm just here to observe."

'I see.'

The fierce rivalry between the Knight and Magic Departments at Olympia is world-famous.

If a member of the royal family were to join either side, it would inevitably create a rift in the structure.

That's why Helene enrolled this time without affiliating with either department. To remain politically neutral.

Tick, tock. Dong─ Dong─ Dong─

At that moment, it struck the hour.

Thud, thud.

As the orientation was about to begin, the hall suddenly fell silent.

All the students straightened up in their seats, waiting for the instructor's words.

The freshmen all knew about the temperament of their first-year guidance instructor in advance.

"Welcome. My name is Digory. I'll be your guidance instructor this year."

His tone was ice-cold as he pushed up his rimless glasses slightly.

His meticulously maintained attire didn't have a speck of dust on it.

"Originally, my only job would be to inform you of your entrance exam results and leave. But since I'm in charge of the first years, I'll specially add a few words beforehand."

─Perfectionist Digory.

The character who teaches magic in the early parts of <Song of Sword and Magic>.

He's also the embodiment that turned many players into anti-fans due to his picky nature.

This was no exception on the now-real Atenel Island, so even Irina closed her mouth and listened attentively.

"You who have entered the Magic Department have surely grown up receiving praise in your hometowns. 

You're sitting here due to talents superior to your peers."

"......"

"But here at Olympia, it will be difficult to hear such praise anymore. No, it might be easier to hear criticism instead."

Olympia is a place of learning where outstanding talents gather.

You might have strutted around in your village for being able to use a bit of magic, but here you'll shrink back when meeting even greater geniuses.

"Talent gets devoured by greater talent... For example, like the student who was the only one to take the most difficult magic ball in this entrance exam."

Kuk kuk. Digory chuckled lowly. His gaze was clearly directed at Irina.

A tense situation where the first-year guidance instructor was looking only at her.

"Yes, Miss Irina. Since we're on the topic, may I ask how you unlocked the magic ball's lock?"

"It's not difficult at all."

But Irina didn't tremble.

Taking a short breath─ she immediately explained the principle of the locking mechanism.

With each of her words, Digory's smile grew deeper.

He seemed extremely satisfied.

"...That's all."

"Very impressive. Indeed, worthy of choosing the most difficult level yourself."

'Ahem.'

The corners of Irina's mouth quivered slightly.

Though she was trying to suppress it to not appear frivolous, it was hard to hide her joy at receiving such open praise.

'As expected of me!'

Irina, who had been predicted to be this year's top freshman in the Magic Department long before enrollment.

She felt proud to receive such high praise from the guidance instructor.

"But it's certainly surprising. I had heard rumors of your magical genius, but I didn't expect you to submit the marble so quickly."

"...Ah."

The quivering corners of her mouth suddenly stopped.

Irina averted her gaze slightly. At this moment, she couldn't meet Digory's eyes.

Because it pricked her conscience.

"It's the fastest speed on record. Considering the complexity of the lock, it's an abnormal speed. Miss Irina, I truly can't help but admire your skills."

"Ah, hahaha...! Of course."

Drip─ 

A bead of sweat rolled down Irina's cheek.

Although absolutely no one would notice the truth.

After receiving such high praise, she couldn't possibly admit that she had actually received help.

"One wrong move and the current could have zapped out and fried your body. It's amazing that you didn't even experience that."

"Ah, Instructor. About that."

"Hm?"

She seized the moment to ask a question.

Irina remembered clearly.

Oh, yeah. It did come out.

The words of that mysterious senior after breaking the magic ball.

The phenomenon of not being hurt at all even though the current sparked right in front of him.

"Is the current really that dangerous? For example, could it be that it just looks scary but is actually harmless to the human body?"

"Haha. You're still naive compared to your talent, Miss Irina."

"......"

Her cheeks turned red with shame.

"Olympia doesn't make such half-hearted considerations. It's the most difficult level of magic ball. If you get hit by the current, you'll definitely be injured, and there's even a possibility of death."

...To that extent?

A cold sweat ran down Irina's spine.

'Then that senior could have died?'

Now that she thought about it, it really was a big deal.

At that moment, Irina heard Digory add:

"Well, if someone could say they weren't hurt at all by the current, they would have to have overwhelming skills. It would be impossible unless it was the Chairwoman or the Department Head."

"...Thank you."

The Department Head, or the Chairwoman.

Each one a magician who has shaken the world.

To be completely unharmed, one would need to be at that level.

'...That senior, just who is he?'

"It's about time. I'll announce the rankings now."

Snap!

Digory snapped his fingers. Simultaneously, chalk began to move automatically on the blackboard, writing out the entrance exam results.

────────────────

1st Place: Irina Eletal

2nd Place: Ruby Duer

3rd Place: Sapphire Duer

...

────────────────

"Hmph."

Irina smiled as she confirmed the results.

As expected, that's how it should be. No one else could be first but me.

"Wow, wow. That's amazing, Irina. First place, huh."

Amidst the buzzing classroom as everyone checked their rankings, Helene raised her voice.

"It's nothing special. It's just the basics."

"Yes, as Miss Irina says, this is basic in our Magic Department, Your Highness."

Digory added words after Irina's response.

He pushed up his glasses and twisted his lips.

Just as he was about to announce the results and leave, he stopped in his tracks upon seeing the princess's reaction.

"Although Your Highness doesn't belong to either department, I'll dare to speak frankly as a representative of the Magic Department."

"My, Lord Digory. What might that be?"

"That there's no point in observing the Knight Department's orientation."

An arrogant declaration.

Words that could easily be perceived as rude.

But Digory didn't care at all.

Because he was certain it was the truth.

It was already common sense for the Magic Department to disparage the Knight Department.

"Those muscle-heads with only their appearances intact can only produce sweat. You'll just come back smelling their foul odor."

"Fufu. Thank you for the appropriate advice, Lord. I'll keep it in mind."

"Thank you. And all of you, remember this as well."

The arrow moved from Helene to the students.

Digory, having refocused the attention of the Magic Department freshmen,

With his eyes hidden behind his glasses, his face backlit, he declared:

"As long as I'm in charge of the first years, I won't tolerate defeat. This year, we will definitely defeat the Knight Department."

"......"

"Put your all into achieving this great cause. It's not difficult for high-intelligence individuals like us to deal with muscle-brains. However, in the unlikely event that the Magic Department is defeated..."

Gulp.

Some swallowed hard, some clasped their hands tightly, some squeezed their eyes shut.

Digory's pressure carried that much power.

"...I'll give you hell."

That lowly murmured promise was so terrifying that,

All the Magic Department freshmen steeled themselves with desperate resolve.

─Shit, he's fucking scary.

─Damn... Did I make a mistake enrolling here?

─It's fine. How could we lose to dumb bastards like the Knight Department? We just need to win.

─That's right.

As they filed out of the lecture hall following Digory,

Irina didn't join in these reactions, instead mulling over what she had just heard.

Well, if someone could say they weren't hurt at all by the current, they would have to have overwhelming skills. It would be impossible unless it was the Chairwoman or the Department Head.

"...That's impossible."

She had never heard of such a genius in the second year.

Someone with skills comparable to the Department Head or Chairwoman?

Someone just one year older than Irina?

─But the vivid scene she remembered made it a reality.

The skill of breaking a magic ball with bare hands and immediately dispelling the current that zapped out.

He was clearly strong.

At least twice as strong as Irina.

"I need to find out more."

If all these hypotheses were true...

...She might be willing to use a bit of polite speech.

If she was going to ask to learn from him, she should show at least that much courtesy.

***

"Well, that figures."

It's not working.

After finishing my workout and returning to my room.

Today, I was trying to attempt magic while opening a book.

The so-called 【Nutcracker】.

A simple magic that cracks a distant walnut using only mana.

It's widely used for beginners, but...

"...It's not working at all, is it?"

As expected, with Mana Sensitivity at 0.

I can't feel even a smidgen of mana, so.

I just flopped down on the bed.

"Damn it, what's the point of entering a fantasy world if I can't use magic?"

It was kind of my dream, you know.

I let out a sigh.

As I stared blankly at the ceiling, I remembered the girl I saw yesterday.

The protagonist of the mage route in <Song of Sword and Magic>. Irina Eletal.

Someone like her could easily do this Nutcracker thing.

No, forget walnuts. She could probably crush rocks.

"I definitely need to avoid getting involved with her."

A magic prodigy who's incomparable to a dullard like me.

Let's leave her to push the story forward like a proper protagonist, and absolutely not get close to her.

There's no way she'd be interested in me anyway.