Chapter 46
Dragon mana pierced through the rock that had been expelling impure mana.
And the impure mana in the surrounding area was sucked right in.
As if wrapped around by dragon mana.
“…What is this.”
Anyway, I destroyed it, so that part was fine, but I couldn't tell whether it was the right thing to do.
‘Well, if the system tells me to do it, it's usually better to just do it.’
Still, there'd usually be a reward for something like this, and apparently there wasn't one.
“What the hell.”
I really don't know.
Then I had no choice but to go find someone who knew better.
***
“So, you've come to see me.”
“Yep.”
“You always make surprising judgments. At your age, with that talent, you'd have reason to get cocky.”
“I'm actually pretty humble.”
I put a hand on my hip, feeling smug.
“It would be nice if you could at least fix that slight arrogance of yours.”
“That's just how I'm built, so I can't help it. You'll have to endure it.”
“Brace yourself for the finals.”
“Graaagh. Isn't that a bit much?”
Karnarov completely ignored me as I glared daggers at him.
And then he got to the point.
“Do you know about demons?”
“How would I know?”
“This world is a giant chessboard. Gods and demons fight each other by moving pieces on it. What you destroyed earlier was probably one of the demon side's pieces.”
“You're suddenly launching into the explanation...”
I don't know any of this.
“For reference, we're on the gods' side.”
“Then I did the right thing?”
“I suppose so. Of course, gods and demons alike are all rotten beings.”
“Then isn't there basically no difference?”
“If you insist on comparing them, the gods' side is overwhelmingly better.”
So that apparently wasn't true.
It seemed like the lesser of two evils.
“Well, just keep this much in mind. The more you know, the more trouble it becomes for both of us.”
Karnarov took a small book from the bookshelf.
“First, get the basic information from this book. You seem to be a human from another land.”
[Myths of the Stellan Empire]
I took the book and watched Karnarov's face.
He didn't seem to be in a bad mood.
The ominous air that usually drifted around him wasn't there.
If anything, that made it even more ominous.
He didn't seem to be making any move to solve anything.
“Can I dig into this?”
“Well...I wouldn't recommend it, but I won't stop you. Just don't dig too deeply.”
I could feel his intention to step back and watch from the sidelines.
And if things got worse, he'd come to stop it.
“Still, you should be worrying more about the finals.”
Ah.
I really have no clue what the hell he's planning to ask.
There's only a little over a month left.
And by then I have to get through summer survival and finals prep.
What an insanely packed schedule.
“Oh, and I heard you borrowed a barrier magic book by asking Isabelle.”
“Work through all the practice problems in Chapter 6 of the book I lent you last time. It will help.”
Wait a second.
This flow is...!
“What are you looking so shocked about? It's homework, obviously. I'll even give you special feedback, so bring it to me by the finals.”
“Nooooo!!”
My peaceful time was over.
* * *
“Hahaha...”
Karnarov laughed out loud in his office for the first time in a while.
“This year's first-years are on another level.”
They were the kind of kids that made teaching worthwhile.
It wasn't just that they were high-level.
Since the time he'd produced those two unparalleled geniuses, this was the highest level he had seen.
If they learned even basic magic, half of them could instantly gain Rank 1 mage qualifications.
Ten of them could aim for Rank 3.
And maybe two monsters could even aim for Rank 4 within two years.
What stood out were those four.
'Yumia, Robert, Linia, Aris.'
Linia was a given.
Yumia was the best of the best as long as she didn't cause trouble.
As for the others, Robert and Aris, they were the hardest of hard workers.
In fact, if they were in another year, they'd be good enough to aim for second place.
They, having been stimulated by Yumia, were trying to fly even higher.
The other first-years were the same.
'Maybe they were even higher than back then.'
Of course, one of them did give him headaches every now and then... no, rather often.
I mean, she was even arranging spice trade with the imperial court, beyond even duke-level deals.
She'd disappear from time to time and come back with a pile of strange things.
Without a doubt, she was a student who came with both risk and reward.
But this time, she had brought back something pretty good.
“And to think the cult bastards got tracked down by a mere young student. Their level really has fallen.”
He also didn't think for a second that she was 'just a student.'
He took out a crystal orb and made contact.
It was Karnarov's magic tower, managed by his younger brother.
“Alberich.”
[Yes.]
“A trail has been found.”
[Those disgusting bastards! So they really infiltrated the school!]
“Yeah.”
It was found by a student, but...
Even in his eyes, they'd have been exposed sooner or later.
Even so, the noble faction...
can't be dealt with right now.
But it couldn't be denied that the timing had been moved up thanks to Yumia.
Then the countermeasures could also be taken in a rather interesting form.
The corner of his mouth twisted into a crooked smile.
* * *
“So this is the barrier magic book.”
“Right...”
I shouldn't have gone to Karnarov in the first place.
By now, Karnarov was definitely thrilled to be working me to the bone!
“Damn it.”
I had gone to Karnarov for nothing and come back with homework on top of it.
How much suffering would it take to shake this burden off?
“Ugh... it's hard. I thought I'd learned quite a bit at home, too.”
“Still, if I can solve this, it's a relief that my skills will improve.”
The homework Karnarov gave always had meaning.
Chapter 6 was [Area Repair].
It was a section quite useful for calculating spatial coordinates.
Barrier magic was apparently a pretty useful type of magic, so maybe I'd have a chance to use it someday.
Especially the barrier that kept people out stood out.
I first found the matching attribute in the book.
[Attribute Imbuement: Silence]
“So, I get that I just need to deploy a small barrier and imbue it with this attribute...”
What we're trying to do, in itself, isn't actually difficult.
Deploy a barrier and imbue it with the two attributes of Persistence and Silence, and that's a very simple task.
But it's simple for upperclassmen; for us, it wasn't all that simple.
[[The Mathematician of the Magic Square] is on the verge of overload!]
“Graaagh. I'm dying.”
This is rough, rough.
But I can't give up the air conditioner!
Charge all the way to the finals!
Otherwise I'll die this summer!
* * *
I realized it in the next class.
“Fellow students. The fun basic magic time has returned.”
What had seemed quiet over the past month was...
just him waiting for the students to get used to basic magic for this class.
The place Karnarov had gathered us in was a large auditorium.
It was the exact same place where we'd taken the midterm exam last time.
There were spectator stands and various devices for dueling.
“From today, I'll introduce what you'll be taught over the next month.”
Karnarov wrote on the movable blackboard.
The white letters were written neatly along the chalk.
[Basic Combat Arts]
“It's a very basic way of fighting using basic attack and defense magic.”
Huh.
That's what we've been doing every day.
We've done it so much that basic attack magic now splits into ten directions.
Sometimes it even curls up on its own and hits the enemy.
Still, actual one-on-one combat is rare enough.
“From second semester on, I'll be teaching this content as the main focus. Think of this as a preview.”
Karnarov spun his wand once.
Then artifacts poured out of thin air.
“First, I'll hand out the magical tools.”
I went to the front of the auditorium and received one.
It was the kind you wear on your arm.
Observation Eye.
[Skill Caster(SR): Basic Defense Magic, Intermediate Defense Magic]
Since Karnarov had explained it, there was no need to look at the description.
“If you wear this, you'll be able to use basic defensive magic with a single spell.”
At that moment, one student raised a hand.
“Can we use defensive magic on our own?”
“You can. However, even then, you must wear the Skill Caster.”
Ugh.
That's a hassle.
“If you fail to dodge or block the mana bullets properly, it'll automatically activate intermediate defense magic to protect you.”
“Oooh...”
“A magical tool like that!”
It seemed like a pretty good item even by otherworld standards.
I didn't need it, though.
After confirming that even the last student had received a Skill Caster, Karnarov opened his mouth.
“Basically, this class will proceed in the form of duels. Come out, duel, then receive feedback.”
Mm-hm.
Sounds fun.
“Win or lose will be determined by whether the Skill Caster's intermediate magic activates.”
If the Skill Caster's basic defense magic isn't broken through, there's no reason for the intermediate magic to activate.
In other words, you need enough firepower to break the shield.
“Wow... combat, huh? I'm nervous.”
Aris, sitting next to me, said nervously.
“Right.”
“Why are you wearing sunglasses again!?”
“Because it looks like I can coast through this again.”
Honestly, how much can these kids really fight?
Unless it was against Linia, I was confident I could brush off everyone else.
“Second place, Yumia.”
“Yes.”
I trotted out and stood on one side of the dueling field.
The order was good too.
There were just over seventy students in the class.
If I fought now, I'd probably have it pretty easy until my turn came around again.
“And 10th place, Allen Valtor.”
Then one of the students stood up.
He was a muscular student wearing a red scarf.
But he didn't come straight out,
“I've wanted to fight you someday! Yumia!”
“Huh?”
“I've always questioned you being second place. Today is the day I reveal the truth! Now, my magic...”
“Wait, Allen.”
Robert spoke to him.
What, were the two of them acquainted?
“What is it, Robert?”
“Please stop trying to get yourself killed. That guy is not someone you can take on...”
No, Robert.
I can't let a guy who looks this interesting slip away.
I decided to throw in some provocation.
“Oh? So you're stronger than me? With that ranking?”
“Of course! I was born into a court mage family and have trained since I was young!”
“So?”
“I'm saying I can outperform you in practical combat!”
Sure enough, his mana was greater than mine.
He continued.
“Your static control may be better, but I've hunted countless magical beasts, so my practical experience is on a different level.”
Oh, I've done plenty of that too.
And...
“With that level of skill?”
“Wait... Allen, any more than that and you won't be able to handle it...”
Robert tried to stop him, but it was no use.
“I'll tear away that facade!”
The spectator stands rustled.
“That's Allen! Of the Valtor family!”
“Hmm... the second-place guy does look strong, but he hardly ever actually fights. Allen's a court mage's son.”
“Then wouldn't the result be one-sided?”
“Allen will win.”
“What are you talking about? Didn't you see that murderous look!?”
Hm.
The spectators' reactions were split too.
Nice.
The corners of my mouth lifted into a grin.
Right, you need guys like that.
He rolled across the floor and sprang out.
Allen took his place on the opposite side from me.
“Begin.”
Karnarov's low voice, amplified by some unknown method, rang out loudly.
Along with it, Allen cast his spell.
“Casting, Bullet, Triple!”
A mana bullet split into three.
I had plenty of agility, so I could dodge them with ease.
But if I just dodged, that wouldn't be fun, would it?
I dodged the three mana bullets coming at different angles by doing a somersault in place.
The spectators fell silent.