Unexpected Obstacle

Nothing had been resolved yet, but just as I was getting somewhat used to my routine, an unexpected obstacle arose.

“Everyone, did you bring your Magic Paper?”

“...”

I sighed deeply as I swept with the broom.

It had been about a month since I started eavesdropping on classes.

Following the process step by step, I had firmly established the basics. Now, I could even sculpt dog figurines with perfectly accurate beards from a much greater distance.

I wouldn’t boast to mere children, but when it came to Wind Magic, I was far superior to those taking the class.

...Though, at best, I was only slightly better than Mages my own age.

The problem started here.

I couldn’t go any further than this.

“Yes, but why did you tell us to bring this?”

“I’ll tell you now. There are all sorts of people in the world. Strong people, tall people, people who eat well... right?”

“Yes!”

“Just like that, everyone has things they’re good at, their own strengths. It’s the same for Mages. You might not understand it now, but you’ve already created your own *One’s Own World*. In this class, we’ll use Magic Paper to glimpse a bit of that world.”

Overcoming the ambush of required materials was too difficult.

I didn’t know where to buy it nor how much it cost.

This meant that attending this class would be practically useless.

“Now, place your Magic Paper on your desk, lightly rest your hand on it, and do nothing.”

“Why?”

“Magic Paper is very, very sensitive. If you use Fire Magic on it, it will burn up surprisingly quickly, and if you use Wind Magic, it will soar high into the air. Even just touching it will record mana traces.”

“Oh, Teacher. Mine tore.”

“Oh dear, Magic Paper is expensive... Shall I give you a spare?”

“It’s fine, my father gave me 100 sheets because he said I’d need them.”

“I-is that so?”

“Hmm... nothing’s changing?”

“It must have recorded something. If you give it to me... Oh my, it’s slightly singed? Huins, it seems you have a talent for Pyromancy!”

So that’s how it works.

This class was a bust, but at least it wasn’t necessary. If I put my hand on it, it would instantly get wet. It was a pointless exercise for someone who already knew the Deep Realm.

The real problem was the next class.

“Today, we’re finally starting the Basic Course. Did everyone bring their textbooks?”

“Yes~”

...

“Open to page 3. Today’s lesson is...”

“*I am utterly undone*.”

I sighed, muttering to myself.

This—there was truly no way around this.

It wasn’t strange. No matter how young the students, there would naturally be textbooks for a regular curriculum.

Of course, if I thought about it hard enough, I could understand some of what was being taught.

However, I couldn’t grasp the details. It felt like I was only half-listening to the class content.

This was the worst-case scenario.

“...”

After a moment of thought, I took a gamble.

Normally, I would sneak out a few minutes before class ended.

This time was different. I swept and wiped the floor as normally as possible, not too diligently, just enough.

I waited for the class to end.

—*Clunk!*

“Hey, let’s go together!”

“A white horse was born in our stable today! Let’s go see it!”

To avoid suspicion, I glanced at the floor.

The children weren’t all that different from the kids at the Orphanage.

Of course, their clothes were expensive, and they were already adorned with all sorts of accessories—that was certainly a difference—but kids were kids. They were just cute.

“Just a moment, everyone, please follow my lead... Oh, you shouldn’t run!”

Fortunately, the teacher also rushed out, flustered, following the children.

Round glasses, brown hair, a robe that wasn’t particularly aristocratic... Unlike the previous Teacher, she used polite language with the children, and didn’t seem to have much experience. Well, that wasn’t important.

I approached the closed door, grabbed the handle, and turned it.

—*Click.*

It wasn’t locked.

“Whew...”

Only after repeatedly confirming that no one was around did I calm my pounding heart and enter the classroom.

It was exactly the kind of children’s classroom I had imagined. It was a mess, as if the cleaning was left to the servants, with overturned chairs, tissues, torn pieces of paper—a complete disaster.

Looking around, I saw a book open on one of the desks.

“Is this it?”

I closed it and looked at the cover.

<F1>Francine’s Magic Studies: Basic, 1</F1>

It must be.

As was expected for a textbook, it wasn’t in the Library. Naturally, I began to read it without any hesitation.

The book’s content was surprisingly easy to understand.

The books in the Library used such advanced terminology that I couldn’t even read them, let let alone understand them, but this was definitely different.

No, it even explained those terms. Forgetting to copy, I read through the textbook as if possessed.

Most of the magical information I wanted but wasn’t taught in class and had just glossed over was present. From increasing precision to setting exact manifestation points. What to explore and what to avoid. And other interesting information.

Of course, I didn’t understand everything at first glance, but that was because it was a teaching aid for class. If I attended class with this textbook, I would be able to understand it completely.

—*All the knowledge I need right now is in this book.*

Gulp, I involuntarily swallowed.

“...No.”

Swallowing the impulse, I reached for the textbook, then gritted my teeth.

*Steal the textbook, you say?*

*Do I really want to die?*

The chance of getting caught was too high, and the risk if caught was too great.

Shoplifting wasn’t something that could be resolved by crying and begging. Regardless of my age, I could genuinely face punishment.

The best solution was to copy it.

Having no time to waste, I pulled out the notebook and pencil I had prepared.

A subtle magical presence touched me.

“...!”

It was that sensation I felt before, the subtle flow that occurs when someone approaches.

I must have been too focused on the textbook. *It’s probably the Teacher*, I thought, and immediately heard a grumbling voice.

“Haa, teaching kids is really tiring...”

If I left now, I’d be seen exiting the classroom.

There were many places to hide. But that was a poor choice. I quickly made a decision and picked up the broom.

*Swish, swish*... Ten seconds after I calmly started sweeping the floor.

“...Huh?”

The Teacher entered. She looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, and I returned her gaze with surprise.

“Oh, hello?”

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“Cleaning...?”

“Cleaning the Classroom? No, why would you do that without being told to—”

Just before suspicion entered the teacher’s eyes, I covered my mouth and bowed my head deeply.

“Oh, oh! I’m sorry. While I was cleaning around the Classroom, the door was open, so I misunderstood that I should clean inside too. I apologize...”,

“Oh? No, there’s no need to apologize... Are you a janitor who cleans around here?”

“Yes...”

“Then it seems you misunderstood. In the future, you shouldn’t just enter buildings. You could be mistaken for a thief.”

I breathed a sigh of relief internally.

*Was that too risky a gamble?*

Of course, even in the worst-case scenario, I hadn’t actually stolen anything, so I was confident I could get away with it somehow.

“I’ll tidy up here, so you go sweep outside.”

“Oh, I’ll help you.”

“Huh? This is my job...”

“The area in front of the classroom is already clean.”

“Really? Well then...”

I felt my whole body drenched in sweat, helping the Teacher clean the classroom and then leaving.

It wasn’t from exertion, but from tension. I felt like I’d shaved years off my life.

“Thanks for your help. We finished quickly because of you.”

“No, it’s my job. Is there anything else you need me to do?”

“Really? Then could you help me with one more thing? This is the remaining Magic Paper. Could you take it to the Magic Tool Shop in the center?”

“...Oh, yes.”

I said it, and it actually exists.

I was worried the Magic Paper would get wet as soon as I touched it, but fortunately, she gave it to me in a thick box.

Struggling to carry it, I entered the shop and called out to the balding Shopkeeper who was tidying the counter.

“Excuse me, the Teacher from the Children’s Class asked me to deliver this.”

“Huh? Ah, yes, the remaining Magic Paper, I suppose. Just a moment. *Ugh*...

While the Shopkeeper went to the back of the shop to do something, I looked around the shop and—

“...Oh?”

I froze, seeing books neatly arranged above the counter.

<F1>Francine’s Magic Studies: Basic, 1</F1>

<F1>Francine’s Magic Studies: Basic, 2</F1>

<F1>Francine’s Magic Studies: Basic, 3</F1>

*...Was this a Jewelry Store?*

I desperately wanted them. I racked my brain, and when the Shopkeeper came out, I lowered my head so my face wasn’t visible and spoke in a low voice.

“Here you go.”

“Yes, thanks for the errand.”

“Excuse me, what kind of shop is this?”

“Huh? It’s where students come to buy lost items or supplies. Why do you ask?”

“Thank you. I was just curious.”

I had received confirmation.

Suppressing my excitement, I left the shop, keeping my face hidden, and ran to a secluded spot.

As soon as I entered an alley, I stripped off all my clothes and pulled out the Noble attire I carried in my bag just in case. I carried it so I wouldn’t get caught if I ever did something serious while disguised as a Janitor, but I never expected to use it like this.

“...Is my hair a bit off?”

For a few minutes, I reflected my face in the gently flowing stream, wiped off the soot, and tidied my hair.

It was a bit of a drawback that I had black hair, but there were Nobles with black hair, though not many. It wouldn’t be a big problem.

“*Ahem, ahem*.”

I straightened my shoulders and cleared my throat.

Leaving the dirty bag there, I walked with an air of dignity, as if I were a Noble. As I’d noticed when entering the Library, attitude was important.

Returning to the Jewelry Store—no, the Magic Tool Shop—I saw a distinctly different reaction from the Shopkeeper.

He bowed deeply, as if he had truly seen a Noble, and came out from behind the counter. Well, if he hadn’t, I would have been in big trouble.

“Oh my, good day to you, Sir. What may I help you with?”

“Hmm. I wish to purchase those three textbooks.”

“S-sir...?”

*Was that not the right way to speak?*

Still, the Shopkeeper retrieved the magic books without much suspicion.

“Which *House* do you belong to, *Young Master*? I will charge it to it.”

This is the Academy, after all; the Shopkeeper was offering credit. But a *House*?

I, who had no such thing, shook my head.

“Do you accept cash?”

“Yes, of course, Sir.”

“Keep the change.”

I thanked Huins and placed the silver coin on the counter.

He was practically a lifesaver. Next time I saw Elisia, I wouldn’t actually hit her, but I’d secretly tell Huins her location. As I thought this and reached for the textbooks...

“Oh? Ahaha~”

The Shopkeeper, who had been bewildered by the silver coin I offered, started laughing.

“*Young Master*, I believe you’ve brought the wrong currency. That’s silver, not gold!”

“...Oh, ah, is that so?”

“Yes, each of these textbooks is 599 silver, so it would be better to charge it to your *House*. Just say the word and I will...”

“...I’ll come back another time.”

“Oh, yes...?”

I still walked out of the shop with my head held high.

And... as soon as I entered the alley, I collapsed, muttering with a face full of despair.

“*This cannot be!*”

599 silver?

A textbook, 599 silver coins?

One of those books?

All three combined were roughly equivalent to our Orphanage’s annual budget?

Was the inflation really that bad?

“...”

I had to make money.

*Now*.