Chapter 16
Causing Trouble
“Good job. Ever since you crushed the Politics Department’s pride at the pre-festival party, our department’s expectations for you have grown, Nigel. For reference, every year, the top scorers by grade and by department receive awards, so I hope everyone participates actively.”
Snap!
At the sound of Oliver snapping his fingers, a rulebook appeared in each student’s hands.
Flip, flip.
The sound of pages turning filled the student council room.
“Hmm, as expected of our department—the enthusiasm for learning is impressive.”
Oliver nodded in satisfaction.
“If you win an academy competition, you get a base of 5 points. Gold prize is 10 points, silver is 7…”
“What’s this ‘Magic-Sword Tournament’ held during the semester?”
“…Wait, last year’s prize was Reparo?!”
Even though it was said quietly, everyone’s attention immediately shifted to the speaker.
Reparo was a potion no Magic Department student could ignore.
A tiny vial no bigger than a finger—yet once consumed, it prevented mana depletion for at least two weeks, up to a full month. A truly miraculous potion.
“That’s right. This year’s prize for our department is also Reparo. Or, alternatively—a wish ticket. As long as it’s something the student council can grant!”
Oliver said, clearly pleased with their reaction.
“Nigel, did you hear that? It’s Reparo!!”
“Yeah… I see…”
Of all things, a reward he had absolutely no use for.
His already nonexistent motivation felt like it was sinking even deeper underground.
“Haha, I can see the motivation written all over your faces. Now then, shall we take more questions? Ah, the girl with the curly hair in the back center?”
“In the rulebook, it says you get 1 point for defeating a Swordsmanship Department student. But isn’t fighting on campus against the rules?”
Oliver smiled meaningfully, rubbing his lips.
“Excellent question. According to the rules, it is forbidden. According to the rules. You understand what I mean, right?”
“…So it’s fine as long as you don’t get caught?”
At the same time, Nigel’s eyes gleamed with the same understanding.
The Next Morning
Nigel once again finished his breakfast under the cold stares of the Politics Department—especially Sid Cromwell.
“Finally, we have Magic Department class today!”
“Yesterday you looked like a dying chicken, and now you’re full of energy, Allen.”
“Nigel!”
Allen lightly protested.
“Oh, Besselion. You didn’t skip morning training today, right?”
“No.”
“What did you do?”
“I ran ten laps around the training ground and practiced basic stances.”
“Good. You’ve got evening training too, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be training with Professor Rone and some senior students, followed by sparring.”
Nigel nodded.
“Good. Keep it up.”
“Yes…!”
…What is this?!
Inside Allen’s head, the party band abruptly went on strike.
Between a guy and a girl—especially at this age!—and all they can manage is a dry conversation that sounds like a professor and student?!
And the one answering is even smiling like an idiot!
Did they not have that kind of moment in the forest… but instead sign some kind of employment contract?
Allen tilted his head.
…No. His sharp instincts weren’t just whispering—they were screaming.
There was definitely something going on between these two.
Nigel might be unreadable, but Noah clearly felt something more than simple interest.
You could tell just by looking at his eyes.
They were just like his cousin’s on the day of his engagement ceremony—
Eyes filled with unwavering certainty.
“Well… awkwardness has its own charm!”
“…Allen? Are you talking about your terrible swordsmanship from yesterday?”
At Nigel’s remark, Noah burst out laughing.
Allen’s face instantly turned bright red.
“Nigel! You said I could do whatever I wanted yesterday!!”
“I didn’t expect it to be that funny. Even Professor Rone just said she liked your effort and left without giving any advice.”
Nigel shrugged smugly.
“Ugh… you look like someone who has nothing to do with swords. Where did you even learn that?”
Noah also turned his gaze to Nigel.
“Tilin. I have a family member who used to be a holy knight.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. It’s really hard to become a temple knight—you have to pass the priest exam first, and then another separate knight exam.”
“Yeah. They’re the person I respect the most.”
Nigel recalled Ron’s face, with the small dimple that appeared on his left cheek when he smiled.
“If it’s someone you respect, I’d love to meet them someday.”
“I’d like to spar with them as well.”
“No. Especially not you, Besselion.”
Like I’d let you beat someone half to death.
At Nigel’s firm refusal, Noah shut his mouth.
Grin.
Allen didn’t miss the opportunity.
“Then I guess I’ll get to meet Nigel’s family before Noah does!”
“…Well, maybe someday. Allen, stop dawdling. Let’s go—we’ll be late.”
Nigel quickened his pace.
He had checked on Noah and even encouraged him—this morning was perfect.
Magic Department Class
Heres’s classroom wasn’t in the main building, but in a separate annex.
The annex was circular in structure. At the center was a wide, low platform, and the seating rose higher the farther it was from the center, ensuring all students could clearly see.
Ding. Ding.
Not long after the bell rang, Heres entered.
He stood at the center platform, where only a large magic sphere floated.
Snap!
At the snap of his fingers, glowing blue letters spelling Heres appeared in midair.
As he slowly rotated his finger, the letters rotated along with it.
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Heres, and I’ll be teaching Understanding and Application of Magic this semester.”
Applause filled the room.
“Since it’s the first day, instead of a lecture, we’ll do something more fun.”
Heres stood before the large magic sphere.
“To use magic, two things are essential: the amount of mana, and control.”
When he placed his hand on the sphere, a faint light at its core rapidly expanded, growing brighter and brighter—until it seemed ready to burst.
“Whoa…!”
Just as the light threatened to explode out of the sphere, Heres removed his hand.
“This is mana quantity. It looked like it might burst, didn’t it? If we think of the sphere as the human body, this is similar to the initial manifestation of mana that Magic Department students experience in childhood.”
He placed his hand on the sphere again.
Once more, the sphere filled with light—but this time, it didn’t feel unstable.
Heres raised his free hand with a grin.
As he moved it, the light inside the sphere followed his gestures like a shadow.
“Shall we try something more interesting? You there in the front—do you prefer mountains or the sea?”
“The sea.”
“Alright… then we’ll need sand first.”
Golden sand appeared inside the sphere.
“And a sun.”
The upper part turned blue, and a red orb rose.
“And finally, waves.”
Water filled the sphere, forming a complete ocean scene.
“Wow…”
Cheers and whistles erupted.
“Thank you. I don’t think I need to explain control any further, right? A mage is someone who possesses both a large amount of mana and the ability to control it.”
He removed his hand, and the scene dissolved into white mist.
“Now you know what you’ll be doing today. Each group will come up and place your hand on the sphere. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t manifest anything—this sphere reacts as long as you have mana. And surely, no one here lacks mana, right?”
The students laughed. Everyone was born with mana, after all.
“Oh, just in case someone breaks it today, I’ve set up a barrier around it. Now then, let’s begin with this section.”
The Demonstration
The classroom soon filled with laughter and cheers.
Magic Department students created animals and human shapes—some clear, others barely recognizable.
Students from other departments couldn’t form shapes, but they still watched their glowing mana in awe. Some even produced larger amounts than Magic students.
“Alright, last group! Come on up!”
Nigel, Allen, and Noah stood and walked down.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
Nigel As—the student who had rejected offers from other departments on his very first day.
Everyone watched closely, eager to see just how talented he was.
Meanwhile—
“Nigel, what are you going to make?”
“Not sure… maybe a forest?”
“That suits you! Oh—it’s my turn!”
Allen placed his hand on the sphere.
Light filled it, then slowly formed into something.
“What is that?”
“Oh! It’s a dog chasing a bone!”
A fierce-looking dog chased a bone just out of reach, making everyone laugh.
“Alright, guys—wish me luck!”
Allen returned to his seat.
While Heres adjusted the sphere, Nigel spoke to Noah.
“Besselion, why did you come to the academy?”
“Ah, I…”
“Alright, ready! Next!”
Nigel sighed lightly and placed his hand on the sphere.
Since others took time to fill it with light, Nigel turned his head.
“So—why did you come?”
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rang out.
Nigel quickly turned back.
“…?”
He blinked slowly at the scene before him.
The magic sphere had completely shattered into pieces.
Fragments were scattered everywhere.
And—
A massive hole had been blown into the wall. Not just a crack—but large enough for a person to walk through.
“…Did I do that?”
