Chapter 19: Expectations and Magic

“Is there only one Saint Candidate…?”

The professor, looking at Chloe, smiled gently.

“Well, it is already famous that Saint Candidates are often late for their first day of class.”

Is that so?

Well, there’s no way I would remember trivial details like how many students were late.

How many people can memorize the contents of a novel down to the last letter?

“Still, it’s encouraging that at least one has arrived.”

“Yes? Oh, yes.”

Chloe looked flustered.

Could it be that the Saint Candidates had to visit somewhere else before attending class?

“Lady Blackwood and Lady Arnburrow were also impressive. After all, if you can defeat an enemy, it’s best to do so. There’s a saying that the best defense is a good offense, although I’m sure there are instructors who would never agree with that sentiment.”

The professor’s gaze slowly moved toward the elves sitting in the corner of the classroom before turning to me and my party.

“And having a clear understanding of the situation is important as well. Excellent. Could it be because you’re the hero chosen by the Goddess? I’m looking forward to the rest of the class.”

The professor’s face, rubbing his hands together, showed an expression that truly seemed eager, making the sweat on my back feel cold.

“And as for the Prince… it wouldn’t be good if an important person were attacked. After all, you’ll be taking the highest position in the country someday.”

Although there was no trace of mockery in the professor’s voice, the Prince, who had been hiding behind his knights, turned slightly red.

Now that I think about it, he was the only one who actually hid himself during this whole incident.

“Now then, everyone, please take your seats. Since it’s the first day, I won’t be advancing in the material, but if I just let you go without doing anything, the Headmaster will surely scold me.”

The professor said as he pulled a staff out from his robe.

He walked toward the broken window, tracing complex patterns in the air with his staff.

Nothing like light emanating from the end of his staff or any pictures appearing in the air happened, but the shattered glass pieces slowly floated up, as if time itself were reversing, and they fit perfectly back into the empty window frame.

Some students, probably from Blackwood’s group, let out impressed murmurs.

“Oh, right. I should’ve introduced myself earlier.”

The professor turned back toward the blackboard and spoke.

“My name is Dur. I’m responsible for some of the magical subjects here at the Academy, and I also manage the magical security for the Academy. I was once a court mage. Prince, do you happen to remember my face?”

“Huh?”

The sudden question caught the Prince off guard, but after a moment he replied.

“Ah, I remember now. I was very young, but your face hasn’t changed at all. I saw you in the garden, didn’t I?”

“That’s right. I’m an elf, so my face hasn’t changed much from that time until now. But you, Prince, have grown up wonderfully.”

The professor nodded, then turned his attention back to the students.

“Now, that’s enough of my introduction. Let’s talk about the class you’ll be taking. Is there anyone here who can use magic?”

There was rustling from all around, and most people, excluding me, raised their hands.

Even Sasha, Narya, and Chloe.

Wait, hold on.

“Hero, haven’t you ever learned magic?”

Siwoo, who was sitting next to me, also raised his hand, and the professor, curious as to why I hadn’t raised mine, asked with an intrigued expression.

“Ah, I used to be an adventurer, so…”

“I see,” the professor nodded as if he understood immediately.

“Adventurers often specialize in certain roles, so it seems your party member had excellent magical skills.”

That was true, but it was still embarrassing that everyone except me raised their hand.

“Still, you can use divine power, can’t you?”

“Uhm…”

“Divine power also uses magic to some extent. There are unfortunate people born without any magic ability, but unless that’s the case, there’s no issue learning magic. In fact, many commoners have never even come near magic.”

The professor continued in a calm tone.

“And even if you’re not particularly interested in magic, as a hero, you must at least understand the principles behind it. In the old days, the Demon King’s army made extensive use of magic. Sealing certain areas with magic circles or locking doors was commonplace.”

The stares that turned toward me felt incredibly uncomfortable.

A commoner, yet the real hero who drew the sword.

With every gaze, I could feel the weight of expectations.

“‘Understanding Magic’ will cover the most basic elements of magic that make all these feats possible. Those of you who have learned magic before might already have some understanding, and some of you might have learned from your family directly, but we’ll start by going over everything from the beginning.”

The professor pointed toward the window.

“If you study hard, you’ll eventually be able to replicate forms using only pure magic drawn from your own body. Though, not everyone will be able to do it.”

The professor’s face was beaming with pride as he spoke.

The class schedule didn’t allow for much of a break since the next lesson would follow immediately, but since it was the first day, the professor only provided a brief explanation and let us go.

Afterward, I found myself with a bit of time to rest.

Today, I came to the café with my party, just as I had with Siwoo yesterday.

Unfortunately, Sasha, Narya, and Chloe seemed a bit short on money to pay for the café bill, so I ended up covering it for now.

Well, since I’m a hero, I’d probably get some kind of support later.

Plus, I still had a little money saved up from when I worked as an adventurer.

Ha~~

As I let out a long sigh and buried my face on the table, my party members hurriedly tried to comfort me.

“You don’t have to think too much about it. Magic was my responsibility in our party anyway.”

The first person to speak was Siwoo.

“Still, looking back, I guess it wasn’t ideal to leave all the magic to you. I did try to learn a bit.”

But magic isn’t something you can just cast by chanting a spell and making it work.

I had to learn the basic theory, come up with complex calculations in my head, and draw invisible magic circles in the air…

In practice, it was easier to just use pre-drawn scrolls, which is why I didn’t pursue it further.

A magic staff was designed so you wouldn’t have to carry scrolls around, but it’s not easy to draw a precise magic circle in the air.

Even if it’s simplified with the staff’s functions.

There are beginner staffs that glow at the tip when you hold them, but they’re expensive, and the glowing part is a consumable, making them too noticeable for practical use.

I realized I’d been too naive, thinking I could just focus on swordsmanship.

“I… I only learned a bit of practical magic for managing the church! I used a communal staff kept at the church!”

Next to speak was Chloe.

“Still, you were able to manage the church on your own, so that’s impressive.”

“Well… I guess so?”

The shabby church in the pioneer village couldn’t be regularly repaired with the village’s limited funds.

So, for Chloe to manage the church, learning some magic was the most cost-effective choice.

If she managed it on her own, she must have learned more than just basic practical magic.

“We both can only use limited magic, though! We only use it for things that are hard to do physically!”

“And what kind of magic is that?”

“Lock-picking magic!”

“Well, that’s actually pretty impressive.”

“Is it… really?”

Sasha scratched her head and gave a silly grin, and I couldn’t help but stare at her in slight disbelief.

Seriously, either brag or comfort me, just one or the other.

It wasn’t exactly something to brag about.

Ha~~

I let out another long sigh and buried my face back on the table.

“Uh, um…”

As I lay my face on the table, someone called out to me.

I thought it might be one of my party members, so I lifted my head, but none of the kids who seemed to be calling me were familiar.

Turning my gaze, I saw a person I didn’t recognize, speaking to me.

They were in a school uniform, but they weren’t in the same class as me.

“Excuse me, are you the Hero?”

“Uh…”

“C-could you please give me an autograph?”

The kid suddenly shoved a notebook in front of me, and I just stared at them for a while in confusion.

An autograph?

When I looked back at my party members sitting at the table, they were all smiling happily and watching me.

If I refused here, I’d feel like a bad person, so I ended up accepting the notebook and pen, scribbling my name down.

Lila

“Thank you, Hero! Actually, I’m a commoner too! To us commoner students, you’re already a hero!”

The kid said that and turned to run off, joining their friends who were gathered a little further away.

They started laughing and giggling, and a few of them waved in my direction.

I reflexively waved back.

“Looks like it worked out, Lila.”

Hearing Siwoo’s words, I buried my face in the table for the third time today.