episode_0016

Before enrolling, the reception room of the Nifrantz Academy.

It was relatively quiet and less crowded than the examination hall a short while ago. So quiet, in fact, that the thump-thump of my heart, still racing after unleashing so much mana, strongly echoed in my ears.

Shhh, swish.

We filled in our names on the enrollment applications.

Following the blank spaces were a series of questions: magical attributes, main weapon, and desired department.

We filled out every space without hesitation.

“All done, Unni?” “Yes. Yuri, too?”

Nod.

What had all our efforts been for?

We both applied to the Department of Magic.

Cadets Narias Philbrogue and Yurias Philbrogue.

I received the fluttering papers from Yuri and submitted both applications.

“Yes, that concludes the enrollment procedure. Your uniforms will be delivered to your residence in a few days.” “Understood.”

Whew, that’s that for now.

All that remains is waiting.

“Let’s go, Yuri.” “Oh, right. We’re almost out of vegetables at home.” “Then shall we go grocery shopping on our way back?”

A bright smile. Yuri laughed.

“It’s been a while since we went to town together.” “I’m craving meat today—”

While leisurely choosing our dinner menu…

“Narias Philbrogue-nim!”

An academy employee in charge of admissions called out to me.

“What is it?” “Um, that is… Headmistress Natalya wishes to see you.” “What? The academy Headmistress? Why would she want to see me…?”

She hesitated, unable to answer immediately, and then slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s… regarding the entrance examination just now. She wishes to have a consultation…” “Hmm… I understand.” “Then, this way, please.”

I gave Yuri a small wave.

“Go on ahead. I’ll catch up soon.” “Hurry back, Unni.”

Leaving her behind, I walked down the hallway, lost in thought.

It’s about the exam.

I had a hunch.

‘Did they discover I concealed my mana attribute?

Mana without an attribute doesn’t exist in this era.

Mana that isn’t naturally present in the body, but rather artificially drawn from outside, has a blank, pure white characteristic.

In ancient times, this was considered true mana, leading to countless studies.

However, it was discovered that everyone possesses mana, and that anyone can use magic if they can manipulate it.

Thanks to that, it has become a relic of the past that nobody studies anymore.

‘That’s why it stands out even more.’

I’ve already concealed my identity, so it’s inevitable that someone will suspect my true nature.

And to use ancient magic on top of that? I’ll be lucky if the Magic Society doesn’t arrest me immediately.

To smoothly advance the main storyline, I must avoid such troublesome incidents.

I steeled my resolve and ascended the stairs to the Headmistress’s office.

… … …

Knock, knock.

“Excuse me, Headmistress. I have brought Miss Philbrogue.” “Enter.”

The employee bowed lightly and left the way they came.

Whew.

I opened the door, and the scenery inside the Headmistress’s office immediately came into view.

Bookshelves lining the walls. In the center of the impractically large room sat the Headmistress’s desk.

It resembled an audience chamber.

I swallowed my saliva and walked inside.

“I am Narias Philbrogue.” “Ah, yes, you are…”

A low, gentle voice.

She spun her chair around to face me.

“Nice to meet you. I am Natalya Prierd, the 37th Headmistress of Nifrantz Academy.”

Gasp.

She’s beautiful.

Her voice made her sound quite old, but seeing her face changed my mind.

Slightly faded long gray hair and neat skin. I heard it takes decades to reach the position of Headmistress, but she looked only in her late thirties.

And she’s beautiful.

“Ahem, staring at someone’s face like that… even I would feel embarrassed.” “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re much younger than I expected.” “Hehe… I’ve heard all sorts of things in my life.”

The corners of her alluring lips curved upwards.

“Alright, let’s leave the pleasantries aside. The truth is, I’m quite interested in you.” “Interested, you say…?” “I observed your entrance examination… from behind.”

I kept my expression hidden and calmly continued.

“It’s an honor. To receive your attention, as someone as ordinary as me—” “Ordinary…?”

Headmistress Prierd looked at me for a moment. As if trying to gauge my expression, her gaze fixed on me before she spoke again.

“During the test, you clearly used water-attribute magic.” “Yes. My sister and I… our mana attribute is water.”

Even as I said that, I felt that the other party had already noticed the lie. An indescribable feeling of anxiety lingered.

Swish.

The Headmistress stood up.

She walked slowly to the window and looked down at the academy’s main building.

“I was once a great magician. In my youth, I was part of the Royal Magic Corps. However, for some reason, I lost the ability to use magic.” “…I’m sorry to hear that.” “I don’t think of it that way. Because in losing magic—”

Whirl.

She turned to me.

“I gained the ability to see mana.”

Her eyes glowed with a mystical color.

Red, green, yellow, blue. Various colored lights flickered in Headmistress Prierd’s eyes.

“How do I appear in those eyes?” “…Winter. Like a gray winter sky with white snow swirling.”

From the moment I stood before her, the outcome had already been decided.

[Mana Manipulation].

I drew mana from the room and mimicked water mana.

Poroong— Small water droplets danced on my palm.

“Indeed… now it’s a pale blue. The same color I saw during the test.” “To be sure, my mana attribute isn’t water.” “And it isn’t any other attribute either. Submitting false information on your application could have severe consequences.”

Clench.

I clenched my fists tightly.

“What do you want from me?” “What?” “The reason you summoned me here, in exchange for the consequences.”

I was quite assertive. The fact that she didn’t immediately point out my weakness indicated her intention to negotiate.

And the Headmistress burst into hearty laughter.

“…The Fifth Princess.” “…!!”

An unexpected person was named.

“About ten years ago… I saw you at the palace. I couldn’t see any color of mana in the girl diligently practicing magic.” “…….” “It was you, Princess Narita.”

I never imagined someone would recognize my identity before I even enrolled.

I thought I’d only be discovered for concealing my mana attribute… I never expected anyone at the Academy would know Narita.

Swish—

I swept my hair back, wiping away the coated mana.

My brown-dyed hair returned to its original color.

“Black hair… I was right.” “…How many people with black hair are there in the kingdom?” “Anyone who knows the Princess would think of you first. In that sense, changing your hair to brown was a good choice.”

Thump, thump.

The Headmistress walked in front of me, kneeling in a bow.

“Natalya Prierd, Headmistress of Nifrantz Academy, greets Her Fifth Royal Highness.” “That’s fine… please get up.” “Well, now you’re Miss Philbrogue.”

I extended my hand to Headmistress Prierd, and she smiled, taking my hand and rising.

We moved to the table by the window.

“So… what brings you to the academy?” “There’s no special reason. I thought there’s no better place to cultivate my powers.”

The tea prepared by the Headmistress was fragrant and delicious.

She took a sip and looked at me again, through her ‘mana eyes’.

“It’s related to ancient magic… Is that it?” “About half of it is true. It was a decision I made after agonizing over what I could do for my country as a princess.”

I couldn’t reveal any more information.

As the main storyline progresses, I knew there would be multiple crises for the kingdom, like wars with the empire and demonic invasions. I couldn’t reveal such information now.

“Understood, then… I will process your enrollment application beforehand.”

The Headmistress took a scroll from the table. Numerous names were written inside, and she added my name and Yuri’s under the last entry. It must be the cadet roster.

“Is that all?” “Not yet. Even if you changed your identity, that unique magic is too conspicuous. Faculty members, and even cadets skilled in magic, might suspect something.”

She frowned.

“Perhaps… instead of magic, you could use swordsmanship?” “No, I decided to go to the Department of Magic.” “Ugh…”

I was at a loss as well.

For a long while, the only sounds in the Headmistress’s office were the clinking and sipping of teacups.

Then, suddenly, the Headmistress slapped her knee.

“Let’s do this. We’ll say you possess all attributes of mana.” “Wouldn’t that make me even more conspicuous?” “Not at all. A four-attribute mage is within the realm of naturally gifted talent that ordinary people can imagine.”

Conversely, it means that attributeless mana is beyond the realm of imagination.

“But my current identity is a minor noble from a remote area…” “That is fine. Every year, talented individuals with little notable background enter the academy. I personally select “special students”.”

She tapped her eyes. It means that her ability to see mana is a great help in recruiting talent.

And above all…

‘Special student’… a nice ring to it. When I can’t hide it, it might be better to be openly strong.

Yuri would be surprised again.

“Will you do that for me?” “With pleasure. I will select you as a special student. It is a good thing to have more talent anyway.”

Our opinions coincided.

I reached out my hand again, and Headmistress Prierd shook it with a smile

The conversation ended, and I stood up.

“I shall take my leave. Someone is waiting for me.” “Princess— I mean, Cadet Narias Philbrogue. I have one last thing to say.”

The Princess Narita was no longer in the Headmistress’s office. There was only the special student of Nifrantz Academy, the 530th freshman cadet Philbrogue.

“Yes, Headmistress.” “Be careful. That special power of yours is not something that can be easily hidden. There will undoubtedly be many who suspect you.” “I will keep that in mind.”

She smiled contentedly with a gentle expression, and I left the Headmistress’s office.

At the time, I thought it would somehow work out, but I was wrong.

The incident happened on the day of the entrance ceremony.

… … …

Clench!

A force squeezing my throat, not an ordinary human. A strong person who has undergone countless trainings.

To think that the freshman I first talked to after class assignment was such a person.

“There is no daughter in the Philbrogue Baron’s family.”

And to think she’s so sharp, how on earth was I supposed to know?

Eve Estar. My fellow 530th cadet at Nifrantz Academy, the freshman top scorer. With her long, light blue hair down, she threw me against the wall, pressing my neck with her elbow.

And as if she really wanted to kill me…

She stabbed me with her words.

“Answer me. What is your true identity?”