Santa

As I smiled at my answer, watching Nelson continue to write something.

A familiar status window message popped up in front of my eyes.

[Trait – Nervous Breakdown has disappeared.]

Startled by the sudden message, I muttered the status window quietly so Nelson wouldn’t hear.

=====

[Ross]

Age: 20

[Stats]

Strength 1.3 / ▼0.2

Endurance 1.3

Agility 2.2 /

Stamina 1.6 / ▼0.3

Mana 1.3 / ▲0.1

Innate Ability

Luck 1

Charm 2

Intelligence 8.3

[Talent -*Unbreakable Courage]

*Activated by Geass

– You gain the courage to persevere towards your determined goal without giving up in the face of any adversity, temptation, or difficulty. It is the armor of will and the fortress of reason.

[Trait]

◇Sense of Inferiority

[Authority]

◆ Check ‘Yonghali’ Lore

– Activation Phrase: Yonghali

=====

The sense of inferiority in my traits remained, but as the message said, the nervous breakdown that had been bothering me disappeared.

Was it because I had a sincere conversation with Ross? Just as I was smiling with joy at the disappearance of the shackle called nervous breakdown, Nelson put down his pen, having finished writing, and looked at me.

,I have something I want to ask you.”

,Yes.”

I answered a little brighter because I was in a good mood, but Nelson’s question made me quite embarrassed.

,You used the secret passage.”

,Th, that’s….”

As I stammered in embarrassment, Nelson said with a warm smile.

,Don’t worry. I’m not asking because I suspect you’re involved with black mages, but simply out of curiosity.”

I answered, relieved a little by Nelson’s words.

,I wanted to check it myself. Whether the black mages are really preparing an incubator…. I was worried that you might go to waste because of my words.”

Nelson nodded as if he understood, whether it was a good answer or not.

,Yes, it must have been hard to believe. I understand fully.”

With a hearty smile, Nelson continued, sounding regretful.

,All the secret passages in the academy have been closed. Because of the risk that external enemies could use them, like this time.”

I felt a great disappointment at those words. I was able to find the Geass using the secret passage, and there were still investigations into the Thornwood Disease left.

Nelson’s mutterings reached me as I felt disappointed.

,It’s a shame. I suffered so much with my friend to make that….”

,Excuse me…?”

Nelson, startled by my question, let out a strange, hehe-like laugh, stroked his beard, and shook his head.

,More than that, I should give you separate compensation for being late. Is there anything you want?”

Pretending not to hear his mutterings, I pondered at Nelson’s words, as if changing the subject.

The Headmaster was an ambiguous person. He was a weirdo who would respond with something even stranger if you asked for something strange.

I carefully thought about what I needed most right now. The most important thing was that I lacked the mana to use Patouga’s grimoire.

To solve the mana problem, I had to find a cure for Thornwood Disease. Now that the secret passage was gone, I only had weekends to investigate.

,Perhaps, is it possible to freely go out of the academy…?”

As I asked cautiously, Nelson smiled as if he had been waiting for it.

,Hmm, your age is the perfect age to cause trouble.”

Nelson, who joked with a playful smile, soon said in a serious voice.

,But it’s dangerous to be alone. You’re still a freshman, and no matter how strong you are, you need someone to rely on.”

Nelson took something out of the drawer and handed it to me.

,This is…?”

What was written largely on the paper was.

– Club Application –

,I’ll give you a chance to create a special club.”

Taken aback by Nelson’s words, I took my eyes off the application and looked at Nelson.

,If more than 3 people including you gather, I will allow a special club with me as the faculty advisor. You can cause as much trouble as you want with the support of the Headmaster, who is the most powerful in the academy.”

At Nelson’s mischievous appearance, winking one eye while saying that, even the little tension I had left melted away and I smiled.

Looking at the application, I realized that this was a good opportunity but also a very difficult condition, and scratched the back of my neck.

Other people would be able to fill the club membership quickly, but that was impossible for me.

That’s because the people I ‘talk’ to at the academy are Roel, Ellie, and sometimes Rosalyn.

But it was impossible to put these three in the club. Of course, if I asked Roel to join the club, he would definitely say yes….

Roel had to flow according to the story I knew. And if Roel’s heroines, Ellie and Rosalyn, got involved with me, the flow I knew might change.

As I sighed at the extremely difficult quest to find two people besides me, Nelson smiled, noticing my worries.

,Make friends. At first, it’s awkward to approach first, and it’s hard to be rejected, but somewhere there might be someone who is waiting for you to approach and become your lifelong friend.”

,Yes….”

Even while living as Jin Shian, I could count my friends on one hand…. Could it be possible?

,Do you know what is the most important thing you can get from the academy?”

,Growth or power…?”

Nelson smiled at my uncertain answer.

,It’s friendship. Friendship is mixed with love, courage, and sincerity. It’s even a very important thing that can support and help you overcome your limits.”

,…So it’s hard to get.”

,That’s why it’s even more precious.”

I smiled awkwardly at Nelson’s words and nodded. I wonder if my imaginary friends count.

,I’ve given you compensation for enduring the interrogation and compensation for my tardiness, so I should give you compensation for your courage as the last thing.”

I felt like I had met Santa in person at Nelson’s actions of giving compensation for compensation for compensation. After all, Nelson was the most reliable person in this world.

Nelson handed me the paper he had just finished writing.

,When you showed me magic. You seemed to be struggling due to a lack of mana. So I modified it a little to make it easier for you to use.”

With a trembling heart at those words, I checked the paper Nelson handed me.

As explained, the basic space magic that Nelson changed was more efficient and consumed less mana than before.

Is he really a great mage? To change the formula to suit me just by looking at the grimoire once…. As I looked at Nelson with respect, Nelson, noticing my gaze, started explaining with a satisfied smile.

,Do you see the circuit used here? The connection of this circuit….”

As I focused on the teachings of Nelson, the great mage and sage, I was soon able to make the new formula my own after a long time.

,Can I try it once?”

,Of course. I want to see if you can do well.”

Nelson, who said that, handed me a pen from the desk.

Receiving the pen, I used the new basic space magic to create a passage of the mind. Minimizing the size of the dimensional exit and also reducing the size of the passage. The amount of mana consumption was reduced by more than half.

I threw the pen into the space on my left, directed it to the pre-set coordinates. Then, I set it up so that the pen would come out of the dimensional exit created on the right.

Just as the pen flying to the left appeared on the right and fell to the floor. I immediately recognized the coordinates of the falling pen and created a new exit above my head.

Catching the pen falling from above. I was so happy that I screamed so loudly that the hidden fairies screamed. Even though I created two more dimensional doors, my mana did not run out.

It was what I needed most right now, and I felt overwhelmed by the feeling of having accomplished something.

Nelson, who watched my magic, clapped and praised me.

,You’re really amazing. Your understanding of space is an innate ability. It may be fate that God has determined that this magic has come into your hands.”

I couldn’t hide my joy at Nelson’s praise and smiled. I returned the pen and carefully folded the club application that Nelson had given me and put it in my pocket.

,Thank you. Headmaster Nelson-nim. You’ve really been a great help to me.”

As I thanked him sincerely, Nelson stroked his well-groomed beard and said.

,Even heroes sometimes need the wisdom of a ‘sage’.”

Nelson, who made a mysterious smile, continued.

,If you have any difficulties, you can come to the Headmaster’s office anytime. Of course, if you don’t mind coming to the Headmaster’s office.”

Feeling comfortable at Nelson’s appearance, who joked until the end, I nodded.

,I’ll come to apply for the club next time.”

,Okay, go in safely.”

I bowed my head at Nelson’s greeting and left the Headmaster’s office with a happy smile.

***

As Ross left the Headmaster’s office, Nelson, who had been maintaining the dignified appearance of the Headmaster, immediately leaned back so far that the chair fell over.

It wasn’t easy to be in the appearance of a ‘sage’ that didn’t suit his personality in front of the students. As Nelson comfortably put his legs on the desk, the fairies who had confirmed that Ross had disappeared began to roam the Headmaster’s office.

After organizing his thoughts for a while, Nelson took out a report from the desk drawer. It was a report that Professor Leora had separately investigated this black mage’s attack.

– Following the traces left by Ross. It seems that the black mage found out about the secret passage.

,Sometimes there is a truth that doesn’t need to be told.”

After Nelson threw the report into the air, he snapped his fingers. The report tore into small pieces and burst into flames. The fairies who saw it flew around the embers as if they were having fun.

Nelson, who was watching it with a refreshed expression and a smile, found a fairy stealing chocolate while avoiding his eyes and hurriedly shouted.

,You bastards! That chocolate is expensive! You should eat the cheap chocolate for fairies, not the one for guests!”

Nelson, who saw the fairies taking the chocolate he had put out for the student who had come to the Headmaster’s office after a long time. He hurriedly lowered his legs from the desk and tried to protect the expensive chocolate from the heinous fairies who were stealing the chocolate.

Already, the fairies were giggling among themselves, picking up the chocolate and going up to the bookshelf where their hands couldn’t reach and munching on it.

Nelson sighed at the sight and said, dumbfounded.

,Even I’m like this. How can I blame a young student’s mistake.”

Nelson smiled bitterly, looking at the fairies eating chocolate deliciously.