Ch.44. First Steps (1)

In a room that seemed dozens of times larger than her body, a girl sat in a chair before a mirror, arranging her ash-gray hair by herself.

Then, without even a knock, two maids barged in.

“Lady Sylvia. A letter has arrived for you to read.”

“…”

House Cutelli.

Among the nobles of the Ardelion Duchy, they were quite wealthy and renowned.

Their status as a count family placed them fairly high in the hierarchy, excluding only a few other houses, which made this situation rather perplexing.

A mere maid barging into a count’s daughter’s room without knocking, and that same maid daring to extend a letter with one hand.

‘How tiresome.’

The ash-gray haired girl, her expression seemingly blank, accepted the letter while silently swallowing an endlessly long sigh.

How much longer would she have to endure this?

Even Sylvia herself knew it wasn’t right to be treated this way just for being an illegitimate child, despite belonging to a prestigious noble family.

But what could she do?

Her mother was of lowly birth, and from the moment she was born as an illegitimate child, the gazes around her had been nothing but cold.

They kept her in the mansion claiming she might still be of use, but when and where she would be cast out depended solely on the count’s whim.

“…Why are there two letters?”

“Because Lady Sylvia didn’t handle matters properly, I suppose?”

“This is what happens when you fail to set a proper example as a noble. The other heir candidates have already—”

Here it goes again.

They would intimidate her like this—

“My lady. Are you not paying attention?”

“You seem particularly lax today. Some punishment might be necessary.”

Whether she argued back or remained silent, their intention to lay hands on her was obvious, making all sorts of excuses.

In the end, they were just frustrated about having to care for a child of a filthy, lowly commoner.

They were striking her calves with a switch, lifting her skirt, but at some point, she had stopped feeling the pain.

Her memories were hazy.

When had she stopped getting angry, asking why they hit her when she’d done nothing wrong? When had she resigned herself to the fact that it was easier to just take the beatings?

Since then, she couldn’t remember having laughed or cried.

Just like a doll with the same expression always.

Once her calves had turned red, the maids’ forced punishment ended.

When she showed no reaction this time either, the maids left medicine and some admonishments before departing, and Sylvia could finally pick up the letter opener.

“…So Vesta and Pallas were targeted.”

Vesta, Pallas.

Children from noble families connected to House Cutelli, with similar dispositions.

They weren’t particularly close friends, but they weren’t complete strangers either, as they shared common goals by virtue of being nobles.

The letter’s contents were as follows:

It stated that Vesta had been ambushed and defeated by Juno from Class E, known as the “weakest vanguard,” and requested that Sylvia step in to resolve the situation.

A similar letter had come from Pallas’s family, and without reading further, her task was set.

It was simply a matter of maintaining discipline, asserting power, and preserving their lofty position.

Even knowing this was a tedious and futile action, Sylvia had no choice but to act.

Having lost even her mother, this was all she had left. She wanted to avoid being left alone at all costs.

“Juno… them again.”

The doll-like girl who had only fear left as an emotion had stopped them several times before, and now she tossed aside the letter after uttering the name of the target she would have to deal with once more.

***

It’s now exactly the first day since my regression.

Yesterday was the day when the Grand Duke of Ardelion declared he would uncover the direct corruption committed by professors allied with noble families.

For anyone part of the Academy, this would naturally prompt questions like: What does this mean? Who’s involved? What’s happening? The professors answered with today’s guest lecture.

Essentially saying: We’re spending a fortune to bring in expensive speakers, so we must be innocent.

In the end, the professors intended to quell any potential unrest or controversy among students, and this ploy worked perfectly.

“Yaaawn…”

The problem is that the lecture is only comprehensible to certain groups.

In a society tightly bound by academic, regional, and blood connections, those who lag behind can’t understand even a tenth of the lecture, let alone half.

So while it appears they’re earnestly responding to students’ academic curiosity, it’s really just a class for their own circle, excluding Classes D and E.

Though this lecture offers me no help or meaning, I have a reason for being here.

“Hmm… Your mana is an extraordinarily clean blue color. I can also see hot flames within it. Miss Michelle, you primarily work with fire, correct?”

“You’re exactly right.”

—Ohhh…

After accurately identifying Michelle’s mana on first sight, the lecturer received exclamations from the students, then smirked slightly as if wondering why they were surprised by such a simple thing.

What I’m keeping an eye on is the person who just asked the lecturer a question.

A second-year Class A female student with reddish-brown hair in a ponytail, someone with whom I currently have no connection.

She was once my comrade as a member of Tembris in the distant past, and according to the original timeline, I would soon encounter Michelle.

‘Well, she’ll grow up fine.’

Not like she’s someone I need to worry about anyway.

A few more exchanges occur between the lecturer and students, but no particularly useful conversation takes place.

And seemingly displeased with this, a girl with brown medium-length hair flips it back and voices her discontent.

“Hah… why am I even listening to this?”

It’s Senia from Class D, second year, muttering quietly after realizing the lecture is of no help.

Originally, she would experience a bitter defeat alongside me at the hands of someone else.

I plan to prevent that from happening, but I have no intention of crossing paths with her.

What was the conclusion I wrote in large letters on a paper stuck to my dormitory desk?

[Levrant Academy must not fall.]

That was the conclusion I reached after three hours of reflecting on past events, but I added one more condition below it:

[Avoid contact with individuals related to the Tembris party.]

The condition most deeply connected to my death.

I declare it’s not because I’m afraid of seeing my comrades die.

The dagger that pierced my heart… was the blade of resentful comrades. In other words, I was killed by trusted allies.

Though it’s unfair, what good would revenge do?

Besides, they’ll fight the magical beasts in my place, so meddling would only hurt me.

However, I don’t want to dwell on what feelings they harbored toward me…

Anyway, I have no desire to die at the hands of comrades in this life where I’ve been given another chance. Therefore, Michelle and Senia are clearly people I should avoid.

I don’t have deep ties with Senia yet, and I haven’t even met Michelle, so I just need to avoid encounters as much as possible. It shouldn’t be difficult.

‘Oh, it’s finally over.’

The lecturer concludes with some advice to Michelle and announces a Q&A session.

“Alright, now that the lecture is over, those who want to leave may go.”

The professors sitting nearby openly say this while looking at students in the back rows.

I can guarantee that those in the back rows will absolutely not be able to come forward to ask questions.

Look at those people up front, glaring as if to say “How dare you come here?”

Look at the professors right beside you, giving you the hint to just leave.

Logically, no one could cross that invisible, transparent wall.

People who encourage class advancement while simultaneously blocking it more than anyone else.

This was Levrant Academy’s greatest contradiction.

Ruminating on this uncomfortable truth, all the Class D and E students in the back rows stand up and exit through the back door.

I also plan to leave, so I have no objections. However… it’s problematic that someone is following me as I try to slip out quietly.

‘As I thought, they’ve been following me since then.’

Someone with long ash-gray hair was following me out the back door, abandoning the nobles’ lecture.

It seems Professor Jake’s class is definitely being skipped today. I’ll probably get a few hits with the attendance book later.

***

Michelle had to remain focused during the Q&A session that followed the lecture.

While most students at Levrant Academy were generally studious, she in particular strived for exceptional results.

‘I need to graduate quickly…’

Nobleman’s daughter, only child of a count family, from a founding house of the duchy, a diligent genius, born with natural talent for magic.

These were just some of the many titles attached to the 18-year-old girl, but she cared nothing for them.

-‘I’m concerned they might notice. Michelle, this is something you’ll need to tackle as an individual after graduating from the Academy.’

With war orphans who couldn’t be officially acknowledged, and unable to even hold a funeral for the person the Grand Duke mentioned in the assembly.

What Michelle needed right now was money, plain and simple.

However, among all those titles, only one type was truly useful to Michelle:

Second-year’s most promising talent with overwhelming magical indicators.

In other words, only her innate magical ability.

Since the essential purpose of magic was to hunt magical beasts, she could earn money by selling useful remains and trophies or collecting bounties after hunting them.

But what kind of place is a battlefield?

It’s a place where people can die at any moment, not somewhere an unqualified student can approach.

Her family had informed her they couldn’t lend support, and as an Academy student, her qualifications weren’t yet proven.

The only way for Michelle to earn money independently was to either complete her academic career with sufficient achievements or meet the conditions for early graduation.

She was racing toward graduation, but the requirements were extremely strict.

Typically, one needed to complete the first semester of fifth year to graduate, but she was just about to finish her second year. Somehow she needed to graduate early, which was another headache.

There were only two conditions for early graduation from the Academy:

Either be in the top 10% of Class B or higher, or enter Class A and participate in practical training after team mock battles. This might seem fine, but there were additional requirements.

Practical experience typically happened in the second semester of third year, accompanied by professors, occurring three times a year during the semester. Even with grade skipping, it would be early third year at best.

Despite being at the top of Class A, the highest class, it would still take months.

By process of elimination, only one option remained:

Awakening a unique magic.

Demonstrating readiness for the battlefield by manifesting a unique magic that embodied one’s tendencies, personality, and individuality—like a personal creation.

This was why Michelle was so desperate for lectures and guest presentations, investing all her time in academics.

But already more than a year had passed, and though she was superior compared to others, she couldn’t help feeling increasingly anxious.

And now the same result repeated itself.

“Haah… why? I don’t understand.”

Some awakened through training to increase magical power, others through sheer determination to prioritize efficiency, and still others through endless curiosity.

She had followed the paths they pursued, but couldn’t feel that special “sensation.”

Michelle was at a loss for how to overcome the wall of unique magic.

During this time, she felt hungry.

Like professors who become so absorbed in research they forget to eat.

She’d heard it was good to take a break and eat something delicious at times like these.

“…I’ll eat at the cafeteria today.”

It was too late for lunch but too early for dinner.

At 4 PM, an awkward time for students to visit the cafeteria, Michelle’s feet led her near Megrez Hall. And then.

Thud—!

“Huh…? Why is this sound coming from here…?”

Anyone passing by the empty cafeteria would have noticed the distinctive sound.

The unique crashing sound of magical powers colliding.

“One side seems to be using magic… and the other… a shield perhaps?”

The sound of something blunt glancing off something lighter caught Michelle’s attention.

It was clear that at least two people were fighting using magic.

She’d heard that students had been increasingly challenging each other to secret duels like this.

Why choose this method when there was the option of formal sparring?

“I should stop them.”

Such fights would continue until one side accumulated enough damage to declare retirement.

Either way, both sides would waste magical power, and if caught by professors, they could face suspension, so it would be best to stop them.

As she headed toward the battle site of the girl who had lost all emotions except fear and the boy who had traversed a distant past, one person had already disappeared by the time Michelle arrived.

However, a completely different person had been watching the process from afar.

‘…My goodness.’

It was a girl with brown medium-length hair, covering her mouth in disbelief at the sight before her.