Chapter 13 – It’s the Magic You Chose (1)

After roughly patching up the series of incidents surrounding the convenience store, there was only one thing left to do.

“Hehe, you’re back?”

It was time to keep my promise to Adela, who had been watching the store in my absence while I visited Merak Tower.

I quickly wiped the dirt off my shoes and stepped into the store, heading straight for the basement. Gasping, Adela followed me in. Could it be?

“I-I didn’t touch anything!”

Hmm. I noticed a bag of snacks in the cupboard had been opened. However, the door to the inner part of the basement remained untouched.

Overall, things were in good shape. It seemed she hadn’t gone upstairs either. Although the number of bread loaves had decreased, and the cash balance was unusually low, this was within expectations.

“No one came by while I was gone?”

“Umm… maybe? I did hear birds outside last night, but that’s all.”

“Good job.”

I patted Adela’s head lightly. She had likely missed several classes but had done her job quite well. She could be entrusted with the store from time to time.

“Teacher, then can I…?”

“Oh, right. You wanted to learn magic?”

“Hehe…”

Hmm, how should I approach this?

I am a hero, not an academy professor. I know how to kill people and non-people alike, but I don’t have superior teaching methods to teach Adela magic.

There wasn’t much time left before the duel. Even if I brought Terra here, it would be impossible to turn her into a competent mage in such a short time.

But if the goal was simply to make Adela capable of contributing to the duel, I had one method in mind.

“Alright. I’ll teach you.”

“Really!?”

“But it might be tough. You need to be prepared.”

On my body were twelve unique magics, painstakingly inscribed by Nova Latte, the sorcerer of the New Moon.

Hearing that these magics would enhance a hero’s body to an extraordinary level had thrilled me initially. After all, it wasn’t just one or three, but twelve powerful spells.

Thanks to these spells, tailored for each situation and opponent, our adventure accelerated like a ship with wind in its sails.

No matter how strong the enemy, whether a demon general or one of the Four Great Evils, we could develop countermeasures after surviving our first encounter.

Though the tattooing process was harsh, causing Eris, the saint, to cry each time, it was for the greater good, wasn’t it? It was a necessary task for a hero like me.

“Will it hurt?”

“Not really.”

One of these spells allowed me to absorb the karma of others. Strictly speaking, it also allowed me to release the karma stored within me, functioning both ways.

What is karma?

To incoming students at the academy, it’s taught as a counterpart to Mana, another component of magic manifestation. But in truth, karma is a powerful form of dark energy, or “magi.”

Typically, karma is accumulated through significant acts of killing or making pacts with demons. Annoyingly, the deeper one ventures into the demon realm, the more karma pervades the air.

As karma accumulates within the body, it gradually alters the nature of magic, particularly diminishing the effects of pure white magic, such as healing spells.

I absorbed the karma from my comrades to maintain their combat effectiveness. It was a perfectly rational choice in hindsight.

A hero’s body, equipped with three sacred artifacts, was resilient enough to withstand a buildup of karma. My magic, optimized by Terra’s formulas, wasn’t hindered by the amount of karma. Moreover, as an Earthling summoned from another dimension, I had no Mana within me to begin with.

“Alright, I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure? No backing out later.”

“I won’t back out! I promise!”

“Really? Come closer.”

I motioned Adela to approach. She smiled with anticipation, shuffling her way around the table to sit beside me.

“What kind of magic is it? In the duel, we can only use up to 3rd-level spells… Is it something like invisibility or levitation?”

“Closer.”

“More?”

Sitting side by side, close enough to see each other’s faces, a subtle scent wafted from her.

Her skirt was smeared with dirt, and her family crest was slightly askew. Though her appearance wasn’t perfectly neat, up close, she was undeniably a noble.

Beneath her discarded cape, her unexpectedly provocative figure stirred a desire to hold her.

“Teacher…?”

“Closer.”

Though puzzled, Adela edged closer. As she leaned in, her cold fingers brushed my thigh.

Then, seemingly embarrassed, she blushed and spoke up.

“Oh, right! I need my staff. I’ll get one for you too. I think I saw some over there… Hngh!?”

But before Adela could pull away, I swiftly grabbed her cape.

“Hnnngh!?”

A sticky kiss followed. Adela’s body stiffened.

Ignoring her reaction, I deepened the kiss, binding her like a beast gnawing on its prey.

<Unique Magic: Evil Transfer ⌜Metastasis⌟>

For a long while, the karma within me transferred to Adela through my saliva.

Her flailing legs gradually ceased their thrashing as she began to swallow the saliva pooling in her mouth, occasionally shivering.

Smooch.

When our lips finally parted, I checked her state, wondering if I had transferred too much karma.

Her wide eyes were brimming with tears.

“Are you alright?”

In response, she slowly raised her hand to touch her lips. And then—

“Hiccup…!”

Leaving only a large hiccup, she sprang up and dashed outside.

***

After the spring rain, flowers bloomed in the school garden. Some freshmen, having found mutual attraction since the beginning of the semester, planned picnics in the countryside for the upcoming holiday.

Rina, too, had been invited by a group of friends, but she couldn’t easily accept.

The reason was Adela’s strange behavior over the past few days.

Recently, Adela had been acting odd in class. Not in her usual odd way, which would have been reassuring.

Adela no longer fell asleep in class. Instead, she stared blankly ahead, pressing a pen to her lips.

Friday, third period. Professor Marco’s liberal arts class.

In Farencia Academy, which valued both martial and cultural education, lessons on noble conduct were mandatory.

Despite being a lower noble, Rina learned things at the academy that she hadn’t at home, such as differentiating various types of panier or blending perfumes to match different fabrics.

While everyone remained quiet and focused, a small hiccup sound came from the back.

— Hiccup.

Professor Marco, though strict, wouldn’t take issue with such a minor disturbance.

Students with urgent needs sometimes quietly exited the classroom.

— Hiccup.

However, as the hiccups continued, students’ attention gradually shifted.

Sitting next to Adela, Rina realized the source and swallowed dryly.

— Hic, hic.

“Adela, are you alright?”

“……”

Despite Rina’s concern, Adela said nothing, merely shaking her head slightly, her cheeks flushed.

This left the students and Professor Marco bewildered.

They had never seen Adela Silvesta, usually a chatterbox who disrupted class, sit so quietly and keep her mouth shut.

“Ahem, Adela Silvesta. Would you demonstrate Bachran’s tea ceremony?”

Adela quietly stepped forward, placing water and tea on the tray, and adeptly warmed the cups and teapot.

“……Hic.”

Occasionally, her body shivered, causing the flame to flicker explosively, but her posture, gaze, and hand movements were nearly perfect.

“Well done! Flawless. Given how well you performed, I wonder why you caused such a ruckus before. Return to your seat, and visit the infirmary after class.”

“……Yes. Thank you, Professor.”

Who would have thought they’d hear the word “Professor” from this troublesome student?

Professor Marco, moved by her transformation, wasn’t the only one; the male students, too, saw her in a new light.

After class, Rina, concerned about Adela who remained seated, waved a hand in front of her eyes.

Would Adela look like this if she mastered the Unique Magic of the Rochear family? The current Adela exuded an unapproachable aura.

“Adela, Adela…!”

“Huh? What is it, Rina?”

“Class is over. They’re cleaning the classroom, so we should leave.”

“Okay.”

Even the simple act of nodding seemed pitiful. What had happened to her?

Had she fallen ill from eating bread from the store every day?

“What about lunch?”

“I’m not hungry. Hic.”

“Really? You usually sing about going to the store at this time… Want me to get you some bread?”

“The store?”

“Yeah. The store that guy runs… Adela?”

“Hiccup! Hiccup…!”

Seeing Adela, head bowed and hiccuping incessantly, Rina rushed to support her.

Worried that she might be choking, Rina tried to check her expression but was speechless at the sight of her bright red cheeks hidden behind her blue bangs.

“Hiccup! N-no… I’m fine… The store… It’s just…”

“What about it?”

“I-I don’t know!”

***

‘Magic Pressure’ refers to the principle that the output increases and stability enhances when Mana and karma, the two sources of magic, are channeled in the same direction through a spell.

Of course, I didn’t discover this; Terra, always eager to show off her knowledge, taught me this when she shared her insights from another world.

To win the magic duel as a first-year, Adela needed to not drag down her team.

Moreover, if she accepted my method, even reluctantly, I could make her a key player in the competition.

By forcibly injecting karma, I could increase her magical capacity.

Although the infusion would stop before the Lit-Vice paper turned crimson, ensuring her recovery within a few months after the duel, there were no lasting issues.

The real question is whether she will come back voluntarily.

It had been quite some time since Adela, who frequently knocked on the store’s door, was last seen.

Had my sudden kiss been too inconsiderate?

But I did warn her and got her consent.

She probably needed time to process everything. She would come back before the competition.

It’s the magic you chose. Endure it with resolve.

If Adela returned, I would share these words from Huang Geunchul, the famed magic soldier from the royal guard.