Chapter 6: This is what magic is

I know that the Arcane Magic School’s entrance ceremony, the only one of its kind in the Empire, is more extravagant than the Imperial Family’s banquets.

Of course, I’ve never seen an Imperial Family banquet, but the game is called Arcane Magic School, so it must be, right?

And the problem is that I’m the one in charge of that extravagance.

No, I’m not the only one in charge, am I?

I’m in charge along with the male student glaring at me from beside me.

But what’s his problem that he keeps glaring at me?

I’m older than him, so I should approach him with a generous heart.

“Hello, I’m Aris, one of the joint valedictorians this year.”

“As expected, a Commoner.”

“Yes! I’m a Commoner!”

The male student’s eyes waver at my bright voice, but he manages his expression as if nothing happened.

More than that, shouldn’t you introduce yourself since I introduced myself first? You impudent little brat?

I stare at him intently, and the male student reluctantly opens his mouth.

“I am Arden Breaker of the Breaker Dukedom.”

A new sugar daddy discovered!

From today, I appoint you as my Friend No. 2!

“Nice to meet you, Arden-nim!”

“D-don’t get so close, Commoner!”

Seriously, he’s so sensitive, like a moody teenager.

…According to the setting, they’re all adults, though?

But that’s exactly what I need to aim for.

Now that you’ve caught my eye, you will become my Sugar Daddy No. 2. No, Friend No. 2.

Just then, the Magic School professor came in as the waiting room door opened.

I had seen her at the entrance exam.

Her name was definitely Professor Millie Allegra, right? She was in charge of Magic studies and other things.

“Let’s head out now.”

“Yes!”

“Understood, Professor.”

Arden looks at me with a complicated expression as I follow the professor with a bright face.

I turn my head and look at him, and he avoids my gaze in embarrassment; it’s fun to tease him.

“Is there a student who wants to go first?”

“I’ll go first, Professor.”

Arden confidently says that he will go first.

“Then Arden Breaker will go first, and then Aris will go next.”

“Yes, Professor!”

The professor chuckles at my bright voice.

She says I’m not nervous, but I’m a veteran who has performed over 5,000 times around the world.

Performances are always exciting, but not nerve-wracking.

And I’m prepared to unveil a new magic trick this time.

It’s my turn to introduce the existence of magic to the magicians of this world for the first time.

It’s an opportunity to show how much more advanced modern magic is.

Born as the second son of the Breaker Dukedom, one of the four great dukedoms in the Empire, it is only natural to enter Arcane Magic School as valedictorian.

But joint valedictorian? Does that mean there’s a student with skills equal to mine?

And I learned that the female student who entered as joint valedictorian with me is a Commoner.

Even so, the fact that she became joint valedictorian means that she has more outstanding Magic skills than me…

I can’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes.

If she used negative methods to enter, I won’t let her get away with it. I glare at her with that thought in mind, and the female student looks at me with a bright expression.

Her shimmering black hair and ruby-like red eyes are so beautiful that I turned my head away for a moment.

Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

“I’ll go out now.”

“Understood, Professor.”

At the end of the professor’s words, I went up onto the platform and looked at the audience; countless students and professors were looking at me.

“I am Arden Breaker, a first-year student.”

I finished my self-introduction with a nervous heart, took out my wand from my pocket, and swung it, and a large fireball soared into the sky.

A being reveals itself from within the huge fireball.

As a dragon ascends high into the sky, creating a beautiful scene, the voices of countless students cheering resound.

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The tradition of the Magic School.

The student who enters as valedictorian shows off their Magic in front of the professors and students.

I won’t lose to anyone in terms of splendor.

The moment I looked at the students and professors with a confident heart that I had won, my heart sank.

It was because of the professors who were looking at me with cold eyes.

Did I make a mistake?

I moved my heavy steps and went down from the platform, and the Commoner welcomed me.

“That was really cool, Arden-nim!”

“……”

I couldn’t say anything and was about to walk past the Commoner when.

The Commoner grabs my arm.

The moment I frowned and looked at her.

She whispers to me with a bright smile.

“It’s okay. Arden-nim’s Magic was the best.”

With those words, she let go of my arm, and I looked at her back as she went up to the platform.

I stared blankly at her before moving my feet towards a place where the platform was clearly visible.

To see where her confidence comes from.

That’s all.

I went up onto the stage and finished a brief self-introduction to the students and professors looking at me, then took out a wand (a twig) from my pocket and swung it.

This is the magic trick I’m going to show this time.

A hat appeared in my hand as I swung the wand.

Creatures began to fly out of the hat one by one; it was the famous dove magic trick.

Countless doves endlessly emerge from the small hat and fly towards the students and professors, creating a spectacular sight.

The professors and students look at the doves flying towards them with curious eyes and discover notes tied to their ankles.

“This is…”

When they retrieve the notes tied to their ankles, the doves that flew into the sky turn into light and disappear.

When they unfold the notes, they read [Chain Letter].

It’s a kind of carrier pigeon.

The professors’ surprised voices can be heard when they see this.

“Amazing. This kind of Magic will definitely be helpful on the battlefield.”

“The probability of being shot down by the enemy is low, and it’s really excellent.”

The students are also surprised.

“Isn’t this a real bird?”

“Didn’t you see it turn into light just now?”

“This letter first started in England… Where is England?”

I look at the countless students and professors who are out of their minds at the magic show, and I greet them and clap, and the remaining doves turn into light and disappear, and enthusiastic voices resound.

This reminded me of a forgotten memory.

The senses I had forgotten while working as a magician.

The past when I stood on countless stages for 10 consecutive days without sleep.

The reason why I didn’t give up and pushed through to the end even when I almost died while performing.

The voices of people cheering after the performance.

That’s what I wanted to hear.

What if I perform my magic at the graduation ceremony?

I’m only this good after practicing for 3 months, but what if I practice for 3 more years?

The thrilling sensation is enough to make me imagine it. As I go down from the stage, someone suddenly hugs me; is it Professor Millie Allegra…?

“Amazing! Really amazing! This is the first time I’ve seen such wonderful Magic!”

It’s magic.

“How about it!? I’m looking for an assistant right now, so does our Aris student have any thoughts!?”

A professor who suddenly appeared is trying to make me an assistant.

What is the right choice in this situation?

“I’ll think about it, Professor.”

“Really!? I’ll be waiting! Ah, more than that, it’s really a shame. To have such amazing Magic and still be joint first place…”

The reason why I’m joint first place despite having overwhelming skills.

That’s because I’m a Commoner.

Mana varies depending on bloodline, and there has never been a case where a Commoner entered Magic School as valedictorian.

An unprecedented event has occurred in the Magic School, which has a 1,000-year history.

But that’s nothing compared to what I’m going to do in the future.

I plan to spread the greatness of magic in a Magic School full of magicians.

And I’m going to tell them.

That magic is better than Magic.

I walked past the professor, and another person was waiting for me.

My Friend No. 2, Arden, was waiting.

“Arden-nim! Were you waiting for me!?”

“Eek! Don’t get close!”

He freaks out and falls away as soon as I cling to him; his reaction is funny.

I’ve turned into a beautiful girl, so shouldn’t I enjoy it?

Isn’t there a saying that if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it!

I’ll enjoy it more than anyone else!

Arden, who finally gave up and gave me one arm, blushed and spoke to me.

“D-do Commoners these days have no shame?”

“What’s that?”

Is it edible?

When I pulled his arm even harder, he freaked out, shook me off, and ran away.

As I was looking at his back, a question suddenly flashed through my mind.

So why were you waiting for me?

Then I heard a voice.

“Aris!”

It’s my Friend No. 1, Ernia.

She ran to me, grabbed my hands, and made a fuss.

“That was amazing! When did you develop that Magic!?”

It’s magic.

“More than that, was that a real bird!? And what did the note say? Where is England?”

I told her I would explain as we went, and we headed to the dormitory together.

I have to finish packing before my full-fledged Magic School life starts tomorrow, right?