episode_0003

Actually, when I think about it, it wasn’t an unreasonable assignment. It was possible to absorb and purify natural mana into the body, even though it took some time, but the problem was bringing it individually through research. What method could there be? Should we just absorb and purify the mana into our bodies, or should we gather mana like the professor and then purify those clusters of mana in order?

Either way would be the correct answer, but I had to hope that at least one student would come up with the method the professor wanted. Until that person came forward, everyone would demonstrate their methods. If I could do it… well, I suppose I could. Even while attending lectures, my sole focus was on that. If I could easily purify natural mana and absorb it into my body, would I be able to do many things?

“Now, if you combine the powder collected from the Holun tree with the juice of the Moonlight Grass, you get this kind of potion. Does anyone know the name of this potion?”

“It’s the Night Vision Potion. Its effect allows you to see in the dark as if it were daytime.”

“I guess you’ve been doing your pre-reading, Silaire.”

The one who drew the professor’s attention was a mage called Silaire. He didn’t leave much of an impression. If you’re really interested in the Night Vision Potion, it would have appeared more than once in the alchemy books overflowing in the school library. Of course, I didn’t know that. Alchemy is a difficult subject.

Depending on what is put in first, how much is put in, and how it’s put in, the observed effects vary. Just like there seems to be no fixed answer, a Night Vision Potion made by someone might be brighter, while one made by someone else might not be bright at all. It’s difficult, which is why those talented in alchemy were always in short supply.

If I study alchemy properly, I’ll make a lot of money. I cautiously stored such materialistic thoughts in my mind.

“Is there anyone who wants to try drinking this Night Vision Potion?”

Ironically, there was no one who wanted to.

On the way back to the dormitory, she faced me from the top of the stairs. I hadn’t expected to meet her in a place like this on such an ambitious night, nor did I have any intention of talking to her, especially considering the aftermath of yesterday’s incident still lingering in my memory, making me wonder if there might be a cat nearby.

“Truly an academy student.”

“Surprisingly, we had a lecture together this morning. Don’t you remember?”

“Someone could have been disguised.”

“If you can’t trust people that much…”

I scratched my head. Well, being royalty, it’s natural not to trust people. If someone had seen me yesterday, they might have mistaken me for an assassin. Suddenly, I felt her gaze sharpening even more. If I concentrated a little, I could see mana flowing through her body.

As if she would attack in an instant, sweat dripped from my hands due to her fierce energy. Duels within the academy were not prohibited. Anyone could request and engage in a duel. If she challenged me to a duel, I wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Let’s talk, let’s talk. I didn’t mention fighting, so why are you looking at me as if you want to kill me?”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“Even so, do you want to kill me?”

“I have no such thought. I’m just curious.”

Her pupils moved rapidly up and down as she looked at me from above.

“You said your name was Astan.”

“You must have heard during attendance time. Are you intentionally not listening or what?”

“I’m curious why you keep using honorifics. Even if I were royalty, within the academy, status is disregarded. We’re in the same grade, the same students. Why do you speak like that, and recognizing me at once.”

“You’re from Arelia, Your Highness.”

She seemed slightly displeased with my answer and raised her chin a bit, and I just looked up at her. I didn’t like the feeling of someone looking down on me. Yes, even if she was royalty or nobility, we were equals as students in the same grade. But there were things that academy students naturally knew.

In this school, the status of royals, nobles, and commoners is not equal. If it were truly equal, then commoners and royals would use the same dormitory. Humans are unfair, even in terms of status.

“Because I’m from Araelia, you serve me… I see.”

And she was coming down the stairs cautiously. Her figure descending the steps one by one was beautiful, enough to make one think she was indeed worthy of being called the Princess of Flames.

“I’ll let that pass for today. Astan, a commoner from Araelia.”

“I appreciate it.”

“But I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Does the cat have a name?”

At her words, I inwardly sighed. I felt like saying something, but I held it back and spoke to her.

“If it doesn’t have one, Your Highness, you can give it one.”

With those words, I greeted her and moved my feet to the first floor.

I’m sick of facing royals.

“The weather seems nice today.”

“It’s night, and you’re saying that. You’re quite sentimental, Sharen.”

At my words, Sharen laughed heartily and stood at the end of the training ground, looking at me.

“Not sentimental, just excited. It’s nice to have someone to watch over my strange behavior.”

“You’re strange too.”

“I’m strange, so wouldn’t I do something like this?”

Sharen stopped the flow of natural mana around her and I spoke to her.

“So, will you really do it?”

“I’ve thought of various methods, but simply absorbing and purifying mana is difficult, so I need you. Light mana attracts mana, right?”

“Right, I learned about the theory of mana of light.”

“And your ice mana freezes mana.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, if we evoke this abundant natural mana and crystallize it?”

“…The theory is simple.”

Saying so, I took a deep breath and extended my right hand.

“So can we do it?”

“Let’s try.”

At that moment, Sharen gathered her mana in both hands and transformed it into mana of light. It was beautiful. Unlike other manas, the mana of light sparkled like white stars in the dark night. I held out my right hand, grasped it with my left, and carefully focused only on stopping that mana.

The mana already flowing was rushing toward Sharen in response to the mana of light, and I cautiously thought that Sharen seemed likely to become addicted to mana before long. Magical addiction is a common illness and can be cured.

However, that wasn’t what we wanted. What I wanted was to crystallize that mana.

So, the only thing I needed to focus on was the movement of mana. I observed the surging, leaping natural mana. Eventually, it gathered in Sharen’s hands. So the method was simple.

“Now!”

At Sharen’s shout, I reached out with all the mana in my body to my fingertips. At my command, the magic escaping from my fingertips slowly began to freeze the mana around Sharen. As the mana gradually froze, Sharen looked at me, smiled, and laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile at that sight.

Crazy guy. Laughing and going wild even at the moment when he could lose consciousness at any moment. My eyes were shaking as the mana quickly escaped from my body. How long are we going to keep doing this? At that moment, he clenched the mana of light gathered in his hands and stopped the mana, and at the same time, I withdrew my hand.

“Crazy guy.”

“A compliment?”

Looking at him saying that, I couldn’t help but laugh. He’s a strange one too. Muttering those words to myself, I clenched the mana crystal that had just appeared around Sharen with my hand. It was amazing how the swirling mana had transformed into these crystals, but more than anything, their colors were beautiful. Perhaps it was the influence of light mana, as the crystals sparkled with different colors like stardust. Looking at them, I spoke to Sharen.

“So, what should we do with these crystals?”

“We should melt them and make potions out of them. Then we could consume the mana, right?”

“But to do this, we need a mage who can handle ice magic, a mage who can handle light mana, and an alchemist.”

“Still, it’s a method not chosen by others. That should be enough.”

Saying so, Sharen held the mana crystal in both hands, and I laughed heartily at his appearance.

“I knew from the moment you suddenly came and suggested doing something strange today, you’re a really strange person.”

“But it was fun, wasn’t it?”

Nodding at his words, I tapped Sharen’s shoulder.