episode_0006

“Congratulations on the success of the magic!”

Laughter was heard. People always crowded around Sharen. He was truly a person with a lot of luck, to the extent that it seemed like Sharen had chosen the light mana rather than the light mana choosing Sharen. Once again, I felt what it meant to be the protagonist. It was indeed something to envy… It was true that I had some success in magic as well, but it wasn’t a perfect success like Sharen’s. Therefore, I cautiously clapped my hands among the crowd, congratulating Sharen’s success without saying a word.

I just blankly watched his figure, whether it was because I was used to this as a noble family, or simply indifferent, or considering Sharen’s personality, I didn’t really like it. It was just enviable to live a life being praised by classmates and professors.

“Astan was also successful.”

Ceresria’s mocking voice faintly reached my ears. It was just a small step, so it was natural that I couldn’t run like others. I smiled slightly and said to Ceresria.

“It was just a little bit of ice crystal shaved off. I can’t make fire into a boulder like someone else, or create a wall with fire.”

“Sharen Tierk also only turned light mana into arrows. It’s enviable, seeing how even a small magic gets such praise.”

“Do you enjoy teasing me, Your Highness?”

She looked at me and laughed. She was a strange person, quite strange indeed. She seemed to talk and think a lot, but other than that, she was inexplicable.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?”

“… Shouldn’t a princess from a certain country not say that?”

“There is no princess status here, right? Right now, I’m just Ceresria von Arallia. And Astan, he definitely said something about burning from head to toe if I call him ‘Your Highness’ one more time, didn’t he?”

“I’m used to saying that.”

“Should I burn you?”

At that moment, her eyes were dyed crimson. In that sight, I naturally raised my hand to express no intention of fighting. I had no intention of fighting the Flame Princess.

“I’ll fix it slowly.”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

She smiled and turned to look at Sharon, and I looked at Sharon too. Sharon must be having a hard time. But what can you do? It must be the fate of those born with the mana of light. After all, that’s how the heroes in fairy tales always were. They were always followed and praised by everyone. It must be the destiny of the mana of light.

Because that’s what a protagonist is.

“Astan.”

“Yes.”

“If Sharon and I were to fight, who do you think would win?”

“That’s for me to know.”

At my words, Cerestia gave a faint smile. Isn’t it obvious? Is there a freshman who can win against someone already known as the Flame Princess? Even if we talk about others, they might be strong enough, but she was different. No freshman could beat her. Even if a rune martial arts contest among magicians were held, she would have performed well.

“I like that. Because that’s how I appear in Astan’s eyes.”

“Whoever you ask will probably give the same answer.”

She was strong and talented. She was a different being from me. Sharon, too, was a different being from me.

“Congratulations on succeeding in magic.”

“Are you teasing me too?”

“If I tease you more, you might really get angry, so let’s stop here.”

“There are many others who have succeeded in magic. I don’t really understand why I’m the only one who gets treated like this.”

“Because it’s the magic of light.”

In response to my answer, Sharon sighed softly and put a piece of steak in her mouth that had come out for lunch, and I looked at her and put a forkful of mashed potatoes in my mouth. As I chewed the tender potatoes a few times, Sharon spoke softly to me.

“But you succeeded in magic too.”

“You saw that?”

“I didn’t see it, I heard about it. Some of the kids in our class will know.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

Sharen pointed at someone with a knife in her right hand. Following the tip of the knife, I saw a male student from the same class. What was his name? Silaire… It didn’t seem like he was a noticeable student.

“And I know that Cerestia helped you with your magic.”

“Well, she was my practice partner.”

“It’s not easy to become a partner with royalty, and even if you do, they wouldn’t help with practice.”

“Her Highness has a generous heart.”

Upon my words, Sharen nodded and resumed eating. She must be curious, but I don’t know why. When I glanced around, she was sitting in the corner of the dining hall. It felt strange to see her dining elegantly surrounded by many female students.

The students sitting there must all be nobles. They are remarkable people.

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Work.”

“Too bad, I was looking for someone to use the training ground with.”

I nodded at her words. I wanted to go to the training ground too. I didn’t know if I could carve ice crystals perfectly. If I could carve ice crystals, I might be able to carve other things and even create larger ice crystals.

Suddenly, I thought of the natural mana application I did with Sharen. That ice crystal… Could it be used?

But to make that possible, I needed light mana. So that method was rejected, or… Just crystallizing natural mana… I didn’t know if it was possible.

I thought about it in various ways, but nothing came to mind. I wanted to find a possible way because the difficult method was not an option. Ice magic and ice mana were fundamentally about crystallization, and I didn’t know well how to handle that area.

Should I look for someone among the academy seniors who handles ice magic? Maybe then I could get some help.

“You look like you’re deep in thought.”

“I’m thinking about how I can see ice magic.”

“It’s not easy to see someone else’s magic. Are you going to see the professor?”

“Is there a professor who handles ice magic?”

“Usually, those who have reached that level may use various attributes.”

He nodded slowly at the words. I should look into it once.

No one walked on the way back to the dorm after work. The path from Ignolia to the academy was one where magical lights twinkled, but people rarely came and went. Naturally, there were hardly any cases of people walking from the academy to Ignolia at this time, and vice versa. Therefore, it was possible that I was the only one walking on this path at this hour.

“Ice, rise up.”

Carefully, I created an ice crystal in my right hand. Wanting to try what I had learned at the academy today, I repeatedly commanded the ice crystal to carve with magic, pondering how I could expand this area further as I watched the gradually diminishing ice crystal. At that moment, I heard the sound of the wind in my ear.

And naturally, my eyes turned to the wind sound. It felt strange, something felt strange. I felt like someone was watching me.

“…Is someone there?”

Those words flowed from my lips. Instinctively, I knew that something was rising slowly along my spine. Fear, the fear one feels when encountering a formidable opponent. As I slowly took a breath, cold air entered. I couldn’t tell if it was because it was night and cold, or if it was due to the sense of fear. No, there was definitely a chill flowing. As I breathed in, the incoming cold was unmistakable.

I tightly clenched the ice crystal I had made in my right hand. My mind slowly cleared as the cold rose through my fingertips. Clearly, someone was there. Focusing my mana in my eyes, I could see someone approaching.

“Students are prohibited from going out at this time in the academy… Who are you?”

Such a voice echoed in my ear. Just hearing the voice made my whole body freeze.

“I have a permit, a permit to work while attending the academy.”

I quickly took out the permit from my pocket. As I unfolded and showed it, the chill that had surrounded me gradually disappeared.

It was magic.

“Not an intruder.”

Then the sound of footsteps stopped. It felt as if everything around me became silent as if something had vanished. I cautiously thought, “Am I lucky to have survived?” As I carefully withdrew the coldness wrapped around my hand and took a breath in and out.

“First year?”

She was standing in front of me.

Certainly, she hadn’t moved. But… why was she there in front of me? Slowly, my thoughts began to crumble. Could a human with such a difference in status be like this?

“…Yes.”

As I barely managed to regain my composure and said so, she looked at me with curious eyes. I definitely knew this person. A black emblem. Hair that sparkled silver under the moonlight, eyes shining like blue crystals, skin as white as snow. Fear crept in. Fifth year.

As someone who knew what the black emblem represented, I couldn’t make any move.

“What’s your name?”

“…Astan.”

“I thought I remembered all first-year names, but this is the first time I’ve heard it… I wonder if Leona will scold me.”

After saying that, she reached out her right hand and lightly touched my shoulder, whispering softly.

“The academy is a dangerous place, so be careful with your actions.”

“…If I were an intruder, I would have been killed instantly.”

“Correct, first year.”

Then she lightly clapped her hands, and at that moment, all the magical lights around us lost their glow.

“At this moment, it wouldn’t be strange for anyone to die.”

“Are you… going to kill me?”

“I don’t have such a hobby.”

Then she disappeared again in front of my eyes. As she vanished, the magical lights that had gone out began to shine again. Surprised by this sight, I quickly looked around, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She was like a ghost.