episode_0025

Ceresria’s class felt different from Erica’s. If Erica’s class made you realize with your body, Ceresria’s class seemed to make you understand with your head, a similar outcome but appearing in the form of application. Ironically, if asked which of the two classes was better, there was no clear answer. However, if there was a problem with Ceresria’s class, it was that I felt more foolish and lacked imagination than I thought. It seemed like a sigh would naturally escape me due to the repetition of the content I had already heard enough of, but I forcibly suppressed those words and kept my mouth shut.

“Ice, gather around me.”

At my command, as if by magic, I involuntarily clenched my fist in the chill surrounding me, and Ceresria’s applause rang out. Turning at the sound of clapping, I looked at Ceresria, who as always, smiled at me and stared at me, and I opened my mouth toward her.

“Finally, success.”

“Yes, it took longer than expected. Since I carved ice last time, I thought this would be easy.”

“I don’t think it’s easy to imagine and implement a feeling of coldness around your body…”

“Then, is it easy for me to imagine flames surrounding me every day?”

“…That’s better.”

In response to my answer, she covered her mouth with her hand and let out an elegant laugh.

“Just kidding, just kidding. I don’t think like that. In magic, are there easy and difficult things? It’s difficult for everyone, but it depends on talent. Still, Astan is at a fast pace. There are many more remarkable people around, so you might not feel it, but Astan is definitely among the strong ones in the first year, right?”

“It’s a problem because people like Ceresria, Sharen, and Miles are around me.”

“We are special, aren’t we? For a commoner-born mage, this level of achievement is quite remarkable. Oh, I’m not discriminating, am I?”

“I understand your thoughts well.”

Responding somewhat teasingly, Cerestria puffed out her cheeks, then approached me and pointed at me with her finger.

“Sometimes Astan seems serious, but then suddenly playful, doesn’t he?”

“Well, I have a lot of younger siblings, so naturally, playing with them leads to this kind of behavior.”

“Are you implying that I’m like your younger sibling? Let me make it clear, you and I are the same age.”

“I won’t insist on saying it.”

After holding back her response and smiling faintly, Cerestria looked at me and grinned.

“So, if I feel like getting along well, I want to be like an older brother to you, Sharltro.”

“Is His Highness the Prince really of that nature?”

“He’s much more mischievous than Astan.”

After saying that, she looked around and sat in a chair placed in the training ground, and I cautiously sat down beside her.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Here, in this place?”

“Yes, since it’s a bit early to return to the dormitory anyway.”

She snapped her fingers, and at that moment, someone entered the training ground. It was a face I hadn’t seen before. Thinking she might be her maid, I was about to greet her when the maid’s voice was heard.

“She is Lady Cerestria’s attendant, Lena. She has come to meet your friend, Your Highness.”

“…I am Astan.”

Lena bowed as if familiar, placed a table in front of us from somewhere, brewed tea, placed it in front of us, greeted us, and then left again. I looked at the teacup on the table.

It wasn’t the usual type of tea I had been drinking, it was black in color. And the aroma that wafted to my nose naturally led words to slip from my lips.

“Coffee…?”

“Oh, you know about it?”

“…I’ve heard the name.”

The familiar scent could not be erased. After all, even though it’s a novel, wouldn’t there be no coffee in this fantasy world? But it had been so long since I had tasted coffee. Of course, it was difficult to find coffee in this world, and it was impossible to know where it was grown.

I heard that some tea houses in Ignolia serve coffee, but the quantity is less than expected, and it’s often sold out. Royalty is royalty after all.

“It’s one of the recent popular teas in the Los Salmac region. It wasn’t popular at first, but there are many people who prefer it, so it’s become a trend. There may not be many places that sell it in Ignolia, so it’s surprising to know.”

“The name is written, and I heard it’s heavily promoted by word of mouth. What do you think, Princess Cerestria?”

“At first, I didn’t like it, but as I drank it, it became familiar.”

She moved her hand, lifted the teacup, and took a sip of coffee, and I cautiously took a sip too. As I sipped the coffee, which had cooled to a pleasant temperature, my mind cleared. That was the feeling of coffee. Drinking coffee after such a long time brought an inexplicable sense of longing.

“You drink bitter things well.”

“Whose tea is it? Should I leave it?”

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m just kidding.”

At my words, she chuckled, then put down the teacup and looked at me. Her red eyes, staring through me, seemed oddly sharp, and I involuntarily swallowed.

“Astan.”

“Yes, Princess Cerestria.”

“You don’t call me ‘Your Highness’ anymore?”

“Didn’t you say if I called you, you’d burn me from toe to head?”

“Did you really believe that? Did I seem so cruel?”

“The person who attacked me from behind in the tavern seemed quite cruel.”

At my words, Cerestria’s eyes sharpened. Seeing her expression, I instinctively raised both hands to show I meant no harm, and Cerestria pointed at me with her finger.

“I said I mistook you for a bandit back then.”

“Would a bandit work in a tavern?”

“There are various types of bandits, so you never know.”

“Do I really look so dangerous?”

She just smiled at my words and I sighed. What a strange person.

“So, you don’t have any curiosity?”

“Is there a way to increase mana?”

“That’s the realm of talent; no matter how much you train, there are limits.”

Her words made me scratch my head. Of course, I knew what she was asking. Wasn’t she curious if there was another way, considering there are limits to increasing mana through meditation?

“I’m curious about breaking that limit. I wondered if there is such a thing among the royals.”

“Well, there is a method… but it’s a difficult one.”

“What is it?”

“Receiving the choice of the gods.”

“That’s the most difficult method.”

Receiving the choice of the gods is almost impossible now. Even if you search the entire continent, you can count the humans who have received the choice of the gods on one hand. It was nearly impossible.

“But if someone were to receive the choice of the gods, they could become stronger than anyone else.”

“Do you know how many people have received the choice of the gods?”

“Of course, but it’s a story that increasing the amount of mana is equally difficult. There are limits. To break through that point, it’s usually impossible with ordinary human methods.”

Her words made me nod. I knew it, but I wanted to deny it a little. Isn’t there some other way? A method circulating among royals or nobles.

“There is another way.”

“What is it?”

“Well… there is one, but it’s a secret.”

“Why is it a secret?”

“Because it’s something you do at the risk of your life.”

She smiled.

I did wonder what method she was talking about. Naturally, if it’s a way to increase mana at the risk of one’s life, it wouldn’t be something written in books. With that thought in mind, I absentmindedly walked down the corridor, and at the end of the corridor, someone was walking towards me.

It was a student who was talking with Senior Leonardo. There was a slight feeling with Senior Leonardo. It was true that the feeling of being upright like Senior Leonardo came to mind. His light blue-tinted black hair was cut short like a man’s, and his uniform fit him perfectly. The brown eyes behind the black glasses made it difficult to read his thoughts, just like Senior Leonardo.

As I was slowly passing by her, I heard her voice.

“Where have we met before?”

“Pardon?”

When I looked at her in response to her voice, she was glaring at me.

“I feel like we’ve met somewhere. We’re not in the same class, but may I ask your name?”

“I’m Astan. I’m in Academy 3.”

“Astan… You’re the student who froze the lounge, but why does it feel familiar? I don’t remember meeting you anywhere. Have we met before?”

Carefully, I responded to her words.

“Are you Lycy?”

“You know my name, and we have met somewhere.”

“No, it’s not that. Senior Leonardo told me. He said his younger sister joined the academy.”

At that, her eyes sharpened. Until then, there had been no hint of hostility, but reflexively, my hand went to my cane as I looked into the eyes of someone I couldn’t consider an enemy.

“Do you know my brother?”

“I owe him a lot. He asked me to treat you well if we ever meet.”

“My brother wouldn’t say such a thing.”

After saying that, she looked at me and took a step closer.

“Is Astan a good person?”

“If you’re asking that, I don’t know how to answer.”

Her eyes flashed. In her brown eyes, I felt a strange fear.

“You’re not a bad person. Don’t worry. Whatever my brother said, you don’t need to pay attention to it.”

Then she bowed to me and walked down the hallway again, and I slowly exhaled and scratched my neck.

Is there no normal person in the academy, no normal person.