episode_0064

To provide students with the minimum amount of time to practice before the entire group test, most subject tests were conducted first.

It seems that the academy took care to allow students who prioritize their individual grades by finishing the subject tests first, so even those who push teamwork to a lower priority could participate.

I also did my best to practice handling mana for each subject until the day before and studied by reading books that weren’t necessary in the original work.

Despite my hard work, I received failing scores one after another in magic department classes except for Swordsmanship Introduction.

Since I couldn’t even properly control mana emission, it was only natural that I failed in classes that evaluated practical magic skills.

However, I thought at least I would take a normal history test in the History of Magic class, so I studied by opening books and memorizing summaries sweetly with Claire’s help, but still ended up failing.

“I mean, isn’t it normal to take a regular history test in the History of Magic class?”

When I received the exam paper, I thought what I had studied would earn me a decent grade, but only answers written using one’s own mana were accepted, which left me feeling disheartened.

I felt like I was going crazy trying to recall the answers I knew through last-minute cramming.

I couldn’t even write my name and had to turn in the exam paper with tears in my eyes.

I managed to score perfectly fine in Swordsmanship Introduction.

In the physical assessment, I easily achieved the highest grade and although I only competed with pure swordsmanship, I showed a performance somewhat comparable to Instructor Chris.

To the point where other students were saying, “Why is he in the Magic Department?”

“Besides Rachel and Victor, there are some good ones.”

It might not be bad to offer help related to swordsmanship once it’s confirmed later.

The problem is that apart from Swordsmanship Introduction, I need to score higher than failing in at least one subject in the Magic Department.

Since I haven’t taken any additional classes so far, I naturally thought that if I did well in one subject, I could avoid failing, but with the addition of Swordsmanship Introduction, I now have to avoid failing in another subject as well.

The remaining subject is Professor Seigen’s Introduction to Magic, just one more.

I don’t know why he still looks favorably upon me, who has failed to emit mana until the end, but he is one of the professors who is friendly to me, so maybe he will help me avoid failing.

“The next student is… You, Yukal. Any magic is fine; all you need to do is hit the target in front of you to succeed.”

Naturally, since I hadn’t learned any magic, I could only stare blankly at the target during the given time, and when the time passed, Professor Seigen sighed and said in a low voice,

“If you don’t want to hit the target, that’s fine. However, if you demonstrate mana emission to me, I’ll help you avoid failing.”

Desperately trying to move the mana within my body and extract it outward from my body in accordance with the professor’s words, I failed.

“Even though I’ve been considerate to this extent, if you don’t cooperate like this, unfortunately, I’ll have no choice but to give you failing marks like the other professors.”

At the thought that I could head towards the end through the process of failing > retaking > bad ending, I let go of the mental thread I had been holding onto until the end.

“As the professor taught in Introduction to Magic, isn’t using mana to manifest phenomena the basis of magic?”

“That’s true, but why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Then, no matter what method is used, utilizing magic itself is akin to being magical, isn’t it?”

With those words, he drew his sword and brilliantly manifested the Aura Blade in front of Professor Seigen.

For a moment, Professor Seigen’s eyes widened at the achievement of a first-year student handling the Aura Blade, but soon he regained his composure and spoke to me.

“I didn’t realize your proficiency with the blade was at that level. However, regardless of that, I must reject the statement you just made. While using magic is true, strictly speaking, it cannot be considered magic if it does not manifest a phenomenon. You are aware of this as well.”

Seemingly indifferent to the professor’s response, I swung the sword as if to dismiss the Aura and shattered the targets.

“Iris, or rather Headmaster, even said that handling the mana of knights and mages is fundamentally the same! This is physical magic! If this isn’t magic right now, then what is it?”

Upon hearing Iris, Yukal, who grabbed my collar, erupted with words ready to collapse without hesitation.

“If you wish, I can show you anytime. Here we go, entering physical magic!”

As I deactivated the Aura Blade and began creating orbs of Aura in my hand to obliterate the targets, the startled Professor Seigen intervened.

“S-stop that! If you cause any more trouble, I will immediately mark you as failed and have you forcibly removed from the exam room.”

I had to halt, unable to ignore those words.

“I believe the magic demonstration has been sufficient.”

“What kind of magic is this, exactly-”

Anticipating that Professor Seigen would refute my words, I interjected first.

“Professor, you asked me to demonstrate mana emission, and honestly, what I just did could be considered a form of mana emission, couldn’t it? I think I should receive extra points for advancing one step further than other students in converting mana into Aura.”

Though slightly exaggerated, I didn’t seem entirely wrong, but seeing Professor Seigen’s intimidating expression made me feel frustrated.

“Let’s assume all your words are correct. Let’s say Aura also counts as mana emission. In that case, if Aura, which you claim to be a form of mana emission, manifests a magical phenomenon, then I will acknowledge it. I’m talking about a true magical phenomenon, not simply expelling and manipulating Aura as before.”

“….”

“I suppose you can’t do it, can you? Rather than belittling Aura, shouldn’t a student of the Magic Department strive to understand and manipulate magic? If you fail to show proper magic, I can only give you a failing grade.”

Thinking that showing physical magic would resolve the issue, I found Professor Seigen to be too stubborn.

‘If it comes to this, I didn’t want to resort to this method.’

“Please give me a failing grade, Professor.”

The guy who had been struggling to avoid failing until now suddenly asked for a failing grade, prompting thoughts like ‘What is he thinking?’ to cross Professor Seigen’s mind.

“Even if you rank first in the overall group test following Swordsmanship Theory, if you don’t pass the threshold to avoid failing, you will be held back and have to repeat the first year. I tried to focus on magic a bit, but I’ll stop now. Next year, I’ll abandon magic altogether and transfer to the Swordsmanship Department.”

“What are you saying right now-”

“I don’t use magic because I don’t want to, do you understand? Handling Aura comes naturally to me like water flowing, but for some reason, extracting only mana from my body feels impossible, driving me crazy, Professor. Even though I raised my sword to a certain level and immersed myself in magic, the results aren’t showing. How can this be?”

…

In response to my bombshell statement, Professor Seigan seemed at a loss for words, mouth agape.

“Anyway, I believe it won’t take long for me to rise to the top with just my sword alone. And when that happens, I’ll casually write my autobiography starting from this line: ‘Professor Seigan of the Ardent Academy was the worst professor who wasted one year of the Empire’s talent.’”

Taking a deep breath at my words, Professor Seigan weakly looked at me and said, “I’ll let you pass this exam at my discretion. But I earnestly request that in your second year, please don’t hide your strength and show at least one magic. I would truly appreciate it…”

Considering Professor Seigan’s unwavering support in our meetings and classes, I made a final gamble while subtly threatening him, and thankfully, it ended peacefully.

Though I may have boasted, it’s really troublesome if I fail.

“Thank you, Professor. Next year, I’ll show you more than just elemental magic.”

“Please, don’t go around calling it elemental magic, and even if you do show something, don’t say you learned it from me…”

For those who don’t acknowledge elemental magic, a little etiquette should suffice, so why worry so much?

“Well, since I avoided failing, it’s only right to listen to what he says.”

The fact that I avoided failing left me feeling quite relieved.