episode_0073

000

A long hallway where bright sunlight streams unreservedly through a large window.

Red tapestries hang on the walls, and the sound of footsteps echoes on the same-colored carpet.

A small girl with red hair and blue eyes walks down the path.

The riffraff blocking the hallway recoil in horror and step aside.

The girl’s name is Lyla Flamewatch.

Despite being a commoner magician from the countryside who entered the academy.

Through a magical power that does not lag behind even nobles, and an intelligence that is called genius.

She quickly made her name known within the department, and rose to the position of vice-chairman.

However, the known name is not an ordinary `popularity` or `reputation`.

Rather, it’s closer to `infamy`.

An abrasive attitude that seems to push away everyone who approaches.

A gaze of contempt for the surroundings contained in her eyes.

Of course, it was true that most students were still less skilled than her.

That being said, her attitude was absolutely unacceptable to those around her.

This place is a place of learning. The academy.

Most of those gathered here are boys and girls whose egos have not yet been fully established.

For them in their sensitive period, Lyla, who was prominent in many ways.

She was an existence that was not easily accepted.

Even the male students who initially showed interest in her.

If she showed a glimpse of flame magic along with a burning gaze.

They run away and flee on their own.

Students enrolled in the Department of Magic are classified into two types.

Researchers, or not researchers.

Lyla was, of course, the former.

Magic is originally a study that heads to the past.

Creating fire from the hand and burning enemies are just means of self-defense that were incidentally discovered in the research process.

Even in the Department of Magic at the academy, the best educational institution on the continent, there are those who understand its true purpose.

Only a small number of people.

However, originally, the race called magicians is one that passes on the family from generation to generation and accumulates the results of their research.

The longer the history, the more established their position as nobles.

In other words, most of the researchers in the Department of Magic are from noble backgrounds.

The eccentricity and disregard for life that are unique to researchers, and the elitism as nobles.

Even Lyla, who is clearly in the same category as themselves, is seen as beneath them and rejected.

The genius with red hair.

It didn’t take long for Lyla Flamewatch, the heir to the Fire Watcher, to become isolated within the department.

But she didn’t care at all about her situation.

Rather, she thought the situation was good for her.

If there is time to spend on human relationships and social skills, she reads one more book and investigates one more paper.

In order to take a seat among the school’s 12 Elders and break the noses of the old men who ignored her grandfather.

She needed so much time that even this life wouldn’t be enough.

As such, rising to the position of the 12 Elders is a considerably difficult task.

In order to rise to their position, a magician’s achievement is required.

The discovery of a `completely new magical theory`.

To put it simply, it was about discovering magic that could change some of the common sense that exists in the natural world.

Many magicians challenge this achievement, but most of them face the limit of their lifespan and turn into a handful of ashes.

That’s why recently, even meals and sleep are being resolved through magic.

The magic of sending the burden on the body to the future, called `accrual`, was strongly prohibited when her grandfather was alive.

Now that he is dead, there is no one to stop her from doing so.

-That’s what Lyla herself thought.

“Lyla~!”

When she turns her head at the sound of someone calling her from behind.

A plain-looking-…. No, a slightly chubby girl with brown hair and black eyes was waving her hand and approaching her.

Of course, her chubby cheeks were appropriate for her age, and rather gave her a cute impression.

“… …”

But Lyla confirms her and then

She frowns, turns her body, and tries to continue walking down the path.

But the girl catches up with Lyla from behind, stands next to her, and breathes rapidly.

“Haa… Haa… Really, how can you leave the classroom without saying anything?”

“It doesn’t matter because class is over.”

Lyla wears a fed-up expression at the girl who ran down the hallway to her despite her weak body.

She answers in a cold voice.

This girl’s name is Bea.

She has a noble name, Beatrix, but she was a commoner girl.

Her grandfather was a noble in the past, but the family fell for some reason.

This name was given as her grandfather’s last request.

That’s what she said while chattering next to her, even though she had no interest.

Lyla remembered it properly.

She didn’t really want to remember it, but being able to remember what she heard once

It wasn’t a situation that she particularly wanted, even for her.

“Lyla, you always eat lunch alone, right? I brought a lunch box today, so let’s go to the open space and eat together!”

She says that and shows the picnic basket she is holding in her hand.

Lyla looked at the basket for a moment, then turned her head and opened her mouth.

“I don’t have time for lunch or anything. I have to return a book to the library and read a new book.”

She says that and shows the thick book she is holding in her hand.

It was not a book that even a girl of her age could read.

Perhaps even graduates who have graduated from the department would have difficulty reading it.

Bea looks at the book and Lyla for a moment before raising her voice.

“That’s not right!”

She puts so much emotion into it that a dialect comes out.

As the surrounding gazes are briefly focused and laughter rises from various places.

Lyla blushes and quickens her pace, even though she is not the target.

“Are you doing that on purpose?”

“What, what? Did my dialect come out again?”

Bea’s pace quickens as she tries to catch up with Lyla.

She didn’t seem to be aware of it.

The reason why Lyla feels uncomfortable with her is also due to her insensitive personality.

Usually, most people get annoyed and fall off when you act a little prickly.

This woman, Beatrix, is the only one of her age in the department.

And she fearlessly approaches her with a thick face that is insensitive to people’s discomfort.

If she gets caught up in this girl who calls herself a friend without permission.

How much of her precious time will she waste?

Lyla was only worried about that.

What’s most frustrating is-

“Look! This sandwich! I made it with magic yesterday! I boiled water with fire magic, cooked potatoes…”

When she proudly opens the picnic basket, you can see a sandwich with plenty of potato salad in the bread.

Lyla unknowingly swallows her saliva at the fragrant smell of mayonnaise, but shakes her head.

This girl, Beatrix.

The fact that she has as high magical potential as herself.

She knows it without checking with a magic stone.

Whenever Bea comes close to her, the amount of magic she is unconsciously emitting

It was definitely not ordinary.

What hurts Lyla’s pride the most is

The fact that only she feels her magical pressure is that the total amount of magic she has is greater than her own.

This carefree, gluttonous girl.

Compared to herself, who is barely crawling up by saving sleep and meal times.

Lyla naturally clenches her teeth and clenches her fists tightly.

“Listen carefully, potato girl.”

“P, Potato girl!?”

“As I said before, I have no intention of being friends with you at all. Someone like you who uses magic with innate talent without making any special effort… doesn’t even count as a magician.”

At that time, this was Lyla’s unreserved true feelings.

Bea stares at Lyla, who poured out harsh words to her, with wide eyes.

Lyla turns her body as if she has nothing more to say and walks down the hallway.

When she looks back, Bea is standing still in that spot with her head down.

“… …”

Lyla just walks on without saying anything.

Because time was too short to stop.

001

In the end, she spent all her time that day going back and forth between lectures and the library.

According to the academy’s regulations, students under the age of 15 had to return to their dormitory before a certain time.

Lyla, who was not yet the top student at the time, hurried to return to the public dormitory.

Today was also a fulfilling day.

She found a paper that could support the theory she had completed last night.

And she was coming up with several new magic spells in her constantly spinning head.

“The characteristic of fire magic is, after all, overwhelming firepower. But the flaw is that too much magic is wasted in the execution of the magic. Then, a new type of attack magic that draws out the necessary magic, and emits only a portion of it to attack the enemy…”

She organizes her thoughts by putting her thoughts into words.

Within the department, the perception that she is a `strange person` becomes even stronger when they see her like that.

Lyla didn’t care at all.

Let’s go back and organize all the things she came up with.

And tomorrow, let’s do another study based on what she organized today.

And again. When new things come to mind. That….

Suddenly. Her feet stop.

A fulfilling day.

Rewarding days.

She repeated it to herself several times today.

“… …”

Grumble grumble…

And a sound echoes from her stomach.

`Accrual` does not eliminate `hunger` or `fatigue`.

It allows you to not have to eat even if you are hungry.

It allows you to not have to sleep even if you are sleepy.

That’s all.

A sensation as if she is converting magic into life force and moving her unlubricated body with thread.

She feels hunger and sleepiness.

Perhaps it will get worse and worse.

But she was scared.

If she releases this accrual that has lasted for almost a month now.

How much of a price will she have to pay?

“It’s all because of that woman… Showing me things like sandwiches in front of my eyes…”

Lyla recalls the face of the girl she had scolded and kicked out during the day.

She had a sad face.

She thought it was none of her business.

But-.

But… The fact that she has even a little bit of feeling sorry.

Even if she denies it several times, she ends up admitting it.

It has happened before.

Lyla said harsh things to Bea and made her fall off.

But after a day, she follows her again as if nothing happened.

Not out of interest or curiosity.

Pure goodwill.

Lyla clenched her fist tightly again with a `tsk`.

She recalls what she read in a book a while ago.

`Exposure effect. The phenomenon of goodwill occurring by meeting several times`

This is just an illusion.

Lyla chews over her emotions like that in her mind.

When it passes through her throat with a gulp.

Worries about others that were confusing her mind also disappear.

“…I’ve been standing still for a minute. I have to hurry back…”

The next moment after Lyla says that and takes a step.

A grating sound of rustling is heard.

A barrier made of chains with magic imbued in them spreads around her.

“W, what…?”

Lyla looks around in embarrassment.

She saw people she had never seen before in red uniforms surrounding her.

They were all holding dangerous-looking weapons in their hands.

They were giving off an unpleasant smile.

“Lyla Flamewatch. As I heard, you have a great amount of magic power. With this, you will be sufficient as a `vessel`.”

When the man who seemed to be the leader opened his mouth, Lyla felt goosebumps down her spine.

Lyla understood in an instant that their purpose was her personal safety.

“Who are you people…?”

“You will find out soon. If you follow us quietly, you will not experience pain in the process.”

At the words to follow obediently, Lyla pushes aside the worries she had been having until just now and makes a cold expression.

Magic swirls around her entire body, and her red hair begins to flicker as if it is burning.

“Who are you talking to? You.”

The next moment, dozens of fireballs appear as if exploding.

At the same time, they indiscriminately fire around, shattering the surroundings and melting the chain barrier.

Many of the other executors have either defended against the magic and suffered considerable damage, or collapsed.

Only the man who protected his body with chains raises the corners of his lips.

“Indeed, is this the power of the descendants of the original family?”

“You know it well, then this too-…. Keuk….”

The next moment, just as Lyla was about to use the new magic she had created.

The omnipotence of magic that had been covering her body evaporates.

A sensation as if a thread has been cut.

When she hurriedly checks her body.

The large magic storage that she had was completely empty.

What flows through Lyla’s mind is the side effect of `accrual`.

The magic power had already almost reached its limit.

And she used it with the use of magic just now….

“…Ah…. Ugh….”

Dizziness due to magic depletion.

The onrushing hunger and sleepiness.

If she collapses in this place, she doesn’t know when she will wake up.

What will happen while she is sleeping….

“We have been waiting for your stamina and magic power to be depleted. You moved as we expected.”

The man smiles unpleasantly and approaches Lyla.

`N, no…. Grandf…. ather….`

Before losing consciousness, she recalls the face of her kind grandfather.

“Huh? You are, wha what!? Kyaaaack!”

The next moment, Lyla, who heard the man’s scream, as is.

She fell into a long sleep.

002

When Lyla opened her eyes again, it was in the fragrant smell of soup and the warm touch of a blanket.

Her clothes had been changed somewhere.

Her hair was let down, but it didn’t seem like she had been subjected to anything strange.

When she looks around, it was still a place she had never seen before.

However, the strange thing was that her neck below did not move.

Her mind was a little hazy, but there was no problem in assessing the situation.

The last place she was was on the way back to the dormitory from the library.

Attacked by guys in red uniforms whose identity she didn’t know….

“Keuk….”

The mistake of a lifetime.

Is this the base of those guys?

She has to somehow recover her body….

She concentrates her mind and grasps the presence of people around her.

It seemed that there was only herself in this space like a bedroom.

There is no one outside the door either. There is only one person a little further away.

If it’s just one person, she can control her body again with magic….

At that time, she feels that person approaching the room she is in.

Lyla quietly gathers some of her recovered magic power.

And when the door opens.

“Wow! You’re awake!”

She had mittens on her hands and was holding a bowl of warm soup.

She saw Beatrix smiling and looking at her.

“Y, you… you…!?”

Lyla just repeated the word `you` and stared at her with wide eyes.

The magic power she had drawn up scatters into the air, and once again, her magic barrel empties.

“You finally woke up. I’m glad Lyla is light! I was able to carry you all by myself!”

Bea smiles innocently and sits on the chair next to her.

“W, what are you trying to do by catching me? Are you also in cahoots with those guys?”

“In cahoots? Those guys? Ah. If you’re talking about the older brothers who were trying to do bad things, I scolded them!”

Bea tilts her head at Lyla’s words and smiles `heehee~`.

“Scol… ded?”

“Yeah! There was magic that Lyla used to mumble about. I’ve studied it in my own way!”

She says that and puts her hands together.

Then, a small, red fireball appeared there, and thorns of flame protruded from it and wriggled in the air.

“Flame Octopus!”

“It’s Flare Spike!”

When she says the ridiculously cheesy name of the magic, Lyla shouts without realizing it.

And she catches herself and checks her magic.

Theory, magical composition, how to use magic power.

Of course, the size and scale are smaller than she had imagined, but that’s probably because she activated it by suppressing her power.

Of course, she may have mumbled about this magic when she was by her side.

Just by that, she understood it and even reached the point of using it herself…?

“What, exactly, are you…”

“More than that! You kept grumbling while you were sleeping, Lyla. You must be really, really hungry, right?”

“N, no…. I’m….”

Lyla trails off at Bea’s words.

To be honest, it felt like her stomach and back were about to stick together right now.

In the midst of that, the smell of the soup with the savory scent of milk being boiled right in front of her

It was almost like torture.

“Here, aah-”

When Bea holds out a spoonful of soup to her as if telling her to open her mouth.

Lyla blushes and is startled.

“Y, you idiot! What are you doing?”

“What am I doing? I’m feeding Lyla because she can’t move her body.”

“W, wait. Once my magic power recovers, I’ll do it myself….”

Lyla tries to move her body somehow, but in the end, she doesn’t regain her strength at all and makes a gloomy face.

“Magic power is recovered when there is life force. Lyla’s current body is empty on both sides, so of course recovery will be slow.”

Bea says that and holds out the spoon as if telling her to open her mouth quickly.

“Ugh… Keuk… How humiliating…. That Lyla Flamewatch would ever experience something like this…”

In the end, Lyla opens her mouth and passes the warm and fragrant soup entering her mouth into her throat without resistance.

She felt a little warmer in her body.

“Yeah! You’re eating well~”

“I’m, I’m not a child.”

Lyla says that and, without realizing it, opens her mouth and waits for the next one.

…In the end, it didn’t take long for her to empty the bowl.

When Bea clears the bowl, Lyla hesitates and opens her mouth.

“…Thank you. Th, thank you for saving me too. I will definitely repay you for this favor.”

“Huh? You don’t have to do that~”

She answers in a whiny voice, but she couldn’t understand what she was saying because of her dialect.

“…A, it’s okay if you don’t….”

Bea suddenly comes to her senses and corrects her dialect and says again.

“…W, well, that’s not important. I guess you were really sleepy? You slept for 3 days straight.”

“3 days…. -3 days!?”

Lyla’s mind goes blank.

3 days of her precious time were wasted.

She had finally found a starting point for a new study.

She has to hurry back and continue her research….

“… …!”

The next moment, Lyla realizes.

The things she had learned and thought about before she fainted.

She doesn’t remember anything.

Before she could properly remember, the performance of her brain, which had already fallen as much as it had,

She couldn’t properly record what happened right before, and she threw away the important facts as is.

Her heart became stuffy as her head cooled down with despair.

Her head hurt as if it would tear.

Of course, she had realized it once.

But the time she spent for it will not come back.

It was knowledge she had obtained while going against her grandfather’s request.

But she threw it away so futilely.

She hated her foolishness so much.

But the next moment, Bea says.

“Ah, and. I wrote down what Lyla was mumbling while she was sleeping and put it on the desk.”

“D, desk? Mumbling? W, wait a minute! Bea! Give me that paper!”

As soon as she hears her words, Lyla, who is excited, tries to move her body.

Bea looks at her as if she is strange and hands her the paper.

When Lyla reads the bundle of papers she receives.

The studying and research she had forgotten slowly returned to her mind.

The crooked common language letters that are densely written on a total of 30 pages.

It was all Bea’s.

“W, why….”

“Huh? Well, because it was something that Lyla wanted to study even while sleeping. I thought you would definitely need it when you woke up.”

Bea makes a V sign and smiles brightly.

Silence flowed.

The silence that was lingering in the room was caused by Lyla, who suddenly stopped moving and dropped her head.

Bea becomes worried that she has done something wrong and examines her face.

At that time, an unfamiliar sound was heard.

Drip, drip.

Something, droplets of water, flowed out and fell onto the paper.

Bea widens her eyes and doesn’t know what to do and fidgets.

“E, eek!”

And then, she quietly hugs Lyla, who is crying.

“Y, you idiot…. The paper will get crumpled if you do this…”

When Lyla continues her voice while crying.

Bea also continues her words without being able to hide her embarrassment.

“W, when I cry, my mom always hugs me tightly…. S, sorry…”

As she says that, Bea tries to get away from Lyla.

Lyla also puts her hand around Bea’s back and grabs her, and gradually, the amount of tears pouring out increases.

What fills the inside of the empty girl is.

The taste of the warm and delicious soup.

The touch of the fluffy blanket.

The touch of a person’s hand that she feels after a long time.

And with the death of her grandfather.

In her life where all the light had disappeared and turned colorless.

It was a ray of light that shone warmly without changing.