episode_0035

Was it because of the experiences I had as an adventurer for five years? It didn’t take me long to compose my expression.

Moreover, if she was chosen by Teacher Ellen, she couldn’t be that bad of a kid. Teacher Ellen had a keen eye for people.

So, I extended my hand with a faint smile as usual. Elisa’s beautiful eyes, like amethysts, drew a gentle curve.

“Hello? You probably heard it earlier, but let me introduce myself again. I’m Cyan from Class A, number 9. My main weapon is a longsword, and my skill is Blink. Since I’m a commoner, I don’t have a title, so you can just call me Cyan.”

“Hello. I’m Elisa from Class B, number 6. I mainly use water magic and don’t have a title, but I’m confident in my abilities. Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you too.”

The girl who introduced herself as Elisa firmly grasped my hand. The touch of her hand, showing signs of effort, was not exactly delicate.

Her deep aquamarine eyes were filled with determination. I liked that about her.

After all, this midterm exam is a group project, so it’s not just about me doing well. Elisa’s determination is important too.

“…Huh!?”

As I approached the girl with such thoughts, I suddenly felt a chill. The water-like mana shimmered around her.

I could feel the intense flow of magic. Uncontrolled mana swirling around Elisa. Startled by this, I unconsciously took a step back.

“Perhaps…”

I was familiar with this phenomenon.

A condition where the body produces an excessive amount of mana that it cannot contain, causing mana to flow out of the body. A typical symptom of mana overload.

As I mentioned before, the mana in the body is like a water tank, and the blood vessels are like hoses connected to it. Mana overload occurs when the water tank overflows and cannot be sealed off by the hoses.

As a result, although the amount of mana that can be handled is overwhelming, intricate mana manipulation like drawing magic circles is impossible. Because the amount of mana being released cannot be controlled.

Moreover, the strain on the blood vessels from the constant flow of a large amount of mana is significant, making the body weak and reducing the endurance of magic. The body cannot handle its own mana.

“Yes, that’s what Cyan is thinking.”

“Ah.”

“I suffer from mana overload. So, while my magic power is strong, it’s difficult to control mana.”

“…Sorry for asking.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. I was going to tell you anyway.”

The atmosphere became awkward in an instant.

Both Elisa, who said it was okay, and I, who accidentally touched on a sensitive topic, didn’t know how to continue the conversation on this subject.

To break the awkward silence, I changed the topic of conversation.

“The midterm exam is in a week, so let’s work together until then. Oh, and you can speak informally. We’re both first-year students, so there’s no need for formalities.”

“Well… I’ve been using formal language for so long that it’s become a habit. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll change it. It might feel a bit awkward, though.”

“Uh.”

I made the suggestion out of concern that I might be a bit overwhelming, but if I say it like that, it might make things even more awkward…!

Seeing Elisa willing to change her tone, I quickly waved my hands and explained.

“Oh, no! There’s no need to do that. I just said it in case you were uncomfortable, so there’s no need to force yourself to change your speech…!”

“Haha, thank you.”

Looking at me flustered and waving my hands, Elisa let out a light laugh. A pure smile bloomed on the girl’s face.

Elisa’s untainted smile had a pure and elegant charm that tickled a corner of the heart. Even I, who had grown accustomed to pretty smiles, felt my heart flutter for a moment.

Looking into her lightly swaying grape-colored eyes, Elisa murmured softly.

“Miss Cyan is really kind. It’s different from my first impression.”

“Oh? How did you see me at first?”

“Well…how should I put it, you seemed quite cold and aloof.”

“Huh?”

At the mention of being cold and aloof, I reflexively raised an eyebrow in confusion.

I’ve heard compliments like cute, bold, someone you want to cherish from friends and people I’ve met on adventures, but being called cold and aloof was a first.

If anyone was cold and aloof, it would be Yerena. Even though she loosened up a lot when she was with me, in front of others, she maintained the demeanor befitting a princess of the Northern Duchy. Compared to her, I couldn’t even come close to being cold and aloof.

Carefully, I asked if we had met before but I couldn’t remember, wondering if I had forgotten.

“Have we met before?”

“Oh, Miss Cyan probably doesn’t remember. The first time I saw you was on the first day of the academy, when you were sparring with the princess.”

“Ah.”

Was this girl among the spectators at that time?

If so, I might have definitely left that kind of first impression. I was going through a lot emotionally at that time, so my reaction might have been a bit sharp.

Moreover, after the spar, my attention was completely absorbed by the status screen, and I couldn’t even think about reaching out to Yerena before going straight back to the dormitory.

“It was impressive how you remained calm in front of the princess’s sharp swordsmanship, parried her attacks, and even after winning, you went down to the training grounds without saying a word.”

“I see.”

“I thought you were really calm and cold back then, but now that I’ve met you, you’re quite cute.”

“Eek…!?”

Elisa gently touched my chin with a cautious smile. My cheeks, weak to praise, turned red on their own. At the same time, a question arose in my mind.

Something is definitely strange.

Elisa is an irresistibly charming girl even from an objective point of view.

With her short, water-like silver hair, delicate image of a young girl, kind voice, neat gestures, polite speech, and deep aquamarine eyes, she exuded an impressive and elegant charm.

If such a girl existed in the original, there’s no way I would have forgotten. I would have definitely seen her for the first time.

Although she doesn’t have any visible scars, there were quite a few characters in the main cast without scars.

So, there’s only one conclusion left.

This girl is influenced by the ‘Seed.’

I didn’t directly absorb the Seed. I, who had already absorbed the cherry blossom seed, would definitely notice the influence of the Seed. The status screen that stuttered in front of the cherry blossom tree would not stay silent.

So maybe Elisa got caught up in the butterfly effect caused by the Seed. She either directly suffered damage from the Seed or indirectly influenced by it.

In the first place, magical hyperproduction is an incredibly rare disease. In the original work, there was only a mention of such a disease, passing by as if it were unlikely to happen.

Producing so much mana that the body can’t handle it is definitely not a normal situation.

As my thoughts reached there, my expression involuntarily stiffened.

“…”

Already, the Seed had begun to influence this world. It was a faster pace than I had anticipated. Since the cherry blossom tree hadn’t caused any harm yet, I thought there wouldn’t be any trouble for a while.

I still can’t grasp what kind of seeds exist, or even how many are spreading. The original is already distorted.

Can I handle the changes that lie ahead?

I am just an ordinary girl who knows nothing but the future. Even the future I know is uncertain, as a half-baked transmigrator.

*Sigh…*

Worries about the future keep creeping in, and I unconsciously let out a deep sigh.

A seed has already sprouted into a flower, and that flower is already influencing this world, so I should do something. But there’s not much I can do right now.

The only link I have with the only ‘seed’ I possess is Elisa. Even that is a really vague connection that I don’t even know how it’s related.

So, I needed to become close with Elisa.

After becoming close enough to show each other what’s deep in our hearts. Finding out how Elisa came into contact with the seed.

Of course, besides that purpose, I also wanted to become friends with Elisa as human to human. Just a few conversations were enough for me to know that Elisa is a pretty good person.

So, I forced myself to hold back the almost broken expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I’ve just been a bit tired lately. I stayed up late reviewing because there are some parts of magical engineering that I don’t understand. I don’t know why inspectors have to learn magical engineering.”

“I see.”

No matter how much of a shut-in I was in my past life, in this life, I have two friends at least.

And since I’ve become friends with the heroines who were deemed unbeatable in the original, I can say that I have some experience in getting close to girls now.

With that thought in mind, I asked Elisa.

“Elisa, are you busy today?”

“No, I finished all my assignments yesterday.”

“Great. Since we’ve met like this, it must be fate. Would you like to have a meal together in the autonomous zone? My treat.”