Chapter 13
The lecture ended, and a crowd poured out at once. Among them were four figures.
“That professor is annoying. Should we bomb the course evaluations?”
“I think so too. Wanna do it together, Kainel?”
“Be careful.”
“Ugh, even Fox Slimes don’t attack people.”
Ariel shivered as if she still felt creeped out, with Kainel checking her condition beside her. Then there was Mardoll and i.
To anyone watching, we’d probably look like a strange group. How could we all have such different vibes?
We matched our steps as we walked.
“Ah, Licht, you’re headed to the central hall, right?”
“Probably. I need to apply for club membership.”
“I’ll go with you. What about you, Helmet? Kainel, are you coming too?”
“I’ll tag along.”
Why are you coming? If things get twisted and end up like a bad flag, I’ll drift off course. I tried to change the subject as much as possible.
“By the way, Mardoll, aren’t you interested in the swordsmanship club?”
“No. I already know enough.”
Ah, that was more than just two words.
Swordsmanship is famous in the Empire, particularly the Gransia-style swordsmanship handed down from the royal family. There’s definitely no need to learn it anywhere else.
“So, do you want to learn swordsmanship from me?”
“Air combat, weak.”
Well, the emperor was a madman who didn’t care about distance. I forgot he was one of the Ten Heroes.
The Wolf King, who conquered the continent with just a one-handed axe. If I meet him, it’ll be a miracle if I don’t die.
“…Isn’t that enough?”
“No, it’s not.”
If I break the promise with the Crown Prince now, it’ll be a disaster. I started to think about the character’s backstory in my head.
Emperor Roque Gransia…
‘He was a man who cherished his family dearly.’
That’s why, in <Black Heart>, if anyone threatens the Crown Prince, the Imperial Guard shows up immediately. His personality was largely shaped by the impact of the war.
“Um… are you joining the magic club, Mardoll?”
“What about you?”
“I can’t use magic, so I’m hoping Professor Dennis can help me. You know that.”
I spoke honestly.
My secret had already been revealed. Telling more lies would only put me in danger. Mardoll could summon the Imperial Guard and say, ‘How dare you make me feel bad?’ if I annoyed her. So I laid out the facts, without any pretense.
“Right.”
“What? Licht, you can’t use magic..? What do you eat to stay alive?”
“Really? Is something going on, Helmet?”
I placed my hand on my forehead. It wasn’t that something was going on—it was that *you all* were strange.
I had never told these two that I had a body without mana.
‘If anyone else went a few days without food, they wouldn’t be able to use magic either.’
They say eating food replenishes magic like radioactive bananas. But no matter how much I ate, I never felt that fullness.
It’s already been five years. There’s definitely something wrong.
“There are… circumstances.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. That must’ve been a sensitive topic. Helmet… poor thing.”
“Wait, when you dueled with me, was that swordplay without mana?”
“Did I… take your place?”
Ariel covered her mouth with both hands, while the yellow-haired guy furrowed his brow. The Crown Prince hung his head. Things were starting to spiral out of control.
“I’m just a little unique.”
I’m not some pathetic human like you’re thinking. Stop, I’m not someone who goes days without eating. I had to quickly smooth things over. I waved my hands, trying to calm them.
“I’ll believe you, Licht. But if you’re ever hungry, let me know. I’ll buy you food.”
“Helmet… Our academy’s meals are cheap and tasty, aren’t they? Why are you like this?”
“…Hungry?”
“It’s not that! Really, I’m not skipping meals!”
I could feel my face turning red. I was so embarrassed that I wanted to crawl into a hole. Is this the banter of the protagonist couple? Their teamwork was suffocating.
Then, suddenly, two of them started laughing while looking at me.
“Alright, I bet the reason you can’t take off your helmet is because of that. It’s a joke, just a joke.”
“Kainel, this is fun. Should we tease Helmet again next time?”
Kainel, Ariel. You both knew all along, didn’t you? You’ve grown up. I’ll have to lower your next romance odds to 50 percent. I smiled bitterly to myself.
“…”
As for Mardoll, she seemed completely out of sync with jokes. She lacked social skills to an extreme degree. Maybe she’d only ever grown up like a flower in a greenhouse.
What the heck happened in the nine years leading up to <Black Heart> to make her this way?
“…We’ve arrived.”
As we continued chatting while walking, we reached the sign in front of the central hall that said [Magic Club].
I opened the firmly closed door.
—
Inside, a blue-haired young man was watering a yellow flower.
“Isn’t this… my lecture students? What brings you here? Don’t tell me you’re here to apply?”
“Yes, Professor Dennis. It’s been a while.”
I immediately bowed in greeting. I’d seen his face so often, from <Knight Heart> all the way to <Black Heart>, that it felt familiar. I accidentally let slip that it had been a while.
“I’m still young enough not to know a student like Licht.”
“Do you know me?”
He laughed as he sipped his coffee.
“Old Drake couldn’t stop bragging about you. Though I did give him some warnings.”
“That’s interesting.”
A man with striking white eyes. He was someone who had to stay drunk just to keep his sanity. He held out a hand for a handshake, his gesture laced with drunkenness. It felt strange seeing him like this.
“Hello, Professor! Do you remember me?”
“Ariel… You’re doing well with your magic techniques, I assume?”
“Yes! Thanks to you! I came to apply for membership!”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen students like you. Normally, people are too afraid of someone like me to come.”
“But you’re handsome? Maybe not as much as Kai, though…”