Episode 19 

Beginning of Classes

     I sit in the back of the classroom, right next to the aisle, for the morning assembly, Rand to my right.

　Himari is sitting in the row in front of Rand, one right. She sits with a very ladylike posture.

　Vice-Principal Harman stands on a podium as she writes something on the blackboard.

――――――――――――――

　1st place – Holly Parason

　2nd place – Alma Lefay

　3rd place – Himari Lanfer

　4th place …….

――――――――――――――

　The ranking and the names of the students are written in neat chalk on the board.

　What are the rankings for?

　After writing the names of all the students, Vice-Principal Harman turned to us.

“This is the ranking of the total score of magic skill and magic knowledge that I tested before enrollment. This is customary. At our school, we are supposed to show the class ranking first. Knowing your position, know your place. Now, let’s begin lessons.”

　I suppose this is to be motivation for people to reach higher and try harder?

“What the devil… I’m in 3rd place?”

　Of the 18 people in the class, the one who was most disappointed with the result was not the lowest-ranking person, but the third-ranked Himari.

“Teacher! Isn’t it something wrong?”

“No, unfortunately it’s an accurate ranking.”

　Himari stands up and looks around the class.

“Holly Parson! Alma Lefay! Who are you, show me your faces?!”

　The names of the top two.

　There is no reply.

　Did they not come forward in fear of wrath of the red head?

“Holly and Alma aren’t here. They refuse to come to school. They haven’t even attended the entrance ceremony.”

“Huh?”

　Himari wasn’t the only one who was surprised by what Vice-Principal Harman said.

　Everyone should have thought the same thing. Did I lose to people who don’t come to school?

“It’s funny. The top two in this class are two problem children who don’t go to school.”

　Vice-Principal Harman lets out her signature cackle.

“In Yunferno Darts, ability is ability. No matter how rich you are, people who don’t have the ability will fail out.Do whatever you must to succeed. 120 people. Do you know what this number is? Gannette.”

“… Is it the number of dropouts yesterday?”

“Yeah, how did you already know? Yes, three classes were expelled from the school yesterday after they failed the game. It was decided that the place they were supposed to use as a class building would be converted into a library. You guys were just one step away. Don’t forget the tension of how close you were, don’t neglect to study. Cling on, until the time you grab your dream.”

　Vice-Principal Harman left the podium and heads for the door.

　Vice-Principal Harman glances behind her, in my direction, just before leaving.

　I know.

　I’ll cling. I haven’t forgotten about my goal.

“Charles, are you okay?”

　Rand looks at me worried.

“You’re at the bottom, bro. I’m worried about you, it shouldn’t be the other way around.”

“I’m 19th… the second from the bottom.”

“Let’s take classes seriously, okay?”

　Rand and I looked at each other and nodded.

　◆

　First hour

  Magic Basics I

　The person in charge is Miss Meldim, an old woman with noticeable wrinkles.

“Innumerable spirits live in the bodies of us living things. We call them magical power. The technique of giving commands to the spirits in the body and handling the spirits’ souls is called magic. All of this falls in the realm of common knowledge. “

　This is my first time hearing of this, teacher.

“But I don’t like the name magic. To be precise, magical power indicates the number of spirits who are willing to lend you their power and sometimes, in your time of need, sacrifice themselves for you. However, with an emphasis on comprehensibility, other teachers call it magical power / magic. It’s a bad slip of the tongue that most people don’t even know they are doing.”

　In front of this teacher, it seems we are required to call it the Spirit Arts.

“Since ancient times, the challenge has been how to give instructions to the spirits in the body. We call the first wielders of magic members of the “First Generation”. Does anyone know how the First Generation gave instructions?”

“Yes. In the first generation, we handwritten the command spells.”

Monica answers.

“Excellent. Correct answer. Runes are the language of spirits which in turn relates to a fulu. A fulu is, so to speak, an instruction or a notification to a spirit. From an amateur’s point of view, I don’t know what it says, but when translated, it says something like “Please turn the spirits of Nos. 1 to 30 into flames.” Following that instruction, they would then summon the heat needed to make the flames

“Yes! The second generation verbally instructed the spirits. This is called chanting!”

“Excellent. Correct answer. Today, as the third generation, we use spiritual art in the combined technique of the first and second generations. The first generation takes time and effort to write a fulu, and it is activated. Although the second generation was quick to activate, verbal commands were difficult to convey to spirits, leading to a decline in the power of spiritual arts.

　The first generation was inferior in speed and excellent in power.

　The second generation was less powerful but faster.

　The third generation is a completed form that covers both. By chanting the second generation, they could activate the spiritual art in the engraved spell. Using that spell to activate the same level of spiritual art as the first generation. That is the third generation. “

　It’s a bit difficult to comprehend… but I think I understand.

　Then, what’s the point of a magic circle?

　.Miss Meldim did not forget the explanation, as it turns out.

“The new element that appeared in the third generation is the magic circle. The magic circle has the job of circulation. You can think of it as the spirits running on this circle. Engrave a spell and a magic circle on a wand or sword, and at the same time send your own spirits to the magic circle. The spirit running on the magic circle sees the spell in front of you and activates the spirit art. It makes everything flow faster.”

“Zzzzzz…”

　Rand has already given up understanding and is sleeping soundly. What happened to our agreement from earlier?

　◆

　Second hour

 Magic training I

　8th training ground (the training ground closest to the White Tiger building.

　The grass ground is surrounded by walls.

First period’s cramped, everyone was excited to get outside.

“Good morning, everyone.”

　My heart sank.

　Himari and Rand’s face also drooped.

　The training teacher was a man wearing a black cloak.

　The man whose jaw I broke in the faculty office. He seems to have healed completely, unfortunately.

“Man, really…”

“Calm down. He hasn’t noticed us yet. Keep your head down.”

The black cloaked man walked right toward us.

“Charles. Henri. Sanson. Have we met?”

“It’s the second time we’ve met. It’s been a bit since the practical test. How are you?”

“…I see. Let’s shake hands, then. “

　Garadoon asked for a handshake and extended his right hand.

　I hold my right hand out.

“…!?”

“Kek.”

　When I grabbed Galadoon’s hand to shake he squeezed and pulled me in.

“Hmmmmm…”

“Ahh.. you’re squeezing  a bit hard. Could you please let go?”

　Garadoon puts his lips near my ears and speaks in a whisper.

“Relax. I’ll never tell anyone what happened.”

“……what do you mean?”

“I’m looking forward to knowing you. Let’s see how the executioner deals with the real world huh?”

　Garadoon let go of me and returned to the head of the class.

“Let’s start the lesson. Today, I’m teaching flame elementary magic. It’s the magic that creates flames. But before that, I have something to teach. Common sense for those who have passed into our school. Modern magic is to engrave a magic mark on a tool, create a magic tool, and activate it using a chant. As a precaution when handling the magic mark there is a thing that the activation form of magic changes depending on the object that it is carved into it. For example, if you put flames in a wand, what kind of form will the flame come out as? Himari Lanfer, answer. “

“When you put magic into the wand, a ball of flame is ejected from the tip of the wand.”

“That answer is correct. The nature of the wand is” injection / grant “. [Flames]”

　Garadoon ejects magic into the wand.

　When Garadoon ejected magic into the wand a ball of fire appeared from the tip of the wand and was fired.

“By the way, the brilliance of the magic circle shows the remaining shots left in the magic tool. If you inject magic five more times, the brilliance will disappear and it will be useless until you inject magic again.”

　I listen while whispering to Rand.

　Garadoon pulls out a dagger.

　The knife that suddenly came out scared the class, the girls shrieking.

“What happens if you engrave flame magic on this?”

“The nature of the dagger is slashing so if you add flames you’ll get a fire that’s able to survive multiple slashing motions.”

“That’s correct.”

　Seeing that Rand is answering, it’s probably just common sense.

　Garadoon pulls out a lump of rubber, put his mouth on it, and lets air in.

　It’s a balloon. Garadoon raises a balloon.

“What happens if you use flames for a balloon? Charles-Henri Sanson. Answer me.”