The Girl Who Knows Arcana
-……That girl just now?
……She said 'Arcana'.
It wasn't a mistake. Her lips definitely formed the word Arcana.
How does she know?
His excitement cooled, and his eyes sharpened with calm focus.
He had definitely entered the academy hiding his true identity.
When he registered, he had put down just "Eugene," not "Eugene Arcana," and he hadn't even told Adria.
At most, Count Karma, Professor Nipella, and the principal know…….
If he had told that girl separately, she would have mentioned it beforehand.
No, there was no need to tell even the most outstanding people his true identity.
Is she an enemy?
If so, she already knew who he was.
If she were an ally, Arcana would have probably tipped him off in advance.
Bzzz.
The sword in his hand trembled. Should he just draw it now and cut her down?
No, could he even do it?
……There's a pretty big gap in our levels.
His physical abilities were superior. With the War God's Blessing applied, he could definitely take her.
Under the condition that no one interfered.
……Impossible.
If he suddenly went berserk with his sword drawn, he'd get expelled for bringing a magic sword or just being a lunatic or whatever.
She wasn't much older than him, and he felt no particular displeasure or ugly envy at someone his age having such talent.
It's common enough.
He wasn't that exceptional.
Even in his previous life, there were kids who studied better, exercised better, and played music better despite putting in less effort than him—and there were tons of them, even in a rural school.
What bothered him more was why that girl knew Arcana's name, knew about him when he had never acted publicly, and called out "Arcana" upon seeing him.
She seems like an enemy.
With the mirror blocking the view, he couldn't sense her emotions toward him…….
Wait.
A chill swept through his entire body in an instant.
She couldn't see in here, could she?
One-way transparent glass. Just like the ones in interrogation rooms from his past life. They could see out, but not in.
So how did she meet his eyes and mouth the word Arcana?
……I need to meet her.
She could be a messenger from another god, or maybe a true "genius."
Either way, he needed to figure out if she was friend or foe.
Especially since she knew his god.
If she was an enemy…….
I'll cut her down.
No matter what it takes.
"Hmm, I'll have to discuss this separately with the principal."
Professor Nipella, who appeared after the weapon aptitude test, looked troubled.
He instinctively realized that embedding the pattern here would require not just exceptional magic skills, but also time and alchemy.
"We'll have to embed it in the hilt instead of the blade. We can't tamper with this metal recklessly."
"Pardon?"
The professor who had been duped responded with a dumbstruck question.
He stared at the sword in bewilderment.
This was made from such precious metal?
At least adamantium…….
"You, a professor, didn't even notice that?"
"No, who would think a student brought a sword made from metal like this?"
"That's a cowardly excuse."
Even Nipella, who scolded the professor like that, looked stunned.
What the hell was it made of?
He'd thought the principal was a bit scared…….
"……?"
But Eugene, who would normally be making a fuss or snarking beside him, was quiet.
When he turned, Eugene was staring intently at one spot. The usual smile was gone from his face.
……What's that about.
The moment he registered it, goosebumps rose all over his body. It was like the heat and cold coexisting that he felt in past battles—the aura unique to war.
The clash of those opposing energies defined war. And that war aura was emanating from Eugene…….
……He's about to cause trouble.
Eugene Arcana.
Priest of the War God Arcana. He didn't know what happened to his predecessor…… but given his skill, he probably received direct instruction.
Which meant his personality might be similar?
I need to watch closely.
Please don't cause a huge incident.
Please.
For now, the weapon aptitude test was postponed, and the divine beast registration came first.
Eodukshini looked miserable in the assistant professor's grip.
-Don't touch me there!
"Hey, hold still. Poke wrong and it hurts like hell?"
The assistant handling the aptitude test prodded the slime with something like an awl.
Its face screamed imminent death, but its posture was honest, and it poked consistently.
-Eek!
"……You're a slime, right? You're awfully weird. Oh, right. Owner?"
"Yes."
"This is separate from registration, but can I poke your slime a bit? It's the weirdest slime I've seen in my life."
Of course, she offered something in return—not free.
A platinum badge.
"In exchange, I'll give you an S-rank. And this too."
Plus a pouch of gold coins on top.
Is this okay?
He glanced at the assistant who had guided him; she sighed deeply and looked away.
Should be fine?
But regardless of his opinion, Eodukshini's mattered more.
He stared at Eodukshini. It looked desperate to get out, money be damned.
"Split fifty-fifty."
-……Deal. But only 30 minutes!
"Aw, stingy."
-No deal! I'm out!
"Fine, fine. 30 minutes max. Okay, putting you in, Mr. Acid?"
-I'm not acid, I'm Eodukshi…… Aaaagh?!
It had succumbed to capitalism, of course.
He split the gold coins to give to Eodukshini later and turned his gaze.
The blue-haired girl who had mouthed "Arcana" to him, Ash Blue, was across the way doing her divine beast registration.
No, don't press so hard!
Ah.
Aigoo, this precious thing!
Even in her perfect form, tiny flaws showed—enough gaps to kill her if she was an enemy.
He had already decided she was an enemy in his head, but he kept telling himself it wasn't confirmed yet.
But if she was?
I can't handle this properly yet…….
If he could control the exploding Divine Power even once.
He could blow her away in one shot.
-G-gone!
"Weird slime. I really wanna study it. Hey, I'll pay more……."
"No thanks."
"Tch. So firm."
The assistant scratched her dandruff-filled hair and let go.
"Alright, 30 minutes up. Take it."
"Yes."
"Oh, and remember my name. Ara Ah Mirineya."
"……Eugene."
"Aw, why so stiff? Just call me sis!"
……She was a girl? The bushy hair covering her eyes, baggy clothes, and husky voice had thrown him off.
But "sis" was…….
Impossible.
Fortunately, the guiding assistant cut in at the right time.
"Enough. Back to the waiting room. Special admit Eugene, you're done."
"Ah, pro……."
"Ara."
Pro?
"……Assistant professor aspirant. Keep being so uptight and you'll never make professor."
"Whatever. Let's go. Special admit Eugene, follow me."
"Yep."
Whatever she was, she wasn't an ordinary assistant.
As he followed her, he spotted the room where Ash was taking her test.
He pointed. "Can I watch before going?"
"Yes. But I have to accompany you as staff."
No big deal.
Inside, Ash was already doing the next test, having finished registration and aptitude in one go.
"Now, testing divine beast response. Student, please ready your weapon."
Ash raised her sword, and the assistant nodded, activating something.
"Grrr."
A yeti-like creature, similar to the one he'd caught before.
Unique feature: fins on its back.
"Raaargh!!"
As the fish-man yeti charged with a roar, Ash's sword moved.
He watched her swordplay with wide eyes.
Not based on raw physical power, but honed experience and perfect force control.
And not only that—her sword aura was nearly at sword energy level, and her slashes were even more refined.
……How is that possible at her age?
If it was pure talent, it was beyond admiration; it deserved blessing.
His hands itched. He could mimic it. Her sword strikes were vividly etched in his mind.
"Assistant professor. Can I use the training hall?"
"Pardon? Sure."
"Mind guiding me?"
"Follow me."
-Huh? W-wait! Take me too!
"What? Where'd he go?"
Adria, dragging her exhausted body after finishing her tests, looked around.
She thought he'd be waiting?
Off to meet another friend?
"He doesn't have friends."
As she scanned the area, she spotted something wriggling on the floor.
A white slime.
Eugene, always stuck to it, was gone, and a small child was tormenting its tiny body.
"Whoa! It's gooey!"
-S-stop!
"Haha! Hey, it makes funny noises? Poke more!"
"Whoa! Total toy! Can we take it?"
"Yeah! Let's!"
On the verge of kidnapping.
Adria approached them.
"Kids. That slime's mine. Mind moving along?"
"What? Can't you see we're playing? Nobles are busy, so scram."
"Yours? How much? I'll buy it."
One boy turned proudly.
Then froze solid.
"Oh? Got money, huh?"
"Yeah! I'm the sole heir of the Slime family……."
Emboldened by her response, the girl tormenting Eodukshini froze mid-turn.
Adria's looks, unique golden blonde curls, and silver eyes were famous. Not just as an idol, but as an imperial princess!
"Which family again?"
As they froze, Adria smiled sweetly.
"S-Slime family……."
"Right. Guess the Slime heir doesn't know manners these days. Even in front of a princess."
"H-Here, status doesn't mat……!"
"What was that? Daring to talk to a noble like that?"
Adria grinned.
"Just beat it."
"P-Please, just once, Princess!"
"Sorry!"
"Be grateful I let it end here. He'd have slammed you into the wall first."
But where the hell was Eugene?
Adria ignored the fleeing noble kids and crouched before Eodukshini.
"Shi-ni. You're strong enough to shake off kids like that. Why let them bully you?"
-Not Shi-ni, Eodukshini…… Not slime or acid either! Why does everyone mess up my name…….
Eodukshini sobbed.
In the training hall, he gripped his sword.
Recalling the sword strikes he'd memorized, he slowly assumed the stance.
No one could enter the training room, and he'd covered the CCTV beforehand, so no risk of his Divine Power being exposed.
Legs like this, arm extended so, Divine Power controlled thus…….
Slowly, image training combined with physical practice.
Whenever his form slipped, his brute physicality compensated, stabilizing with each swing: one, two, three.
And one slash.
He gripped tight, infusing Divine Power. Surging red energy concentrated on the blade, forming the same slash Ash had used.
One swing, and the crimson slash ravaged the wall along his sword path.
Boom!
Kaboom!
He exhaled, opening his eyes.
The mangled wall. He clenched and unclenched his slightly numb palm.
About……70% replication.
A few more swings, and he could fire it just like hers.
"!"
Familiar presence.
At the door. He sheathed his sword and flung it open.
No assistant professor. Just the blue-haired girl from before, Ash Blue, standing there.
Ash met his eyes with a smile.
But sensing his hostility, she panicked, waving her hands.
"Wait! Calm down, calm! I don't mean any harm, I swear!"
She'd seemed like an ice princess during the test, but now she was like…….
……A fan?
The vibe of a diehard meeting their favorite idol.
She frantically pulled a pen from her pocket, yanked down her t-shirt collar, eyes sparkling.
"I'm a fan! Sign please!"
"……??"